Module 8: The Lightening Thief

Riordan, R. (2005). The Lightning Thief. New York: Miramax Books/Hyperion Books for Children.

Summary
Percy is a trouble-making special education student who has been kicked out of multiple boarding schools for continually getting in trouble. He has ADHD and reading difficulties. When Percy encounters strange attacks from adversaries, he begins to realize that his destiny is different from ordinary kids. He learns he is a half-blood or demi-god and travels to a camp that specially trains these children of the immortals to defend themselves against attacking monsters. Percy discovers that his father is Poseidon, god of the sea, and that because of this he has special powers. Percy then goes on a quest to settle an argument between the gods and makes some friends and enemies in the process.

My Impressions
This story was wonderful and not only keeps the reader riveted but teaches them more about the Greek gods and mythology in the process of reading. I really enjoyed this tale and it reminded me a bit of Harry Potter in the complexity of its storyline.

Professional Reviews
Gr 5-9-An adventure-quest with a hip edge. At first glance, Perseus Jackson seems like a loser (readers meet him at a boarding school for troubled youth), but he's really the son of Poseidon and a mortal woman. As he discovers his heritage, he also loses that mother and falls into mortal danger. The gods (still very active in the 21st-century world) are about to go to war over a lost thunderbolt, so Percy and sidekicks Grover (a young satyr) and Annabeth (daughter of Athena) set out to retrieve it. Many close calls and monster-attacks later, they enter Hades's realm (via L.A.). A virtuoso description of the Underworld is matched by a later account of Olympus (hovering 600 floors above Manhattan). There's lots of zippy review of Greek myth and legend, and characters like Medusa, Procrustes, Charon, and the Eumenides get updates. Some of the Labors of Heracles or Odysseus's adventures are recycled, but nothing seems stale, and the breakneck pace keeps the action from being too predictable. Percy is an ADHD, wise-cracking, first-person narrator. Naturally, his real quest is for his own identity. Along the way, such topics as family, trust, war, the environment, dreams, and perceptions are raised. There is subtle social critique for sophisticated readers who can see it. Although the novel ends with a satisfying conclusion (and at least one surprise), it is clear that the story isn't over. The 12-year-old has matured and is ready for another quest, and the villain is at large. Readers will be eager to follow the young protagonist's next move. --School Library Journal, Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI, 2005. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Gr. 6-9. The escapades of the Greek gods and heroes get a fresh spin in the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, about a contemporary 12-year-old New Yorker who learns he's a demigod. Perseus, aka Percy Jackson, thinks he has big problems. His father left before he was born, he's been kicked out of six schools in six years, he's dyslexic, and he has ADHD. What a surprise when he finds out that that's only the tip of the iceberg: he vaporizes his pre-algebra teacher, learns his best friend is a satyr, and is almost killed by a minotaur before his mother manages to get him to the safety of Camp Half-Blood--where he discovers that Poseidon is his father. But that's a problem, too. Poseidon has been accused of stealing Zeus' lightning bolt, and unless Percy can return the bolt, humankind is doomed. Riordan's fast-paced adventure is fresh, dangerous, and funny. Percy is an appealing, but reluctant hero, the modernized gods are hilarious, and the parallels to Harry Potter are frequent and obvious. Because Riordan is faithful to the original myths, librarians should be prepared for a rush of readers wanting the classic stories. --Booklist, Chris Sherman, 2005. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
This would be a great book to use in a book talk for junior high students or as the book of the month for a library book club. Definitely a book that can be recommended to children who enjoyed Harry Potter and are looking for recommendations on books with similar fantasy/adventure themes. And a good selling point of this story is that if readers like it, they can continue reading about Percy's adventures in the next four books.

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SLIS 5420/Module 8, Book 2
Fantasy and Science Fiction
October 11-17, 2010

Module 8: City of Ember

DuPrau, J. (2003). The City of Ember. New York: Random House.

Summary
In this post-apocalyptic saga, a group of survivors creates a society underground and then the history of their story is lost through the generations. As the main characters Lina and Doon get their work assignment they find that their city is losing power and that time is running out for its resources. They do not know that there is something else out there other than the life and environment that they know and so must try and seek the truth of their history so they can save their people.

My Impressions
This is such a compelling story. From the beginning readers are unaware of where the city of Ember is located and are drawn into this story that is narrated by Lina and Doon. The two search for answers despite living in a society where knowledge of the past is limited and technological understanding is non-existent. Part mystery, part dystopian society, this book kept me guessing and was unique and very memorable.

Professional Reviews
In her electric debut, DuPrau imagines a post-apocalyptic underground world where resources are running out. The city of Ember, "the only light in the dark world," began as a survival experiment created by the "Builders" who wanted their children to "grow up with no knowledge of a world outside, so that they feel no sorrow for what they have lost." An opening prologue describes the Builders' intentions-that Ember's citizens leave the city after 220 years. They tuck "The Instructions" to a way out within a locked box programmed to open at the right time. But the box has gone astray. The story opens on Assignment Day in the year 241, when 12-year-olds Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow draw lots for their jobs from the mayor's bag. Lina gets "pipeworks laborer," a job that Doon wants, while Doon draws "messenger," the job that Lina covets, and they trade. Through their perspectives, DuPrau reveals the fascinating details of this subterranean community: as Doon repairs leaks deep down among the Pipeworks, he also learns just how dire the situation is with their malfunctioning generator. Meanwhile, the messages Lina carries point to other sorts of subterfuge. Together, the pair become detectives in search of the truth-part of which may be buried in some strange words that were hidden in Lina's grandmother's closet. Thanks to full-blooded characters every bit as compelling as the plot, Lina and Doon's search parallels the universal adolescent quest for answers. Readers will sit on the edge of their seats as each new truth comes to light. Ages 10-13. --Publishers Weekly, May 2003. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
A great book to recommend to children looking for a fantasy with some elements of mystery. It's also a wonderful book to recommend to children who are interested in understanding more about electricity and the importance of its invention. This would make a great pick for book of the month for a library book reading group.

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SLIS 5420/Module 8, Book 1
Fantasy and Science Fiction
October 11-17, 2010

Module 7: Wintergirls

Anderson, L. (2009). Wintergirls. New York: Viking.

