Diversity Addressed in Children's Literature

Being Friends

By: Karen Beaumont

Illustrations by: Joy Allen

This is a wonderful book that represents two children of diverse backgrounds that notice all types of differences between them except for their racial differences. This book shows the relationship between the two children and highlights each difference that they share. For example, one likes dresses, one likes jeans, one likes cookies, one likes cake. Overall, the story helps children realize that no matter how many things they may not have in common with others they can still make friends with them. In the end, opposites attract. Although there may be things that make us different from one another, whether it is race, religion, style of dress, or the foods we eat, those things don't mean that we can't get along and respect each other.

Every child should get to read this book; it was very enjoyable. All ages would appreciate the humor and delight of this book. I appreciate the lesson of accepting others that it teaches children. The differences that we have from others can be the things that make our relationships more meaningful and rich with diversity.

This book reminds me of a relationship that I had when I was growing up. A new family moved to my neighborhood. The girl was close to my age but very different than me. Her family was part of religion that I was not and it was difficult for me to understand. However, it was not long before we realized that despite some of our obvious differences, we had many things in common. In no time at all we were inseparable friends. I have many childhood memories with her in them. This book reminded me of her and the fun we shared even though it seemed like we were so unlike each other at first sight.

The Cat in the Hat: The Book & The Movie

The Cat in the Hat

Book By: Dr. Suess, 1957

Movie By: Universal Studios, 2003

When Universal Studios decided to take on a project like The Cat in the Hat I'm sure they were well aware of the danger they were facing at touching such a classic tale. I think that they did an excellent job. The movie equally matches the nonsense and humor that the book entails, plus much more.

The movie, like most remakes, introduced new characters and enhanced story lines that were not in the original book. In the version by Dr. Suess, the book tells about a young boy and his sister Sally who are left at home one rainy day while their mother goes out. Sally and her brother find themselves being entertained by an adventurous cat who single handed destroys their house and upsets their fish. Then the cat brings in two wild friends that cause more havoc by flying kites through the house which causes lots more mess.

In the movie, Sally and Conrad are total opposites. Sally is a strict rule follower and Conrad is a rule breaker. Joan, is their single mom, who is working in real-estate. In the movie, Joan is planning to host a real-estate event at her house in the evening and she has to leave Sally and Conrad at home while she is at work preparing for the event. Unlike the book, the movie version introduces a babysitter that stays with the kids to watch them; however, she sleeps the whole time. There is also the introduction of Lawrence who plays Joan's love interest. Lawrence does not care for the kids and plans to encourage Joan to send Conrad off to military school. Throughout the movie, the Cat in the Hat and the children find themselves in the same silly adventures such as juggling household items to playing with Thing 1 and Thing 2. In the movie, the crate in which Thing 1 and Thing 2 arrived in releases a magical world that takes over the house. The movie is a much wilder ride than the book, which leaves the audience worrying to the last minute that the Cat won't be able to get things back in order in time for Joan's big event.

Both the movie and the book are wonderful adventures. I have found that picture books that are remade tend to have more new things added to them, such as characters and events, than chapter books. I can understand that it would take a lot more to make a film though than it would a book, so it isn't any wonder that film companies have to add a lot of padding to shorter books like The Cat in the Hat. Either way, I was impressed at the key components that were carried over from the book to the film, and I felt that the added parts went well with the original storyline.

Diversity Addressed in Children's Literature

I have just read a wonderful book for young adults that highlights issues of diversity. The book is called Drita My Homegirl by: Jenny Lombard. This book needs to be a part of every school library collection because it represents a relationship that is sincere and it shows young readers that they shouldn't judge someone just because he/she is different from them. The story allows the reader to see the world through the eyes of a Kosovo runaway, and through the eyes of an African-American girl. Both girls are experiencing the same thing but in a much different way. Through Drita, the reader gets to see what life is like as an outsider to a new school when there are culture and language barriers. Through Maxie, the reader gets to see the inside perspective of how a new student is judged and received by the class.

In this story the author has allowed for there to be two starring roles, one for Drita, and one for Maxie. Each chapter alternates between the two girl's lives, allowing the reader to see the story from both perspectives. Drita is sharing her story of being the new girl to a town and school that are completely foreign to her. Drita's family has fled from Kosovo, pronounced Kosova by her, to come to America for a safer and better life. When they reach America to meet up with Drita's father, who has already been there a year, they find that it is not as wonderful as they had hoped it would be. Drita has a hard time fitting in at school because she cannot communicate with those around her that well. Drita's mother goes through a serious depression because her cousin is missing and she fears the worst.

