Bibliography: Millman, Isaac. 1998. MOSES GOES TO A CONCERT. Ill. Millman, Isaac. Minneapolis, MN: Tandem Library Group ISBN 0613538412
Summary
Moses and his peers, members of a class of deaf children, attend a concert. To their surprise and delight one of the percussionists is deaf as well. When the concert is over she allows this group of students onto the stage to play the instruments that the musicians had played.
Critical Analysis
MOSES GOES TO A CONCERT is a picture book written and illustrated by Isaac Millman. Millman is quoted as saying “Real life is the best inspiration for my stories.” It is apparent in this picture book about a group of deaf children enjoying a field trip to a concert that he has been inspired by such a group. Cultural markers are identified in the cartoon strips that give illustrations of some of the American Sign Language (ASL) vocabulary that is a universal language of the deaf and the one most widely used within the United States. These cartoon strip illustrations are available on most pages and give the reader a brief lesson on a few words within the language. The illustrations follow the text with the students in the contemporary clothing that would be found within the schools. Clothing includes tee shirts, shorts and tennis shoes. Within the illustrations, whether on the school bus, or at the concert the children’s hands show them vividly communicating with each other with the various signals of ASL. The thematic idea of the children’s excitement over going to the concert and the fact that Moses and a friend both have drums at homes lets the reader understand that although they cannot hear, they can feel the music through the vibrations that it makes. The illustration on the first page shows Moses playing his drum with sock feet and when the percussionist comes out the students realize that she is also in her sock feet. It was a wonderful surprise to them that she was also deaf. Mr. Samuels, the teacher, gives each of his students a balloon to hold during the concert so they too can “listen to the music” through the vibrations of the balloons. When Mr. Samuel gives the balloons to the students he smiles and signs “She is deaf too. She follows the orchestra by feeling the vibrations of the music through her stocking feet.” The reader will notice on the page where the percussionist “talks” to the students using ASL, the facial features of the percussionist. In particular, the second illustration shows how important facial expressions are in communicating with ASL. When she says “worked hard” the seriousness of the expression shows how important the hard work is. Facial expressions, at times somewhat exaggerated, are an important part in communication with the deaf. The only deference given to the group of deaf children is front row seats and this is probably so they can better feel the vibrations of the concert. An author’s note at the beginning of the book describes ASL as a “visual sign language which is composed of precise handshapes, movements, and facial expressions used to form words.” The foundation of the signing in this book is credible following the author’s many hours that deaf teachers at New York City’s J.H.S. 47 School for the Deaf spent in helping him get the sign-language diagrams in the book right. This section of the book also gives some direction on how to read the arrows and symbols shown in the illustrations so the reader can practice the language. The end of the book gives two full conversations in sign language as well as the hand alphabet which many hearing children find a challenge to learn.
Although this book is written for younger children, reviews indicated preschool through grade two; there are many older children that are interested in ASL. They would enjoy seeing how the signs are made and practicing the alphabet.
Review
Horn Book Guide: Moses and his classmates, who are all deaf, enjoy the young people's concert when their teacher gives them balloons so they can feel the vibrations of the music. Afterward they meet the percussionist, who is also deaf. The illustrations include diagrams showing readers how to sign key words and phrases of the story. A page at the back shows the hand alphabet.
School Library Journal: A group of deaf children is taken to a concert where the youngsters meet the percussionist, a friend of their teacher, and learn to their surprise that she is also deaf. She explains to Moses and his class how she became a percussionist even though she had lost her hearing and helps them understand that anything is possible with hard work and determination. She lets the children play on her instruments and feel the vibrations on balloons that their teacher has given them. Cheerful watercolor illustrations show the multiethnic children enjoying themselves at the concert, while smaller cartoon strips feature Moses’ additional comments in sign language. A page displaying the manual alphabet and a conversation in sign language in which Moses tells his parents about his day enhance the upbeat story.
References: Houghton Mifflin “Meet the Author/Illustrator Isaac Millman” http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/mtai/millman.html (accessed 23 Jul 2007).
