Poems in the Attic by Nikki Grimes

Grimes, N. (2015). Poems in the attic. NY: Lee & Low Books, Inc.


Appropriate readers age: 6 +


Summary:


While staying with her a grandmother, a 7 year old girl discovers a box of poems written by her mother.  These poems give her an insight to her mother's childhood as an Air force Brat. The left pages of the book have poems written by the 7 year old girl, while the right pages have poems from her mother as a child. This book takes the reader on a journey to different parts of the world where "Mom" experiences many things.  The poems are written in two forms: free verse and tanka.  The book includes information about free verse and tanka as well as the names and locations of Air force bases where the mom would have lived.


Poetry is not a favorite of mine, but this was a decent book.  There is some good figurative language a vocabulary.


2017 Texas Bluebonnet Nominee


Reviews
Kirkus Review
Publishers Weekly


Author's website
http://www.nikkigrimes.com/books/bkpoemsattic.html

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Jamieson, V. (2015). Roller girl. NY: Dial Books.

Suggested age: 9 - 12 year (However, I enjoyed it as an adult).

Life is changing for Astrid.  It's the summer before middle school.  Astrid and her best friend, Nicole seem to be drifting apart; liking different things.  Astrid joins a summer roller derby camp which puts her to the test.  Great graphic novel!!! This book shows the struggles that many pre-teens face with bullies, parents, and discovering who they are or who they want to be. 

 A Newbery Honor book
A New York Times Bestseller
A Spring 2015 Indie Next Pick
A New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of 2015
A New York Public Library Best Book for Reading and Sharing of 2015
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2015
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2015
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2015
A Top 10 Latin@ Book of 2015
A Parents Magazine Best Children's Book of 2015
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2015
A Texas Bluebonnet Award 2016-2017 nominee
A 2016 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers selectionA 2016 YALSA Popular Paperback selection
An ALA Notable Children's Book of 2016
A 2015 Nerdy Book Club Award Winner for Best Graphic Novel

From School Library Journal

Gr 4–8—Twelve-year-old Astrid realizes that her interests are distinctly different from those of her best friend. Mesmerized while viewing a roller derby, she dreams of becoming a "Roller Girl" but discovers that the sport is considerably more daunting than she imagined and is not without physical, social, and emotional pain. Nevertheless, Astrid is determined to succeed. While this graphic novel provides interesting information about the sport, at its heart it is a story of friendship, exploring the tensions which test the girls' relationship as they move from childhood to adolescence. Astrid learns to be honest with herself, her mother, and her friends through a series of stressful events. The graphic novelist employs several excellent visual devices: angles to denote action and effective placement and space within panels. Jamieson's clever use of imagery is noteworthy. For example, desert and prehistoric depictions are used to suggest exaggerated perceptions of elapsed time. Her clothes shopping "hell" sequence is spot-on. Panels with stick figures are employed for comments, notes, and explanations. A prologue effectively frames the story and the realistic style with full-color art is reminiscent of the work of Raina Telgemeier. While at times some panels are a bit text-dense, the story will engage readers who will identify with Astrid as she deals with frustrations and disappointments. It will especially appeal to those whose aspirations fly in the face of convention. Offer this comic to fans of Telgemeier's Smile (Scholastic, 2010) and Laura Lee Gulledge's Page by Paige (Abrams, 2011).—Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY

Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer

Book Review

Singer, M. (2010). Mirror Mirror. NY: Dutton.



Summary
The author skillfully writes poetry that can be read forward or reverse.  When reading the poem forward, the reader experiences the feeling of one character (such as Snow White).  When reading the poem in reverse, the reader experiences a new poem explaining the point of view of another (such as the Evil Step Mother).  Many familiar fairy tales are told through poetry in this manner.



Analysis

This book uses the visual element of composition, which means it combines many of the elements such as line, shape, color, and texture.  The most noticeable is the symmetry and balance.  The illustrator utilizes brilliant colors to display the poems that have been written.  She has divided a picture in half to balance out the opposing views of each poem in the same way the author flips the poems.  I can't say enough about the style of writing that the author uses.  She stays true to the well known fairy tales, and uses palindrome type poetry to do it! 

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach by Deedy

Book Review

Deedy, C.A. (2007).  Martina the beautiful cockroach. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree.



Summary
This Cuban Folktale was awarded the Pura Belpre Honor Award writing 2007.  Martina is looking for a husband now that she is 21 day old.  Her grandmother gives her the shocking advice to spill coffee on each of her suitors.  This trick would allow her to see his temper. This advice helps her to weed out the wrong ones.



Analysis
The illustrator uses the visual element of color to portray the natural beauty of nature.  This bold colors allow reinforce the feelings of the protagonist in the folktale. When evaluating this picture book, the cultural markers were evident.  The Spanish vocabulary used in the book along with the illustrations depicting Cuban items, food, homes, envelops the reader in the Cuban culture.

This could easily be used in the classroom to produce a play, children's theatre, or a puppet show.  The above video is an example of a play performed by a 1st grade class.   

My Teacher is a Monster! by Peter Brown

Book Review of My Teacher is a Monster! by Peter Brown

Brown, P. (2014) My teacher is a monster. NY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.



Summary
   This book is written at a first grade level. However older children will enjoy it as well.  In this humorous story, Bobby thinks his teacher, Miss Kirby, is a big, mean, green, monster.  She yells at students, stomps around the classroom, and is always getting on to Bobby. He runs into her at a park and his perceptions begin to change.



Book Analysis
One visual element to notice while enjoying this selection is the illustrators use of line. The simple lines on each page easily convey the mood of both the teacher and the student. On this page of the story, the diagonal lines of the student chairs show the power in the teacher’s voice as she yells at the students.

While evaluating the picture book, I noticed a theme was present.  There is always more to someone than meets the eye.  Students often assume that their teacher is a specific way all of the time, never realizing that he/she has a life outside of being a teacher.  This book helps open the eyes of students, so they can see that there is another side to a teacher.

This is Not by Hat by Jon Klassen

Book Review

Klassen, J. (2012).  This is not my hat. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press.



Summary
This book is a 2013 winner of the Caldecott Medal. A little fish thinks it is okay to steal a hat from a much larger, sleeping fish.  He justifies his actions as he quickly swims away. The illustrations tell  the story as the larger fish wakes up and follows the hat thief.
 
Analysis
This story uses visual element of line.  Each picture has a clear line.  The black background allows each shape to stand out.  The plants in the illustration display movement of the water with the direction they are leaning.  Throughout the story, the small fish is trying to defend his actions.  He is unaware of the impending doom following him. The book lends itself to the theme that stealing is not okay.

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

Book Review

 

 

Munsch, R. (2012). The paper bag princess. NY: Annick Press.



Summary
Elizabeth was a princess who had everything.  One day a fierce dragon came and destroyed her castle and took her prince.  She dresses in a paper bag (the only thing left that wasn't burnt), and sets off to save her prince.  Using her wit she tricks the dragon, saves the prince, and finds out he wasn't who she thought he was.



Analysis
Color plays an important visual role in this book.  It conveys the feelings of the heroine and the heat and power of the dragon.  The strongest attribute this story contains is a strong female character.  Children are drawn to this character due to her bravery, her wit, and her resolve.  She realizes that she doesn't need to marry this prince,  In the end, she skips away in her brown paper bag happy with who she is. 



Ideas for Activities
http://byheartbooks.com/recommendations/paper-bag-princess-activities/

http://www.brighthubeducation.com/lesson-plans-grades-1-2/66704-the-paper-bag-princess-lesson-plan/

http://www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/princessandfrog/mprincessbag.htm