Module 14: October Mourning

Amazon. (2016). October mourning:
A song for Matthew Shepard.
Retrieved from https://www.amazon.
com/October-Mourning-Song-
Matthew-Shepard/dp/0763658073

Book Summary: A book of poems exploring the emotions surrounding various people and anthropomorphized items after the hate crime of Matthew Shepherd, a gay college student in Wyoming, who was beaten and left to die, tied to a fencepost on the Wyoming prairie.

APA Reference:

Newman, L. (2012). October mourning: A song for Matthew Shephard. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Impressions: I’m picky about my poetry. Like our textbook discusses, I hated poetry in high school because it was an exercise in trying to read my teachers’ minds about what the poem’s “true” meaning was. In college, I started writing poetry to cope with my depression, and I learned a lot about crafting images and the lyricism that accompanies certain orders of certain words. I also took an English-majors-required class on poetry, which, that semester, was entirely steeped in the poets of the Harlem Renaissance. Between these experiences, which happened just about on top of each other, I grew in my understanding and appreciation of poetry.

I want poetry that speaks volumes. October Mourning does that to such an extreme that I hope it resonates with every reader, as Leslea Newman states in her author’s note, that it changes the world’s perception of LGBTQA+ persons.

October Mourning is a beautifully layered piece. The first layer is the story of Matthew Shephard’s death. It is a horrific story, which tears through the reader’s mind with bloody, desperate, and violent images. The second layer is how Newman expands the world of who all is affected by the death beyond just Matthew, his parents, his friends, his aggressors, and his college community. The doe, the rope, the fencepost, any and every mother in the world, the box that holds his ashes, the candles lit as vigils across the nation, gay individuals everywhere are all affected by the unnecessary and uncalled-for violence. This illustrates that while Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson thought they were just beating up a gay guy, they were really beating up anyone who has had a son, a brother, a gay friend, a gay family member. The third layer is the power of words. Newman knew the power her presence would have at University of Wyoming’s Gay Awareness Week just days after Matthew’s death. She knew that the words she provides in these poems will empower others to not forget the horror that this innocent man had inflicted upon him and to fight to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Professional Review:

Cart, M. (2012, September 15). October mourning [review of October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shephard]. Booklist, 109(2), 68. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/

/* Starred Review */ Grades 8-12 On October 6, 1998, 21-year-old Matthew Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming, was lured into a truck, driven into the country, savagely beaten, tied to a fence, and left to die—which he did, five days later. In the 68 poems that make up this novel-in-verse, Newman re-creates the events and circumstances surrounding this unspeakably vile hate crime and offers a moving tribute to a young man she regards as a martyr. Her poems are told from multiple points of view, including that of the fence, the rope that bound the boy, and a doe that stood watch over him. The beautifully realized selections are also written in a variety of forms, ranging from haiku to villanelle, from concrete poetry to rhymed couplets. Each form (discussed in an appendix) matches the tone and mood of its content, creating an almost musical effect that is both intellectually and aesthetically engaging. Written with love, anger, regret, and other profound emotions, this is a truly important book  that deserves the widest readership, not only among independent readers but among students in a classroom setting, as well. Most importantly, the book  will introduce Matthew Shepard to a generation too young to remember the tragic circumstances of his death.

Library Use: For a series of resources to combat bullying and promote the growth of empathy in readers, books are an important addition. Within the series (which is broken up into resources for different ages: elementary, middle grades, and high school), there are different marginalized groups, such as African-Americans, LGBTQA+, women, etc. October Mourning is to be included in a high school resource for the LGBTQA+ list. Other resources for this group include I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz, a search for LGBT on Teen Ink at http://www.teenink.com/search_google.php?q=LGBT&x=0&y=0, The Trevor Project’s website at http://www.thetrevorproject.org/, and more.

Module 13: 2095 (Time Warp Trio)

Amazon. (2016). 2095 (Time warp trio,
vol. 5). Retrieved from https:
//www.amazon.com/2095-Time-
Warp-Trio-Vol/dp/0142400440

Book Summary: The Time Warp Trio -Sam, Joe, and Fred- are on a class field trip to the American Museum of Natural History in NYC. When the 1890’s prove too boring, the friends decide to use The Book, a family heirloom, to travel to the future: 2095. There, they are in danger with scolding museum directors, telemarketer-robots, and addle-patted Uncle Joe. Thankful, they are rescued by their great-granddaughters: Joanie, Freddi, and Samantha, who them return to 1995 and their museum worksheets.

