Journey Home by Yoshiko Uchida

This novel  by Yoshiko Uchida describes the journey one Japanese family endured as Americans living in the United States during World War 2.  What fascinated me the most about this book was that it described a time of American history where I believe the United States did not upload the very fundamental principles it was based upon - the freedom of its people.  The era of Japanese  concentration camps, where our own people, although from a different ethnicity than that of others, were locked up and treated as prisoners in their own country.  Honestly, it's not something I know very much about, so reading this book illustrated to me just how hard it was for many people during that time.  Yoshiko Uchida takes a broad approach to the subject, not simply labeling Americans or the American government as "bad people". Instead, he takes an honest and somewhat unbiased approach at the subject, looking at how the war, the times, the events that  occurred affect one Japanese-American family in particular.  The story is centered around a girl, Yuki, whose family had been imprisoned in a concentration camp in American, regained their freedom, rebuilt their lives and embraced their lives as Americans.  Through other characters, themes of prejudice, hatred and bigotry are touched upon, as well as the effect of the war in general had on families and soldiers. The moral of the story?   I believe the author strives to convey a sense of what America was like for minorities in American during  the World War 2 era....the struggles for those who fought and died, those who fought and  survived, only to return home with scars on their hearts, as well as the fundamental spirit of hope that resides in all people.

This book reminded me somewhat of other books focusing on this era in time.  While their journey's were completely different, the iemain character Yuki reminded me of  Anne Frank in her thinking and her unyielding spirit in the face of various hardships.  I would love to read other books written by this author including Jar of Dreams one of his more recent books, as well as The Invisible Thread:  An Autobiography. 

Coretta Scott King Book Award: One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

One Crazy Summer is the 2011 Coretta Scott King Book Award winner.  The story depicts a humanizing look at a point in history filled with turmoil and prejudice.  The book chronicles the journey three sisters take when they go to stay with their mother who left them when they were very young and as they come to terms with their abandonment while gaining an understanding of the life their mother choice over them.  What I found fascinating with this book is that the author doesn't specifically go about making the the story a lesson in history, or providing a happy resolution for any of the characters.  Instead, the story plays out in a humanistic fashion. The era is the late sixties during a time of change for American, specifically for African-Americans.  The oldest of the sisters, Delphine, holds the most resentment towards her mother, although she does well to hold it in, deep inside her.  The book, written mainly from her point of view, shows her transformation and awareness that things are always the way she has been taught to believe.  While she never quite gets the affirmation from her mother that she longed for, she did develop a new and different appreciation and understanding for her mother.

What I appreciated most about this book is how the author allowed me to connect emotionally with Delphine and I felt her pain, her resentment, and her growth throughout the story.  While on the surface, it would seem as though the character isn't one I could directly relate to, the author's choice of worse and storytelling ability, created that emotional bond, which allowed me to connect.  Possibly, one other reason for the connection is that I thoroughly enjoy reading novels written about this time period.  I find the eras of the sixties and seventies to be one of such significant growth and change in this country. So many pivotal moments that helped to shape our country today took place during this time.  This book takes an engaging look at this time and while the era is not a critical component of the story, it creates a backdrop that serves to helps readers understand the African-American perspective of that time.

Hiroshima. A Novella by Laurence Yep

While this book is fictional in its character depiction, the details, the emotions, the feelings it conveys is based upon historical facts pertaining to the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.  The story is told in a factual manner, providing details from the experience of those American soldiers who dropped the bombs, to the people and children, specifically two school children, living in Hiroshima at the time.  The horror of the destruction caused by the bomb is clearly detailed, while at the same time taking a rather unbiased stance on the war itself as well as the dropping of the bomb.  The book is clearly not taking a stance on who was right or whether the atomic attack was justified.  Rather instead, the story simply discusses the affects that that fateful day had on people and in the years to come.

This was a short, quick read yet compelling in that I found myself unable to put it down.  While I was aware of the devastation caused by the atomic bomb, I had never read any real literature on the topic.  The book was easy enough to read for elementary students to comprehend and I believe this would be a great companion or discussion starter in classrooms because it provides a child's viewpoint on the horrors of that day.

Caldecott Medal: Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

This delightful story is the story of an adorable little kitten seeing a full moon for the first time and mistakens it for a large bowl of milk.  The kitten does all she can to catch that bowl of milk. She jumps, leaps, runs, and falls again and again desperate for just a taste.  Finally she gives up and comes back home only to find a bowl of milk waiting for her on the front porch.  Happily, she drinks her milk. 

