Module 15, And Tango Makes Three

#1 Bibliographic Information

Richardson, Justin, and Parnell, Peter (2005).  And Tango makes three.  New York: Simon and Schuster.

#2 Summary

In this story, two male penguins at the New York City Zoo form a couple, and observing other male/female couples hatching and sitting on eggs, the two find a rock, and take turns trying to hatch it.  A zoo employee observes the animals and replaces the rock with an egg that needs nurturing.  They take turns keeping it warm, and soon, the eggs hatches Tango, who completes their family.

#3 Reaction

I actually read this book awhile ago when I was doing my storytime on Penguins.  I went to the public library, and basically checked out every single book on penguins I could find.  I thought And Tango Makes Three had a great cover, and that the size would be wonderful for storytelling, so I picked it out to read through first.  And to be totally honest, I felt a little misled and disappointed, and put it aside, thinking "well, I can't read that at a storytime, unless I want someone accusing me of having an agenda, other than teaching kids about penguins."  I don't think this book should be banned.  But if I were a mother, and checked this book out, perfectly within my reason to assume by the title that it's a story about a mommy and daddy penguin and their baby, and then read it to a son or daughter, I would be a little upset.  Not because of the content, but because I would have felt a little tricked into reading a story with a confusing message, that I may not have chosen that moment to bring up with my child.  Parents who demand the book be banned, however, are overreacting; just talk about it with your kids, if they ask questions, and then move on. Besides, it is a true story, and penguins are pretty cute.

#4 Reviews for And Tango Makes Three

Review #1

Tango has two daddies in this heartwarming tale, inspired by actual events in New York's Central Park Zoo. Two male penguins, Roy and Silo, "did everything together. They bowed to each other.… They sang to each other. And swam together. Wherever Roy went, Silo went too. … Their keeper… thought to himself, 'They must be in love.'" Cole's (The Sissy Duckling) endearing watercolors follow the twosome as they frolic affectionately in several vignettes and then try tirelessly to start a family--first they build a stone nest and then they comically attempt to hatch a rock. Their expressive eyes capture a range of moods within uncluttered, pastel-hued scenes dominated by pale blue. When the keeper discovers an egg that needs tending, he gives it to Roy and Silo, who hatch and raise the female. The keeper says, "We'll call her Tango,… because it takes two to make a Tango." Older readers will most appreciate the humor inherent in her name plus the larger theme of tolerance at work in this touching tale. Richardson and Parnell, making their children's book debut, ease into the theme from the start, mentioning that "families of all kinds" visit the zoo. This tender story can also serve as a gentle jumping-off point for discussions about same-sex partnerships in human society. Ages 4-8. (June)

--And Tango makes three.  Publishers Weekly, 25(20), 61-62.

Review #2

In this true, straightforwardly (so to speak) delivered tale, two male chinstrap penguins at New York City's Central Park Zoo bond, build a nest and--thanks to a helping hand from an observant zookeeper--hatch and raise a penguin chick. Seeing that the penguins dubbed Roy and Silo "did everything together. They bowed to each other. And walked together. They sang to each other. And swam together," their keeper, Mr. Gramzay, thinks, "They must be in love." And so, when Roy and Silo copy the other penguin couples and build a nest of stones, it's Gramzay who brings a neighboring couple's second egg for them to tend, then names the resulting hatchling "Tango." Cole gives the proud parents and their surrogate offspring small smiles, but otherwise depicts figures and setting with tidy, appealing accuracy. Unlike Harvey Fierstein's groundbreaking The Sissy Duckling (2002), also illustrated by Cole, this doesn't carry its agenda on its shoulder; readers may find its theme of acceptance even more convincing for being delivered in such a matter of fact, non-preachy way.(afterword) (Picture book/nonfiction. 5-9)

--And Tango makes three.  Kirkus Reviews, 73(11), 642.