Summary
Lia confronts her anorexia and the guilt over her estranged best friend Cassie's death. Readers follow Lia's thoughts as she fights against her constant urges to deny herself food even as she knows this battle will kill her as it did Cassie. Lia also battles her parents for control of her life. Yet through Lia's pain, we can see her humanity in her steadfast love for her little sister and her ultimate decision to give life a chance.

My Impressions
This was a beautifully written book with lyrical prose and an interesting style of crossing out thoughts that Lia did not want to acknowledge. Much of the story is narrated through Lia's internal dialogue as she fights against her own urges. Readers are rooting for Lia until the very end. I've read many books about eating disorders and this is now one of my favorites. The writing flows and is believable and the complexity of Lia's feelings in regards to her friend's death is very realistic. Great portrayal of the struggle that girls with eating disorders endure within their own minds. The story also talks a bit about the urge to cut oneself in order to get rid of pain which oftentimes goes hand-in-hand with body image disorders.

Professional Reviews
*Starred Review* Problem-novel fodder becomes a devastating portrait of the extremes of self-deception in this brutal and poetic deconstruction of how one girl stealthily vanishes into the depths of anorexia. Lia has been down this road before: her competitive relationship with her best friend, Cassie, once landed them both in the hospital, but now not even Cassie's death can eradicate Lia's disgust of the fat cows who scrutinize her body all day long. Her father (no, Professor Overbrook ) and her mother (no, Dr. Marrigan ) are frighteningly easy to dupe tinkering and sabotage inflate her scale readings as her weight secretly plunges: 101.30, 97.00, 89.00. Anderson illuminates a dark but utterly realistic world where every piece of food is just a caloric number, inner voices scream NO! with each swallow, and self-worth is too easily gauged: I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through. Struck-through sentences, incessant repetition, and even blank pages make Lia's inner turmoil tactile, and gruesome details of her decomposition will test sensitive readers. But this is necessary reading for anyone caught in a feedback loop of weight loss as well as any parent unfamiliar with the scripts teens recite so easily to escape from such deadly situations. --Booklist; Kraus, Daniel, 2008. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Gr 8 Up-The intensity of emotion and vivid language here are more reminiscent of Anderson's Speak (Farrar, 1999) than any of her other works. Lia and Cassie had been best friends since elementary school, and each developed her own style of eating disorder that leads to disaster. Now 18, they are no longer friends. Despite their estrangement, Cassie calls Lia 33 times on the night of her death, and Lia never answers. As events play out, Lia's guilt, her need to be thin, and her fight for acceptance unravel in an almost poetic stream of consciousness in this startlingly crisp and pitch-perfect first-person narrative. The text is rich with words still legible but crossed out, the judicious use of italics, and tiny font-size refrains reflecting her distorted internal logic. All of the usual answers of specialized treatment centers, therapy, and monitoring of weight and food fail to prevail while Lia's cleverness holds sway. What happens to her in the end is much less the point than traveling with her on her agonizing journey of inexplicable pain and her attempt to make some sense of her life. --School Library Journal; Carol A. Edwards, Denver Public Library, 2009. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Acute anorexia, self-mutilation, dysfunctional families and the death of a childhood friend-returning to psychological minefields akin to those explored in Speak, Anderson delivers a harrowing story overlaid with a trace of mysticism. The book begins as Lia learns that her estranged best friend, Cassie, has been found dead in a motel room; Lia tells no one that, after six months of silence, Cassie called her 33 times just two days earlier, and that Lia didn't pick up even once. With Lia as narrator, Anderson shows readers how anorexia comes to dominate the lives of those who suffer from it (here, both Lia and Cassie), even to the point of fueling intense competition between sufferers. The author sets up Lia's history convincingly and with enviable economy-her driven mother is "Mom Dr. Marrigan," while her stepmother's values are summed up with a prEcis of her stepsister's agenda: "Third grade is not too young for enrichment, you know." This sturdy foundation supports riskier elements: subtle references to the myth of Persephone and a crucial plot line involving Cassie's ghost and its appearances to Lia. As difficult as reading this novel can be, it is more difficult to put down. Ages 12-up. --Publishers Weekly, March 2009. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
This is definitely a heavy topic but very relevant in a time where girls, influenced by MTV and entertainment television, feel more judged by their looks than ever before. Teenage girls will relate to this story and fans of Hopkins' books will most likely enjoy this book as well. This would be a great book to recommend to teenage girls with the warning that the subject matter is quite intense and the underlying theme of the book is the conviction that this sort of self-destructive behavior will ultimately lead to the destruction of one's life.

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SLIS 5420/Module 7, Book 2
Realistic Fiction for Young Adults
October 4-10, 2010

Module 7: Stargirl

Spinelli, J. (2000). Stargirl. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Summary
Stargirl, a non-conformist that ultimately hopes to be liked by everyone, shakes up an apathetic high school with her candor and love for all. Leo, the narrator of this story, falls in love with Stargirl but ultimately is embarrassed by her abandonment of conformity and tries to change her. In the end, Stargirl, feeling the sting of rejection from her peers despite her victory in the oratory competition, chooses to forgo the love and acceptance of others and stick to her unique style.

My Impressions
I was a bit surprised in the beginning that this tale was narrated by a boy. While I enjoyed the story, I found Stargirl's character at times cloying and very inexplicable. What would make a girl be this different? Even explaining that she is homeschooled doesn't really resolve how Stargirl is so out-of-touch with the reality of social norms. I know that Spinelli was hoping to underline the ridiculousness of conformity in high school and in life, but I felt at times that the portrayal of Stargirl was disingenuous. While I was upset at Leo for wanting to change her ways, I could also understand how he was disturbed by some of her more outrageous behavior. I know that my empathy was supposed to lie with Stargirl but I found myself going back and forth in how I felt about her character.

