Welcome!
Dear Book Lovers,
Welcome! I am delighted that you have found The Through the Looking Glass blog. For over twenty years I reviewed children's literature titles for my online journal, which came out six times a year. Every book review written for that publication can be found on the Through the Looking Glass website (the link is below).
I am now moving in a different direction, though the columns that I write are still book-centric. Instead of writing reviews, I'm offering you columns on topics that have been inspired by wonderful books that I have read. I tell you about the books in question, and describe how they have have impacted me. This may sound peculiar to some of you, but the books that I tend to choose are ones that resonate with me on some level. Therefore, when I read the last page and close the covers, I am not quite the same person that I was when first I started reading the book. The shift in my perspective might be miniscule, but it is still there.
The books I am looking are both about adult and children's titles. Some of the children's titles will appeal to adults, while others will not. Some of the adult titles will appeal to younger readers, particularly those who are eager to expand their horizons.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Friday, February 8, 2013
Poetry Friday - A review of We Go Together
Love and affection makes our lives richer and happier, and armed with these emotions we are stronger when times are hard. In today's poetry title Calef Brown gives us a delightful selection of poems that are about the joys of being close to someone.
Calef Brown
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 7 and up
Houghton Mifflin, 2013, 978-0-547-72128-6
Finding a true close friend who is happy to share good
times (and bad times) is a not easy, and if you have such a person in your life
you are truly lucky. In this collection of eighteen poems, Calef Brown pairs
his unique paintings with little poems that explore friendships of all kinds.
He looks at the special affection that can grow between friends and family
members.
Early on in the
book we hear from two boys who feel that they “go together / like fingers and
thumbs.” They are “Genuine chums” who feel that they have won “the buddy
lottery” because they have each other. Then there is the dog who, when his
friend rings him up on the phone, runs over to his friend’s house down busy
streets “through the hurried masses.” The dog gets “more / and more pep” in his
step the closer he gets to his friend’s home.
Friends can,
with just a smile, make you feel better, which is what happens to the person
talking to us in the poem Scrootin’ Eyes.
We read about how the narrator’s friend’s smile makes the narrator experience
“heart twinkles.”
Friends are also
the perfect people to have around when something goes wrong. In the poem Thank you we read about how a person
tries not to fall to pieces when he gets a splinter in his hand. He knows that
his dearest person will take care of the problem with tweezers and some
soothing balm.
With touches of
humor and warmth and wonderful imagery, Calef Brown gives us a collection of
poems that can be shared with anyone special who makes the world a better
place. Readers can dip into the book and will emerge feeling better about life.
They will be reminded that there are dear people in their lives who care about
them; people who share giggles, who heal hurts, and who know us so well that
they know how to make us happy.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
Monday, February 4, 2013
Picture Book Monday: A review of A Splash of Red
Usually on Picture Book Monday I review fiction picture books, but A Splash of Red, a nonfiction picture book, is so special that I decided to make it today's review title. The story tells the story of Horace Pippin, a self-taught artist who overcame many challenges to become a much admired member of the artistic community in the United States.
Jen Bryant
Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Nonfiction Picture Book
For ages 6 to 8
Random House, 2013, 978-0-375-86712-5
On February 22, 1888, Horace Pippin came into the world.
The grandson of a slave, Horace did his part to help out by doing chores and
taking care of his siblings. At the end of the day, once all the work was done,
Horace used to draw pictures, capturing on paper the things that he had
experienced and seen during the day. He also drew pictures at school,
delighting his classmates and infuriating his teacher.
One day Horace
entered a drawing contest and to his delight he won. The prize he received was
a package of art supplies, and he was thrilled to own his very own colored
pencils, brushes, and paints. Even when Horace had to leave school to work, he
kept on creating pictures for himself and for his coworkers. Then, when World
War I broke out, Horace left his home, joined the army, and went to serve his
country in Europe. For days, sitting in a trench, Horace did not see the sun. When
there was a lull in the fighting Horace drew pictures for himself and for his
soldier friends who asked him to “Make a picture for us, Horace!”
Then Horace was
shot in the shoulder. His right hand could not move normally, nor could he use
it to lift things. For the first time since he was a little boy, Horace could
not paint or draw. It was as if a door to a special world had been closed in
his face.
In this
remarkable picture book biography, Jen Bryant’s emotive text is paired with
Melissa Sweet’s splendid mixed media artwork. On several of the pages the
artist incorporates hand lettered quotes into the artwork, giving us a very
personal connection with the thoughts and feelings of one of America’s great
artists.