On the other hand, there is Maxie. Maxie's life has been troubled for the past two years ever since her mother was killed in a car accident. Maxie finds that she cannot seem to control herself at school or home and ends up in trouble a lot. She has a lot to deal with as a ten year old girl. Her father and grandmother try to help her as much as possible, but she has trouble letting them help her without upsetting them or herself. Although, Maxie is not welcoming of Drita at first the girls continue to have run-ins at school that start to link them together. The book guides your through their struggles and allows them to help each other through the tough times together.

Every child at some point in his/her life will feel left out or overlooked. Therefore, I think this book is an eye-opener for students who are new to a school or know someone knew to a school that needs some help fitting in. This story is a great example of finding friendship in those who are different and not fleeing from them because of their differences.

This book reminds the reader of the importance of acceptance and gives the reader a chance to see the situation from both perspectives. Not all books allow the reader to have this opportunity so it was neat to be able to share Drita's uncomfortable move/transition and Maxie's challenging situation within the same book.

The story taught me that I shouldn't be scared of new situations or new people. Whether there are cultural differences or language barriers, there is still an opportunity to find a way to communicate and share with one another. This book would be great to share with intermediate aged children because it would give them a chance to see how different their lives can be from those around them. I think that this book could offer students a chance to visit a life that they don't know and help them learn to respect others who aren't just like them.

Happy Father's Day

Thank you to all of the fathers out there who make the world a better place for the children that you raise.

Don't forget to pick up a father's day book:

-Just Me and My Day by: Mercer Mayer

-A Perfect Father's Day by: Eve Bunting & Susan Meddaugh

-My Father's Hands by: Joanne Ryder & Mark Graham

-Little Critter: Happy Father's Day by: Mercer Mayer

-Just Dads: Nerves of Steel, Wills of Iron, Hearts of Pudding by: Bonnie Louise Kuchler

John Henry

John Henry

By: Julius Lester

Illustrations By: Jerry Pinkney

John Henry is a larger than life character who performs tasks that no other human would be expected to. This tall-tale themed story leads the reader through an unrealistic voyage of John Henry who grew to be a full sized man just minutes after being born. John Henry did things with inhumanly power and speed. John had the speed to outrun a horse and a steam drill, he was even an earlier riser than the sun. The sun was woken up by John, if need be, so he could get started on his work. Although John's life was filled with amazing accomplishments, he was best credited for outworking a steam drill through a mountain to help create a railroad. With his two hammers in tow, John couldn't be stopped. He tore through the mountain with all of his power and beat the steam drill. When John was finished, with a rainbow draped around his shoulders, he stood before the town's people who cheered him on, soon after John's heart burst and he died.

The story of John Henry is beautifully written and illustrated. The book offers an imaginative tale that tickles your imagination and brightens your smile. The world is always looking for a John Henry, someone who can do larger than life things. Just like in John's case, something more is always expected of those who can perform great tasks. Sometimes those people can remain held high and sometimes they fall. The most touching line in the book is, "Dying ain't important. Everyone does that. What matters is how well you do your living." (Lester and Pinkney, 1994). That statement brings the whole tale of John Henry into perspective and encourages the reader to take a look at him/herself and think about what he/she is doing for the world around him/her.

I enjoyed the story of John Henry. I think it offers the reader a chance to live in a world of fantasy where larger than life things can happen. I think we all look for things in life that are larger than us because of the joy and comfort it brings to us. In our society today, it is all about how quickly the task can be done. We are all trying to get to the next thing, sometimes forgetting how important it is to stop and "smell the roses." I felt overwhelmed by John's speed and work habits, I found myself thinking that he needed to take a break. Then I thought of my own life, I am always trying to do as much as I can without stopping to enjoy the work I am accomplishing. I don't know if the author intended to create those feelings within the reader, but either way I'm looking at life a little differently now.

Other books by Julius Lester and Jerry Pinkney:

-Uncle Remus: The Complete Tales

-Albidaro and the Mischievous Dream

-Sam and the Tigers: A Retelling of 'Little Black Sambo'

-The Old African

-Black Cowboy, Wild Horses

The Bracelet By: Yoshiko Uchida and Joanna Yardley

The Bracelet

By: Yoshiko Uchida

Illustrations by: Joanna Yardley

The Bracelet is a touching and true story about a young Japanese-American whose family is sent to a prison camp by Americans in 1942. The story is delicately written in a way that it accurately describes the historical aspect of the event and the difficulty of the event without completely devastating the reader. This book was enjoyable because it gave a true depiction of what life would have been like for a young child that was having to move from her home to go to a prison camp with her family. The child, Emi, doesn't understand why her family has to go and is upset to leave her friend Laurie, and her childhood home. She shares her feelings and the experience with the audience, allowing the reader to understand how difficult this time in history must have been. Yoshika Uchida does an amazing job of sharing this interesting and gripping story with audiences of all ages. This book helps young readers understand a time in history that was much different from the society of today. While reading the book, I felt very sorry for Emi and her family. I can only imagine how hard it would be for a seven year old to understand why she was having to leave her best friend and the town she grew up in to go live in a dirty horse stable, all for no reason that she was aware of. This book was a great depiction of what Japanese-Americans went through during this time period.

