Review: WHAT'S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING YOU KNOW ABOUT HORSES? by Richard Van Camp

Van Camp, Richard. 1998. What’s the most beautiful thing you know about horses? Ill. by George Littlechild. San Francisco: Children’s Book Press. ISBN 0892391545.

PLOT SUMMARY:
In this colorfully illustrated picture book, the young narrator spends a freezing cold day quizzing his family and friends on what they think is the most beautiful thing about horses.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
The unsophisticated wonderings of the text created by Van Camp is paired nicely with the childlike illustrations by Littlechild. The narrator cheerfully explains why he is very familiar and comfortable with dogs, but finds horses to be a completely foreign and unknown creature. Although the illustrations never depict the narrator, the excitement of the text enables the reader to easily imagine the energetic, inquisitive child hounding his (or her) family with questions. What the vibrantly colored illustrations accomplish is to show the reader what the narrator envisions while pondering the mysterious horses.

Several cultural markers which lend a sense of authenticity can be found in this book. A few words in the Cree and Dogrib languages make their way into the story. The narrator notes that in both languages, the words for “horse” translate to “big dog.” One interesting cultural aspect of the book is found in the introduction when the narrator states, “I am half Indian and I am half white. The good news about all this is I could be the cowboy or the Indian when we used to play Guns.” The accompanying illustration depicts a man split in half as a cowboy and an Indian. It makes one wonder if he would have felt restricted to only playing the Indian if he was not half-white and vice versa.

REVIEWS:
School Library Journal: “The author engages in a remarkable free flow of musings, questions, and answers. His startling narrative style, lively pace, offbeat sense of humor, and refreshing stance give readers a lot to think about… In Littlechild's vibrant, surrealistic illustrations, horses vibrate and prance off the pages, dogs bay or lounge at the center of attention, and distorted figures eye readers. Brash, bold hues enliven the special aspects of each figure, while narrow bands of color along one side contrast with the central image.

CONNECTIONS:
The colorful illustrations and lighthearted text would make this a good choice to include in a preschool story time, especially when paired with other horse-themed books.

Review: RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Smith, Cynthia Leitich. 2001. Rain is not my Indian name. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0688173977.

PLOT SUMMARY:
After years of friendship, fourteen-year-old Rain Berghoff decides that she has developed romantic feelings for her best friend, Galen. Tragically, on the same night that Rain discovers that Galen reciprocates her feelings, he is killed in an accident. Months later, Rain has cut herself off her friends and struggles to accept the loss of her friend. Despite her family’s urging, she refuses to take part in the Indian Camp run by her Aunt Georgia. However, by accepting the job of photographing the camp for the local newspaper, she finds herself becoming involved in the camp and joining in the fight to keep it’s funding. Gradually, Rain also comes to terms with Galen’s death and allows herself to rejoin life.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
In this book, Leitich offers a realistic portrayal of a grieving teenage girl who happens to be part American Indian. Although the focus of the story remains the process of recovering from the loss of her best friend and first love, the author also emphasizes how Rain’s heritage influences her life. Her heritage is brought to attention most obviously by her interaction with her aunt’s Indian Camp, but also through Rain’s commentary on her life. She describes the questions she frequently intercepts about her mixed heritage: “How much Indian are you?” She observes the difference it makes when those questions are asked by other Native people “because they show respect for the tribal affiliation, for [her] family.”

The mention of Rain’s American Indian heritage never appears to be forced into the text. The reader is not made to feel like he or she is being taught about Native American culture. Instead, the reader learns about what life is like for this one girl.

REVIEWS:
School Library Journal: “There is a surprising amount of humor in this tender novel. It is one of the best portrayals around of kids whose heritage is mixed but still very important in their lives.”

CONNECTIONS:
Students who enjoyed the multicultural perspective presented in this book, may also enjoy reading these other contemporary novels:
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Indian Shoes by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Between the Deep Blue Sea and Me by Lurline Wailana McGregor

Review: CANTO FAMILIAR by Gary Soto

Soto. Gary. 1995. Canto Familiar. Ill. by Annika Nelson. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Company. ISBN 0152000674.

PLOT SUMMARY:
In this collection of free-verse poems, Gary Soto describes everyday situations from Mexican-American (or sometimes just plain American) life. Brightly colored woodblock print illustrations by Annika Nelson accompany several poems throughout the book.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
In Canto Familiar, Soto light-heartedly captures the simple emotions and sensations of daily life. The tone is immediately set in the first poem, “Papi’s Menudo.” Although my own father’s menudo-eating was usually limited to restaurants, rather than our home, I was filled with a sense of nostalgia by phrases like: “He sprinkles his menudo with onion and rubs oregano between his lucky palms.”

