Told from the perspective of an 18-year-old from Roanoke, VA, this appears to be a first-hand account of the D-Day landing at Omaha Beach and the ensuing battles in Normandy against the Germans. The "journal" entries begin on May 25, 1994, with the recounting of Scott Collins' going-away party and ends on August 24 on Omaha Beach, as Scott, wounded, is being ferried back to England. While the tone is more matter-of-fact than a true journal would be, the short, almost-daily entries keep the story moving along briskly. The author doesn't glamorize war, frequently mentioning the dead and wounded, the members of his regiment, all around him, more and more each day. Up to this point, the story is believable as a fictionalized journal.
After the last journal entry, which would hvae been very satisfying as an ending, the author has written an Epilogue, which purports to tell the subsequent life stories of the main characters: where they lived, who they married, their children, their work, if they have passed on. There follows a section called "Life in America in 1944" which actually describes the conflict between Nazi Germany and the United States, and includes several pages of captioned photographs of the invasion of Normandy along with maps. This section is somewhat helpful in putting into perspective this part of World War II.
Next is a chapter called "About the Author." He believes that history, particularly war, is best told from the intensely personal point of view by those who actually fought in the war. He says "I cna think of no better way to prevent war than to present a true picture of its horrors." While I couldn't agree more, and while this story matches the stories of the Battle of the Bulge my own father told me, when Myers says this is a "true picture" it suggests that Scott Collins really existed. Nonetheless, he is an award-winning author, and among his awards is one from the ALA in the field of social studies.
Although the reading level is upper-elementary (as told to me by a public librarian), the subject matter is disturbing: repeated descriptions of the dead and dying, the central character pinned down by enemy fire and unable to help. These could bring nightmares to any child who reads it.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Gross, Virginia T. "The President is Dead: the Story of the Kennedy Assassination" New York, Viking Press, 1993. Print.
Bernardo wants to get away from a bully at school and prove, at least to himself, that he can do something extraordinary. When he learns that his hero, President John F. Kennedy and his beautiful wife Jackie will be coming to Dallas, Bernardo decides to skip school to go to Dealey Plaza and watch his hero pass by in a motorcade. He takes a few dollars from his mother's purse, adding to the secrets he must keep on this day.
Bernardo is proud of his father's restaurant, home of the best Mexican food in Dallas, and leaves his school books in the woodbin behind the restaurant kitchen so he can take the bus to Dealey Plaza. There he gets caught up in the excitement of the crowd as they eait for the popular president to come by, and that is where Bernardo witnesses the most extraordinary event of the 1960's. But can he tell anyone what he saw and what he knows?
This hardcover book, 52 pages long, includes at the end a short explanation of the historical significance of the Kennedy mystique, his presidency and popularity, and the facts about his assassination. Gross addresses the multiple gun men theory - indeed it is central to the story. Dan Andreasen provided the black-and-white drawings.
I enjoyed the perspective of this story, as told by an elementary-school-aged Latino American. The story moves steadily through the fateful day, then through the days of national grief and sorrow, unfolding in a rather suspenseful way even though older readers will certainly know the events. Unlike Gross' Johnstown Flood book, there is no confusion of characters and she seems to have enough pages to tell the story with all the necessary details intact. Bernardo's shame at having lied and stolen from his parents is compounded by his grief at witnessing up close the assassination of his hero. this is resolved well by a talk with his (wise and compassionate) mother.
Bernardo is proud of his father's restaurant, home of the best Mexican food in Dallas, and leaves his school books in the woodbin behind the restaurant kitchen so he can take the bus to Dealey Plaza. There he gets caught up in the excitement of the crowd as they eait for the popular president to come by, and that is where Bernardo witnesses the most extraordinary event of the 1960's. But can he tell anyone what he saw and what he knows?