While the story is cute and charming, the illustrations are what makes the story unique.  Drawn in black and white, the illustrations, while simplistic, had charm and emotion to the kitten's journey.  Several pages of illustrations provide details and emotions that the kitten was feeling during his quest for the milk.  This book is captivating to children and grown-ups alike.  I am reminded of my children when they were one and two years old, exploring their world and surroundings for the first time.  The book conveys a sense of childhood innocence that adults often forget or take for granted. 

Caldecott Medal: Flotsam by David Wiesner

This book is a true picture book.  The story is told entirely through the illustrations, without words, yet the story is told beautifully clear and crisp.  The story is that of a curious young boy spending the day at the beach.  The illustrations depict through image clues, character traits of the boy.  For example, the opening picture shows the boy investigating a small sand crab creature with his magnifying glass.  Lying next to the boy in his bags of belongings, you see a microscope, binoculars, pails and boxes of various treasures and items he's found on the beach.  Without words, there is a clear understanding of the boys curiosity of nature and things around him.  During his exploration, he comes across a camera that has washed up to shore.  Upon investigation, he discovers it's an underwater camera that has film inside.  Anxiously, he takes the film to be developed, waits patiently for the pictures to come back and delves into the stories that the pictures provide to him.  The pictures show amazing underwater adventures that are unbelievable at times.  However, the last picture shows a picture of a girl holding a picture of another child, who is holding a picture of another child, and so on and so on.  Using his magnifying glass and microscope, he looks closer and closer at these pictures and is taken back through time as each picture reveals a different child from different generations who has found the camera and taken pictures.  The story concludes with the boy taking a picture of himself and then throwing the camera back into the ocean for more adventures. 

This book reminds me of childhood adventures I used to take whether it was at the beach or in my own backyard.  Finding the smallest of creatures and the tiniest pieces of nature all around me gave me hours of enjoyment.  So this book takes me back to those adventures of mine through just the illustrations of the story.  What is unique about this book, is that while the story itself is clear, the emotions and interpretations vary according to the perceptions of the reader.  That is part of its charm and mystique. 

John Henry by Julius Lester

This is the telling of the folk story legend, John Henry.  Written with metaphors and similes galore, this folk legend embodies the spirit of an American legend.  Although it is obvious, that this story is legend, with John Henry performing feats that no man is capable of, the metaphorical correlations between John Henry and the "can do" spirit that lies in all people, is inspiring.  John Henry, although a seemingly ordinary man, defies expectations and professes how nothing can stop him as long as he believes he can do it.  He proves himself time and time again. From running faster than the wind, digging through mountains with his hammers, working faster and harder than steam-engined drills, John Henry was unstoppable.  In the end, it was his undoing, because he died after working so hard his heart just gave out.  However, the legend he created and left behind, inspired all those around him and his death created as much positive energy as did his life.


While reading this story, I was reminiscent of folktales such as Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, and Babe, the Blue Ox.  When teaching 4th grade reading classes, I taught an entire unit on folktales and I loved all the legendary tales that spoke of the American spirit.  This take on John Henry was a wonderful and poetic way of illustrating the message of "anything is possible"!

Other books written by Julius Lester include various books on  folktales, such as The Knee-High Man and Other Tales and The Tales of Uncle Remus:  The Adventures of Brer Rabbit.  Fiction books that Julius Lester has written include Long Journey Home, This Strange New Feeling, and Time's Memory.  The majority of the books that Julius Lester has written deal with slavery and African American history. 

Books Into Movies

Horton, Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss

The first book/movie I compared is Horton, Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss.  This classic tale was lived up to nicely in the movie adaptation.  The movie does an excellent job of following the storyline of the book, while adding details in areas of the book left vague.  For example, the book focuses on Horton as the main character, whereas the movie depicts both Horton and the Who-Ville Mayor as main characters. A few other important differences from the book and movie, included the movies introduction and expansion of roles for several characters, including Horton’s friends and enemies and other Who’s from Who-Ville.

In some ways, I believe I connected more with the movie version than the book because of the expansion of the sub-characters. Compared to the book, I felt the movie was more dimensional and in depth. Giving names and stories of the characters in WhoVille allowed me to connect with the characters more than the book alone.  

In  comparison, I would look at a movie such as Cat and The Hat, which is based upon the book by Dr. Seuss. That movie did not live up to what I thought derived in the book version.  The movie felt like it was focused more on pure entertainment and took many expansions and turns away from the book to make it a good adaptation of the original. 

