You're Only Old Once! By Dr. Seuss

You're Only Old Once!: A Book For Obsolete Children,  By Dr. Seuss, 1986 New York: Random House Incorporated (0-394-55190-7)

Awards: N/A
Author/Illustrator Website: http://www.drseussart.com/
Media Used: line drawing colored in

 

Annotation:

In this story, Dr. Seuss applies his love of made-up words and sarcasm to old age.  He describes how awful it is to be frail and tested poked, and how you learn to be grateful for the little things in life.

Personal Reaction:

It is very nice to hear a story that is full of sarcasm.  Dr. Seuss certainly had fun making up words and scenarios that exaggerate doctor visits in old age.  Teenagers will appreciate the humor, as I'm sure they will have been around a few older people by that time in their lives.  If a young child read this book, they would be perplexed, unless they just listened to the pleasant rhythm of the story.

Rhyme (as this is a Dr Seuss book, you can pretty much open to any page and find something that rhymes) 

My Top 10

Tales From Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan

Tales From Outer Suburbia, by Shaun Tan, 2009, New York, Arthur A. Levine Books( 9780545055871)

Awards: Western Australian Premier's Book Awards Young Adult category winner

Author/Illustrator Website: http://www.shauntan.net

Media Used: unknown (author frequently uses pencils)

Annotation: This book features many short stories, most of which are told with the aid of pictures.  The stories range from tales of stick figures that inhabit neighborhoods, to a government who arms citizens with missiles that are turned into practical items.

Personal Reaction:

To put it bluntly, I think Shaun Tan is on a completely different plain of existence as far as his higher thought abilities go.  His books, this once included, feature tons of symbolism, and make my brain hurt.  When you look at the book on a flat level, you see pictures of stick figures and are perplexed.  When you begin to analyze the stories, you can place many different attributes to these stick figures.  They can represent anything that was here before humans, and was concurred.  The story about missiles that people turn into useful items can be interpreted as a wishful thought of people choosing a peaceful life style.

2009 Class Top Ten List

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

The Arrival by Shaun Tan, 2006, New York; Arthur A. Levine Books (9780439895293)

Awards: 35th Galley Club Book of the Year Award

Author/Illustrator Website: http://www.shauntan.net

Media Used:pencil on paper

Annotation:

A father leaves his family to make money in a new land.  When he finally finds a job, he sends the money back to his family.  Eventually, his family comes to join him, and they begin their new lives together.

Personal Reaction:

Parts of this story are confusing.  This graphic novel has absolutely no words.  I periodically had to re-read some pages to get a good grasp of what was going on.  There were weird creatures depicted in the book, and even stranger, his family arrived in what looked like a wooden outhouse carried by a balloon.  This graphic novel does depict the feelings of being away from your family and in a strange land, but it did so in a way that I am not used to.  There were many abstract concepts and ideas that did not have solid answers.

2009 Top Ten List

Curricular Connection: 8th grade history or high school US history (to get a better understanding of how immigrants feel)

Suikoden III :The Successor of Fate by Aki Shimizu

Suikoden III :The Successor of Fate by Aki Shimizu, 2004 Los Angeles: Tokyopop (1591827655)

Awards: N/A
Author Website: N/A
Media Used: unknown (black and white)

Annotation:
This story is from the view points of the Karaya and the Zexen.  The cities are having a dispute over land, and they come to a truce that leads to one leader being killed, and villages being burned down.

Personal Reaction:
This is a very good story.  People who have played the video game will especially love this story, as it provides background for the game.  I love that this story features fantasy creatures mixed in with human civilization.  The main character also develops a loving relationship with an animals.  The side story of their relationship is very heartwarming and makes the story very enjoyable.

Manga

Deogratias: A Tale Of Rwanda by J.P. Stassen

Deogratias: A Tale Of Rwanda by J.P. Stassen, New York: First Second, 2006 (9781596431034)

Awards:
2000 René Goscinny award,
2001 Angoulême International Comics Festival Media award
2007 "Best Reprint Publication" Glyph Comics Awards.

2007 Young Adult Library Services Association list of "Great Graphic Novel for Teens"

Author/Illustrator Website: http://www.firstsecondbooks.com/stassen.html
Media Used: unknown (full color)

Annotation:

This story is about a Hutu boy who follows the example of killing the rival Tutsi tribe.  Many events occur, causing him to kill people he regrets, in an attempt to save his own life.

Personal Reaction:

This graphic novel was rather different from what I am used to reading.  The plot was at times difficult to follow, as the time period tended to jump around.  The bulk of the story simply seemed to be about the boy killing people, with graphic verbal and visual descriptions of chopping people to pieces.  This graphic novel does successfully convey the chaos and terror of Rwanda.  The book is not for the light of heart.

