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There is no theme that unites this month's picture book column. Instead we review three unique titles, each special in its
own way.
Reviewed by Kelly Herold, Big A litte a
Poetry Speaks to Children
edited by Elise Paschen, illustrated by Judy Love, Wendy Rasmussen, and Paula Zinngrabe Wendland
Poetry Speaks to Children is a treature of a book. Containing 95 poems by 73 poets, this is a book that will
remain with a child, a family, a school or a library for many years.
Elise Paschen has selected a great variety of poems—from funny to serious. Contemporary works from Karla Kuskin and X.J.
Kennedy are included, as are old favorites by Dickinson, Frost and Nash. Most of the poems are short enough to fit on one
illustrated page, with none longer than two pages in length. Poetry Speaks to Children is illustrated by three
artists and each poem has its own illustration or two. The selected illustrations work well together and are animated,
colorful and child-friendly.
With its variety of texts and vibrant illustrations, Poetry Speaks to Children would be an exceptional book for
children to "dip into" alone or as a read aloud. But it has more. Poetry Speaks to Children comes with a CD,
on which 50 poems by 34 poets are read. (The authors even introduce their poems on occasion.) Many of the poems, including those by Robert
Frost and Langston Hughes, are read by their own authors—a fact children will find fascinating. Listen to the CD in
the car, put it on a mp3 player—and a child can read along.
In English, of Course
by Josephine Nobisson, illustrated by Dasha Ziborova
Reviewed by Alice Herold, Big A litte a
In English, of Course, by Josephine Nobisso, provides the perfect insight into the world of a school
classroom when a child arrives from another country knowing no English. I can remember teaching terrified third graders
the words "boy" and "girl" so they could navigate the restrooms (first priority). How does a teacher teach a new word?
By acting it out, of course! During the early years of my career, all of us taught "sheltered English" without the
credentials in bilingual education. This book shows how misunderstandings can occur between teachers and students while
trying to communicate with each other. Further, I saw the book as a tribute to the 90,000 immigrants who still settle in
New York each year.
The illustrator, Dasha Ziborova, beautifully depicted the story. I'm sure this book was a labor of love for Ms.Ziborova,
who is herself an immigrant from Russia.
The book is labeled a children's book, but I think it shoud be re-designated as ideal reading for ages 5-105!
How the Moon Regained her Shape
by Janet Ruth Heller, illustrated by Ben Hodson
Reviewed by Kelly Herold, Big A litte a
How the Moon Regained her Shape is a charming tale about the moon, bullies, and finding your true worth.
The moon was a happy, dancing creature. Until the day she crossed paths with the sun: "The earth darkened, and the sun
spoke angrily to the moon. 'You ugly scarecrow! People on earth need me to grow their crops. But no one needs you. Get
out of my way!'" The moon, dejected, retreats to the earth, unable to continue her dancing.
Fortunately, a comet sees the moon and decides to intervene. He takes her to a woman named Round Arms who feeds the moon
mint and ginger tea (my favorite!) and tells her the sun is often bad-tempered. Then she introduces the moon to people
who love her—the artist, the rabbits, who use the moon's light to know it's safe outside, singers and dancers. Soon the
moon understands she's important too and returns to the sky.
How the Moon Regained her Shape is based on a Native American folktale and Hodson's illustrations fit the text.
Inspired by Native American art, the paintings are rich and stylized. Each illustration looks like a moment frozen in time.
At the end of the story a five-page "For Creative Minds" section is appended, including facts about the moon, projects (like
"edible moon cookies"), a phases of the moon chart, and a note on bullies.
How the Moon Regained her Shape is perfect for the four-to eight-year-old audience and would work especially well
with school and library units on either the moon or bullies.
Poetry Speaks to Children, edited by Elise Paschen. Illustrations by Judy Love, Wendy Rasmussen,
and
Paula Zinngrabe Wendland. Sourcebooks MediaFusion, 2006. ISBN: 1-4022-0329-2.
In English, of Course, by Josephine Nobisson. Illustrations by Dasha Ziborova. Gingerbread House,
2003. ISBN: 0-9401-1208-6.
How the Moon Regained her Shape, by Janet Ruth Heller. Illustrations by Ben Hodson. Sylvan Dell
Publishing, 2006. ISBN: 0-9764-9434-5.
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