Notes at the
back of the book written by the author and illustrator give us some insight
into the journey that they took, together, to find out about Horace Pippin, his
work, and his legacy.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Poetry Friday - A review of I Haiku You
When today's poetry title arrived at my house I was thrilled. It was the perfect book to review in February because February is a month when many people think about and give thanks for the people they love. This book celebrates the people who make our days better, and the things that make our life sweeter. It would be a perfect book to give to that special someone.
Betsy Snyder
Poetry Picture book
For ages 5 to 7
Random House, 2012, 978-0-375-86750-7
Every day we have encounters that make our day just a
little better. We meet people and animals whose love and affection makes life
sweeter, who make the good times richer and the painful times more bearable. There
are also things that make our lives richer and more enjoyable.
For this sweet
little poetry picture book Betsy Snyder has created some wonderful haikus that
capture special moments and freeze them in time so that we might enjoy them.
She begins by
showing us a little girl who is wishing a little red bird a good morning. For
her, the birds “everyday song” is her “favorite alarm clock.”
Later in the
book we meet another girl hugging her teddy bear. She thinks that her precious
friend is the “best teddy ever” because it hugs “away tears” and makes all her
“boo-boos” better. A teddy is only one of many things that give children
pleasure. There is the child who delights in watching sunflowers grow, and for
three children on a hot day there is nothing so wonderful as a glass of cold
lemonade that makes their taste buds start “cheering.”
This book gives
us the opportunity to journey through a day sharing important moments with
children and animals. Throughout the book the artwork beautifully compliments
the image-rich haikus.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
Monday, January 28, 2013
Picture Book Monday - A review of Oh No, Little Dragon!
I have a great fondness for dragons, which is why in part I chose to write Talon Diaries, a serialized story about a dragon. I am always on the lookout for new dragon books, and today's title is quite delightful. In it you will meet a little dragon who finds out that it is not wise to drink too much bath water.
Jim Averbeck
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Simon and Schuster, 2012, 978-1-4169-9545-6
Little dragon is lucky because he has a “spark in his
heart” that allows him to make fire. He loves being able to send fire swooshing
out of his mouth into the air, and his mother happily tells her little son that
she loves his flame.
Of course, if
you go around making fire, you have a tendency to become sooty. Little Dragon’s
mother tells him to have a bath, and when he says that he hates baths, she
tells him that he can play with his wooden boat in the tub.
In the tub Little
Dragon sends a fantastic flame across the water and sets the boat on fire.
Then, he decides to be “Little Dragon Fire Department” and he does a cannonball
to put out the fire he made. He laughs with delight and, not surprisingly,
swallows some water, which puts out Little Dragon’s spark. He is sparkless and
therefore flameless. Somehow he has to get his spark back!
This delightful
picture book will make children laugh out loud. Who can resist a little dragon who
likes to set fire to things. Children will be especially amused when they see
what the little dragon does to try to get his spark back.
With wonderfully
minimal but expressive illustrations and a funny story, Jim Averbeck gives
readers a picture book that they will enjoy reading and looking at again and
again.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Poetry Friday - A review of Poetry for Young People: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I must confess that I before I moved to the United States, I knew very little about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. I am not sure why we never looked at his work when I was in school, but we didn't. Since then I have made a point of reading some of his writings and poems and have greatly enjoyed the experience. Today's poetry title not only introduces readers to some of his poetry, but the editor of the collection also tells us the story of Longfellow's life.
Edited by Frances Schoonmaker
Illustrated by Chad Wallace
Poetry
For ages 9 and up
Sterling, 1998, 978-0-8069-9417-8
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow grew up in Portland, Maine.
Though his family was not wealthy, they were well off enough that Henry and his
siblings got a good education and they always had access to books. Henry grew
up to love the written word, and the things he saw around him inspired him to
write poetry. Often his poems described people and everyday events. In one of
his longer poems there is a scene where he describes a potter working at his
wheel. To him, the potter’s ability is like magic as “That shapeless, lifeless
mass of clay / Rise up to meet the master’s hand.” He also wrote about a
village blacksmith who, with “brawny arms” that are as “strong as iron bands,”
works all day long working the bellows and beating the metal with a “heavy
sledge.”
After going to
college and travelling to Europe to learn foreign languages, Henry became a
scholar and a teacher at Harvard. He also wrote poems when he could, including
long story poems such as Evangeline, Paul Revere’s Ride, and The Song of Hiawatha.