Connections:
SIGN LANGUAGE FOR KIDS: A FUN & EASY GUIDE TO AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE By: Heller, Lora ISBN 1402706723
AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE by: Deborah Kent ISBN 053112018X
Music teacher use the book to introduce instruments to students
Monday, July 23, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Inclusive Lit. FROM THE NOTEBOOKS OF MELANIN SUN By: Jacqueline Woodson
Bibliography: Woodson, Jacqueline. 1995. FROM THE NOTEBOOKS OF MELANIN SUN. New York: Scholastic ISBN 0590458809
Summary
Melanin Sun is a thirteen year old boy who finds that his mother is in love with another woman. The story is told through his eyes. He fears what others will think of his mother’s relationship and is drawn apart from her as he struggles with the situation. Not only does he have to deal with the relationship his mother is involved in, but he is also beginning to discover girls and agonizes over the stirring feelings he is having about Angie. He begins to come to terms with the relationship that his mother has with the other woman, Kristen, but continues to worry about what other people will think and how he will deal with them.
Critical Analysis
This book won the Lambda Literary Award (1996) and was nominated for other awards including the Coretta Scott King Award (1996). I had not heard of the Lambda Literary Award and when googled found it is an award given by Lambda Literary Foundation which celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT) literature. The book is set up with the story plot in chapters, yet additionally at intervals Melanin Sun conveys his private thoughts through his notebooks that he keeps and writes in. This makes this book somewhat unique over others. Cultural markers found within this book identify Melanin Sun as dark, darker than most. His clothing is similar to that of his contemporaries in his neighborhood. “I’m wearing a striped shirt. Short sleeves. Baggy Shorts. Black Pumas with a white stripe. No Socks. A baseball cap turned backwards. I have tiny dreads that I keep real neat – you know – keep them nice so the girls keep coming.” The type of clothing you might expect young boys to wear to be “cool”, particularly in urban areas. Kristin and Melanin Sun discussed the musical groups Arrested Development and Digable Planets. Although I didn’t know these were really groups I goolged them and found them to be hip hop groups which would be the type of music a young African American male might be interested in. Melanin Sun might be considered a “nerd” by some. His friends tease him about being a faggot because he likes to write and keep to himself and he collects stamps and worries about endangered species. From the beginning of the book the reader is aware that there will be problems that develop when he finds his mother is in love with another woman. A cultural marker as a teenager is the general worry of what other people will think of situations in your life. How people felt about Melanin Sun and their reaction to the situation was important to him. He knew that he would face a lot of nasty behavior when others found his mother was gay. “The other kind of “faggy” was the really messed up kind. That kind actually wanted to be with other guys the way I get to feeling when Angie comes around. That kind made me want to puke every time I thought about it – which wasn’t a lot.” When his mother tries to talk to Melanin Sun about gay people, he thinks she is accusing him of being a faggot. Melanin Sun definitely had the prejudiced view that so many have of gays and lesbians. When he finds out about the relationship in the car with his mother he thinks to himself that she is a dyke, a cultural marker indicating a relationship with another woman. He continues to scream at her “Please Mama. Please be anything. But don’t be a dyke.” Queer is another word that he uses to describe his mother. Melanin Sun has never had relationships with white people, other than his teachers, and he does not consider them as anything other than teachers. “I didn’t think about white people. They were a different species, living a different life in some other place.” When his mother’s friend, Kristin, comes to visit he finds “This woman wasn’t fine, or a sister. She was white. White. White.” The term sister is a cultural marker that is found within the African American community when they are talking about a woman of their color. It was interesting to find that Melanin Sun was apparently prejudiced against white people. He did not feel they belonged in his community. His community was for people of color – away from them and all their hatred and racism. In other words, he was judging this woman by the color of her skin, just as he felt the white people judged him by the color of his. This was an interesting turn of events. At one time when he was walking along the beach a group of white boys passed him and one said “Hey it sure is getting mighty dark around here.” The boys all laughed and it was later when he realized they were talking about him. These types of remarks and feelings about people of other color, unfortunately seem to be cultural markers. Before he even knew what the relationship between the two women involved he had a funny feeling in his stomach. The author allowed the reader to understand the situation before the protagonist did, yet his gut feeling was letting him know the relationship with his mother was changing. When others begin to talk about his mother’s relationship he tries to hide within the confines of his home. One of his friends reaches out to him as another turns against him. In the end Melanin Sun finds that like him Kristin has no other family. His was lost before he was born, hers was lost because of her chosen lifestyle. This is a situation that many gays and lesbians face. I hope that it is not as frequent as it once was.
