Non-Fiction Review - Biography by Kathleen Krull

Book Cover Photo Source: Barnes and Noble, http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Boy-on-Fairfield-Street/Kathleen-Krull/e/9780375822988/?itm=1, accessed October 27, 2008.

Bibliography
Krull, Kathleen. 2004. THE BOY ON FAIRFIELD STREET: HOW TED GEISEL GREW UP TO BECOME DR. SUESS. Ill. By Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. New York, NY: Random House. ISBN 0375822984

Plot Summary
This book is an introduction to the life of children’s author and illustrator Ted Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss. The story takes us through his childhood growing up in Springfield, Massachusetts and leaves us when he is 22 and living in New York prepared to make it as a writer and illustrator.

In The Boy on Fairfield Street the focus is on his childhood including his love of zoo animals, his affection for writing and drawing, and his unusual way of looking at the world around him. Readers of all ages will identify with this familiar author and will delight in hearing about how he came to be known around the world as “Dr. Seuss”.

Critical Analysis
“Once upon a time, there lived a boy who feasted on books and was wild about animals.” So begins this wonderful biography of Dr. Seuss for young readers. The easy to read narrative describes how early on, Geisel showed an affection for drawing (even on his bedroom walls), “whatever popped into his head.” In high school he took one art class but quit when his teacher “scolded him for breaking the rules.” At the urging of his favorite English teacher he applied to and was accepted at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Ted went to college and tried to find what he was good at but as Krull tells us, he “was clearly gifted, though no one knew at exactly what. It wasn’t as if men could doodle for a living.” It was after getting in trouble with the campus humor magazine that he began to sign the name “Seuss” to his work. The story ends with his career as Dr. Seuss still to come.

The full-page illustrations in the story by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher give off the warm glow of an ideal upbringing. They are nostalgic in nature and have a “Norman Rockwell” feel to them. Dr. Seuss’ whimsical drawings are scattered through the pages as well, a constant reminder of just who Ted Geisel grew up to become.

At the end of the book there are several pages of additional information about Dr. Seuss after the story ends, including how he got his start in children’s books, information about his personal life, and a list of his works (all of which are still in print). My favorite thing about this charming book was how the author and illustrators included his favorite toy dog Theophrastus, his first stuffed animal and a gift from his mother. He is introduced to us as she is reading young Ted a bedtime story and we see him throughout the book in various scenes. Reading this story and thinking about how Ted Geisel’s books have spanned generations, remind us of how important his life was to children everywhere.

Review Excerpt(s):
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “Featured in spot art, familiar Seuss characters frolic through these pages, thematically complementing the illustrations while reminding readers why Geisel's life is worth celebrating.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “This picture-book biography is a winner. Ted Geisel was not an athletic child, and spent his free time roaming his neighborhood in Springfield, MA, and hanging out with his best friend. Except for encountering some strong anti-German sentiment, his childhood was ideally normal.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS: “Bordered, full-page oil-on-gessoed-paper illustrations evoke pertinent scenes, while spot art of Seuss drawings dot the opposite pages. Some of these original images are absolutely haunting; the magic of his name will make this a huge hit, but it's the lively writing that puts the hat on the cat.”

Connections:

Do a class study on the life of Ted Geisel. Have the students predict when they think he wrote each book and then do a timeline of when each book was published to see if they were correct.
Other books of the life of Ted Geisel:
THE SEUSS, THE WHOLE SEUSS, AND NOTHING BUT THE SEUSS: A VISUAL BIOGRAPHY OF THEODORE SEUSS GEISEL. ISBN 0375822488
OH THE PLACES HE WENT: A STORY ABOUT DR. SEUSS-THEODORE SEUSS GEISEL. ISBN 0876146272

Poetry Review - Poetry by Kristine O'Connell George

Book Cover Photo Source: Barnes and Noble, http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Little-Dog-Poems/Kristine-OConnell-George/e/9780395822661/?itm=1, accessed October 13, 2008.

Bibliography
George, Kristine O’Connell. 1999. LITTLE DOG POEMS. Ill. by June Otani. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395822661

Plot Summary
In this charming book of poetry we spend a day with a little girl and her Little Dog. Little Dog protects the girl from the vacuum cleaner, guards the house against mail jeeps, delivery trucks and cats, and loves presents from the pet store. This book of 30 lively poems is a must for every dog lover!

Critical Analysis
In this collection of 30 short poems, Kristine O’Connell George takes us through an ordinary day for Little Dog. Any child who has ever had a pet will relate to these easy to read short poems. From waking up in the morning, “Little Dog’s cold nose/is better than any/alarm clock”, to bedtime, “No one will ever guess/that the lump/under my blanket is/Little Dog”, we witness the love and admiration between dog and owner.

