Omnibeasts

Florian, Douglas. 2004. Omnibeasts. New York: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 0152050388

Plot Summary

Omnibeasts is a compilation of animal poetry and paintings by Douglas Florian. The range of animals represented draws from the common caterpillar to the never-heard-of-it-before jaguarundi (apparently a kind of wild cat). Each poem is paired with a colorful picture of the subject animal. The reader will delight in each separate poem, like tapas in Spain.

Critical Analysis

Omnibeasts is a thematic collection of animal poems, both written an illustrated by Douglas Florian. There is a table of contents to guide you to each animal.

On the poetry side of each spread, Florian takes an animal, boils it down to an essential element, then playfully uses a variety of word manipulations and devices to bring the animal and the reader together. Some of the frequent literary devices Florian uses are

·         rhyme, both internal and end-line

·         alliteration-- “Clever. / Cunning. / Crafty.” (from “The Fox”)

·         homophones—“All day I pray / For prey to view” (from “the Hawk”)

·         wordplay—“pet-igree” (from “The Persian")

There were a couple of poems that really got me chuckling, like “The Jaguarundi,” in which the accompanying illustration provided a comedic boost to the text itself. There were a few groans, when it seemed as though Florian were pulling out a “dad joke,” like in “The Walrus” (walrusty, ha!) or  the "kangaroom" in “The Kangaroo.”

Florian also occasionally employs concrete poems to achieve the effect he wants, such as in “The Salmon,” where the reader can feel his eyes jumping up the page as a Salmon would up a stream, or when the shape of “The Porcupine” makes the reader want to carefully, gingerly run his fingers along the spines.

The colorful, watercolor paintings that accompany each poem help to breathe additional life into the text. Each piece of art is one that I would gladly frame in my children’s playroom. The paintings add to the playful, fun nature of the poems themselves, leaving the reader with a rich lyrical and visual aftertaste that will keep you begging for more. Fortunately, the last page of the book displays seven thematic books by Florian that can help satisfy your craving.

Professional Reviews

From School Library Journal: “With selections from seven of Florian's successful collections of creature poetry, Omnibeasts is a treasure chest of wit and charm.”

From Booklist: “The varied, witty selection, comprising some of Florian's best work, is just right for libraries that can afford to buy only one volume.”

Connections

Here are some of the original books where you can find Florian's humor and art:

on the wing (2000) ISBN 978-0152023669

beast feast (1998) ISBN 978-0152017378

Comets, Stars, the Moon and Mars (2007) ISBN 978-0152053727

Here are some other fun poetry books for kids:

Underwear Salesman (2009), J. Patrick Lewis ISBN 978-0689853258

A Curious Collection of Cats (2009), Betsy Franco ISBN 978-1582462486

The Hound Dog's Haiku (2011), Michael J. Rosen ISBN 978-0763644994 

under the mesquite

McCall, Guadalupe Garcia. 2011. Under the Mesquite. New York: Lee & Low Books, Inc. ISBN 9781600604294

 Plot Summary

Under the Mesquite is the story of Mexican-American Lupita, the oldest of eight siblings. While born in Mexico, she has been raised in Eagle Pass, TX. As she enters high school, she finds out her mother has cancer. This comes as a major blow, because she is very close with her Mami. As her mother battles disease, Lupita struggles to find strength—strength to support her mom, strength to take care of her siblings so her Papi is free to help her mom, strength to follow her dreams, despite circumstances. In the end, it is the strength and resilience of the mesquite tree, which has supported her physically, that will support her emotionally and spiritually, showing her that she too can thrive under impossible conditions.

Critical Analysis

Guadalupe Garcia McCall wrote this book in free verse, sprinkling Spanish words in among narrative (there is a glossary of terms in the back for those who don’t speak fluent Spanglish). For me, this mixture of languages is a very appropriate representation of Lupita’s life: family roots in Mexico, but living the American Dream in Texas. Although ambitious, she also is determined to remember where she came from. “Changing how I talk / doesn’t change who I am. / I know where I came from . . . “ (95).

One of the most important values to Lupita is her family. Her mom’s battle with cancer is a testing of Lupita’s strength. Whether she realizes it or not, she is like the mesquite tree. “. . . I envy the mesquite / its undaunted spirit, its ability to turn / even a disabling pruning / into an unexpected opportunity / to veer in a different direction, / flourishing more profusely than before” (141). As the book progresses, Lupita does just that: she takes the pain and uncertainty from looking at her mom suffer, and transforms it into the art of acting.