According to the book jacket, Yoshiko Uchida has written several books with the same theme because of her own Japanese-American background. Like Emi, Yoshiko was sent to live in prison camps with her own family and that experience prompted her to write this story (Yoshiko and Yardley, 1993).

Other books by Yoshiko Uchida include:
- Journey to Topaz: A Story of the Japanese-American Evacuation

-Journey Home

-Picture Bride: A Novel

-Desert Exile: The Uprooting of a Japanese-American Family

-A Jar of Dreams

Because of Winn-Dixie

Because of Winn-Dixie

Book By: Kate DiCamillo, 2000

Movie By: 20th Century Fox, 2005

A young girl named Opal finds herself meeting friends and finding adventures in the story Because of Winn-Dixie. Soon after finding a stray dog in a local Winn-Dixie supermarket, Opal finds her life changing quickly all because of the dog. She claims the stray dog as her own and names him Winn-Dixie. Although, Opal's father is somewhat hesitant, he agrees

to let Opal keep the dog. Winn-Dixie becomes the first friend that Opal makes in her new town of Naomi, FL. Not long after meeting Winn-Dixie, Opal becomes friends with lots of people throughout the town because of Winn-Dixie's friendliness.

I was very excited to see that the movie follows very closely with the flow of the book. I noticed very few differences between the two. I was surprised that the movie went along so well with the book. Usually, when movies portray books, several things are changed or added to make the

movie more theatrical. However, with the exception of a few things being moved to different spots in the film, the book and movie are nearly identical, even the characters' dialogue was the same.

The book begins by telling the story of how Opal got Winn-Dixie. Although, the movie begins with a little more background of why Opal is in Naomi than the book, it doesn't take long to pick up on the story of how Opal gets Winn-Dixie. Opal's father is not fond of the idea of her getting a dog in either story, but in the movie the landlord, Mr. Alfred plays a big role in trying to get Opal's father to get rid of the dog. A big part in both stories is the issue of Opal's mother being gone. She left Opal when Opal was a young girl. In the book, Opal gets her father to tell her the ten things about her mom soon after she gets the dog. In the movie, her father waits to tell her the tenth thing about her mom until the end. The relationship between Opal and her father is portrayed the same in the book and the film. In both, Opal refers to her father as a turtle that keeps in his shell. This is portrayed very well in the film as well. The adventures of meeting Miss Franny Block and Gloria Dump are the same in the film as in the book. However, in the movie they happen in a different order. In both, Franny tells the same two stories the first one is about the bear that came into the library and the second is about her great-grandfather being in the war, and she shares Littmus Lozenges. Gloria plays the same visually impaired woman, who loves peanut butter, and who had a drinking problem (which is evident by her tree of old alcohol bottles). In the book and the film, Opal befriends Otis, a worker at Gertrude's Pet Shop. He allows her to work at the pet shop to help her make money to buy Winn-Dixie a collar and a leash. Otis enchants the animals of the pet

shop in both stories with his guitar playing. The only difference with Otis, is that in the book he immediately tells Opal about being in jail, but in the movie she finds out from a police officer. The story lines of Sweetie Pie Thomas, Amanda Wilkinson, and Stewie and Dunlap Dewberry are the same in the book and the movie. Opal stays clear of Amanda because she always has a "pinched" face. However, Opal soon feels sorry for Amanda when she finds out that she has a pinched face because she went through a tragedy. The boys, Stewie and Dunlap, tease Opal in the book and the movie. Sweetie Pie Thomas is the same sweet little girl in the book as in the movie that follows Opal around from time to time. Sweetie Pie loves Winn-Dixie in both too. At the end of the book, Opal plans a party with Gloria. In the movie, Opal's dad does not come to the party, in the book he does. However, in both party scenes from the book and the movie Winn-Dixie disappears because he gets scared during the thunderstorm. I don't want to spoil the end, but in both stories, everything comes together again.

I loved the book and the movie. The book is a classic that every child should experience. As a matter of fact, it was a Newbery Honor book in 2001. The story of Opal and her dog, Winn-Dixie, is a touching and a sweet tale of overcoming the sourness that life sometimes holds to find the sweetness that's in there too. I would recommend them both.

