Module 6: The Eraserheads

Summary

Kate Banks's book The Eraserheads is an interesting account of three eraser heads, a pig, an owl, and a crocodile, and how they aim to please their owner, a little boy. The owl is exceptionally good at erasing words, while the pig is scared to erase anything drawn that's bigger than him and the crocodile's forte is with numbers. Due to the mistake made by the crocodile who erases too much, the trio is stranded far from shore. The boy gives up on his artwork, further stranding the group until he comes back and rescues them by finishing a new scene in the picture. The moral of the story is perseverance in spite of mistakes.

Personal Impressions

To say this book was anything shy of imaginative is inaccurate. Who would think to write a story about erasers! Kate Banks did, and the result was this bright, colorful book with a good message for its intended elementary audience. It is easy to see why this book was a Caldecott winner. The story is far-fetched. Finding personal connections to the characters is not easy, since they are inanimate objects. I think it has more to do with the boy than with the three main characters. What an interesting and unique perspective on making mistakes! I loved this book and read it to my 3-year-old daughter, who also loved it. Readers will be intrigued if for no other reason than the pictures. Honestly, that's why I picked it up in the first place. Definitely recommended for elementary aged students.

Professional Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2–4—What a boy imagines while drawing is chronicled through a dialogue with an owl, a pig, and a crocodile, eraser creatures that live atop his colored pencils. The owl is good with words and backward letters. The pig erases everything except animals drawn larger than him. The crocodile is in charge of numbers. When the boy runs out of room after drawing a landscape, the crocodile goes too far, erasing and erasing until the trio lands in the middle of nowhere. Suddenly a wave sweeps the fearful friends onto a desert island, and they are chased by wild animals. The boy crumples and abandons his work, leaving the eraserheads stuck unless they can figure a way to inspire him to persevere and transform the scene into something else. Kulikov, a master of mixed-media illustrations, effectively uses two contrasting tones to create distinct, but juxtaposed worlds: the boy and his eraserheads are layered and densely rendered, while the child's artwork and the background images are lightly sketched and hatched with a watercolor base. This complex tale will intrigue those adventurers ready for a Jumanji-like experience of jumping into the arduous but rewarding creative process of persevering through mistakes.—Sara Lissa Paulson, American Sign Language and English Lower School PS 347, New York City
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

The creators of Max’s Words (2006) and Max’s Dragon (2008) collaborate again in this picture-book fantasy that begins in a very mundane, everyday setting: at a desk where a boy struggles with his homework. Three expressive, animal-shaped erasers help by rubbing out mistakes: a crocodile, who is “good with numbers”; an owl, who likes letters and words; and a pig with a big appetite, who will erase “just about anything.” The wild adventures begin when the boy ditches his lessons and begins to draw, and the erasers find themselves whisked perilously through each imagined world. They’re nearly drowned by a tidal wave from a beach scene and chased by wild animals until the crocodile, with some strategic erasing, sends a message to the boy, who sketches a boat and floats the gang safely in a calm sea. Banks folds reassuring messages about mistakes into this inventively illustrated title that, like David Wiesner’s Three Pigs (2001) and Mordicai Gerstein’s A Book (2009), plays with conventional story borders and may inspire kids to sail off on their own imagined escapades. Preschool-Grade 2. --Gillian Engberg

Library Uses

I think this would be a good story time book. The librarian could read it aloud to the elementary students, come up with a craft for them to do, such as designing their own eraserhead or drawing a summary of the book that includes the beginning, middle, and end. Then he/she could finish by giving the students an eraser head of their own and having them write about a journey they would send it on.

References

Banks, K. (2010). The eraserheads. New York, NY: Frances Foster Books.

Engberg, G. (2010). The eraserheads [Review]. Retrieved: www.booklistonline.com.

Paulson, S. L. (2010). The eraserheads [Review]. Retrieved: www.schoollibraryjournal.com.

