Title: The Arrival Author: Shaun Tan Genre: Graphic Novel & Fantasy Publication Date: 2006 This is hands down one of the best books I have ever read. This was my first experience reading a graphic novel, and I was surprised at how much different it is to read than regular books with text. It took me a long time to read this book because there was so much detail on every page, and you have to really look at every picture carefully in order to fully understand what is going on in the story. This book is about a man’s journey to a faraway country and he has to leave his family in order to provide them with a better life. Emotions drip off every page, and you can really tell how close this family is. He goes on a journey and encounters foreign people and objects along the way. In my opinion, this is Tan’s unique version of the massive immigration of people to Ellis Island. The man arrives at a place that looks almost exactly like the Ellis Island immigration center where he is tested for all kinds of problems. He then finds a family to live with, procures a job, and is able to get his family to join him in this new land. This is definitely a fantasy because there are make-believe creatures, transporter machines, a made up language, and the setting appears to be fantastical. Even though some of the things in the story are not real or accurate, the story makes sense and is credible. I believe that Shaun Tan includes make believe languages and characters because when the immigrants came to America, they saw things they had never seen before, and everything was foreign to them. The main character is definitely believable, and it is easy to read the emotion on his face throughout the story. You immediately feel bad for him when he leaves his family in the beginning of the story, and you worry about if he will survive the journey and adapt to a new culture. He grows accustomed to his new home, and assimilates himself into the culture, even caring for a pet. The plot makes sense and has a predictable climax, and the book leaves you with a good feeling knowing that the family is back together again, and are adapting to their new surroundings. The illustrations are essential to this wordless book, and they are so detailed that you really have to take time to view all aspects of every picture. I had to read this book three times, and I found something I missed each time that I read it. The illustrations are so realistic that after a while you forget that someone drew them. I love how the author uses neutral colors and it looks like sepia, which makes the illustrations seem old. I thought it was really cool how some of the pictures became darker when somebody was talking about their past. There are so many lines throughout each picture that really make your eyes focus on things that the author wants you to notice. I especially loved the pages with 20 consecutive pictures that almost look like a flip book. Lastly, I thought it was amazing how Tan drew picture of all different immigrants on the front and back cover of the book. They all look different, and have different facial expressions that really reflect this time in history. This book goes along perfectly with the Ellis Island unit we do in fourth grade. The students learn all about immigration to the United States, and we do an actual Ellis Island simulation in the gym where the students have identities and “travel” to the United States. They get to experience what the immigrants went through at Ellis Island, and it is a very realistic simulation. I would have my students read this book and talk about their interpretation of it. I think it would lead to very meaningful conversations, and the students would be able to make a lot of connections to the books that we have read about Ellis Island. It also exposes students to graphic novels because many of them have never read one before.
The Arrival was an interesting book. This is also the first graphic novel that I have read. It felt as if I had to interpret as I read to know what was going on. The book made me want to write words to go along with the illustrations. The body language shown in the story definitely gives you a sense of the mood in the story. Since the pictures go in a consecutive order, it makes it easier to come up with a story line. This book is different from the Mysteries of Harris Burdick in that in the Arrival, together the pictures create one story. In the Mysteries of Harris Burdick the pictures are not unified.
The book definitely demonstrates elements of fantasy. I felt as though the character had entered some strange unknown world with an unusual language and never before seen creatures. Luckily he used his notepad to draw things in order to communicate to others. For instance, when he was looking for a place to stay he drew a bed and when he was looking for food to eat he drew bread. The book strongly portrays the struggles an immigrant might face when arriving in a new country. I thought the book was historically accurate the way the character was interrogated upon arrival, got a job, and eventually was reunited with his family. In history, this is how things were done. The man comes over first, secures a job and home, and then the family joins him once everything is settled. My family emigrated here from Italy and my grandfather came before my grandmother to do these exact things.
I would consider this to be a multicultural book because it contains two different cultures. The friends that the main character made look as though they are white and the main character appears to be a bit darker. The book tells the story of the immigrants arriving at Ellis Island where people of all different cultures entered America. As you mentioned Allison, the cover pages of the book are made up numerous different looking people, showing the mixture of cultures that exists in this country.
There is one part of the story that confused me. It is when the main character is talking to the lady. Is the little girl that appears in the pictures on the next page the lady having a flashback to a time before she arrived in the United States? At first I thought it was the man’s daughter, but it looks nothing like her. What do you think?