From Book to Movie

Years ago, I was excited to hear that one of my favorite books was going to be made into a film. That book was Charlotte's Web by: E.B. White. These days it is not uncommon to see an advertisement for a movie that is based on a children's book or any book for that matter. There are several: Bridge to Terabithia, The Indian in the Cupboard, How to Eat Fried Worms, Holes, The Cat in the Hat, Jumanji, Horton Hears a Who, Because of Winn-Dixie, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas are a few of them. Although, the movies were patterned after the books, there are many differences between the two.




Jumanji

Book By: Chris Van Allsburg, 1981

Movie: TriStar Pictures, 1995

Jumanji is a story about a board game that is different than most. This board game fills the house with wild animals and adventures. The book and the movie shared some similarities and lots of differences.

The Book:
In the book two children are looking for something to do because their parents have gone out and they are bored. They go to the park and find Jumanji, a board game underneath of a tree. Judy, the girl, decides you wants to take it home and play it, so she convinces her brother Peter to join her. They soon realize that although the game looks a lot like the other games they have, it is really much different. In this game, animals appear and real life things happen based on what the board says. Peter and Judy play the game and encounter the lion first. The lion appears on the piano and chases Peter and Judy. Next, they come into contact with monkeys in their kitchen. After the monkeys, they roll the dice and find that their next adventure brings a monsoon through their home. Once this occurs, they continue to quickly roll the dice to move through the game and meet a tour guide who is lost. Then a tsetse fly appears and sends Peter into a deep sleep. Judy quickly rolls to keep things moving. She brings a pack of rhinos through the house, followed by a python, and then a volcanic eruption. Finally, the children realize that if a twelve is rolled the game will be over. To their surprise, the twelve is rolled and with a cool breeze the house is back to normal again. The children decide to take the game back where they found it.

The movie is much different than the book. The game concepts are kept the same in the movie as in the book. In the movie and the book, the game had to be played until it was finished for it to end. In both of them there is a lion that appears on a piano, monsoons, monkeys in the kitchen, and rhinos. Not to mention, in both someone has to roll a twelve to conclude the game. However, in the movie the twelve does not get rolled. There are many differences between the book and the movie. The book makes the game seem fun and interesting. The movie makes the game out to be a dreaded curse that should be avoided at all costs. In the movie, Peter and Judy are not the first to play the game and they do not live with their parents.

In the movie, it begins in the year 1869 with two boys, Caleb and Benjamin, burying the game. Then it flashes forward to 1969 and introduces Alan Parrish. Alan finds the game in a building lot and takes it home. He has an upsetting fight with his parents and tells them that he doesn't plan on speaking with them ever again. His parents leave to go out and as Alan packs to run away someone comes to visit him. Sarah, a friend from school arrives, he asks her to play the game he has found, Jumanji. She teases him that games are for kids, and throws the dice down, which involves her in the game. Immediately bats start flying through the air and Sarah panics. Alan rolls and gets banished to the jungle, the game pulls him into thin air. Sarah, shocked and horrified runs from the house. The movie flashes forward again to 1995 and introduces Peter and Judy (the original book characters). Only this time, Peter and Judy are living with their aunt because their mother and father were killed in an automobile accident. Peter and Judy find Jumanji in the attic of their new house (the old Parrish place) and decide to play. Unlike the book, the game sends out a drumming beat to lure children to it, adults cannot hear the noise. Peter and Judy realize the game was more than they bargained for when giant mosquitoes attempt to attack them after the first role. Soon after they realize that they must play the whole game to end it. Peter and Lucy experience the same adventures as the children in the book did, just with different animals and in a different order. For Peter and Judy, the monkeys appear in the kitchen (just like the book) after the mosquitoes. After the monkeys, the lion on the piano appears, but so does Alan. He is released from the game because Peter and Judy rolled a five or an eight. The kids convince him that he has to play with them after they help him find out his parents are no longer alive and their only hope for ending the game is if he plays. Alan decides that they also need Sarah to play too. They find Sarah who is very relentless about not playing, but they force her to anyway. Unlike in the book, the next hurdle to cross are large vines and poisonous plants that fill the house. After the next roll, a hunter appears and spends quite a long time trying to kill Alan. In the book, a tour guide shows up, not a hunter. In the movie, there was a need for something more dramatic, so a violent hunter was added in. Next, a stampede of rhinos, zebras, and other animals trample through the house and around the town. In the book, the animals stayed in the house, in the movie the animals, vines, and water spread throughout town, wreaking havoc everywhere. At some point in all of this, Peter is turned into a monkey, which does not happen in the book. As the movie nears its end, a monsoon is released (which appeared in the book as well), then Alan gets stuck in quicksand with Sarah, and soon after that large spiders attack. The quicksand and spiders were not mentioned in the book. Finally, the hunter reveals himself again and fires a shot at Alan, but before the shot can strike Alan the dice rolls and the game ends.

