Module 3, Golem and A Tree is Nice

#1 Bibliographic Information

Wisniewski, D. (1996). Golem. New York: Clarion Books.

#2 Summary

In Medieval Prague, Jewish people are being mercilessly persecuted. There seems to be no escape, until Rabbi Loew forms Golem, a man of clay. Golem is given one solitary purpose: to protect the Jews--when his service is finished, Golem is warned that he will be returned to clay. Golem performs his service admirably and demolishes a mob of persecutors while defending the Jews. Yet when Golem's job is done, Rabbi Loew, true to his word, demolishes Golem, even while the giant begs to be spared. 

#3 Reaction

At first, I was very hesitant in accepting that this book was for children. It probably didn't help that my nephew, who's 3, and happened to be looking through my stack of class books, saw the cover of this one, and said, "this one's too scary", as though he was criticizing my reading selections. He was, however, very intrigued by the cover, and kept asking me to read it to him, which I refused to do, because of his age. Upon reflection, I actually think that this is a very interesting retelling of this legend (although probably not one for a toddler). Sometimes I think adults underestimate the mental capacities of children, but I think, depending on the child, intense stories are more likely to affect and teach children. How the child is affected--scared, disturbed, curious, or sympathetic--depends on the child, and I wouldn't recommend this book to every parent. First of all, I can imagine children asking all kinds of history and culture questions ("why were they doing that to those people?" "what does Rabbi mean?" "what's matzoh?" "what's passover?") which might catch the parent a little off guard, and in for a longer storytime than intended. 

Also, I was truly moved by the illustrations, which are so roughly cut and dark that they multiply the feelings of fascination, despair, and sympathy by a thousand. 

#4 Reviews for Golem

Review #1

A monumental story of good and evil — and the gray areas in between — receives a dramatic presentation through Wisniewski's intricately cut colored-paper collage. The story takes place in sixteenth-century Prague, where Jews are being attacked mercilessly following the general acceptance of the "Blood Lie," a rumor that Jews are making their Passover bread from flour, water, and the blood of Christian children. To protect his people, Rabbi Loew decides to invoke the Golem, a giant made of clay. After creating the giant, the rabbi places the word emet (truth) on Golem's forehead. Every night Golem leaves the walled Ghetto, catching the men planting false evidence of the Blood Lie, and delivering them to the authorities. When Golem grows larger and more violent, killing many of his enemies, the emperor guarantees the Jews' safety if the rabbi will destroy Golem. Golem tries to hold on to his animated state, but the rabbi erases the first letter from the word on his forehead, changing emet (truth) to met (death), and Golem collapses into a mound of clay. Despite his violence, Golem is a sympathetic character; like King Kong or the monster in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (which this legend may have influenced), Golem is young and innocent, with a childlike ability to love and trust. The crisply cut colored-paper illustrations have been painstakingly created to show both small details and large landscapes. At times, some fussy detailing can distract the eye away from the main action, but not enough to dilute the power of the central character or the story. An extensive note provides origins and variations of the legend.

--Robinson, L. (1997). Golem. Horn Book Magazine (73)2, 208.

Review #2

Elaborately composed cut-paper spreads give a 3D, puppet-show-like quality to a retelling of a Jewish legend. Rabbi Loew has a prophetic vision in 1580 when the Jews of Prague are accused of mixing the blood of Christian children into matzoh: he must create a Golem, "a giant of living clay, animated by Cabala, mystical teachings of unknown power." Brought to life with apocalyptic explosions of steam and rain, the Golem seeks out the perpetrators of the Blood Lie and turns them over to the authorities. Thwarted, the enraged enemies of the Jews storm the gates of the ghetto, but the Golem grows to enormous height and violently defeats them with their own battering ram. Once his work is done, he pitifully (and futilely) begs the Rabbi: "Please let me live! I did all that you asked of me! Life is so... precious... to me!" Wisniewski (The Wave of the Sea Wolf) emphasizes the Golem's humanity and the problems with his existence; instead of reducing the legend to a tale of a magical rescuer, the author allows for its historical and emotional complexity. The fiery, crisply layered paper illustrations, portraying with equal drama and precision the ornamental architecture of Prague and the unearthly career of the Golem, match the specificity and splendor of the storytelling. An endnote about the history and influence of the legend is particularly comprehensive. Ages 6-10. (Oct.)

