Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal

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Recipient of Peach’s Picks Award

Top Ten Favorite Books

Summer 2011

Author: Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

Illustrator: R. Gregory Christie

Peach's Picks rating:

Year of publication: 2009

City of publication: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Publisher: Carolrhoda Books

ISBN:  978-0-8225-6764-6

Author website: No author website, but a website is available offering information about Ms. Nelson http://www.lernerbooks.com/Pages/Author-Illustrator-Details.aspx?contactid=918

Illustrator website: http://www.gas-art.com/   

Media used for illustrations: textured paintings created with acrylic paints and accentuated with a palette knife; impressionistic rather than realistic

Annotation: The life story of Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves who was born a slave in Texas. The book highlights events including Reeves posing as a fugitive to capture outlaws.

Personal reaction to the book: This book tells the very interesting life-story of the little known Bass Reeves. The text moves along at a rapid story-like pace. The story and illustrations flow, working well together to keep the reader interested in Reeves’ life and adventures. Included at the end of the book is information provided by the author including: a photograph of Bass Reeves, glossary of Western words, timeline of Reeves’ life, suggested further readings and websites, and additional notes. These add to the story and quench the reader’s longing for more information about Reeves. The story is sprinkled with colloquial western language that may be unfamiliar to readers thus needing explanation (refer to glossary). Some information is presented as sepia-toned “wanted posters,” adding to the old West experience of the book. The illustrations are large and bold, well-suited to the large bold life of Bass Reeves. They are large and distinct so a room of viewers will be able to see them. The artist’s brush strokes are rugged giving a sense of strength and force to this description of the American West. The book makes a good read-aloud, holding the attention of the listeners who will be fascinated by this not-so-well known American hero.

General curricular connections:

• Biographies
• African American biographies
• American history (circa 1840-1900)

Recommended grade levels:

School Library Journal recommends the book for grades 3-8

Booklist recommends the book for grades 3-5

Peach’s Pick’s recommends the book for grades 4 and up

Awards/Recognitions:

Junior Library Guild Selection
School Library Journal starred review
Horn Book starred review
Kirkus Review starred review
Simon Wiesenthal Center Children’s Book Award
Coretta Scott King Book Award, Author Winner, 2010
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People (biography category), 2010
ALA Notable Children’s Book List, 2010

Simile: Page 7, “Bass took to guns like a bear to honey…”

Simile: Page 6, “And he was as honest as the day is long.”

Simile: Page 15, “But Bass was right as rain from the boot heals up.”

Simile: Page 24, “Belle was about as far from tender as boot leather.”

Metaphor: Page 7, “Even as a youngster, his star shone bright.”

Sophisticated language: Page 10, “The territory became a haven for the West’s most notorious outlaws.”

Symbolism through illustration: Bass Reeves’ large black hat demonstrates authority

Book cover illustration retrieved from http://www.gas-art.com/?p=11

The Magic Horse of Han Gan

Author: Chen Jiang Hong; translated from French by Claudia Zoe Bedrick

Illustrator: Chen Jiang Hong 

Peach's Picks Rating:


Year of publication: 2006

City of publication: New York

Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books

ISBN: 1-59270-063-2

Author website: No author website, but websites are available offering information about Chen Jiang Hong: http://www.literaturfestival.com/participants/authors/2005/chen-jianghong and  http://www.artnet.com/artists/chen%20jiang-hong/

Illustrator website: See information in “Author website” entry

Media used for illustrations: Paint on silk in the style of Han Gan

Annotation: The Chinese painter Han Gan is known for realistic paintings of horses. This is the legend of a horse he painted that springs to life galloping out of a painting into war.

Personal reaction to the book: This is a beautifully illustrated book that reads aloud well to a group. The illustrations are large, dynamic and clear, allowing a group of students to easily view the book during a read-aloud. The illustrations provide great detail allowing, an individual reader to pore over them, discovering nuances and emotions in the illustrator’s work. The story is slightly confusing because it begins with biographical information about Han Gan’s life, then flows into the legend of the horse. I appreciated the end note explaining that Han Gan really existed, but the story of the horse is a legend. The illustrations complement the text and offer the reader an atmosphere of Chinese culture, but do not extend the story. I was particularly impressed with the dynamism of the illustrations. For example, the horse is drawn as a physically powerful creature. That power is characterize through his muscular structure as well as portraying him as constantly moving and straining forward. The primary focus of each page faces right inviting the reader to turn the page. I noticed the book has page numbers which is relatively unusual for a picturebook. I recommend this book for use with students in grades 4 and up.