The use of free verse as opposed to prose in this book makes a lot of sense. The short, 2-3 page poems are so full of emotion and reflection, you really feel as though you are reading Lupita’s journal. You feel like you are looking right into her damaged, fighting heart.

Professional Reviews

2013 Rivera Children's Book Award

2012 Pura Belpre Award

From Kirkus Reviews: “With poignant imagery and well-placed Spanish, the author effectively captures the complex lives of teenagers in many Latino and/or immigrant families. A promising, deeply felt debut.”

From School Library Journal: “This book will appeal to many teens for different reasons, whether they have dealt with the loss of a loved one, aspire to write and act, are growing up Mexican American, or seeking their own identity amid a large family. Bravo to McCall for a beautiful first effort.”

Connections

You might be interested to read McCall's next novel, Summer of the Mariposas (2012) 

ISBN 978-1600609008

Other books about the Mexican-American experience:

Esperanza Rising, Pam Munoz Ryan (2002), ISBN 978-0439120425

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, Meg Medina (2014) ISBN 978-0763671648

Paco: A Latino Boy in the United States, Margarita Robleda (2005) ISBN 978-1594375606

Here are some non-fiction ideas about the immigration experience:

The Mexican Americans, Linda Wade (2008) ISBN 978-1422206812

Mexicans in America, Alison Behnke (2004) ISBN 978-0822539551

brown girl dreaming

Woodson, Jacqueline. 2014. Brown Girl Dreaming. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books. ISBN 9780399252518

 Plot Summary

Brown Girl Dreaming is a novelization of the author’s young life, beginning with her birth in Ohio, flowing through her young childhood in South Carolina, and finally as she grows in New York. Jaqueline (or Jackie) has an older brother and sister, and later a younger brother, who are encouraged by their grandmother to find comfort and playmates in one another. “Three is plenty. Three is a team,” she tells them. Jaqueline’s parents break up, with her mom taking the three kids back to her childhood home. The three kids develop a close relationship with their grandparents, even calling their grandfather “Daddy,” because he was the only father they really knew. Eventually, their mom decides to make a new life for them in New York with their recently arrived little brother. Living in the city is a culture shock, but Jackie finds ways to adapt, and as she grows, she finds what makes her special—her words.

Critical Analysis

Jacqueline Woodson wrote Brown Girl Dreaming as a free verse novel. Each poem ranges from a couple of lines to two pages. While each poem is written to be able to stand alone, together they weave a tale from the perspective of a young, innocent child trying to make sense of the world and her place in it. On occasion, the narrative provides insights into the dealing with change, from an adult perspective as well as a child’s. When Jackie’s mother returns to the South after leaving her husband, she expects the gentle familiarity of her past, but discovers that when things have changed, “. . . coming back home / isn’t really coming back home / at all” (47).

Things can never stay exactly the same, which, while painful, also means growth and promises for the future. After finally watching the neighborhood kids leave their swing set, young Jackie realizes, “The empty swing set reminds us of this-- / that what is bad won’t be bad forever, / and what is good can sometimes last / a long, long time” (130).

The biggest growth in the book comes from Jackie herself, who throughout the book looks up to her “brilliant” sister and often feels in her shadow. Although she struggles in school, she feels a connection to words, even before she can form them with her little hands. But she feels compelled to take in words, think words, feel words. She wants to be a writer, and “Every memory . . . / brings me closer / and closer to the dream” (314). She is ready to claim her destiny.

The choice to write this story in verse lends a clarity to the perspective of Jackie. It provides an oasis of simplicity in the complex world she is growing up in, and world that juxtaposes the call for peaceful revolution from Martin Luther King, Jr. against the Black Power movement of Malcom X. Jackie comes from a broken home, but a tight-knit family. She starts off raised in the South, but grows a new relationship with the North. But through all of these contradictions, it is the poetry that keeps the story natural and reasonable. The contradictions are not impossible ones. They are just part of the fabric of the rich tapestry of life. 

Professional Reviews

2014 Newbery Award

2014 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature

2015 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work In YA Fiction

2015 Coretta Scott King Book Award

From Publisher’s Weekly: “The writer’s passion for stories and storytelling permeates the memoir, explicitly addressed in her early attempts to write books and implicitly conveyed through her sharp images and poignant observations seen through the eyes of a child.”