The part you are talking about is a flash back from when SHE arrived in this foreign country - it is a confusing part though. Every single review of this book on Amazon are all overwhelmingly positive. Everyone talks about how appealing the illustrations in this book are, and many people believe everyone should read it at some point in their lives to gain a better perspective for what it is like for immigrants who are moving to a foreign country. Many people felt that this book has the power to relieve racial tension, and help people overcome discrimination. One person wrote about how the book symbolizes a universal language because anyone from any country can look at the pictures and know exactly what the characters are experiencing and feeling. Shaun Tan is one of the most brilliant authors I have ever read. It seems like all of his books become best-sellers. I believe he wrote this book because he was an Asian boy growing up in Australia, and maybe he experienced something similar to the character in The Arrival. I was shocked to learn that he even helped Pixar with the ideas for some of their movies! I am so glad I got to read Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan as well to compare the two books. Also, I liked reading this book because it had words and I was curious to see his writing style. The pictures are very similar between the two books, and they both have very meaningful messages for the reader. I can’t wait until his next book comes out!
Title: Jackie’s Bat Author: Marybeth Lorbiecki Publication Date: 2006 Genre: Multicultural Historical Fiction This book was nothing like I thought it was going to be! I didn’t realize it was going to be about Jackie Robinson, although now after reading the book, I should have recognized him on the cover! I really enjoyed reading this book because I liked how the story was told from the perspective of Jackie’s bat boy, who is a made up character, and it shows how he changes throughout the story. I was very frustrated after reading the first few pages because the bat boy has a negative attitude towards Jackie Robinson based on what his father has told him, and based on how Jackie’s teammates originally treated him. It bothers me when people are so narrow-minded, and I could feel myself getting angry as I was reading this! I guess that’s how you know it’s a good book because it really makes you feel. I was also agitated when Jackie had to stay at a separate hotel, and eat at different restaurants when his team was on the road. By the end of the story, after Jackie has proven the kind of man he is, his teammates and fans, and the bat boy, come to respect him and treat him fairly. I think the main character learns a valuable lesson about racism and discrimination, and I believe that is the message in this story. One of the coolest things about this story is that the author contacted Jackie Robinson’s wife and had her read the book to make sure the things that Jackie said in the story sound like things he would have said in real life. Even though this is a fictional account, I was impressed at the author’s research of this period in history. I consider this book a quality piece of literature because of so many different reasons. Not only does it teach a lesson about segregation, discrimination and racism, it also has a lot of character development, an interesting plot with a natural climax, and creative language. The author uses a lot of similes in the story which really enhances some of the key points she is trying to make. The bat boy begins as a narrow-minded person who refuses to clean Jackie’s shoes, and ends up apologizing to Jackie in the end of the story because he knows he was wrong to mistreat him. A lot of times kids are reflections of their parents, and they carry their parent’s views regardless of their own experiences. This book does a good job of explaining how important it is to see things objectively and develop your own opinions about things before being so judgmental. This is also a multicultural book because it is based on an African American, and it describes what life was like for him during a very prejudiced time in history. The illustrations were another interesting aspect of this book. They all have the same color scheme and it appears like they are pictures from the past. They are creative paintings without clear lines, yet the reader can tell what everything is. Some of the pictures even sort-of fade off at the edge of the page, but you can still tell what the illustrator drew. This is a book I am going to keep for my classroom library because of the important message that it has, and because I think it is appropriate for fourth graders. I can use this book when we are learning about slavery because it shows how the effects of slavery are unfortunately still in play today. Also, I think this book is appealing to kids, especially boys, because it really focuses on baseball and many of my students love baseball. We study biographies every year and I think this would be a perfect biography for my students to read.
If I were to use this in my classroom, I would probably use it along with writing. I would allow the students to write their own text to go along with the images. It would be interesting to see how each student might interpret the story differently. Another way I might use this book is in a unit on graphic novels. I don’t think a lot of students know that this is a type of book. I think many of my students would enjoy a break from the traditional styles of books, especially those that dislike reading. The students could examine the different books and point out the similarities and differences among the collection.
In a way the lack of texts allows you to sympathize with the character. You have to look at an image and try to figure out what it is trying to say. I wonder if the authors of graphic novels write a text first, but then leave it out. It would be interesting if the author has names for the unusual creatures and things illustrated in the book.
As I flipped through the book again I noticed that there is another flashback of the man that the main character works with in the factory. I was trying to figure out what connection a war and dead bodies suddenly had to the main character, but after looking at the illustrations more carefully I now realize it is another friend’s flashback. I believe there was a total of three flashbacks in the story. This seemed to make it a bit confusing the first time through the book.