This hardcover book, 52 pages long, includes at the end a short explanation of the historical significance of the Kennedy mystique, his presidency and popularity, and the facts about his assassination. Gross addresses the multiple gun men theory - indeed it is central to the story. Dan Andreasen provided the black-and-white drawings.
I enjoyed the perspective of this story, as told by an elementary-school-aged Latino American. The story moves steadily through the fateful day, then through the days of national grief and sorrow, unfolding in a rather suspenseful way even though older readers will certainly know the events. Unlike Gross' Johnstown Flood book, there is no confusion of characters and she seems to have enough pages to tell the story with all the necessary details intact. Bernardo's shame at having lied and stolen from his parents is compounded by his grief at witnessing up close the assassination of his hero. this is resolved well by a talk with his (wise and compassionate) mother.
Gross, Virginia T. "The Day It Rained Forever: The Story of the Johnstown Flood." New York: Viking Press, 1991. Print.
Ten-year-old Christina Berwind is already grieving for her little sister, dead a few hours after being born. Although her life is filled with family, farm chores and schooling, in a corner of her heart is the sorrow not only for her baby sister, but also for her parents' loss, especially for her mother. Then comes the Johnstown Flood of 1889, a wall of water 125 feet high rushing through the valley below her house at 50 miles per hour. Christina's mother, in Johnstown downstream, nearly drowns, as did thousands of others. But out of such tragedy and the struggle to rebuild comes joy and a new reason to live.
This hardcover book, 52 pages, is part of the "Once Upon America" series which is intended for readers aged 7-11 years. It attempts to answer the question "Who is affected by the events of history?" by showing ordinary people as an important part of the story, particulary children. Virginia Gross was a Fairfax County Public Schools reading teacher. The drawings, which I believe are charcoal on paper, are by Ronald Himler. At the end, there is a two-page explanation of the events, "About This Book," which puts into historical perspective the events and characters of the story.
I enjoyed the drama of the story and the fact that it is based on true events - my own mother told me about the Johnstown Flood. The story jumps around a bit from place to place and character to character, making it a bit hard to follow. Two characters seem to have similar names: Herbert Berwind, engaged to Leonora Hastings (and Christina's older brother?), and Herbie, her younger brother(?) who remains on the farm during the rains. The former apparently perished in the flood, although none of the family misses him in the aftermath, while the latter remains a pesky sidekick.
This hardcover book, 52 pages, is part of the "Once Upon America" series which is intended for readers aged 7-11 years. It attempts to answer the question "Who is affected by the events of history?" by showing ordinary people as an important part of the story, particulary children. Virginia Gross was a Fairfax County Public Schools reading teacher. The drawings, which I believe are charcoal on paper, are by Ronald Himler. At the end, there is a two-page explanation of the events, "About This Book," which puts into historical perspective the events and characters of the story.
I enjoyed the drama of the story and the fact that it is based on true events - my own mother told me about the Johnstown Flood. The story jumps around a bit from place to place and character to character, making it a bit hard to follow. Two characters seem to have similar names: Herbert Berwind, engaged to Leonora Hastings (and Christina's older brother?), and Herbie, her younger brother(?) who remains on the farm during the rains. The former apparently perished in the flood, although none of the family misses him in the aftermath, while the latter remains a pesky sidekick.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Babbit, Natalie. "Tuck Everlasting." New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1975. Print.
When Winnie Foster, an ordinary ten-year-old, discovers a magical family, she is faced with unexpected adventures and a series of decisions. While this is a fantastical story, the characters are utterly human and the dilemmas realistic, prmpting the reader to ask, "Why did they decide to do that? What is right or wrong in this situation? What would I do?"