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White


This classic tale was delightfully retold on the big screen in 2006 in the movie adaption.  The movie, like the book, tells the story of a friendship between Charlotte, the spider, and Wilbur, the pig.  The movie adaption sticks closely to the original text in this telling and does a remarkable job of depicting the talking animals with realistic animation. I found this adaptation of the book quite charming and far more realistic than earlier animated versions of the book. Watching this movie with my children, I was taken back to the first time I read the book as a child.  I fell in love with Wilbur and Charlotte and their unique bond of friendship.  My children loved it equally as well, even to the point of crying at the end when I had to explain over and over again, why Charlotte died.  


What makes Charlotte's Web such a classic tale is that it is timeless in nature.  The story of friendship is as true today as it was when first published in 1952.  While some of the smaller details depict an era from long ago, the central theme of friendship, loyalty, and companionship remains constant. 

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

I remember reading this book as a child and immediately falling in love with the fantasy world of Narnia.  It is a book that I read over and over again through my adolescence and each time I found new insights and meanings that I had not found before.  Even as an adult, reading the book provided a new level of understanding, particularly in the correlations between the story of Narnia and the Christian beliefs of Jesus and the story of his resurrection as told in the Bible. When the movie came out, I hesitated on the decision of whether or not to watch the movie, mainly because the images and the feelings those images produced in my mind from the words of the book, had created such a complete picture of Narnia and the characters, that I was afraid the movie would change that imagery in my mind. But after some time, I went ahead and watched the movie and was relieved that the movie did an excellent job of playing out the very images that I had created in my mind.  The movie lived up to both the story and the fantasy world created by C.S.Lewis.  Following very closely with the book, the movie chronicles the story of four children, Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy, who discover the world of Narnia through a secret entrance hidden inside a wardrobe. Without being overly critical, there were very few discrepancies between the book and the movie.  In the movie, the insertion of digitally enhanced characters to create the fictional characters such as Aslan, Tumnus, Mr and Mrs. Beaver, were not only realistic but very believable.  

Compared to other fantasy type books for children, such as books like the Harry Potter series, I never felt the connection like I did with the Narnia series. While good, the Harry Potter books don’t seem to have the levels of meaning intertwined in them like The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. It’s the connection and complex levels of a book that captivate my imagination and interest. 

The Cat and the Hat & The Lorax

The Cat in the Hat is a classic tale that provides a valuable lesson of right and wrong or even more simply, following your conscience I believe. The children are placed in situations where they must learn to stand up for what they know is right. There are many contemporary books that teach that same value, perhaps not in the same way rhythmic manner that Dr. Seuss did, however, the messages are clear. Hoot by Carl Hiaasen would be an example of a book that presents that tension of right and wrong, yet is directed towards older children.  In this book, teens are faced with the right and wrong choices faced when being bullied as well as the choices to make when it comes to standing up for what they believe in. 

The Lorax is an interesting book that although published in 1971, its message is still relevant to today.  I would think, that had the book been published in recent years, the message would not seem so controversial. The message of the Lorax is clear…specifically making one look objectively at the harm mankind is doing to our planet, whether it is with the deforestation of Earth or other important conservation issues of our day. It is didactic because it is illustrating how one person’s actions have consequences for all, whether it is in nature or moralistically.

There are probably more didactic children’s books today than in the past because conservation of our Earth and protection of our environment or even endangered cultures has become socially acceptable to promote and teach about. There are many books today that teach the lessons of conservation.  Some examples of these didactic books include:

Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai by Nivola

Where Once There Was a Wood (REPRINT) by Denise Fleming

Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace by Jen Cullerton Johnson

Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya by Donna Jo Napoli

Older books on conservation:

The Wump World by Bill Peet

Why the Sky is Far Away – A Nigerian Folktale by Mary-Joan Gerson

Just a Dream by Chris Van Allsburg

Farewell to Shady Glade by Bill Peet. 

Newbery Award and Caldecott Award

The Newbery Medal and the Caldecott Medal are both awards given to outstanding works in world of children’s literature.  The Newbery Medal is an award given for literary merit by the Association for Library Service to Children. Named for John Newbery, an 18^th century English publisher of juvenile literature, it established in 1921 as a way of honor those books and authors who provide an outstanding contribution to children’s literature. One author/book is award the Newbery Award every year while other books which could be considered runners-up can be award the Newbery Honor award.  The Newbery Honor was established in 1971.  Some criteria a book must meet to be considered for the Newbery Award include it’s place of publication, which must be in the United States.  The author must be a United States citizen as well.  Besides being written for children, a book must in some way contribute to literature to be considered for the Newbery Award.  