Jackie’s Bat was a wonderful representation of multicultural literature. The book included characters between two cultural groups that were battling the cultural issue of inequality and prejudice. The boy in the story was simply acting in a way in which his parents had trained him. This book is strong because the boy overcame his prejudice on his own through his life experiences. This is a great book for children whose families still carry on prejudice today. I believe that it still exists. My brother is a very racist person because of the influences of my stepfather. I was old enough and smart enough to not be influenced by his comments growing up. It is difficult to break the patterns and beliefs from one generation to the next. I know that my children will not be brought up to be racist, but it is a possibility that my future nieces and nephews will be negatively be influenced by my brothers ignorant beliefs. That is why a book like this is so important for young children. School is a place for them to learn these lessons. For me school is what stopped me from being influenced as my brother was.
There were only four reviews on amazon.com all of which were positive. One review said, “It isn't unsuitable for children but the story does hit home what Jackie may have experienced.” I disagree with this statement. I think the book is completely suitable for children. Human beings are the most impressionable at a very young age. This book sends a strong message that children need to hear. It is an important book to share with children so that we learn from our mistakes and don’t repeat history. On reviewer commented, “This book doesn't sugarcoat what Jackie Robinson experienced as an African-American player in Baseball.” I completely agree with this statement. The book clearly painted the picture of how Jackie was treated. It told about how he didn’t get a locker, just a hook and a stool. Also how when they were on away games he had to stay in a separate hotel, eat at different restaurants, be excluded from the pool. The author accurately portrayed the happening of the time period.
Lastly, this book would definitely appeal to many of the boys in my classroom. Many of them are into sports. Seeing the illustration of the bat and baseball player on the front cover would definitely grab their attention. The book would complement a unit on prejudice nicely. I agree with you that this would be a great book to use for a Biography. The book highlight Jackie Robinson’s career and accomplishments. We read a book called Poppy’s Timeline that is about prejudice. I will probably use this book to help students make connections between the two books and achieve a better understanding of the meaning of segregation.
Like you mentioned before, all four of the reviews of this book on Amazon were positive, and they all basically wrote the same things. They wrote about the messages in the story, and one person wrote about how the author didn’t sugar-coat what life was like for Jackie Robinson like many other authors do. They all agree that this book is a quality book, and the illustrations are very appealing. I looked up some information on the author and her biography describes how Marybeth Lorbiecki loves learning about history and how people interact with each other and the world. She has studied philosophy, theology, history, journalism, Dakota (Sioux) culture, multiculturalism, ecology, and international development which makes her a really well-rounded author. Like I said before, she really does her homework because she took the time to contact Jackie Robinson’s wife to get her opinion on the accuracy of the book. I am so glad I read this book, and I will use this book with all of my classes in the future!
After reviewing the transcript of an interview with Rachel Robinson, Jackie Robinson’s wife, the author definitely proves her credibility. Mrs. Robinson confirms the facts presented in the book to be true, such as Jackie’s promise not to retaliate against the discrimination and the hate mail that Jackie received. The author points out in the back of the book that the little boy in the story was not a real person, although Jackie may have had a batboy. Therefore, the conversations throughout the book between Jackie and Joey were made up. Since the story is told from the perspective of a child, it makes it easier for children to relate to.
I like how the author included physical contact within the story. This showed that change was occurring. She did this in two separate occasions. One was between Jackie and Joey, the batboy, where they shake hands towards the end of the story. The second occurrence is when Jackie almost falls trying to catch a foul ball and another white player catches Jackie. This is huge because it shows how the characters have become accepting of Jackie and finally realize that he is a great person regardless of the color of his skin.
This is a very powerful book and I will definitely use this next year when studying multiculturalism or possible when studying about biographies.
I really enjoyed reading this book because the illustrations were beautiful, and I think this book teaches a good lesson to everyone, not just kids! I had never actually read this book before, and I am not really familiar with this story so I was excited to read this book. My favorite part of this book was in the end when the little red hen ends up harvesting the wheat herself and bakes her own bread without the help of anyone, and I feel that justice is served at the end when she doesn't share with the other farm animals because they were not willing to help her. I think the theme of this story is hard work pays off. A lot of people sit around and wait for something good to happen to them, but you have to be willing to work hard for the things you want in life. I would definitely use this book with my students because of the lesson that it teaches, and because I usually have a few lazy students that this book might motivate!
This book was also visually appealing with the beautiful illustrations by Jerry Pinkney. He has won so many awards for his work, and I definitely understand why! It is also a great book to teach about personification because the sun is always smiling down on the earth. I read a review and someone wrote the the henhouse looks like it has a gossipy face which I didn't notice the first time I read the book. It is a very colorful children' book, and the details are so intricate. I didn't realize until after I read some reviews that Jerry Pinkney drew himself as the character in the end of the story. I thought that was really clever, and that is something that children love to find out about.
This book was easy to read with a lot of repetition, and it had a natural climax at the end. I would not consider this a multicultural text because the characters are animals, and this book does not contain any kind of cultural component. I would consider this book a folktake because it is a traditional narrative that has been passed down for ages, and it has a moral for the reader to figure out.
