Grandfather's Journey

Grandfather's Journey

Written and Illustrated by: Allen Say

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"Through compelling reminiscences of his grandfather's life in America and Japan, Allen Say gives us a poignant account of a family's unique cross-cultural experience. He warmly conveys his own love for his two countries, and the strong and constant desire to be in both places at once."

Publishers Synopsis

From the Author:
"I am striving to give shape to my dreams--the old business of making myths--the fundemental force of art. And so, GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY is essentially a dream book, for the life's journey is an endless dreaming of the places we have left behind and the places we have yet to reach."--Allen Say (Caldecott Medal Acceptance Speech )

Online Resources:
http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~elbond/grand.htm

Rosa

Rosa

Written by: Nikki Giovanni
Illustrated by: Bryan Collier

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"Fifty years after her refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus, Mrs. Rosa Parks is still one of the most important figures in the American civil rights movement. This tribute to Mrs. Parks is a celebration of her courageous action and the events that followed.

Award-winning poet, writer, and activist Nikki Giovanni’s evocative text combines with Bryan Collier’s striking cut-paper images to retell the story of this historic event from a wholly unique and original perspective."

Publishers Synopsis

Online Resources:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonplans/bookfairs/currconnection/rosa.htm
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/video.jsp?pID=1640149541&bcpid=1640149541&bclid=1557820329&bctid=1688353958

The Faithful Friend

The Faithful Friend

Written by: Robert D. San Souci
Illustrated by: Brian Pinkney

Elementary Grades

"Clement and Hippolyte are handsome, sharp-witted, and as close as brothers. When Clement falls in love with enchanting Pauline, he bids Hippolyte to join his quest to court her, and the two friends set out toward danger and adventure.

Pauline is ward of the mysterious Monsieur Zabocat -- a plantation owner reputed to be a quimboiseur, a wizard -- and, defying his wishes, Pauline joins her new fiancé and his friend on their trek home. But the fruited fields and forests they traverse hide dark forces plotting to destroy the couple...and one night -- Tam! Tam! Tamtamtam! -- the distant sound of a drum lures Hippolyte into a deadly trap that forces him to choose between his friend's safety and his own.

Robert D. San Souci and Brian Pinkney again combine their talents to bring to life a West Indian folktale that draws upon African, European, and South American traditions and imagery. The result is an extraordinary tale of romance, intrigue, and incomparable courage in which the truest of friends remain faithful to the very end."

Publishers Description

An afterword gives valuable information about the origins of the tale, and a glossary with pronunciation makes reading aloud and/or telling the tale a real pleasure. This excellent title contains all the elements of a well-researched folktale, and convincingly conveys the richness of the West Indian culture.

Web Resources:
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=1738

Tar Beach

Tar Beach

Written and illustrated by: Faith Ringgold

Elementary Grades

"Quilt paintings"--acrylic on canvas paper, with fabric borders from Ringgold's story quilt of the same name--illustrate a Depression era girl's imaginative foray to heights from which she can see and therefore claim her world. Picnicking on the roof of her family's Harlem apartment building--a "tar beach" to which they bring fried chicken and roasted peanuts, watermelon and beer, and, not least, friends and laughter--Cassie pictures herself soaring above New York City: above the George Washington Bridge, which her father helped build; above the headquarters of the union that has denied him membership, because he's black; above a distinctive magic to this dreamy and yet wonderfully concrete vision, narrated in poetic cadences that capture the language and feel of flight."

Publisher's Weekly Review

Web Resources:
http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780517885444&view=tg
http://www.faithringgold.com/ringgold/default.htm

Anansi the Spider

Anansi the Spider

Written and Illustrated by: Gerald McDermott

Elementary Grades

"Anansi the Spider is a wise, funny, mischievous, and loveable folk hero who pops up in traditional Ashanti tales from Ghana, in West Africa. This story, retold and illustrated by Gerald McDermott, relates the tale of father Anansi and his six spider sons. When Anansi sets out on a dangerous journey and gets into all sorts of trouble, each son does one thing to help, and all their efforts together save their father. He finds a mysterious, beautiful globe of light in the forest, and decides to make it a gift of thanks. But which son should receive the prize? Even with the help of Nyame, the God of All Things, he can't decide, so Nyame takes the great globe up into the sky, and that's where it has stayed ever since--the moon, for all to see. This profound story reaches children of many ages; younger ones see it as an exciting rescue story, but older children are intrigued by the larger themes of cooperation and "the whole being more than its parts."