Then there were
the poems that were more personal. Moved by the plight of slaves, he wrote
eight poems that were combined in a little book called Poems on Slavery. Though his views made him unpopular with some
people, Henry always felt that slavery was a terrible practice and he tried to
show people what it would be like to be a slave. In The Slave’s Dream he tells the story of a slave who is thinking
about his homeland in Africa, and in The
Witness he gives a voice to all the slaves who drowned when the slave ship
they were on sank. On the ocean bed they lie and “cry, from yawning waves / “We
are the Witnesses.” They are the ones who know all about the cruelty of man
against man.
In this excellent
Poetry for Young People title, the editor’s introduction sets the scene for the
poetry selections that she chose to share with readers. Readers get a sense of
what kind of man Longfellow was, and how his life experiences influenced his
creative process. Knowing the poet’s story will help readers to better
appreciate his splendid poems.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
Monday, January 21, 2013
Picture Book Monday - A review of I have a Dream
Today Americans remember the life of one of our greatest citizens: Martin Luther King Jr. He was born on January 15th in 1929, and was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Martin Luther King Jr. gave many powerful and moving speeches in his lifetime, but probably the most famous one is the speech he gave in Washington, D.C on August 28, 1963. On that day he told thousands of people about his hopes and dreams, and in today's picture book his beautiful words are paired with Kadir Nelson's artwork to give readers of all ages a memorable book experience.
Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Illustrated
by Kadir Nelson
Nonfiction
Picture book and Audio CD
For
ages 6 and up
Random
House, 2012, 978-0-375-85887-1
On
August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. stood in front of the statue of Abraham
Lincoln in Washington D.C. In front of him was a sea of people, people of many
races and followers of many faiths. He
had been working as an activist and leader in the African-American struggle for
civil rights for many years, and leading “The Great March on Washington” was a
big moment for King and his cause.
King took on the cause of the civil rights
movement in 1955 when he led the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and in subsequent
years King’s family members were threatened and he was thrown in jail.
Supported by his faith, his followers, and his belief in his cause, he managed
to overcome his fears and concerns to lead his people in peaceful marches,
boycotts, demonstrations, and sit ins.
King began his famous speech on that hot
August day by talking about how the Negro in America was still not free,
despite Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, and despite the fact that
the Declaration of Independence says that “all men are created equal.”
Later in the speech he shifted his focus and
said “I have a dream…” and he told his listeners all about this powerful dream,
his hopes for all Americans.
In this beautiful picture book the latter
half of King’s memorable speech is shared with young readers. Two minor changes
have been made, and one paragraph of the original speech has been left out, but
otherwise King’s words have been left untouched.
Accompanied by Kadir Nelson’s beautiful art,
the text is as powerful today as it was all those years ago, and even young
children will recognize the beauty in King’s words.
At the back of the book readers will find a
copy of the entire speech, and an audio recording of King giving his speech can
be found on the CD that comes with the book.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Poetry Friday - A review of Side by Side
Sometimes poets and writers are inspired by the strangest things. They hear or see something that creates a little seed of an idea in their heads, and if they are lucky this seed grows into a piece of writing. For centuries writers have been inspired by art, and in today's poetry title we get to explore some modern day examples of poems that were art inspired.
Edited by Jan Greenberg
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 8 to 14
Abrams, 2008, 978-0-8109-9471-3
For centuries people have been writing poems that were inspired
by works of art. They have sat in front of a painting, a piece of pottery, or a
sculpture, and words have come to them that describe that work of art or that
capture the essence of the piece. Often the poetry is a deeply personal
reaction to the artwork, one that is unique to the poet.
In this very
unique collection of poems Jan Greenberg offers us poems written by poets from
around the world that were inspired by artworks from around the world. She
invited poets to choose “artworks that were representative of their own
cultures,” and most of the poems in the collection were written specifically
for this book.
The poems are
divided into four categories: Stories, Voices, Expressions and Impressions. The
first story poem was written by Pat Mora, and she offers her readers the poem
in both Spanish and English. In the poem she describes a collection of ceramic
and painted wooden figurines that are part of a scene. The characters in the
scene are all musicians who play on drums, guitars, pipes, and other
instruments. Seeing the musicians reminds the poet of her “abuelo,” who plays
his violin outside at sunset. His playing encourages other musicians to join
him and soon the “whole town floats / on the rhythmic river of music.”