General curricular connections:

• Art
• Language arts / legends

At the conclusion of the book the horse returns to a painting. It is no longer straining with power and muscular energy; rather he is shown as part of a herd. He is dripping with the blood of battle. This reminded me of the symbolism found in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde where Dorian Gray’s portrait reflects his life. Perhaps the book could be used with secondary students in conjunction with studying The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Awards received: No awards given to this book. However, it received starred reviews in Booklist, Kirkus and School Library Journal. It was also a Junior Library Guild selection.


Note: This book is a translation of Cheval magique de Han Gan published by l’école des loisirs in 2004 

Book cover picture retrieved from: http://www.enchantedlionbooks.com/node/42

Personification: Pages 30-31 where the horse is overcome by sadness and cries. The illustration shows the horse crying and the text states, “Sadness overcame the horse. He looked around at the defeated and the dead and at the wounded and dying horses, and suddenly he began to cry.”

Sophisticated language: Page 9, “Intrigued, Wang Wei drew up behind Han Gan and looked thoughtfully at his drawing.”

Symbolism through illustrations: Arrows carried and used by the warrior showing that he is a powerful and fierce warrior, a power to be reckoned with. The great warrior’s hat is red with upswept side peaks reminiscent of devil horns.

Symbolism through text and illustrations Pages 32-33 where the illustrations and the text tell of the horse throwing the powerful warrior from his back indicating the horse will no longer battle.

Repetition: Horses are found on nearly every page. Paint brushes and painting tools are found on nearly every page where Han Gan is included.

The Moon Over Star

Author: Dianna Hutts Aston

Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney

Peach’s Picks Rating:

Year of publication: 2008

City of publication: New York

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 9780803731073

Author website: No website available. Information about the author is available at http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,0_1000067428,00.html?sym=BIO

Illustrator website: http://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com/

Media used for illustrations: Full-color artwork created using graphite, ink, and watercolor on paper

Annotation: On July 20, 1969, eight-year-old Mae excitedly follows the Apollo 11 flight as she dreams of being an astronaut. Pinkney’s illustrations bring to life Mae’s daily routine as history is being made.

Personal reaction to the book: This gentle and loving story centers on the Apollo 11 moon landing, but is really the story of family relationships and a girl dreaming of her future. Eight-year-old Mae lives on a farm outside a small town named Star. The story begins Sunday morning July 20, 1969, when she and her extended family worship in church. It continues through the day as Mae and her cousins play outside together while eagerly awaiting the Apollo 11 television broadcast. Finally the time has come and the family gathers in front of the television. Gramps is not as enthusiastic about the Apollo 11 flight as other family members. Mae thoughtfully examines him, wondering what his dreams might have been as a young man. She thinks of her own dreams for the future. By the conclusion of the book, Gramps feels the family’s excitement and joins them outside, smiling up at the night sky. The repetition of the phrase “once upon a summer’s morning” (or noon, or night) provides breaking points which advance the story to new scenes. The repetition of this phrase also shows that the events of the story take place during one day. The book is written in lyrical free-form verse that reads aloud well. The illustrator created many clues showing the family’s close relationship. They worship, play, watch the moon landing, and gaze at the night sky together. Mae and her father are shown in church with the father’s arm lovingly and protectively placed around her right shoulder (page 3). At the end of the book Gramps bends down toward Mae’s face. The two are happily engaged in conversation. The illustrations are intricate and filled with visual depth and texture. Scan the illustrations for background details placing the story in 1969; for example, the table-top telephone with a receiver cradle (pages 17-18), rabbit ears sitting on the television (pages 17-18), and webbed lawn furniture (pages 23-24).

General curricular connections:

• Space exploration
• Apollo 11 flight
• Families

Recommended grade levels:

School Library Journal recommends this book for grades K-3

Booklist recommends this book for grades preschool-3

Peach’s Picks recommends this book for grades 1-5

Awards/Recognitions:
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books Award 2009
Nominee for California Young Reader Medal (CYRM) award 2011
Publisher's Weekly starred review

Notes: This book was selected from "The Top Ten Favorites List / Summer Session 2009", San Jose State University, School of Library and Information Science, LIBR 271A, Genres & Topics in Youth Literature, Professor Partington.

Simile: Page 22; “And the stars, gleaming like spilled sugar.”

Personification: Page 20; “When the crickets began to sing…”

Personification: Page 22; “The cornstalks whispered…”

Allusion: Using Mae as the main character’s first name alludes to the African-American astronaut, Mae C. Jemison

Onomatopoeia: Page 20; “Stomped off the porch.”