#5 Suggestions for Library Use

While the controversial content of this book might not make it a great pick for a regular storytime, the library could advertise a special storytime with a theme of same-sex partnership--it could even be at the regular storytime hour, as long as the librarians do due diligence to inform parents of the theme before the actual day.

Module 12, The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary

#2 Bibliographic Information

Fleming, Candace (2008).  The Lincolns: a scrapbook look at Abraham and Mary.  New York: 

Schwartz & Wade Books.

#2 Summary

This exhaustive biography of the Lincolns begins with stories of Lincoln's parents, before they met, covers the childhoods and young adulthoods of both Lincoln and Mary Todd, their marriage, Lincoln's political career, the births and deaths of their children and of course the war and Lincoln's death. The biography ends with Mary Todd Lincoln's death in 1882.  The pages are filled, in newspaper style, with abundant text and numerous photographs, drawings, and documents of or related to the Lincoln's life.  

#3 Reaction

This is an amazing biography.  I have read several Lincoln biographies, but none of them brought out the  character in his and Mary Todd's nature, or the facts of their lives, like this one does.  Meticulously researched, the documents that appear in this biography, including Lincoln's published "Suicide Poem" which he wrote after breaking his first engagement with Mary, are incredibly fascinating.  This is the kind of book that one could pore over for hours again and again.  One question I have is why this is determined to be a biography for youth.  I have absolutely no doubt that it is suitable for youth, and easy enough to read, but nothing in its language specifically defines itself as a youth biography, and it is so comprehensive, well-researched and well-written that it could definitely find a place on any adult's bookshelf.

#4 Reviews for The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary

Review #1

The Lincolns was five years in the making and it shows. Candace Fleming's book exudes an easy familiarity with Abraham and Mary's lives and times due to her choices of telling details and the merry pleasure of its design. "The scrapbooktechnique…remains fresh and lively," wrote Kirkus, "a great way to provide a huge amount of information in a format that invites both browsing and in-depth study." The sweep of graphic material is impressive and beguiling--photographs, engravings, documents, posters--while antique typefaces lend a period quality to the proceedings, which extend to Mary's death. Fleming's comfort with the material comes from more than pure research. "This summer I returned to central Illinois and my hometown fair," she says. "As I strolled along the midway, I glanced down, and there lay a stone marker, reading 'The spot where Lincoln debated Douglas, September 18, 1858.' I grinned. As a child, I played in his parents' log cabin, slept in his bedroom and lived in a house on the Lincoln Heritage trail. Mr. Lincoln had simply been a natural part of my everyday life. So, I wasn't surprised to bump into him at the fair. I was, however, delighted. I felt as if I'd just run into an old friend."

--The Lincolns: a scrapbook look at Abraham and Mary. Kirkus Reviews, 76(23), 6.

Review #2

Gr 6 Up --What did this backwoods boy and this bluegrass girl have in common? Using her signature scrapbookapproach, Fleming lays out the answer in a biography that gives equal emphasis to Abraham and Mary Lincoln for an insightful portrait of their lives. Her scholarship over five years pays off with a rich account that is personal and concrete.She recounts Mary's early life as a privileged-but motherless-child, her ambitions for her husband, and her role as "first lady" (a term originally coined for her). Large and small details are juxtaposed with specifics about Lincoln and broadened by Mary's significance. For example, a political decision was made regarding her attendance at the debates; Lincolnwanted to preserve his "common man" image rather than show off his refined and educated wife. Unlike most biographies, which conclude with Lincoln's death, this one follows Mary's story to the end, detailing Robert Todd's role in her commitment to an insane asylum, Tad's death, and her own demise. Presented in period typefaces, the boxed bits of text, sidebars, and numerous running heads and subheads add detail. From portraits to pets, the book contains a wide variety of graphics, including written and visual primary documents that enrich every spread. Notes, resources, and source notes are exemplary. It's hard to imagine a more engaging or well-told biography of the Lincolns.