Cultural markers abound in this book although many of them were not the typical markers you find in multicultural books. These markers included attitudes towards gays and lesbians, teenagers wishing to belong, hormonal changes that take place in a teenager and relationships between parents and children. This book involved so many different feelings from Melanin Sun. Feelings of changing from a boy to a man, feelings of how others would react to the relationship his mother was having with Kristin, feelings of how he felt about the relationship. Attitudes about white people were involved. The book covered so many different relationships, but drew them together in a way that made for good reading and empathy for Melanin Sun as he worked through the problems he was facing.
Review
Booklist: In a story that confronts bigotry with truth and sadness, Melanin, 13, is appalled when his mother tells him she loves a woman, and what's more the woman is white; however, Mel learns that there is room for whites in his world.
Horn Book Guide: The summer he is thirteen, Melanin Sun's mother tells him that she is in love with a white woman. Unable to sort out his feelings and confusions about sexuality, racial identity, and love, he punishes Mama by shutting her out of his life. Melanin's emotions are raw and often painful, and his response is both harsh and realistic. Woodson tells a powerful and ultimately hopeful story in this concise novel.
Connections
Other books by Jacqueline Woodson
MIRACLE’S BOYS
HUSH
LAST SUMMER WITH MAIZONMAIZON AT BLUE HILL
LOCOMOTION
Summary
Melanin Sun is a thirteen year old boy who finds that his mother is in love with another woman. The story is told through his eyes. He fears what others will think of his mother’s relationship and is drawn apart from her as he struggles with the situation. Not only does he have to deal with the relationship his mother is involved in, but he is also beginning to discover girls and agonizes over the stirring feelings he is having about Angie. He begins to come to terms with the relationship that his mother has with the other woman, Kristen, but continues to worry about what other people will think and how he will deal with them.
Critical Analysis
This book won the Lambda Literary Award (1996) and was nominated for other awards including the Coretta Scott King Award (1996). I had not heard of the Lambda Literary Award and when googled found it is an award given by Lambda Literary Foundation which celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT) literature. The book is set up with the story plot in chapters, yet additionally at intervals Melanin Sun conveys his private thoughts through his notebooks that he keeps and writes in. This makes this book somewhat unique over others. Cultural markers found within this book identify Melanin Sun as dark, darker than most. His clothing is similar to that of his contemporaries in his neighborhood. “I’m wearing a striped shirt. Short sleeves. Baggy Shorts. Black Pumas with a white stripe. No Socks. A baseball cap turned backwards. I have tiny dreads that I keep real neat – you know – keep them nice so the girls keep coming.” The type of clothing you might expect young boys to wear to be “cool”, particularly in urban areas. Kristin and Melanin Sun discussed the musical groups Arrested Development and Digable Planets. Although I didn’t know these were really groups I goolged them and found them to be hip hop groups which would be the type of music a young African American male might be interested in. Melanin Sun might be considered a “nerd” by some. His friends tease him about being a faggot because he likes to write and keep to himself and he collects stamps and worries about endangered species. From the beginning of the book the reader is aware that there will be problems that develop when he finds his mother is in love with another woman. A cultural marker as a teenager is the general worry of what other people will think of situations in your life. How people felt about Melanin Sun and their reaction to the situation was important to him. He knew that he would face a lot of nasty behavior when others found his mother was gay. “The other kind of “faggy” was the really messed up kind. That kind actually wanted to be with other guys the way I get to feeling when Angie comes around. That kind made me want to puke every time I thought about it – which wasn’t a lot.” When his mother tries to talk to Melanin Sun about gay people, he thinks she is accusing him of being a faggot. Melanin