Curricular Connection: High School Honors World History

A River Of Words by Jen Bryant

A River Of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, Written by Jen Bryant, Illustrated by Melissa Sweet, 2008, Michigan: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (9780802853028)

Awards: Caldecott honor
Author Website: http://www.jenbryant.com
Illustrator Website: http://melissasweet.net
Media Used: Watercolor, collage and mixed media

Annotation:  This cheery story tells of William Carlos Williams who grew up loving poetry and the peaceful rhythms it created.  Even though he went to medical school and helped people, he always had time to write poetry.

Personal Reaction:  Prior to reading this story, I was not familiar with Williams' poetry.  The way this biography was written, I almost forgot I was reading a biography.  The dates and to-the-point facts were saved for a list at the end of the story.  I found it very interesting that Williams was still able to incorporate his love for poetry into his busy life. 

2009 Top 10 List

The Composer Is Dead by Lemony Snicket

The Composer Is Dead, by Lemony Snicket, Illustrated by Carson Ellis, Music composed by Nathaniel Stookey, 2009, New York: Harper Collins Publishers (978-0-06-123628-0)

Awards: N/A
Author Website: http://www.lemonysnicket.com/
Illustrator Website: http://www.carsonellis.com/
Composer Website: http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?TabId=2419&State_2872=2&composerId_2872=3094
Media Used: Ink and Watercolor

Annotation:  This books starts out with a dead composer.  An inspector is hired to find the murderer.  All of the instruments in the orchestra are interviewed, and it is determined that the music of all great composers is butchered at one time or another.

Personal Reaction:
This book is very entertaining.  While reading the book, I had funny scenes playing in my head featuring giggling instruments that can waltz and drive cars.  The text is rather ironic and sarcastic at many points, which is one thing that makes this book an excellent choice for older readers.

2009 Class Top Ten List

My Top 10

Personification:  Throughout the entire book, the musical instruments are given human characteristics.  The instruments laugh and giggle, and sing and are even accused of being capable of murder.

Alliteration: (unpaged...estimated page 23) "We conquered the concert, battered the band, agitated the audience, rattled the roof, and got the phone numbers of several very attractive young sailors."

I Am The Mummy Heb-Nefert by Eve Bunting

I Am The Mummy Heb-Nefert by Eve Bunting, Illustrated by David Christiana, 1997 San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Company (9780152004798)

Awards: N/A
Author Website: N/A
Illustrator Website: http://www.davidchristiana.com/
Media used: Watercolors on Arches Hot Press Watercolor Paper

Annotation:
 This poem is from the viewpoint of a mummy.  She recounts about the days when she was alive and had peaceful days with her husband, her cat and her handmaidens.  The mummy dreams about the days that she was beautiful and happy.

Personal Reaction:
This poem is beautiful, yet also dark and slight disturbing.  It is nice to hear about the life of an Egyptian, but disturbing to hear about watching her own innards get pulled out and watching her own body be mummified.  This story is a dark reminder that we will all be dust and bones one day.

Single Book-Length Poem

Queen Of The Falls by Chris Van Allsburg

Queen Of The Falls by Chris Van Allsburg, 2010, New York: Houghton Mifflin Books For Children ( 9780547315812)

Awards: N/A
Author/Illustrator Website: http://www.chrisvanallsburg.com/flash.html
Media Used:Various (charcoal, colored pencils etc)

Annotation:  This is the little known story of a retired school teacher who sought fame and fortune by building a barrel that would see her safely over Niagara Falls.  She survives, but is not successful in making her fortune.

Personal Reaction: I found this story fascinating.  Personally, I think the lady was crazy to have attempted this in the first place, but she was incredibly brave, and obviously very smart in order to have successfully designed such a barrel.  It is a shame that people took advantage of her in order to make their own fortune, but that is often the way of life.  Older children and teens will find this book very interesting, as it is the story of someone they never thought to learn of.

Published in 2010/2011

My Top 10

Perceval: King Arthur's Knight Of The Holy Grail by John Perkins

Perceval: King Arthur's Knight Of The Holy Grail, retold by John Perkins, illustrated by Gennady Spirin, New York, Cavendish Children, 2007 ( 9780761453390)

Awards: N/A

Author Website: N/A

Illustrator Website: N/A

Media Used: Egg tempura

Annotation: This retelling of the classic tale uses beautiful classic artwork to depict the story of Perceval who goes on a journey to become a knight.  He encounters and overcomes many challenges along the way.

Personal Reaction: I have heard the tale of Perceval before, but this one was certainly much wordier than the versions I have read in the past.  Do to the heavy text in this story this picture book is certainly suitable for an older reader.  Personally, I do not think anyone under the age of ten could even sit through this book if it was read to them.  The story does have a very good moral and a positive feel to it, and is accompanied by gorgeous pictures.

