Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activites, & Recipes

Bibliography

Simonds, Nina and Leslie Swartz. 2002. MOONBEAMS, DUMPLINGS & DRAGON BOATS: A TREASURY OF CHINESE HOLIDAY TALES, ACTIVITIES & RECIPES. Ill. By Meilo So. San Diego: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 0152019839

Plot Summary

Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats is a collection of traditional Chinese holidays that are celebrated throughout the year. Authors Nina Simonds and Leslie Swartz with the help of The Children’s Museum in Boston, highlight five Chinese Festivals including: Chinese New Year, The Lantern Festival, Qing Ming and the Cold Foods Festival, The Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. Each Festival includes rich history behind the tradition, a traditional story, scrumptious recipes that are significant to that festival, and activities and games that are enjoyed by all.

Critical Analysis

The vibrantly watercolored illustrations of fireworks, animals of the Chinese Zodiac, dragons, lanterns, kites and Chinese calligraphy give visual appeal to this collection of Festivals. To spotlight each of the Festivals, a two-page watercolored illustration displays the importance of the Festival. Both the English and Chinese writing are included on each page, and a guide to the Chinese pronunciation follows the final Festival.

Simonds and Swartz have successfully tied this collection of Festivals into a wonderful masterpiece. Each Festival begins with the history of how it originated. The Dragon Boat Festival, or "double fifth," has been celebrated in China since ancient times. In fact, this celebration of racing colorful dragon boats has become so popular that the sport in now international. However, this particular celebration in China was used to remember a famous poet, Qu Yuan. Following this history is a tale of Qu Yuan. "On the anniversary of Qu Yuan's death, which became known as the Dragon Boat Festival, all the people of China make rice packages called zongzi to honor the memory of their beloved poet Qu Yuan." The recipes and crafts that follow are given step by step directions and include a brief history of why each is significant to that Festival. This collection of Festivals is wonderfully put together.

This book would be a wonderful compliment when learning about customs and traditions from around the world. The history and traditional stories are sure to be a hit. Kids will love making the crafts that go along with each festival; however the recipes may be too much for a classroom to create.

Reviews

Kirkus starred review: “Whether readers are preparing New Year Dumplings or Crisp-Cooked Vegetarian Noodles or learning about the Chinese Zodiac and Racing Dragons (boats), making shadow puppets or paper lanterns, they will gain an appreciation for the beautiful traditions in this culture's history.”

Connections

Stepanchuk, Carol. RED EGGS AND DRAGON BOATS: CELEBRATING CHINESE FESTIVALS. ISBN 1881896080

Moey, S. C. CHINESE FEAST & FESTIVALS: A COOKBOOK. ISBN 0794603173

Strega Nona

Bibliography

De Paola, Tomie. Retold. 1975. STREGA NONA: AN OLD TALE. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0671666061

Plot Summary

In a town named Calabria, lived an old lady named Stega Nona. She was known for her magical touch and cures. As Strega Nona got older, she was unable to do the chores around her house. She hired a boy named Big Anthony who worked very hard for her until one day he noticed her singing a spell over her magic pasta pot. When he went to tell the townspeople what he had seen, they all laughed at him and told him, "You'd better go and confess to the priest, Big Anthony." "Such a lie!" This of course made Big Anthony angry and wanted to prove them wrong.

Two days later Strega Nona left her house to go visit a friend and left Big Anthony in charge. Strega Nona told Big Anthony to "sweep the house and weed the garden." "And remember, don't touch the pasta pot." Soon after she left, Big Anthony quickly sang the song he had remembered Strega Nona sang when she made the pasta appear in the pot. When the pasta began to boil, he anxiously ran to the townspeople to prove them all wrong. All of them hurried over with their forks and plates and filled them full of pasta. When everyone had their share of pasta, Big Anthony sang the magic song he had heard Strega Nona sing, "But, alas, he did not blow the three kisses!" Big Anthony could not get the pasta pot to stop and it began to spill into the town. In the end, Strega Nona saves the town and gives Big Anthony the ultimate punishment of eating every piece of pasta.

Critical Analysis

Tomie De Paola does an excellent job recreating the old Italian tale of The Porridge Pot story. His use of a wise woman, a mischievous young boy, and a bit of magic set back "a long time ago" make this a classic folk tale eager to please its readers. In this particular story, a magical song is repeated each time Strega Nona begins to make her pasta. While Big Anthony secretly watches Strega Nona sing her magical song, he does not realize that she blows three kisses to make the pasta pot stop. This unfortunately gets Big Anthony into a lot of trouble, and in the end Big Anthony is punished for his mischief.

The wonderfully water colored pictures of tiled rooftops and the town square are a reflection of what life was like in old Italy. His simple sketches of each of the characters are easy to read and full of life. Each page is uniquely used, and the illustrations alone could tell the story. Tomie de Paola is known for the similar character sketches and the use of white doves and peacocks that are incorporated throughout his books. Strega Nona stays true to this theme.