Repetition: “Once upon a summer’s morning” (page 1); Once upon a summer’s noon” (page 7);  Once upon a summer’s night” (page 23);  “And once upon a summers’ night” (page 29)

Book cover picture retrieved from: http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780803731073,00.html?The_Moon_Over_Star_Dianna_Hutts_Aston#

The Enemy: A Book About Peace

Author: Davide Cali

Illustrator: Serge Bloch

Peach’s Picks Rating:

Year of publication: 2009

City of publication: New York

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books

ISBN: 9780375845000

Author website: http://www.davidecali.com/

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

Media used for illustrations: Rendered in China ink on paper and photography

Annotation: Two soldiers hide in foxholes facing one another. Each ponders his fate, feeling they have nothing in common and believing they should hate and kill the other.

Personal reaction to the book: This is a powerful thought-provoking anti-war story that will encourage discussion when read aloud. Two enemy soldiers sit lonely vigils in small foxholes facing one another. One soldier speaks to the reader through his thoughts, pondering his situation, wondering if his enemy is really a wild beast who will “kill our families and our pets, burn down our forests, even poison our water (page 14).” The soldiers believe they are enemies but have shared experiences; loneliness, fear, anxiety, rain, darkness, longing for family, longing for the end of war. In a surprising twist, the two soldiers come to realize they are not enemies. Rather, they are humans who have families, dreams, and hopes. The front endpapers begin the story showing seven horizontal repeating lines of soldiers. All soldiers are the same with the exception of one soldier who has a four-leaf clover in his mouth. The story concludes on the back endpapers showing seven horizontal repeating lines of soldiers; a solider is missing from line two and line six leaving the reader to conclude that the two enemies turned their backs on war and went home. Between endpapers the story is told in short powerful text and illustrated with straightforward cartoon-like pictures conveying emotion. The book has a unique layout with six pages of story before the publisher’s information and title page appear. The drawings are reminiscent of World War I soldiers, but the theme is timeless and universal. This book will surely draw a strong response from readers. This book is perfectly matched with Patrol: An American Soldier in Vietnam by Walter Dean Myers. The book reads aloud well and is easily viewed by a group of students.

General curricular connections:

• War
• Peace
• Use with Amnesty International clubs
•             Use with Patrol: An American Soldier in Vietnam by Walter Dean Myers

Recommended grade levels:

School Library Journal recommends the book for grades 5 and up

Booklist recommends the book for grades 2-4

Peach’s Picks recommends the book for grades 4 and up

Awards/Recognitions:
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2010
School Library Journal starred review

Notes: This book was selected from "The Top Ten Favorites List / Summer Session 2009", San Jose State University, School of Library and Information Science, LIBR 271A, Genres & Topics in Youth Literature, Professor Partington.

Metaphor: Page 13; “He is a wild beast.”

Metaphor: Page 14; the enemy is shown with a devil’s tail

Metaphor: Page 25; one soldier creeping across the page believes the other soldier creeping across the page to be a lion

Metaphor: Back endpapers: Two soldiers are missing from the horizontal lines of soldiers; the two soldiers in the story have left the war

Book cover picture retrieved from: http://www.randomhouse.com/author/80268/davide-cali

Laika

Author: Nick Abadzis

Illustrator: Nick Abadzis; colorist Hilary Sycamore

Peach’s Picks Rating:

Year of publication: 2007

City of publication: New York

Publisher: First Second

ISBN: 1596431016

Author website: http://www.nickabadzis.com/

Illustrator website:http://www.nickabadzis.com/
No personal website located for Hilary Sycamore. Information about her can be found at http://firstsecondbooks.typepad.com/mainblog/hilary_sycamore_guest_blogger/

Media used for illustrations: Earth tone color drawings, comic book style with linear panels

Annotation: Laika, a dog acquired by the Soviet space program, was the first living creature to orbit earth. This book blends fact and fiction to tell the story of the historic event.