--Thompson, Janet (2008).   The Lincolns: a scrapbook look at Abraham and Mary.  School Library Journal, 54(10), 168.

#5 Suggestions for Library Use

Because of its magnificent presentation of photos and text (its set in an original 1800s newspaper type), this would be a great book display candidate.  I've also seen some libraries with TV screens on the wall in the teen sections, and scanning images from this book, with captions, and scrolling them on the screen would definitely draw attention.  Or it could be a full-out book trailer that plays every hour or so.  Also, if it were a book trailer, it could easily be posted on the library's facebook wall.

Module 14, A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl

#1 Bibliographic Information

Stone, Tanya Lee (2006).  A bad boy can be good for a girl. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.

#2 Summary

Josie, Nicolette and Aviva are all students at the same high school.  They don't have much in common, except their experiences with one bad boy.  Josie, a cool, confident freshman, is first.  She believes that her relationship with the bad boy is sincere, until he dumps her when he can't convince her to have sex with him.  She is stung and broken-hearted from the rejection, but Josie soon regains self-possession, and writes a warning note to all the girls in the school in the back pages of the library's copy of Judy Blume's Forever.  She passes the world along for the girls to read the book and the back pages, but Nicolette thinks she knows what she's about--in relationships, she calls the shots.  She begins with control in their relationship, but soon her feelings for the bad boy are too strong, and she lets him lead her on and use her for sex.  Their relationship ends when she discovers he's taken Aviva to a party.  Aviva is a self-defined "criss-crosser"--the kind of girl who floats in and out of all the cliques.  she's funny, smart and pretty--not popular, but not a d-lister--and she likes it that way.  The attention of the "scrictly A-list" bad boy flatters her, however, and she eventually decides to lose her virginity to him.  But after telling him "I love you," the bad boy moves on.  Nicolette and Aviva finally read Josie's warning in the back pages of Forever, and the messages scrawled there by other girls becomes a source of strength for this bad boy's victims.  In making their mistakes with him, the girls learn about themselves, becoming stronger and more prepared for love the next time.

#3 Reaction

When  I first started reading this, and Josie's first thoughts came off so confident, and self-possessed regarding relationships, I thought, "this can't be real.  No girl is like that in a high school relationship."  Thankfully, realism does take its toll on Josie, or this book would have been a failure.  Stone perfectly captures the constant negotiating and excuses that even strong women resort to when in a dysfunctional relationship.  And then, of course, the horrible heart break when the truth suddenly becomes so obvious. High school girls definitely need to read this book, if they want to arm themselves against high school boys.  One of the reviews is "Will be passed from girl to girl to girl," and I have absolutely no doubt that is true.

#4 Reviews for A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl

Review #1

Three high-school girls take turns relating their separate experiences with the same bad boy, a senior jock who seems only interested in one thing: "nailing" them. There's enough in this verse novel to make a grown woman cringe--remembering what it was like back then and that the more things change they stay the same. These narrators, despite their varied backgrounds and ambitions, are interested in, well, the physical realm of boy/girl relations and are willing to kiss and tell: They speak poetry of pedestrian language, which, at its most varied, describes erotic outings and, in one instance, oral sex. High school girls with uncomplicated reading agendas might find this brain candy gratifying. But those with SATs on their minds will find this shallow, repetitive and empty. (Fiction. YA)

--A bad boy can be good for a girl (2006). Kirkus Reviews, 74(1), 45.

