THE WALL: GROWING UP BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN by Peter Sis - 2008 Sibert Award

The Sibert Award, the most distinguished informational book published in the preceding year, was awarded to THE WALL: GROWING UP BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN by Peter Sis. This book is an autobiographical picture book telling of Peter Sis's life growing up behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia during the Cold War. The majority of his story is told through his illustrations, and immediately the color red is seen to be very significant.

Peter Sis was born in Czechoslovakia after it was under Soviet control and the borders were closed. He had a very happy childhood. He wasn't aware of any other way of life. He attended and joined all of the compulsory activities including the Young Pioneers, the Communist youth movement. Sis even verifies that the youth were encouraged to report any anti Communist activities by parents or others to the authorities. Sis draws what is going on throughout his time, particularly pictures about war since nuclear war was believed to be an imminent threat. Everything in their lives were controlled - telephones bugged, radios jammed, certain books banned, shortages of food, and art is censored. Even then Sis knew he had to draw in secret in case his drawings might not be appropriate (thinking of the U.S and British flags). His brainwashing picture evidenced his view of what went on during this time.

Then Sis starts to learn things about the West in his youth. The music in particular appeals to him - the Beatles, Elvis, the Rolling Stones - and he starts to secretly listen to Radio Luxembourg and secretly tape the songs. He and his friends start to rebel and create a rock band and wear long hair. Then in the spring of 1968 the new government leader relaxes on some of the rules and the future looks brighter. Then in August of the same year, the Soviets invade because they see Czechoslovakia becoming too progressive. Then the Beach Boys come to the rescue. Sis starts drawing about all of his dreams for a better life and his nightmares of what is really going on. He is in jeopardy because he is breaking the rules. He is forced to join the service, but all of the things that are banned are being done in secret. People wanting freedom, including Sis, started drawing their dreams on the Wall and the sides of buildings. Every time it was covered up, they would secretly go out and paint their dreams again. Things got worse, but their dreams never faded. On November 9, 1989, their dreams came true with the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Within this picture book, Sis includes a journal type entry of events that are occurring. What a marvelous and simple book to share with students on Veterans Day for them to see what freedom others didn't or don't have and that we do have because of the brave men and women that fight for our freedom. The significance of the color red within the early pencil drawings could trigger a discussion of how one small thing can have such a powerful message. It is good for the students to read primary sources of information about what actually occurred behind the Iron Curtain.

THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET by Brian Selznick - the 2008 Caldecott winner

I loved this book! I couldn't put it down once I started. I was disappointed that it didn't win the Newbery but extremely excited that it won the Caldecott. Brian Selznick does a splendid job of telling the story of the orphan (yes, another one), Hugo Cabret, through words in a very creative manner and fabulous successive illustrations. THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET will turn some off at the outset because of its size. But if I do a good job of book talking it and get a few eager readers to share how they feel about it after reading it, IT WILL BE A HIT!

Hugo Cabret, an orphan living with an alcoholic missing uncle, secretly maintains the clocks in the train station. He loves to tinker with things. He has his father's journal and discovers a mechanical man that is drawn in detail in his journal. After his father's death, Hugo attempts to get the mechanical man to work. The daughter of the toy shop owner befriends him. Through his work with the mechanical man, Hugo discovers the true identity of the shop owner and his own connection with the man.

This simple summary in no way gives justice to the marvelous story. The illustrations alone mesmerize the reader and take the reader throughout parts of the story. This book would be great to just show some of the beginning illustrations and have the students predict what they think the story will be about. It is amazing how orphans, mysteries, and good overcoming evil is a recurring theme in many of the books BUT more often than not they are the books that grip the readers mind the most.

WHAT YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT BEDS, BEDROOMS, & PAJAMAS - a Texas Bluebonnet book

This nonfiction book nominated by the Texas Bluebonnet committee will be a hit. The illustrations by John Manders will grab the students eyes right away. Patrica Lauber teaches the students about beds, bedrooms, and pajamas from the Stone Age to the present.

WHAT YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT BEDS, BEDROOMS, & PAJAMAS is a cleverly created book explaining the conception of beds, bedrooms, and pajamas. Author Patricia Lauber explains why and how each of the items were created. She isn't afraid to admit when pajamas were not even used. I learned the reason for a footboard. But since our beds are no longer tilted down, why do we still have them? Just creatures of habit, maybe? How a bed went from a simple bundle of straw to an elaborate bedroom with an enormous canopied bed is an interesting cruise through sleeping history. The illustrations add humor to the book of interesting facts.

The students will enjoy this easy reading nonfiction book about something that is of interest to all of them. Since they all have to sleep, this book is of vested interest to them. I foresee this book will not be on the shelves much this school year.

MARVELOUS MATTIE: HOW MARGARET E. KNIGHT BECAME AN INVENTOR - a Texas Bluebonnet book

A woman inventor? Mechanically inclined woman? Who would have thought it? YES!! Here is the opportunity for young girls to read about how not only was this woman an inventor, but she invented items that were mechanical!

MARVELOUS MATTIE: HOW MARGARET E. KNIGHT BECAME AN INVENTOR by Emily Arnold McCully is an easy biography to read and an inspiration to the girls out there that avoid science. With her inherited toolbox from her father, Mattie creates toys for her brothers and a foot warmer for her mother. The book is full of Mattie's sketches of her inventions and how they work She created a kite that the town boys couldn't believe a girl had made. Mattie created sleds for her brothers that won every race. The other boys started paying her to create sleds for them to race. This money she gave to her widowed mother to help out. The family moved to Manchester, New Hampshire, to work in a textile mill. Mattie is enthralled by the machinery, especially the locomotive that is being built in the machine shop.