Sun definitely had the prejudiced view that so many have of gays and lesbians. When he finds out about the relationship in the car with his mother he thinks to himself that she is a dyke, a cultural marker indicating a relationship with another woman. He continues to scream at her “Please Mama. Please be anything. But don’t be a dyke.” Queer is another word that he uses to describe his mother. Melanin Sun has never had relationships with white people, other than his teachers, and he does not consider them as anything other than teachers. “I didn’t think about white people. They were a different species, living a different life in some other place.” When his mother’s friend, Kristin, comes to visit he finds “This woman wasn’t fine, or a sister. She was white. White. White.” The term sister is a cultural marker that is found within the African American community when they are talking about a woman of their color. It was interesting to find that Melanin Sun was apparently prejudiced against white people. He did not feel they belonged in his community. His community was for people of color – away from them and all their hatred and racism. In other words, he was judging this woman by the color of her skin, just as he felt the white people judged him by the color of his. This was an interesting turn of events. At one time when he was walking along the beach a group of white boys passed him and one said “Hey it sure is getting mighty dark around here.” The boys all laughed and it was later when he realized they were talking about him. These types of remarks and feelings about people of other color, unfortunately seem to be cultural markers. Before he even knew what the relationship between the two women involved he had a funny feeling in his stomach. The author allowed the reader to understand the situation before the protagonist did, yet his gut feeling was letting him know the relationship with his mother was changing. When others begin to talk about his mother’s relationship he tries to hide within the confines of his home. One of his friends reaches out to him as another turns against him. In the end Melanin Sun finds that like him Kristin has no other family. His was lost before he was born, hers was lost because of her chosen lifestyle. This is a situation that many gays and lesbians face. I hope that it is not as frequent as it once was.
Cultural markers abound in this book although many of them were not the typical markers you find in multicultural books. These markers included attitudes towards gays and lesbians, teenagers wishing to belong, hormonal changes that take place in a teenager and relationships between parents and children. This book involved so many different feelings from Melanin Sun. Feelings of changing from a boy to a man, feelings of how others would react to the relationship his mother was having with Kristin, feelings of how he felt about the relationship. Attitudes about white people were involved. The book covered so many different relationships, but drew them together in a way that made for good reading and empathy for Melanin Sun as he worked through the problems he was facing.
Review
Booklist: In a story that confronts bigotry with truth and sadness, Melanin, 13, is appalled when his mother tells him she loves a woman, and what's more the woman is white; however, Mel learns that there is room for whites in his world.
Horn Book Guide: The summer he is thirteen, Melanin Sun's mother tells him that she is in love with a white woman. Unable to sort out his feelings and confusions about sexuality, racial identity, and love, he punishes Mama by shutting her out of his life. Melanin's emotions are raw and often painful, and his response is both harsh and realistic. Woodson tells a powerful and ultimately hopeful story in this concise novel.
Connections
Other books by Jacqueline Woodson
MIRACLE’S BOYS
HUSH
LAST SUMMER WITH MAIZONMAIZON AT BLUE HILL
LOCOMOTION
Inclusive Lit. HABIBI by: Naomi Shihab Nye
Bibliography: Nye, Naomi Shihab. 1997. HABIBI.
Summary
The cover of this book illustrates the three characters who so varied in their believes are drawn together. There is Omer in his yellow checked shirt that Liyana finds him so handsome in, Liyana in her contemporary American clothing which is unacceptable to her family and Sitta, her grandmother in the traditional clothing of the Arabic community. In the background we find the old city with a part of it special to each group -- all tied together, yet so different. Will there ever be peace?