I would definitely tie this book into my fables, tall tales, and folktales unit because it fits right in, it is an interesting story, and I think my students would be able to figure out the author's purpose for writing this story right away!
* Please note: The above entry also goes with this book. Title: The Little Red Hen Author: Jerry Pinkney Genre: Traditional Fantasy Publication Date: 2006
The Little Red Hen was an adorable book. At first it reminded me of Charlotte’s Web a little with the talking pig, rat, hen, dog, and goat. However the themes of these two books couldn’t be more different. Charlotte’s Web portrays the theme of friendship where the characters work together for a common goal. Whereas, The Little Red Hen portrays the theme of hard work and what happens when people do not work together. This is a great book because the author sends a strong message in a very simple manner. I agree with you. Allison, the book shows that hard work pays off, but I also think it is a good example of the saying, “What goes around comes around” or “Do unto others as you would like done to yourself.” The characters in the story didn’t help out, so they do not deserve any of the bread. I was glad the little red hen didn’t give in to the other animals in the end.
Although scholastic recommends this book for grades K-2, I think it would also be suitable for fourth grade depending on its use. There are various different ways this book could be used in the classroom. I would most likely use this book in the beginning of the school year when establishing behavioral expectations. I think this book is useful in character building. It might also be fun to turn this into a Readers Theatre script, where each student could play the role of an animal. I am considering using this the first days of school when the students brainstorm classroom rules. The book might get their minds warmed up for this activity. Another idea might be for students to write an alternate ending to extend the message of the story. In result, generating more discussion about sharing and forgiveness, in order to touch upon other lessons that might be learned from the text. One last way you might use this book would be to compare the different versions that have been printed. According to one review, it says that the story remained the same, but the illustrations changed. I would want to see the other versions to find out if this is true, since I’ve never read this story before. The students could decide which version is their favorite and explain why.
The illustrations are amazing. I am having trouble figuring out what you mentioned about the gossipy face on the hen house, but I did notice two faces on the fence posts in front of the hen house. There are a few faces looking at each other as if they are having a conversation. I noticed the sun as well. In some of the pictures the sun has its eyes closed and in others it looks as though it is sleeping. Is this a hidden message? Is the author trying to say that you should make good choices even when others aren’t watching? My principal always tells the children that a person’s character is what they do when you are not looking, rather than what they do when you are looking.
The text in the book was very interesting. I liked how the author chose to color-code it. This is the first time I really noticed this in a book. Each animals name is written in their matching fur color, the little red hen in red, the pig in pink, and so forth. This is something that might be more appealing to younger children when learning how to read.
I agree with you that this book is not a multicultural book. The one character that was in the book was African American. When I first saw that I immediately thought that the author was trying to fill a quota, so that a different race was represented. As you stated, the author placed a picture of himself in the story. After looking up a picture of Jerry Pinkney online, that definitely looks like him. This is a very creative way for the author to connect to his readers. What a clever idea!
I completely agree with you that this book is definitely appropriate for fourth grade, and I really like your idea of reading it to your students the first week of school while they are coming up with the class rules. I also like your idea of doing a reader's theatre with the play because students love acting out parts, especially if they are animals!
I didn't notice the sun until you brought it up and I agree with you that the illustrator was trying to send a message about doing the right thing even if nobody is looking. This book is perfect for building character development, and there are so many activities that stem from this story. I also think it would be so much fun to compare different versions of this story to see if it changed at all, and then do the same thing with Cinderella because there are so many different versions out there. I am always amazed at the great conversations kids have about books, and how fourth graders can usually see the deeper meaning in the story. I am excited about using this book with them!
I also checked out some of the reviews on the Internet. Amazon only had three, but they were all positive. One review suggested using it with a teenager to teach he/she a lesson. This might be interesting if you did do this. I think the teenager would be insulted, but maybe they are missing the point and this book might help them to see where the parent is coming from. Another review said that the book has a new twist ending, so now I am curious as to how it differs from the various other versions.
This book as we mentioned earlier has an obvious moral theme, which is characteristic of traditional literature. The Hen represents wisdom and the other characters represent stupidity or laziness. As soon as you begin reading you know there is a problem. The hen needs help and nobody is willing to help her. The hen never gets angry or frustrated though, she keeps at it even though the work is difficult to do alone. In the end the rest of the characters receive a punishment, by not having any of the bread she baked. This story is a great tale and would be a valuable book to have in a classroom collection.
