HISTORICAL FICTION 1: THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND

1. Bibliography
Speare, Elizabeth George. 1958. The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0395071143

2. Plot Summary
A young girl, Kit, arrives to live with her aunt in Puritan Connecticut from Barbados after her grandfather dies in the late 1600's. Having not been accustomed to the stringent religious philosophy of her remaining family members, Kit's outspokenness and free spirit quickly cause some residents to suspect her of being a witch. To make matters worse, she curiously befriends a lonesome, elderly lady that is already known as a "witch."

3. Critical Analysis
Written in 1958, The Witch of Blackbird Pond is still an all-absorbing tale that captures the historical nature of early Colonialism. It is a wonderfully crafted romance set amidst the fevered political lines drawn between England's early rule and those with a visionary alliance to the New World. Speare uses meticulous details in describing the tone and personalities of each character and uses just enough thee's, thou's and thy's to remember the setting.

"To work in?" Disappointment had put an edge to Judith's tongue.
'Tis all I have,' retorted Kit. "Give me something of yours then."
Judith's cheeks went scarlet. "Oh, wear that one. You can help Mercy with the carding. You won't dirty yourself at that."

Each character is fully developed throughout the story with hints of their natures hidden in some of their names--Mercy, the paralyzed cousin; Patience, the little girl learning to read; old Goodwife Cruff, accusatory and overbearing. Some of the names mentioned are of real citizens in New England history, as stated in the author's notes, such as Sir Edmond Andros, the royal governor, and Eleazer Kimberley, the schoolmaster.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond gives readers a glimpse into Old World religious doctrines from the eyes of a naive outsider who is forced to decide if she can conform to such strict behaviors or if she can choose to return to her beloved Barbados. Worthy of winning the Newbery Award a half-century ago, Speare's ingenious account of Puritanism and witchcraft is, indeed, a classic.

4. Review Excerpt(s) Taken from Back Cover
HORN BOOK: "The New England of colonial times . . . is realistically drawn as background for a solidly written character study."
NEW YORK TIMES: "The book has a lively plot and excellent characterizations. The background has every dimension of reality."

5. Connections
*Books on the Puritans
Stille, Darlene R. 2006. Anne Hutchinson: Puritan Protester. ISBN 0756515777
Slavicek, Louise Chipley. 2001. Life Among the Puritans. ISBN 1560068698
Fraustino, Lisa Rowe. 2004. I Walk in Dread: the diary of Deliverance Trembley, witness to the Salem Witch Trials. ISBN 0439249732

*A sound recording
Reese, Celia. 2001. Witch Child. In 1659, fourteen-year-old Mary keeps a journal of her voyage from England to the New World. ISBN 080720627X
Website for Witch Child and the author. http://www.witchchild.com/

NONFICTION REVIEW: WINTER ACROSS AMERICA

1. Bibliography
Simon, Seymour. 1994. WINTER ACROSS AMERICA. New York, NY: Hyperion. ISBN 0786800194

2. Summary
Winter Across America is an impressive photo display of wintery, snowy scenes from different parts of the United States. Interesting facts about the animals and wildlife of corresponding regions are added to complement the pictures, such as a baby gray whale riding alongside its mother on a 10,000-mile journey.

3. Critical Analysis
Simon's selection of stark photographs that cover each page make this book worthwhile. Although some of the photos are his, many have been credited to other photographers. Simon's accompanying text brings the photos to life and light up the imagination of the reader as if you are standing behind the camera. Colorful pastel backgrounds of lavender and blue, dotted with small, inconspicuous snowflakes, frame the photos and text. Given Simon's background in science, no research references are needed. Simon's well-chosen words feel as if he is reading the lines to you in his voice--"winter is a time of earth sounds: the creaking of bare trees blowing in the chill wind, the howling of a blizzard, the crunch of snow underfoot." An enjoyable book, from a renown and respected author.

4. Review Excerpt(s)
BOOKLIST: "Excellent color photographs, often breathtaking scenes of landscapes and animals"
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Simon teams his flowing, poetic narrative style with superb full-color nature photographs"

5. Connections
*have other books on winter available
Berger, Melvin. What Do Animals Do in Winter? ISBN 1571020551
Sunders-Smith, Gail. Winter. ISBN 1560657847

*other books on seasons, some by Seymour Simon
Simon, Seymour. Autumn Across America. ISBN 1562824678
Simon, Seymour. Spring Across America. ISBN 0786800690
Burton, Jane. The Nature and Science of Summer. ISBN 0836821890

*Could include this with a science lesson on winter, botany, or animals
*Could also research some of the animals in the book such as musk ox, chickadee, owl, whooping cranes, etc.