June Otani’s illustrations, done in eye-catching watercolor, are a perfect match for the playful text, which sometimes swirls around the page. Through her pictures we can actually “see” Little Dog in our minds and all of the adventures she has in a normal day. We come to know how much the little girl loves Little Dog in one poem about Little Dog’s birthday. “Only someone/who loves Little Dog/very much/would bake/birthday cookies with/liver powder.” This is an enchanting book which will be a joy to share with even the youngest of readers.

Review Excerpt(s)
HORN BOOK review: “The events are as ordinary, and as entrancing, as a child's own daily round; the language is simple and concrete enough for the youngest listeners.”
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “Otani's familiarity with the exuberance and joy of puppies and children shines through her delicate watercolors, and she depicts their pounces and feints, cuddles and anticipation, with a deft sense of line.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “The poetry and paintings in Little Dog Poems complement one another wonderfully and bring to life an engaging canine character.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS: “George plays with words with a sure hand; just as surely, Otani picks up on their expressive qualities, e.g., showing the bedraggled pup in "Bath," "Dripping and soggy,/Little Dog/really is/little." A charming glimpse of life with a small dog, and its small but satisfying pleasures.”

Connections
This book would be a wonderful new way to share poetry with children. It is not the typical rhyming poems that so many children come to expect. It would be a great way for you to have your children in class make up their own poems about a familiar topic.
Other engaging books of poetry by Kristine O’Connell George
TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS ISBN 061804597X
THE GREAT FROG RACE: AND OTHER POEMS ISBN 0618604782
SWIMMING UPSTREAM: MIDDLE SCHOOL POEMS ISBN 0618152504
BOOK! ISBN 0395982871
FOLD ME A POEM ISBN 0152025014

Poetry Review - Poetry Collection by Jack Prelutsky

Book Cover Photo Source: Greenwillow Books for Children, http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060823351/What_a_Day_It_Was_at_School/index.aspx, accessed October 11, 2008.

Bibliography
Prelutsky, Jack. 2006. WHAT A DAY IT WAS AT SCHOOL! Ill. By Doug Cushman. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0060823356

Plot Summary
In this book of poetry, Jack Prelutsky takes us through some of the funny situations that occur in Elementary School. The main character in the stories is a chubby overall-clad cat that has written the 17 poems in journal form. While telling his mom about his day, he takes us through some of the trials and tribulations of elementary school including not completing homework assignments, music class, and field trips. Students will relate to all of these situations and will be laughing at loud as they hear them.

Critical Analysis
Doug Cushman’s humorous illustrations set the stage for this book even before the title page has been introduced. We see an exhausted kitten coming in from school dragging his backpack behind him and then a very animated scene where his mother is asking about his day to which he replies, “It’s all in my journal.”
The combination of journal style writing coupled with Jack Prelutsky’s signature humor makes for a winning combination in this children’s book of poetry. The poems are varied in subject matter ranging from very heavy backpacks to food fights in the cafeteria, all of which elementary school aged children will easily relate to. In “I Made a Noise this Morning” we hear about the embarrassment of passing gas in class with a little pride mixed in; “Though I’m sorry that I made it,/from the bottom of my heart,/In a way, my brief eruption/was a little work of art.”

Cushman’s paintings, done in watercolor are a perfect match for the lively text. His characters, which include a cat, rabbit, and several varieties of rodents, have wonderful facial expressions that cheerfully complete each poem. In “I Know How to Add,” which deals with the problems associated with math, “I cannot seem to do fractions at all-/I’ve tried and I’ve tried and I’ve tried./Will I ever solve twelve-elevenths times nine?” we see a lion as the math teacher who bears a striking resemblance to Albert Einstein and wears a shirt that says “E=mc2”. The last poem in the book, which deals with writing a poem for class, “My poem must have a meter,/and it also has to rhyme./It’s due tomorrow morning…./How I wish I had more time!” may be an inspiration for students to start writing poems of their own school experiences.

Review Excerpt(s)
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY review: “The school-age set will recognize the oft-discussed topics: food fights, field trips and the embarrassing passing of gas during class, among others. The author metes out doses of humor over the course of the 17 poems. In "I Wish I'd Studied Harrder," the laughs lie in the intentional misspellings ("I tried to spell Cunneddykit,/ But really I just gessed.../ If I had stoodied harder/ Then I mite have passed this test").”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “In addition to being a popular choice for poetry-loving young readers, this school-themed collection is certain to make continual rounds among early elementary teachers for use in the classroom.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS: “Reluctant readers and poetry lovers alike will find plenty to laugh at and identify with here, and there is never an awkward line or a sour note-although in one poem, there is a rather unfortunate smell.”

Connections
After reading this book of poetry have the students make up their own poems about something that has happened to them at school or at home. This would also be a great way to introduce journal writing. Have your students start a journal and encourage them to write part of it in poetry form.
Other books of poetry by Jack Prelutsky:
MY DOG MAY BE A GENIUS ISBN 0066238625
IT’S HALLOWEEN ISBN 068814733X
PIZZA, PIGS AND POETRY ISBN 0061434485THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK ISBN 0688022715