Reviews

Caldecott Honor-1976

A kid’s review: “I think this book is really good because it is used with a lot of imaginary. I like how that book has scenes in boxes because it has order in how you are going to read it.”

Connections

To follow up this story, students could find additional information about Tomie De Paola and the story behind Strega Nona.

http://www.tomie.com/books/spotlight_on.html

Additional books by this author include:

De Paola, Tomie. STREGA NONA: HER STORY. ISBN 0399228187
De Paola, Tomie. STREGA NONA MEETS HER MATCH. ISBN 0698114116
De Paola, Tomie. STREGA NONA’S MAGIC LESSON. ISBN 0152817859De Paola, Tomie. STREGA NONA TAKES A VACATION. ISBN 0152817859

Cindy Ellen

Bibliography

Lowell, Susan. 2000. CINDY ELEN: A WILD WESTERN CINDERELLA. Ill. By Jane Manning. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 0060274476

Plot Summary

CINDY ELLEN is a retelling of a traditional Cinderella fairy tale. In this version, a sweet cowgirl from a ranch in Mississippi is picked on by her stepmother, "the orneriest women who was meaner than a rattlesnake" and her two stepsisters that were just like her. Because Cindy was such a good cowgirl and made her stepsisters look bad, her stepmother made her do all of the work around the ranch.

"Then one day the biggest cattle king for miles around invited all his neighbors to a two-day celebration." When the two stepsisters are invited to the celebration that includes a rodeo and square dance, Cindy soon finds out that she is not welcomed. But as soon as the two stepsisters are off to the Western fandango, BING...BANG Cindy Ellen’s fairy godmother appears "with a golden pistol still smoking in her hand." First she tells Cindy that she needs some gumption and then magically changes her rags into "the finest riding clothes west of the East."

Cindy soon arrives at the rodeo on her silver horse. After winning the rodeo and dancing with Joe Prince, Cindy runs off as the clock strikes twelve leaving a diamond spur behind in the dust. Joe Prince was so lovelorn that he searched all through the territory and "vowed to marry the horsewoman whose boot fitted the little diamond spur." After trying it on many boots, Joe Prince fits Cindy Ellen with the diamond spur and WHINGO...WHANGO...KA-ZING, Cindy Ellen's fairy godmother appears. She turns Cindy's clothes from cotton to satin and soon they get hitched and live happily ever after.

Critical Analysis

This hilarious western version of Cinderella gives the reader a sense of what life is like for a young cowgirl. Lowell's use of western dilact like "pretty is as pretty does", "Let 'er rip", "Yee haw", and "do -si-do" can only be read with a southern drawl, and the use of spurs, boots, and belt buckles gives this story western flare. Lowell also gives this version a bit of a twist when the fairy godmother tells Cindy Ellen that she needs some gumption. With this new added confidence, Cindy goes out and shows her stuff at the rodeo giving "Joe Prince a big daredevil grin” and even beats him in the horse race. For an added bonus, Lowell adds a piece at the end of the book that explains what the word rodeo means and how cowgirls became part of the rodeo scene.

Manning does a wonderful job capturing the feelings of each of the characters through her illustrations. It is exciting to see Cindy Ellen change from a timid girl to a girl with gumption. From the first page to the last, Manning uses bright colors to give visual appeal to the story. Desert life is uniquely displayed with cactus, jack rabbits, and horned toads. The colorful pictures help move the story along, while the glittery dust from the fairy godmother seems magical.

Review Excerpts

Kirkus review: "Bright, stylish.... Manning tricks out her characters in dazzling modern cowboy dress."

Connections

This story could be used along with many other Cinderella versions as a part of a fairy tale unit. The teacher could begin by reading the original Cinderella along with making a list of what they know about the story. Read several different versions from around the world to compare. The class can keep a list of similarities and differences between the versions.

Ketteman, Helen. BUBBA THE COWBOY PRINCE. ISBN 0590255061
De Paola, Tomie. ADELITA: A MEXICAN CINDERELLA STORY ISBN 0399238662
De La Paz, Myrna J. ABADEHA: THE PHILIPPINE CINDERELLA ISBN 1885008171
San Souci, Robert D. CENDRILLON: A CARIBBEAN CINDERELLA ISBN 0689848889
Minters, Frances. CINDER-ELLY ISBN 0140561269

SO YOU WANT TO BE PRESIDENT?

Bibliography

St. George, Judith. 2000. SO YOU WANT TO BE PRESIDENT? Ill. By David Small. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN 0399234071

Plot Summary

In this creative picture book, Judith St. George describes interesting and humorous facts about our past presidents of the United States in a light-hearted way.

Critical Analysis

This clever approach to sharing facts about past presidents keeps the reader completely engaged. St. George describes the age, hobbies, number of siblings, musical abilities, height and weight, pets, education, past jobs, and character traits of past presidents using humor. At the back of the book is a "Featured in Illustrations" page identifying all presidents illustrated throughout the book and a quick bio of each of the presidents.

David Small creates humorous and lively character sketches that closely resemble the presidents. Small’s captivating illustrations portray the presidents in action leaving the reader with memorable images.