--Golem. (1996). Publishers Weekly (243)43, 83.

#5 Suggestions for Library Use

The themes of this book--persecution, heroism(?)--and its historical fiction genre, make it a perfect centerpiece for a theme on heroes, factual or fictional, in different cultures. How to use this theme, however, is not so obvious. Of course, a storytime would be fine, but puppets and crafts don't seem to exactly fit the intensity of the message. Perhaps this book could be featured in a special class for kids and their parents on Jewish culture and history, with other, lighter informational subject material taking part. Perhaps kids could learn how to make matzoh or make dreidels, learn significant facts about Jewish history (where Golem, and other books would come in) while an authority on Jewish culture answered all of their curious questions.

#1 Bibliographic Information

Udry, L. & Simont, M. (1956). A tree is nice. New York: Harper Collins.

#2 Summary

A Tree is Nice describes all that trees do for us: they provide a beautiful landscape, food, shade and shelter, rest and entertainment. In addition, the illustrations show us how we daily enjoy the benefits of trees; a reminder, certainly, of why a tree is nice.

#3 Reaction

After Golem, A Tree is Nice was underwhelming. I appreciate the message it sends about loving nature, specifically trees, and what they do for us, and I think children can relate to all of the wonderful pictures of children enjoying trees (playing on them, and in their leaves, picking apples, resting in the shade, etc.)--most children have done at least one of these things, and the story really makes you think what you would be missing without trees. And although it's not the kind of book that stays with you in the same way Golem does, it's probably intended for a younger age group. Still, the language of A Tree is Nice doesn't seem to flow very well, and in my opinion, could use a little spicing up--can I get some millions and billions and trillions of trees?! It's a good message, but I think the text could be a little more interesting.

#4 Reviews for A Tree is Nice

Review #1

This book tells the young reader why a tree is a good thing to have around because among many things trees provide food, shade, places for a tree houses, and places to hide from dogs. The illustrations occupy most of the pages, which alternate between full color and black and white. While the book is enjoyable and informative, the use of the four-letter word "nice"--is one that is overused in this text.
--Mary Sue Preissner (Children's Literature). Retrieved from Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, April 7, 2011.

Review #2 
It won the Caldecott Medal in 1956 - but the pictures are timeless. Marc Simont illustrated two of James Thurber's books, according to the book's jacket, and had also written and illustrated several books of his own. For "ATree is Nice," he teamed up with Janice May Udry, who grew up in "a city famous for its elm trees." After leaving Jacksonville, Illinois, she'd moved to the south, where she searched for a beautiful tree that could grow quickly - and for Simont's next project, she wrote about trees.

"Trees are very nice," the book begins. "They fill up the sky." But it's not a story as much as an open-ended meditation. Simont draws a boy fishing in a stream, as Udry writes that trees are found by rivers, and also on hills. "Trees make the woods," she writes simply, and feels compelled add a personal response. "They make everything beautiful."

There's a sketch of a child in the crook of a tree's branch, and a title page illustration that looks like a cartoon. Throughout the book, Simont switches between color and black-and-white white illustrations, which makes each drawing a little more surprising. There's a horse in the shadow of a tree, with the white page representing a bright field. And the next page shows brilliant autumn colors, with reds and yellows in the leaves of the trees.

Udry lists out the things you can do with a tree. You can play in a pile of leaves, or rake them into a bonfire. You can climb it, or pretend it's a ship, and if it's an apple tree, pick it's fruit! "Cats get away from dogs by going up the tree," Udry adds "Birds build nests in trees and live there." They're all facts that we've heard before, but it's strangely ompelling to see them collected together.