Although written at a level for the late elementary/middle school/high school crowd, this novel addresses issues and problems which would engage adults as well. There is a movie tie-in and several websites containing lesson plans:
http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-tuck-everlasting/characters.html
http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/tuckeverlasting.html
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/tuck_everlasting.pdf
Although written at a level for the late elementary/middle school/high school crowd, this novel addresses issues and problems which would engage adults as well. There is a movie tie-in and several websites containing lesson plans:
http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-tuck-everlasting/characters.html
http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/tuckeverlasting.html
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/tuck_everlasting.pdf
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Kadir Nelson's Awards (partial list)
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, a Caldecott Honor and an NAACP Image Award for Carol Boston Weatherford’s MOSES: When Harriet Tubman Led her People to Freedom.”
Coretta Scott King Award, and ALA Notable Children’s Book, for Ellington Was Not A Street, by Ntozake Sange.
Caldecott Honor Award, Henry’s Freedom Box, with Ellen Levine.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Image Award, for Just the Two of Us, 2001.
Silver Medal for original art, Society of Illustrators, for Under the Christmas Tree, 2002.
Coretta Scott King Honor Book designation, for Thunder Rose, 2004.
The New York Times named "WE ARE THE SHIP: The Story of Negro League Baseball," one of the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2008.
Winner of the CASEY Award for best baseball book, 2008.
Coretta Scott King Book Award Recipient, for writing and illustrating We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, 2009.
Coretta Scott King Award, and ALA Notable Children’s Book, for Ellington Was Not A Street, by Ntozake Sange.
Caldecott Honor Award, Henry’s Freedom Box, with Ellen Levine.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Image Award, for Just the Two of Us, 2001.
Silver Medal for original art, Society of Illustrators, for Under the Christmas Tree, 2002.
Coretta Scott King Honor Book designation, for Thunder Rose, 2004.
The New York Times named "WE ARE THE SHIP: The Story of Negro League Baseball," one of the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2008.
Winner of the CASEY Award for best baseball book, 2008.
Coretta Scott King Book Award Recipient, for writing and illustrating We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, 2009.
About Kadir Nelson, Illustrator and Author
Born to an African-American family in Washington, DC, now based in San Diego, Kadir Nelson graduated with honors from the Pratt Institute in New York. A prolific and award-winning artist, he has nearly 20 books in print, as well as commissioned works and art exhibits at prestigious museums and galleries in the U.S. and abroad. He has illustrated children’s books for such authors as Ntozake Shange, Debbie Allen, Deloris and Joslyn Jordan, Spike and Tonya Lee, and Carol Boston Wetherford. Nelson was the lead conceptual artist for the films Amistad and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, both from Steven Spielberg’s Dreamworks Studio. He has designed postage stamps and painted a portrait of the late Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. His artwork is found in advertisements for such companies as Coca-Cola, State Farm, the San Diego Padres and Major League Baseball, as well as editorial artwork for Sports Illustrated, the New Yorker and Playboy, among others.
Nelson’s work conveys a sense of identity and emotion which communicate the strength of the subject. Working primarily in oils, each portrait he creates is intimate, almost casual, yet profound in its historical significance. He has said, “My focus is to create images of people who demonstrate a sense of hope and nobility. I want to show the strength and integrity of the human being and the human spirit.”
Nelson’s work conveys a sense of identity and emotion which communicate the strength of the subject. Working primarily in oils, each portrait he creates is intimate, almost casual, yet profound in its historical significance. He has said, “My focus is to create images of people who demonstrate a sense of hope and nobility. I want to show the strength and integrity of the human being and the human spirit.”
Kadir Nelson: Useful Websites
Artist’s professional website:
http://www.kadirnelson.com/
Traveling exhibit:
www.wearetheship.com
BBC interview about We Are the Ship:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1OqigCq8H4
NPR: Shirley Chisholm: Portrait Of A Pioneer: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101645091
NPR Interview with Kadir Nelson: Farai Chideya talks to Nelson about WE ARE THE SHIP
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88161462
http://www.kadirnelson.com/
Traveling exhibit:
www.wearetheship.com
BBC interview about We Are the Ship:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1OqigCq8H4
NPR: Shirley Chisholm: Portrait Of A Pioneer: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101645091
NPR Interview with Kadir Nelson: Farai Chideya talks to Nelson about WE ARE THE SHIP
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88161462
Donna Jo Napoli, Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya, Simon & Schuster, 2010.
