Because of Winn-Dixie

Bibliography
DeCamillo, Katie. 2000. Because of Winn-Dixie. Scholastic, Inc. ISBN: 043925051X.

Plot Summary
Opal and her father, who is preacher, move to Naomi, Florida. Opal is feeling very lonely in the new place and also misses her mother who had left Opal when she was little. One day Opal finds this funny dog creating chaos at the supermarket. Opal instantly falls in love with this dog and befriends this dog whom she calls, Winn-Dixie. Opal is able to talk about everything with Winn-Dixie and also makes new friends with the help of Winn-Dixie. After making friends Opal sees life from a new perspective.

Critican Analysis
Because of Winn-Dixie is a sensitive, yet delightful story. All characters are very well defined each contributing to the story in its own sweet way. The dog, Winn-Dixie is so loveable and seems to be the best friend a child could ever have. The dog seems to be in tune with the problems in Opal’s life and always provides Opal the comfort she needs. Children reading this book will be able to easily relate with the relationship Opal has with her pet. Opal is different from usual kids, has no friends, and the friends she makes are much older than her. The story deals with issues of separation from mother, being different, and being lonely. Opal is constantly trying to find out more about her mother and does not understand why her mother would leave her. The story is sad at times, but the lively characters bring the humor and energy into the story.

Rules

Bibliography
Lord, Cynthia. 2006. Rules. Scholastic, Inc. ISBN: 9780545036406

Plot Summary
Twelve year old Catherine just longs for a normal life but that doesn’t seem to happen as her brother has autism and her whole family’s life revolves around it. Catherine constantly has to make adjustments for her brother, feels neglected by her parents, and is sometimes embarrassed by her brother’s behaviour when she is around her friends. Catherine tries to find the friend she has always wanted in Kristi, the next door neighbour. She also makes friend with Jason who can only communicate using picture cards. Catherine’s experiences with both her friends make her rethink what is normal and what is more important to her.

Critical Analysis
A very touching story that will make readers analyze relationships. Catherine’s problems seems very real because she is torn between the love for her brother and his unending needs. Readers can emphatize with Catherine character who as a big sister always has to make adjustments for her autistic brother. Parents are also so engrossed in meeting the special needs of their son that they tend to forget the normal needs of their daughter. Everybody’s perspective seems to be valid and justified. Catherine’s relationship with Jason gives her a new paerspective about relationships. The theme of need for acceptance, feeling different, and growing up through experiences has been sensitively handled in this story. The story is a balanced blend of humor and emotions making it is good read for older readers. Readers will get an insight into life someone who does not suffer from a disability themself but still have to deal with the problems surrounding it everyday. Lot of attention is usually given to people suffering from disability but this story is written from the perspective of somebody who has a family member suffering from disability.

Review Excerpts
School Library Journal – A lovely, warm read and a great discussion starter (http://www.amazon.com/).
Booklist – A heart warming first novel (http://www.amazon.com/).

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus

Bibliography
Park, Barbara. 1992. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus. Illustrated by Denise Brunkus. ISBN: 0439136830.

Plot Summary
It’s Junie B. Jones first day at Kindergarten and first time riding the school bus. She does not like the yellow bus and the children are mean to her. Her new friend Lucille tells Junie B. that her brother told her that children pour chocolate milk on their head in the school bus. That just scared Junie B. Jones and she hid in her class so that nobody could find her and make her ride the school bus. Junie B. Jones is not found before she makes a big scene.

Critical Analysis
This book is the first of the many sequels in the Junie B. Jones series written by Barbara Park. It is brilliantly written and extremely funny. It deals with the normal anxieties about first day of school and riding the big, yellow school bus. The language is very simple and easy to understand for beginner chapter book readers. The sentences are sometimes not grammatically correct but it is how a six year old usually talks and also uniquely defines the character of Junie B. Jones. Junie B. Jones is a loveable character with an exuberant personality. Girls will especially enjoy the little adventures of Junie B. Jones.

This is a perfect for slightly confident readers who want to venture into reading chapter books. This book is a short novel that even parents can read aloud to their children to encourage reading chapter books. Reading short chapter books like Junie B. Jones books can boost reader’s confidence in their reading abilities.

Joey Pigza Loses Control

Bibliography
Gantos, Jack. 2000. Joey Pigza Loses Control. New York: Farrar Straus, and Giroux. ISBN: 0374399891.