Curricular Connection: To accompany the reading of "The Once And Future King" by Terence Hanbury White. (often assigned in High School Honors English)

Shake Rag: From The Life Of Elvis Presley by Amy Littlesugar and Floyd Cooper

Shake Rag: From The Life Of Elvis Presley, by Amy LIttlesugar and Floyd Cooper, ill., New York, Philomel Books, 1998. (9780399230059).

Awards: N/A
Author Website: http://www.jacketflap.com/amy-littlesugar/6588
Illustrator Website: http://www.floydcooper.com/
Media Used: Oil wash

Annotation:
This story tells of the little known childhood of the famous Elvis Presley.  He lived in a poor town where he was teased, and yet overcame difficulties to pursue music, which made him happy.

Personal Reaction:
I never knew that Elvis grew up in a poor town where he was an outcast for being white.  Learning about the start of Elvis's life has given me a new appreciation for his talent.  Seeing as how one thing that greatly influenced him was a traveling church, I am amazed at the turn his life later took.

Curricular Connection: High School music history

Personification: (unpaged....approximately page 17) "A big man, his face shiny with sweat, he hugged that guitar and strummed away all his sadness and his loneliness, making those strings sob and cry."

The Enemy: A Book About Peace, by Davide Cali and Serge Bloch

The Enemy: A Book About Peace written by Davide Cali, illustrated by Serge Bloch,  2009, New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, (9780375937521)

Awards: N/A

Author Website: http://www.davidecali.com/calilibri.htm

Illustrator Website: http://www.sergebloch.net/

Media Used: China ink on paper and photography

Annotation:

This book is about a soldier who is tired of fighting.  He has been told the enemy is a monster, not a man: the enemy must die.  The solider finds this is a lie, and hopes the war will end. 

Personal Reaction:

Personally, I am against war.  I realize that the soldiers involved in a war have no personal involvement in what is being fought about.  The soldiers are regular people who want to go home to their families.  This book clearly depicts this.  The authors successfully point out that war hurts people, and that everyone desires peace.

2009 Class Top Ten List

My Top 10

John, Paul, George and Ben by Lane Smith

John, Paul, George and Ben by Lane Smith, 2006, New York: Hyperion Books. (9780786848935)

Awards:  Young Hoosier Book Award, School Library Journal Best Book of 2006, New York Times Best Illustrated 2006,
Author/Illustrator Website: http://www.lanesmithbooks.com/LaneSmithBooks/Lane_Smith_Books.html

Media Used: Hand drawn with pen-and-ink.  Textures created by paint on canvas and many other techniques.  Collages  are facsimiles of eighteenth-century ephemera.  All were combined on a MAC computer.

Annotation

This humorous picture book tells made up stories about the founding fathers before they played their part in history.  The anecdotes lead up to the historical deeds that they later performed.

Personal Reaction

I greatly enjoyed this book.  It made me laugh, and reminded me of some historical facts/stories that I had forgotten about.  Although the stories in this book are highly exaggerated, it is done so in a way that readers can clearly determine fact from fiction.  The end of the book even includes a true or false page.

Onomatopoeia:  (unnumbered page...estimated page 7) "All day his head was filled with loud bings and bongs."  This is describing the sounds of bell ringing.

Curricular Connection: Eighth Grade History (founding fathers/Declaration of Independence)

My Top 10

The Old African by Julius Lester

The Old African by Julius Lester, Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, 2005, New York: Dial Books. (9780803725645)

Awards: A Children's Africana Book Award Winner
Author Website: http://www.members.authorsguild.net/juliuslester/
Illustrator Website: http://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com/
Media Used: graphite, gouache, pastel, and water color on paper

Annotation:

This book contains many symbolic elements, depicting the horrors of being a slave.  The story follows one man through his capture and abuse, all the way to his symbolic return home.

Personal Reaction:

Just a few pages into this book, I was appalled that this book was placed in the J-Step section of the library.  The J-Step section is intended for intermediate readers (2^nd-4^th grade).  Most of the books is this section consist of simple series such as The Magic Tree House and Junie B. Jones.  This book featured very graphic images of slaves being beaten, inhuman living conditions, used the word “hell” (which is not technically a “bad word,” but is not standardly accepted as being a word appropriate for books aimed at 2^nd-4^th grade children.  The end of the story is very open to interpretation, and children in this age group would have no idea what happened.  I had to read the last few pages a few times and then had to come to my own conclusion.  This book is definitely designed for an “older reader.”  Just because a book has pictures does not mean that it is for children.

Symbol: The "Old African" is a symbol for all aspects of slavery (as explained by the author at the end of the book)

Simile: (page 46) "But this morning the Old African's emotions crashed thorugh his body like the water that rose and fell with the never-ending roar.  Ocean."

Allusion: (page 76) The picture on pages 76-77 that accompanies the text on the surrounding pages, alludes to the slaves finally finding peace and returning home upon death.  The text on the surrounding pages talks about people coming up from the ocean in the old land, and that they are the people who died in slavery.

Curricular Connection: High School US History (Slavery)