Leonardo da Vinci

1. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA
Leonardo da Vinci

Written and Illustrated by Diane Stanley

Published by Morrow Junior Books

Published 1996

ISBN 0-688-10437-1

2. PLOT SUMMARY
The life and times of one of the great Italian artists and inventors is chronicled in this biography by Diane Stanley. Important contibution da Vinci made to the art world are included as well as background information concerning the art. Colorful, detailed illustrations that incorporate some of da Vinci's art help to transport the reader to the Italian Renaissance as they read about this extraordinary man's life.

3. CRITICAL ANANLYSIS
I am ashamed to admit it, but prior to reading this book, much of what I knew about da Vinci was from reading Dan Brown's THE DA VINCI CODE. This book helped to fill in the gaps. I learned many interesting facts about the man who is mainly remembered for his art, especially the Mona Lisa. While I did know that he was quite an inventor, I did not have any idea how far ahead of his time he was with many of his ideas. Stanley shares many sides of this interesting man in her biography. The writing is descriptive as are the detailed illustrations. I particularly liked how Stanley included many of da Vinci's paintings into her illustrations. This helped the reader become familar with da Vinci's style and art work. Not only does the reader learn about da Vinci's life, but they learn to identy much of his artwork through the illustrations.

I also liked how Stanley's biography of da Vinci had a "story like" feel to the reader. The introduction was inviting, "In the spring of 1452, Antonio da Vinci, aged eighty, took out a leather-bound volume." This hooks the reader into the story of da Vinci's life and draws them into his intriguing life story.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
*From School Library Journal--"The text is readable and interesting; the authour is careful to distinguish between facts and surmises, and uses quotes from Leonardo's own writing to demonstrate his attitudes."
*From Booklist--"Well researched, intelligently written, and beautifully illustrated, this is the best of the many children's books on Leonardo."

5. CONNECTIONS
*The illustrations could be used to introduce students to some of Leonardo's artwork.
*Pair this book with LEONARDO'S HORSE by Jean Fritz to expose students to the full story regarding da Vinci's attempt to sculpt a statue of Francesco Sforza.

Animals Nobody Loves

1. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA
Animals Nobody Loves

Written by Seymour Simon

Published by Sea Star Books

Published 2001

ISBN 1-58717-079-5

2. PLOT SUMMARY
If you have ever squealed or screamed when you have come in contact with a not so pleasant animal, then you might want to steer clear of this Seymour Simon title. Simon has written short pieces about some of our animal friends that are a little harder to love, and paired them with photographs of the creatures that look like they are about to attack the reader. This book is sure to grab the attention of the most reluctant reader and keep it until the last page is read.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Using concise, well-written sentences, Simon has managed to say a lot about some not so loveable animal beasts. All animal groups are represented from rodents (rats) to fish (piranhas). Many memorable facts are included in each description of the animals featured. I learned many new things about animals that I had been reluctant to investigate. Simon's facts pulled me into the descriptions of each animal so deeply that I forgot to be frightened! I'm sure I will find myself repeating many of the facts I learned from this engaging book. Facts such as..."Some sharks can bite three hundred times harder than a human.", and "Roaches can run as fast as three miles an hour."

Another compelling feature of this book is the excellent photographs Simon has included with each animal description. The photographs include the details of some of the animals' "unloveable" features. The pictures help enhance the learning and pull the reader into the descriptions of the highlighted animals.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
*From Booklist--"The pictures are fine, large, and in full color, as fascinating as they are repulsive and scary: the yawning jaws of a shark; a hyena consuming bloody food; a wasp enlarged bigger than a human fist, stinging a grasshopper. Simon puts forward some interesting facts and dispels a few myths about these 20 unlovable subjects..."

5. CONNECTIONS
*While the writing accompanying each picture wouldn't provide much information for a report, each description would be a great starting point for a research project for each of the subjects in the book. After sharing the book with students, they could select one animal to investigate/research further, and then share their findings with the class.
*The short informational narratives would be great examples to use with students who are beginning to learn how to read nonfiction.

