Persepolis and Persepolis 2

I loved both of the Persepolis graphic novels! They are amazing! Although, I did love the first novel more than the second. I think I was ready for a new character by the end of the second book. However, I did appreciate her transformation as a character throughout both books. The books are the memoirs of Marjane Satrapi, the author, who lived in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution. She brings the ideas of perceptions of a young girl watching a war transform her people and her life to a closer sense of reality for a sheltered woman like myself. Her story was originally published in French and has been translated to English. Another difference in the format of the book is that it was first published as four parts. Now, it is sold as two books. It is also a Bildungsroman. That is an approach that an author uses to follow development of a character from childhood to maturity. Recommended for someone who is not adverse to reading a new format that still carries a story in a wonderful, quirky manner.

Come On, Rain!

Created with beautiful, poetic language, Come On, Rain! Really lets you experience the anticipation of waiting for the rain on a smoldering summer day. Tessie and her mama have been without rain in the heat for three weeks. Tessie wants to put her suit on, but her mom won't let her. Tessie smells rain and she runs to her friends house and tells her to put her suit on. They get their suits and run out waiting for the rain. It comes. The grown-ups come out to tell them to get quiet and the rain soothes them, so they play in the street as well. Everything becomes new. The combination of illustrations and poetic language make this an unforgettable story.

Hesse, K. and Muth, J. (2000) Come on, Rain! Scholastic: New York.

100th Day worries

100th Day Worries is about a little girl named Jessica, who is just like Wemberly from Wemberly Worries, she worries all the time. This time, Jessica is worried about what she will bring to school for her 100th day project. If your school celebrates the 100th day, this book is great on the days leading up to that special day.Counting and adding are involved when looking at the other children's projects.

Cuyler, M. (2000). 100th Day Worries. New York: Simon and Schuster.

Honey, I love and other love poems

This is the most beautiful, down-to-earth book of poems for children. Greenfield invites us into the life of a child with a rope rhyme. We experience riding on a train and keeping mom company all through the eyes of a child. There are sixteen poems that will become memorized out of love for them in your classroom. Even the illustrations are well done and provided by well known illustrators Dillon and Dillon. The children in my class love "Things." They repeat it even when we are standing in line. I used it to teach them about the rhythm in poetry.
Greenfield,E. and Dillon, L. (1978) Honey, I love and other love poems. Trophy: New York.

Kitten's First Full Moon

"Still, there was the little bowl of milk, just waiting." A black and white book, Kitten's First Full Moon almost magically draws children into the plot. The kitten sees the moon and he thinks it is a big bowl of milk. So, he jumps in the pond..."Poor kitten," climbed the tree, and tried his hardest to get that milk. When he can take it no longer, he goes back to the porch, and waiting for him is a bowl of milk. Children could make black and white illustrations using charcoal after reading this book. Every child knows what it is like to try for something and be disappointed. However, the kitten got his milk after all! He just had to persevere. Henkes, K. (1994) Kitten's First Full Moon. GreenWillow Books: New York.

Ruby's Wish

Ruby is a little girl in a house of many grandchildren. She wears red everyday. Even though she doesn't have to learn, she goes to lessons everyday. As she gets older, she excels in her studies, but also has to spend a large amount of time learning how to be a wife. She writes a poem about how it is bad luck to be a girl and her grandfather ( the head of the house) is shown. He inquires to Ruby to find out why she doesn't feel as well treated as the boys and she tells him she wants to go to college. Eventually, she is given the opportunity to go to college as one of the first females in China.
This is a great way to talk about the oppression of women in history. It also deals with Chinese New Year and life in China.
Bridges, S. and Blackall, S. (2001) Ruby's Wish. Scholastic: New York.

Gossamer

Last week, I was on a Lois Lowry kick because I knew I was going to hear her speak at NYPL's Bookfest. I read Gossamer and Gathering Blue on Friday. I still need to reread the Giver and read the Messenger, so I can comment about the three companion books. Gossamer, however, was great! It was about dream-givers and their fight to instill humans with memories and happiness during sleep. The evil force gives nightmares. It was your usual battle of good versus evil, but I enjoyed it. She spoke to us on Saturday about her books being challenged over the years. She didn't really speak for free speech or anything just seemed annoyed that people challenge her books. I'm not sure how much I benefited from her keynote address, but it was cool to here her nonetheless.