"Sticks come off the trees too. We draw in the sand with the sticks." The book has a simplicity that's almost zen-like, as Udry simply continues listing out the uses for a tree. "A tree is nice to hang a swing in... It is a good place to lean your hoe while you rest." It's a fond book, and enthusiastic - and Udry resists the pressure to dream up a story. It takes a certain amount of integrity to simply share all the details, and let the trees speak for themselves.

There's three pages about shade - with trees sheltering cows, houses, and even people on a picnic. "The tree holds of the wind and keeps the wind from blowing the roof off the house..." But the secret agenda of the book lies in its final pages, saying that a tree is nice...to plant.

Udry ultimately says that planting a tree makes other people want to plant one themselves.
--Zilla, M. (2009). Book reviews: a tree is nice, by Janice May Udry. Retrieved from:
http://www.helium.com/items/1369116-caldecott-medal-winner-childrens-book-about-trees.

#5 Suggestions for Library Use

A Tree is Nice would be a perfect book to use in the spring, or fall, when the effect of trees is most powerful. It could be read as part of a program teaching kids to enjoy nature--perhaps a library-hosted nature hike, or a trip to an apple orchard, if one is near.

Module 2, Millions of Cats and Bread and Jam for Frances

#1 Bibliographic Information

Gag, Wanda. (1988).  Millions of Cats.  New York: Coward-McCann.

#2 Summary

A man and his wife have grown old and find that they are lonely.  The man's wife tells him that she would be happy with a cat to keep her company, and her husband sets out to find just the one.  But on his journey he incredibly comes upon a hillside covered in cats--"millions and billions and trillions of cats"!  He looks for the prettiest one, but each time he believes he has chosen it, he spots another just as pretty--and before he knows it, he is taking home all the millions and billions and trillions of cats!  When he arrives home his wife is overwhelmed by their number and says they can keep only one.  The cats, thereby, begin to fight over which is the prettiest and who should stay, until they wipe each other out, leaving just one ugly cat left.  The cat, who did not believe itself pretty enough to stay, had stayed out of the argument.  The man and his wife take the scraggly cat in, and love it--and the cat soon becomes very beautiful to them.

#3 Reaction

I find that it's so difficult to judge children's books as an adult, especially those that I never read as a child, because I can't remember how a child thinks.  However, I think this is a charming book and can see why a child might immediately love it.  The idea of a lonely elderly couple in search of a cat to make them happy, first of all, is not only darling, but immediately tugs on sympathy strings, which I think that children are very susceptible to.  But then, when the man, in search of the cat, stumbles upon the millions and billions and trillions of cats!!  How exciting!  I can imagine a child being read this story, and giggling with wide eyes at that part every time.  But of course, the most endearing part of the story is the end, when the couple finds themselves loving not the most beautiful cat, as they had intended, but one of the ugliest--and more importantly, the sweetest and most humble.  Young children know what it is to feel left out, and this part in the book certainly highlights it.  The lesson that beauty (and other superficiality) is only skin deep and that love does not depend on it, I don't think, gets old for kids.  This book is charming, funny, and sweet--a classic for good reason.

#4 Reviews for Millions of Cats

Review #1
A children's book about cats...millions of them!

Named by School Library Journal as one of the "One Hundred Books That Shaped the Century" (theprevious century), Millions of Cats is a treasure. It is also one of the few picture books to win a Newbery Honor, and it is reckoned by some to be the oldest American picture book still in print!

It's a simple tale. The very old woman's husband sets out in search of the perfect cat for his wife. Then he comes across a hill "which was quite covered in cats." Millions and billions and trillions of cats.

This poses a bit of a dilemma. The old man wants the prettiest cat for his wife, but the more he looks the harder it is to decide which is the prettiest. So he invites them all to return home with him. Along the way they drain a pond and denude a hillside. Millions of cats can do a fair amount of ecological damage! The very old woman is, naturally, a bit overwhelmed. She resolves to let the cats themselves decide which is the prettiest and therefore should stay with the old couple. But it turns out that asking a bunch of cats which is the prettiest only leads to disagreement among the vain creatures. The old couple retreats into their house when quite the argument ensues. When they re-emerge, not a single cat is in evidence. It seems they all ate each other! But there, in the tall grass, they spot one scraggly, scrawny, frightened little kitten. When they ask him how he survived, he explains that he was the only one who didn't claim to be the prettiest...so all the other cats left him out of the fight!