Professional Reviews
Gr 6-10-High school is a time of great conformity, when being just like everybody else is of paramount importance. So it is no surprise that Stargirl Caraway causes such excitement and confusion when she arrives at Mica High in Arizona. Initially, everyone is charmed by her unconventional behavior- she wears unusual clothing, she serenades the lunchroom with her ukulele, she practices random acts of kindness, she is cheerleader extraordinaire in a place with no school spirit. Naturally, this cannot last and eventually her individuality is reviled. The story is told by Leo, who falls in love with Stargirl's zany originality, but who then finds himself unable to let go of the need to be conventional. Spinelli's use of a narrator allows readers the distance necessary to appreciate Stargirl's eccentricity and Leo's need to belong to the group, without removing them from the immediacy of the story. That makes the ending all the more disappointing-to discover that Leo is looking back imposes an unnecessary adult perspective on what happened in high school. The prose lapses into occasionally unfortunate flowery flights, but this will not bother those readers-girls especially-who will understand how it feels to not quite fit the mold and who attempt to exult in their differences. --School Library Journal; Sharon Grover, Arlington County Department of Libraries, VA, 2000. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Gr. 6^-9. Sixteen-year-old Leo recounts Stargirl's sojourn at Mica High in an allegorical story that is engagingly written but overreaches. Everyone notices Stargirl when she comes to school. She wears a granny gown, strums a ukulele, and sings "Happy Birthday" to kids in the cafeteria. She also carries around a pet rat. Her classmates veer between ignoring her and being discreetly fascinated by her weirdness--dancing when there's no music, speaking in class of trolls and stars. Slowly, Stargirl attracts a following, especially after she gives a spellbinding speech in an oratorical contest and single handly stirs up school spirit. But her intense popularity is short-lived as, predictably, the teens turn on her. Leo is attracted by Stargirl and her penchant for good works. But just about the time they get together, the rest of the school is shunning her, and to his confusion and despair, Leo eventually turns his back on Stargirl too. Spinelli firmly captures the high-school milieu, here heightened by the physical and spiritual barrenness of an Arizona location, a new town where people come to work for technology companies and the school team is called the Electrons. Dialogue, plot, and supporting cast are strong: the problem here is Stargirl herself. She may have been homeschooled, may not have seen much TV, but despite her name, she has lived on planet earth for 15 years, and her naivete is overplayed and annoying. When Leo tells her that not everyone likes having somebody with a ukulele sing "Happy Birthday" to them, she is shocked. That she has not noticed she is being shunned is unbelievable, and, at times, readers may feel more sympathy for the bourgeois teens than the earnest, kind, magical Stargirl. That's too bad, because Spinelli's point about the lure and trap of normalcy is a good one. But to make it real, Stargirl needed to have at least one foot on the ground. --Booklist; Ilene Cooper, 2001. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Part fairy godmother, part outcast, part dream-come-true, the star of Spinelli's latest novel possesses many of the mythical qualities as the protagonist of his Maniac Magee. As narrator Leo Borlock reflects on his junior year in a New Mexico high school, Stargirl takes center stage. Even before she appears at Mica High, Spinelli hints at her invisible presence; readers, like Leo, will wonder if Stargirl is real or some kind of mirage in the Sonoran Desert. By describing the girl through the eyes of a teen intermittently repulsed by and in love with her, Spinelli cunningly exposes her elusive qualities. Having been homeschooled, Stargirl appears at Mica High dressed as a hippie holdover and toting a ukulele, which she uses to serenade students on their birthdays; she marks holidays with Halloween candy and Valentine cards for all. As her cheer leading antics draw record crowds to the school's losing football team's games, her popularity skyrockets, yet a subtle foreboding infuses the narrative and readers know it's only a matter of time until she falls from grace. For Leo, caught between his peers and his connection to Stargirl, the essential question boils down to one offered to him by a sage adult friend: "Whose affection do you value more, hers or the others'?" As always respectful of his audience, Spinelli poses searching questions about loyalty to one's friends and oneself and leaves readers to form their own answers. Ages 12-up. --Publishers Weekly, August 2000. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
I know this is an extremely popular book for teenage girls and that it is often used in the school curriculum. In the library setting, I think this is a good book to recommend to girls as well as use in a book club. I think discussion about conformity versus acceptance of social norms would be a good topic that would stem from the reading of this book.

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SLIS 5420/Module 7, Book 1
Realistic Fiction for Young Adults
October 4-1o, 2010

Module 6: Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

Gantos, J. (1998). Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Summary
This is an extreme example of acute ADHD. Joey Pigza just can't sit still, can't concentrate and can't seem to do the right thing by the standards of society or his school rules. Through this book we see the effect of medication on controlling Joey's behavior. Joey is a lovable character and even though oftentimes his ADHD leads him to do irresponsible things, like accidentally cutting a classmate while running with scissors, Joey still feels bad about his behavior and realizes that things aren't under control.

My Impressions
While this book can sometimes be painful to read because you feel so bad for the main character Joey, it's a great story about what a child with ADHD experiences. I know people that have this disorder but I never quite knew the extremes to which this disorder can affect behavior. This really made me change the way I felt about the ADHD designation. Joey is an appealing character who tries to do the right thing even when some of the adults in his life can be harsh and unsympathetic towards his condition. I also really liked that this book was written in first person narrative so that readers felt even closer to Joey's thought process.