The movie is of course much more theatrical and detailed than the book. The movie takes the book to new heights and lengths by adding a deeper storyline, more characters, and more action. Although, the names, the game, and some of the adventures stayed the same, a lot of new things were added to make this a very entertaining film. I enjoyed the book and the movie and would recommend them.

The Lorax By: Dr. Suess

Prior to this class I had never heard of the book The Lorax by: Dr. Suess. After I read it, I was in love with it. This book teaches a great lesson about taking care of the Earth. The book tells the story of the Once-ler who made Thneeds from all of the resources in the environment. The Lorax continued to warn of him of the harm he was doing to the beautiful area, but he didn't listen. He would reply, "Business is business!...and business must grow..." (Suess, 1971). The Once-ler continued to pollute the environment by running his business so he could make lots of money. This book focuses on the greediness of business owners to make money at whatever cost to the environment and others. This tale was beyond its time, and was not well received. However, in the day where "going-green" is the hip thing to do, this book would be a hit.

I plan on purchasing this book for my own classroom. I think that it offers a wonderful example of how quickly we can affect the environment around us. I also think that my students would enjoy it as much as I did. The book spreads a great lesson of how one person can make a difference in the world.

The Lorax is a didactic book because it focuses on teaching a lesson which is what didactic means. The book is designed to teach the reader that one person can change the world around them either in a positive or negative way. In the book the reader is taught that one person can stand up to make a change to make the world a better place. Even though it only took the Once-ler (one person) to destroy and pollute the environment around him, it would only take the child planting a new seed to bring the environment back to normal again. This book teaches the reader that it is important to take care of the world around him/her.

Didactic books are being published today because society now supports teaching lessons through literature. Teaching children about taking care of the environment is a popular theme in books today. For example, there is now a set of books called Little Green Books which teach about environmental issues. Not to mention, the books in the series are made from recycled paper. The book stores and libraries are full of books today designed to teach children lessons for leading better lives. Every Berenstain Bear book you read is dripping with morals and values to learn. Each book outlines a new lesson to be learned about friendship, manners, environmental awareness, and more. Another book that comes to mind is Giraffes Can't Dance by: Giles Andreae. This book helps children learn to be themselves and never give up because other's do not believe in them. Children are surrounded with positive materials such as these to help them grow and learn through literature.

The Crazy Antics of The Cat in the Hat

I imagine that every childhood was delighted with the whimsical tales from Dr. Suess. Dr. Suess has a way to entertain like no other author. His tales are full of odd characters, creative creatures, and rhyming themes. Not to mention, some of Suess' tales tend to go to an unknown place that become nonsense and sometimes a little dark. Regardless of age, gender, or race, these books are a delight to read. They are all timeless classics that will continue to entertain the world for years to come.

I have always enjoyed The Cat in the Hat. He comes to visit Sally and her brother on one wet day. He causes mischief and mayhem, to entertain the young children. Their poor fish spends the day fretting over the events that are taking place. By the time the cat is finished the house is a mess, leaving the others concerned for their mother's return. However, just as quick as the cat messed up the house, he cleans it up just as fast.

I loved reading this book when I was a little girl. This book was simple to read, so I could read it when I was very young. I remember reading it over and over again thinking about how upset I would be if a cat came and messed up my house while my mother way away. I guess you could say I was a major neat freak.

When I think of a book that has the same type of tension that was presented in The Cat in the Hat, I think of the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by: Laura Joffe Numeroff with Illustrations by: Felicia Bond. While reading If You Give a Mouse a Cookie I am reminded of the same tension I felt when I read The Cat in the Hat. Both books have the same theme of things getting more and more complicated. In both stories there is an animal that is controlling a human(s) to meet his/her every need and causing trouble while doing so. Just like the Cat keeps doing more and more tricks, the Mouse keeps asking for more and more things. Both stories create endless circles of nonsense that leave the reader feeling sorry for the human character in the story who has no control of the situation.

Both of the books appeal to young reader's because it is funny to see others in trouble. As young children, we are delighted by other's short falls. I think of how much I laughed when I saw Wile E. Coyote getting smashed by another anvil. The cartoons show it and so do books. The theme of unrealistic nonsense and frustration and children love every minute of it.

Coretta Scott King Award Book

According to Brown and Tomlinson in Essentials of Children's Literature (2005), there are two Coretta Scott King Awards. One honors the writing in the book, the other honors the illustrations. Brown and Tomlinson (2005) define the Coretta Scott King Award for writing as, "Outstanding inspirational and educational contribution to literature for children and young people by an African-American author published in the previous year." The illustration award states the same only it names an illustrator instead. This award was developed in 1970 (Brown and Tomlinson, 2005). Like the Newbery and Caldecott Awards, the Coretta Scott King award may recognize books that receive the honor but do not receive the award/medal. For lack of a better term, these are the second or third place finishers.

