Review: Healing Stories

Picture Books for the Big and Small Changes in a Child's Life

By Jacqueline Golding, Ph.D

M. Evans; 2006; 343 pages

Paperback; Reader's Advisory

Adults

ISBN: 978-1-59077-097-9

A readers' advisory text which suggests various picture book titles, with accompanying bibliographic information and brief annotation, that address major events and developmental milestones in a child's life such as death, natural disaster, and separation anxiety.

My Thoughts:
I appreciated this book for what it was, a fairly specific book of reader's advisory. I think it would especially be useful having it available to parents in the children's section or reference section of the library. However, I would not recommend it as a book for individuals to go out and buy on their own. (Whereas I think that every reader should have a full set of Nancy Pearl's books on their shelves!) I liked that it only included picture books. I also liked that it included annotations. Most times titles alone will not aid a staff person or parent in determining whether the book will address their particular issue or event.

The thing I liked most was the diversity of the texts suggested. Each section included "classic" works, as well as at least one from the last 10 years. (Some were very current considering that the reference itself is a couple years old.) A great example of this is the section on Illness of Another Person. It listed both Now One Foot, Now the Other by Tomie dePaola (which I remember fondly from my childhood) and Singing with Momma Lou from 2002. Both books deal with aging grandparents.

The Thoughts of Others:
Blair Christolon reviewed this book in 2006 for School Library Journal. He felt that the book would be a great resource for "either for bibliotherapy or for theme-building for storytimes." Favorable comparisons were also drawn between this work and A to Zoo, citing the annotations in Healing Stories as very helpful.

Library Journal also reviewed the work in 2006. Reviewer Kari Ramstrom wrote that "Healing Stories empowers parents to promote development and healing...in a fun, helpful manner. She was disappointed though because while the titles suggested were useful in the categories available, she felt that other topics (such as injury or special needs) should have been included.

Review: Don't Say That Word

By Alan Katz; Illustrated by David Catrow

Margaret K. McElderberry Books; 2007; 40 pages

Picture Book; Rhyming Text

Grades: Preschool - 3rd

ISBN: 978-0-689-86971-6

Michael tells his mom about the exciting events that happened at school, while she steers him away from using offensive or crude language.

My Thoughts:
Aside from the fact that I have never met a David Catrow book that I didn't like, this is a great book, especially for boys. The text follows Michael, in rhyme, as he tells his mother about his day at school. At the end of each stanza, the rhyme scheme leads kids toward the inevitable crude word, which is never actually printed. Instead of the word, Michael's mother interrupts with the title refrain: Don't Say That Word! This format is turned on its head at the end of the book, when Michael interrupts his mother. The illustrations, brilliantly executed as always, also help lead little readers/hearers toward the appropriate "bad" word. (For example, in the stanza about boogers, Michael is picking his nose, while in the stanza about passing gas, little bubbles are popping in the bathtub.)

This is a great book for storytime...as long as you are familiar enough with the children and parents to be sure that they won't be offended. I read it aloud to the children of some friends. The little boy shouted the bad word every time, while his sister shouted the mother's refrain. I should note that some of the words in the book are not appropriate in all families. This can either offend, or open discussion. I loaned it to another friend who saw it as a good opportunity to discuss bad language with her son, and why their family didn't use certain words. So while I highly recommend this book, especially to be added to library collections, I also highly recommend parental review before handing it over to kids.

The Thoughts of Others:
School Library Journal pointed out in their review that "allowing kids to talk about 'naughty' words can remove the power associated with them."They also recognized that the author and illustrator clearly had fun putting this book together.

Publisher's Weekly also agreed with me that "readers will be able to supply each missing word with gusto (booger, fart, burp, etc.), though those a tad less daring may choose to keep silent, rather than risk voicing a 'bad word.'" They also praised the illustrations and text.

Review: If the Shoe Fits

By Krista Bell; Illustrated By Craig Smith

Charlesbridge; 2008; 64 pages

Easy Reader; Short Chapter

Grades: Kindergarten - 3rd

ISBN: 978-1-58089-338-1

Cassie loves to dance, and dreams of being a professional dancer...if only she can overcome her fear of having an audience!

My Thoughts:
I am torn as to how to review this book. On the one hand, it was an engaging story which I feel kid's would relate to. On the other hand, I am not sure I agree with it being classified as an easy reader. The vocabulary in the book is fairly advanced, and some of it is quite specialized to dance. Also, the pictures are more of an afterthought. They illustrate the text, but will not help readers decode the text. It would be a great first chapter book, when readers are just starting to venture away from easy readers and into the fiction section. In that way, it is either the most advanced easy reader, or the least advanced juvenile chapter book.

That said, the book had good points and bad points. The pictures, though secondary to the text, were not particularly well done. I would have liked to perhaps see a little bit of color. The black and white sketches tended toward the messy, and perhaps color would have aided in decoding them. (Professional reviewers, below, did not agree with me.) The story was well done though. I appreciated that the best dancer in Cassie's class was a boy named Jake, whose father was also a talented dancer. It is refreshing to have a book that breaks stereotypes, especially since this as an easy reader it has a younger audience. I also felt that the characters were well developed. Children will sympathize with Cassie being torn between wanting to dance and being afraid to. This age group is just beginning to learn that emotions can be complicated, and things aren't always straight forward. It is important for them to be given examples of other people successfully coping with difficult situations.