Module 5: Bud, Not Buddy

Summary

Christopher Paul Curtis writes this exciting and sometimes sad, sometimes happy tale of Bud, not Buddy, an orphan growing up in the Great Depression era who discovers himself while searching for a man depicted on a poster he has whom he believes is his father. His journey begins when he gets in trouble at his foster home and spends the night locked in the garden shed. There, he hits a nest of hornets, is stung, and hops a train with his friend and fellow orphan, Bugs. After meeting some people along the way, Bud is picked up by Lefty Lewis, a man who ultimately leads him to Herman E. Calloway, the man on the poster. He convinces the Dusky Devastators, the band in which Calloway plays, to take him on tour with them. Calloway does not accept that he might be Bud's father, but he accepts him into the group anyway. After seeing Herman E. Calloway write on a stone, Bud reveals the collection of similar stones he inherited from his mother. He is accused of stealing, but the other band members step in and defend him. The story ends with the revelation that Bud is the son of Herman E. Calloway's long-lost daughter. The grandfather and grandson are then united and Bud finds family at last.

Personal Impressions

I have to say that this was probably my favorite book I've read in this class. I love Christopher Paul Curtis's style, the way he makes Bud such a realistic character and sets the story in a time period of great importance in the United States. It was funny, too. When Bud exacts revenge on Todd, the son of his foster parents, for instance and even when he hits the hornets' nest thinking it is a vampire bat, the story is told in a way that makes readers laugh and think, "Yeah, I probably thought like that at one point, too!" Bud is so convicted in his beliefs, no matter how silly or desperate, that readers empathize with him. I mean, I hated that his foster parents were so neglectful that they would put this ten year old boy in the shed for something he didn't even really do. I grew up with a family, but I've always wondered how people who didn't feel. I think they feel much like Bud. The ending of the book was perfect, sound and well-written. Knowing that Bud finally had a family gave me a sense of fulfillment in the story. I actually checked out Curtis's new book, The Mighty Miss Malone, which is a spin-off of one of the characters, Deza Malone, from this story. I can't wait to read it because I just know I will love it as much as I loved this book.

Professional Review

The following review is from Booklist:

Bud, Not Buddy.

Bud, 10, is on the run from the orphanage and from yet another mean foster family. His mother died when he was 6, and he wants to find his father. Set in Michigan during the Great Depression, this is an Oliver Twist kind of foundling story, but it’s told with affectionate comedy, like the first part of Curtis’ The Watsons Go to Birmingham (1995). On his journey, Bud finds danger and violence (most of it treated as farce), but more often, he finds kindness—in the food line, in the library, in the Hooverville squatter camp, on the road—until he discovers who he is and where he belongs. Told in the boy’s naive, desperate voice, with lots of examples of his survival tactics (“Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar out of Yourself”), this will make a great read-aloud. Curtis says in an afterword that some of the characters are based on real people, including his own grandfathers, so it’s not surprising that the rich blend of tall tale, slapstick, sorrow, and sweetness has the wry, teasing warmth of family folklore.

— Hazel Rochman

Library Uses

Since this book is set during the Great Depression era, it could definitely compliment both a social studies and ELAR lesson. The librarian could pair with one of these teachers to do a mini research project over the time period. The students could write their findings into a class Wiki, such as Wiki Spaces, as a means of sharing their research. The librarian could oversee this part of the assignment as well as provide resources to the teachers and students on the Great Depression era.

References

Curtis, C.P. (1999). Bud, not Buddy. New York, NY: Delacorte.

Rochman, H. (1999). Books for youth: Fiction: Historical fiction. Retrieved from www.booklistonline.com.

Module 4: Island of the Blue Dolphins

Summary

Karana, a twelve year old Indian girl whose tribe resides on a fish-shaped island surrounded by otter and dolphins, faces extreme loneliness when her tribe leaves the island and their ways of life after an attack by the Aleuts that results in the deaths of many of their men including Karana's father, the chief. Karana leaves the boat and goes back ashore when she sees her younger brother still on the island. Her brother is soon attacked and killed by wild dogs, and Karana must figure out how to survive completely alone. She makes weapons, hunts and fishes for food, and builds a shelter, all the while seeking to avenge her brother's death by killing the enemy dogs. She is constantly on the look out for a ship that will reunite her with her tribe. She lies in terror of the day when Aleuts might come back to the island to hunt the otter. This fear leads her to try to escape in a canoe at one point, but she does not succeed and returns to the island.After successfully killing several of the dogs, she takes in one of the dogs, who eventually dies of old age. The Aleuts do come, and Karana hides in a cave, but she is spotted by an Aleutian woman whom she befriends. The Aleuts go, once again leaving Karana completely alone. In the end, a ship does come, Karana is rescued, and she must adapt to a new way of life and leave her customs and the island behind.

