Beautiful Blackbird

 Beautiful Blackbird Review 

By Kelly Hartman

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bryan, Ashley. Beautiful Blackbird. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2003 ISBN 0689847319

PLOT SUMMARY

Even though all of the birds of Africa are colorful, Blackbird is honored as the most beautiful of all. Ringdove is the first to request a ring of black around his neck, so Blackbird obliges by creating a "blackening brew in his medicine gourd." Soon all of the birds want a a touch of black with a painted line or a dot. In the end, all of the birds celebrate that black is beautiful, but Blackbird focuses on the importance of inner beauty.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS 

In his retelling of a Zambian tale, Ashley Bryan manages to create a story unique to the African culture while sending a global message of tolerance and acceptance. From the rhythm of the Show Claws Slide-"wings flip-flapping" and rap-like chants of "Black is beautiful, UH-HUH", Bryan invites the reader to participate in a celebration of his ethnicity. Ringdove's personal request of a ring of black sparks an interest in all of the birds of the forest; yet Blackbird is clear: "Color on the outside is not what's on the inside." Confident of his beauty, Blackbird is happy to share with the other birds; but ultimately he believes that the birds should stay true to self: "Just remember, whatever I do, I'll be me and you'll be you." In the end, Beautiful Blackbird balances the importance of pride in one's own culture while appreciating another.  

Bryan's artwork won the 2004 Coretta Scott Illustrator Award. By showcasing his mother's sewing and embroidering scissors on the endpapers, Bryan pays homage to his own heritage. In an author's note, he states that these were the scissors that he used to create the design of cut-paper for his story. Readers will be mesmerized by Bryan's cultural collage of colors and yet drawn to his focal point, Blackbird.  

AWARD AND REVIEW EXCERPTS 

2004 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner

Texas 2 x 2 List

"In this simple adaptation of a tale from the Ila-speaking people of Zambia, the message is clear: "Black is beautiful." "Ready-made for participative storytelling." Julie Cummins from Booklist 

CONNECTIONS

Author Study

   

    Introduction by Ashley Bryan and Read aloud of Beautiful Blackbird

    Official Website 

    Beautiful Blackbird Children's Book Festival 

Activities

    Learn the Show Claws Slide 

    Create Beaks and Claws

Gather more African Folktales 

A Story, A Story; An African Tale  9780689712012

Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti 9780805003116

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters 9780688040451

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale 9780140549058

    

The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig

 The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig Review 

By Kelly Hartman

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Trivizas, Eugene. The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1993 ISBN 0689505698

PLOT SUMMARY

As the three little wolves venture out into the world, their mother offers a word of advice: "Beware of the big bad pig." Even though the wolves build strong homes with proper materials, the big bad pig is determined to find the means to knock it down; if not by huffing and puffing, then by more destructive measures.  In the end, the wolves opt to use an unorthodox building material, and it surprisingly resolves their biggest issue.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS 

With this twisted plot, Trivizas spins a tale that readers will find familiar and comforting, yet pleasantly unpredictable. Elements like "once upon a time", good versus evil, and repetitions of three in a simple plot are carefully structured as the framework for this fairy tale.  However, readers quickly understand that the fractured details, such as a bad pig trying to destroy sweet wolves, make for an interesting story that begs to be read again and again. From beginning to end, Trivizas cleverly balances the new with the old to keep readers wondering as they turn to the next page. Instead of straw, sticks, and bricks, the wolves begin with the sturdiest of building materials like concrete, and iron bars; and instead of giving up, the determined pig is successful in knocking down the houses by any means, such as fetching a sledgehammer, drill, or dynamite.  Yet readers will delight in the familiar chants of "No, no, no...by the hair on our chinny-chin-chins" and "I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down."  All in all, the reader will be satisfied with the resolution when the pig and the wolves are able to live happily ever after.

The watercolor illustrations appeal to the youngest of readers. Oxenbury's drawings complement Triviza's story by matching its sophisticated wit. Advanced readers will delight in discovering more depth in the details of her drawings.  

AWARD AND REVIEW EXCERPTS 

School Library Journal Best Books of the Year

ILA/CBC Children's Choices

Booklist Editor's Choice 

"Among the wittiest fractured tales around." -Publishers Weekly(starred review)

CONNECTIONS

Writing Connection

Create a Recast.  Students will create a plot diagram with the story elements.  Then they will change on element on the plot diagram to create their own tale.  In addition, students can choose another familiar fairy tale to Recast into a fractured tale. 