In the Voices
section of the book poets gives the characters or scenes in art works a voice.
For example, from the Netherlands we hear the voice of woman who appears in a
painting that was created by Hans Memling in 1480. Poet Anne Provoost tells the
story of the young woman who is making a lace collar for her father when a
young man comes to her and “falls on his knees.” He tells her that “the light I
have only seen/ in the stained glass of cathedrals” shines out from her face.
She is shocked that anyone would consider her attractive and is drawn to him.
The poems in the
Expression section are more contemplative in that they explore “the transaction
that takes place between the viewer and the art object.” From Canada there is a
painting of a young woman standing on the deck of a ferry that is going to
Prince Edward Island. She is looking straight at us through her binoculars. The
poet thinks that the girl is not really looking through the binoculars.
Instead, she is hiding behind them, the way people in “alien atmospheres / are
awkward inside the costumes they wear for safety.”
In the final
section, Impressions, poets describe what they see when they look at their
chosen artwork. They use all kinds of patterns of words to show us what they
see, and it is interesting to discover that what we see may not be what another
person sees. A painting by the Japanese painter Ei-Kyu may look like the birth
of a planet to one person, but to the poet, Naoko Nishimoto, the painting shows
a dream that blooms behind closed eyelids.
At the back of
the book readers will find biographies of the poets, the translators, and the
artists. There is also a map “showing where each poet, translator, and artist
included in this book lives or lived.”
This is
remarkable book, one that young readers will find interesting and
thought-provoking.
Labels:
Children's book reviews,
Poetry books,
Poetry Friday
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
We Give Books
I recently found out about We Give Books and want to introduce you to this splendid literacy program.
Who Is Behind It?
We Give Books was created by the Penguin Group and the Pearson Foundation. Together, we support literacy through programs that engage entire communities through literacy and awareness programs like Booktime and Jumpstart's Read for the Record. We hope that We Give Books proves to be a way that young children, together with their parents or caregivers, can come to understand the power of reading—and of giving—as much as we do.Penguin Group is one of the world's premier global consumer trade book publishers, with key market positions in the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, Canada, India, China, New Zealand and Ireland. The Penguin Group (http://www.penguin.com) is part of Pearson plc, the international media company.Pearson Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Pearson plc. A 501(c) (3) nonprofit operating foundation, the Pearson Foundation extends Pearson's commitment to education by partnering with leading nonprofit, civic, and business organizations to provide financial, organizational, and publishing assistance across the globe.
The Books
We are dedicated to delivering award-winning books empowering you to read and share beautiful stories with children in your life. With age-appropriate content for young readers, our goal is to create memories that will last a lifetime.Books are right at the heart of this program — books for reading and books for giving!All of the books available for online reading are children's picture books appropriate for children through age ten. There is a mix of fiction and nonfiction, a range of authors, and an equal balance between read-alouds and books for independent readers. We'll be adding news books every month, together with special seasonal offerings.The We Give Books team works upfront with each non-profit literacy partner to identify the kinds of children's books that best fit their program needs. Some of the same great books you can read online will be donated to our charity partners through your reading efforts. We also donate others they request specifically for the young people they serve.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Picture Book Monday - A review of No Two Alike
Many of us find it all too easy to rush though our days without taking a moment to notice the beauty of nature. Even in a city there are pockets of nature that can be enjoyed if you just take the time to do so. In today's picture book we accompany two little birds as they explore their environment. The birds figure out that every plant and animal is unique, just as they are. Every plant and animal is a gift that we can enjoy looking at and watching.
Keith
Baker
Picture
Book
For
ages 4 to 6
Simon
and Schuster, 2011, 978-1-4424-1742-7
It
is a beautiful snowy day and two little red birds are flying around the woods.
They notice that no two snowflakes are alike. Some almost seem to be the same, “but
not quite.” As they explore their world they discover that snowflakes are not
the only things that are not alike.
When they look at nests they discover that
though two nests are both soft and round, they are still different. Tracks in
the snow are also similar but different. As they sit and hang from a branch
they find that no two branches are alike, and every leaf is unique. As they
make snowballs and use a stick to brush snow off a fence, the little birds find
more things that are similar and yet not the same.
With a delightful lyrical rhyming text and
gorgeous illustrations showing snowy scenes, this book, with its charming little
bird characters, is a joy to read. Children will enjoy seeing what the two
little birds get up to, and they will see that we are all different.
Celebrating our differences is one of the wonderful things to do in life.
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