Book Review: SWAMP ANGEL by Anne Isaacs

Bibliography

Isaacs, Anne. SWAMP ANGEL. Ill. by Paul O. Zelinsky. New York: Dutton Children’s Books, 1994. ISBN 0525452710.

Plot Summary

In this tall tale set in the Tennessee frontier, Angelica Longrider is a very special and BIG character. When she was born in 1815, she was “scarcely taller than her mother.” By the time she was two-years-old, Angelica built her first log cabin. At twelve-years-old, Angelica rescued some stranded settlers in a swamp and was known as Swamp Angel from that time forward.

One summer in Tennessee, a huge bear named Thundering Tarnation was wreaking havoc on all the settlers, who became desperate and started a competition to stop the bear. The competition was for the best hunter to kill Tarnation and the prize was his pelt and the title of Champion Wildcat. Hunters and daredevils from all over Tennessee tried to kill the Tarnation, but none were successful. Until Swamp Angel.

After the hunters scoff at Angelica for joining the competition, she wrestles the bear all across the Tennessee hills, throwing him high in the air, and lassoing him back to the ground with a tornado. Swamp Angel and Thundering Tarnation wrestled for so long, they both fell asleep and still they continued fighting. The bear and Swamp Angel snored so loudly in their sleep, they knocked down trees. One of the trees fell on Tarnation, killing him. The settlers celebrated with the “biggest celebration the state had ever known.” Since Tarnation’s pelt was too big for Tennessee, Swamp Angel moved it Montana and used it as a rug, which is now known as the Shortgrass Prairie.

Critical Analysis

SWAMP ANGEL is an amusing tall tale with a strong, larger-than-life female protagonist and main character. The plot of the story is simple and full of the typical exaggeration found in tall tales. From the first page, the story and illustrations quickly establish the setting as the Tennessee frontier during the early 1800’s. The conflict of fighting the bear was funny and crucial to the plot. The dialogue captures the spoken language of early settlers and fits the culture of that time period and place. The tale has a satisfying resolution with Swamp Angel stopping Tarnation and saving the settlers. The story and illustrations show the reader that this story is a tall tale with the characteristic exaggerated narrative and oversized characters.

The illustrations are painted in oil on cherry, maple, and birch veneers. The illustrations provide beautiful details and match the humor of the story perfectly. I found the wood veneer backgrounds very interesting and fitting for the setting of the story. Swamp Angel is a large character and the illustrations demonstrate her great size, especially the scenes of Swamp Angel wrestling Thundering Tarnation. The illustrations reflect the dress and customs of the time and setting. Together the story and illustrations represent the culture of the frontier with some authenticity despite the story being a tall tale. I enjoyed reading SWAMP ANGEL and feel this would be a great addition to a social studies unit about frontier times or language arts unit about tall tales.

Review Excerpt(s)

1995 Caldecott Honor Winner

1994 ALA Notable Book
NEW YORK TIMES Best Illustrated Books of 1994

From Publisher’s Weekly

“This valiant heroine is certain to leave youngsters chuckling-and perhaps even keeping a close watch on the night sky.”

From Kirkus

“It is impossible to convey the sheer pleasure, the exaggerated loopiness, of newcomer Isaacs's wonderful story. Matching the superb text stride for stride are Zelinsky's (The Wheels on the Bus, 1990) altered-state, American primitive paintings--gems that provide new pleasures, reading after reading.”

Book Connections

Other books written by Anne Isaacs:

DUST DEVIL, ISBN 0375867228.

MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH, ISBN 0375867457.

PANCAKES FOR SUPPER, ISBN 0439644836.

Other books illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky:

KNICK KNACK PADDYWHACK, ISBN 0525469087.

THE LION AND THE STOAT, ISBN 0688025625.

THE WHEELS ON THE BUS, ISBN 0525446443.

Other traditional literature Caldecott Medal Winners:

Brown, Marcia. ONCE A MOUSE…, ISBN 0684126623.

Haley, Gail E. A STORY A STORY, ISBN 0689205118.

Mosel, Arlene. THE FUNNY LITTLE WOMAN, ISBN 0140547535.