APA Reference:

Scieszka, J. (1995). 2095. New York City: Viking.

Impressions: 2095 is a quick read and an engaging one for reluctant readers. This installation is the fifth in the Time Warp Trio series, so there is no background information or scene-setting, but that’s what makes it read-able for kids who would rather not pick up a book. The cliff-hanging chapter endings also help in the desire to not close the pages.

As an adult, I love series books -especially in the fantasy genre- because of the world building aspect. Expositions are often hard to get past, but, with series books like the Time Warp Trio, Harry Potter, and The Lunar Chronicles, after you’ve read the first book’s exposition, readers can usually jump right into the thick of the plot. I had never been able to articulate that aspect of series books until I read Truby’s (2003) “A Fresh Look at Series Books”. As a brand new teacher, fresh out of college, I’m so glad I encouraged my students to read what appealed to them instead of focusing on canon literature. And as a librarian, I promise to remember Truby’s (2003) words: “Readers learn to be better readers not through exercises and multiple-choice questions, but by reading lots of text that they find personally rewarding.”

Series books like Time Warp Trio can help (especially reluctant) readers find stories that are personally rewarding.

Professional Review: Walton, J.Y. (1995, June 1). Books for youth: Books for middle readers. Booklist, 91(19/20), 1772. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/

Books for Youth, Middle Readers: Gr. 3-5. The Time Warp Trio is back--to the future, this time, as Joe, Fred, and Sam travel to the year 2095 , again courtesy of Uncle Joe's magic book. Launching their trip from the 1920s room in the Natural History Museum, the boys arrive in the future's museum, where they see the 1990s showcased in an exhibit of the past. Such ironies of time travel abound as the three encounter their great-grandchildren, who rightly strive to return their ancestors to the past. Scieszka writes with a kid's perspective at all times, blending a warp-speed pace with humor that ranges from brainy riddles to low brow upchuck jokes. Although the plot is a bit thin and meandering, readers will find sufficient distraction in the robots and levitation footwear of the future. Smith targets the audience equally well with black pencil illustrations brimming with zany, adolescent hyperbole.

Library Use: Include 2095 in a Reluctant Readers list (either in print or online): “Why RR’s will read it: short, cliff-hanger chapters, humor, and series’ familiarity. Why RR’s will want to read it: time travel, adventure, friends, and humor.”

Module 12: The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau

Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (2016)  The fantastic jungles
of Henri Rousseau. Retrieved from http://www.eerdmans.com/
Content/Site146/ProductImages/9780802853646.jpg

Book Summary: Henri is a Frenchman who loves painting. However, he is too poor to take art lessons, so he teaches himself and shows his paintings in independent exhibitions where the critics say mean things. However, Henri doesn’t give up, even when he can barely feed himself and even when the critics keep saying mean things at each of his exhibitions, year after year. More than twenty years later, when Henri is an old man, the critics finally start to notice his remarkable paintings. And, while Henri died poor and mostly unknown, his paintings --mainly of jungle scenes-- are revered today.

APA Reference:

Markel, M. (2012). The fantastic jungles of Henri Rousseau. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

Impressions: I love how the illustrator, Amanda Hall, mimicked Rousseau’s style in the illustrations! Additionally, Markel does a good job crafting the this partial biography of Rousseau’s life in regards to his art. I do wish, however, that there had been a bibliography to add credibility to Markel’s text. While there is an author’s note, it doesn’t give any indication of the research she conducted in writing this story. The illustrator’s note does tell of Hall’s process in researching before she put color to the page, which added some ethos, but none to the story itself.

Professional Review:

Lukehart, W. (2012, September). Fantastic jungles of Henri Rousseau [review of Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau]. School Library Journal, 58(9), 132. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com/