    Writing Lesson

Gather...More Fractured Tales

Sleeping Ugly by Jane Yolen 9780698115606

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka  9780140544510

Cinder-Elly by Frances Minters  9780140561265

The Three Little Pigs Libguide(versions and variations)

Musical Connection-Wicked(a fractured tale)

Listen to songs from the musical, Wicked and compare to the plot of The Wizard of Oz. 

    

Swamp Angel

 Swamp Angel Review 

by Kelly Hartman

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Isaacs, Anne. Swamp Angel. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 1994 ISBN 0525452710

PLOT SUMMARY

Born in 1815 in Tennessee, Angelica Longrider stands taller with obvious supernatural strength even if those around her seem to think she's a normal infant.  At just the age of twelve , Angelica emerges from the fog to rescue stranded settlers and is crowned with the name Swamp Angel.  When a grizzly bear, Thundering Tarnation, threatens the peace and food supply, many hunters compete to put an end to its menacing ways. When the hunters prove to be no match for the huge bear, Swamp Angel is left to rescue the settlers once again. The foes battle back and forth with Swamp Angel coming out as the victor.  

 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS 

From the very beginning of Anne Isaacs' folktale, the reader is mesmerized by the "larger-than-life" description of Angelica and entertained by the blasé reaction of her parents and the community living with her. The storyteller solidifies her strong female hero-type the moment Angelica emerges from the mist to save desperate settlers, and makes the reader want to cheer with that one cry, "It's an angel." Pivotal to a folktale's plot, the reader is captured by the action-oriented challenge between Swamp Angel's good and Thundering Tarnation's evil.  Despite the exaggeration of the tale, the reader is satisfied with cultural markers set by Isaacs; the explanation of The Great Smoky Mountains-the fight stirring up so much dust; and Ursa Major-Swamp Angel throwing Thundering Tarnation up to the sky. In the end, all is resolved when Tarnation is defeated and all storehouses in Tennessee are stocked with bear meat.  Isaacs is successful in capturing the spoken language of the Appalachian culture, making this a story best read aloud in the accent of that region.

Paul Zelinksky's painted oils on cherry, maple, and birch veneers set the perfect backdrop for Swamp Angel, "the greatest woodswoman in Tennessee." The illustrations add to this story by giving the reader insight even when the narrator doesn't seem to understand the unrealistic nature of the tale. 

AWARD AND REVIEW EXCERPTS 

1995 Caldecott Honor Book

A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year

Winner of the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award

"Move over, Paul Bunyan, you are about to meet Swamp Angel, an original creation in the tall-tale tradition whose exploits are guaranteed to amaze and amuse a wide swath of readers. . . Visually exciting, wonderful to read aloud, this is a picture book to remember." -- starred review, Horn Book, March/April 1995, M.M.B.

"There are very few tall tales about extraordinary women in American folklore compared to those that extol the virtues of men, and this comic rendition about a gifted, powerful and helpful woman is in all ways superb." -- New York Times, 11/13/94, by Jack Zipes

CONNECTIONS

Writing and Storytelling Connection

Have students write a short script retelling the story.  Practice storytelling with voices, gestures, and props.

Gather...More Tall Tales 

Thunder Rose by Jerdine Nolen 9780152164720

Mike Fink by Steven Kellogg 9780688135775

Extension 

    Teacher Activities from the author

    Ideas 

Use our TexQuest Library Resources to Research(use permalink: un:roe; pw: hawks) 

•     Learn about Geography 
• Great Smoky Mountain
• Learn about Astronomy
• Ursa Major 

Another book by Anne Isaacs 

Dust Devil 9780375867224

 

Millions of Cats

Millions of Cats Review 

By Kelly Hartman

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Gag, Wanda. Millions of Cats. New York: Coward-McCann, 1956 ISBN 0698200918

PLOT SUMMARY

An old man sets out an adventure to grant his lonely wife's wish; one sweet little cat to call their own.  After he discovers a hill full of cats, he struggles to choose just one.  He returns home with all of the cats, but soon encounters a huge problem.  How will the old couple care for "trillions of cats"? With one question, their problem is resolved and they are left with a most wonderful treasure.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS 

It's no wonder that this Newbery Honor has stood the test of time, remaining the oldest American children's book still in print. Readers will identify with want of a pet in an effort to cure feelings of loneliness.  Gag's simple, yet unique descriptions of each cat, creates a tension for the reader much like that of the old man. It is difficult to choose just one.  Excitement builds as the old man travels back home with "hundreds, thousands, millions and billions and trillions of cats", yet even the youngest of readers will sense a problem on the horizon. When the cats drain the pond and devour the grass on a hill, the reader knows that too much of a good thing is indeed a terrible thing. The climatic turning point is reached when the cats fight to their deaths to be named the prettiest.  Ironically, the old man and old woman are left with a "very homely little cat", but their care and love help to turn it into "the most beautiful cat in the whole world." 

