Habibi/Module 6

Bibliography:

Nye, Naomi Shihab. 1997. Habibi. New Your, NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Children. ISBN: 0689801491

Plot Summary:

Liyana and her family move from St. Louise, Missouri to Jerusalem,  her father's homeland.  Liyana is a typical teenager, she has a crush on her first boy, has many girlfriends, enjoys shopping and other teenage activities. Suddenly life as she has known it is changing drastically. Will she like Jerusalem and adjust to its culture or resent her family for moving?

Critical Ananlysis:

I think this is a story students can relate to in many ways, in this day and age so many families move due to job loss and changes. Although Liyana's family moves purely by choice, it is still hard on Liyana, meeting new family members, going to a new school, living in a new house, leaving behind many things and people she loves. She learns quite a bit about her family history and much more about her father "Poppy".  She also has a new boy she likes, but he is "different" than her family and that causes problems.   Teenage girls in particular could find something in this book they can relate too.

The descriptions in the book of Liyana's school, their family members and culture are very "visual". I felt as if I was in the hotel room with all the aunts talking in a different language. I imagined myself in the shop with Liyana, when she first sees a cute boy. I've also felt out of place as Liyana does at times in the novel.

Review Excerpts:

Publishers Weekly: This soul-stirring novel about the Abbouds, an Arab American Family,puts faces and names the victims of violence and persecution in Jerusalem today. Believing the unstable situation in that conflict-ridden city has improved, 14-year-old Liyana's family moves from St. Louis, Mo. to her father's homeland. However, from the moment the Abbouds are stopped by Jewish customs agents in the airport, they face racial prejudice and discord."

Connections:

This site has some of Nye's poems you can listen to.

http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/174

This site has links to books and information about Naomi Shihab Nye.

http://www.barclayagency.com/nye.html

Naomi Shihab Nye Poetry books

King and King

Bibliography:

de Haan, Linda, and Nijland Stern. 2002 KING AND KING. Tricycle Press. ISBN: 1582460612

Summary:

The Queen feels it is time for her son, the Prince to get married. She is ready to pass the throne to him, but only after he finds a suitable princess to marry.  One by one princesses from all over come to try and entice the Prince into marrying them. Each princess has a "unique" quality, but none of them appeal to the Prince. Finally Princess Madeleine arrives, along with her brother Prince Lee.   Prince Bertie and Prince Lee both remark "Oh, what a wonderful Prince!"  A wedding is for the Princes' and they become "King and King".

Critical Analysis:

King and King is a colorful, vibrant book with unique characters.  The authors and illustrators are from the Netherlands.  It could be a controversial book due to the homosexual theme, although it is written in a fun way very young readers may or may not pick up on the theme. The pictures are full of color and the "royal kitty" appears all through the story adding another element to it.  It also depicts people as being unique, both with the Prince and the various Princesses.  

Reviews:

School Library Journal: The book presents same-sex marriage as a viable, acceptable way of life within an immediately recognizable narrative form, the fairy tale. However, those looking for picture books about alternative lifestyles may want to keep looking for a barrier-breaking classic on the subject.

Connections:

**note: this is the first book I am unable to find links or lesson plans to support the use of**

King & King and Family: Join newlyweds King Lee and King Bertie on their journey into the noisy jungle.

Grandfather's Journey

Bibliography:

Say, Allen. 1993.  Grandfather's Journey.  Houghton Mifflin Company. New York, NY. 0-395-57035-2.

Plot Summary:

A Japanese American tells the story of his grandfather's journey to America, which he later enjoys the journey for himself and how both men were torn by their love of both countries.

Critical Analysis:

I loved this book. The illustrations are beautiful and tore at my heart. I thought the way Allen Say included illustrations of the men in both traditional Japanese dress and American dress added to the story.  I felt the colors Say chose depicted the feelings of the characters in each illustration as well, for example the illustration of the grandfather and his bride to be are in rich, bright colors, but the illustration of the the Japanese family and children after the war were in darker shades.  I feel this story shows how you can love two places equally and want to return to both as often as possible.  I loved the last line, " The funny thing is, the moment I am in one country, I am homesick for the other. "   I feel that many readers could relate to this statement, if not about countries, other places in their lives. 

The illustrations depicted a variety of pictures of Japan as well as the United States. Many of the illustrations could have been photos in a family album, which makes you feel connected to the people in the story. 

Reviews:

Horn Book:

The immigrant experience has rarely been so poignantly evoked as it is in this direct, lyrical narrative that is able to stir emotions through the simplicity of its telling.

Connections:

www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/authors/allensay/

http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~elbond/grand.htm

This site has classroom connections for every subject!

Lon Po Po

Bibliography:

Young , Ed. Lon Po Po.  Scholastic, Inc. New York, NY. 0-59044069-1.

Plot Summary:

This book is the Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood.  It is the story of three sisters who are left home alone while their mother goes to visit their grandmother PoPo.  A mean wolf comes to their house and pretends to be PoPo, but the sisters will not be outsmarted. The sisters work together and convince the wolf that he should allow them to hoist him into the tree to eat some Ginko nuts.  The clever sisters outwit the evil wolf and tell their mother all about it when she returns home.

Critical Analysis:

Lon Po Po won the Caldecott Medal in 1990. The pictures are in dark, watercolors and add to the suspense of the story.  Ed Young does a nice job of retelling an American favorite with a Chinese twist. He incorporates Chinese elements into the story such as Ginko nuts, the names of the girls, Shang, Tao, and Paotz and the name they refer to their grandmother by, Po Po.  The clever way the sisters trick the wolf and get away would be interesting to children. I do feel the pictures are a little bit scary for small children. I also wonder why Ed Young chose to draw the sisters all looking so much alike. In one illustrations the sisters look almost identical except each is a little larger than the other.

