Module 15 - And Tango Makes Three

Citation: Richardson, J., & Parnell, P. (2005). And Tango makes three. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Book Summary: This book tells the true story of two male penguins from the New York zoo who follow the example of male and female penguins by first taking care of an egg-shaped rock that is then switched for a real egg.  They take care of the egg until it hatches.  Then their family is complete. 

My Impressions: While this book is controversial in nature, it is a sweet story that emphasizes the importance of family, even if it is different from the typical definition of family.  This is a way to ease into the introduction of same sex relationships because the characters are penguins and not people.  I love that it is based on a true story.  I hope the true message of this book will not be lost because both the penguins are male.  I think a lot can be learned from reading this book.  The illustrations are beautiful and complement the story nicely. 

Professional Review:  As told by Richardson and Parnell (a psychiatrist and playwright), this true story remains firmly within the bounds of the zoo’s polar environment, as do Cole’s expressive but still realistic watercolors (a far cry from his effete caricatures in Harvey Fierstein’s The Sissy Duckling, 2002). Emphasizing the penguins’ naturally ridiculous physiques while gently acknowledging their situation, Cole’s pictures complement the perfectly cadenced text-showing, for example, the bewildered pair craning their necks toward a nest that was ‘nice, but a little empty

Mattson, J.  (2005, November). [Review of the book And Tango makes three, by J. Richardson and P. Parnell]. Booklist, 101(18), 1657. Retrieved from https://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm


Library Uses: Librarians have to be careful how they use this book in the library because of its controversial nature.  Librarians could use this book as part of a storytime on different types of family units (single mom, single dad, same sex, etc.) as long as it was advertised and clear to parents beforehand that the issue of same sex relationships will be discussed.

Module 14 - Take Me out of the Bathtub

Citation: Katz, A. (2001). Take me out of the bathtub. New York, NY: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Book Summary: This is a book of silly poems sung to the tune of familiar children's songs.  All the poems are about topics that are easy for kids to relate to. 

My Impressions: Kids love the poems in this book.  The illustrations are hilarious and go well with the poems.  A favorite of the students in my class is "Stinky, Stinky, Diaper Change" which tells the humorous tale of a kid's brother who is in desperate need of a diaper change.  This is a great book to use to introduce kids to poetry. 

Professional Review: K-Gr 4-- Familiar songs are transformed into clever tunes about cranky poodles, dirty diapers, and overdue library books. "London Bridge," for example, becomes "Brother Mitch keeps falling down...tie his laces," with a satisfying punch line at the end: "Buy him Velcro!" Wacky watercolors amplify the absurdity. The baby in "Stinky Stinky Diaper Change," for instance, is shown flying on a kite string while stink-bombing birds. A surefire hit as a read-aloud, or even better, as a sing-aloud.

Engelfried, S. (2005, June). [Review of the book Take me out of the bathtub and other silly songs, by A. Katz]. School Library Journal, 51(6), 56. Retrieved from www.schoollibraryjournal.com

Library Uses: This book could be used for a story time/song time for younger kids.  

Module 13 - The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation

Citation: Colon, E., & Jacobson, S. (2006). The 9/11 report: a graphic adaption. New York, NY: Hill and Wang.

Book Summary: The authors of this book took the massive 9/11 Report and made it more easily accessible for readers by putting it into a graphic novel.  The original report is so lengthy that it is not likely that many readers would be able to make it though the report.  This graphic novel provides much of the same information as is in the original report, many times using the same words, but it is much shorter and in a format that is less daunting than the 500+ page report. 

My Impressions: The authors of this book did a great job on condensing the 9/11 Report and putting it into a format that can be easily read and understood by the common citizen.  The events of September 11, 2001 had a big impact on our country, and I think the authors have done a great thing by writing about the events in a reader-friendly format.  The illustrations are good and help tell the story.

Professional Review: Adult/High School --At only 15 percent the size of The 9/11 Report: The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States (St. Martin's, 2004) and more than four times the price, is this adaptation worth purchasing? The answer is an unequivocal yes. Jacobson and Colón intend this adaptation to bring to the commission's report readers who would not or could not digest its nearly 800 pages, and they have the blessing, acknowledged in this book's foreword, of the commission's chair and vice-chair to do so. Neither lurid nor simplistic, it presents the essence of the commission's work in a manner that, especially in the opening section, is able to surpass aspects of any text-only publication: the four stories of the doomed flights are given on the same foldout pages so that readers can truly grasp the significance of how simultaneous events can and did overwhelm our national information and defense systems. The analysis that follows in the subsequent 11 chapters cuts cleanly to the kernels of important history, politics, economics, and procedural issues that both created and exacerbated the effects of the day's events. Colón's full-color artwork provides personality for the named players-U.S. presidents and Al-Qaeda operatives alike-as well as the airline passengers, office workers, fire fighters, and bureaucrats essential to the report. This graphic novel has the power and accessibility to become a high school text; in the meantime, no library should be without it.