Professional Reviews
Gr 5-8-Joey Pigza suffers from severe attention deficit disorder and struggles to remain calm when his world chaotically slips through his fingertips. When his medicine wears off, he cannot concentrate or sit still and is constantly in trouble at school. After leaving him for several years in the care of his abusive grandmother, his mother returns to reclaim him and her parental responsibilities. But Joey remains a challenge: he continually disrupts his class, swallows his house key, and runs away during a field trip. Eventually, he injures a classmate and is sent to a special education center for six weeks; here his medication is regulated and he learns how to manage his behavior. Joey leaves the center feeling strong and in control and he triumphantly returns to his old school. Gantos creates a strong cast of multidimensional characters. Joey is inherently a good kid and just as his teachers want him to succeed, readers will empathize and feel his emotional and physical bruises. References to alcoholism and abuse add realism to the novel without impeding the flow of the plot. In his first-person narrative, Joey relates incidents that are heart wrenching and humorous. From the powerful opening lines and fast-moving plot to the thoughtful inner dialogue and satisfying conclusion, readers will cheer for Joey, and for the champion in each of us. --School Library Journal; Shawn Brommer, Southern Tier Library System, Painted Post, NY, 1998. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Gr. 4^-7. Joey Pigza, who lives with his hyperactive grandmother, understands that he's also "wired bad." Despite his best intentions, he can't concentrate and can't hold still. What's more, he can never resist an impulse: when his teacher assigns him to sharpening pencils to keep him from getting into mischief, he sharpens pencils, then chalk, then a Popsicle stick, and finally his own finger. He begins to settle down when his mother returns and gets him started on medication, but unfortunately, his morning pill wears off by noon every day. What makes this unusual is Gantos' sympathetic approach to all concerned. There are no bad guys among the adults, just well-meaning, occasionally exasperated grown-ups trying to help Joey get his behavior under control. Joey tells his own story, giving a vivid, keenly observed, detailed account of his actions and the reactions of others: "By lunchtime my meds had worn off again and I was spinning around in my chair like it was the Mad Hatter's Teacup ride at the church carnival." Gantos sometimes seems to be using Joey to inform readers, and occasionally makes Joey's comments seem too adult, but Joey is warm, lovable, and good-hearted, though maybe just a little too nice to be realistic. (He never even gets angry when he's deprived of the sugary treats he so craves.) Most teachers and students know at least one child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and this book will surely help them become more understanding, even as they enjoy Gantos' fresh writing style and tart sense of humor. --Booklist; Susan Dove Lempke, 1998. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Authentic-sounding first-person narration by a hyperactive boy gives readers an inside view of attention-deficit disorders. Joey Pigza is a "wired-up mess," and he is struggling to get on the right track. But no matter how hard Joey tries to be good, he usually ends up in trouble, sometimes harming himself or others. After an accident in which the tip of a classmate's nose is sliced off, Joey is suspended from school and sent to a special education center. As case worker "Special Ed" predicts, things do get worse before they get better. Joey's fear that "something [is] wrong inside me" escalates before his medications are readjusted and he is finally able to learn how to make "good decisions." Joey's good intentions, off-the-wall antics and their disastrous consequences will ring true to everyone who has had contact with a child suffering from a similar disorder. In addition to offering an accurate, compassionate and humorous appraisal of Joey's condition, Gantos (the Rotten Ralph series; Desire Lines) humanely examines nature (both Joey's father and grandmother are as "wired up" as he) versus nurture (abandonment by Joey's parents, abuse by his grandmother, children's taunts) as factors in Joey's problems. Joey's hard-won triumph will reassure children fighting his same battle and offer insight to their peers. But because the book is so realistic, reading it can be painful and requires patience, just like dealing with a child like Joey. Ages 10-up. --Publishers Weekly, October 1998. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
This is such a relevant book because so many children suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as well as related educational challenges today. This is a great book to recommend to kids dealing with special education concerns. It's also a great recommendation for teachers who are dealing with children with special needs so that they can have a better understanding and more empathy towards their students.

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SLIS 5420/Module 6
Realistic Fiction for Younger Readers
September 27-October 3, 2010

Module 5: Knuffle Bunny

Willems, M. (2004). Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

Summary
When Trixie's stuffed animal Knuffle Bunny is accidentally left at the laundromat, she tries to communicate its loss to her father. Unfortunately, Trixie can't yet talk so is reduced to tears and a tantrum. Mom and Dad rush back to find her beloved friend and Trixie cries out her first words: "Knuffle Bunny!"

My Impressions
I really loved the illustration technique in this picture book. Willems took black and white photos of Brooklyn and then drew the characters on top in a cartoon style with bright colors. The contrast of photographs to drawings is very unique and the story goes along beautifully with the illustrations. My best friend's three year old loves this book more than any other and after reading it several times, it's clear why. Willems really understands the love between a child and their favorite stuffed animal. Knuffle Bunny is like a well loved family member and travels with Trixie wherever she goes.

Professional Reviews
PreS-Gr 1-Trixie steps lively as she goes on an errand with her daddy, down the block, through the park, past the school, to the Laundromat. For the toddler, loading and putting money into the machine invoke wide-eyed pleasure. But, on the return home, she realizes something. Readers will know immediately that her stuffed bunny has been left behind but try as she might, (in hilarious gibberish), she cannot get her father to understand her problem. Despite his plea of "please don't get fussy," she gives it her all, bawling and going "boneless." They both arrive home unhappy. Mom immediately sees that "Knuffle Bunny" is missing and so it's back to the Laundromat they go. After several tries, dad finds the toy among the wet laundry and reclaims hero status. Yet, this is not simply a lost-and-found tale. The toddler exuberantly exclaims, "Knuffle Bunny!!!" "And those were the first words Trixie ever said." The concise, deftly told narrative becomes the perfect springboard for the pictures. They, in turn, augment the story's emotional acuity. Printed on olive-green backdrops, the illustrations are a combination of muted, sepia-toned photographs upon which bright cartoon drawings of people have been superimposed. Personalities are artfully created so that both parents and children will recognize themselves within these pages. A seamless and supremely satisfying presentation of art and text. --School Library Journal; Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI, 2004. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

PreS-Gr. 1. This comic gem proves that Caldecott Medal-winner Willems, the Dr. Spock and Robin Williams of the lap-sit crowd, has just as clear a bead on pre-verbal children as on silver-tongued preschoolers. On a father-daughter trip to the Laundromat, before toddler Trixie "could even speak words," Daddy distractedly tosses her favorite stuffed bunny into the wash. Unfortunately, Trixie's desperate cries ("aggle flaggle klabble") come across as meaningless baby talk, so she pitches a fit until perceptive Mommy and abashed Daddy sprint back to retrieve the toy. Willems chronicles this domestic drama with pitch-perfect text and illustrations that boldly depart from the spare formula of his previous books. Sepia-tone photographs of a Brooklyn neighborhood provide the backdrops for his hand-drawn artwork, intensifying the humor of the gleefully stylized characters--especially Trixie herself, who effectively registers all the universal signs of toddler distress, from the first quavery grimace to the uncooperative, "boneless" stage to the googly-eyed, gape-mouthed crisis point. Even children who can already talk a blue streak will come away satisfied that their own strong emotions have been mirrored and legitimized, and readers of all ages will recognize the agonizing frustration of a little girl who knows far more than she can articulate. --Booklist; Jennifer Mattson, 2004. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Any child who has ever had a favorite toy will identify with the toddler star of this tale. The plot is simple: Trixie loses bunny, finds bunny and then exuberantly says her first words-"Knuffle Bunny!!!" The fun comes from the details. In an innovative style that employs dappled black-and-white photographs of Brooklyn as backdrop to wickedly funny color cartoons, Willems (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!) creates an entertaining story for parents and children alike. His economical storytelling and deft skill with line lend the book its distinctive charm, while the endpapers mitigate anxiety by cluing in readers concerning the solution to Trixie's problem. Willems renders the characters with Little Lulu-style pointed noses and their expressions are laugh-out-loud funny, from the hapless father's worried look as he and Trixie venture out to the Laundromat, to his roll-up-your-sleeves determination as he rescues the stuffed toy from the washing machine. But it's pre-verbal Trixie who steals the show. Her wide-eyed enthusiasm about the world around her is matched only by her desperate attempts to communicate. "Aggle flaggle klabble!" she says when she finds Knuffle Bunny missing, and her well-intentioned but clueless father translates, "That's right.... We're going home." An especially delicious scene finds the frustrated Trixie abandoning baby talk for action: "Well, she had no choice. Trixie bawled. She went boneless." The accompanying pictures comically corroborate the omniscient narrator's claim. Willems once again demonstrates his keen insight with a story both witty and wise. Ages 4-8. --Publishers Weekly, September 2004. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
This book is highly engaging and with the depth of illustration, would be a great pick for a kids story time. Especially for toddlers and younger readers, Trixie's tale is eminently understandable. A related craft can be conducted where kids draw their favorite, most loved toy after the reading of this story.