1999 Winner:

Heaven

By: Angela Johnson

This book is a moving tale of a young girl who leads a "normal" life until one day she finds out it is all a lie. Marley is a fourteen year old girl with the world at her fingertips. She has a family that loves her, friends that support her, and is carefree as can be. She lives the life that most young girls do, spending her time babysitting, Feather, or hanging out with her friends. Throughout the book, Marley receives and sends letters back and forth with her Uncle Jack. She is intrigued by his adventures. The world outside of her peaceful town of Heaven is not spoken of. Most of the people who are in Heaven are content to have found themselves there and don't see a reason for leaving. Marley is content to spend her days following around her buddy, Shoogy, who she doesn't quite understand but loves anyway. Shoogy, seems to live the perfect life, but Marley soon realizes that maybe her own life isn't as bad as it seems. Sometimes having everything around you be true perfection isn't all it seems. Marley's world gets turned upside down when her "parents" reveal a secret to her that she wishes she would have been told years ago. This story takes you through her pain and tugs at your heartstrings. As complicated as it seems, Marley finds a way to make Heaven her home again.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a heartwarming tale of love and family relationships. The friendships that Marley shares reminds me of the ones I had growing up. The awkward banter between her and her brother reminds me of the desperate conversations my brother and I had when we were young. We always found a way to connect even if we didn't have a lot to say. Overall, this book touched my heart and reminded me of how important a family is. Whatever type of family system you grew up in, if you call them your family they are your family; whether they are blood relatives or not.

This book stands out amongst other books because it handles a very touchy subject with tenderness and maturity. I imagine that a fourteen year old would have acted as Marley did in the book right down to the lack of words to the uncontrollable tears. The author did an exceptional job of portraying a young woman in the heartache of betrayal. I could feel Marley's confusion and frustration.

From this book I realized that I am intrigued by books that do not relate to my own life. I enjoyed being able to experience the life of someone else through this author's work. Marley's life was different than the one I live in, but I loved being able to see how she viewed the world around her. I found it very interesting to unfold the events in her life with her and imagine how she must have felt.

This book addresses diversity because it helps the reader experience the life of someone who is dealing with a dilemma that is not something that happens everyday. This book allows the reader to see the world through the eyes of a young woman who has just found out the world she has lived in for fourteen years is not what it seemed to be after all. As stated in Essentials of Children's Literature (2005), "Part of growing up involves the discovery that not all people are the same; part of becoming a healthy and humane adult is accepting the differences in oneself and in others." Throughout this entire book, Marley is recognizing the differences in her life and the lives of Shoogy and Bobby. Although, she wants to know more about their pasts, Marley is content to resolve that they are different from her. Each of their pasts have led them to the point that they are when they meet. This book addressed diversity by allowing me to see through the eyes of a young, African American woman. This book helped me to understand her life and the way she saw the world. Not to mention, I was able to learn about the life of a single father, and a "cutter" in this story. Overall, my eyes were opened to many new lifestyles that I was not originally in tune with.

Newbery VS Caldecott: Who Wins?

The Newbery Award and Caldecott Award are both prestigious in their own manner. The Newbery Award was established to honor authors. According to the American Library Association website (2009), "The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association for the most distinguished American children's book published the previous year." There is one winner but others may be honored as well. When I think of a Newbery book, I think of a well-written book. This is the type of book that I am going to want to pick up and read because it is going to be great. If it is receiving such a wonderful award, it should be fantastic.

Then there is the Caldecott Award. The Caldecott Award was established to honor illustrators. According to the American Library Association website (2009), "It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children." I love looking at Caldecott winners because they offer such an interesting display of art. When I open a Caldecott winner the anticipation sweeps off of me and I wander through the pages, letting my imagination run wild. Most of these books are completed so creatively, it makes me wish that I could be artistic myself.

I couldn't say that one of these awards is more prestigious than the other. Both awards are honoring a work of art. One is written word, the other is visual art; however, both are art. To say one honor was more important or better than the other would discredit the work of the author or illustrator. To create a book sometimes you need an author, sometimes you need an illustrator, and sometimes you need both. However, you can create quality literature with either, so they should both have a defined honor that they are able to receive.