Review #2

Gr 9 Up-- Three girls succumb to the charms of one sexy high school senior and emerge wiser for the experience in this energetic novel in verse. Josie is a self-assured freshman who values her girlfriends over boys until a hot jock focuses his attention on her and her simmering hormones break into a full boil. Confused by her behavior, yet unable to control her desire, she acts out every romantic cliché she has ever disdained, until the boy drops her and she experiences the chill of rejection. It is Judy Blume's Forever that sparks Josie's fire again, and finding a few blank pages at the back of the library's copy, she sends a warning to the girls of her school. Next readers meet Nicolette, a junior who sees her sexuality as power. A loner, she's caught by surprise at her own reaction when this popular boy takes notice of her. Suddenly she thinks she sees the difference between sex and love, and then, just as suddenly, he's gone. Finally, Aviva, a pretty, smart, artsy, and funny senior, is stunned when the jock seems to want her. She gives up her virginity, only to be disappointed in both the sex and the boy. Furious, Aviva heads to the library to check out Forever, now crammed with the words of girlswho suffered the same fate at the hands of the same boy. The free verse gives the stories a breathless, natural flow and changes tone with each narrator. The language is realistic and frank, and, while not graphic, it is filled with descriptions of the teens and their sexuality. This is not a book that will sit quietly on any shelf; it will be passed from girl to girl to girl.

--Oliver, Susan. A bad boy can be good for a girl (2006).  School Library Journal, 52(1), 144.

#5 Suggestions for Library Use


This could be another great facebook discussion piece, just because facebook communication allows for open, honest commentary that may not happen as easily with teens in a room.  To make it more interesting, however, the library facebook discussion leader could encourage those making comments to write their thoughts in verse, or even have a separate poetry contest, with a small prize.  

Module 13, Skeleton Key, the Graphic Novel

#1 Bibliographic Information

Horowitz, Anthony, Johnston, Antony, Kanako and Yuzuru (2009).  Skeleton Key: the graphic novel.  New York: Philomel Books.

#2 Summary

Alex Rider is 14 years old, and the best intelligence agent in Britain.  In this story, his country lends Alex to the U.S. CIA to get information on General Alexei Sarov, a suspicious Russian expatriate living in Skeleton Key, Cuba. Alex is sent there undercover to act as the son of two adult CIA agents.  When both of them are delayed in returning from an assignment, Alex searches for them, only to be captured by Sarov's stooge, where he learns that the agents are dead.  Sarov, who lost a son during wartime in Russia, feels that Alex could be his replacement.  Alex, however, disdains the idea, but his multiple attempts at escape are thwarted.  In Sarov's care, Alex learns that he plans to incapacitate the Russian President, and to detonate a nuclear bomb that will decimate Europe.  Sarov takes Alex to the site of the bomb, and, no longer desiring him as a son, leaves him handcuffed to be destroyed by the bomb.  But just in time, Alex escapes from his handcuffs and disarms the bomb, just as the Russian Army appears to give support, and take custody of Sarov.  But before they can, Sarov kills himself, leaving Rider guilt-stricken.  Back in Britain, Alex swears to never again be involved in government espionage and is able, once again, to be a 14 year-old, having fun with his friends.

#3 Reaction

Although the graphic art made this an interesting and quick read, I thought that the writing was full of stereotypes and predictability.  The Russians out to nuke the world, the deformed, maniacal assistant to Sarov, the elaborate killing methods (e.g., wanting to smash Rider in a mill, and then chaining him to the explosion site).  I also thought that Alex's character was a little bit too conceited; a too-big-for-his-britches brat.  Still, I suppose I can see how the fantasy would attract teenage readers--being a teen spy, or someone with a second identity, would definitely be fun to think about.  

#4 Reviews for Skeleton Key

Review #1

Is there a single innovative moment in this graphic adaptation of Anthony Horowitz’s third novel of teen super-spy Alex Rider? Not really, no. From the “pre-credits” sequence to the Bondian gadgets, from the megalomaniacal villain with a penchant for explaining things to the nuclear bomb–defusing climax, even the most inexperienced spy-fiction reader is likely to see what’s coming next. Does the adaptation contain any real substance or insight? Oh, come now. When the orphaned 14-year-old notes that he may lack a proper family but at least he gets to sun himself in five-star hotels, you can rest assured they’ve given up human drama in favor of bang-up action set-pieces. Does it have a place in your collection? Absolutely. It will be much enjoyed by those looking for a lightweight adventure with a high body count, a propulsive (though wordy) plot, and well-choreographed action rendered in capable illustration. Such readers might also be directed to Charlie Higson’s more thoughtful and involving Young Bond series, which is due to be adapted into graphic-novel form in 2010. Grades 7-10. 