Amazon.com Review

Raven: A Trickster Tale From the Pacific Northwest

Raven: A Trickster Tale From the Pacific Northwest

Written and Illustrated by: Gerald McDermott

Elementary Grades

"All the world is in darkness at the beginning of this traditional tale from the Indian cultures of the Pacific Northwest. Raven feels sorry for the people living in the gloomy cold, so he flies to the house of the Sky Chief in search of light and warmth. To get inside, Raven pulls a shape-shifting trick that allows him to be born to the god's daughter. As a spoiled and comic infant, Raven demands and gets the shiny ball that the gods have hidden away. The art and text capture the spirit of the Native American trickster hero; benevolent, clever, magical, unscrupulous, and ultimately triumphant, Raven acts out human virtues and foibles on a cosmic scale. The book invites comparisons with other trickster heroes like Africa's Anansi and the Native American Coyote, as well as with stories of fire bringers like Prometheus. The physical environment, oral literature, and traditional life of the Pacific Coast Indians come alive in this amusing and well-conceived picture book."

School Library Journal Review

Web Resources:
http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/detail/raven-the-trickster-puppet-tales-lesson-plan/

Golem

Golem

Written and Illustrated by: David Wisniewski

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"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."

Publishers Weekly Review

Web Resources
http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/professional-development/childlit/golem/index.html

Henry's Freedom Box

Henry's Freedom Box

Written by: Ellen Levine
Illustrated by: Kadir Nelson

Elementary Grades

"Inspired by an actual 1830s lithograph, this beautifully crafted picture book briefly relates the story of Henry "Box" Brown's daring escape from slavery. Torn from his mother as a child, and then forcibly separated from his wife and children as an adult, a heartsick and desperate Brown conspired with abolitionists and successfully traveled north to Philadelphia in a packing crate. His journey took just over one full day, during which he was often sideways or upside down in a wooden crate large enough to hold him, but small enough not to betray its contents. The story ends with a reimagining of the lithograph that inspired it, in which Henry Brown emerges from his unhappy confinement—in every sense of the word—and smiles upon his arrival in a comfortable Pennsylvania parlor."

School Library Journal Review

Web Resources:
http://www.readingtokids.org/Books/BookView.php?pag=3&bookID=00000590
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=32442

Where the Buffaloes Begin

Where the Buffaloes Begin

Written by: Olaff Baker
Illustrated by: Stephen Gammell

Elementary Grades

"Originally published in 1915, this story retells a Blackfoot Indian tale. Curious about Nawa, the wise man's story about the origins of the sacred buffaloes from the center of a lake, fearless young Little Wolf sneaks away in the middle of the night to keep watch over the lake. The text conveys visceral, sensory experiences: "Little Wolf felt the blood run along his body. He clutched at the prairie grass, crushing it in his hot hands." The story unfolds slowly with a few wordless spreads scattered throughout. The story is divided into sections adorned with illustrations of artifacts, such as moccasins, hats, and weapons. The action of the story is conveyed in soft and misty pencil sketches, capturing the dreamlike mood of the story.

According to the author bio, Baker is an English author who spent "a great deal of time" with the Blackfoot Indians. The style of the illustrations is reminiscent of anthropological or archaeological drawings. A note at the conclusion of the story offering contextual details about the Blackfoot and the artifacts presented in the story would be a welcome addition, as well as acknowledgment of the fact that this is no longer the way of life for Native Americans."

Amazon.com Review

Caldecott Honor Book, 1986

When Clay Sings

When Clay Sings

Written by: Byrd Baylor
Illustrated by: Tom Bahti

Elementary Grades

"Pieces of broken pots are scattered over the desert hillsides of the Southwest. The Indians there treat them with respect -- "Every piece of clay is a piece of someone's life," they say. And the children try to imagine those lives that took place in the desert they think of as their own.

Clay has its own small voice, and sings. Its song has lasted for thousands of years. And Byrd Baylor's prose-poem as simple and powerful as the clay pots, sings too."

Publisher's Review - Simon and Schuster

Awards:
Caldecott Honor Book, 1973

The Girl Who Loved Horses

The Girl Who Loved Horses

Written and Illustrated by: Paul Goble

Elementary Grades

"For most people, being swept away in a horse stampede during a raging thunderstorm would be a terrifying disaster. For the young Native American girl in Paul Goble's 1979 Caldecott-winning masterpiece, The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses, it is a blessing. Although she loves her people, this girl has a much deeper, almost sacred connection to her equine friends. The storm gives her the opportunity to fulfill her dream--to live in a beautiful land among the wild horses she loves.

