Dash Review by Allison Trippe

Bibliography

Larson, Kirby. 2014. Dash. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.   ISBN 978-0545416368

Plot Summary

Dash is the story of a young Japanese-American girl and her dog. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Mitsi Kashino and her family are forced to leave their home near Seattle, Washington, and are sent to an internment camp in Idaho. Mitsi must leave everything behind: friends, school, home, dignity, and worst of all her best friend and dog, Dash. Fearing she will lose Dash, a gracious neighbor offers to care of him after Mitsi and her family are taken away.

When Mitsi arrives at the camp, she and her family come to realize they are imprisoned indefinitely. They encounter filthy living quarters, long lines and crowds of people everywhere, and the camp is surrounded by a barbed wire fence. As the stress from dreadful living conditions sets in, Mitsi’s sense of security and closely-knit family ties begins to crumble. She starts to lose hope that she will ever return home and fears that her family is falling apart.

Glimmers of hope are restored when Mitsi begins to receive letters from her dog, Dash. She and Dash correspond by writing letters back and forth. Through these letters, she holds on tightly to her dreams of returning home and being reunited with her best friend.

Critical Analysis

The story of Dash is an emotional journey based on real events in American history. As noted in the Acknowledgments and Author’s Note, the plot is modeled after the true story of a young girl and her dog. It is apparent that author Kirby Larson carefully researched the sensitive subject of life in internment camps during World War II by consulting primary resources and historical documents such as eyewitness accounts, maps of internment camps, and the diary of a survivor. Larson gives credit to family members of the real Mitsi for sharing their stories and memorabilia with her which inspired her novel, Dash. Authenticity is further created through rich dialogue and descriptive writing, revealing cultural details about events surrounding of World War II. Additionally, further reading opportunities are provided in the Acknowledgements section at the end of the book.

Universal themes of compassion, courage and resiliency unfold in this historical fiction novel. Although the story takes place more than seventy years ago, children will easily relate to Mitsi’s character and the comfort she finds in her dog. Many children will also empathize with Mitsi’s struggles of being bullied and how she was made to feel different. This book will give readers an authentic perspective of what life was like as a young, Japanese-American during World War II.

Awards & Review Excerpts

• 2014 National Association of Parenting Publications Award
• 2014 National Parenting Publications Award
• 2015 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
• 2015 Best Children's Books of the Year
• 2016 Magnolia Award Nominee
• 2016-2017 Golden Sower Award Nominee
• 2017 Sasquatch Reading Award Nominee

From Publishers Weekly: “Inspired by real-life wartime events, the novel vividly communicates the emotional and physical ordeals endured by Japanese-Americans evacuated to relocation camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.”

From Kirkus Review: “Spot-on dialogue, careful cultural details and the inclusion of specific historical characters such as artist Eddie Sato make this an educational read as well as a heartwarming one.”

From School Library Journal: “Larson’s latest is historical fiction at its best.”

Connections

• Use the discussion questions from Scholastic to lead a discussion: http://www.scholastic.com/MotherDaughterBookClub/pdf/Scholastic_MDBC_Dash.pdf
• If students enjoy Dash, recommend other books by Kirby Larson:
• Duke. ISBN: 978-0545416382
• Liberty. ISBN: 978-0545840712
• Hattie Big Sky. ISBN: 978-0385735957
• Hattie Ever After. ISBN: 978-0375850905
• Pair the book, Dash, with poems written by Japanese-American children who survived the internment camps found here: https://japaneseinternmentmemories.wordpress.com/category/japanese-internement-poetry/
• Prior to reading Dash, conduct research with students about World War II incarceration camps and what led up to their creation. This will support students’ understanding of the setting.
• Recommend that students visit Densho.org to learn more about life in incarceration camps.

*Created as an assignment for a Texas Woman's University course.

Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras Review by Allison Trippe

Bibliography

Tonatiuh, Duncan. 2015. Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras. New York, NY: Abrams Books for Young Readers.       ISBN 978-1419716478

Summary

This picture book biography tells the story of the Mexican artist, José Guadalupe Posada. Lupe, as he was known, was born and raised by his mother and father in Mexico. His older brother, Cirilo, was his teacher. Cirilo recognized Lupe’s talents as an artist, and helped him enroll in an art academy. Later on, Lupe worked in a print shop and discovered a passion for printmaking. When he became a young man, he was unhappy with how the Mexican government was running the country. So he began to express his discontent through politically satirical cartoons. His artwork was printed and distributed across the country, and soon he became known as Posada.

As he developed as an artist, Posada began creating literary calaveras. Literally translated, calavera means human skull, but also refers to an artistic portrayal of a human skull. Posada’s calaveras were clever poems and jokes that appeared with images of costume-adorned skeleton. Some of his calaveras contained messages about political leaders and religion; made fun of the upper class; expressed his thoughts about the Mexican Revolution; and depicted other important events occurring in Mexico during the late 19th century and early 20th century. Not until after his death, did Posada’s calaveras grow in popularity, and eventually became iconic symbols of the Mexican holiday, El Dia de los Muertos.

Critical Analysis

Tonatiuh organizes his biography by telling the story of the life of artist José Guadalupe Posada from his birth to death. He incorporates three separate pages of step-by-step visual and verbal directions on how Posada created lithographs, engravings, and etching techniques for  printmaking. Tonatiuh includes many resources to support readers in comprehending the content of his book. Pronunciation keys are included when the author uses Spanish vocabulary words and names. Proper Spanish terms are used to preserve the authenticity of the book, and include parenthetical translations into English. A glossary provides both Spanish and English vocabulary word definitions. As well, major topics and subjects are indexed on the last page, along with a list of locations where Posada’s works can be seen in the United States today.

Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras is a literary and visual treasure. It inspires readers to learn more about Mexican culture and traditions. The author encourages readers to interpret the messages of Posada’s art by posing questions about the artwork. He ends with a final question challenging readers to ponder what calaveras would look like today. This clever technique is sure to spark a debate, discussion, and discourse among readers.

The accuracy of facts, and credibility of author Duncan Tonatiuh is evident throughout  Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras. A bibliography is included and it provides  an extensive list of sources. Credit is given to the original artists, and also listed on the same page. An Author’s Note gives readers further reading opportunities about the celebration of El Dia de los Muertos, the history of its origin, and the discovery of Posada’s calaveras.

Illustrations

Author-illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh incorporates his own drawings with Posada’s prints throughout the book. Tonatiuh fashions his original work in a Pre-Columbian, Mixtec-style which adds to the cultural appeal of his book. Full pages are dedicated to many of Posada’s more prominent works, such as Calavera Catrina. What culminates is an homage to ancient, traditional, and modern Mexican folk art.

Awards and Review Excerpts

• 2016 Orbis Pictus Honor Book
• 2016 Sibert Medal Winner
• 2016 Pura Belpré Honor Book
• 2016 Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award
• 2016 Américas Award, Honorable Mention
• 2015 New York Times Best Illustrated Book
• International Latino Book Award Finalist

From Publishers Weekly: “With a wealth of biographical and contextual information (much of it in an extensive author’s note), it’s a valuable introduction to Posada that will leave readers thinking about the process of creating art and the social impact it can have.”

From Booklist: “Playful but informative, this picture book offers a fascinating introduction to the artist and his work.”

From Kirkus Review: “Following on his Sibert Honor–winning Separate Is Never Equal (2014), Tonatiuh further marks himself as a major nonfiction talent with this artistically beautiful and factually accessible offering that effectively blends artistic and political content for young readers.”