Activities for SWAMP ANGEL:

• To learn further about the character, Angelica Longrider, read DUST DEVIL by Anne Isaacs.
• Read other tall tales like PECOS BILL by Steven Kellogg and Laura Robb or JOHN HENRY by Julius Lester and Jerry Pickney. Compare and contrast the stories and discuss elements of tall tales.
• For a social studies unit, research local tall tales and write your own version. Publish the story using Web 2.0 tools.

Book Review: THE THREE LITTLE PIGS AND THE SOMEWHAT BAD WOLF by Mark Teague

Bibliography

Teague, Mark. THE THREE LITTLE PIGS AND THE SOMEWHAT BAD WOLF. New York: Orchard Books, 2013. ISBN: 0439915014

Plot Summary

A farmer and his wife are moving to Florida, so they pay their three pigs for their good work and send them on their way. The first pig buys potato chips and builds his house of straw. The second pig buys “sody-pop” and builds his house of sticks. The third pig uses her money to buy building materials and builds her house of bricks. Soon the Somewhat Bad Wolf comes into town very hungry, but has trouble finding anyone in town willing to serve him dinner. He follows his nose to the first pig’s house where the hungry wolf huffs and puffs the straw house down. The first pig runs away and the wolf moves to the second pig’s house. As the story typically goes, the wolf blows down the second pig’s house and moves to the third pig’s house, where he is unsuccessful at blowing down the brick house. With a twist to the story, the three pigs offer the hungry wolf potato chips and “sody-pop”, they all become friends, live happily together and there was, “no more huffing and puffing.”

Critical Analysis

In this fractured version of the Three Little Pigs story, Teague writes a humorous version of the traditional tale with an original ending. The illustrations are in bright textured oil paintings that complement the humor of the story and provide most of the characterization and setting. The setting is in a rural farm area and if readers pay attention to the illustrations, they will find farm characters on each page that are not directly mentioned in the story but provide some hilarity. Children should enjoy the humor, especially when the wolf exclaims, “I'm amazed that works!” after blowing down the second pig’s house. Yet older readers can appreciate the sense of humor of the pigs and the wolf and the twist at the end. Some readers might appreciate that the third pig is portrayed as a female, which is also a new spin to the traditional story.

Review Excerpt(s)

From Booklist

“Animated with drama and deadpan wit, Teague’s large-scale oil paintings show up very well from a distance, making this a good story-hour choice.”

From Kirkus

“Teague’s oil paintings are marvelously detailed and brightly colored. His pigs are full of personality, and their human traits and accessories are sure to delight.”

Book Connections

Read other books by Mark Teague:

FUNNY FARM, ISBN 0439914994.

PIGSTY, ISBN 0439598435.

THE SECRET SHORTCUT, ISBN 0439110912.

Other versions of The Three Little Pigs:

Scieszka, Jon. THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, ISBN 0140544518.

Wiesner, David. THE THREE PIGS, ISBN 0618007016.

Kellogg, Steven. THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, ISBN 0064437795.

Activities for THE THREE LITTLE PIGS AND THE SOMEWHAT BAD WOLF:

•  Write your own fractured version of the Three Little Pigs story and illustrate it.
•  Study other fractured versions of the Three Little Pigs, like Jon Scieszka’s The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, and study the different elements of each story. Use graphic organizers to map thinking and present information.
•  Reader’s Theater- Have students read the story for Reader’s Theater.
• Act out story, using props and costumes.

Book Review: THREE SAMURAI CATS retold by Eric A. Kimmel

Bibliography

Kimmel, Eric A. THREE SAMURAI CATS. Ill. by Mordicai Gerstein. New York: Holiday House, 2003. ISBN 0823417425

Plot Summary

In this adaptation of a Japanese folktale, a large and obnoxious rat causes havoc in the home of a daimyo (feudal lord), who is drawn as a dog. The daimyo seeks help removing the rat from a dōchō (senior monk), who is also drawn as a dog, at a distant shrine where samurai cats train and live. At first, the dōchō sent a beginner samurai cat to help remove the rat, but the samurai cat failed. Next, the dōchō sent a veteran samurai cat, but that cat also failed. With the rat still causing trouble and mischief in the daimyo’s home, the dōchō enlists the aid of Neko Roshi, a Zen master cat. The cat is drawn scruffy and old and doesn’t seem capable of remove the fighting rat. After appearing to only sleep and eat in the daimyo’s house for days and days, Neko Roshi defeats the rat by waiting for the rat to defeat himself, which happen to involve a gluttonous rat and a huge, sticky rice ball.