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SLIS 5420/Module 5
Picture Books
September 20-26, 2010

Module 4: Maniac Magee

Spinelli, J. (1990). Maniac Magee: A Novel. Boston: Little, Brown.

Summary
Jeffrey "Maniac" Magee gets his "Maniac" moniker from the reputation he creates through his acts of daring and his manual and physical dexterity. Maniac is an orphan who literally runs away from the emotionally abusive house of his aunt and uncle to make a new life for himself. He lives as a wanderer, first housed by a black family, then shacked up in a baseball field outhouse, then living outside in a zoo and finally in a poor white family's home. He feels most loved in the black family's house but runs away because he feels he is causing the family trouble by his presence. Written among the backdrop of a racially polarized community, "Maniac" brings together people by seeing them by their individuality and not their skin color.

My Impressions
I really enjoyed this book though it seemed that Maniac was more fantastical allegory and less real boy. Because it is told in third person narrative, the reader must wonder at much of Maniac's motivation. However we do understand that he is looking for love, no matter what shape that love comes in, and that ultimately Maniac does not want to lose another parental figure as he does his real parents and groundskeeper Grayson. Though the story was somewhat unrealistic, it was beautifully written and I was really happy that Jeffrey found the love and home he deserved in the end. I was surprised that no one stepped in to provide some kind of foster care or state support to this runaway. I did wonder throughout this book where the government and social services were for an orphan like Jeffrey.

Professional Reviews
Gr 6-10-- Warning: this interesting book is a mythical story about racism. It should not be read as reality. Legend springs up about Jeffrey "Maniac'' Magee, a white boy who runs faster and hits balls farther than anyone, who lives on his own with amazing grace, and is innocent as to racial affairs. After running away from a loveless home, he encounters several families, in and around Two Mills, a town sharply divided into the black East End and the white West End. Black, feisty Amanda Beale and her family lovingly open their home to Maniac, and tough, smart-talking "Mars Bar'' Thompson and other characters are all, to varying degrees, full of prejudices and unaware of their own racism. Racial epithets are sprinkled throughout the book; Mars Bar calls Maniac "fishbelly,'' and blacks are described by a white character as being "today's Indians.'' In the final, disjointed section of the book, Maniac confronts the hatred that perpetuates ignorance by bringing Mars Bar to meet the Pickwells--"the best the West End had to offer.'' In the feel-good ending, Mars and Maniac resolve their differences; Maniac gets a home and there is hope for at least improved racial relations. Unreal? Yes. It's a cop-out for Spinelli to have framed this story as a legend--it frees him from having to make it real, or even possible. Nevertheless, the book will stimulate thinking about racism, and it might help educate those readers who, like so many students, have no first-hand knowledge of people of other races. Pathos and compassion inform a short, relatively easy-to-read story with broad appeal, which suggests that to solve problems of racism, people must first know each other as individuals. --School Library Journal; Joel Shoemaker, Tilford Middle School, Vinton, IA, 1990. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

In this modern-day tall tale, Spinelli (Dump Days ; Jason and Marceline ) presents a humorous yet poignant look at the issue of race relations, a rare topic for a work aimed at middle readers. Orphaned as an infant, Jerry Magee is reared by his feuding aunt and uncle until he runs away at age eight. He finds his way to Two Mills, Pa., where the legend of "Maniac'' Magee begins after he scores major upsets against Brian Denehy, the star high school football player, and Little League tough guy, John McNab. In racially divided Two Mills, the Beales, a black family, take Maniac in, but despite his local fame, community pressure forces him out and he returns to living at the zoo. Park groundskeeper Grayson next cares for the boy, but the old man dies and Maniac moves into the squalid home of the McNabs, who are convinced a race war is imminent. After a showdown with his nemesis, Mars Bar, Maniac bridges the gap between the two sides of town and finally finds a home. Full of snappy street-talk cadences, this off-the-wall yarn will give readers of all colors plenty of food for thought. Ages 8-12. --Publishers Weekly, April 1990. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
This is a great book to recommend to middle school children looking for an adventure tale. Maniac is the ultimate loner and hero and kids will root for him to win in every situation. This book would also make a great pick for a book club, especially one that covers Newbery award winners.

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SLIS 5420/Module 4, Book 2
Newbery Award Winners
September 13-19, 2010

Module 4: The Giver

Lowry, L. (1993). The Giver. Boston : Houghton Mifflin.

Summary
Jonas grows up in a society where life is regulated and there are no individual choices. When he is chosen to be the Receiver of Memory, he discovers what his society is missing and realizes that the lies he has been told hide some ugly truths. He decides to flee to an unknown future rather than continue to live without choice or with muted feelings.

My Impressions
This was an amazing book and I'm really surprised that I haven't read it before now. I'm always fascinated by dystopian literature and this is a classic. Jonas lives in a completely stilted society where each member is pigeon-holed into a destiny and those that don't fit into the mold are "released" a euphemism for euthanasia. This book brings up many great points about the importance of freedom of choice, historical memories and genuine feelings- both good and bad.