Goldsmith, F. (2006, June). [Review of the book The 9/11 report: A graphic adaptation by E. Colon and S. Jacobson]. School Library Journal, 52(12), 176-176. Retrieved from www.schoollibraryjournal.com

Library Uses: This would be a good book to read with a book club and discuss the events that took place on that day.  After reading, the librarian could bring in a survivor of the 9/11 tragedies to do a presentation and answer any questions students might have about the events surrounding that day.  

Module 12 - The Boy on Fairfield Street

Citation: Krull, K. (2004). The Boy on Fairfield Street. New York, NY: Dragonfly Books.

Book Summary: This book is a biography of Dr. Seuss' life.  It discusses some of his experiences growing up and how these experiences led him to become the author and illustrator that everyone knows and loves.  His dad was a zookeeper, and his experiences there are what inspired him to start drawing animals.  The book also tells about his life in college. 

My Impressions: I really enjoyed reading this book!  I learned a lot of details about the life of Dr. Seuss that I did not know before.  He was a really interesting man!  It was interesting to read about the time the president was going to present him and 9 other children with an award, but he ran out of awards by the time he got to Dr. Seuss.  This experience really seemed to have a profound impact on his life and caused him a great deal of social anxiety.  My favorite part of the book was reading about he was voted "Most Unlikely to Succeed" in college by his fraternity brothers.  I bet they felt pretty silly after seeing all of his success!

Professional Review: K-Gr 4-- This picture-book biography is a winner. Ted Geisel was not an athletic child, and spent his free time roaming his neighborhood in Springfield, MA, and hanging out with his best friend. Except for encountering some strong anti-German sentiment, his childhood was ideally normal. The clear, large-type text concentrates on Geisel's youth. It delves a bit into his cartooning talent, honed while he was at Dartmouth College. The story ends with his successful career as Dr. Seuss still to come. An appended four-page section succinctly sums up his life and accomplishments. Johnson and Fancher's lovely, full-page illustrations are supplemented by samples of Dr. Seuss's artwork, including scenes from The Cat and the Hat and The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins. A complete list of Seuss's titles, in chronological order, rounds out the title. Mae Woods's Dr. Seuss (ABDO, 2000) devotes more space to his adult life and career. Krull's work is a terrific look at the boyhood of one of the most beloved author/illustrators of the 20th century.

Callaghan, A.C. (2004, January). [Review of the book The boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel grew up to become Dr. Seuss, by K. Krull]. School Library Journal, 50(1), 119. Retrieved from http://schoollibraryjournal.com

Library Uses: This book could be used in a book display as part of a celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday (March 2nd).  The librarian could display this book, some of his children's books, pictures of him, and stuffed animals modeled after characters from the books he was written. 

Module 11 - The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins

Citation: Kerley, B. (2001). The dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins. New York, NY: Scholastic.

Book Summary: This book is a biography on the life of Waterhouse Hawkins, an artist whose work had a big influence on the early discoveries of dinosaur bones in both England in America.  He worked hard to have his work accepted by the scientific community.  He traveled to the United States to continue his work on some dinosaur bones that had been discovered there.  Two years of hard work was destroyed by Boss Tweed. 

My Impressions: This book is one of the few books written about the life of Waterhouse Hawkins, and may be one of the only books about his life written for younger ages.  This book is a good source of information to consult when researching information about Waterhouse Hawkins and early dinosaur discoveries.  The story of Hawkins life is an interesting one.  Readers will enjoy reading about the process he used to construct his dinosaur models, how he won over England’s leading scientists, and the trouble he faced in America with Boss Tweed, who disapproved of his work.  Selznick also did an excellent job with the illustrations, making them both accurate and visually appealing. 

Professional Review: Gr 2-5 --A picture-book presentation about the efforts of Hawkins to erect the first life-sized models of dinosaurs on both sides of the Atlantic. A Victorian artist and sculptor, he was well respected in England, and his reputation insured his being invited to construct replicas of creatures no one had ever seen and to unveil them at the newly constructed Crystal Palace. Kerley's spirited text and Selznick's dramatic paintings bring Hawkins's efforts into clear focus, including his frustrating experience in New York City when Boss Tweed set vandals loose in his workshop. Both author and illustrator provide copious notes of biographical material delineating Hawkins's works, and Selznick's trips to Philadelphia to view a rare scrapbook that is the model for this book's design and to London to see the original Crystal Palace models. Painstakingly researched, written and illustrated with careful attention to detail, this book presents the fervor and spirit of a dedicated, little-known individual whine conceptions-however erroneous by today's discoveries-astounded the minds and stirred the imaginations of scientists then involved in the actual birth of paleontology. A distinguished book in every way.