Another Newbery Award Book

2007 Medal Winner:

The Higher Power of Lucky

By: Susan Patron

Illustrations by: Matt Phelan

Lucky is a ten year old girl who is full of worry. She spends her days worrying that her guardian, Brigitte, will send her to an orphanage so that she can go back to live in France. Lucky was left in Brigitte's care when her mother died and her father did not have the desire to care for her. Brigitte happened to be Lucky's father's previous wife. Throughout the book Lucky searches for a Higher Power to help her through this difficult time but doesn't understand how to find it. She often eavesdrops on a local Twelve Step program to help her figure out how to find the Higher Power. She spends her days with Lincoln, her knot-making friend, who she claims will be the president one day. Her dog HMS Beagle is her loyal companion, along with Lincoln. There are also adventures sprinkled in with a neighbor boy, Miles, and a recovering alcoholic, Short Sammy. This is a tale of loss and grief that is lighted by interludes by Sammy, Miles, and Lincoln. Although Lucky struggles with the fear of losing Brigitte, she plays the tough card to keep from looking soft. This book takes you through the mind of a child who is dealing with the loss of a parent. From my perspective, it was hard to understand how she must feel because I have not experienced such a sad fate. However, it could be very comforting for a child that has had to deal with such a tragedy.

I enjoyed this book because it gave me hope for Lucky. Although, I spent most of the book worrying about her, much like I do the children in my classroom. I guess it is my nurturing spirit to worry about the children that I encounter. I wanted things to work out for her, just like I do the other children in my life.

Lucky's character reminded me of Leslie in the book Bridge to Terabithia by: Katherine Paterson. She is a free spirit, with lots of imagination. Both girls see the world in a way that others do not, making them refreshing characters that are outside of the "norm".

This book helped me realize that a book about death doesn't have to be depressing. Although there was a deep underlying theme of death in the story, it did not overwhelm the book. I was delightfully surprised at how well the book honored the death but also focused on life going on afterwards. This is book that offers a true-to-life circumstance without the dark cloud covering it.

Newbery Award & Honor Books

The Newbery award is different than the Caldecott award. The Caldecott award honors an illustrator's work. According to Essentials of Children's Literature (2005), the Newbery award is given to, "The most distinguished contribution to children's literature published in the previous year." Like the Caldecott award, the Newbery is also given to an American author.

2001 Winner:

A Year Down Yonder

By: Richard Peck

This is a delightful tale of a young lady named Mary Alice who finds herself living with and learning from her Grandma Dowdel, even though she dreaded the thought of having to live with her. The story takes places in the early 1900's in the time of the recession. Mary Alice is sent to live with her Grandma because her family is going through a difficult time financially. Although, Grandma is feared by most of the town, Mary Alice soon finds that her hard exterior doesn't reveal the true Grandma inside of her. What should have been a terrible year turns into a roller coaster ride of adventures for Mary Alice. From fox hunting to catching mischievous trick-or-treaters, this story never stops. Grandma surprised Mary Alice and me too. She is a loving, charitable person with a hard outer appearance. I fell in love with her along with Mary Alice.

If you are in the mood for a heartwarming tale that will keep you intrigued from beginning to end, this is the book for you. The book reminds me of my own adventures with my Mamaw. Of course, we all have times when we are embarrassed by our relatives. However, it is always exciting to see what new things they can teach us. My Mamaw sprinkled my childhood with lessons on how to cross stitch, how to make juice for a ham, and how to dye a fabulous Easter egg. Although, she wasn't nearly as feared as Grandma Dowdel, or trigger happy for that matter, she was still full of delightful surprises. I learned as much from her as Mary Alice did from Grandma Dowdel.

This book stands out among other books. Although it is not a lengthy book, it is complete from beginning to end. At no point during the story did it lose steam or fall short of my expectations. This is a true to the country style book, it reminds me of books such as Little House on the Prairie by: Laura Ingalls Wilder and Sarah, Plain and Tall by: Patricia MacLachlan.

From this book I learned that children's literature can be full of life lessons. This book helped me to recognize the importance of family relationships and relationships in general. Overall, this book helped support the phrase, "It's what's on the inside that counts."

More Caldecott Award Winning & Honor Books

2005 Honor Book:

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale

By: Mo Willems

If you have not read this book yet, you better go get it now! I loved Knuffle Bunny. Of the Caldecott books that I read, this was definitely my favorite. If you are a parent or a nearby stranger who has witnessed a baby's meltdown, you would enjoy this book. Trixie is the little lady in this book who is in love with her Knuffle Bunny. One day Trixie's dad takes her to the laundromat with him and she loses Knuffle Bunny. Trixie, unable to talk, spends the day crying, screaming, and absolutely melting down, leaving her poor dad in absolute misery. I often see children having these fits and wonder what could possibly be so wrong with them. I now know, that it doesn't have to be much more than lack of communication abilities. If I couldn't talk to others to tell them what was wrong, I would probably scream and cry too. All ages will love this tale. The illustrations in this book are like nothing I have ever seen before. Mo Willems sets fictional characters to real-life backgrounds in a very pleasing way. From this book I have learned that I can get a good laugh out of a real-life drama. The next time I see a child having a meltdown, I'm going to have to wonder if he/she has lost his/her Knuffle Bunny!