A fascinating true story about Wangari Maathi, who almost by accident became an environmental and peace activist in Kenya, her country, thus winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 and sparking the Green Belt Movement. This book also shows the healing powers of nature, specifically the trees which Maathi and the women of Kenya planted to refresh their spirits after droughts and political strife brought hunger and suffering to her country.
Using a collage of rhythmically-patterned fabric, illustrator Kadir Nelson shows the subtle yet powerful emotions of Mama Miti and her people in oil paints for the faces and arms. In his note to the reader, Nelson says, "I chose to use these materials because African culture is rich with textiles and color...to reflect an aesthetic of both East Africa and my own work."
There are also an Afterword which contains a biography of Wangari Muta Maathi, a Kikuyu Glossary and Notes from the author and the illustrator.
For futher reading:
Maathi, Wangari Muta. "Unbowed: A Memoir." New York: knopf, 2006. Print.
Maathi, Wangari Muta. "the green Belt Movement: Shaing the Approach and the Experience. New York: Lantern Books, 2004. Print.
Ndegwa, Stephen N. "The Two Faces of Civil Society: NGOs and Politcs in Africa. West Hartford, CT: Kumarian Press, 1996. Print.
Brill, Alida. "A Rising Public Voice: Women in Politics Worldwide." New york: Feminist Press at CUNY, 1995. Print.
Internet Sources:
http://greenbletmovement.org/index.php
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2004/maathi-lecture.html
http://nobelprize.org.nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2004/maathi-bio.html
http://www.naturekenya.org/index.htmp
Using a collage of rhythmically-patterned fabric, illustrator Kadir Nelson shows the subtle yet powerful emotions of Mama Miti and her people in oil paints for the faces and arms. In his note to the reader, Nelson says, "I chose to use these materials because African culture is rich with textiles and color...to reflect an aesthetic of both East Africa and my own work."
There are also an Afterword which contains a biography of Wangari Muta Maathi, a Kikuyu Glossary and Notes from the author and the illustrator.
For futher reading:
Maathi, Wangari Muta. "Unbowed: A Memoir." New York: knopf, 2006. Print.
Maathi, Wangari Muta. "the green Belt Movement: Shaing the Approach and the Experience. New York: Lantern Books, 2004. Print.
Ndegwa, Stephen N. "The Two Faces of Civil Society: NGOs and Politcs in Africa. West Hartford, CT: Kumarian Press, 1996. Print.
Brill, Alida. "A Rising Public Voice: Women in Politics Worldwide." New york: Feminist Press at CUNY, 1995. Print.
Internet Sources:
http://greenbletmovement.org/index.php
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2004/maathi-lecture.html
http://nobelprize.org.nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2004/maathi-bio.html
http://www.naturekenya.org/index.htmp
Nozake Shange, Coretta Scott, HarperCollins Publishers, 2009.
This biography of Coretta Scott, the wife of Dr. martin Luther King, Jr., expresses the simplicity of peace through the poetry of Ntozake Shange and the oil painting illustrations of Kadir Nelson.
The end page includes a picture of Coretta Scott addressing the crowd on the Mall at the March on Washington in 1963, as well as a second, parallel biography written in prose form by author Shange.
Obviously an inspirational read, this book provides insights into Coretta Scott King's elegant yet tough-minded character that are not generally known. The poetry and illustrations are powerful and emotive and remarkably subtle, each reinforcing the message of justice as a beautiful force in the world.
The end page includes a picture of Coretta Scott addressing the crowd on the Mall at the March on Washington in 1963, as well as a second, parallel biography written in prose form by author Shange.
Obviously an inspirational read, this book provides insights into Coretta Scott King's elegant yet tough-minded character that are not generally known. The poetry and illustrations are powerful and emotive and remarkably subtle, each reinforcing the message of justice as a beautiful force in the world.