Horn Book Guide: When Liyana Abboud is fourteen, her father decides that the time is right to move the family from
Publishers Weekly: This soul-stirring novel about the Abbouds, an Arab American family, puts faces and names to the victims of violence and persecution in
http://godlas.myweb.uga.edu/shihabnye.html
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Asian Pacific Lit A SUITCASE OF SEAWEED By: Janet Wong
Bibliography: Wong, Janet. 1996. A SUITCASE OF SEAWEED. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689807880
Summary
This is a collection of thirty-six poems by noted author Janet Wong. The poems are broken down into three categories of twelve poems each. The first set of twelve poems is related to the author’s cultural and ethnical background of Korea. This is her Mother’s heritage. The second set of poems is from her Father’s heritage as a descendent of Chinese heritage. Finally, the third set blends both cultures together as Ms. Wong’s American heritage. These poems are memories of stories told, memories of family and friends, and nostalgic fragrances from the past.
Critical Analysis
This collection of thirty-six poems envelops the heritage of Ms. Wong from Korea to China to America. She begins each of the three sections with a brief history of the various cultures which are her heritage. The first twelve poems are from her Korean heritage. She tells of how her Mother and Father met and found love. She finds it curious how they could fall in love, not understanding each other’s language. She knew little of her Korean culture, having not been around any family for any length of time. As an adult she became more curious about her heritage. She uses some of the Korean language in the interlingual format with words such as Korean beef bone soup, kimchi. In the poem JOYCE’S BEAUTY SALON “They call my mother the perm lady, “PumAjima.” This poem also brings in the cultural marker of the straight, heavy hair of the Korean people, and like so many of any culture, they are unhappy with the way their hair looks. They leave the salon with lighter hair and carefree curls. Another poem in this section HOSPITALITY reminds the reader of the Korean culture of removing the shoes before entering the house. Ms.Wong’s visitor seems not to notice all the shoes lined up by the door and the displeasure of her Mother is shown when she doesn’t offer the visitor anything to eat. CAMPFIRE is reminiscent of the way Mother could build a fire with just rocks as a child in her homeland of Korea. Mother would enjoy the roasting of grasshoppers as a snack and when Janet comes along Mother enjoys making the campfire in the same old way, but with a more delectable snack of marshmallows. Many of her poems are comparing the old ways to the new ways. The second set of selections is taken from the Chinese side of the family which was her fathers. In the introductory selection she again uses a cultural word GongGong and explains that this is a Chinese word for Grandfather. Wong tells of her upbringing in the 1950’s Los Angeles where her Grandfather owned a restaurant called Wong’s Café. She would work an hour or two there cleaning tables or sweeping at her mother’s beauty shop a few stores down. One poem in this section titled ALBERT J. BELL tells of a favorite customer that she knew as Uncle Al. Although there was a forty year friendship between her Grandfather and Uncle Al, he never learned to use chopsticks, and Grandfather always failed to give him a fork. This is a cultural marker in the tradition of how the Chinese people eat their food. Another poem in this group titled WHEN I GROW UP shows the artistic side of Wong as she dreams of being a writer, artist, dancer or singer. Her Grandpa wants her to become a professional so she can make a good living and won’t be poor like the people in China who “eat one chicken, work all year.” Wong explains to her Grandpa that “things are different here.” A comparison of the life in China where at the time of Grandpa’s youth there was little chance of advancement to all the opportunities available in America. MONEY ORDER reminds the reader of the close ties within the Chinese community where those in America send money back to relatives in the homeland so they can have some of their desires. However, Wong questions that they used the money to buy a color TV instead of using the money for essentials. GRANDMOTHER’S ALMOND COOKIES is a favorite of mine as it brings back the way my Mother and Grandmother cooked. Ask for a recipe and what do you get? A little of this, a handful of that, a little wetter, no recipe! The final selections surround the fact that although her heritage is Korean/Chinese, she is indeed an American. She is often asked “Where are you from” and in this section she tries to answer that question. In MANNERS she compares the heritages, Chinese eat in porcelain bowls, pick up the bowl and push the rice into the mouth with chopsticks. The Koreans leave the stainless steel bowl on the table, even when the food has gone cold. When you are born in LA half and half, you use a fork and knife. IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD takes her back to the past to the house she lived in as a child. She remembers how wonderful it was when she was a child and now it is just like all the rest. The last poem in her book sums up the heritage of all Americans:
QUILT
Our family
is a quilt
of odd remnants
patched together
in a strange pattern,
threads fraying,
fabric wearing thin –
but made to keep
its warmth
even in bitter
cold.
