If You're Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand

ISBN: 0689801165

by Kalli Dakos

 illustrated by G. Brian Karas

     For every student and teacher that has ever been in a classroom, If You're Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand  (Poems About School) by Kalli Dakos and G.Brian Karas is the best poetry book that captures the excitement and challenges of life in elementary school.  Here are a collection of thirty-eight poems and lively pictures that amuse and surprise readers of all ages.

     After reading each poem, I came to realize that it was difficult to choose one to be my favorite---they were all great!  Kalli Dakos writes about what is familiar to students and teachers and all readers can relate.  G.Brian Karas compliments the poetry with simple, sketch-like illustrations.  While many of these poems were wistful and funny, one in particular stood out because it was somewhat sad and touching, it is titled "Were You Ever Fat Like Me?".  This poem reflects a Sandra's experience with her own weight as she inquires of her teacher's weight experience as a child.  But, Ms. Danforth had the opposite problem.....she was "thin as a toothpick" due to a serious rash.  They discussed how painful name-calling can be. At the end of the poem, Sandra "suddenly felt as light as an autumn leaf." I love how this poem depicts the many roles a teacher plays in a child's life.

     I LOVE POETRY! Infact, I have a collection of my own poems which I hope someone would blog on one day.  Writing has always been my escape from the everyday struggles I faced growing up.  My love for poetry began when I was chosen to recite a poem by Langston Hughes titled, "Mother To Son".  I was taught how to read it and what it meant.  For me, it was a profound meditation on the human condition and spirit.  This was my inspiration, my connection to a whole new world of thoughts and feelings.

     While reading this collection of expressive poetry, another great poet comes to mind, Jack Prelutsky.  Jack Prelutsky is a U.S. Children's Poet Laureate known for writing wacky and goofy poems. I cannot get enough of school related poetry where the theme and setting is consistent with classroom life from both the students and teachers perspective.  These poetry books are a must in every classroom!

MINTY Alan Shroeder / Jerry Pinkney

ISBN 014056196

    

     One of the greatest gifts to give a child is someone to really admire, a sort of hero or heroine.  Alan Schroeder's book, MINTY, is just that!  MINTY is a fictionalized biography and chronicles the life of a young Harriet Tubman, an Arican-American girl constrained by slavery in Maryland during the 1820's.

       

     Minty, a nickname for Araminta, is an unhappy slave and constantly thinks of running away, the main idea of this story.  She is feisty and independent and not willing to abide by the rules set by the slave owners.  Despite counsel from her mother and other slaves in the Brodas plantation, Minty always seems to get a "whipping".  Her dream of freedom burns even more brightly as she is whipped for releasing the muskrats from their traps set underwater.  This is one of the many qualities about Minty that is admirable, her selflessness.  Her father, recognizing her desire for freedom, teaches her survival skills, such as: swimming, following the stars, catching fish, and many more that will be useful in her mission to freedom and when she grows up to become the most famous conductor of the Underground Railroad.

    

     Slavery was a strong topic for me during my earlier school years.  As I got older and began to understand histrorical events and form my own philosophical arguments, I had a greater interest in Slavery in the United States, taking particular interest in Harriet Tubman.  The various information I had gathered about this courageous and heroic woman in her mission to free slaves was powerful in itself, but not as powerful as the noble spirit of her childhood in slavery--this captured her true life and spirit.

    

     I enjoyed this book because it provides many oppurtunities to encourage children in discussions of the difference between right and wrong, the value of freedom, and the meaning of love.  Many people know about Harriet Tubman's adult life whose courage and strength helped hundreds of slaves to freedom.  But how many know about her life as a child?  Well, Alan Schroeder reflects on the obstacles Minty faces while enslaved and highlights the affect slavery has on free will.  This portrayal is beautifully illustrated in full color and vivid imagery by Jerry Pinkney.  It is no wonder that Minty has received the honorable Coretta Scott King award recognizing, as well, an outstanding author and talented illustrator.

Yeh Shen : A Cinderella Story from China

retold by : Ai-Ling Louie

illustrated by : Ed Young

ISBN : 0698113888

     Cinderella was the very first fairytale that was read to me.  I was six years old and in the first grade--my first day of school.  I didn't speak much English and didn't understand many of the words the teacher spoke.  But, the pictures of the Cinderella book spoke to me and captured my attention.  I was in awe and wanted to be Cinderella (every little girl's dream).  Later that day, I came home with excitement and wanted to relate the story to my mom.  She listened attentively as I retold it in our Albanian language all the while smiling at my enthusiasim.  I remember finishing and waiting for her reaction--she gently took me by the hand and told me that we were going to a bookstore that she passes on her way to work.  I couldn't believe it! When we walked in to the bookstore, my eyes widened at the sight of all those books!  Eventually I found the book and my mom bought me my first fairytale Cinderella book.  It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

     As I got older, I realized that fairytales were my favorite genre of books and that the Cinderella story was popular all over the world.  Yeh Shen, a beautiful girl of ivory smooth skin and dark eyes.  Her beauty is the envy of many including her stepmother and stepsister.  Who is she, you ask?  Well she is the Chinese fairytale version of Cinderella.  This begins differently than what we know of Cinderella and it captures your attention immediately as it first did to me.