Title: The Arrival
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Shaun Tan
Genre: Graphic Novel & Fantasy
Publication Date: 2006
This is hands down one of the best books I have ever read. This was my first experience reading a graphic novel, and I was surprised at how much different it is to read than regular books with text. It took me a long time to read this book because there was so much detail on every page, and you have to really look at every picture carefully in order to fully understand what is going on in the story. This book is about a man’s journey to a faraway country and he has to leave his family in order to provide them with a better life. Emotions drip off every page, and you can really tell how close this family is. He goes on a journey and encounters foreign people and objects along the way. In my opinion, this is Tan’s unique version of the massive immigration of people to Ellis Island. The man arrives at a place that looks almost exactly like the Ellis Island immigration center where he is tested for all kinds of problems. He then finds a family to live with, procures a job, and is able to get his family to join him in this new land. This is definitely a fantasy because there are make-believe creatures, transporter machines, a made up language, and the setting appears to be fantastical. Even though some of the things in the story are not real or accurate, the story makes sense and is credible. I believe that Shaun Tan includes make believe languages and characters because when the immigrants came to America, they saw things they had never seen before, and everything was foreign to them.
The main character is definitely believable, and it is easy to read the emotion on his face throughout the story. You immediately feel bad for him when he leaves his family in the beginning of the story, and you worry about if he will survive the journey and adapt to a new culture. He grows accustomed to his new home, and assimilates himself into the culture, even caring for a pet. The plot makes sense and has a predictable climax, and the book leaves you with a good feeling knowing that the family is back together again, and are adapting to their new surroundings.
The illustrations are essential to this wordless book, and they are so detailed that you really have to take time to view all aspects of every picture. I had to read this book three times, and I found something I missed each time that I read it. The illustrations are so realistic that after a while you forget that someone drew them. I love how the author uses neutral colors and it looks like sepia, which makes the illustrations seem old. I thought it was really cool how some of the pictures became darker when somebody was talking about their past. There are so many lines throughout each picture that really make your eyes focus on things that the author wants you to notice. I especially loved the pages with 20 consecutive pictures that almost look like a flip book. Lastly, I thought it was amazing how Tan drew picture of all different immigrants on the front and back cover of the book. They all look different, and have different facial expressions that really reflect this time in history.
This book goes along perfectly with the Ellis Island unit we do in fourth grade. The students learn all about immigration to the United States, and we do an actual Ellis Island simulation in the gym where the students have identities and “travel” to the United States. They get to experience what the immigrants went through at Ellis Island, and it is a very realistic simulation. I would have my students read this book and talk about their interpretation of it. I think it would lead to very meaningful conversations, and the students would be able to make a lot of connections to the books that we have read about Ellis Island. It also exposes students to graphic novels because many of them have never read one before.
The Arrival was an interesting book. This is also the first graphic novel that I have read. It felt as if I had to interpret as I read to know what was going on. The book made me want to write words to go along with the illustrations. The body language shown in the story definitely gives you a sense of the mood in the story. Since the pictures go in a consecutive order, it makes it easier to come up with a story line. This book is different from the Mysteries of Harris Burdick in that in the Arrival, together the pictures create one story. In the Mysteries of Harris Burdick the pictures are not unified.
ReplyDeleteThe book definitely demonstrates elements of fantasy. I felt as though the character had entered some strange unknown world with an unusual language and never before seen creatures. Luckily he used his notepad to draw things in order to communicate to others. For instance, when he was looking for a place to stay he drew a bed and when he was looking for food to eat he drew bread. The book strongly portrays the struggles an immigrant might face when arriving in a new country. I thought the book was historically accurate the way the character was interrogated upon arrival, got a job, and eventually was reunited with his family. In history, this is how things were done. The man comes over first, secures a job and home, and then the family joins him once everything is settled. My family emigrated here from Italy and my grandfather came before my grandmother to do these exact things.
I would consider this to be a multicultural book because it contains two different cultures. The friends that the main character made look as though they are white and the main character appears to be a bit darker. The book tells the story of the immigrants arriving at Ellis Island where people of all different cultures entered America. As you mentioned Allison, the cover pages of the book are made up numerous different looking people, showing the mixture of cultures that exists in this country.
There is one part of the story that confused me. It is when the main character is talking to the lady. Is the little girl that appears in the pictures on the next page the lady having a flashback to a time before she arrived in the United States? At first I thought it was the man’s daughter, but it looks nothing like her. What do you think?
The part you are talking about is a flash back from when SHE arrived in this foreign country - it is a confusing part though. Every single review of this book on Amazon are all overwhelmingly positive. Everyone talks about how appealing the illustrations in this book are, and many people believe everyone should read it at some point in their lives to gain a better perspective for what it is like for immigrants who are moving to a foreign country. Many people felt that this book has the power to relieve racial tension, and help people overcome discrimination. One person wrote about how the book symbolizes a universal language because anyone from any country can look at the pictures and know exactly what the characters are experiencing and feeling.