Personal reaction to the book: This is a tear-jerker about Laika, an abandoned puppy living a hard life on the streets of Moscow. She is captured by dogcatchers and delivered to the Soviet Institute of Aviation Medicine. Her fate is determined by the ambitious, almost ruthless engineer, Chief Designer Korolev, who selects Laika to be the first living creature sent into outer space. Yelena Dubrovsky, the lab technician responsible for caring for the dogs at Institute of Aviation Medicine, and Laika form a special bond. Laika is launched into space on Sputnik II on November 3, 1957, surviving only a few hours of the flight. The graphic novel is composed of small, tightly packed panels drawn with pencil and colored with earth-tones. The use of these colors creates a sense of darkness and brooding throughout the story, setting up the conflicted emotions of Yelena and foreshadowing Laika’s death. The text is presented in bubbles containing especially small print. The pages are numbered creating easy reference points. The story is broken into four chapters at logical breaking points. The main characters as well as the secondary characters are well-drawn with depth of expression and emotion. The reader experiences the personal and political struggles experienced by Korolev, Dubrovsky and others. I found the panels difficult to read because they are small, closely spaced and contain small text. However, I believe this will not trouble most secondary school readers who will enjoy the book as a dog story, historical fiction and graphic novel rolled into an appealing package. An afterword by the author extends the historical context of the story.  A bibliography is included. Students unfamiliar with the Cold War and the competition between Russia and the United States race to outer space may need some background information to fully understand the story.

General curricular connections:

• History / Cold war
• Space travel
• When studying the Cold War, pair with The Green Glass Sea and White Sands, Red Menace by Ellen Klages
• Use in secondary literature circles

Recommended grade levels:
School Library Journal recommends the book for grades 7 and up
Booklist recommends the book for grades 8-12
Peach's Picks recommends the book for grades 7 and up

Awards/Recognitions:
2008 Eisner Award - Best Publication for Teens
2008 Nominated for Eisner Award – Best Reality-Based Work
2008 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens
Starred review in School Library Journal
Junior Library Guild Selection

Notes: This book was selected from "The Top Ten Favorites List / Summer Session 2009", San Jose State University, School of Library and Information Science, LIBR 271A, Genres & Topics in Youth Literature, Professor Partington. This entry meets the assignment criteria to review graphic novels/fiction.

Repetition: The phrase “I am a man of destiny” is repeated throughout the book.

Repetition: The moon is shown and focused on throughout the book

Onomatopoeia: Page 8; “Koff” to represent coughing

Onomatopoeia: Page 8; “ZZZZ” to represent snoring

Onomatopoeia: Page 45; “PLAF” to represent Laika crashing into a box and garbage can

Onomatopoeia: Page 48; “THWAP!” to represent the dog catcher’s net coming down

Symbolism: Page 129; The red hammer and sickle symbol of Communism

Book cover picture retrieved from: http://us.macmillan.com/laika

A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams

Author: Jen Bryant

Illustrator: Melissa Sweet

Peach’s Picks Rating:

Year of publication: 2008

City of publication: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Publisher: Eerdmans books for Young Readers

ISBN: 9780802853028

Author website: http://www.jenbryant.com/

Illustrator website: http://www.melissasweet.net/portfolio.html

Media used for illustrations: Watercolor, collage, and mixed media

Annotation: Biography picturebook of the poet William Carlos Williams, describing his journey from boyhood to adulthood. Williams became a respected doctor who always found time to write. Backmatter and Williams’ poetry are included.

Personal reaction to the book: The book makes Williams’ life and poetry accessible to readers, especially younger children. Using his poems in the illustrations is a clever technique that invites readers (or listeners) into his poems without being forced to read poetry. The poems used in the illustrations effectively match the mood of the text and carry the story forward. On pages 1-2, the reader is introduced to a middle-aged Williams through an excerpt from his poem “Pastoral”. Page 3 begins the story of his life as a 10-year-old playing with friends. We learn that Williams not only enjoys sports and other activities, but he also likes to be alone to observe and contemplate. In high school Williams discovers a love of poetry and begins to write. At first he mimics famous English writers, but soon finds his own voice. The illustrations created using watercolor, collage, and mixed media show Williams as always smiling, portraying him as a pleasant boy who grows to be a pleasant man. The pictures are busy, but not annoyingly so. The book cannot be viewed effectively by a large group because there is too much detail in the pictures. The pictures need time to be examined closely in order to understand the story.  The endpapers are very attractive and contain a selection of Williams’ poems. The author’s notes are essential to the understanding of Williams’ life. The text creates an impression of the man and offers some biographical information, but it seems insufficient. Endnotes from the illustrator are a welcome addition to the book explaining how she created the artwork and how she learned of Williams’ life and work. Further reading is also suggested. Readers may be familiar with Williams’ poem “The Red Wheelbarrow” included in the book Love That Dog by Sharon Creech. This book is best used in the classroom or library where it can be read aloud to a small group and discussed.