Professional Reviews
Gr 6-9-- In a complete departure from her other novels, Lowry has written an intriguing story set in a society that is uniformly run by a Committee of Elders. Twelve-year-old Jonas's confidence in his comfortable "normal'' existence as a member of this well-ordered community is shaken when he is assigned his life's work as the Receiver. The Giver, who passes on to Jonas the burden of being the holder for the community of all memory "back and back and back,'' teaches him the cost of living in an environment that is "without color, pain, or past.'' The tension leading up to the Ceremony, in which children are promoted not to another grade but to another stage in their life, and the drama and responsibility of the sessions with The Giver are gripping. The final flight for survival is as riveting as it is inevitable. The author makes real abstract concepts, such as the meaning of a life in which there are virtually no choices to be made and no experiences with deep feelings. This tightly plotted story and its believable characters will stay with readers for a long time. --School Library Journal, Amy Kellman, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, 2010. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Gr. 7^-9. Lowry's simple, powerful prose creates an anti-utopian world where the lack of hardship, war, and poverty only covers the citizens' deeper lack of freedom. A Booklist Editors' Choice and Newbery Medal Winner. --Booklist, Editors, 1994. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

In the "ideal'' world into which Jonas was born, everybody has sensibly agreed that well-matched married couples will raise exactly two offspring, one boy and one girl. These children's adolescent sexual impulses will be stifled with specially prescribed drugs; at age 12 they will receive an appropriate career assignment, sensibly chosen by the community's Elders. This is a world in which the old live in group homes and are "released''--to great celebration--at the proper time; the few infants who do not develop according to schedule are also "released,'' but with no fanfare. Lowry's development of this civilization is so deft that her readers, like the community's citizens, will be easily seduced by the chimera of this ordered, pain-free society. Until the time that Jonah begins training for his job assignment--the rigorous and prestigious position of Receiver of Memory--he, too, is a complacent model citizen. But as his near-mystical training progresses, and he is weighed down and enriched with society's collective memories of a world as stimulating as it was flawed, Jonas grows increasingly aware of the hypocrisy that rules his world. With a storyline that hints at Christian allegory and an eerie futuristic setting, this intriguing novel calls to mind John Christopher's Tripods trilogy and Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Match Girl. Lowry is once again in top form--raising many questions while answering few, and unwinding a tale fit for the most adventurous readers. Ages 12-14. --Publishers Weekly, April 1994. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
A wonderful book that can be recommended to children, especially those interested in reading books that open their eyes to new societies. This book would be a great pick for the book of the month for a book club especially one promoting Newbery award winners.

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SLIS 5420/Module 4, Book 1
Newbery Award Winners
September 13-19, 2010

Module 3: Los Gatos Black on Halloween

Montes, M. (2006). Los Gatos Black on Halloween. New York: Henry Holt.

Summary
A tale of Halloween, this story abounds with black cats, ghosts, goblins, witches and other spooks getting together for a grand party in celebration of the Day of the Dead. All these scary monsters are ultimately scared away from their party by children knocking on the door to go trick or treating. This is a great book that incorporates vivid illustrations with bilingual Spanish-English words to teach children some Halloween related vocabulary.

My Impressions
This is a fantastic book that not only has beautiful illustrations but brings Spanish words alive by incorporating them into the storyline along with an explanation or contextual clues so that the reader naturally acquires the vocabulary. Very cute story that ends with the emphasis that all these seemingly scary things are most scared of little children.

Professional Reviews
Gr 1-4-Montes smoothly incorporates Spanish terms into a rhythmic poem describing a moonlit Halloween night. Los esqueletos rattle bones and clatter in a dance, los fantasmas "drag their chains" and "shriek their pains," and los muertos emerge from their graves to join other creatures at a haunted casa for music and dancing. However, the party stops dead with the arrival of trick-or-treaters, which causes the frightened spooks to hide, for "The thing that monsters most abhor/Are human ni-os at the door!" The full-bleed paintings create a creepy mood with curving lines, fluid textures, and dusky hues. Rounded figures dance across the atmospheric spreads, which depict blank-faced skeletons, a toothy werewolf, and a child zombie with glowing eyes. The pictures are eerie enough to tingle spines, but the effect is leavened with bits of humor (witches perform skateboard tricks on their brooms, a vampire admires himself in a mirror that reflects only his clothing). The poem's cadenced rhymes and descriptive language build suspense until the satisfying ending. Spanish words are easy to understand in context, but are also defined in a glossary with pronunciation guides. This book is just right for children who are beginning to find typical Halloween fare a bit too tame. --School Library Journal; Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal; 2006. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

K-Gr. 2. A cat's green eyes stare out from the book's cover. Inside, there are more of los gatos--as well as las brujas (witches), los fantasmas (ghosts), and los esqueletos (skeletons looking like they have come from a Dia de los Muertos celebration. The pithy, rhyming text tells a frightening, if familiar, story. The ghosts and ghoulies are off to a Monsters' Ball at Haunted Hall, and though there's plenty of scary stuff around, the guests are most frightened by the children who come knocking at the door for trick-or-treat. Montes' evocative poem deserves exceptional artwork, and Morales obliges. Her soft-edged paintings glow with the luminosity of jewels, and her witches, werewolves, and corpses are frighteningly executed. Therein lies what may be a problem for preschoolers. These fiends aren't particularly kid-friendly; they are dead-eyed, Day of the Dead folk who scare. For slightly older children, however, this spookiness is what Halloween is all about. The Spanish is neatly integrated into the text, but for those who need clarification, a glossary is appended. --Booklist; Ilene Cooper; 2006. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Halloween and the Day of the Dead overlap in this atmospheric, bilingual romp. Montes (Juan Bobo Goes to Work) composes serviceable stanzas, using English and Spanish words as synonyms: "Los gatos black with eyes of green,/ Cats slink and creep on Halloween." This dual-language approach can be redundant ("At medianoche midnight strikes..."), yet Morales (Harvesting Hope) holds readers' attention with surreal, faintly macabre spreads in dim turquoise and clay-brown hues, illuminated by fuschia and flame orange. Witches fly broomsticks like skateboard whizzes, a headstone references Mexican comic Cantinflas and sallow-faced muertos dance until children arrive: "The thing that monsters most abhor/ Are human ninos at the door!" Ages 4-8. --Publishers Weekly; September 2006. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
This is a great book to use for story time, particularly during Halloween. Children happily participate in trying to guess the meaning of the Spanish words. The colorful illustrations also keep the children engaged. After reading the book, the librarian can ask the children to repeat words they remember from the book to cement their memorization.

