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.