Plot Summary
In this sequel to Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, Joey is taking medication for his attention deficit disorder and is much more in control of himself. In this book, Joey is going to spend his summer with his estranged father and is excited about getting to know his father. In the process of knowing his father Joey finds out that his father is an alcoholic and also as wired as he was. His father wants Joey to get rid of his medication believing that Joey is normal and does need any medication. Joey also wants so much to be part of his father’s life that he agrees to go without medication, but soon sees his old self coming out; Joey was getting out of control.

Critical Analysis
A very well told story written from the perspective of a person suffering from an attention deficit disorder. It is an interesting read as readers can see what is really going on in the head of a person with disability. Joey is a very loveable character, full of energy, and very mature too. Joey is fully aware of what is going on with him and with his new medication he has more self control. Jack Gantos has very nicely brought forth the vulnerability of Joey to get to know his father and his need to be loved by his father. Gantos has adeptly shown how Joey is torn between his mother and father and like any other normal child Joey secretly wishes for his separated parents to get together. The language in the story is very realistic and reflects the ways children usually talk and feel. The story deals with the typical facets of contemporary realism like need for acceptance, coping with disability, and coping with separation of parents. The story is very appealing and the plot is very fresh. Readers would never have thought that Joey’s father will force him to give up his medications and readers will want to know how Joey gets himself out of this situation. The story has a blend of humor, emotions, and excitement making it a very enjoyable book to read.

Children who loved Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key will also love this sequel.

The Penderwicks

Bibliography
Birdsall, Jeanne. 2005. The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Foour Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN: 9780375931437.

Plot Summary
The Penderwicks, father and four sisters, rent a cottage for the summer vacation and get more than what theyhad expected at this place. The Penderwick sisters – Rosalind, is 12 and the mother figure; Skye, 11, is adventurous and courageous; Jane, is 10 and is a creative writer and lives in her own fantasy world; Batty, is 4 and is a very shy person and likes to wear wings all the time – have lost their mother very early in their lives, but have a very supporting father who loves them immensely. The Penderwick sisters meet Jeffrey, the son of the cottage owner. Jeffrey’s mother is very mean and controlling person and the Penderwick girls always get into trouble with her. Through their summer adventures, Jeffrey becomes very good friends with the Penderwick girls. The Penderwick girls help Jeffrey speak up for himself and let his mother know what he really wants to do in his life.

Critical Analysis
The Penderwicks is a hilarious tale of friendship, standing up for each other, and being oneself. Each character is defined differently and has unique traits. The characters have many imperfections but are still lovable. They do many mistakes like any other child would but are still loved by their forgiving father. Birdsall has excellently shown the importance of family and how each character supports each member of the family. Friendship is valued in this story and the Penderwick girls would do anything to save their friend Jeffrey. Jeffrey also finds the fun and freedom he would love to have in the Penderwick sisters and reciprocates their friendship by saving the girls from many messy situations. The themes of finding ones own identity, friendship, blossoming romances, and learning from mistakes is all neatly packed into this story. The scenes are very funny allowing the readers to let their imaginations loose. Children will love this story as it will remind them of their own summer adventures. The characters are very natural and their experiences are very close to what children might experience. The language used in this book closely resembles how children of that age would talk and act. The plot is very engaging and will keep the readers glued to the book from the first page. The small town setting and the natural surroundings in the story gives that vacation home feeling where there is lot of fun adventures awaiting to be explored. The importance of family, friendship, and love is very subtly expressed through this story.

All in all it’s a very enjoyable story and readers will be laughing aloud as the read the comical escapades of the four Penderwick sisters, their friend Jeffrey, their dog Hound, the rabbits, and the bull!!

Review Excerpts
School Library Journal – Problems are solved and lessons learned in this wonderful, humorous book that features character whom readers will immediately love, as well as a superb writing style (www.Amazon.com).

Booklist – But what this family story does offer are four marvelously appealing sistes, true childhood behavior (disobeying, running away, a first crush), and a writing style that will draw readers close (Ilene Cooper, www.amazon.com).

Monumental Verses

Bibliography
Lewis, Patrick J. 2005. Monumental Verses. Washington D.C.: National Geographic. ISBN: 0792271394.

Plot Summary
Monumental Verses are poems that describe the 13 man made marvels of world. From the Empire State Building to the Eiffel Tower and from Great Pyramids of Egypt to Machu Picchu in Peru the poems pay homage to these wonders of the world.