--Karp, Jesse.  Review.  Booklist. Retrieved from: http://www.amazon.com/Skeleton-Key-Graphic-Novel-Rider/dp/product-description/0399254188/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

Review #2

If America is the spiritual home of the superhero, Britain is Great because of spies and detectives. Our popular literary heritage is littered with cunning sleuths and stealthy investigators from Sherlock Holmes, Sexton Blake, Campion and Lord Peter Wimsey to the Scarlet Pimpernel, George Smiley and Harry Palmer. And Bond: James Bond…

In 2000 Anthony Horowitz produced Stormbreaker, the first of eight (and counting…) rip-snorting teen novels featuring 14 year old orphan Alex Rider: a smart, fit, sports-mad lad like any other, who suddenly discovers that his guardian Uncle Ian has also died. Moreover the deceased gentleman was apparently a spy of some distinction and had been surreptitiously teaching the lad all the skills, techniques and disciplines needed to become a secret agent…

Soon MI6 are knocking on his door…

As well as a major motion picture and video game, the books (the first three so far) have also been adapted to the comics medium; their easy blend of action, youthful rebellion and overwhelmingly comfortable 007-style pastiche winning many fans in the traditionally perilous older-boys book market. They’re really rather good…

I’m reviewing this particular graphic novel simply because it caught my eye on my last trip to the local library (how soft modern kids do have it; when I was a portly nipper you had to sneak comics into the place and read them concealed behind gigantic atlases or art books), but even though I’ve previously ignored them I can honestly say now that I’ll be seeking out the previous adaptations and eagerly waiting forthcoming ones…

Alex is a highly effective but reluctant agent, preferring the normal life of his boarding school to the clandestine machinations of espionage. However his occasional paymasters at MI6 are always looking for ways to exploit his obvious talents. A seemingly innocent offer to work as a ball-boy at the Wimbledon Tennis tournament leads to him foiling a huge gambling scam by a Chinese Triad.

Unfortunately this makes him a target for Triad vengeance, so his “boss” Mr. Crawford suggests a little trip to Cuba until the heat dies down.

Roll Credits…

Alex soon discovers he has been “borrowed” by the CIA to add camouflage to a reconnaissance mission involving Alexei Sarov, an old Stalinist Soviet general who is up to something particularly nasty with stolen atomic weapons from his isolated fortress on the Cayo Esqueleto or “Skeleton Key”.

Tasked with finding out what the old soldier is planning, the American agents at first make him less than welcome, resenting his presence and not trusting a “mere kid”, but I’m sure they changed their minds around about the moment when they got murdered…

Now the only operative in the game, Alex is soon captured by Sarov who proves to be an unbeatable opponent. Moreover he has a most unique fate planned for the boy after his plans for global annihilation are achieved: he wants to adopt him…

This is an immensely entertaining romp, hitting all the thrill-buttons for an ideal summer blockbluster, even though it’s told – and very convincingly – from the viewpoint of an uncertain boy rather than a suave, sophisticated adult. Donkin’s adaptation is sharp and witty, capturing the insecurities and verve of the young hero perfectly whilst the art by sisters Kanako & Yuzuru Takasaki is in a full-colour, computer-rendered manga style that might not please everybody but does work exceedingly well in conveying the softer moments as well as the spectacular action set-pieces.

Be warned however, even though this is a kid’s book there is a substantial amount of fighting and a large bodycount, and the violence is not at all cartoony in context. If you intend sharing the book with younger children, read it yourself first.

These books and their comic counterparts are a fine addition to our fiction tradition. Alex Rider will return… why don’t you join him?