The Thoughts of Others:

Kirkus Reviews actually felt that this book was not an easy reader. They did give it a positive review, though. They appreciated the illustrations and "likeable characters."

Sally Murphy reviewed the book for AussieReviews. She actually called it a junior novel, stating that the "high ratio of illustration to text and bite-sized chapters ...make the book accessible to readers as young as six or seven." She summed up the entire work with one word: lovely.

Review: Golem

By: David Wisniewski

Clarion Books; 1996; 32 pages

Picture Book; Caldecott Winner

Grades: 1-4

ISBN: 978-0618894246

A re-telling of the story of Rabbi Loew and how the Golem he created saved the Jews of medieval Prague from persecution and annihilation.

My Thoughts:
My first impression of this book was one of awe. I have made snowflakes before, I know how difficult paper cutting is. The detail and impact of the illustrations is awe-inspiring. I kept looking at the pictures and thinking about how much Wisniewski had to plan out each page...and wondering how many mistakes he had to discard. On the merits of its illustrations, I agree wholeheartedly with this book receiving the Caldecott Medal. But, then I turned to the text.

The Golem legend is a difficult one for children. The reason for the Golem's creation is disturbing, how the Golem goes about protecting the Prague Jews is violent, and the destruction of the Golem at the end is unsettling. Joseph is shown to be very child-like in his wonder and view of the surrounding world. I would have a hard time explaining to kids why he is not rewarded for his help, but rather is destroyed. (His pleadings to live are heart-wrenching.) Because of this, I do not recommend this book for a younger audience. I can think of a few situations where it would work though: introducing older kids to the topics of persecution (before discussing the Inquisition or even the Holocaust...especially with the historical note at the end, it is a good way to discuss the historical oppression of Jews.), or in an older student unit on legend, or religion, or Prague.

The Thoughts of Others:

Publisher's Weekly emphasized the beauty and the intricacy of the illustrations, justifying its Caldecott. However, they also point out, albeit positively that Wisniewski "emphasizes the Golem's humanity and the problems with his existence [and] allows for its historical and emotional complexity." They also appreciated the historical endnote.

Common Sense Media, a group who reviews books for families, was impressed by the illustrations, but felt that Wisniewski's book might be frightening or distressing to younger readers. In the end, they pointed out that readers who could handle the story matter would actually be better served byBashevis Singer's version of the tale, also entitled The Golem.

Review: Book Crush

By: Nancy Pearl

Sasquatch Books; 2007; 288

Paperback; Children and Teen Reader's Advisory

Age: Adult Reader; Baby through 12th Grade Advisory

ISBN: 978-157061-500-9

A Seattle public librarian's recommendations for good reading, broken down by age and arbitrary category.

My Thoughts:

This is a great resource for children and young adult librarians, and is a fun read to boot. Not only will readers feel validated if they discover that the inimitable Nancy Pearl has chosen one of their favorites, but they will find their own reading wish list growing with every page. Pearl has divided readers into three groups: youngest readers (birth to eight), middle-grade readers (ages 8-12), and teen readers (ages 13-18). Within the recommendations for each group, Pearl will point out if a book is more suited to one end of the spectrum or the other.

Part of what makes Pearl's book so helpful is that her categories are unusual, and not at all what you would find in a catalog search or in a database. Examples include Noodlehead Stories, Not a Dry Eye in the House, and Ghosts I Have Loved. She tries to include at least one section for every group of children: boys, girls, jocks, nerds, girlie girls, and outcasts. Her suggestions also cover a wide range of genres and publication eras. There are older books, many of which are out of print but still available in libraries, as well as titles that have come out in the past two years. It is a great jumping off point for book talks as well. The book is a lot smaller than most RA texts, fitting into a purse or backpack, which is handy for trips to the library, book fair, or book store. It is also reasonably priced and would make a wonderful addition to a children and teen reference collection.

In other words...I think that EVERYONE interested in working with children or teens should either own this book or have access to it at their workplace. (And check out her adult titles: Book Lust and More Book Lust.)

The Thoughts of Others:

School Library Journal did not like this book NEARLY as much as I did in their 2006 review. They felt that its arbitrary nature, since it is only one person's opinions, would lead to arguments. They did not see its usefulness for professionals, since the well-read will not need it. They did, however, note that "those new to the field or who have a hard time thinking in readers' advisory categories [could find it] useful to get the juices flowing." (They apparantly did not take my stance on it as a good recreational read that starts conversations...what killjoys!)

Stephanie Dunnewind, in a Seattle Times review, gave her hometown librarian a big thumbs up. She admired the chatty prose style, lauded the extensive non-fiction section, and compared Nancy Pearl to Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler!

Hair and Back Again

I had a hard time deciding on a story for the "My Story" assignment.

