Summary
Gus herds his people like sheep. Abby loves borrowing slippers. And once, Mr. Beefy ate a pie. It's a dog's life. Filled with squeaky toys, mischief, and plenty of naps. Every dog has a tail to wag and a tale to tell. Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest asked this collection of canines to speak up with their own words, barks, and yips.
Reviews
PreS-Gr 3-Free-verse poems about 14 individual dogs sprawl across oversize spreads accompanied by large oil illustrations. The poems and paintings together delightfully capture each distinct personality in few words and with broad strokes of the brush. The fonts change often and reflect the poet's words-rising and falling, sometimes in bold type, growing larger and smaller and dancing over the pages. The format allows for plenty of white space, emphasizing the postures and personalities of the pups and helping the playful fonts to stand out. The overall result is an entertaining visit with some very appealing canines, and a book that perhaps could serve as an inspiration in the classroom for young poets trying to describe their own pets. One wishes that the breeds were listed somewhere, but all in all, this title is still a real treat.-Judith Constantinides
An appealing cover image of a charming pug invites the reader into this ode to canine companions by the mother-and-daughter team. Fourteen short, non-rhyming poems introduce a variety of highly individualistic dogs, with the personality of each one captured in just a few revealing lines. The poems are written in first person with an innocent viewpoint appropriate to a dog's egocentric perspective on the world. Abby "borrows" bones, balls and slippers (and doesn't give them back); Mr. Beefy the pug steals butter (or even a cherry pie) from the table; and Lucy, adopted from a shelter, sleeps between her owners with her own pillow and teddy bear. Schneider's expressive paintings add to each dog's character, skillfully capturing distinctive breed characteristics, with expressive eyes and playful postures that indicate thorough knowledge of canine behavior. Thoughtful design elements include a trail of paw prints leading from the cover through the front matter into the text, varying type treatments and a mixture of illustration perspectives. (Poetry. 4-9) - Kirkus Reviews
And so...
This book is filled with colorful drawings of dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes. Each spread has a title, not necessarily the name of the dog but definitely related to the dog or dogs pictured. Each poem is printed very sytlistically the words flying across pages, stair stepping, or curving. Some of the words are even separated letter by letter. This makes it that much more interesting to many young readers, who have not yet begun to "play" with their words.
Use this book for...
This book is a great way to introduce poetry, the 800 section of the library, writing stylistically, or to discover voice of a writer.
References
MacLachlan, Patricia. Once I Ate a Pie. New York : Joanna Cotler Books, 2006.
Summary retrieved from Syndetic Solutions, Inc., Richardson Public Library Online Catalog, August 8, 2011.
Constantinides, Judith. School Library Journal, May2006, Vol. 52 Issue 5, p114-115, 2p
Kirkus Reviews, 5/1/2006, Vol. 74 Issue 9, p462-462, 1/4p
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1313N75D86W62.132221&profile=rpl&uri=link=3100007~!289428~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=Once+I+ate+a+pie+%2F&index=PALLTI#focus
Verse Novel - Crossing Stones
Summary
In their own voices, four young people, Muriel, Frank, Emma, and Ollie, tell of their experiences during the first World War, as the boys enlist and are sent overseas, Emma finishes school, and Muriel fights for peace and women's suffrage.
Reviews
Gr 6-10-The children of the Norman and Jorgensen families have grown up together, with their family farms located on either side of Crabapple Creek. In 1917, the outbreak of World War I shatters their idyllic lives: strong-willed Muriel opposes it, but the two young men, Frank and her brother, Ollie, enlist and are soon sent overseas. Muriel's lively personality comes alive in free-verse poems that roam across the page like the free-flowing waters of the creek. "My mind sets off at a gallop/down that twisty road, flashes by 'Young Lady,'/hears the accusation in it-as if it's/a crime just being young, and 'lady'/is what anyone can see I'll never be/.." The poems of Ollie and friend Emma are written in "cupped-hand" sonnets; their rounded shapes resemble the crossing stones of the creek and record their growing love. While the young men find themselves amidst the horrors of trench warfare, their families attempt to cope with their absence. Muriel travels to Washington, DC, to be with her aunt Vera, a suffragist who is recovering from a hunger strike; joins picketers at the White House; and helps out in a settlement house. Back home, youngest sister Grace comes down with influenza. Frost's warmly sentimental novel covers a lot of political, social, and geographical ground, and some of the supporting characters are not fully fleshed out. But this is Muriel's story, and her determined personality and independence will resonate with readers, especially those who've enjoyed the works of Karen Hesse. - Marilyn Taniguchi
Gr 6-10--This gripping story (Farrar, Straus, 2009) by Helen Frost about two neighboring families during the Great War relates personal perspectives on the war, the struggle for women's suffrage in the U.S., the Spanish flu, and the day-to-day hardships of a small farming community in Minnesota in 1918. A son from each of the two families enlisted to fight the war in Europe, and one was killed and the other was maimed. The main character, Muriel, is against the war, but has learned to moderate her opinion to keep peace in her home and with her neighbors. When Muriel's Aunt Vera takes part in a hunger strike in support of women's suffrage, the girl is sent to bring Vera back home. However, instead of returning home, Vera introduces her niece to suffragettes and the art of demonstration. Muriel, who has been wondering what to do with her life after graduating from school, finds purpose in speaking her mind and teaching children in the slums. Unlike the facts and figures memorized for history class, this story brings the people and the issues to life. The heartfelt personal narratives related by four voice actors involve listeners from the very beginning of the book. This is historical fiction at it best. - Ann Weber
And so...
This book is written for the experienced reader. It is seemingly short, divided into months and told by three of the four main characters in verse form. There are patterns within patterns in the verse, as each character shares whats in their minds and hearts as the world they knew changes during World War I. The switching of differing viewpoints throughout the story, and the way they all intertwine together, will be difficult for some readers.
Use this book to...
This book would be a great companion to a history study of World War I, looking deeper into how all the battles and strategies that are normally studied effected the every day lives of people not on the battlefield.
References
Frost, Helen. Crossing Stones. New York : Frances Foster Books, 2009.
Summary retrieved from Richardson Public Library Online Catalog, August 8, 2011.
Taniguchi, Marilyn. School Library Journal, Oct2009, Vol. 55 Issue 10, p126-126, 1/5p
Weber, Ann. School Library Journal, Nov2010, Vol. 56 Issue 11, p56-57, 2p,
Photograph retrieved from http://hip.cor.gov/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1313177D24T5B.132760&profile=rpl&uri=link=3100007~!398101~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=subtab35&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=Crossing+stones+%2F&index=PALLTI#focus
No comments:
Post a Comment