ReplyDeleteShaun Tan is one of the most brilliant authors I have ever read. It seems like all of his books become best-sellers. I believe he wrote this book because he was an Asian boy growing up in Australia, and maybe he experienced something similar to the character in The Arrival. I was shocked to learn that he even helped Pixar with the ideas for some of their movies! I am so glad I got to read Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan as well to compare the two books. Also, I liked reading this book because it had words and I was curious to see his writing style. The pictures are very similar between the two books, and they both have very meaningful messages for the reader. I can’t wait until his next book comes out!
I am going to post for Jackie's Bat because I am going to bed but I will respond to what you write tomorrow! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteTitle: Jackie’s Bat
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Marybeth Lorbiecki
Publication Date: 2006
Genre: Multicultural Historical Fiction
This book was nothing like I thought it was going to be! I didn’t realize it was going to be about Jackie Robinson, although now after reading the book, I should have recognized him on the cover! I really enjoyed reading this book because I liked how the story was told from the perspective of Jackie’s bat boy, who is a made up character, and it shows how he changes throughout the story. I was very frustrated after reading the first few pages because the bat boy has a negative attitude towards Jackie Robinson based on what his father has told him, and based on how Jackie’s teammates originally treated him. It bothers me when people are so narrow-minded, and I could feel myself getting angry as I was reading this! I guess that’s how you know it’s a good book because it really makes you feel. I was also agitated when Jackie had to stay at a separate hotel, and eat at different restaurants when his team was on the road. By the end of the story, after Jackie has proven the kind of man he is, his teammates and fans, and the bat boy, come to respect him and treat him fairly. I think the main character learns a valuable lesson about racism and discrimination, and I believe that is the message in this story. One of the coolest things about this story is that the author contacted Jackie Robinson’s wife and had her read the book to make sure the things that Jackie said in the story sound like things he would have said in real life. Even though this is a fictional account, I was impressed at the author’s research of this period in history.
I consider this book a quality piece of literature because of so many different reasons. Not only does it teach a lesson about segregation, discrimination and racism, it also has a lot of character development, an interesting plot with a natural climax, and creative language. The author uses a lot of similes in the story which really enhances some of the key points she is trying to make. The bat boy begins as a narrow-minded person who refuses to clean Jackie’s shoes, and ends up apologizing to Jackie in the end of the story because he knows he was wrong to mistreat him. A lot of times kids are reflections of their parents, and they carry their parent’s views regardless of their own experiences. This book does a good job of explaining how important it is to see things objectively and develop your own opinions about things before being so judgmental. This is also a multicultural book because it is based on an African American, and it describes what life was like for him during a very prejudiced time in history.
The illustrations were another interesting aspect of this book. They all have the same color scheme and it appears like they are pictures from the past. They are creative paintings without clear lines, yet the reader can tell what everything is. Some of the pictures even sort-of fade off at the edge of the page, but you can still tell what the illustrator drew. This is a book I am going to keep for my classroom library because of the important message that it has, and because I think it is appropriate for fourth graders. I can use this book when we are learning about slavery because it shows how the effects of slavery are unfortunately still in play today. Also, I think this book is appealing to kids, especially boys, because it really focuses on baseball and many of my students love baseball. We study biographies every year and I think this would be a perfect biography for my students to read.
If I were to use this in my classroom, I would probably use it along with writing. I would allow the students to write their own text to go along with the images. It would be interesting to see how each student might interpret the story differently. Another way I might use this book is in a unit on graphic novels. I don’t think a lot of students know that this is a type of book. I think many of my students would enjoy a break from the traditional styles of books, especially those that dislike reading. The students could examine the different books and point out the similarities and differences among the collection.
ReplyDeleteIn a way the lack of texts allows you to sympathize with the character. You have to look at an image and try to figure out what it is trying to say. I wonder if the authors of graphic novels write a text first, but then leave it out. It would be interesting if the author has names for the unusual creatures and things illustrated in the book.
As I flipped through the book again I noticed that there is another flashback of the man that the main character works with in the factory. I was trying to figure out what connection a war and dead bodies suddenly had to the main character, but after looking at the illustrations more carefully I now realize it is another friend’s flashback. I believe there was a total of three flashbacks in the story. This seemed to make it a bit confusing the first time through the book.