From School Library Journal: “The beautifully expressive Day of the Dead–inspired illustrations on heavy paper pages sport borders of bones, grinning skeletons, and Tonatiuh’s signature figures shown in profile, influenced by the ancient Mexican art of his ancestors... A stunning work, with great possibilities for lesson plans or tie-ins with Day of the Dead.”

Connections

• Use a KWL chart with students to help them organize ideas about what they already know, what they want to know, and what they learned about El Dia De Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead).
• Art teachers can use this book to teach students about different methods and steps involved in printmaking techniques.
• Show parts or all of the Google Hangouts video interview with author, Duncan Tonatiuh, to see him introduce his book and discuss his illustrations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRccm16JuoU
• Conduct an author study and read aloud other books by Duncan Tonatiuh such as:
• Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation.    ISBN 1419710540
• Diego Rivera: His World and Ours.    ISBN 0810997312
• Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale.    ISBN 1419705830
• Read this book with older students as they study political cartoons and political satire.
• Read the book aloud and discuss the meaning of the title, Funny Bones, and why the author may have chosen this as the title.
• After reading the book, students can illustrate their own calaveras and write stories or poems that accompany their creations.
• Students can use critical thinking skills to answer the author’s question on the last page of the book.

*Created as an assignment for a Texas Woman's University course.

What To Do About Alice? How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules,

Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy!

Review by Allison Trippe

Bibliography

Kerley, Barbara. 2008. What To Do About Alice? How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy!. Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.       ISBN 978-0439922319

Summary

Author Barbara Kerley’s picture book biography, What To Do About Alice?, tells the story of Alice Roosevelt, the eldest daughter of Theodore Roosevelt. When she was a young girl, Alice’s life was full of excitement. She longed to travel the world, meet new and interesting people, and was always looking for her next big adventure. She was different from most women in the early 1900’s. She refused to conform to the expectations people had of women at that time. When her father became the President of the United States, Alice became a goodwill ambassador for the country. The world fell in love with her adventurous spirit, boisterous personality, and unruly ways. Between welcoming White House guests with her pet snake, speeding through the streets of Washington, D.C. in her car, or playing a late-night poker game with boys, Alice always sought out the thrills of life.

When Alice married a U.S. Congressman, she did not settle down and assume the traditional role of a housewife. Instead, she attended political debates and Congressional meetings alongside her husband. She became a close adviser to her father, and established herself as an important political figure in Washington, D.C. for the rest of her life. All the while, Alice Roosevelt retained her enjoyment for life and sense of adventure.

Critical Analysis

In this book, the collaborative works of author Barbara Kerley and illustrator Edwin Fotheringham create an unforgettable narrative picture book biography. As the author of several picture book biographies and other nonfiction books, Kerley is a trusted authority in terms of informational text. Her credibility is strengthened by the inclusion of the actual text of a letter written by President Roosevelt addressed to his daughter, Alice. Furthermore, Kerley provides citations for the quotes she uses throughout the biography. Attention to detailed artwork and accuracy are also referenced by citations. The author also offers a nod to Carol Felsenthal for her fact-checking assistance. These credits are included in an Author’s Note at the end of the book.

Organized chronologically, the author uses humor to tell the story of Alice Roosevelt which unfolds from her birth to late life. Illustrations complement the major events of her life, and capture the enthusiasm of her character. Set in a time sometimes difficult to visualize events in color, the vibrant drawings bring to life the setting and style of what it might have been like to live in New York City and Washington, D.C. during the late 1880’s and into the early 1900’s. Readers will find themselves longing for more stories about Alice Roosevelt’s audacious life.

Awards and Review Excerpts

• 2009 Sibert Honor Book
• 2008 Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book
• 2009 Irma Black Award Honor Book
• Parents Choice Award
• 2009 Washington State Scandiuzzi Children's Picture Book Award
• A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
• A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
• A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
• An ALA Notable Book
• New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
• Nominated for Young Reader awards in Texas, Illinois, Utah and Tennessee

From the New York Times: “Kerley reveals the essence of Alice in an upbeat account of her life, dramatizing Alice’s love of “eating up the world,” as she put it.”