POETRY REVIEW 2: THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

1. Bibliography
Prelutsky, Jack. 1984. THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK. Ill. by James Stevenson. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0688022715

2. Summary
Prelutsky compiles numerous poems of his own creation to give an indication of his humorous style. Titles such as "Alligators are Unfriendly" and "An Unassuming Owl" give a glimpse of the nature of Prelutsky's gleeful writing.

3. Critical Analysis
Prelutsky's poems have an easy rhyming scheme that begs to be read aloud. "When Tillie ate the chili, she erupted from her seat, she gulped a quart of water, and fled screaming down the street" and other memorable chants are sure to become favorites to young and old jokesters. James Stevenson's simple caricatures reinforce the whimsical relevance of each page.

4. Review Excerpt(s)
KIRKUS REVIEWS: "His rhymes are infectious, his verses ineradicable"

5. Connections
*Visit http://www.jackprelutsky.com/
to learn more about him, and as of 6/25/2008, enter his poetry contest.
*other books by Jack Prelutsky
IT'S RAINING PIGS & NOODLES. ISBN 9780060291945
THE FROGS WORE RED SUSPENDERS. ISBN 9780688167196
A PIZZA THE SIZE OF THE SUN. ISBN 9780688132354

TRADITIONAL REVIEW: MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD world folktales for strong boys

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Yolen, Jane. 2003. MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD world folktales for strong boys. Ill. by Raul Colon. ISBN 0152163913

2. SUMMARY
A collection of folktales from around the world focusing on short stories that subtly inform the reader that a little knowledge can overcome adversity when carefully thought out. Fourteen countries are represented in this anthology where heroes are unveiled by using their wits rather than their might. Tales from Afghanistan, England, Norway, and Finland are but a few. You may recognize some, such as "Jack and His Companions," an Irish tale based on the Brothers Grimm story, "The Bremen Town Musicians." However, Yolen has added some of her own touches and explains why in an addendum in the back pages.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jane Yolen has carefully selected tales that show the central character to be smart enough to outwit the antagonist in the story. She includes a foreword that explains that the book is written in part to guide her sons into making good decisions. Listen to the stories with that in mind to pinpoint the turn of events in each case. This book is for an older reader, indicated as ages 8 to 12 on the cover. Yolen's superb research notes on each story help to place the reader in a different time, place, and culture as each page is turned. She includes a bibliography of references to authenticate the reliability of this set of works.

Raul Colon's excellent choice for illustrating the jacket cover is taken from the tale "The False Knight on the Road." It exemplifies the central theme of the book by showing a young boy, who is carrying books, conversing with an armored knight displaying a larger-than-life sword. It gives clever clues to make the reader pull meaning from the title of the book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
KIRKUS REVIEWS: "a stellar read-aloud volume"
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "these stories are lively, expressively written"

5. CONNECTIONS
*focus on one country at a time and locate other folktales from that country
*read other Jane Yolen books
ALL THOSE SECRETS OF THE WORLD. ISBN 0316968919
THE BALLAD OF THE PIRATE QUEENS. ISBN 0152007105
NOT ONE DAMSEL IN DISTRESS: WORLD FOLKTALES FOR STRONG GIRLS. ISBN 0152020470
*view other Raul Colon books
*find other versions of the same tale and compare

TRADITIONAL REVIEW: ANANSI GOES FISHING

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
ANANSI GOES FISHING. Retold by Eric A. Kimmel. 1992. Ill. by Janet Stevens. New York, NY: Holiday House. ISBN 082340918X

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In Kimmel's retelling of the African folktale based on Anansi the spider, Turtle plays the part of the trickster who cajoles Anansi into making a net for catching fish. When Anansi realizes what Turtle has done, he wants justice and goes to Warthog, the mediator. Warthog doesn't believe Anansi, who is left with no fish of his own.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Kimmel's simple and direct dialogue between Turtle and Anansi is easy to follow and easy to listen to. This traditional African folktale tells why spiders weave their webs all over the world--typical of pour quoi tales. Kimmel keeps the flow of this tricky tale short and illustrative, which is sure to capture the attention of all ages.

Janet Stevens' initial portrayal of Turtle carrying a fish along a stream is not to be overlooked. It leads the reader into the first pages of the story.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "humorous details and lively dialogue"
BOOKLIST: "children able to comprehend the wordplay will be delighted"

5. CONNECTIONS
*other Anansi readings and sound recordings by Eric Kimmel, plus make a spider out of pipe cleaners and craft pompoms. ANANSI GOES FISHING could also be a skit with three players.
ANANSI AND THE MAGIC STICK. ISBN 0823414434
ANANSI AND THE MOSS-COVERED ROCK. ISBN 082340689X
ANANSI AND THE TALKING MELON. ISBN 0823411044