--Wiacek, Win. (2010).  Skeleton Key: the graphic novel. Now read this!  Retrieved from: http://www.comicsreview.co.uk/nowreadthis/2010/05/14/skeleton-key-the-graphic-novel-an-alex-rider-adventure/

#5 Suggestions for Library Use

To play up the adventure of this series, the library could host its own spy-game, although that would take a lot of creative thinking.  Perhaps the library could create an Alex Rider facebook page, which would exclusively promote the series by providing summaries and reviews, and allowing readers to write their own reviews and comments.

Module 11, What the World Eats

#1 Bibliographic Information

D'Aluisio, Faith D. (2008). What the world eats. Berkeley, CA: Tricycle Press.

#2 Summary

In what the world eats, D'Aluisio and photographer, Peter Menzel travel to several countries, cities, towns and villages to photograph and interview one family there and what they eat.  These profiles are also accompanied by statistics of where each family lives; for example, population, the primary method of procuring food (store or land) and method of cooking food, among others.  Their travels take them to prosperous (the U.S.) as well as to third world countries (Chad).  The author's intention is to call attention to why Americans, and those in prosperous countries with access to healthy foods, are actually less healthy, and of course, how diets change based on the economic level of families and countries, and 

based on the naturally grown or hunted foods in the region.

#3 Reaction

I thought this book was enormously fun to read, and so informative.  The pictures and the text are of such high quality that it made me feel as though I was watching a documentary, or (without the pictures) listening to a story on NPR.  The pictures and interviews are fascinating (the photographer places a week's worth of food in front of the family who eats it, and I spent most of my time looking at every single item), but this book wouldn't be as fun without the accompanying statistics; the context is what makes it so interesting.  I also appreciated that the authors state "that none of these families is meant to be a statistical representation of the country in which they live.  They represent themselves, and even then as only a snapshot in time" (D'Aluisio, 11).  I don't think I would have enjoyed the book as much if the authors had meant each family were to bear the burden of representing their countries.  Indeed, their personal stories are also intriguing.  This is a wonderful book, and would be great to enjoy as a family.

#4 Reviews for What the World Eats 

Review #1

Adapted from last year's Hungry Planet, this brilliantly executed work visits 25 families in 21 countries around the world. Each family is photographed surrounded by a week's worth of food and groceries, which Menzel and D'Aluisio use as a way of investigating not only different cultures' diets and standard of living but also the impact of globalization: why doesn't abundance bring better health, instead of increased occurrences of diabetes and similar diseases? These points are made lightly: delivered almost conversationally, the main narrative presents friendly, multigenerational portraits of each family, with meals and food preparation an avenue toward understanding their hopes and struggles. A wealth of supporting information--lush color photographs, family recipes, maps, sidebars, etc.--surrounds the text (superb design accomplishes this job harmoniously) and implies questions about global food supplies. Pictures of subsistence farmers in Ecuador cultivating potatoes from mountainous soil form sharp contrasts with those of supermarkets in a newly Westernized Poland. Fact boxes for each country tabulate revealing statistics, among them the percentage of the population living on less than $2 per day (47% in China, where the average daily caloric intake is nonetheless 2,930 per person); the percentage with diabetes; number of KFC franchises.Engrossing and certain to stimulate. All ages. (Sept.)

--What the world eats (2008).  Publishers Weekly, 255(35), 53-55.

Review #2

Can too much information give readers intellectual indigestion? When is it better to graze through a book rather than consuming it in one sitting? Is it possible to make good-for-you information as delicious as (guilty) pleasure reading? The adapted version of Hungry Planet:What the World Eats (2005) raises all of these questions. Intended to inform middle-schoolers of the wide variety of food traditions as well as discrepancies in access to adequate nutrition, this collection of photos, essays and statistics will require thoughtful concentration.Adapted and abridged text, a larger font size, the addition of small maps and basic facts about each country and the deletion of some photos that might have been judged inappropriate or disturbing help to make the wealth of information accessible to this audience. Theplentiful photos are fascinating, offering both intimate glimpses of family life and panoramic views of other lands. Whether used for research or received as a gift from socially conscious adults, this version offers children plenty to chew over--but it'll take them some time to truly digest. (Nonfiction. 11-14)

--What the world eats (2008).  Kirkus Reviews, 76(14), 163.

