Historical Fiction Prairie School by Avi

Prairie school is written for children who are mastering reading on their own. It is short chapter book and the main character’s experience and conflict revolves around not seeing the value of reading in his life on the prairie. His aunt comes via train from out east to teach him.

The story seems to accurately portray the time period. It takes place in 1880 and involves a family who moved from Maine to the “new state of Colorado”. The author provides details about the land; mentioning snakes and flowers of the prairie. Noah’s parents do not know how to read and write and Noah’s life is primarily chores and time to explore. The story is told in third person. There is minimal dialect that does not distract from the story because it is not far from how children talk today. Although the author uses “ma” to refer to the mother and tells us that the aunt is “coming to give you schooling”.

The theme focuses on freedom that comes with knowledge and reading. I think this is a worthwhile theme because the book is for children learning to read. They might be frustrated like Noah and feel hopeful to know he struggles but succeeds.

Bread is For Eating - By David and Phillis Gershator

Multicultural

Bread is for Eating is a beautifully illustrated children’s book about the process of making bread. It shows that bread is a staple in the diet of cultures around the world. The book takes place on Guatemalan farm. A mother teaches her son the song “El Pan Es Para Comer” (Bread is for Eating). The beautiful illustrations show different breads from around the world and the process and people that work to make bread.

Although the book shows stereotypical dress and style it is not disrespectful. In contrast, I think the illustrator did a good job of showing traditional dress and style in a positive light. Using both English and Spanish in the song introduces readers to a Spanish rhythm and style while teaching them new words.

This is a short children’s book centered on the song. It does not delve into racial issues. It simply shows a variety of cultures in a positive way and introduces readers to lifestyles around the world.

Biography Escape North! The Story of Harriet Tubman by Monica Kulling

As a biography selection, I read Escape North! The Story of Harriet Tubman by Monica Kulling. This selection highlights black women in a positive, brave way through Tubman’s story. The story is geared towards second and third graders, so it does not delve deeply into issues of slavery. It is pretty superficial in that sense and portrays southern whites as aggressive, violent slave owners.

I think this story has a strong balance between facts and a story line. It is a short story but divided into chapters. The opening chapter grabs the reader’s attention and then introduces facts. It tells interesting facts about Harriet’s personal and family life that allow readers to relate to her.

The book is published by a respectable publisher, Random House, and the author thanks Alice Adamczyk from the Schomburg Center for Research in Back Culture for her “time and expertise in reviewing this book”. Other than those facts, sources and credibility were not mentioned.

I think this is worthy of students reading. Harriet Tubman is wonderful example of a strong, black, female leader and she played a large part in our history. I was surprised by the variety of people to read about in the children’s biography section; anyone from Michael Jordan to Osama Bin Laden. I think Harriet Tubman is a positive and age appropriate selection.

Chicken Little - Retold and illustrated by Steven Kellogg

I think this book is most appropriate for second or third grade. Chicken Little addresses skills of these grades because many of the names rhyme, the book provides opportunities to predict future events, and the pictures give clues (sometimes using words on signs and in thought bubbles) to what is happening in the story. The illustrator seems to use a casual style in the art work. Although the illustrations are detailed with expressions and clues as to what is happening in the story, it feels like the pictures are sketches a person would say as they are telling the story. The most dominant visual element in this book is the use of line. The use of line adds to the feel of sketching and provides an opportunity for students to see how lines and shading can be used to have a similar effect to using color to add texture. I think the sketching makes the illustrations seem more comic like which fits the story better than realistic images. Throughout the story the story, characters are calling for police and the sketches feel like “wanted signs”.The use of color is also simple. It adds to the pictures but uses mainly cool colors that look like they were sketched with colored pencils. One of my favorite pictures is the two page picture that shows the helicopter crashing into the poultry truck. The expressions of the characters clearly show their emotion, it gives clues and foreshadowing opportunities and provides plenty of details to keep students’ attention. Chicken Little has the elements of a good picture book. It “creates pictures that help set the setting and tone for the story, enhances the story line, and provides information not included in the story”.