Critical Analysis
J. Patrick Lewis has written remarkable poems that are just as breathtaking as the monuments he is describing. In addition to the 13 wonderful poems he has written an opening poem and also another poem admiring the Leaning Tower of Pisa on the back cover of the book. The poet has used the shape poem technique for some poems writing in the shape of the monument. The language of the poem is simple and easy to understand, yet the words strongly highlight the enormity of the structures. The rhythm and the sounds of the words in the poem are enjoyable. The poet has used some excellent photographs to display these monuments in the book.

The poems can be used in classrooms and by students to learn more about the wonders of the world. This book can also serve as a great connection while learning about different countries. Although this poetry book is intended for older readers, it is a small book and the poems are short, making it an easy reader even for younger children.

The Beauty of the Beast

Bibliography
Prelutsky, Jack. 1997. The Beauty of the Beast. Illustrated by Meilo So. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN: 0679970584.

Plot Summary
This book is an anthology of poems selected by Jack Prelutsky about different types of animals. Animal lovers will find more than 200 poems about various insects, sea creatures, reptiles and amphibians, birds, and mammals. Every child can find poems about the animal he or she loves or hates.

Critical Analysis
The Beauty of the Beast is a very interesting topical anthology about animals. This book is especially helpful to teachers and librarians as they can use it as a thematic connection while teaching about animals in the classroom. Since the poems deal with variety of animals, children will be able to find poems that refer to their favorite animal or maybe a not so favorite animal too. Although some poems could be hard to comprehend there is something for all ages and levels of understanding in this book.

The water color illustrations enhance the richness of the beautiful poems. The title suits the book very well as some of the poems are truly touching bringing out the beauty of the beast. Prelutsky has also written short opening poems at the beginning of each section that describes the animal category very nicely. My personal favorites in this anthology are - “The Ants Crawl” by Eleanor Schick, “Bumble Bee” by Margaret Wise Brown, “Cocoon” by David McCord, “Fish” and “Frog” by Mary Ann Hoberman, “Mud Turtles” by Grace Taber Hallock, “Naming the Turtle” by Patricia Hubbell, “Woodpecker” by Ted Hughes and many more.

Jack Prelutsky has carefully collected a variety of interesting poems for this anthology so that children will surely find something they will enjoy.

Please Bury Me in the Library

Bibliography
Lewis, Patrick J. 2005. Please Bury Me in the Library. Illustrated by Kyle M. Stone. Gulliver Books. ISBN: 0152163875.

Plot Summary
Please Bury Me in the Library is a compilation of poems by Patrick J. Lewis. He writes about the magic of books, importance of libraries, and the joys of reading.

Critical Analysis
This book celebrates reading, books, and libraries. Anyone who likes to read books will find these poems amusing and anyone who doesn’t like reading may be enthused to read after reading Patrick Lewis’s poems. The dark, vibrant illustration’s provides a unique visual imagery to the poems. The poet has used a variety of poetry writing techniques like haiku, acrostic, rhyming couplets etc to deliver a wonderful blend of poems. The short yet meaningful poems will make the children wanting to read more. The poems also have a touch of humor like the first poem “What if Books had Different Names” that switches words in book titles making it sound funny to the readers.

It’s a nice concoction of poems that can be read aloud with your child.

The Neighborhood Mother Goose Rhymes

Bibliography
Crews, Nina. 2004. The Neighborhood Mother Goose Rhymes. GreenWillow Books. ISBN: 9780060515744.

Plot Summary
This book is a collection of some very familiar mother goose rhymes that children like to sing everyday. Children will find their favorites like “Hey Diddle Diddle”, “Jack and Jill”, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and many other enjoyable rhymes.

Critical Analysis
Nina Crews has done an excellent work in collecting these poetic gems and creating photographic illustrations that are a real treat to the children. Nina Crew has picked rhymes that will not only entertain children but will also encourage them to sing and enact as they read. The illustration’s brings out the beauty in this book and makes it different from other Mother Goose Rhymes books. The illustrations have been inspired by Nina Crew’s Brooklyn neighborhood experiences. The pictures are a blend of real photographs with imaginative manipulations that brilliantly tell the story in each rhyme. For example, in the song “Hey Diddle Diddle” a cat is holding the violin and you can see a cow near the moon. In “Jack, Be Nimble” song, pictures have been manipulated such that you can see a child jumping over a candle lit on a cupcake. The illustrations just add to the joy of reading the rhymes.

The book surely is a delight for the young readers.