From Kirkus Reviews: “Woodson cherishes her memories and shares them with a graceful lyricism; her lovingly wrought vignettes of country and city streets will linger long after the page is turned. For every dreaming girl (and boy) with a pencil in hand (or keyboard) and a story to share.” 

Connections

Not surprisingly, Jacqueline Woodson has a number of other great books you can check out, like:

Locomotion (2010) ISBN 978-0142415528 (This was a National Book Award Finalist)

Miracle's Boys (2010) ISBN 978-0142415535 (This is a reprint of her 2001 Coretta Scott King Award winning book)

Feathers (2010) ISBN 978-0142415504 (2008 Newbery Award Honor book)

If you are interested in other free verse novels, you might try these:

Out of the Dust, Karen Hesse (2009) ISBN 978-0590371254

 

Heartbeat, Sharon Creech (2005) ISBN 978-0060540241

The Three Pigs

Wiesner, David. 2001. The Three Pigs. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618007016

Plot Summary

It’s a common tale that begins familiar enough. “Once upon a time there were three pigs. . .” but this time, the wolf blew a little too hard, sending the first little pig right off the page! Once the lucky little piggy has figured out there is life beyond the picture frames, he quickly goes to rescue his brother pigs from the story. From there, they embark on an unexpected journey through other childhood stories. With the help of their new storybook friends, they enjoy manipulating the traditional tale into an ending that suits them much better.

Critical analysis

Wiesner’s fractured version of the three little pigs takes a dramatic turn from page three. The traditional illustrations start to give way, starting with the appearance of word bubbles as the pig tumbles from the frame. From there, the story becomes increasingly disjointed (though I found it amusing to see the confused wolf left behind in the “normal” story) as the pigs explore their 

new-found freedom.

The creative play of the pigs nudging, folding, and flying the pages of their story keeps the reader wondering what could happen next. That ends up being the pigs’ self-insertion into other stories, starting with the “hey, diddle, diddle” nursery rhyme. I love how it shows the transformation of the pigs from the more realistic illustration into the cartoony figures expected from nursery rhymes. I think the pigs don’t like it as much as I do, because they soon move on to a black and white "dragon v. knight" story. After rescuing the dragon (who saw that coming?), they return with their friends to their original story, manipulating both pictures and words to create a new ending. . . or a new beginning.

While the jump back and forth between traditional tale writing style and more modern, comics-style narrative is very creative and enjoyable when you’re on board with the story, it can also be a disappointment for those looking for a traditional retelling of the three little pigs. There is nothing in the cover or the title to suggest that this is a fractured version, which could end up taking away the charm for some readers, especially those wanting to share the traditional tale with young ones for the first time. This story really only works if you are already familiar with this and the other stories in the book.

Review Excerpts

Caldecott Winner (2002)

From Publisher’s Weekly: “Wiesner's brilliant use of white space and perspective (as the pigs fly to the upper right-hand corner of a spread on their makeshift plane, or as one pig's snout dominates a full page) evokes a feeling that the characters can navigate endless possibilities--and that the range of story itself is limitless.”

Connections

Other award- and honor-winning books by David Wiesner:

Tuesday (2011) ISBN 978-0395870822

Mr. Wuffles! (2013) ISBN 978-0618756612

Flotsam (2006) ISBN 978-0618194575

Other fractured versions of The Three Little Pigs:

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, by Jon Scieszka (1996) ISBN 978-0140544510

 

The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig, by Eugene Trivizas (1996) ISBN 978-0689815287

 

The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell (1992) ISBN 978-0873585422

The Story of the Milky Way: a Cherokee Tale

Bruchac, Joseph, and Gayle Ross.1995. The Story of the Milky Way: a Cherokee Tale. Ill. by Virginia A. Stroud. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0803717385

Plot Summary

Someone is stealing corn from the elders! The village members could not believe anyone could do such a terrible thing. The old couple’s grandson was determined to find out what was going on. After hiding near the corn bin one night, he couldn’t believe his eyes—a light in the shape of a dog was eating the food!  When the village heard this, they knew they had to come up with a way to keep this strange beast from their village food. The plan they came up with resulted in the beautiful display of stars in the heavens that we enjoy today.