Mattie witnessed a girl hurt by a textile machine. She knew a machine was just an invention and could be improved. Mattie designed a metal guard and showed it to Mr. Baldwin in the machine shop, who in turn showed it to the mill owners. They installed the new guards.

Later in life, Mattie created a better paper bag and machine to make it. When she went to get a patent on her machine, she discovered that someone had stolen her design. She didn't give up! She took the man to court and won! She created her own paper bag company and when she died at the age of 76, she was referred to as "Lady Edison". The author includes a note telling more details about Mattie's life.

I plan to use this during Women's History Month. What an inspiration it will be to many of those science shy girls!

CROSSING BOK CHITTO: A CHOCTAW TALE OF FRIENDSHIP & FREEDOM - a Texas Bluebonnet book

Tim Tingle's book CROSSING BOK CHITTO: A CHOCTAW TALE OF FRIENDSHIP & FREEDOM is the retelling of a story passed down as a song by the Choctaw recounting how the Choctaw would help runaway slaves. Before the Civil War, the Bok Chitto river separated the Choctaw from the plantations. If runaway slaves crossed the Bok Chitto, they were free.

In the story Martha Tom is told by her Choctaw mother to gather blackberries so she can prepare something for a wedding that day. Martha Tom inadvertently crosses the Bok Chitto and witnesses a gathering of a forbidden slave church in the woods. The slaves discover Martha Tom, and one of the slave boys, Little Mo, takes her back across the river. Even though he is afraid to do this at first, his father tells him to, "...move not too fast, not too slow, eyes to the ground, away you go!" When they get to the river, Martha Tom shows Mo a hidden path of stones under the muddy water. Then Mo witnessed the Choctaw wedding gathering.

Martha Tom continues to cross the Bok Chitto on Sundays to go to the church gatherings of the slaves in the woods. Then the slave family hears that Little Mo's mother is being taken to a slave sale in New Orleans. Mo tells them they can cross the Bok Chitto before she is taken away. They use the father's earlier advise to be "invisible" and leave the slave quarters without being seen.

Mo manages to get across and the Choctaw tell them they will help. That night, the plantation guards witnessed beautiful singing "angels" (the Choctaw) leading the runaways as they walked on water to freedom.

What a beautiful tale to share with the students. The author includes history and photos of the Choctaw at the end of the book. This book will work perfectly in demonstrating how people should accept and celebrate other's differences and treasure what those differences can bring to their lives. It shows the power of friendship and what can be accomplished when we share and learn from each other.

ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO - A Texas Bluebonnet book

Cynthia DeFelice demonstrates how people can live on little, be satisfied, and appreciate what ever they receive in ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO. This Texas Bluebonnet nominee is a picture book about an elderly couple that have very little, but they don't complain because they have each other.

The old man finds a last potato for them to share in the field. He also digs up a huge pot. When he returns home with the potato in the pot, he and his wife discover that there are now two potatoes. The wife's hairpin that dropped in the pot now are two hairpins. They unselfishly only multiply the things they need. They multiply only enough money to buy them new coats, new blankets, and a new chair. But upon the old man's return with these items, the old woman accidentally falls into the pot and duplicates herself. She recommends that the old man fall in and duplicate himself so they will both finally have friends to talk to and not be lonely for friendship other than their own. They unselfishly bury the pot after this since they feel they have everything they need.

What a sweet book of being satisfied with life! When they have the opportunity to have riches and everything they could ever dream of wanting, they only choose to duplicate the items they need and are satisfied. Instead of wishing for the world and all of its riches (as many say they would do with a magic lantern and genie) this old couple show life can be good with just what you need. This will be a great read aloud and discussion starter for all of my classes. It could become an interactive book if I make cutouts of the different items and choose students to be the old couple/couples.

ATHERTON THE HOUSE OF POWER - 2008 Texas Bluebonnet

Walking into HEB yesterday, I saw a counter of figs on sale. I immediately thought of the Texas Bluebonnet book ATHERTON THE HOUSE OF POWER by Patrick Carman. Our district also chose this book as a Battle of the Books selection this year. This book will definitely keep the students attention, particularly the cliff hanger ending. Recently I read that the author had originally written his two books as one and was convinced by his editor to split it. So the cliffhanger is for real!

Edgar, an orphan lived on Tabletop and helped to maintain the fig trees. The fig trees are the sustenance and the weapons of this "planet." But this hapless orphan has a quest. He vaguely remembers that he is supposed to find something up the cliff, which is forbidden to be climbed. Edgar secretly climbs and finds a book, but he doesn't know how to read. Edgar figures that the people that live above the cliff in the Highlands could read the book, so he again breaks the rules and climbs to the top. His friend, Isabel, sees him climb but keeps his secret. Samuel, whose mother works in the House of Power, befriends Edgar and tells him some of what the book says but does not have the opportunity to tell him all of it. The thing Edgar does know is that the Highlands are sinking!

The adventure continues with Edgar trying to warn everyone about what is about to happen, to the wrath of Mr. Ratikan who is working against the people on Tabletop. Isabel tries to help Edgar in his pursuit to determine what Ratikan is secretly doing. Edgar is mislead to believe he must go down to the Flatlands by an invader from the Highlands. After barely avoiding being killed by the Cleaners, Edgar meets his "foster father" and finds out the truth about Atherton. The scariest thing is that now Tabletop (which now includes the Highlands) is sinking to the level of the Flatlands. Everyone is in danger of being killed by the Cleaners. What can Edgar, Dr. Kincaid, and Vincent do to save everyone? But YIKES, what is happening - what is sinking now?

This book will be great for the 4th and 5th grade students at my school. They loved HARRY POTTER books, AMONG THE HIDDEN, and DOUBLE IDENTITY. They love mysteries and the underdog winning. This is another classic case of mystery and excitement where the orphan leads the brave to win!