Critical Analysis

Kimmel’s lively retelling of a Zen parable set in medieval Japan and Gerstein’s anime-like illustrations make for an entertaining read. While children may not understand the Zen message of the story completely, they will understand the sense of the story and the humor of the illustrations. Kimmel’s writing style and Gerstein’s illustrations provide some insight into the Japanese culture. Kimmel names and identifies his characters with Japanese terms like daimyo and dōchō, while Gerstein’s pen and ink drawings are similar to Japanese anime. The plot is simple, words and pictures tell the story together, and there is a cute and funny resolution at the end.  Kimmel ends the story with a funny message for younger readers and a deeper lesson for older readers.

The illustrations are pen and ink drawings with oil paint on heavy vellum paper and provide the details of the setting and help set the lively pace of the story. In a note at the end of the story, Kimmel explains that the story is similar to what Zen masters might tell their students to get them to think beyond conventional ideas and methods. I believe older readers will appreciate the culture details in the illustrations and the Zen message behind the story, while younger readers will enjoy the characters and the funny ending.

Review Excerpt(s)

From School Library Journal

“Gerstein's lively cartoon illustrations are at their best in depicting the loathsome rat. The daimyo and the abbot are depicted as dogs, but there's no question as to who has the upper paw.” Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY

From Booklist

“Kimmel tempers the folktale’s heavy message about passive resistance with humorous, perfectly paced language that is ideal for read-alouds, and the characters in Gerstein’s colorful, detailed drawings are irresistible—the saggy-jowled hound in robes; the buffoonish, wildly costumed daimyo bulldog; the scruffy, shrunken Neko Roshi; and, best of all, the pot-bellied, gleefully wicked “barbarous rat,” who is more comic foil than villain.” Gillian Engberg

From Publisher’s Weekly

“Humor, wisdom and excitement make this offbeat tale a winner.”

Book Connections

Other books by Eric A. Kimmel:

THE GOLEM’S LATKES, ISBN 0761459040.

THE THREE PRINCES: A TALE FROM THE MIDDLE EAST, ISBN 0823411153.

IRON JOH, ISBN 0823411153.

Other books by Mordicai Gerstein:

A BOOK, ISBN 1596432519.

THE WILD BOY, ISBN 0374384312.

THE OLD COUNTRY, ISBN 1596431928.

Other books that are Caldecott Medal Winners:

Aardema, Verna. WHY MOSQUITOS BUZZ IN PEOPLE’S EARS: A WEST AFRICAN TALE, ISBN 0140549056.

Wiesner, David. THE THREE PIGS, ISBN 0618007016.

Zelinsky, Paul O. RAPUNZEL, ISBN 0142301930.

Activities for THREE SAMURAI CATS:

·         As part of a folktale study, discuss the types of folktale, specifically for this story. Use graphic organizers to map out your thinking.

·         Have students retell or act out the story, create props or costumes that fit the setting.

·         Have older students read Kenji Sora’s The Swordsman and the Cat, and compare and contrast with Kimmel’s THREE SAMURAI CATS the differences and similarities. Extend the activity by researching other versions and adaptations of the folktale.

Book Review: MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS by Robert McCloskey

Bibliography

McCloskey, Robert. MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS. Ill. by Robert McCloskey. New York: Viking, 1941. ISBN 0670451495.

Plot Summary

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard have flown a long way looking for a place to raise a family, far away from foxes and turtles, when they stop for the night on a small island in a pond in the Boston Public Garden. After not finding much to eat the next morning, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are ready to leave, when they spot a large swan pushing around a boat of people. The people in the boat throws peanuts for the ducks to eat and the ducks decide to stay at the pond. However, after a bicyclist almost ran them over, the Mallards decide to move on. They travel to different places around Boston until they find a spot on the Charles River and near the Public Garden to make a nest, hatch their eggs, and raise their ducklings. After teaching the ducklings to listen and follow, Mrs. Mallard escorts them through the streets of Boston to meet Mr. Mallard at the island in the pond at the Public Garden. Police officers along their route stop traffic to make way for Mrs. Mallard and her ducklings. After arriving safely to the pond, the Mallards and their ducklings live happily following the boats of people around and eating peanuts.