Critical analysis

This retelling of a Cherokee tale begins with a nod to the oral storytelling tradition: “This is what the old people told me when I was a child.” From this beginning, the reader already has a sense of the tradition and narrative attached to the story. It begins with reinforcing the cultural importance of corn, and moves to the cultural values of the village in respecting the elders.

This story includes insightful wording that steeps the reader deeper into the cultural background of the Cherokees, such as when it references time: “That evening when Grandmother Sun had gone to her rest and Elder Brother Moon was not yet in the sky. . .”.  It also includes the belief in the mystical, when it is discovered that a spirit dog may be the culprit.

The illustrations in this book have a folksy feel to them. The characters are painted with no mouths, wearing more culturally-ambiguous clothing, such as long, flower-printed dresses for the women and pants and striped coats for the men. I appreciate the small details of village life depicted in many of the paintings, such as the different tools hanging on a pole inside the old couple’s home. 

Yet the overall feeling that I get from the paintings is the importance of the village as a unit. The illustrator includes many background characters in the pictures, keeping at the forefront the importance of the community to solve this problem. And by following the advice of the Beloved Woman “a leader among the people,” and one who “was old and wise and understood many things,” the village was able to overcome the difficulty peaceably.

Review Excerpts

From School Library Journal: “The story is told in a clear, straightforward style, with careful attention to the cadence of the language. It is accessible on many levels; it will hold the attention of young listeners, yet remain interesting to older readers.”

From Publisher’s Weekly: “Stroud's distinctive, stylized acrylics harmoniously oppose starkly delineated characters with intricately patterned backgrounds.”

Connections

Other Native American tales by Joseph Bruchac:

Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back (1997) ISBN 978-0698115842

The First Strawberries (1998) ISBN 978-0140564099

Other Native American tales by Virginia Stroud:

The Path of the Quiet Elk: A Native American Alphabet Book (1996) ISBN 978-0803717176

A Walk to the Great Mystery: A Cherokee Tale (1995) ISBN 978-0803716360

Rumpelstiltskin

Zelinsky, Paul O. 1986. Rumpelstiltskin. New York: Dutton’s Children’s books. ISBN 0525442650

Plot Summary

A retelling of the classic tale of the miller’s daughter who is rumored to have the ability to spin straw into gold. When the greedy king gets wind of this unique talent, he takes her to his castle, locks her in a room filled with straw, expecting spools of gold by morning. Hearing the sobs of the maiden, a strange little man agrees to help her, in exchange for valuable objects. After several nights of this, she has nothing left to bargain, but the strange little man asks for her first-born child. When the day comes that she is supposed to hand over her sweet baby, only one thing can save her. Will she have to honor her agreement? Or will the little man’s pride be his undoing?

Critical analysis

Author/Illustrator Paul Zelinsky draws the reader into this tale starting with the inside cover of the book. The rolling hills by the seaside, cottages nestled in wooden glens, the quaint village clustered in the valley, the mill along the flowing stream—all helps to transport the reader to a fairy-tale land somewhere in Europe.

The story itself is told simply in the traditional style from the first line (“Once there was a poor miller who had a beautiful daughter. . .”) to the last (“And he was never heard from again.”). The characters are fairly one-dimensional, the stock characters common to traditional tales. The plot line of the story is not complicated by delving into the characters’ motivations (what would a strange little man do with a baby?) or the plausibility of their actions (how exactly does one spin straw into gold?) but maintains the focus of the odd relationship between the miller’s daughter and the strangle little man.

The illustrations in this book are beautiful. Each page is a work of art. The style of them reminds me of paintings from the renaissance, which helps to connect the story to its European roots. The muted jeweled tones, the renaissance architecture shown in the columns and arches, the draping costumes, and the rosy, cherub-faced characters all lead the reader deeper and deeper into the tale. Zelinsky also includes ample white space to help focus the eye on the richly-illustrated setting.

The eponymous character, Rumpelstiltskin, is depicted as a beak-nosed, pointy-chinned, bug-eyed, bony, angular, small man.  While the reader may initially have a modicum of affection for the strange fellow for helping the maiden in distress, that is soon wiped out by the man’s unreasonable demands. By the time he is ready to fly off on his wooden spoon, the reader is ready to cheer with the queen!

Professional Praise

Caldecott Honor Book (1987)

From Publisher’s Weekly: “Rumpelstiltskin is a tour de force by an immensely talented artist. Zelinsky is that rare practitioner who can create sophisticated work that adults will marvel at, and that children will joyfully embrace.”

