Reese's Review of What Can You Do With A Rebozo?

Pura Belparé Honor Book

                Bright colors, full of movement, and happy poetry….so what is not to love about this book?   Carmen Tafolla captures well the spirit and love of all generations in this family for the rebozo (scarf). From its utilitarian uses (blanket, carrying a baby, shawl, cleaning) to its entertainment value (peek a boo, blindfold, tunnel, sash, cape, slide), the rebozo is cherished by all.  Of course, the young Mexican, American girl’s favorite use is when it is used to dance! Being from San Antonio, as is the author, I have noticed these rebozos which are treasured and worn by friends, but I had never considered their cultural history.  This book gave me a brief look into the generational importance of them, and the next time I see one I know it will bring smile to my face as I remember this book and the vibrant illustrations which so captured the rebozo.

Tafolla, C. (2008). What can you do with a rebozo? Berkeley: Tricycle Press.

Reese’s Review of We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

Coretta Scott King Award Winner

Robert F. Sibert Medal

                Baseball is my all-time favorite sport. I grew up hearing about famous baseball players, and even after I married family members would tell stories of watching Satchel Paige pitch.  I knew about the Negro Leagues, but I didn’t really know the whole story.  This book was the opportunity I had never had to understand the historical background of the time before the leagues integrated.  Kadir Nelson uses a first person point of view (though it isn’t his own) to narrate the story through all nine innings and into extra innings (innings are equated to chapters in the book).  Throughout the “game”, Nelson has interspersed oil paintings based on the game with as much historical detail as he could find.  Double page spreads throughout draw the reader onto the field and directly into the game (I now can imagine what it must have been like to have a field view of Satchel Paige pitching to the mighty Josh Gibson.) There is even one double page spread of a ticket from the First Colored World Series which folds out full on each page to reveal a picture of both teams and owners in the series. However, Nelson’s talent isn’t in the illustrations alone. His writing highlights the effects the Negro Leagues had on the game from the inception of safety equipment (both catching gear and batting helmets were invented here) to the increased game pace which drew in the crowds.  I can’t wait to share this book with my students; it is a book with I anticipate will stay checked out this upcoming year!

Nelson, K. (2008). We are the ship: the story of negro league baseball. New York: Hyperion.

Reese’s Review of Book Fiesta! Celebrate Children’s Day/Book day – Celebremos el día de los niῆos / El día de los libros

Pura Belpré Award

                I couldn’t resist the cover of this book.  After all, I love books and am from San Antonio (where Fiesta is a major holiday!) This book brought together two of my passions (even though the Fiesta is this book is just a different celebration).  Even the end sheets in this book are colorful and eye catching.  The front ones show children awakening to a sunny day after having fallen asleep with their books, while the back end sheets show children reading on cloud while the moon looks on with a smile. I loved the idea a day celebrating all that books bring us, and I especially loved that the book was bilingual which adds to its appeal.  The illustrations made me happy dressed in their bright colors and vibrant pictures.  Everyone reads here; everyone enjoys and cherishes the opportunity to grab another story.  I grew up in  family where stories were shared, and the love of reading was nurtured. This book celebrates that joy and shows it’s not simply a trait of one cultural background.

Mora, P. (2009). Book fiesta! Celebrate Children’s Day/book day – Celebremos el día de los niῆos / El día de los libros. New York: Harper Collins.

Reese's Review of Twilight

New York Time Bestseller’s List

                It seems that every female student who walked in my eighth grade classroom in the last few years has read or is reading Twilight.  Though it has been much acclaimed by both my students and my daughter, I have fought the need to read it until now because I quite simply had no desire to spend time reading about vampires. But now I understand.  Stephanie Meyer doesn’t just write about vampires, instead the story is the dark forbidden romance where Bella’s internal conflict between her heart’s desires reigns supreme. Though she suspects (and later confirms) Edward’s true identity, she is still drawn to him despite the warnings of others about possible danger to herself. Bella embodies the fears of every teenager when moved to a new community and tries desperately to fit in, but she also shows the strength of learning to judge people for herself without depending solely on the opinions of others. In my own life, this last idea of judging people without depending on the opinions of others is the ideal that I most relate to, especially since I work in a school where there is a very high mobility rate.  Often students and even adults have difficulty learning who and what to listen to as we try to blend into new communities.  To me, walking through Bella’s struggle with her in this way makes this a worthwhile read.

Meyer, S. (2005). Twilight. New York: Little, Brown, and Company.

Reese's Review of Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village

John Newbery Medal

                Written as a collection of monologues (with a few dialogues) from characters within a medieval village, this book offers unique perspectives and glimpses into the lives of those in that time period.  I loved the fact that I was able to see into the lives of those from differing lifestyles, and I enjoyed the brief, periodic background essays which added to my understanding.  Several key features of this book drew me in such as in the beginning where I could search the map to find each character within the overview of the village and the side notes on each monologue which footnoted information important for my understanding.  I found myself reminded of how the human condition (self-awareness, jealousy, love of parent, conflict, class systems) is more similar today to that of medieval times that one might at first assume. I look forward to sharing this unique collection of viewpoints with others in the future and to sitting back down with a cup of tea or two to enjoy it again.

Schlitz, L.A. (2007). Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village.

           Cambridge: Candlewick Press.

Reese's Review of Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave

Coretta Scott King Award Winner

Caldecott Honor Book

                Beauty of artistry, beauty of words, and beauty of theme all are traits which place this book in my favorites list.  From the moment I laid eyes on the cover and the intense look of concentration on the face of Dave the Potter as he worked the clay pot, I fell for this book.  Detail after artistic detail - pages which have a worn scrapbook-like edging, dark earth-toned paintings, images which glimpse the slave life – draws the reader into the poetic story and adds depth to the already moving story. I was surprised by the foldout in the idle of the book and almost missed it as it blended in so well.  I am glad I didn’t, or I would have missed the beauty of the change from lump of clay to full fledge pot.  The subtle symbolism of the story comes through in both words and illustrations.  The addition of the background history of Dave the Potter with the inclusion of some of his verses along with the story of how the book was conceived appealed to me.  I have always enjoyed art and particularly pottery.  The book reawakened an itch to spend time throwing a pot on a wheel soon.

Hill, L. C. (2010). Dave the potter: artist, poet, slave. New York: Little, Brown, and Company.

Reese's Review of Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery

Newbery Honor Book

ALA Notable Book

                Russell Freedman set out to write nonfiction books written in a way that he would want to read them.  He was successful in his juvenile biography about Eleanor Roosevelt. Peppered with with black and white photos throughout as well as a photo album in the back of book, Freedman brings to life the verve for life which characterized Mrs. Roosevelt.  While the pictures and their captions further the reader’s background knowledge and understanding of her life, her quotes which begin each chapter (except the first) help to characterize her in the reader’s mind.   The author has provided a section which lists books by and about Eleanor Roosevelt’s life and included an index which is thorough.  Eleanor’s strength and determination reminded me of how far women in our society have come, as well as the power women wielded quietly in the past masked behind the guise of male politicians and husbands.  Several of Eleanor’s quotes caught my attention and reminded me of my own life; one in particular spoke to me: “I imagine every mother felt as I did when I said good-bye to [my sons] during the war.  I had a feeling that I might be saying good-bye for the last time.” Perhaps it is my the fact that I am married to a soldier or that I am now the mother of a soldier, but that quote was enough to bring tears to my eyes and wish that she was someone that I had known personally.

Freedman, R. (1993). Eleanor Roosevelt: a life of discovery. New York: Clarion Books.