Critical Analysis

An enduring classic, MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS is illustrated with beautiful drawings tell a sweet story set in the early twentieth century. With brown shading and simple lines, Robert McCloskey brings to life the tale of a family of ducks trying to find a safe place to raise their family, which eventually takes them through the busy streets of Boston. McCloskey’s illustrations establish the setting as a busy city in an earlier time with enough details that those acquainted with Boston might recognize the familiar landmarks drawn on the page. The modest choice of brown for the drawings fits seamlessly with the background of the city, while providing enough details of the ducks to show texture in their feathers. The story itself is quaint and timeless, with illustrations that complement with a satisfactory amount of humor. 

Review Excerpt(s)

1942 Caldecott Medal Winner

From The Horn Book- "Robert McCloskey's unusual and stunning pictures have long been a delight for their fun as well as their spirit of place."

From Children’s Literature- "The quaint story of the mallard family's search for the perfect place to hatch ducklings. ... For more than fifty years kids have been entertained by this warm and wonderful story."

Book Connections

Other books by Robert McCloskey:

BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL. ISBN 0670175919

ONE MORNING IN MAINE. ISBN 0670526274

TIME OF WONDER. ISBN 0140502017

Other classic books that are Caldecott Medal Winners:

Burton, Virginia Lee. THE LITTLE HOUSE. ISBN 0812428080.

Keats, Ezra Jacks. THE SNOWY DAY. ISBN 0140501827.

Sendak, Maurice. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. ISBN 0060254920.

Activities for MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS:

• Observe and draw a picture of an animal. If it is an animal you can touch safely, use your hands to feel the animal’s texture and pay attention to details. Experiment with different methods of illustration and use MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS to get ideas for shading and shadows.

• Rewrite and illustrate a class version of MAKEWAY FOR DUCKLNGS. As a group, discuss what to write and assign illustrations individually. Have each student decide what to draw based on the writing portion assigned to them. Feel free to get creative. Your group could decide to write and draw about a family of elephants walking from the zoo to a park and how the city might react. Or what if you changed the setting to Africa or Asia, where elephant sightings are in their own habitat, instead of a zoo. Would people react the same way to seeing a family of elephants walking around in these places as people who only see an elephant occasionally in a zoo or circus?

Book Review: GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE DINOSAURS as retold by Mo Willems

Bibliography

Willems, Mo. GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE DINOSAURS. Ill. by Mo Willems. New York: Balzer + Bray, 2012. ISBN: 0062104187

Plot Summary

With a twist on the classic Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Mo Willems’s version involves Goldilocks entering the house of three hungry dinosaurs. “For no particular reason,” Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur, and a dinosaur visiting from Norway make pudding and move the furniture just so before leaving their house to hide and wait for Goldilocks. Upon entering the house, Goldilocks soon finds clues that all is not right in the house and maybe the owners are not who she thinks. Soon Goldilocks figures out that she should not be there and leaves quickly. The dinosaurs, of course, are severely disappointed that Goldilocks leaves just before they can catch her.

Critical Analysis

Mo Willems, author and illustrator, has a distinctive writing and illustrative style. He doesn’t use very many words, yet the words he chooses convey humor and irony clearly. Willems illustrations are simple line drawings, yet are essential to the story he tells in each of his books. GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE DINOSAURS is no exception. The drawings of Goldilocks and the three dinosaurs are simple and similar to other characters in Willems’ books. The illustrations are important in helping the reader (and Goldilocks) figure out the dinosaurs’ intentions. The story is a creative and humorous adaptation to a classic story.

Review Excerpt(s)

From Booklist- “Willems has delivered his very best work so far—this is a tasty treat for kids already fluent with the original, and for any fan of funny, and everybody will want to read it again and again and again.”

From Publisher’s Weekly- “With a sense of irony (and humor) as sharp as this dinosaur trio’s talons, Willems’s retelling is a sure bet for audiences who have moved beyond more gently witty fare.”

From School Library Journal- “This is pure Mo Willems, from the many visual gags in the cleanly drawn illustrations and the tight, tongue-in-cheek story line to the endpapers .... Readers of all ages will find much to chuckle about in this wacky retelling.”