The black and white sketches depicting trillions of cats is mesmerizing.  The reader gets lost in a trance of the hills, valleys, and roads lined with so many felines; "cats here, cats there, cats and kittens everywhere." By the end of the story, readers will not be able to escape from the repetitive chorus, "Hundreds of cat, Thousands of cat, Million and billions and trillions of cats." Gag achieves a subtle message that still rings true for today's readers; less is more.  

AWARD AND REVIEW EXCERPTS 

1929 John Newbery Honor Book

1958 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award

1977 Kerlan Award

2017 Indies Choice Book Award, Picture Book Hall of Fame  

SLJ Top 100 Picture Books #21

"Considered by many to have ushered in the age of the modern picture book, this Newbery Honor winner is characterized by innovative design and a strong storyteller’s cadence.” -SLJ review 

CONNECTIONS

Gather...More Black and White Illustrated Picture Books 

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey  ISBN-13 : 978-0140501698

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey  ISBN-13 : 978-0140564341

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf  ISBN-13 : 978-0670674244

Research Cats with a Non-Fiction Paired Selection

Curious Cats by Katie Kawa ISBN-13: 978-1-43395-586-0

What Cats are Made of  by Hanokh Piven  ISBN-13: 978-1-41691-531-7

Learn How to Draw Cats

Learn to Draw Cats and Kittens: Step by Step Instructions for More than 25 Favorite Feline Friends by Robbin Cuddy  ISBN-13: 978-1-939581-66-2

Compare to Recent Newbery Winners

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander ISBN-13: 978-1-32878-096-6

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña ISBN-13: 978-0-399-25774-2

TeachingBooks Resources

Millions of Cats

Reference 

TeachingBooks.net (n.d.) TeachingBooks | Millions of Cats. Retrieved from https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=4536

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale Book Review

By Kelly Hartman 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Willems, Mo. Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 2004. ISBN 0439801982

PLOT SUMMARY

Trixie, who is too young to speak, goes with her daddy on an errand.  Trixie has a great time walking through the neighborhood with her stuffed bunny.  While Trixie plays at the laundromat, her bunny accidentally gets placed in a washing machine.  She doesn't realize it until she's on her way home; and since she can't speak, she throws a tantrum.  Her mommy notices that Knuffle Bunny is missing, so the family searches until they find the stuffed animal, wet, but safe and sound at the laundromat.  When Trixie is reunited with her prized possession, she is prompted to say her first words, "Knuffle Bunny."

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The joy of accompanying a parent on an errand with the added security of a beloved stuffed animal gives Trixie's story credibility with readers of all ages. Trixie's carefree playfulness has the reader hoping that she won't forget about her bunny.  But the detail of the stuffed animal in the basket and then peeking out of the window of the washing machine allows the reader to predict the inevitable. The reader agonizes with Trixie as she tries to communicate with daddy through gurgles, babbles, and tantrums, and then exhales a sigh of relief when mommy observes Knuffle Bunny's absence. The hurried change of pace in pursuit of Knuffle Bunny's whereabouts confirms that mommy and daddy will not rest until it is found.  In the end, the surprise of Trixie's first words adds another reason to celebrate this story.  

The setting in the story is illustrated with sephia photographs of the buildings, park, and laundromat in the city.  This artistic decision creates the mood for the realistic situation Willems intentionally sets.  In contrast, the characters are illustrated with cartoon-like drawings with bright colors and definite outlines. In essence, this allows the characters to pop off the page and into our hearts.  Through these drawings, Willems creates the crucial details of the ups and downs of Trixie's emotions.  As the illustrator, he depicts her joy, sadness, and annoyance by the drawn lines around her eyes and mouth. The drawn picture frame on the last page highlights this happy ending as one that Trixie, and the reader, will always remember.     