#5 Suggestions for Library Use

Since this is such a rich study, it could probably inspire a library health food program.  Perhaps a week-long program in which children and their parents, using the model in What the world eats, record what they eat, their costs and ingredients, and then examine their choices.  This could help kids in being more conscientious in their food choices, and hopefully help them to make healthier ones.     

Module 10, Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy

#1 Bibliographic Information

Bildner, Phil, and Payne, C.F. (2002).  Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy.  New York: Simon and Schuster.

#2 Summary

In this tale, Shoeless Joe, still a minor-league player runs into trouble with his batting average.  He asks his old friend and bat-builder extraordinaire, Charlie Ferguson to build him a bat that will break his slump.  Charlie builds him a beautiful bat of oak, and Joe names her Betsy Ross, after the flag-maker, but still, Shoeless Joe can't swing.  He goes back to Charlie and instructs him to make one of hickory ("my last name's Jackson, just like the seventh president of the United States, Andrew Jackson.  They called him 'Old Hickory'"), from the north side of tree (the strongest).  Charlie does so, but still, Jackson strikes out.  Back at Ol' Charlie's, Jackson asks him to make her big mean; Charlie builds her to 48 oz. (1 for each of the 48 states) and rubs her in tobacco juice to make her black and scary.  With this, Joe has success, and even makes it to the majors, but soon he's back to where he started--at Ol' Charlie's.  This happens twice, and each time, Charlie tells him to care for the bat; first, to let it sleep in his bed with him, and second, to wrap it in cotton, so it'll feel at home in the North, just like in the South.  Finally, Black Betsy breaks Joe out of his slump for good, and he becomes a legendary ball player, with the best batting average of any rookie in the history of baseball.

#3 Reaction

I love the history of baseball, so I think this book is a cute way to introduce kids to the "magic" of the sport.  I also appreciated that in the afterword, the author includes the story of Shoeless Joe's infamous involvement (never proven) in throwing the 1919 World Series.  It also clarifies that the book is based on Joe's particular care of his bats, but that he did not make it 48 oz. for the number of states (only 46 at the time, anyway).  It gives an overview of the rest of Joe's career, and a summary of his stats.  What a great way to get to know a player; first the story, then the facts.  Also, the illustrations are wonderful near-caricatures, and Joe truly looks like a legend.  

#4 Reviews for Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy

Review #1
Gr 1-5 From the intriguing title to the informative afterword, this picture book will capture the attention of young baseball fans. Told in a folksy, Southern voice, with many of the stylistic elements of a tall tale, it follows Joseph Jefferson Jackson's early-20th-century path between the minor and major leagues. A series of slumps takes him to the door of bat smith Ol' Charlie, who dispenses homespun advice along with his products. The repetition and wry humor of the exchanges between the two superstitious characters pull the legend out of the story. Payne's frequent use of foreshortening highlights the role of Black Betsy (the bat); it also heightens the visual eccentricities of the two friends. The mixed-media illustrations are layered and rich in texture, qualities that add depth and drama. Bildner's bias in favor of his subject is evident in the afterword describing the allegations against Joe and his teammates (a scandal that ended their careers). A page of the hitter's major l eague and World Series statistics concludes the book. This title is in the same league as David A. Adler's fine Lou Gehrig (1997) and Peter Golenbock's important Teammates (1990,both Harcourt).

--Jones, Trevelyn E. (2002).  Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy. School Library Journal, 48(4), 100.