Book Connections

Read other books by Mo Willems:

DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! ISBN 0439686172

KNUFFLE BUNNY: A CAUTIONARY TALE. ISBN 1844280594

THERE IS A BIRD ON YOUR HEAD! ISBN 1423106865

Activities for GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE DINOSAURS:

• Do an author study of Mo Willems, read different Mo Willems books.
• Act out and retell the story of GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE DINOSAURS.
• Write your own adaption of the classic story of Goldilocks and illustrate it.

Book Review: THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET by Brian Selznick

Bibliography

Selznick, Brian. THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET. Ill. by Brian Selznick. New York: Scholastic Press, 2007. ISBN 0439813786

Plot Summary

Using a combination of well-designed pencil drawings and prose, THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET tells the story orphan Hugo Cabret, who lives in a train station taking care of the station clocks for his unreliable and missing uncle. Hugo is caught stealing a mechanical toy by the owner of toy booth, George Méliès, who takes a prized notebook from Hugo. The book contains drawings of an automaton that Hugo is trying to repair. Hugo and George come to an agreement that allows Hugo to earn his notebook back by working at the toy booth. Hugo becomes friends with George’s goddaughter, Isabelle, who helps Hugo discover the secret of the automaton. 

The secret leads back to George, who admits to being a famous filmmaker that everyone thinks is dead, and asks Hugo to bring the automaton to him. Hugo goes to get the automaton and finds out his uncle is dead. After falling on train tracks running from the Station Inspector, Hugo is saved by George Méliès. The story ends six month later with Hugo living with George’s family and attending a special event honoring the films made by George Méliès.

Critical Analysis

Author and illustrator, Brian Selznick, has created a beautiful piece of art with THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET. The detailed pencil drawings play out before the reader like reel after reel of a silent movie films from a bygone era. The shading of the drawings create a grainy black and white view of a Paris train station at beginning of the twentieth century. Selznick also uses still images taken from early films as an interesting device to further the plot of the story. All of these illustrations together create the historical setting and tell much of the story of Hugo Cabret. 

The illustrations are vital to the reader for understanding and finding meaning in the story of an orphan boy trying to find a piece of his family in the mystery of an automaton. Selznick’s illustrations help develop the characters of Hugo, Isabelle, George, and Etienne just enough, while his writing style helps the reader delve even deeper into their motivations though still not deep enough. While the story moves quickly and the use of illustrations is fascinating, some of the characterization feel lost to the medium. 

The story of Hugo is inspired by the true story of early French film maker, George Méliès, which might motivate readers into learning more about early film making, automatons, and the early twentieth century. After reading Hugo’s story, I felt the need to watch excerpts from old silent films and learn about the history behind film making.

Review Excerpt(s)

2008 Caldecott Medal

From Publisher’s Weekly- “Here is a true masterpiece—an artful blending of narrative, illustration and cinematic technique, for a story as tantalizing as it is touching.”

From the New York Times- “It’s enough to say that ‘Hugo Cabret’ sits at the nexus of magic and storytelling and film, and that Brian Selznick — who, perhaps not so coincidentally, has the Hollywood legend David O. Selznick in his family tree — shows us a little magic of his own.”

Book Connections

Other books by Brian Selznick:

WONDERSTRUCK. ISBN 0545027896.

THE BOY OF A THOUSAND FACES. ISBN 0064410803.

THE HOUDINI BOX. ISBN 0689844514.

Other books that are Caldecott Medal Winners:

Floca, Brian. LOCOMOTIVE, ISBN 1416994157.

Gerstein, Mordicai. THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS, ISBN 0761317910.

Wiesner, David. FLOTSAM, ISBN 0618194576.

Activities for THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET:

• Go on a WebQuest about the book at the publisher’s website: http://www.scholastic.com/hugocabret/
• 
  
• Go on a web quest about George Méliès to learn what the facts are and what has been fictionalized for Hugo Cabret.
• 
  
• Watch the film, “A Trip to the Moon,” and discuss how the author and illustrator used illustrations to create a unique reading experience.
• Do a partner writing activity, describing what they would want an automaton to draw based on their interests and personalities.