AWARD AND REVIEW EXCERPTS 

2005 Caldecott Honor Book

2005 Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book

 

2005 Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award

"The natural audience for this offering is a little older than its main character: they will easily identify with Trixie’s grief and at the same time feel superior to her hapless parent—and rejoice wholeheartedly at the happy reunion." -Kirkus Reviews 

"The accompanying pictures comically corroborate the omniscient narrator's claim. Willems once again demonstrates his keen insight with a story both witty and wise." -Publishers Weekly

CONNECTIONS 

If you liked Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, check out: 

Olivia and the Missing Toy by Ian Falconer  ISBN-13 : 978-0689852916

Bun Bun Button by Patricia Polacco ISBN-13 978-0399254727

2005 Caldecott Winner and Honors

Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes  ISBN-13 : 978-0060588281

The Red Book by Barbara Lehman  ISBN-13 : 978-0618428588

Coming on Home Soon by Jacqueline Woodson  ISBN-13 : 978-0399237485

Author Study: Gather More Books by Mo Willems 

Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of  Missing Identity ISBN-13 : 978-1423102991

Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion ISBN-13 : 978-0061929571

We Are In a Book ISBN-13 : 978-1423133087

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus ISBN-13 : 978-0786819881

TeachingBooks Resource

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale

Reference for Teaching Resources

TeachingBooks.net (n.d.) TeachingBooks | Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. Retrieved from https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=3859

Check out Knuffle Bunny in other Media:

Audiobook(2007 Audie Award) narrated by Mo, Cher, and Trixie Willems ISBN: 9780545555067

Animation(2007 Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video)  ASIN : B000UL61HA

 

Last Stop on Market Street

 Last Stop on Market Street Review 

by Kelly Hartman

BIBLIOGRAPHY

De la Peña, Matt. Last Stop on Market Street. New York: Penguin Young Readers Group, 2015.  ISBN 9781338035230

PLOT SUMMARY

After church, CJ and his grandmother embark on a weekly bus trip across town; but CJ's negative attitude gives way for many teachable moments from grandmother. Disgruntled, CJ complains about everything from the rain to the lack of a car.  As CJ rides the bus, he interacts with many different people, and his grandmother uses those interactions to shift his attitude. When CJ closes his eyes and listens to the guitar player on the bus, he begins to change for the better.  On the last stop on Market Street, CJ and his grandmother arrive at their destination: a battered part of town.  In the midst of disrepair, CJ's grandmother helps him to see the good all around him.  In the end, CJ is glad that he traveled across town to serve people in a soup kitchen.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS 

From the very beginning, younger and older readers will identify with CJ's plight: traveling to a place that you'd rather not be. The familiarity of that common childhood experience is contrasted by the author's suspenseful hook: the reader is not sure of where CJ and grandmother are headed.  Symbolically, the bus becomes the "vehicle" for how grandmother would like CJ to see the world, appreciative of all people from all walks of life. While CJ spends time looking out of the window of the bus, his grandmother draws him back in to focus on the beauty that can be found right in front of him.

The illustrated weather reflects CJ's mood. The rainy beginning parallels CJ's downhearted feelings, just as the rainbow at the end of the story highlights his fresh outlook on the world. The text and illustrations merge in CJ's turning moment when he closes his eyes to outside distractions and allows the music to take him away.  In this double page spread, the illustrator uses simple shapes and vibrant colors to show that a brighter day is always within our reach, if we will choose to see it.

In this uplifting story, the reader is gently reminded that an abundant life is lived when we think less of ourselves and focus more on others.  

AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPTS 

2016 Newbery Medal Winner 

2016 Caldecott Honor Book 

2016 Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book

“Read it aloud to someone. The use of language to elicit questions, to spark imagination and to make us laugh is at its best when spoken,” said Newbery Medal Committee Chair Ernie J. Cox

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Review by Elizabeth Bush "CJ is a completely believable little guy in both his natural desire to set his own agenda and his tacit admission that doing good feels good. This is a lesson that goes down easy."

Booklist Review by Thom Barthelmess "The celebratory warmth is irresistible, offering a picture of community that resonates with harmony and diversity."

CONNECTIONS 

If you liked, Last Stop on Market Street, check out...

Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts  ISBN-13 : 978-0763642846

Snow by Uri Shulevitz ISBN-13 : 978-0374468620

2016 Caldecott Winner and Honors 

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick  ISBN-13 : 978-0316324908

Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews ISBN-13 : 978-1419714658

Waiting by Kevin Henkes ISBN-13 : 978-0062368430

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement ISBN-13 : 978-1536203257

Author Study...Gather more books by Matt de la Peña 

Miguel and the Grand Harmony  ISBN-13 : 978-1484781494

Love  ISBN-13 : 978-1524740917

Carmela Full of Wishes  ISBN-13 : 978-0399549045

La Ultima Parada de la Calle Market(Spanish Edition) ISBN-13 : 978-8484705499

TeachingBooks Resource 

Last Stop on Market Street 

Reference for Teaching Resources

TeachingBooks.net (n.d.) TeachingBooks | Last Stop on Market Street. Retrieved from https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=42323

School Library Journal Article 

More Picture Books That Celebrate #BlackJoy