Review #2

Is great hitting in the clean, natural swing of the batter--or the perfectly balanced feel of the bat? As kids know when they start playing baseball, small details must converge just right to overcome the edge between winning and losing, hitting and striking out. Sometimes this translates into superstitions or quirky behavior. First-time author Bildner toes this question in the quirks of Shoeless Joe Jackson and his feared bat, Black Betsy. Joe, who played in the major leagues from 1908 to 1920, does well in the minor leagues, but can't seem to move up without the help of his South Carolina friend, the great bat-maker Charlie Ferguson. While Charlie knows how to make the best bat, it's not hard to decide which needs tweaking more, the bat or Joe's mind so he can finally realize his great potential. From Joe sleeping with the bat to his wrapping it in the cotton of his southern roots, Bildner sticks mostly to the main facts and resists a romanticization of the game. Players who know the perfect, sweeping amalgamation of hand, eye, and sweet spot might expect to hear its dramatic tenor whenJoe cracks the ball with Black Betsy, but this is a story finished by statistics. Payne's (Brave Harriet, p. 944, etc.) mixed-media illustrations are gorgeous: the fuzz is in the flannel and the light is just right. And so are his perspectives, angles, and other compositional choices that make for the right mix of mystery and narrative to draw the reader in. A lengthy synopsis of Joe's entire career and his statistics are appended. (Picture book. 5-8)

--Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy (2001).  Kirkus Reviews, 69(24), 1754.

#5 Suggestion for Library Use

The large colorful illustrations of this book would make it a great part of a baseball display for the summer, and a fantastic read-aloud for storytime.  

Module 9, Trouble is My Beeswax

#1 Bibliographic Information

Hale, Bruce (2004). Trouble is my beeswax. Orlando: Harcourt.

#2 Summary

Chet Gecko, a famous detective at Hicky Elementary, is snoozing in class one day, when his teacher angrily accuses the majority of the class of cheating on the last history exam.  Then conveniently, an answer key is found right at Shirley Chameleon's feet.  She claims innocence, but is punished regardless, and hires Chet to solve the mystery of who framed her.  Hounded by the school newspaper's ace reporter for news related to the investigation, Chet soon learns that Hicky Elementary has a vast cheating ring.  But how and who remain unsolved.  But one day, in his computer class, Chet receives an email that leads him to the conclusion that the method is an online cheating ring.  Yet he keeps turning up cold clues, until a quote appears in the school newspaper that the journalist couldn't possibly have heard.  Unless...she is the cheating ring leader!  Chet uncovers the mystery just in time to escape punishment for himself, and the rest of the class.

#3 Reaction

Oh goodness, this was such a fun read!  Okay, the constant puns and wisecracks did get old after awhile, but it's a cute book, and I can see how kids would want to fantasize about being a mystery-solving king! This is the only book I've read in this series, but I can certainly see why the author is well-known throughout the elementary school, and library world.  It's also a great way to instill a horror of cheating!

#4 Reviews for Trouble is My Beeswax

Review #1

Gr 3-6-- Children will definitely relate to this funny installment in the series. Investigating the theft of answers for a history test leads Chet to a ring of dishonest students at Emerson Hicky Elementary school. As he and his loyal mockingbird partner, Natalie Attired, take this case to heart, they also throw out many one-liners and stabs at humor. It is inconsequential if readers fully appreciate or understand all of the humor because the story moves along smoothly and Chet's investigation techniques are clever, corny, and comical. The tale is told in an almost Mickey Spillane style; narrative is pretty much tongue-in-cheek, many character's names are perfectly hilarious, and snacks and treats are described in detail. This visit with Chet will be a popular choice.

Tarr, Andrea (2003). Trouble is my beeswax: from the tattered casebook of Chet Gecko, private eye (book).  School Library Journal, 49(11), 95-96.

#5 Suggestions for Library Use

This would be a great opportunity for a costume party!  Perhaps to promote a new book in the series, the library could let all the kids dress as their favorite Chet Gecko character, and even eat bug-inspired foods (e.g. gummy worms, etc.).