That sounds good! I'm exhausted myself. I will respond your yours and we can finish that one up tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteJackie’s Bat was a wonderful representation of multicultural literature. The book included characters between two cultural groups that were battling the cultural issue of inequality and prejudice. The boy in the story was simply acting in a way in which his parents had trained him. This book is strong because the boy overcame his prejudice on his own through his life experiences. This is a great book for children whose families still carry on prejudice today. I believe that it still exists. My brother is a very racist person because of the influences of my stepfather. I was old enough and smart enough to not be influenced by his comments growing up. It is difficult to break the patterns and beliefs from one generation to the next. I know that my children will not be brought up to be racist, but it is a possibility that my future nieces and nephews will be negatively be influenced by my brothers ignorant beliefs. That is why a book like this is so important for young children. School is a place for them to learn these lessons. For me school is what stopped me from being influenced as my brother was.
ReplyDeleteThere were only four reviews on amazon.com all of which were positive. One review said, “It isn't unsuitable for children but the story does hit home what Jackie may have experienced.” I disagree with this statement. I think the book is completely suitable for children. Human beings are the most impressionable at a very young age. This book sends a strong message that children need to hear. It is an important book to share with children so that we learn from our mistakes and don’t repeat history. On reviewer commented, “This book doesn't sugarcoat what Jackie Robinson experienced as an African-American player in Baseball.” I completely agree with this statement. The book clearly painted the picture of how Jackie was treated. It told about how he didn’t get a locker, just a hook and a stool. Also how when they were on away games he had to stay in a separate hotel, eat at different restaurants, be excluded from the pool. The author accurately portrayed the happening of the time period.
Lastly, this book would definitely appeal to many of the boys in my classroom. Many of them are into sports. Seeing the illustration of the bat and baseball player on the front cover would definitely grab their attention. The book would complement a unit on prejudice nicely. I agree with you that this would be a great book to use for a Biography. The book highlight Jackie Robinson’s career and accomplishments. We read a book called Poppy’s Timeline that is about prejudice. I will probably use this book to help students make connections between the two books and achieve a better understanding of the meaning of segregation.
Like you mentioned before, all four of the reviews of this book on Amazon were positive, and they all basically wrote the same things. They wrote about the messages in the story, and one person wrote about how the author didn’t sugar-coat what life was like for Jackie Robinson like many other authors do. They all agree that this book is a quality book, and the illustrations are very appealing. I looked up some information on the author and her biography describes how Marybeth Lorbiecki loves learning about history and how people interact with each other and the world. She has studied philosophy, theology, history, journalism, Dakota (Sioux) culture, multiculturalism, ecology, and international development which makes her a really well-rounded author. Like I said before, she really does her homework because she took the time to contact Jackie Robinson’s wife to get her opinion on the accuracy of the book. I am so glad I read this book, and I will use this book with all of my classes in the future!
ReplyDeleteAfter reviewing the transcript of an interview with Rachel Robinson, Jackie Robinson’s wife, the author definitely proves her credibility. Mrs. Robinson confirms the facts presented in the book to be true, such as Jackie’s promise not to retaliate against the discrimination and the hate mail that Jackie received. The author points out in the back of the book that the little boy in the story was not a real person, although Jackie may have had a batboy. Therefore, the conversations throughout the book between Jackie and Joey were made up. Since the story is told from the perspective of a child, it makes it easier for children to relate to.
ReplyDeleteI like how the author included physical contact within the story. This showed that change was occurring. She did this in two separate occasions. One was between Jackie and Joey, the batboy, where they shake hands towards the end of the story. The second occurrence is when Jackie almost falls trying to catch a foul ball and another white player catches Jackie. This is huge because it shows how the characters have become accepting of Jackie and finally realize that he is a great person regardless of the color of his skin.
This is a very powerful book and I will definitely use this next year when studying multiculturalism or possible when studying about biographies.
I really enjoyed reading this book because the illustrations were beautiful, and I think this book teaches a good lesson to everyone, not just kids! I had never actually read this book before, and I am not really familiar with this story so I was excited to read this book. My favorite part of this book was in the end when the little red hen ends up harvesting the wheat herself and bakes her own bread without the help of anyone, and I feel that justice is served at the end when she doesn't share with the other farm animals because they were not willing to help her. I think the theme of this story is hard work pays off. A lot of people sit around and wait for something good to happen to them, but you have to be willing to work hard for the things you want in life. I would definitely use this book with my students because of the lesson that it teaches, and because I usually have a few lazy students that this book might motivate!
ReplyDeleteThis book was also visually appealing with the beautiful illustrations by Jerry Pinkney. He has won so many awards for his work, and I definitely understand why! It is also a great book to teach about personification because the sun is always smiling down on the earth. I read a review and someone wrote the the henhouse looks like it has a gossipy face which I didn't notice the first time I read the book. It is a very colorful children' book, and the details are so intricate. I didn't realize until after I read some reviews that Jerry Pinkney drew himself as the character in the end of the story. I thought that was really clever, and that is something that children love to find out about.