Personal Impressions

I actually love survival stories and even watch TV shows about survival in strange situations. When I chose to read this book, I didn't realize what it was about, other than it had something to do with an island. I knew the book was taught in the 5th grade at some schools, but I personally didn't know anything about it or even about the author, Scott O'Dell. I was pretty much hooked when the first tragedy of the novel occurred, resulting in the death of the Indian chief. I was screaming in my head, "Don't go back!" when Karana fled ship because she saw her brother still on the island. I will say the plot was a little predictable after that. For some reason, I just knew the younger brother would die and Karana would be alone. I knew when she administered medicine to the Aleut dog that they would develop a mutual respect for each other. And ultimately, I knew that dog would die. Even still, I was pretty much fascinated by the character of Karana. She's this dynamic character that does very big things at the age of 12, the same age give or take a year of the kids I teach now. I became even more enthralled with the story after discovering that it is based on a true story. I give the book two thumbs up and recommended it to my 6th graders. I know that after she saw me reading it, one of my students checked it out herself and did her six weeks project over it.

Professional Review

From School Library Journal (May 2004):

O'Dell, Scott. Island of the Blue Dolphins. Houghton. 1960. 

Gr. 5-8--Based on the life of a real Chumash Indian girl abandoned on an island off the coast of California in the 1800s, this story describes how Karana was self-sustaining for 18 years before rescue. O'Dell details how she made clothing from animal skins, constructed weapons to fend off wild dogs, and dried fish to augment her food supply. This remarkable heroine continues to inspire readers and teach them about Native American lore. Audiobook available from Listening Library.

Library Uses

I think it would be interesting to pair this book with a research-based project on island survival. The librarian could pull resources related to the topic, and the students could research how to survive on a deserted island. They would need sound resources to complete the project, and librarians are experts in the field of research. The unit would work for science, English Language Arts and Reading, and even math; therefore, it could be considered cross-curricular. Research would primarily be conducted in the library via the Internet and books. It would also be the perfect opportunity for the librarian to talk about citing and plagiarism.

References

O’Dell, S. (1960). Island of the blue dolphins. Boston, MS: Houghton Mifflin.

Reutter, V. (2004). Island of the blue dolphins (Book). School Library Journal, 50(5), 64. Retrieved: www.schoollibraryjournal.com.

Module #4: Johnny Tremain

Summary

Esther Forbes's award-winning classic is the American Revolution era tale of Johnny Tremain, a fourteen year old boy who resides in the house of a master apprentice and has been promised the hand of his teacher's granddaughter, Cilla, when they are considered of age. A work-related accident happens, however, that cripples Johnny's hand, preventing him from continuing his career as a promising silversmith. Johnny then looks for other jobs, and after rounds of bad luck, turns to Mr. Lyte, whom he is related to but has been sworn never to reveal the relation. Johnny is arrested shortly after presenting his namesake cup to Mr. Lyte because Mr. Lyte claims it is a stolen item. After being set free, Johnny takes a job for a political newspaper in Boston and takes interest in politics. When the Battle of Concord breaks out, Johnny and Cilla have developed a friendship and become members of the Whig political party. After the battles of Lexington and Concord in the American Revolution, Johnny and Cilla fall in love and Johnny's injured hand is cured by a doctor. From the character of Johnny himself to the old, forgetful silversmith, Mr. Lapham, to even Lavinia Lyte, Forbes demonstrates the divisions between various social classes and the first political parties in America.