From Kirkus Review: “Fotheringham’s digital illustrations perfectly evoke the retro styles of an earlier age, depicting a confident Alice sailing through life and tackling every challenge with delight and aplomb.”

From School Library Review: “Kerley's text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject's antics, as the girl greets White House visitors accompanied by her pet snake, refuses to let leg braces cramp  her style, dives fully clothed into a ship's swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her father's trusted advisers.... Fascinating.”

Connections

• Celebrate Women’s History Month by reading aloud this picture book biography about an important, female political figure.
• After reading this book to students, connect it to a writing assignment. Students can imagine what it would be like as the son or daughter of an American President, and compose a creative writing piece.
• Students can choose one event from the book, conduct research and gather more information, then write an original poem describing what happened.
• While reading What To Do About Alice? to a class, create a list of characteristics of biographies evident in the book.

*Created as an assignment for a Texas Woman's University course.

Egg: Nature’s Perfect Package Review by Allison Trippe

Bibliography

Jenkins, Steve and Robin Page. 2015. Egg: Nature’s Perfect Package. Ill. by Steve Jenkins. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.       ISBN 978-0547959092

Summary

Veteran nonfiction author Steve Jenkins and co-author Robin Page write a fascinating informational survey book about eggs and the life cycle of animals. Egg: Nature’s Perfect Package contains an abundance of  interesting facts and realistic illustrations. From mammals, insects, and birds, to dinosaurs, reptiles and amphibians, readers will come to understand details about the varying sizes of eggs, incubation periods, hatching, and egg predators. Children and adults alike will be particularly interested in reading about the clever measures some creatures take to protect their eggs. Jenkins and Page offer a comprehensive introduction to the beginning of life in the natural world, and the instinctual effort for survival.

Critical Analysis

The egg-shaped introduction provides an overview of the book. It begins with general information about egg-laying creatures, then moves to more specific facts about characteristics of a variety of eggs. Each two-page spread contains information that is organized with a heading and subsequent facts, diagrams, and explanations. Authors carefully use a balance between verbal and visual access features. White space is distributed evenly throughout the book to avoid overcrowding of information and illustrations. Detailed drawings provide readers with highly visual images and diagrams of eggs, including a two-page spread of eggs shown at actual size. The final pages of the book include the cross-sections of two different types of animal eggs at different stages of development.

Although this book is geared toward a primary-age audience, the authors maintain the integrity of the content by using proper vocabulary terms throughout. More information about animals and additional reading lists are included in the last few pages of the book to give readers further reading opportunities and recommendations. The interesting facts and high quality illustrations make this book easy to read cover-to-cover or in small parts at a time.

Awards and Review Excerpts

• 2016 National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12
• 2016 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Subaru SB&F Prizes for Excellence in Science Books, Finalist, Picture Book
• 2016 Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) Choices–Science, Technology, and the Natural World

From Kirkus Reviews: “Appealing, accessible, and accurate, this is another admirable creation.”

From Booklist: “Created from cut and torn papers with interesting coloration and textures, Jenkins' distinctive illustrations show up well against the white backgrounds. This intriguing presentation will be an asset to many kindergarten and primary-grade classes.”

Connections

• Use this book to extend a Life Sciences lesson on life cycles.
• Teach students about text features by showing them examples of diagrams, labels, illustrations, labels, and headings in this book.
• Art teachers can use this book to show examples of paper collages.
• Pre-teach new vocabulary terms such as strategy, survive, spawn, produce, nutrition, predatory, prey, offspring, incubate.
• Create a K-W-L chart with student before, during and after reading the book.

*Created as an assignment for a Texas Woman's University course.

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat

A Digital Book Trailer

by Allison Trippe

Steptoe, Javaka. 2016. Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN: 978-0316213882