This book was easy to read with a lot of repetition, and it had a natural climax at the end. I would not consider this a multicultural text because the characters are animals, and this book does not contain any kind of cultural component. I would consider this book a folktake because it is a traditional narrative that has been passed down for ages, and it has a moral for the reader to figure out.
I would definitely tie this book into my fables, tall tales, and folktales unit because it fits right in, it is an interesting story, and I think my students would be able to figure out the author's purpose for writing this story right away!
* Please note: The above entry also goes with this book.
ReplyDeleteTitle: The Little Red Hen
Author: Jerry Pinkney
Genre: Traditional Fantasy
Publication Date: 2006
The Little Red Hen was an adorable book. At first it reminded me of Charlotte’s Web a little with the talking pig, rat, hen, dog, and goat. However the themes of these two books couldn’t be more different. Charlotte’s Web portrays the theme of friendship where the characters work together for a common goal. Whereas, The Little Red Hen portrays the theme of hard work and what happens when people do not work together. This is a great book because the author sends a strong message in a very simple manner. I agree with you. Allison, the book shows that hard work pays off, but I also think it is a good example of the saying, “What goes around comes around” or “Do unto others as you would like done to yourself.” The characters in the story didn’t help out, so they do not deserve any of the bread. I was glad the little red hen didn’t give in to the other animals in the end.
Although scholastic recommends this book for grades K-2, I think it would also be suitable for fourth grade depending on its use. There are various different ways this book could be used in the classroom. I would most likely use this book in the beginning of the school year when establishing behavioral expectations. I think this book is useful in character building. It might also be fun to turn this into a Readers Theatre script, where each student could play the role of an animal. I am considering using this the first days of school when the students brainstorm classroom rules. The book might get their minds warmed up for this activity. Another idea might be for students to write an alternate ending to extend the message of the story. In result, generating more discussion about sharing and forgiveness, in order to touch upon other lessons that might be learned from the text. One last way you might use this book would be to compare the different versions that have been printed. According to one review, it says that the story remained the same, but the illustrations changed. I would want to see the other versions to find out if this is true, since I’ve never read this story before. The students could decide which version is their favorite and explain why.
The illustrations are amazing. I am having trouble figuring out what you mentioned about the gossipy face on the hen house, but I did notice two faces on the fence posts in front of the hen house. There are a few faces looking at each other as if they are having a conversation. I noticed the sun as well. In some of the pictures the sun has its eyes closed and in others it looks as though it is sleeping. Is this a hidden message? Is the author trying to say that you should make good choices even when others aren’t watching? My principal always tells the children that a person’s character is what they do when you are not looking, rather than what they do when you are looking.
The text in the book was very interesting. I liked how the author chose to color-code it. This is the first time I really noticed this in a book. Each animals name is written in their matching fur color, the little red hen in red, the pig in pink, and so forth. This is something that might be more appealing to younger children when learning how to read.
I agree with you that this book is not a multicultural book. The one character that was in the book was African American. When I first saw that I immediately thought that the author was trying to fill a quota, so that a different race was represented. As you stated, the author placed a picture of himself in the story. After looking up a picture of Jerry Pinkney online, that definitely looks like him. This is a very creative way for the author to connect to his readers. What a clever idea!
I completely agree with you that this book is definitely appropriate for fourth grade, and I really like your idea of reading it to your students the first week of school while they are coming up with the class rules. I also like your idea of doing a reader's theatre with the play because students love acting out parts, especially if they are animals!
ReplyDeleteI didn't notice the sun until you brought it up and I agree with you that the illustrator was trying to send a message about doing the right thing even if nobody is looking. This book is perfect for building character development, and there are so many activities that stem from this story. I also think it would be so much fun to compare different versions of this story to see if it changed at all, and then do the same thing with Cinderella because there are so many different versions out there. I am always amazed at the great conversations kids have about books, and how fourth graders can usually see the deeper meaning in the story. I am excited about using this book with them!
I also checked out some of the reviews on the Internet. Amazon only had three, but they were all positive. One review suggested using it with a teenager to teach he/she a lesson. This might be interesting if you did do this. I think the teenager would be insulted, but maybe they are missing the point and this book might help them to see where the parent is coming from. Another review said that the book has a new twist ending, so now I am curious as to how it differs from the various other versions.
ReplyDeleteThis book as we mentioned earlier has an obvious moral theme, which is characteristic of traditional literature. The Hen represents wisdom and the other characters represent stupidity or laziness. As soon as you begin reading you know there is a problem. The hen needs help and nobody is willing to help her. The hen never gets angry or frustrated though, she keeps at it even though the work is difficult to do alone. In the end the rest of the characters receive a punishment, by not having any of the bread she baked. This story is a great tale and would be a valuable book to have in a classroom collection.