PreS-Gr 3 -- Drawing on the naïve techniques found in the paintings of the 19th-century French toll collector, Hall depicts Rousseau's life while introducing his style and subject matter in her fanciful watercolor and acrylic scenes. Markel's well-chosen episodes begin with the purchase of his first paints and brushes -- at age 40. Compact sentences convey this self-taught artist's rocky journey, leaving room for Hall's interpretation. One dynamic composition propels Rousseau, clad in black, toward readers; one eye is enlarged behind a magnifying glass as he studies and scatters colorful postcards, catalogs, and paintings from the Louvre. Humor is conveyed even when his art is being rejected by the Salon experts. As the tiny man wheels his cart of canvases up to imposing, bewhiskered figures in tuxedos, close inspection reveals that some are monkeys. An author's note highlights Rousseau's reaction to the exotic plants at the Jardin des Plantes: "…it's as though he enters into a dream. It's like he is someone else completely." Hall's portrait accompanying that idea in the narrative is formed from greenery, flowers, and wheat -- part Rousseau, part Arcimboldo. The 1889 International Exhibition also opened the artist's world; afterward, his jungle canvases came to life, and a tiger crawled into his studio. Ultimately, he was fêted by luminaries identified in the illustrator's note. This is not only a visually exciting introduction to a well-known artist, but also an uplifting model of passion and perseverance. Pair it with Doris Kutschbach's Henri Rousseau's Jungle Book (Prestel, 2005) for a slightly different perspective. -- Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library

Library Use: It would be so much fun to collaborate with an art teacher with books like The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau, Viva Frida (2014) by Yuyi Morales, Mary Cassatt: Extraordinary Impressionist Painter (2015) by Barbara Hekert, Draw What You See: The Life and Art of Benny Andrews (2015) by Kathleen Benson, A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin (2013) by Jennifer Bryant, and Colorful Dreamer: The Story of Artist Henri Matisse (2012) by Marjorie Blain Parker to create a genius hour project-- especially since Fantastic Jungles mentions the research that Rousseau did to teach himself how to paint!

Module 11: Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade

Ashland Elementary School (PWCPS). (2014, November 26).
Ashland Elementary: Balloons Over Broadway. YouTube.
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
6hC95LQI8pQ

Book Summary: Tony Sarg loved toys, especially marionettes and puppets. When he immigrated to New York City, he was asked by Macy’s Department Store to help create a puppet-like contraption for their Macy’s Parade. After much thinking and several attempts, he created the very large balloon creations that are controlled by puppeteers from below via string/rope.

APA Reference:

Sweet, M. (2011). Balloons over Broadway: The true story of the puppeteer of Macy’s parade. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.

Impressions: This was a fun book! I had no ideas that A) the Macy’s parade had such a long history, B) the giant balloon characters were created as an amalgamation of balloons and puppets, and C) the Macy’s parade was originally created as an homage/celebration for their workers, many of whom were immigrants. I wish businesses/corporations today were as conscientious towards their employers as they were in the 1920's. Additionally, the illustrations are beautifully intricate! I enjoyed the author's note at the end describing how she made all of the toys that are included in the illustrations. I thought that there was the perfect mix of history, specific details, and engaging illustrations in Balloons Over Broadway.

Professional Review:

Kirkus Staff. (2011, September 1). Balloons over Broadway [review of Balloons Over Broadway]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/melissa-sweet/balloons-over-broadway/

This bright, brimming picture biography commemorates Tony Sarg, a brilliant, self-taught artist whose innovative helium balloons delighted legions of Macy’s parade watchers from 1928 on.

Sweet sketches Sarg’s career as a puppeteer and marionette-maker. Moving from London to New York City, where his marionettes performed on Broadway, Sarg engineered mechanical storybook characters for Macy’s “Wondertown” holiday windows. In 1924, he created floats and costumes for the first Macy’s parade, which celebrated both immigrant and American holiday traditions. When the annual parade’s lions and tigers (borrowed from the Central Park Zoo) frightened children, Macy’s commissioned Sarg to replace them. Ever innovative, Sarg eventually utilized rubberized silk and helium to create larger, lighter balloons that could be controlled from below.

Sweet’s charming mixed-media layouts form a playful bridge between her creative process and Sarg’s. She fashioned whimsical toys from painted blocks, buttons and fabric, combining them in photo-collages with old books, cut paper, imagined sketches for Sarg’s projects, watercolor images of parade scenes and much more. Endpapers inform and delight, too, with excerpts from a 1929 book about Sarg's marionettes and a front-page parade invitation in the 1933 New York Times. Backmatter is also a collage of treats, with an author’s note appending further biographical details and comments about the art.

This clever marriage of information and illustration soars high. (bibliography of adult sources, quote sources, acknowledgements, period photo) (Picture book/biography. 4-8)

Library Use: It would be fun to read Balloons Over Broadway as an introduction to a how-to in making balloon animals/creations.