From New York Times Book Review: "Adult and child can delight together in the richness of color, gilt and detail...captured in such art. The story is palinly and gracefully told."

Connections

Other books by Paul O. Zelinsky:

Rapunzel (2002) ISBN 978-0590386029

Hansel and Gretel (retold by Rika Lesser, illus. by Paul Zelinsky) (1999) ISBN 978-0525461524

Other retellings of Rumpelstiltskin:

Rumpelstiltskin, by Parragon Books (2012) ISBN 978-1781866085

Rumpelstiltskin, by Paul Galdone (2013) ISBN 978-0544066922

Where the Wild Things Are

Sendak, Maruice. 1984. Where the Wild Things Are. Harper Collins. ISBN 0060254939

Plot Summary

Max is causing mischief of all kinds--until his mom sends him to his room. From there, he is magically transported to a forest, across an ocean, into a land of Wild Things. But Max is not scared of the wild things; Max becomes the king of wild things! They have a terrific rumpus before Max sends them off to bed. In the silence, he starts to feel lonely, and decides to travel back. While being a king of wild things is great fun, there's nothing like coming home.

Critical Analysis

Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are is one of those classics I had never read before. At first, I was less than impressed. The language, while simple, seemed awkwardly broken up between pages, making it difficult to read out loud to my son. While I liked the vintage illustrations, I wasn't convinced it deserved to be on the best-seller list.

After a week went by from my first read-through, I picked the book back up and let it speak to me again. This time, as a silent read, I enjoyed the rhythm of the words with the pages. The simplicity of the sentences, the repetition of words ("terrible roars," "terrible teeth," "terrible eyes," "terrible claws"), gave the story the voice of a child narrator.

The story gave a deliberate journey into, then out of, the imaginary world of the wild things, helping to separate the real from the action of the mind. As Max makes his journey, you can imagine him in the real world, learning to harness and subdue his wild tendencies. And in the end, home is always waiting, no matter how much mischief you've caused.

The illustrations use a subdued color palate with black cross-hatch shading. The creatures themselves are actually rather scary looking, but they don't inspire fear because Max is in control.


Professional Reviews

1964--Caldecott Medal

From School Library Journal: Each word has been carefully chosen and the simplicity of the language is quite deceptive.


Connections:

Other books by Maurice Sendak:

• In the Night Kitchen (1996)
• Outside Over There (1989)
• Higglety, Pigglety Pop! Or, There Must Be More to Life (1979)

Watch the film adaptation (available at amazon.com). Note that the film is PG, and may not be suitable for young audiences.

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy

Willems, Mo. 2008. The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! New York: Hyperion Books. ISBN 1423109600

Plot Summary

That determined pigeon is at it again! In this book, the pigeon has his heart set on a new pet--a puppy! He has an answer to every excuse, and a dreams for what they will do together. Pigeon ends up getting more than he bargained for! But if you think he will learn his lesson, you will likely be surprised!

Critical Analysis

Mo Willems has a distinctly simple, but revealing, way of writing and illustrating. His style of writing is simple enough that beginning readers can easily take part in the reading. Before too many trips through the pages, they will likely have memorized it. Yet the writing has a strong voice. Many young readers would be able to identify his words without the aid of the pictures. On the other hand, the illustrations he creates are simple line drawings with minimal color variations (though the colors are nicely complimentary) and no shading. Yet he manages to use those simple lines to convey the emotions of the characters so distinctly that you can't help but to read the words in a way that matches the characters' faces!

Professional Reviews

From School Library Journal: Willems's hilariously expressive illustrations and engaging text are cinematic in their interplay. Maybe kids won't appreciate the genius behind it the way adults will, but that won't stop them from asking for this book again and again.

From Booklist: Willems skillfully executes the formula that made previous Pigeon titles so popular: minimal artwork that places all the attention on the cajoling little bird, whose words and body language will strike a chord of familiarity with every child.

Connections

Other great books by Mo Willems:

• Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! -- The book that started our obsession with Pigeon!
• Knuffe Bunny: A Cautionary Tale -- a sweet tale of treasured possessions
• We Are in a Book! -- one of my absolute favorite Elephant & Piggie books

Visit Mo Willems website: http://www.mowillems.com/

Learn about how to care for a puppy

• My First Puppy, by Mandy Wood
• Just Me and My Puppy (A Little Critter Book), by Mercer Mayer