     Yeh Shen's father, Chief Wu, had married two wives (an ancient Chinese custom) and each had given birth to a baby girl.  But one wife dies, Yeh Shen's mother, and not long after, so does her father.  Poor Yeh Shen is left to be cared for by her stepmother and stepsister.  She is mistreated and is expected to do all the household chores.  Her only friend is a fish by the river that she feeds her rice to.  But her mean stepmother envies this friendship and kills the fish for dinner and the bones are left. Yeh Shen is advised by an elderly man to hold on to the bones and continue to wish upon the powerful spirit of the fish.

     Yeh Shen is forbidden to attend the annual spring festival. But the powerful spirit of the fish adorns her in a beautiful silk gown and golden slippers and sends her on her way.  At the festival, Yeh Shen is admired by all and is quickly recognized by her stepsister.  Before she is confronted by her stepmother, Yeh Shen escapes and in a rush leaves behind a golden slipper.  As in our version of Cinderella, Yeh Shen tries on the slippers.....a perfect fit!  The king then asks her to become his wife and she returns with him to the palace where they live happily ever after.

     Ai-Ling Louie does a wonderful job in portraying a beautiful culture and it's interesting traditions/customs.  The story unfolds beautifully and the words are very graceful and poetic.  I have read so many versions of Cinderella from various countries, but this is my favorite by far!  The Chinese culture is exhibited in every page through soft colors and vivid illustrations by the artistic Ed Young.  Yeh Shen's raggedy clothing is similar to our Cinderella yet, the festival gown is so different and this is just one example of how unique the story really is.

INCH BY INCH by Leo Lionni

HarperTrophy--HaperCollins Publishers

ISBN  978-0-13283-5

     In this whimsical book, an inchworm is so proud that he can measure anything.  He first crosses paths with a hungry robin who is about to eat him but, the clever inchworm convinces this feathered flyer that he is of great importance and that measuring is his skill.  The robin is easily convinced and asks to have his tail measured,  "one, two, three, four, five inches" said the green inchworm.  He then goes on to measure other birds: a flamingo's neck, a toucan's beak and so on.  But then, the inchworm crosses paths with a nightingale who threatens to eat him for breakfast unless his song is measured. How would you measure a song you ask?  Well, the clever and insightful, green as emerald inchworm comes up with an idea and measures away until he is out of sight.

     I chose this book because of the title--it seemed to fit my interest of finding a math book that was different from other math books I read and used in the classroom.  I also loved the cover (despite knowing to "never choose a book by its cover"), it reminded me of one of my other favorite childrens author, Eric Carle.....similar in illustration style.  As I did a walk through, I noticed that the text was appropriate for early childhood school children and such a comfortable read with colorful and viabrant illustrations yet, not an overload on each page, which would make it easy for children to follow along.

     I have been able to use this in the classroom for a math lesson.  At the end, I asked students: "What do you think the inchworm measured next?" and "Where do you think the inchworm went?" Listening to the various answers gave me an idea:  I had each student cut out their own five inch-inchworm out of green construction paper and invited them to measure various things in the classroom (such as: books, pencils, seat, etc.).  I then made a list of the various objects that were measured and posted their results on the bulletin board under "....and the next thing he measured was our classroom".

     Leo Lionni did a wonderful job of putting together this book that can be used for different kinds of lessons in the classroom.  Inch by Inch had also received a Caldecott Honor award and a New York Times best Illustrated book award, it's very easy to see why.  I look forward to reading more of his books and expect the same simple and classic style as this one had to offer.

A TREE IS NICE by Janice May Udry Illustrations by Marc Simont

     Trees serve many purposes and this book gives us an insight on the many reasons we need and should love our trees.  They help with our environment and are fun to have around. "Fun", you may say?  Well, yes! You can swing from them, climb them, sit on a limb and think from them, lay under it and take a nap, and so much more.
     Janice May Udry's usage of poetry and descriptive language in her writing makes this a pleasant read.  It is easy to get a vision when you hear, "The leaves whisper in the breeze all summer long".  This is one feeling of summer that I enjoy and having others experience it with me is even better.  Her overall writing style is enchanting, it is simple and comforting and an ideal read for any child (or an adult).
     Marc Simont did a wonderful job with the illustrations for this book.  The pictures are so vivid (like children's imaginations) and it completes Udry's writing style.  What I found to be even more interesting is that the illustrations are in both color and black-white, they seem to be taking turns as you turn each page.....I can imagine asking the children what they think is the reason for the variation in illustrations and get answers like: "maybe he ran out of colors to use" or "I bet he was being silly" and I like to think it is the latter!
     I am a big environmental buff and I can definitely see myself using this book as an introduction to a lesson on caring for our environment.  I can surely see why it has earned the CALDECOTT MEDAL.