Walker, Barbara M. the Little House Cookbook: Frontier Foods from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Classic Stories. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1979. P
Annotation: Designated a Notable Book by the ALA, a School Library Journal Best Book, and a New York Times Book Review Outstanding Book of the Year, among other awards, this soft cover book in its third edition is the inspiration for this text set. A social history of life on the frontier, where growing, gathering and preserving food was a family’s primary task, it includes authentic recipes using only foods Laura Ingalls Wilder mentions in her popular Little House books. Each of the eight chapters is devoted to foods from a different part of the frontier farm and wilderness, such as “Gardens and Orchards” or “Woods, Wilds, and Waters.” Each recipe is preceded by an explanation of the way the food was obtained and commentary about Wilder’s story about the dish; quotes from her books are included, as are illustrations by Garth Williams. There is a Glossary to explain old-fashioned terminology, a Metric Conversion Chart, a Bibliography and an Index. The author is very knowledgeable about food, frontier history and the works of Laura Ingalls Wilder. She is also a mother who writes about connections: table and garden; summer and tomatoes; pioneers and modern abundance; parent and child; sharing a meal and experiencing love. The reading level is upper elementary; this book would be an accessible read for any student who can read (and who loves!) the Little House books.
Rationale: This book is for those who love to: read and cook; reflect on their life and the world around them; share a book and share a meal. It is a smorgasbord of literature, cooking and history.
Rationale: This book is for those who love to: read and cook; reflect on their life and the world around them; share a book and share a meal. It is a smorgasbord of literature, cooking and history.
MacDonald, Kate. The Anne of Green Gables Cookbook. Toronto: Seal Books, McClelland-Bantam, Inc., 1985. Print.
Annotation: Taken directly from cooking scenes in the classic and popular Anne books by L.M. Montgomery, this delightful soft cover recipe book has the look and tone of all three novels. Each authentic recipe is preceded by an annotated quote which places it in Anne’s story; there may also be an explanation of any unusual terms or ingredients for the modern reader. Easy, step-by-step instructions are aimed at the beginning cook, with an admonition in the Introduction from Marilla herself to “keep your wits about you in cooking” and from the author to get adult supervision when cooking. All recipes were tested by a 12-year-old who reported excellent results. The accompanying watercolors by Barbara Di Lella of Anne in the kitchen add to the charm of this book. The reading level is for upper elementary students, who very well might have read Anne of Green Gables.
Rationale: If you loved the Green Gables stories and want to get a little closer to Anne’s life, this is the book for you. Although the Anne books are semi-fictional, the recipes are authentic to Anne’s time and place.
Rationale: If you loved the Green Gables stories and want to get a little closer to Anne’s life, this is the book for you. Although the Anne books are semi-fictional, the recipes are authentic to Anne’s time and place.
Harbison, Elizabeth M. Loaves of Fun: A History of Bread with Activities and Recipes from Around the World. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 1997. Print
Annotation: This soft cover book is a multicultural exploration of bread and the people who love to make and eat it. Arranged along a Timeline, which is shown on a banner above the first page of each chapter, this book combines world history with bread-making. Each chapter begins with a short explanation of the country or region and era of the origin of the featured bread, along with a story about how and why this particular recipe evolved. The recipes are simple enough for a child to make with adult supervision in the average American kitchen. Sidebars contain facts about a bread from another country or time that has some similarity to the featured recipe, such as both being street food or having similar ingredients. There is a chapter about the Kitchen and Cooking Tips which includes Materials and Measuring Equivalents. There is a Glossary but no Index. Written in a conversational tone accessible to kids, the reading level is middle- to upper –elementary.
Rationale: Bake your way through the ages! Learn about various peoples throughout the ages by baking breads they would have eaten every day or on special occasions. It’s an interesting read even if you never turn on the oven.