And therein lies Wanda Gág's lesson for us all: vanity will get you nowhere...except ingested. Beauty is only skin-deep. The little kitten, of course, grows up to be the prettiest cat of all...though presumably if he knows that, he's learned to keep it to himself!

One other neat thing about Millions of Cats: it's in black and white! That means you can Xerox off copies and make it a coloring (or watercoloring) book too.
--Barancik, Steve.  Wanda Gag's Millions of cats. Retrieved from http://www.best-childrens-books.com/millions-of-cats.html.


Review #2
Hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats. the enchanting refrain from Wanda Gág's classic children's book has been stuck in my head for weeks.As I pondered these incomprehensible figures, the inspiration for my humble number 27 hit me. Hundreds of reviews, thousands of reviews, millions of. it sounded all too familiar. Of course! Millions of Cats was always one of my favorites. This charming little picture book has been beloved by several generations. Originally published in 1928, this Newbery Medal Honor book has withstood the test of time. Though simply illustrated with black and white line drawings and lovingly hand-lettered, it is every bit as engaging as most of what today's high-tech publishers can churn out. Not only do I have fond memories of enjoying this book as a child, I have wonderful moments of sharing it with my son to reflect upon. Hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats.He would giggle himself silly every time that simple refrain would be repeated. The fact that I always hammed up the reading didn't hurt any. This same young man (now 15) just came across the brand-spanking new copy of the book that currently sits on my desk. (I had to buy a new one; his copy was given away long ago.) His reaction was touching. "I remember this book. I used to love it. We read it together all the time." It was a moment to savor. Until he noticed the author's name, "Gag? What kind of a name is that?" "It's not Gag. It's Gág." Once again the author was unwittingly able to elicit a round of giggles. (Why are kids so much cuter when they're little?) Regardless, he sat down and revisited the book with a smile.So, what exactly is it about a modest 32-page picture book that can leave hundreds, thousands, millions of readers imprinted with indelible fond memories? Well, the book works on so many levels. It can be a charming, wonderfully illustrated little story about a lonely elderly couple that wants to enliven their home by adopting a cat. Or, it can be a vehicle for quite a few life lessons. "Once upon a time there was a very old man and a very old woman. They lived in a nice clean house which had flowers all around it except where the door was. But they couldn't be happy because they were so very lonely. 'If we only had a cat!' sighed the very old woman.' " So the very old man set out on a quest to find the perfect cat to bring home to his wife. Unfortunately this indiscriminate old fool exhibited very little impulse control and brought back every cat he came across. And, yes, there were millions of them, every single one as pretty as the next. "Pretty soon the very old woman saw them coming. 'My dear!' she cried, "What are you doing? I asked for one little cat, and what do I see? - Cats here, cats there, cats and kittens everywhere, hundreds of cats, thousands of cats." Well you know the rest. " 'But we can never feed them all,' said the very old woman, 'They will eat us out of house and home.' 'I never thought of that,' said the very old man, 'What shall we do?' " The old woman proposed that the cats decide which one should be kept. The old man presented the following challenge to the cats: "Which one of you is the prettiest?" What ensued is probably the largest catfight in all of children's literature. (Unless you include the bickering between Cinderella's stepsisters.) The outcome? All the cats vanished. Presumed eaten. Consumed by their own vanity. All save one scrawny, unattractive kitten who survived the cat-astrophe simply because it had a self-esteem problem and did not assert itself as the prettiest. So, the elderly couple took in this lone survivor and loved and nurtured it despite its shortcomings. Eventually, the homely kitten, the beneficiary of the couple's love and attention, blossomed into "a very pretty cat, after all." Was the cat any different than it was initially, or did the couple's perception change as they grew to love it? We may never know. But, it may be an interesting point to discuss with our children. What are the consequences of impulsive behavior? Why do we set limits? Should we judge by appearances alone? What values may be more important? How does vanity serve us in our lives? Or, humility for that matter? We can learn quite a bit from a simple children's story. I can honestly say that as a young girl I learned one significant lesson from reading this book; one that has stayed with me to this day: Always think twice before sending your husband out on an errand.
--Ascalon, S. Litterbox odor a problem?  Retrieved from http://book.consumerhelpweb .com/authors/gag/0698113632.htm.