An American Plague

1. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA
An American Plague
The True and Terrifying Story of the the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793

Written by Jim Murphy

Published by Clarion Books

Published 2003

ISBN 0-395-77608-2

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Imagine you are a resident of Philadelphia in 1793. A mysterious killer is running rampant on the streets outside, and you are powerless to stop it. It could strike you at any time! An American Plague puts you right in the center of Philadelphia during the midst of a deadly Yellow Fever epidemic. Residents were powerless to stop this killer, and before they even had a vague clue as to what had hit the city, hundreds of residents were dead. Thousands would be gone before it was all over. This fast paced account of the epidemic takes readers back to the days when this deadly predator lurked amongst the homes of Philadelphia.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
At times, this non-fiction account of one of the deadliest plagues to ever hit Philadelphia read like a great mystery novel! With lines like, "Friday, August 20. The deathly quiet of this Friday morning was shattered by the sharp, echoing boom of a cannon." starting off a chapter, what reader couldn't help but be pulled in? Informational text has certainly changed from when I was in school. If there had of been more books as well written as this one, I might have finally ventured away from the fiction shelf! Jim Murphy paints a grisly scene as he describes the bleak outcome for many of the residents of Philadelphia in 1793. Descriptive accounts of fever symptoms and how affected patients reacted to the disease, left clear visualizations in my mind. While I was aware of this epidemic, Murphy's well-researched book gave me such a vast amount of information on the subject, that I now feel like an expert on the subject! However, for all of the detail Murphy used to describe the epidemic, I never once felt "bogged down" by all of the facts. Many informational books throw one fact after another at the reader as they read, that they overwhelm you with the information, until you are left with a pile of useless information that you can't really tie together. Murphy does not do this. His book read well, and each new bit of information flowed smoothly into the next, and the reader was able to see how all of the events of the Yellow Fever epidemic worked together to create one of the greatest disasters in Philadelphia. Illustrations and copies of newspaper accounts from the time period worked together to allow the reader to connect to this event from our past. An informative and interesting read!

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
*From School LIbrary Journal (Starred Review)--"solid research and a flair for weaving facts into fascinating stories...extensive and interesting...you'll have students hooked on history."
*From Booklist--"History, science, politics and public health come together in this dramatic account...brings the "unshakeable unease chillingly close."

5. CONNECTIONS
*I WISH I would have had this book several years ago when my fifth grade class read Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. The deeper understanding my students could have had of the fever and its impact on Philadelphia would have been incredible. I definately recommend pairing the two books together for a great literature study.
*Students could write a newspaper article to inform readers how to keep from getting the disease, and how to recognize the symptoms.

make lemonade

1. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA
make lemonade

Written By Virginia Euwer Wolff

Published by Henry Holt and Co., LLC

Published 1993

ISBN 978-0-8050-8070-4

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Jolly is a seventeen year old single mother of two children by different fathers. Seeking help with babysitting, she posts a notice at fourteen year old LaVaughn's school. Wanting to earn money for college, LaVaughn becomes Jolly's baby sitter. Together, these two struggling teens work to discover how hard it can be to reach a goal, or just to set one. Told in free-verse, from LaVaughn's point of view, this tender story is one you won't soon forget.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This concise, poetic novel packs more of a punch than many books twice it's size. Told through the eyes of LaVaughn, a strong, determined fourteen year old, Virginia Wolff uses tight phrases with just the right words to draw the reader into the story. I quickly became wrapped up in LaVaughn's character. A young girl who has already witnessed more tragedy than she should of in her life, but still is determined to go to college to have a better life. Jolly's character is hard to forget as well, and Wolff shows readers that being a mother of two children at age seventeen is not an easy task.

While I have read many excellent free-verse, poetic novels, this book would be close to the top of the list as being one of the best. I am in awe of Wolff's ability to create such imagery with so few words. When describing Jolly's unkept apartment, one could almost feel the dirt and grime beneath their feet. Phrases like, "...a gooey baby in her arms and something gurgles out of that one's nose..." brought images of poor "ragamuffin" children to my mind. I believe if this novel had of been written out in prose form, many of the strong visual images would have been lost on the reader. Wolff's excellent word choice and rhythm made this novel a wonderful read.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
*From School Library Journal--"With warmth, humor, and a voice blending street smarts and innocent naivete, Simms' melodious words draw listeners into the world of unwed parenthood, the struggle for a better life, and teh deepening friendship between LaVaughn and Jolly."
*From Kirkus Reviews--"LaVaughn's narrative--brief, sometimes ungrammatical sentences in uneven lines, like verse--is in a credible teenage voice suited to readers like Jolly herself; yet it has the economy and subtlety of poetry."