General curricular connections:

• Poetry
• National Poetry Month
• William Carlos Williams
• Pair with William Carlos Williams edited by Christopher MacGowan. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2004 (ISBN 978-1-40270-006-4)

Recommended grade levels:
School Library Journal recommends the book for grades 3-6

Booklist recommends the book for grades 2-5

Peach’s Picks recommends the book for grades 3-6

Awards/Recognitions:
Caldecott Medal/Honor 2009

School Library Journal starred review

Kirkus Review starred review

Christian Science Monitor Best Children’s Books of 2008

Cooperative Children's Book Center Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award 2009

Cybils Award Finalist 2008

Junior Library Guild Selection

NCTE Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts 2009

NCTE Orbis Pictus Award 2009

Notes: This book was selected from "The Top Ten Favorites List / Summer Session 2009", San Jose State University, School of Library and Information Science, LIBR 271A, Genres & Topics in Youth Literature, Professor Partington. This is a work of nonfiction.

Onomatopoeia: Page 6; “Gurgle, gurgle – swish, swish, swoosh! – gurgle, gurgle.” (describing the Passaic River)

Alliteration: Page 6; “Gurgle, gurgle – swish, swish, swoosh! – gurgle, gurgle.”

Alliteration: Page 6; “The water went slipping and sliding over the smooth rocks…”

Alliteration: Page 22; “Like the water that sometimes ran slow, smooth, and steady…”

Simile: Page 8; “The gentle sounds and shifting rhythms of the poems were like the music of the river.”

Simile: Page 13; “…he felt as free as the Passaic River…”

Simile: Page 22; “Like the water that sometimes ran slow…”

Repetition: Phrase used throughout the book after a description of Williams, “And it was true.”

Book cover picture retrieved from: http://www.jenbryant.com/books/inprint/bk_river.html

Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors

Author: Joyce Sidman

Illustrator: Pamela Zagarenski

Peach’s Picks Rating:

Year of publication: 2009

City of publication: Boston

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

ISBN: 9780547014944

Author website: http://www.joycesidman.com/

Illustrator website: No website available. Information about the illustrator can be found at http://www.atthegallery.com/artists/zagarenski.html

Media used for illustrations: Mixed media  paintings on wood and computer illustration

Annotation: A girl and her dog pass though the delights of each season in this picturebook of unrhymed poetry. The text focuses on the names of colors to describe the seasons.

Personal reaction to the book: A red cardinal flies across each full-page spread of this attractive poetry book, inviting the reader to follow it through the four seasons beginning with spring. The beautiful rhythm of the unrhymed poem begs to be read aloud to a group, one-on-one, or simply by a reader experiencing the book alone. The book can be read as a single story of a girl and her dog following the cardinal through the four seasons. Also, the description of each season can be experienced as a story within the larger narrative. Enjoy the text over and over again, listening to the cadence and the vibrant descriptions. The illustrations also beg to be examined again and again. Readers will delight in locating the cardinal, much like looking for the mouse in Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. The soft color palate reflects the colors of the season being described. The mixed media artwork adds texture, richness, and pattern to the pictures. The illustrations extend the text; for example, “Yellow melts everything it touches…smells like butter, tastes like salt (page 8).” The reader understands the simile when looking at the popcorn and corn-on-the-cob shown at the picnic. Color names are printed in their color adding design interest to the text. This is a satisfying, peaceful journey through the seasons that promises to please all readers.

General curricular connections:

• Literature
• Poetry
• Seasons
• National Poetry Month

Recommended grade levels:
School Library Journal recommends the book for preschool-grade 3

Booklist recommends the book for preschool-grade1

Peach’s Picks recommends the book for preschool-grade 4

Awards/Recognitions:
Junior Library Guild Selection
Booklist starred review

Kirkus Review starred review

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books starred review

Horn Book starred review

Caldecott Medal/Honor 2010

Notes: This book was selected from "The Top Ten Favorites List / Summer Session 2009", San Jose State University, School of Library and Information Science, LIBR 271A, Genres & Topics in Youth Literature, Professor Partington. It is a work of poetry.

Repetition: Cardinal flying throughout the book

Repetition: Crowns are worn by main character as well as other people and animals throughout the book

Repetition: Wheel-like shape that looks like a lemon sliced through the middle throughout the book

Repetition: Page 2 and 29; “…each note dropping [drops] like a cherry into my ear.”

Simile: Page 2; “…each note dropping like a cherry into my ear.”

Metaphor: Page 2; “Red squirms on the road after rain.”

Alliteration: Page 4; “First flowers, first friends.”

Onomatopoeia: Page 29; “Red beats inside me: thump-thump-thump.”

Book cover picture retrieved from: http://www.joycesidman.com/Bookshelf.html