Rationale: Bake your way through the ages! Learn about various peoples throughout the ages by baking breads they would have eaten every day or on special occasions. It’s an interesting read even if you never turn on the oven.
Barchers, Suzanne I. and Peter J. Rauen. Holiday Storybook Stew: Cooking through the Year with Books Kids Love. Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing, 1998.
Annotation: Organized in chapters by the months of the year, and centered around typical American holidays and celebrations, this paperback contains simple recipes which most elementary-age children could prepare with adult supervision in a household kitchen or in a classroom. Each recipe is accompanied by an excerpt from a popular children’s book and a craft, with a short list of related books to read. There are simple line drawings at the beginning of each chapter to show an animal or item associated with the theme of the month. The Introduction contains safety tips and reminds the (student) reader to work with an adult. It also recommends full menus for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a picnic. The appendices are: “High-Altitude Adjustments” and “Measuring Accurately.” There is a Glossary of Cooking Terms, a Blibliography and an Index. The reading level is upper elementary (with the participation of responsible adults).
Rationale: Reading, cooking, activities, and more reading – all to celebrate…whatever. What’s not to like?
Rationale: Reading, cooking, activities, and more reading – all to celebrate…whatever. What’s not to like?
Tames, Richard. Food: Feasts, Cooks & Kitchens. New York, Chicago, London, Toronto, Sydney: Franklin Watts, 1994. Print.
Annotation: In 28 chapters ranging from “Hunters and Gatherers” to “The Future,” this lively and informative book looks at the history of food around the world and how it is hunted, gathered, grown, preserved and prepared. Each chapter looks a region such as China, and in a few brief yet informative paragraphs and illustrations, discusses items associated with the region, for example: chopsticks, dim sum, wok and the Five Flavors. The team of artists provide drawings that further illuminate the variety of foods human beings have consumed over the ages, as well as regional variations in the procuring and preparing local dishes. The captions provide instructions and explanations, such as how to hold chopsticks. Small boxes provide simple recipes for such delicacies as “Song Dynasty Salad.” There is a lengthy timeline, a glossary and an index.
Rationale: The arrangement of the chapters, one per page, provide an interesting comparison and contrast between two cultures of the same era, i.e., The Dark Ages, in which the author has included modern Lapps and Inuits, and Middle Eastern Food (the spread of Islam in the 7th and 8th centuries). The text is accessible to upper elementary students, while the drawings will provide plenty of browsing for students of any age. A fascinating look at how people have fed themselves over the centuries and across the world.
Rationale: The arrangement of the chapters, one per page, provide an interesting comparison and contrast between two cultures of the same era, i.e., The Dark Ages, in which the author has included modern Lapps and Inuits, and Middle Eastern Food (the spread of Islam in the 7th and 8th centuries). The text is accessible to upper elementary students, while the drawings will provide plenty of browsing for students of any age. A fascinating look at how people have fed themselves over the centuries and across the world.
Ventura, Piero. Food: Its Evolution through the Ages. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1994. Print.
Annotation: Tracing the history of people and food, particularly in the western world, this book addresses such questions as: How did people learn to hunt and fish? How did the foods of the New World change people’s eating habits? How might genetic engineering resolve the problems of world hunger? In amusing illustrations and clear, concise writing, author and artist Piero Venturo shows how both human inventions and accidents of geography and proximity brought us food. Facts and trivia are highlighted in boxes, while the captions explain the workings of such machines as windmills and factory ships. Ventura has won many awards, including the Society of Illustrator’s Award for Excellence. He has also drawn/written about Houses, Clothing, Communication, Transportation and Technology.
Rationale: The concept of the book celebrates human ingenuity in meeting a basic need. Ventura’s drawings are detailed and his writing is clear and concise. The reading level is for upper elementary/middle school students. Another great book about history and food.
Rationale: The concept of the book celebrates human ingenuity in meeting a basic need. Ventura’s drawings are detailed and his writing is clear and concise. The reading level is for upper elementary/middle school students. Another great book about history and food.