Review Excerpts:

School Library Journal:  The text possesses that matter-of-fact veracity that characterizes the best fairy tales.  The watercolor and pastel pictures are remarkable: mystically beautiful in their depiction of the Chinese countryside, menacing in the exchanges with the wolf, and positively chilling in the scenes inside the house. Overall, this is an outstanding achievement that will be pored over again and again.

Connections:

This website is a wealth of information on everything related to the book LonPoPo

http:.www.vickiblackwell.com/lit/lonpopo.html

http://web.bsu.edu/00smtancock/Cyberlesson/LonPoPo/

http://www.uvm.edu/~outreach/units/LonPoPo.pdf

Bibliography:

Yep, Laurence. 2000. Cockroach Cooties. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN: 0786824190.

Plot Summary:

Cockroach Cooties is the story of two brothers that work together to get rid of the school bully, Arnie-zilla.  When they realize Arnie is terribly afraid of bugs, roaches in particular they use their new pet, Hercules to save the day, and their lives.

Critical Analysis:

The younger of the brothers, Bobby manages to draw the attentions of Arnie-zilla the school bully.  His older brother Teddy has to decide whether he wants to stay out of it, thus saving his own skin, or help out Bobby.  It's the same situation many brothers find themselves in during their lifetime.  Teddy and Bobby discover Arnie's weakness is a fear of roaches, so they pay a visit to the "Bug Lady", Charlie.  

Other than the book cover their are not any illustrations for this book, but it becomes clear early on that Bobby and Teddy live in Chinatown, and are Chinese Americans.  Through out the book references are made to their culture and family history.  There are also references made about tourists and how some of them take pictures of Bobby and Teddy on the street.  The boys attend Chinese school as well as public school.  Although these boys are Chinese-Americans and that is mentioned in various ways, it is not an important aspect of the story. The story revolves around family and how they stick together and take care of each other. There are some humorous parts that include specifics of being Chinese Americans such as when they go to dinner for their mother's birthday. It is mentioned that Bobby and Teddy's family are always on time, on American time, not Chinese time like the extended family members who are always late to family events.

Review Excerpts:

School Library Journal: Readers will either be instantly attracted to Cockroach Cooties or completely repelled by it, but those who can stomach the idea of crushed crickets in their chocolate-chip cookies will eat it up.

Connections:

Meet the Author:  www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/yep.html

This is a good interview that could encourage budding writers.  It also lists other books written by Laurence Yep.

http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/yep.htm

Laurence Yep Teacher Resource File

http://suzyred.com/2002cooties.html

Alice Yazzie's Year

Alice Yazzie's Year

Bibliography:  

Maher, Ramona. 1977, 2003. Alice Yazzie's Year. Ill. Begay, Shonto, 2003. Berkeley, CA. Tricycle Press. ISBN: 1-58246-080-9.

Plot Summary:

This is the story of the year Alice Yazzie is eleven. A poem is written in free verse format telling about what happens during each month of that year.  It is told from the viewpoint of Alice, what she sees and how she feels about what is happening around her. 

Culture Markers:

Both author and illustrator embark on making this picture book an authentic representation of Navajo culture and life.  Each poem begins with the name of the month in English and beside it the name that the Navajos call that month.  At the back of the book is a wealth of information titled "Notes about the Navajo Country and Ways of Life" written by Carl N. Gorman Director of Navajo Resources and Curriculum Development at the Navajo Community College in Arizona.  The illustrator, Shonto Begay was born and raised in the Navajo Nation community and is a descended from a line of medicine men.  

Reviews:

Booklist:  "Begay's paitings, impressionistic dabs and swirls of brilliant color, sometimes muddy faces and expressions, but like the words, the wild patterns and hues leave room for imaginations to fill in the spaces. Whether read alone or aloud, the poems tell an affecting story about contemporary Navajo life through an appealing young character with a strong sense of history and herself."

Connections:

www. shontobegay.com

Teachers could begin the school year having students work on a free verse poem about what they see and experience each month. Then put them together in a book at the end of the year for students to keep.

Jingle Dancer

Bibliography:

Smith, Cynthia Leitich. 2000. Jingle Dancer. Ill. by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publisher. ISBN: 0-8307-2852-2.

Plot Summary:

Jenna wants nothing more than to participate in the tribe's powwow and jingle dance, so she begins practicing the traditional dance by watching video tapes of her grandmother's past performances.  She has a problem though, she does not have a dress that "sings" to wear in the performance. She eventually has enough jingles for her dress and she is able to dance in the family powwow.

Critical Analysis:

This  is a wonderful story of family traditions and how family members can work together to support and encourage each other and pass down  traditons. It is also a great demonstration of how older and younger family members can come together and create strong relationships as well as memories and traditions to carry on. Although this story involves todays Native American family, any child could relate to the story of family members loving and encouraging one another.  There are various Native American terms used throughout the story giving it an authentic feel and introducing readers to those terms.  The illustrations are amazing and full of detail and color. They intertwine modern American life in the illustrations but also include a variety of Native American artifacts in the pictures as well. This would be a wonderful springboard for classroom discussions.

Review Excerpts:

School Library Journal:  "a welcome addition to stories about traditions passed down by woman of culture."

Connections:

www.cynthialeitichsmith.com    Cynthia Leitich Smith, Official author site and home of CHILDREN'S & YA LITERATURE RESOURCES.  This site includes teachers' guides for her books.