While many of the poems focus on themes of Mexican-American life, some describe situations that nearly any child could relate to. In “Winter Cold,” a girl toughs out chilly weather, puddles, and a cold so that she can join the other girls in class in beating the boys in a geography competition. Kids (and adults) can empathize with the girl’s steely determination to win.

Although Soto uses Spanish language sporadically throughout the book, he does not provide translations, even in the form of a glossary. Most of the words would be easy for non-Spanish speakers to understand (ex. bebé), but some may provide more of a challenge (“Las estrellas danzan en mis paredes”).

Nelson’s illustrations are scattered throughout the book. Although the bright images do help to break up the text, they don’t add much expression to the poems. I’ll admit, however, that this opinion is probably influenced by my dislike of block printing. Also, the color illustrations found in the hardback edition of the book is preferable to the black and white illustrations of the newer paperback edition.

REVIEWS:
School Library Journal: “Who could imagine that such joyous rhythm could be found in the familiar moments of life, such as washing dishes or spotting a teacher in the market? In this companion volume to Neighborhood Odes (Harcourt, 1992), Soto not only imagines the musical beat, but also captures the energy and transposes it into poetic songs.”

CONNECTIONS:
Kids who enjoy Canto Familiar should also try the companion book by Gary Soto, Neighborhood Odes.

Review: YUM! MMMM! ¡QUE RICO! by Pat Mora

Mora, Pat. 2007. Yum! MmMm! ¡Qué rico! America’s sproutings. Ill. By Raphael López. New York: Lee & Low Books. ISBN 9781584302711.

PLOT SUMMARY:
Pat Mora uses haiku to describe foods native to America. Each haiku is accompanied by vibrant illustrations and a short description of each food.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
This book seems to have a perfect balance of information, charm, and fun. Although this form of poetry usually brings back unpleasant memories of 7th grade English class, in this instance, I found Mora’s haiku to be both amusing and beautiful. The imagery of the haiku is skillfully matched by López’s acrylic illustrations. The lively paintings exactly match the sights, sounds, and smells described in the haiku. I was amazed at how López was able to depict the simple joy of a rich piece of chocolate (“Fudge, cake, pie, cookies. Brown magic melts on your tongue. Happy, your eyes dance.”)

Most, although not all, of the foods depicted were originally found in South or Central America. Mora emphasized Latino culture by incorporating some Spanish words in a few poems, as well as in the title. The translations of these few words are provided on the t.p. verso page. The illustrations represent the variety of physical characteristics of Latinos. Some are fair, some are dark. A variety of settings is also shown, depending on the origins of the food being described.

REVIEWS:
Student Library Journal: “The sense of whimsy is further underscored in López's colorful acrylic on wood-panel illustrations. Artful compositions and brilliant complementary colors bear out the book's multicultural themes.”

CONNECTIONS:

Pair this book with other “food” themed books for storytime. Some book options are The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child, and Chato’s Kitchen by Gary Soto.

Review: ESPERANZA RISING by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Ryan, Pam Muñoz. 2000. Esperanza rising. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439120411.

PLOT SUMMARY:
A tragic series of events forces thirteen-year-old Esperanza Ortega and her mother to flee the privileged life they have always known in Mexico. They travel to the United States to work as laborers on a farm in California during the Great Depression. As Esperanza experiences the physical and emotional hardships of her new life, she matures and learns to appreciate the peaks and valleys of life.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Although there were a few elements within this book that distracted me from truly becoming immersed in the story, Esperanza Rising was overall an entertaining and enlightening read. The Ryan’s Esperanza is likeable in the way that Jane Austen’s Emma is likeable. As the reader, you know that some of her thinking is wrong, but her good intentions outweigh her faults. As a result of her station in life, Esperanza is prideful. Without intending any offense, she looks down on people who she does not consider equals. However, her good heart reassures the reader that, in the end, she will overcome any prejudice and conceit.

One failing of the book is the method of translation for the Spanish words and phrases used throughout the book. Nearly all of the Spanish words used followed by literal translations. Although some of these translations flow naturally (“He calls you mi reina! Will you tell me about your life as a queen?"), most seem repetitive and unnecessary to readers with some familiarity with Spanish. While the use of some Spanish throughout the story does add to the setting and theme, contextual translations, along with a glossary, would have worked better in this book.