The Caldecott Medal is award given to a distinguished artist of a children’s picture book.  As is the Newbery Award, the Caldecott Medal is awarded by the Association for Library Service to Children.  This award was named for Randolph Caldecott who was a nineteenth-century English illustrator and first awarded in 1938.  The artists who are considered runners-up are awarded the Caldecott Honor award.  Criteria for the Caldecott Medal include place and date of publication.  The book must have been published in the United States in the preceding year.  All illustrations must be original work and the artist must be a U.S. citizen.  Books are judged among other things, for the artistic technique, interpretation of the story through pictures, and the recognition of a child audience. 

Newbery Award: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon By Grace Lin

This Newbery Award winning book is a tale of fantasy, culture and most simply, a tale of faith all wrapped into one.  I must admit, I was a little uninterested in the book upon first appearances.  I'm not a huge fan of fantasy type literature, however, with an open mind I began my journey.  I was quickly amazed at how encaptured I was by both its literacy characteristics as well as the woven tale where myth and reality meet.  The story intertwines the culture and mythology from the Chinese culture with the practicality of life that many endure, the struggle for prosperity and good fortune.

Without going into vast detail, the story centers around Minli, a young girl growing up in a poor village, where her parents and her endure the daily struggle to work and provide a meager existence for herself and her family.  Her father instills hope in her through the telling of Chinese legends.  These legends are told throughout the book and provide clues to unraveling the mystery that elude Minli and her parents the most - the secret to happiness.  The search for answers to her questions of happiness lead Minli on a journey across her land, where she encounters new friends that slowly help her to unraveling the mystery.  The tale was reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz, where Dorothy has to travel to an unknown load, encounter good, bad and everything in between to realize that what she desired most was something she had all along.  Minli too had to travel to find that happiness isn't defined by what a person owns or how much money they have, but rather the love and friendship from those around you.

Another theme of this book is the connection that all people have to each other, to nature, to the world in general.  The concept that we are all connected and intertwined by destiny, yet it is our actions that help to shape that destiny is a central concept of this book. For Minli, she searches for the Old Man of the Moon, the one who ties people together and writes their destinies.  However, through her journey, she realizes that the Old Man of the Moon, like that of life, has a plan far greater than what Minli can understand.  It is not until the end that she realizes her path of searching, was her destiny and it was through her compassion and friendship with the friends and characters along the way, that she fulfilled her destiny and brought prosperity to her village.

Caldecott Medal: My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann

This charming book tells the basic story of a friendship.  A Caldecott Medal winner, the book is charming, witty and lively.  I read this story for the first time to my 5 year old daughter.  She laughed as the silly rabbit tried hard to show his friend mouse that he was helpful.  She loved tracing the patterns of the illustrations that lined the pages, following the cause and effect of what happens when rabbit tries to help mouse get his toy plane out of a tree.  As an adult, I found this book easy to relate to the good intentions of close friends, who sometimes end up causing more trouble when trying to help. I think the basic theme is one that most all people can identify with.  We all have moments where our good intentions cause mishap or even mayhem.  However, at the end of the day, as was in the case of this story,  friendship is about understanding and forgiveness as well as seeing into the heart and soul of others to recognize their good deeds. 

As a teacher, I think this is an excellent book to illustrate the theme of cause and effect.  This is often a difficult concept for primary children to grasp and the cause and effect relationship displayed in this book provides a great illustration of this concept.  The pictures were clear, crisp and inviting.  My 5 year old was enveloped in looking at the pictures and seeing the expressions on the animals faces throughout the story.  This is a great book to read again and again with little ones.

Caldecott Medal: The Lion & The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

This is a classic retelling of the famous tale from Aesop's Fables, The Lion and the Mouse. What makes this unique is that it is a predominantly wordless version, allowing the illustrations to tell the story of compassion and friendship.  As the known story goes, a mouse is running to escape her predator when she stumbles upon and captured by a lion. The lion, seemingly, somewhat bothered by the mouse, lets her go.  As to why the lion lets the mouse go is left up to the reader.  Possibly he thought the mouse was too small or inconsequential to bother with.  The illustration on this page provides a curious look upon both the lion's and the mouse's face.  To me, I perceived a sense of likeness or humor from the lion towards the mouse.  The lion shows compassion and sets the mouse free who scurries on her way.  The mouse is then shown to run home to her nest where one sees a nest of babies.  This begins to demonstrate the gratefulness the mouse would feel towards the lion as she was allowed to return home to her children.  The lion proudly walks among the Savannah with his head held high.