Manning, P. (2001, March). [Review of the book The dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins, by B. Kerley]. School Library Journal, 47(10), 142. Retrieved from www.schoollibraryjournal.com

Library Uses: This would be a good book to use in a book talk of books relating to dinosaurs.  Prior to reading the book for this class, I had never heard of Waterhouse Hawkins.  Including this work about him in a book talk would help educate others on the work he did and the influence he had on what we know about dinosaurs today.  

Module 10 - Henry's Freedom Box

Citation: Levine, E. (2007). Henry's freedom box. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

Book Summary: This is based on a true story of a slave.  Henry was separated from his mother when he was sold into slavery.  Later in life, he was again separated from his family when he was separated from his wife and children.  He finally earned his freedom when he mailed himself to Washington D.C. in a box, but he was never reunited with his family. 

My Impressions: This is a fascinating story that truly helps readers understand what it would have been like to be a slave during the time of the Underground railroad.  It helps readers see what slaves had to go through, and the price they had to pay for their freedom.  The illustrations are wonderful and complement the story beautifully!

Professional Review: Although the cover shows a young boy staring intently at the reader, this book is really about Henry Brown as an adult and a staggering decision he made to achieve freedom. Henry, born a slave, hears from his mother that leaves blowing in the wind "are torn from the trees like slave children are torn from their families." When his master grows ill, Henry hopes that he will be freed; instead, he is given to his master's son, and his life becomes worse. Eventually, Henry marries and has children; then his family is sold. With nothing left to lose, he asks a white abolitionist to pack him in a crate so he can be mailed to freedom. The journey is fraught with danger as he travels by train and then steamboat, but 27 hours later, he reaches Philadelphia. A brief author's note confirms the details of the story, but it's the dramatic artwork that brings it emphatically to life. According to the flap copy, an antique lithograph of Brown inspired Nelson's paintings, which use crosshatched pencil lines layered with watercolors and oil paints. The technique adds a certain look of age to the art and also gives the pictures the heft they need to visualize Brown's life. Transcending technique is the humanity Nelson imbues in his characters, especially Brown and his mother—her dream of freedom deferred, his amazingly achieved.

Cooper, I. (2007, March). [Review of the book Henry’s freedom box: A true story from the underground railroad, by E. Levine]. Book Links, 16(4), 11

Library uses: This would be a good book to include in a book display during African American History Month.

Module 9 - Ace Lacewing: Bug Detective

Citation: Biedrzycki, D. (2008). Ace Lacewing, bug detective. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.

Book Summary: Ace Lacewing is a detective.  His job in this book is to try to crack the case behind Queenie Bee's kidnapping.  He questions many suspects along the way.  With the help of his friends Doctor Xerces Blue and Sergeant Zito, Ace is able to crack the case.

My Impressions: This is an entertaining mystery for younger kids. It contains all the elements of a traditional mystery in a picture book format.  The colorful illustrations will attract readers to this book.  I love the insect characters, and the author does a good job of telling the story while adding humor along the way.  This is a book that kids will want to read again and again.   

Professional Review: Gr 1-4 --Motham City is abuzz with the kidnapping of Queenie Bee, and Ace Lacewing, the Sam Spade of insects, is on the case. His motto is, "Bad bugs are my business." Lacewing follows the trail of honey with the help of his gal, Doctor Xerces Blue, and Sergeant Zito, a mosquito. A motley (and sometimes molting) assortment of suspects is questioned. Their character traits are based on facts: "The roaches said of course they ran from the scene of the crime-it was their nature to scatter when the lights go on." Puns and wordplay abound: "I've known him ever since we were pupae at the same school"; "The full moon hung in the sky like a large compound eye...." The digitally enhanced illustrations evoke a film noir atmosphere, with moody blue and black backgrounds. The pages are also brimming with humorous details such as glowworm street lamps, "Bug Off" police tape, and "Slow Larvae" road signs. This clever parody of hard-boiled detective stories is sure to tickle readers' thorax.

Ludke, L. (2005, September). [Review of Ace Lacewing: Bug detective by D. Biedrzycki]. School Library Journal, 51(8), 85-85. Retrieved from www.schoollibraryjournal.com

Library Uses: This book would be good to use for a storytime on books with insects as characters.