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SLIS 5420/Module 3, Book 2
Pura Belpre Winners
September 13-19, 2010

Module 3: Joseph had a Little Overcoat

Taback, S. (1999). Joseph had a Little Overcoat. New York: Viking.

Summary
This is a wonderful book about the power of recycling and celebrating the permutations of what you have. Joseph starts with an overcoat which whittles down to a vest and then a tie and eventually to a button. The button is lost but even then, Joseph writes a book about his overcoat that allows it to live on in memory.

My Impressions
I absolutely loved this book. Not only does it teach a great lesson without being moralistic or didactic but it is also creatively illustrated with cutouts showing each new permutation of the life of the coat. There are also interesting background illustrations showing pictures of family members and other books. Well written story and wonderfully detailed in illustration.

Professional Reviews
Pre-Gr 3-A book bursting at the seams with ingenuity and creative spirit. When Joseph's overcoat becomes "old and worn," he snips off the patches and turns it into a jacket. When his jacket is beyond repair, he makes a vest. Joseph recycles his garments until he has nothing left. But by trading in his scissors for a pen and paintbrush he creates a story, showing "you can always make something out of nothing." Clever die-cut holes provide clues as to what Joseph will make next: windowpanes in one scene become a scarf upon turning the page. Striking gouache, watercolor, and collage illustrations are chock-full of witty details-letters to read, proverbs on the walls, even a fiddler on the roof. Taback adapted this tale from a Yiddish folk song and the music and English lyrics are appended. The rhythm and repetition make it a perfect storytime read-aloud. --School Library Journal; Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada, 2000. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Ages 4^-7. This newly illustrated version of a book Taback first published in 1977 is a true example of accomplished bookmaking--from the typography and the endpapers to the bar code, set in what appears to be a patch of fabric. Taback's mixed-media and collage illustrations are alive with warmth, humor, and humanity. Their colors are festive yet controlled, and they are filled with homey clutter, interesting characters, and a million details to bring children back again and again. The simple text, which was adapted from the Yiddish song "I Had a Little Overcoat," begins as Joseph makes a jacket from his old, worn coat. When the jacket wears out, Joseph makes a vest, and so on, until he has only enough to cover a button. Cut outs emphasize the use and reuse of the material and add to the general sense of fun. When Joseph loses, he writes a story about it all, bringing children to the moral "You can always make something out of nothing." --Booklist; Tim Arnold; Accessed 2010. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

As in his Caldecott Honor book, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, Taback's inventive use of die-cut pages shows off his signature artwork, here newly created for his 1977 adaptation of a Yiddish folk song. This diverting, sequential story unravels as swiftly as the threads of Joseph's well-loved, patch-covered plaid coat. A flip of the page allows children to peek through to subsequent spreads as Joseph's tailoring produces items of decreasing size. The author puts a droll spin on his narrative when Joseph loses the last remnant of the coat-a button- and decides to make a book about it. "Which shows... you can always make something out of nothing," writes Taback, who wryly slips himself into his story by depicting Joseph creating a dummy for the book that readers are holding. Still, it's the bustling mixed-media artwork, highlighted by the strategically placed die-cuts, that steals the show. Taback works into his folk art a menagerie of wide-eyed animals witnessing the overcoat's transformation, miniature photographs superimposed on paintings and some clever asides reproduced in small print (a wall hanging declares, "Better to have an ugly patch than a beautiful hole"; a newspaper headline announces, "Fiddler on Roof Falls off Roof"). With its effective repetition and an abundance of visual humor, this is tailor-made for reading aloud. All ages. --Publishers Weekly; October 1999. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
I think this book would make a great story time book and lends itself quite naturally to a craft project. The creativity of the main character Joseph in continuing to recycle the coat into different variations is a great idea. This book can be read out loud and then the children can either draw the different looks of the coat in the story or use the idea as a starting point to draw an item they love along with ways that item can be adapted once it is worn out.

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SLIS 5420/Module 3, Book 1
Caldecott Winners
September 6-12, 2010

Module 2: Ramona Quimby, Age 8

Cleary, B. (1981). Ramona Quimby, Age 8. New York: Morrow Junior Books.

Summary
In this continuation novel about heroine Ramona Quimby, Ramona starts the third grade at a new school. On her own and taking the bus by herself for the first time presents new challenges for Ramona but she is excited to face these new adventures. She makes new friends, learns how to get along at the babysitters house and learns that school, while difficult, can be as rewarding as her close-knit family.

My Impressions
This is such an enjoyable book and I think a great chapter book for kids aged 7 to 10. Cleary's characters are heartfelt and memorable and while the time period is not current, the emotions that the characters feel are very relevant, no matter what the time. Ramona's problems are quite simple by today's standards but the characters are charming and I believe kid's will want to learn more about Ramona's adventures.

Professional Reviews
From the first day of third grade, when Ramona Quimby meets her eventual nemesis Yard Ape, life moves on at its usual wild pace--usual for the boisterous Ramona, that is. Soon she is accidentally squashing a raw egg into her hair at the school cafeteria, being forced to play Uncle Rat with her annoying young neighbor, and, worst of all, throwing up in her classroom. The responsibilities of an 8-year-old are sometimes daunting, especially in a family that is trying to squeak by while the father goes back to school. But Ramona is full of too much vim and vigor to ever be down for long. In her second Newbery Honor Book about Ramona (the first was Ramona and Her Father), Beverly Cleary presents another slice of the Quimby family life. Author of more than two dozen children's books, Cleary has a true knack for understanding the tangle of thoughts and emotions in a child's mind and heart. Empathic, witty, and astute, she has earned many other awards, including the Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw. Alan Tiegreen's clever line drawings have charmed countless readers of Cleary's books over the years, and his style is now inextricably tied to hers. (Ages 8 to 12) --Amazon.com Review, Emilie Coulter, 2005. (Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0380709562/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books)

Cleary shows us life through Ramona's eyes and shows her young readers that they are not alone. --Kirkus Reviews, 2007. (Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0380709562/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books)

Suggested Use in Library
This is a great book to recommend to younger readers. While the storyline is simple and not fraught with too much drama, this is a book children can read for enjoyment and to help them become more independent and engaged readers. Since this is the sixth book in the Ramona Quimby series, a child can follow Ramona's storyline and read all of Cleary's books. A child may also enjoy the characters in this book and thus take an interest in other Cleary books, as many of her other popular characters make an appearance in Ramona's world.