5. CONNECTIONS
*The imagery in this novel begs for illustration. Share several of the descriptive phrases with students, have them select one and sketch the visualization it brings to mind.
*Students could research different school programs for unwed mothers like the program Jolly is participating in. How are they alike and different. Students could then design a brochure to give to interested teenage mothers to inform them about the program they researched.

Knock on Wood

1. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA
Knock on Wood--Poems About Superstitions

Written by Janet S. Wong

Illustrated by Julie Paschkis

Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Published 2003

ISBN 0-689-85512-5

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Have you ever wondered about why we have certain superstitions? If you haven't, you probably will after reading this collection of Janet Wong's poetry. Each poem in this short volume focuses on a particular superstition, and is paired with a delightful illustration highlighting the imagery in the poem. Wong's engaging poems and Paschkis colorful illustrations are the perfect combination to make these poems come alive. Another nice feature in this book is the double page spread at the end of the book describing each superstition that was a subject of a poem in the book.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Until I read this book, I had only been familar with Wong's poetry for young adults. I was so glad to see this elementary age appropriate book of her work. Each poem was a delight to read, and the accompanying artwork helped drive the superstition home. Most of the poems had some element of humor to them that students would enjoy. My particular favorite was, "Thirteen" which told of a group of 13 witches meeting in the Office of Bad Luck--"on the thirteenth floor at 13 Thirteenth Street." The witches hand out bad luck to everyone, but get a taste of their own medicine when they lose the "power" in their meeting area." There is a definate voice to each poem, and you can almost picture the relief young readers will have in knowing there is a way to break bad luck and superstitions. The answers are in these cleverly drafted poems. The use of imagery in the poem "Umbrellas" to describe the "ghosts" that live in our umbrellas was also a favorite as I read. I liked the visual Wong created with, "If I knew he would come to visit again, I would open both our umbrellas know and wait--and we would walk in this rain." I could picture a young grandchild remembering happy times of walking with a beloved grandparent as I read this poem.

Since children always seem interested in superstitions, I believe Wong has written a timeless volume of poetry that will appeal to children for many years to come.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
*From School Library Journal--"There is much to ponder in both words and pictures. Some of the children depicted suggest a young audience, but the mixed poetic/visual brew is sophisticated."
*From Booklist--"Filled with mystery, magic, and hidden worlds, these are poems to liven up language arts classes and to spark discussions about personal beliefs."

5. CONNECTIONS
*Students could select a poem to research and find out more about the superstition it represents. Where did this superstition originate? Do they believe in this particular superstition? Students could then share their findings with the class.

Omnibeasts

1. BIBLOGRAPHIC DATA
Omnibeasts

Written and Illustrated by Douglas Florian

Published by Harcourt, Inc.

ISBN 0-15-205038-8


2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this delightful collection of aminal poems, selected from previously published works, Florian captures the unique characteristics of many members of the animal kingdom. Florian writes consice poems about our fellow animal friends, then combines his writing with his delightful style of artwork to make the poems in this book come alive. A well-organized table of contents makes it easy for the reader to locate their favorite poem. Type size and spacing also play an important role in aiding the reader to "see" the animal which is being described so elequently on the page.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Being an animal lover, I was automatically drawn to this book. However, after reading the first two or three poems in the book, I was in love! In precise, carefully chosen words, Florian manages to capture the characteristics of the animals he features in this book. Even if the book had of been published without his great artwork, the reader would still be able to visualize the animals he is writing about from his words alone. Another great feature of the poems is the use of type size and placement. For example, in his poem, "The Bactrian Camel," the entire poem is written in the shape of the camel's double humps. If you enjoy puns and humorous wordplay, then this book is an excellent choice for you as well. Clever lines like this one from, "The Persian" will be sure to bring a smile to any face--"I am a cat of longhaired version. A pet-igree that's known as purrrsian." The imagery that Florian creates in these poems is amazing, whether expressed as a concrete poem, through the use of onomatopoeia, or rhyme. Readers of this book will have a hard time selecting just one favorite!

(On a personal note, I have been slowly decorating my Elementary School Library with an animal theme, and plan to post several of these poems and display them on the walls of the library.)

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS:
*From School Library Journal--"A treasure chest of wit and charm. This book has enormous appeal for readers of many ages."

5. CONNECTIONS:
*Read selected poems to students without revealing the title or sharing the picture. Can students guess the animal being described? After taking some guesses, re-read the poem and share the accompanying picture.
*This book would make an excellent introduction for an animal unit. Share poems with students, and have them select a particular poem to research the featured animal to determine what parts of the poem are fact.