Review Excerpts

2001-2002 Bluebonnet Nominee

2001 Caldecott Winner

Booklist: “Thoughtful composition and layout both contribute to the lively visual presentation of this most original look at the presidency. The light tone of the book makes it possible for readers to absorb a great deal of information, some of it silly, but underlying the treatment is a sense of the significance and dignity of the office and the faith that children still aspire to be president.”

School Library Journal: “Curious tidbits of personal information and national history combine with humorously drawn caricatures to give this tongue-in-cheek picture book a quirky appeal.”

Connections

This book would be a wonderful introduction to a study of past presidents.

Buller, Jon, Susan Schade, and Jill Weber. Smart About the Presidents ISBN 0448433729

Bausum, Ann. Our Country’s Presidents: Completely Revised and Expanded ISBN 0792293290

MOSES: WHEN HARRIET TUBMAN LED HER PEOPLE TO FREEDOM

Bibliography

Weatherford, Carole Boston. 2006. MOSES. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York: Jump at the Sun. ISBN 0786851759

Plot Summary

Moses is a beautifully illustrated story of the journey Harriet Tubman took as she escaped from slavery and traveled through the Underground Railroad to freedom. After her initial trip, Harriet returns nineteen more times to free over three hundred slaves.

Critical Analysis

This historically accurate account of Harriet Tubman’s journey up north to Philadelphia is both inspirational and breathe taking. After hearing Gods word to escape, Harriet sets out north leaving her family behind. Harriet must face many obstacles along the way, but eventually finds freedom.

The author does a beautiful job describing the conversations that Harriet has with God as she struggles to escape. Throughout the story, Harriet leans on God asking for strength. Font choice is nicely used to show the reader the prayers from Harriet in italics and God’s answers in bold.

Nelson‘s colors selected in the artwork portray the struggles that Harriet goes through along the way, and the detailed images on Harriet’s face display the emotions that she went through during her escape.

Review Excerpts

Corretta Scott King Award-Winner 2007

Caldecott Honor-2007

A New York Times Bestseller

NAACP Image Award

School Library Journal’s starred review: “Tubman's religious faith drives this handsome, poetic account of her escape to freedom and role in the Underground Railroad. The words and pictures create a potent sense of the harsh life of slavery, the fearsome escape, and one woman's unwavering belief in God.”

Booklist: “Weatherford's handsome picture book about Harriet Tubman focuses mostly on Tubman's religious inspiration, with echoes of spirituals ringing throughout the spare poetry about her struggle ("Lord, don't let nobody turn me 'round").”

Connections

After reading several books about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, students could write a diary entry from one day on her journey. Students could also write and present a readers theater of the Underground Railroad.

Levine, Ellen and Larry Johnson. If You Traveled on the Underground Railroad ISBN 0590451561

Bial, Raymond. The Underground Railroad ISBN 0395979153

Ringgold, Faith. Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky ISBN 0517885433

TALKING WITH ARTISTS: VOLUME 1

Bibliography

Cummings, Pat. 1992. TALKING WITH ARTISTS. Vol.1. by Pat Cummings. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. ISBN 0027242455

Plot Summary

In Pat Cummings, Talking with Artists, Cummings shares stories of fourteen different picture book artists including: Victoria Chess, Leo and Diane Dillon, Richard Egielski, Lois Ehlert, Lisa Campbell Ernst, Tom Feelings, Steven Kellogg, Jerry Pinkney, Amy Schwartz, Lane Smith, Chris Van Allsburg, and David Wiesner. Each artists shares a little about their childhood and how they got started. Following each story is eight questions that are most frequently asked by students.

Critical Analysis

The reader is taken through fourteen different interviews of influential artists. Some of the questions asked include: where they get their ideas, what a normal day is like, what do they enjoy drawing the most, what they use to create their pictures, and how they got their first job. The format is easy to read and full of interesting tidbits of information.

The illustrations of each artist from when they were a child and artwork from the present are sure to grab the reader’s attention. Along with each illustration is a quote by the artist, age of the artwork, and type of media or technique used. Children from all ages will enjoy seeing how the artwork from a young child grew into timeless master pieces.

Review Excerpts

Boston Globe-Horn Book Award

School Library Journal: “Young artists will learn a lot; teachers and other children will also love it. Well designed and well conceived, this book will be welcomed in all those classrooms in which children's literature has become central to the curriculum.”

Connections

For the aspiring artist or children that just love to draw, this book shares how many artist got their start in the business. Students are encouraged by the artist to continue to draw for the love it. After reading the first of the series, students could investigate other artist they connect with from additional books by this author.

TALKING WITH ARTIST, VOLUME 2: ISBN 0689803109

TALKING WITH ARTIST, VOLUME 3: ISBN 0395891329

Kristen's Book Reviews

Welcome to my blog. This blog was created for posting book reviews in Literature for Children and Young Adults. There will be six different genres to be reviewed: picture books, traditional literature, poetry, nonfiction, historical fiction/biography, and fiction, fantasy, and young adult literature.