2004 Honor Book:

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

By: Mo Willems

Mr. Willems delivers another hit out of the park with this tale of a stubborn pigeon. Although, the book is decorated with very few pictures, they are well suited and organized for the book. The sketches are simple and so is the story, making it a comical and an easy to read tale. The illustrations appear to have been done in crayon and pencil. The text reminds me of a young child trying to persuade someone to let him/her do something. I was fully entertained by this nonsensical banter and could have read it over and over again. I couldn't help but think of all of the times I had begged and pleaded with my parents to let me do something often offering up bargaining comments such as, "I never get to do anything!", "I'll be your best friend.", and ,"No fair." All of these were found in the book as well. Willems did not disappoint in the humor factor in this book either. He continued to lure audiences in with creative illustrations and true to life banter in both books. He has taught me that children are interesting and entertaining creatures, with persuasive power.

2003 Winner:

My Friend Rabbit

By: Eric Rohmann

If you have ever had a friend that usually gets you into more trouble by trying to help, then you need to read this book. Rabbit and Mouse are good friends, but Rabbit is the type of friend that makes things worse by trying to help. Although, he is full of ideas, sometimes things just shouldn't be done his way. This reminds me a lot of my brother and I when we were growing up. Even if I knew his suggestion would get us into more trouble, I did it anyways because I wanted to be his pal. I think that anyone who reads this book could quickly find someone in their life who they could relate it to. This is a very simple book, without a lot to say. I would have to say that it was probably my least favorite of the ones I read. I've learned from this book that creative illustrations can do more for a book than words can. Sometimes the pictures can make the story come alive.

Caldecott Award Winning Books and Honor Books

What is a Caldecott Award winning book or honor book? You may be wondering. Well, the Caldecott Award is given out each year for, "the most distinguished picture book for children published in the previous year." (Brown & Tomlinson, 2005). This award is given to an American illustrator.

Here are a few that I have taken a look through:

2007 Caldecott Winner:

Flotsam by: David Wiesner

This is a wordless, magical trip through the eyes of a camera lens. A young boy finds entertainment in the items he finds on the shoreline of the ocean. A camera finds its way to him as he ventures through the waterline and he can't wait to see what it will reveal. Years of imaginative things reveal themselves to the boy through the photos.

The illustrations are realistic and look water colored across the page. I enjoyed the book because it was very imaginative. Each person that looks through it could interpret it in a whole new way. I believe it would be appealing to those students who have difficulty reading. They could write their own words for this book just by looking at the pictures. This book offers your imagination a free ride and lets you determine the destination. This book takes place on a beach, my favorite place in the world, so it is no wonder I enjoyed it so much. The pictures remind me of my own childhood experiences exploring the ocean side.

This book offers a twist of the traditional books about the ocean. The author doesn't make the undersea adventures meet the normal expectations of sea life. He allows the reader to think outside of the box. From this book I have learned that books don't need words to tell a story. In fact, words might have ruined this book.

2006 Caldecott Winner:

The Hello, Goodbye Window

Written By: Norton Juster

Illustrated By: Chris Raschka

This is a tale of a young girl who often visits her Nanna and Poppy. She enjoys the time spent with them, especially in their busy kitchen by the popular greeting window. The window is also known as the hello, goodbye window. The window allows them to greet each other upon arrival and bid farewell upon departure. This book reminds me of the times I shared with my own grandparents. We often spent a lot of our time in the kitchen too, making cookies, playing cards, or other fun things of the sort. Just like the little girl in the story, I always enjoyed spending time at my grandparent's house. My grandparents had a glass security door that reminds me a lot of the window in the book. I could see those coming to visit or recognize it was time to go when my parents arrived to pick me up. The theme of this book reminds me of the Arthur books and Berenstain Bears books where they go to visit their grandparents. This book offers a reminiscent tale of spending time with grandparents. I really enjoyed this book; it was a water colored work of art. I have learned from this story that I really enjoy a book that I can relate to; it seems so much more meaningful.

Time to Crack Open the Books

In the upcoming posts I'm going to be talking about some books that I am reading. Sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself. Hopefully, you will be inspired to read some on your own.

Welcome

Welcome to Mrs. Kleinholter's blog. I am Mrs. Kleinholter, a fourth grade teacher who is excited about completing my master's degree program at Western Kentucky University. Go Hilltoppers! As I complete this coursework, I find myself creating a blog to document my experiences in my children's literature course.

If you haven't been reading children's books, you need to be! I love getting caught up in a good book with my students. It takes me to a new place with them. Hopefully, I can encourage you to read some of the books I discuss on this site. Who knows, you may help introduce me to some books, too.