#5 Suggestion for Library Use


After a talk on the book themes, such as the value of good character, over looks, etc, one activity might be to have the children either draw, or write (depending on their age) what they like about themselves outside of looks, and what they like best about maybe a sibling, or a friend.  Likely, their friends will not be their friends because they're selfish, or self-centered, but because they're nice and fun.  Afterward, the children could share their ideas with the group.  This activity would highlight how unimportant looks truly are in our relationships with others.

#1 Bibliographic Information

Hoban, Russell. (1993). Bread and Jam for Frances.  New York: Harper Collins.

#2 Summary

Frances loves bread and jam.  She loves it so much, in fact, that she refuses everything else that touches her plate; boiled eggs, chicken salad, and even veal cutlets aren't appetizing to Frances.  Finally, Frances's mother decides to give in to Frances's picky eating habits, and begins to serve her bread and jam for every meal, while the rest of the family continues to eat the lovely hot meals Frances's mother prepares.  One evening at supper, however, jarred by this scheme of reverse psychology, and feeling left out, Frances bursts into tears over her jam and bread, yearning for the spaghetti on everyone else's plates.  Her mother gives Frances the spaghetti, and from then on, Frances is satisfied with more than just jam and bread.

#3 Reaction

I have read other Frances books but not this one, until now.  One thing that I appreciate about the Frances books that also holds true with this one, is how realistic they are.  Who hasn't known, or been, a child who's a picky eater?  Or a child who imagines scary things in the dark, as in Bedtime for Frances?  This character is incredibly relatable, and her imagination really seems like it's been pulled, verbatim, out of a child's mind.  Added to this, Frances also has an element of the silly about her, which may be visible to children.  This, I would think, makes the lesson more tangible for the child reading it; Frances is silly; I don't want to be silly; therefore, I will not be like Frances and will eat what my parents make for me.  Bedtime for Frances was my favorite book when I was little, so I am somewhat biased toward this character.  Then again, considering this book's reputation, I'm sure there are many who feel the same way.

#4 Reviews for Bread and Jam for Frances

Review #1

Frances loves nothing better than jam and bread, and turns up her nose at other kinds of food. Then her mother starts giving Frances jam and bread for breakfast, lunch and dinner. "What I am/is sick of Jam," Frances sings to herself. That's the end of Frances's jam-only days, as she discovers, in her own winsome way, that variety really is the spice of mealtimes. 

--From Publishers' Weekly, retrieved from: http://www.amazon.com/Bread-Jam-Frances-Read-Book/dp/product-description/0064430960/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books.

K-Gr 2-- Frances refuses to eat anything but bread and jam. Eventually, with some help from her friends and her younger sister, she comes to see that variety truly is the spice of life. The pop of color in the pink jam on white bread contrasts strongly with the little badger's black-and-white fur, making it an effective focal point.

Gallagher, G. (2006). Bread and jam for Frances. School Library Journal (52)7, 45.

Suggestions for Library Use

If parents consented, it would be fun, although probably not very educational, to eat bread and jam while listening to the story.  As for an actual lesson, I learned to read on Bedtime for Frances, and the repetition of words in this book makes it a good beginning reader story, as well.  Therefore, depending on the age group of the children, focusing on the words, perhaps asking the kids questions like, "what did Frances like to eat?"  and then posting the answers on a large board, asking each time, how do we spell "jam?" etc., would help familiarize kids with the words.