Personal Impressions

Being a lover of history, I really liked the historical ties Forbes writes into her novel. I think it is interesting because while the story is fiction, the events and some of the characters, such as John Hancock and Samuel Adams, were actual people during this time period. I think Forbes must have been interested in history herself to write a book that seems so much like something that could have happened during the American Revolution period. I thought the characters were believable. I mean, what boy wouldn't think about doing the same thing Dove did to his higher-up, more beloved, and often very snooty co-worker? And Forbes further paints a realistic picture of this incident by having Dusty, a fellow apprentice, run away in sadness once Johnny leaves the Lapham house. My favorite part was when Mr. Lapham had Johnny read aloud from the Bible in front of the entire Lapham household as a means of telling him he is much too prideful. I actually laughed. At any rate, I feel like Forbes did an adequate job tying in the history of Boston during the time when the early American colonists were embarking on the first legs of a journey that would ultimately define America and grant us freedom.

Professional Review

The following is a review from Publisher's Weekly titled Happy 55th Birthday.

The 1943 historical novel Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes looks at the Revolutionary War through the eyes of a hard-up, 14-year-old boy in Boston. This addition to the Illustrated American Classics series features black-and-white scratchboard illustrations by Michael McCurdy. (Houghton, $20, 288 pages, 10-up).

Library Uses

Johnny Tremain would be the perfect novel study to accommodate a unit on early American history or the American Revolution. The librarian could pair with the reading, social studies, or language arts teacher, showcase the novel as it is being read in class, and present facts on the time period. Classes could come, view a small presentation of historical facts represented in the novel and other sources, and discuss the book.  It would be a way to reinforce what is being taught in class and utilize the many resources contained in the library. The librarian could even have a mini Q & A paper that would require the students to work in pairs and access resources online to answer the questions. To make it even more engaging, it could be a sort of relay to see what team(s) come up with the correct responses the quickest.

References

Forbes, E. (1943). Johnny Tremain. London, England: Houghton Mifflin.

Notes. (1998). Publishers Weekly, 245(42), 82.

Module 3: So You Want to Be President?

Summary

Judith St. George writes an informational text about past presidents. This Caldecott-winning book is stock full of funny pictures and facts about all sorts of presidents. Geared toward students in grades 3-5, So You Want to Be President? would be a great addition to a social studies or history class. Did you know that all kinds of animals were housed in the White House? Did you know the White House has its own bowling alley? What about the kids that kept their pets in their bedrooms? Were the past presidents penny pinchers or big spenders? How many Jameses were presidents? Johns? This book has answers to those questions and more!

Personal Impressions

I really loved this book because it had excellent pictures and presented the past presidents in ways that not everyone knows. I used this book for the story time project I did. The students loved it. The facts were accurate and funny. I felt like I learned a lot about the White House and the past presidents. I think the kids participating in my story time really enjoyed it as well.

Professional Review

From School Library Journal (2000): 

St. George, Judith. So You Want to Be President. illus. by David Small. Philomel.

Everyone should be familiar with this 2001 Caldecott Medalist, also a strong informational book for its stimulating presentation of "trivia" about the U.S. presidency that invites reflection. Its six-item bibliography of generally adult titles published from 1963 to 1986 might describe St. George's sources (we don't actually know), but certainly does not give reflective readers much to go on.

Library Uses

I personally used this book in an elementary library with 4th and 5th grade students during a story time activity. One of the things we did was write paragraphs and draw pictures of what we would do if we could be president for a day. This type of writing activity can be given to the reading or language arts teacher. 4th graders especially need to practice writing, as they take their first state assessment in writing that year. I think writing in the library is a great idea, giving students practice outside of the normal classroom setting and tying in the nonfiction/informational genres. The kids were engaged in the activity pretty much the whole time. Other library uses might be to introduce expository text to students or reading the story as a means of getting the kids interested in learning more about politics. It can be used as a supplemental lesson on fact and opinion or even on primary and secondary sources, talking about how the book is a secondary source. I can think of a ton of uses this book would have in both classroom and library.

References

Lindsay, N. (2001). A librarian looks at how even great books fall short. Retrieved: www.schoollibraryjournal.com

St. George, J. (2000). So you want to be president. New York, NY: Philomel.