But as true as life, mankind finds a way to puts it ugly stamp upon the magnificence of nature.  Hunters lay a trap to capture wildlife and the lion falls prey to the hunters.  As he roars in anger, fear, and helplessness, the mouse hears the cries and comes to find the lion trapped in the net.  The lion, seemingly skeptical by the look on his face, watches the mouse with maybe a splash of hopefulness that she might be able to help him.  The mouse begins gnawing at the nets.  She gnaws and scratches, gnaws and scratches.... until finally the nets give way.  The lion is free.  A poignant picture shows the lion and mouse gazing into each others eyes, not quite a smile on their faces but perhaps a look of respect towards each.  The mouse scurries home, bringing a piece of the rope home with her as a treat/toy for her babies.

This familiar story, written without words, truly allows the pictures to speak for themselves, allowing the reader to interpret meaning in their own personal ways.  What really intrigued me was looking at this book with my young 4 year old.  She was the one who pointed out to me the subtle look of the lion's eyes when he first captured the mouse....the gratefulness upon the mouse's face when she returned home to her babies, the concern and pain in the lion's eye when he was helpless in that net.  The ability for a child to see without words, emotions and feelings, is truly amazing to see and made reading this book with a real treat.

Other books illustrated by Jerry Pinkney include John Henry by Julius Lester,  The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy, The Tale of Uncle Remus by Julius Lester and Mirandy and Brother Wind by Patricia McKissack. 

Caldecott Honor: Knuffle Bunny by Mo Williams

As a mother of two small girls, I have been a Mo Williams fan for quite some time.  His delightful stories brighten the hearts and spread smiles and laughter to both my daughters and myself.  His simple tales speak to the heart, the truth of life, parenting and friendship.  Knuffle Bunny, a Caldecott Honor Book, is one of our family's favorites.  The story consists of little baby Trixie who is going with her dad on a simple trip to the laundromat.  But what happens is an experience that most parents I think can relate to. When Trixie's beloved Knuffle Bunny stuffed animal, inexplicably goes missing (yet the readers see what happens to it), Trixie is besides herself.  But without knowing how to talk yet, her dad struggles with trying to figure out why Trixie is so upset.  But with mom to the rescue, dad soon realizes why Trixie is so upset and the adventure continues to get the beloved Knuffle Bunny back. 

While the story itself is precious, the illustrations are what gives this story its charm!  A unique combination of real photographs mixed with cartoon illustrations make for a wonderful visual experience.  The illustrations contains subtle pieces of information that enhance the story in such a way that leaves the reader laughing and smiling.

Newbery Honor: Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson

Feathers written by Jacqueline Woodson is a complex story that follows a short portion of the life of 6th grade student Fannie and her experiences growing up in the 1970's.  This Newbery Honor book takes a poignant look at a girl who has an introspect towards her own life, life growing up as an African-American who lives on what she and those around her call "the other side of the highway".  This other side is a predominantly African-American, lower income community.  However, this book, while on the surface may appear to center around race and judgments, is in fact, more about hope and faith.

I thoroughly enjoyed that the status of race isn't recognized immediately when beginning to read this book.  The book focuses on Fannie, her thoughts, her reactions, her daily routine of life, without race being made a strong factor in setting the state of this book.  Instead, it is about halfway through the first chapter before it is made clear Fannie's race and economic status.

I found several themes through this book.  One theme that resonates is the struggle of acceptance and fitting in.  Fannie is faced with learning more about herself through the introduction of a new student at school.  This new student is of a different race than her and her classmates and he is immediately labeled and presumed to fit into certain stereotypes based upon this.  However, this new student ends up bringing a new idea to those he encounters, one where his fellow students must reconsider their misconceptions and look more at the person within.

Another predominant theme is hope.  Fannie, in the end, must rely on hope and faith, as the tools that allow her to get through the day to day routines of life.  This book, allowed me to relate to the themes, the characters, even though on the surface, it would appear that I wouldn't have made that personal encounter.  I truly loved this book.  It was a beautiful telling of the power of faith and the different forms that faith can take in each of us.  Upon the completion of this book, it is more than obvious why Feathers was a true Newbery Honor winner.