Ryan uses physical descriptions of her characters to illuminate the differences between the social classes in Mexico. In comparing her similarity to her mother, Esperanza surveys her “black hair, wavy and thick… dark lashes and fair, creamy skin.” Hortensia, a servant and friend to the Ortega family, is described as “a Zapotec Indian from Oaxaca, with a short, solid figure and blue-black hair in a braid down her back.” Hortensia’s son, Miguel spells out the situation to Esperanza: “Have you never noticed? ...Those with Spanish blood, who have the fairest complexions in the land, are the wealthiest.” This is contrasted with the Esperanza’s situation in California, where all of the Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans are equally discriminated against.

REVIEWS:
School Library Journal: “Set against the multiethnic, labor-organizing era of the Depression, the story of Esperanza remaking herself is satisfyingly complete, including dire illness and a difficult romance. Except for the evil uncles, all of the characters are rounded, their motives genuine, with class issues honestly portrayed.”

CONNECTIONS:
When learning about the Great Depression or reading The Grapes of Wrath, teachers can incorporate this book into the lesson to provide a different cultural perspective.

Review: GAME by Walter Dean Myers

Myers, Walter Dean. 2008. Game. New York: Harper Teen. ISBN 9780060582944.

PLOT SUMMARY:
In first-person perspective, Drew Lawson describes his struggles to succeed on and off the basketball court. Drew sees basketball as his chance to make it big and stay out of a life of crime and trouble. His plans become uncertain, however, when the coach starts focusing his attention on a new white player on the team.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
The language used throughout this book was a struggle for me. The combination of slang and basketball terms used during game sequences was enough to completely befuddle me. However, the plot was interesting enough to hold my attention and keep me reading. After a while, I learned to accept that I may never understand what it meant to “keep him off the boards,” but that I could still follow and enjoy the story.

The relationship that stood out the most in this story was that between Drew and his sister Jocelyn. Their scenes together are filled with a sense of camaraderie and humor. His mother is another important character in his life. She is protective and loving. Drew expresses his fear that he could lose his way and end up wasting his life on the streets, but it is easy to see that his family provides him with a place of security that even basketball won’t guarantee him.

REVIEWS:
School Library Journal: “Myers explores his themes with a veteran writer’s skill. Passages that could have read as heavy-handed messages come across, instead, as the authentic thoughts of a strong, likable, African American teen whose anxieties, sharp insights, and belief in his own abilities will captivate readers of all backgrounds.”

CONNECTIONS:
Other basketball-themed books by the same author include The Outside Shot, Hoops, and Slam!

Review: THE FIRST PART LAST by Angela Johnson

Johnson, Angela. 2003. The First Part Last. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689849222.

PLOT SUMMARY:
In this short novel, a sixteen-year-old African-American boy describes a portion of his life as a single father. The chapters alternate between “Then” and “Now.” The “Then” chapters describe Bobby’s life during the pregnancy of his girlfriend, Nia. The “Now” chapters delve into the exhaustion he feels while caring for his infant daughter, Feather.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
In The First Part Last, Johnson deals with themes of family obligations, single parenthood, and love. All three themes are tied in closely. The realities of fatherhood are not sugarcoated at all. Bobby is tired, stressed, and scared. The varying reactions of Bobby’s mother and Nia’s parents are interesting to examine. Bobby’s mother purposefully distances herself as a way of forcing Bobby to ascend to his new role as a parent. Nia’s parents, on the other hand, become distant as a way of to cope with pain.

Johnson uses physical descriptions of characters sparingly throughout the book as is needed to give depth to someone’s personality. When describing characters, she focuses on details such as stature, skin tone, and manner. For example, when describing K-Boy, Johnson writes: “He’s mahogany and tall, and can’t walk down the street without everybody staring at him. He’s beautiful, but acts like he doesn’t know it.”

The entire story has a sense of tension to it. You can’t help noticing the glaring difference between the Then and Now chapters. In the latter, Nia is very obviously missing. Waiting to discover the reason for her absence held my complete attention to the end.

REVIEWS:
Booklist: “But from the first page, readers feel the physical reality of Bobby's new world: what it's like to hold Feather on his stomach, smell her skin, touch her clenched fists, feel her shiver, and kiss the top of her curly head. Johnson makes poetry with the simplest words in short, spare sentences that teens will read again and again.”

School Library Journal: “Brief, poetic, and absolutely riveting, this gem of a novel tells the story of a young father struggling to raise an infant.”

CONNECTIONS:
With shows like Secret Life of the American Teenager and Sixteen and Pregnant popping up on TV, this book’s subject matter is sure to catch the attention of teen readers. Teens might also try reading Hanging On To Max by Margaret Bechard or Dancing Naked by Shelley Hrdlitschka.