With brilliant, stylized illustrations and simple text, Paul Goble tells the story of a young woman who follows her heart, and the family that respects and accepts her uniqueness. Considering how difficult it is for some communities to allow friendships to grow between people of different cultures, this village's support for the girl's companions of choice is admirable. Goble's bold paintings reflect this noble open-mindedness. The young horse fanatic of the house will joyfully add this book to his or her collection. Children are passionate people; they will relate."

Amazon.com Review

Awards
Caldecott Award, 1978

Web Resources:
http://monet.unk.edu/mona/contemp/goble/goble.html

The Desert Is Theirs

The Desert Is Theirs
Written by: Byrd Baylor
Illustrated by: Peter Parnall

Elementary Grades

"You may think of the desert as a harsh, dry place where no one would ever want to live -- but think again. The Desert People know, and so do the animals. Both love the land and, "share the feeling of being brothers in the desert, of being desert creatures together." Byrd Baylor's spare, poetic text and Peter Parnall's striking illustrations lime the sky, stone and sand of the desert in this haunting book"

Publishers Review - Aladdin Books

Awards:
Caldecott Honor Book, 1988

Web Resources:
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/desert/deserttg.html

Harlem

Harlem

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

Written by: Walter Dean Myers
Illustrated by: Christopher Myers

"Walter Dean Myers's songlike poem relates the story of a group of people who settled in New York City, hoping to improve their lots in life, only to discover that racism could still keep them from achieving success. Well-known Harlem landmarks, such as the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater, are mentioned, as are famous African Americans, like Langston Hughes and Joe Louis. The pain of discrimination is made abundantly clear through Myers's forceful, often bitter words. The pride and determination of the people of Harlem are also demonstrated, as is their at times overwhelming despair. The bold collage and ink drawings complement the text well."

School Library Journal Review

Awards:
Caldecott Honor Book, 1997

Jambo Means Hello: Swahili Alphabet Book

Jambo Means Hello: Swahili Alphabet Book

Written by: Muriel Feelings
Illustrated by: Tom Feelings

Elementary Grades

"This book gives introduction not only to the letters of the alphabet, but also to another language and culture. Each of the twenty-four letters (there are no q or x sounds in Swahili) is represented by a Swahili word, a clear phonetic pronunciation guide, and an explanation of how the word fits into African life. Gorgeous pencil and ink illustrations help give young African-Americans a glimpse of their heritage. A map of Africa showing the countries where Swahili is spoken is also included."

Publisher's Review - Penguin Books

Awards:
Caldecott Honor Medal, 1993

Web Resources:
http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/byrnes-africa/janjur/index.html

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

Written by: Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated by: Kadir Nelson

Elementary and Junior High Grades

"This lyrical text describes Harriet Tubman's spiritual journey as she hears the voice of God guiding her North to freedom on that very first trip to escape the brutal practice of slavery. This is a moving portrait of one of the most inspiring figures of the Underground Railroad--a woman who would take 19 subsequent trips back South without being caught."

Scholastic Book Reviews

Awards:
Caldecott Honor Award, 2006
Coretta Scott King Honor Book for Illustration, 2006

Web Resources:
http://www.tracievaughnzimmer.com/Moses.htm

Martin's Big Words

Martin's Big Words

Written by: Doreen Rappoport
Illustrated by: Bryan Collier

Elementary Grades

"A brief biography of Dr. Martin Luther King uses memorable words from his speeches to highlight important moments in his life. Large type and arresting collages draw the reader’s attention to Dr. King’s powerful statements. Bryan Collier grabs the reader’s emotional attention with collages made from watercolor, torn paper, and photographic images. each illustration powerfully and passionately interprets the big words spoken by Dr. King. Beginning with the strong, striking cover portrait and stained glass end papers, he conveys a reverential feeling in his art, which causes the reader to pause and think about the meaning of Dr. King’s important words."

American Library Association Review

Awards:
Coretta Scott King Honor Book, 2002
Orbis Pictus Award Winner for Outstanding Nonfiction, 2002
Caldecott Honor Book, 2002

Web Resources:
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=92