D’Aluisio, Faith. What the World Eats. Berkeley and Toronto: Tricycle Press, 2008. Print.
Annotation: Photographed by Peter Menzel, this is a a fascinating look at families around the world and what they eat. The 25 families allowed the husband-and-wife team into their homes and their kitchens, allowed them to follow them on shopping trips. The resulting interviews and photos provide plenty of “food for thought” about eating, over-consumption, global trends in food production, equity, even animal rights. Interspersed throughout are simple recipes for soup, bread and other regional dishes adapted to the modern American kitchen. Included also are pages of facts such as what one week’s food would cost in each country, with a map and a sidebar of other facts about that country. Interspersed between the chapters on each family are chapters focusing on the variety of kitchens, street food and meals and the encroaching fast-food culture. There are also charts about annual meat consumption and available caloric intake, the world-wide literacy and fertility rates. There are suggestions for further reading, a sources page, and an index.
Rationale: While the reading level is at a high elementary level, and there is a lot of text in this book, the pictures are fascinating and accessible to all readers, as is the over-all concept. Equally interesting are the rooms in which the families are photographed, providing more comparison and contrast with the western lifestyle. All the families are considered middle class and have at least one child of school age. The graphs and charts are simple enough to be grasped by upper elementary students. This is a wonderful book to explore – no need to read every page unless you want to.
Rationale: While the reading level is at a high elementary level, and there is a lot of text in this book, the pictures are fascinating and accessible to all readers, as is the over-all concept. Equally interesting are the rooms in which the families are photographed, providing more comparison and contrast with the western lifestyle. All the families are considered middle class and have at least one child of school age. The graphs and charts are simple enough to be grasped by upper elementary students. This is a wonderful book to explore – no need to read every page unless you want to.
Winget, Mary. Desserts Around the World: Easy Menu Ethnic Cookbooks. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 1991. Print.
Annotation: A collection of recipes from 20 countries, this cookbook will tantalize any reader with a sweet tooth. The introduction gives an overview of the varied ways and times dessert might be served in different regions around the world. Before you begin is a chapter explaining utensils, including special ones for certain cuisines, cooking terms and special ingredients. Each recipe begins with a paragraph to give an idea of when or how the dish might be eaten, such as a holiday. At the end of the book is a chapter on kitchen safety called the Careful Cook. Also included are a metric conversion chart and an Index.
Rationale: While the typeface and simplified, slightly Americanized recipes suggest young readers, this is a cookbook for children old enough to be in the kitchen with little supervision and who read well enough to follow 5-to-10-step instructions. There are photographs of some of the recipes, captioned with simple facts such as that Vienna, Austria is famous for its pastries, but this would not be a read-aloud. This is an interesting read for the advanced elementary reader with a serious sweet tooth.
Rationale: While the typeface and simplified, slightly Americanized recipes suggest young readers, this is a cookbook for children old enough to be in the kitchen with little supervision and who read well enough to follow 5-to-10-step instructions. There are photographs of some of the recipes, captioned with simple facts such as that Vienna, Austria is famous for its pastries, but this would not be a read-aloud. This is an interesting read for the advanced elementary reader with a serious sweet tooth.
Polin, C.J. The Story of Chocolate. London, New York, Munich, Melbourne and Delhi: DKPublishing, Inc., 2005. Print.
Annotation: Beginning with a description of the pods of cacao trees and how they are grown and harvested, this chapter book is divided into six chapters plus a glossary. It traces the history of the cocoa bean from ancient Mesoamerica to modern chocolate factories about the world. The large-print text is set against a background of stylized paintings, photographs and maps. Set off in boxes are facts such as the Quaker-owned chocolate companies in England: Cadbury and Rowntree, and definitions of organic and fair trade.