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SLIS 5420/Module 2, Book 2
Classic Children's and YA Literature
August 30-September 5, 2010

Module 2: Millions of Cats

Gág, W. (1928). Millions of Cats. New York: Coward-McCann.

Summary
In this very memorable book, an old man goes to find a cat and ends up being followed home by millions of cats. His wife is confused about which cat they should pick but the cats decide for themselves by fighting to the death over who is the prettiest and leaving only one cat left that refused to participate in the fight. After receiving love and care, this cat turns out to be not only the most humble cat, but the most beautiful one.

My Impressions
Some complain that this story is disturbing and the illustrations are simplistic and uninteresting because they are black and white. Because this is an older book, there is definitely an old-style feel to the illustrations and writing. But the rhyming and lyrical cadence of this book makes it eminently readable and most likely very enjoyable for younger children who can begin to repeat the refrain after the second or third repetition.

Professional Reviews
Millions of Cats is a wonderful tale of vanity versus humility, written and illustrated by the singular Wanda Gag. An old man and his wife decide to get a cat, so the old man goes out in search of the prettiest cat of all. When he is forced to choose from "hundreds, thousands, millions and billions and trillions" of cats, he (naturally) brings them all home. When the wife points out their inability to support the legion of felines, it is left to the cats to decide who among them is the prettiest. Anyone who has ever owned more than a single cat can tell you what happens next. Gag's simple, appealing black ink drawings are perfect for the story, somehow capturing at least the idea of millions of cats in a single page. Repeated lines and the sing-song title refrain make this a read-aloud natural. --Amazon.com review (Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Millions-Cats-Picture-Puffin-Books/dp/0142407089/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291788399&sr=8-1)

This Newbery Honor winner is distinguished by innovative design and a strong storyteller's cadence. -School Library Journal's "One Hundred Books that Shaped the Century." (Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Millions-Cats-Picture-Puffin-Books/dp/0142407089/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291788399&sr=8-1)

Suggested Use in Library
This picture book can be read out loud with children participating in reading the refrain: "Hundreds of cats, Thousands of cats, Millions and billions and trillions of cats...." Children should enjoy the participation and the simple storyline of a lonely, old couple being surrounded by so many cats.

This book can also be used to illuminate the changes in writing style and illustration to fans of picture books. Since this is considered America's first picture book, children and adults interested in the history of picture books can look at this book as a historical example of the inception of picture books.

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SLIS 5420/Module 2, Book 1
Classic Children's & YA Literature
August 30-September 5, 2010

Module 1: Rainbow Fish

Pfister, M. (1999). The Rainbow Fish. New York : North-South Books.

Summary
Rainbow Fish is prettier than the other fish in the ocean and has trouble finding friends because he refuses to share his abundance of beauty. But Rainbow Fish becomes lonely as those around him shun him. On the advice of a wise octopus, Rainbow Fish shares his glittery scales with others and is then accepted by his peers.

My Impressions
I wanted to like this book because I've always seen it bandied about by parents as the "best book ever." But wow, what a disturbing storyline with a clobber you over the head morality lesson. Some have compared this book to a communist manifesto of sharing what you have so others will accept you. For me, I wouldn't read this book to a child because the storyline is so problematic. While sharing is a good concept, this story seems to be arguing that being different makes you arrogant and the only way to lose that arrogance and become accepted is to give up your unique attributes. I'm a fan of sharing but this story is didactic, awkward and more moral lecture than real story.

Professional Reviews
Despite some jazzy special effects achieved with shimmery holographs, this cautionary tale about selfishness and vanity has trouble staying afloat. Rainbow Fish, "the most beautiful fish in the entire ocean," refuses to share his prized iridescent scales--which, indeed, flash and sparkle like prisms as each page is turned. When his greed leaves him without friends or admirers, the lonely fish seeks advice from the wise octopus, who counsels him to give away his beauty and "discover how to be happy." The translation from the original German text doesn't enhance the story's predictable plot, and lapses into somewhat vague descriptions: after sharing a single scale, "a rather peculiar feeling came over Rainbow Fish." Deep purples, blues and greens bleed together in Pfister's liquid watercolors; unfortunately, the watery effect is abruptly interrupted by a few stark white, text-only pages. -- Publishers Weekly (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Children will be immediately drawn to this book that features an iridescent, metallic-looking main character whose "scales were every shade of blue and green and purple, with sparkling silver scales among them.'' Adult suspicions of the gimmick overwhelming the story quickly fade as the plot unfolds: none of the other fish will have anything to do with the Rainbow Fish, who always swims by superciliously and refuses to give away any of his special garb. He is lonely and without admirers until a wise female octopus advises him to give away his scales. Rainbow Fish then discovers that sharing brings happiness and acceptance. The delicate watercolors of underwater scenes are a perfect foil to the glittering scales that eventually form a part of each fish's exterior. This is certainly a story written to convey a message, but in its simplicity, it recalls the best of Lionni. Besides, what three-year-old doesn't need reinforcement about sharing? --School Library Journal, Ellen Fader, Westport Public Library, CT, 2010. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Proud of his shimmering silver scales, Rainbow Fish disdains the plainer fish who asks him to share his treasures. When word of his refusal gets around, Rainbow Fish finds that the other fish swim away at his approach. A wise old octopus advises him to share his scales. When he does, Rainbow Fish finds that the more he gives to others, the happier he feels. The plot is rather predictable, but the artwork certainly catches the eye. Incorporated into the fluid, watercolor paintings, iridescent foil catches every light and radiates colored sparkles that would be the envy of any fish and will fascinate preschoolers. A gimmick? Well, yes, but in context it works. A popular choice for picture book displays. -- Booklist, Carolyn Phelan, January 1, 1993. (Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=939932)

Suggested Use in Library
This book is a good beginning picture book with interesting illustrations that children may be attracted to. I think it's a good book for adults to look through but ultimately, if they read the storyline, they may be dismayed. Rainbow Fish, the main character, may be used as a cautionary tale by more conservative parents but overall, this is a visually pretty book that is short on substance. I would keep it in the library collection because it is popular and many parents may ask for it, but I wouldn't necessarily use it much.

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SLIS 5420/Module 1
Introduction to Children's Literature
August 26-29, 2010