At first I was going to do some anecdotes from my brother's, sister's, and my childhood. However, in order for it to turn out as I had envisioned, I was going to need to find a good illustrator. While my brother has the skills and was willing to do it, he just didn't have the time.

Next, I decided to recount a story from when I was studying abroad in Prague...mostly because of the plethora of pictures I had available to accompany it. Unfortunately, I couldn't locate my letters home to check facts and get some ideas.

While looking through photos, though, I came across one from the night before classes my freshman year of college. I had found my story.

It is uploaded to the left...and called Hair and Back Again: A Blonde Girl's Tale.

I suppose if anyone from class wanted to tell it, they could. But, seeing as how it is fairly specific to my life, I don't think anyone will.

Also, as long as we are discussing the topic of hair...there is a hilarious book called If I Had Long, Long Hair that is similar in theme to my story. I don't think it would make a good flannel board story, but maybe with a wig, or a puppet whose hair could "grow"...At the very least, it is great for a traditional storytime session at a library!

Fell off the Couch

I went to the library yesterday on my way home from work and picked up a TON of picture books. I had placed a bunch on hold, and then literally went through the children's section grabbing anything with a slightly interesting title. I didn't even open most of them, and didn't get a chance to read any of them before bed last night.

I got off work early today, so decided to be productive. This involved sitting on my couch with some hot chocolate and a 2'4" stack of picture books on the floor next to me. (Yes, I actually measured.)

Most of the books ended up being a little bland. They just did not jump out and scream: "Use me for storytelling!"

A few did, quite literally, beg to be retold with flannel or felt...

One, however, actually made me laugh to the point of falling off the couch. (I don't know if it is really this funny, or if I am just sleep deprived and over-caffeinated.) It reminded me very much of Ugly Fish. I guess I just like off-beat, slightly vicious, grumpy story lines.

Anyway, the book is Grumblebunny by Bob Hartman. Everyone should go out and buy it...immediately...or at least get it at their local library!

Chicken Soup for the Storyteller's Soul

The vice president/head of HR at the title and escrow company where I work has agreed to let me hold the president, vice presidents, managers, and sales team hostage at one of their Monday Morning Sales Meetings! I get to come in and do an inspirational/uplifting story to help focus them and encourage them to persevere through the poor real estate market!

I am looking through various children’s books, as well as Chicken Soup for the Business Soul type books for ideas. The owner loaned me her copy of Who Moved My Cheese, which could work well, too. The only problem with it is that the entire management team has read it.

(On the plus side, I can be as weird and out there as I want…after all, I am the one they called on to lead “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” at the company retreat…they expect me to be a little quirky!)

Hack Hack, Cough Cough!!

So, I was extremely excited to share a story with the class online tonight. I had decided to do an oral version of a Robin Hood and Marian story that I adapted from the middle english ballads as my undergraduate honors thesis.

I practiced. I timed myself. I found a cool picture.

Then it hit...the Shang-hai funk.

My father brought back a great souvenier...a sore throat/cough/cold germy thing! It got so bad that they sent me home early from work to rest my voice in hopes that I would be able to talk on the phone tomorrow!

I had to write Jenine and ask for a one week extension on my story...sad!

On the plus side, now I can come up with a wicked cool visual to go with the story!

Story Chosen!

I have decided upon a story for Wednesday night...Elijah and the Prophets of Baal. I think I can tell it in such a way as to transcend the age differences. (It has a little bit of everything...drama, humor, violence, and a good message.)

I decided against using the flannelgraph this time, since I didn't have enough notice to properly rehearse with it. I will use the set for my Sunday morning class soon.

I am having this class recorded, and will post it soon.

Now, if I could just make a final decision about what to tell to the class Thursday night...I am actually mulling over doing Elijah again...any objections to a religious story in class? (It wouldn't be preachy...I promise!)

Stories for the Ages

My church has bible classes on Sunday mornings and on Wednesday nights. Sunday mornings they are divided up by age group. (I teach the four and five year olds.) However, due to a drop in attendance and a desire to build unity among the youth, all of the classes from two and three years through junior high combine on Wednesday nights. Midweek also has teachers rotate through in pairs on a monthly basis without a set curriculum.

I had been talking to one of the Wednesday night teachers about this storytelling course, and she offered to let me do a story this Wednesday night when her teaching partner would be gone. I jumped at the chance since this means a larger audience than my regular Sunday morning class, which often only has 2 or 3 students. She left my topic and choice of story wide open, and said she would plan her part of class around me.

Now I have the dilemma of finding a story that will interest children from 26 months through 13, boys and girls, and that has moral/personal application and activities that can coincide. I thought of some Bible stories that would be fun to tell and interest the kids (like Ehud which is really bloody…), but many of these don’t have a clear direction for the rest of the class period. The stories that do have clear directions, either are harder to tell or I am worried won’t be easy to tell in a multi-age setting. I have a lot to think about. I am looking at William Bennett’s Book of Virtues for stories that aren’t biblical that I could tell and then tie in with a Bible story.

On the plus side…the church does have a FULL set of Biblical flannelgraph characters and flannel boards! Fun for me…