Rationale: DK Readers have five levels; this book seems to be at their levels 3-4, which are defined as “reading alone” and “proficient readers.” Nonetheless, younger readers might enjoy the pictures and the text is simple enough to read aloud.
Rationale: DK Readers have five levels; this book seems to be at their levels 3-4, which are defined as “reading alone” and “proficient readers.” Nonetheless, younger readers might enjoy the pictures and the text is simple enough to read aloud.
Jones, Carol. From Farm to You: Chocolate. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2002. Print.
Annotation: Everything you ever wanted to know about everybody’s favorite food: chocolate, from its history, to the different types of chocolate, to how it is grown and made into delectable treats. This factual “atlas of chocolate” includes historical-style woodcuts, labels from old-time and modern candy boxes, photographs, diagrams, and maps. The side-bars and –boxes contain intriguing factoids, such as how Hershey Bars became famous. In addition to a several-page description of the process of factory-made chocolate bars, there is a recipe for home-made hot chocolate. A glossary of words highlighted in the text and the index would aid any researcher.
Rationale: While a beginning or pre-reader might enjoy the pictures and diagrams, this is really a book for the intermediate to advanced reader. It is factual and informative, thus useful for writing and presenting reports, or as a good non-fiction read.
Rationale: While a beginning or pre-reader might enjoy the pictures and diagrams, this is really a book for the intermediate to advanced reader. It is factual and informative, thus useful for writing and presenting reports, or as a good non-fiction read.
Dooley, Norah. Everybody Bakes Bread. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, Inc., 1996. Print.
Annotation: Once again Carrie is sent around the neighborhood, this time to find a rolling pin (three-handled, no less!) on a rainy Saturday. As she stops by each neighbor she discovers they are all baking bread according to their family heritage: Barbadian coconut bread, Indian chapatis, South Carolina corn bread, Lebanese pockets, Jewish challah, Salvadoran pupusas, and Carrie’s great-grandmother’s braided Italian bread. There are seven recipes at the end of the book for readers to bake their own international breads.
Rationale: While children will need supervision in the kitchen to make these breads, not all will need help reading this lovely sequel to Everybody Eats Rice. Illustrated by Peter J. Thornton, this is a nice read-aloud for the younger crowd, as well as a good read for the intermediate reader.
Rationale: While children will need supervision in the kitchen to make these breads, not all will need help reading this lovely sequel to Everybody Eats Rice. Illustrated by Peter J. Thornton, this is a nice read-aloud for the younger crowd, as well as a good read for the intermediate reader.
Dooley, Nora. Everybody Cooks Rice. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, Inc., 1991. Print.
Annotation: It’s almost suppertime, and Carrie is sent around her neighborhood to look for her younger brother Anthony. Along the way she tastes what’s cooking at her neighbors’ homes and discovers the many ways rice (and beans) can be cooked: Barbadian, Puerto Rican, Vietnamese, Indian, China, Haitian. Each family has their own special recipe, often handed down in the family, which reflects their heritage, including Carrie’s Italian Risi e Bisi, handed down from her great-grandmother. The end of the book contains nine simple international recipes for readers to cook themselves. This book is part of a four-book series based on the same theme: Everybody Cooks...bread, noodles, soup, and rice.
Rationale: A charming book with a valuable message, this picture book with text at an intermediate reading level would be good as a read-aloud for early elementary as well as older. It is illustrated by Peter J. Thornton in a soft, watercolor style using “an international cast of models,” as he says in the dedication. The repetitive story reinforces the message of commonality and togetherness. Children would need supervision to prepare the recipes, but that’s part of the message – it’s a family activity.
Rationale: A charming book with a valuable message, this picture book with text at an intermediate reading level would be good as a read-aloud for early elementary as well as older. It is illustrated by Peter J. Thornton in a soft, watercolor style using “an international cast of models,” as he says in the dedication. The repetitive story reinforces the message of commonality and togetherness. Children would need supervision to prepare the recipes, but that’s part of the message – it’s a family activity.
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