Ms. Wong’s poetry separates and brings the three cultures together to make her who she is. They define the differences in each culture. It is interestingly noted that the few illustrations within the book are called “ decorations by the author.” The “decoration” on the first part is of one of her now favorite Korean dishes – Korean beef bone soup (kimchi) with lots of garlic. She has titled this decoration “Garlic Boat. The second section of Chinese poems illustrates the Gold Mountain Tea, a favorite of her Grandfather’s cooked in the old family teapot.
Reviews
School Library Journal: Wong was born in America of Chinese and Korean heritage, but the basic subjects she addresses in neat stanzas of free verse aim at the heart of any family, any race. The quiet, touching poems are divided into three sections, each honoring another part of her ethnicity. The Korean section deals with such diverse topics as hospitality, acupuncture, or the spicy kimchi that was a frequent dinner food. The author learned about Chinese culture from her father's parents, whose presence plays a large role in these poems of family. As an American, Wong writes poems of realization and identity. Whether the words are about customs or careers, they provide a sense of who the author has become because of her pride in her blood-lines. People may ask Asian-Americans "Where are you from?" This collection, appropriate for YAs of any culture, may make this question less relevant and important as they realize the commonalties among cultures.
Booklist: As she did in Good Luck Gold (1994), Wong writes in simple, casual free verse about herself. This time she has divided the small collection into three parts: Korean, Chinese, and American poems. At the start of each section is a page of autobiography as interesting as the poems. Her Korean mother met and married Wong's father when he was in Korea with the U.S. Army. He is Chinese but came to this country when he was 12. Wong was born here. Some of the poems are flat, but the best of them show a mix of feelings. Koreatown is growing, spreading--and "splitting." Korean women, furious with their families, come to the beauty salon to change their "stubborn, straight, heavy hair" and get themselves a perm. The poems overlap their ethnicity and subject, of course, and young people will recognize many of the situations, whether Wong is imagining her parents' "Love at First Sight" or chafing at their high expectations and their disappointment.
Connections
Students look through previously selected books of poetry to find a poem relating to their culture and heritage
Write a poem about culture/heritage
Other poetry books by this author:
GOOD LUCK GOLD AND OTHER POEMS
NIGHT GARDEN: POEMS FROM THE WORLD OF DREAMS
TWIST: YOGA POEMS
KNOCK ON WOOD: POEMS ABOUT SUPERSTITIONS
THE RAINBOW HAND: POEMS ABOUT MOTHERS AND CHILDREN
BEHIND THE WHEEL: DRIVING POEMS
Teacher Materials by Janet Wong
POETRY WORKSHOP: THE POETRY SUITCASE
YOU HAVE TO WRITE WITH JANET WONG
Summary
This is a collection of thirty-six poems by noted author Janet Wong. The poems are broken down into three categories of twelve poems each. The first set of twelve poems is related to the author’s cultural and ethnical background of Korea. This is her Mother’s heritage. The second set of poems is from her Father’s heritage as a descendent of Chinese heritage. Finally, the third set blends both cultures together as Ms. Wong’s American heritage. These poems are memories of stories told, memories of family and friends, and nostalgic fragrances from the past.
Critical Analysis
This collection of thirty-six poems envelops the heritage of Ms. Wong from Korea to China to America. She begins each of the three sections with a brief history of the various cultures which are her heritage. The first twelve poems are from her Korean heritage. She tells of how her Mother and Father met and found love. She finds it curious how they could fall in love, not understanding each other’s language. She knew little of her Korean culture, having not been around any family for any length of time. As an adult she became more curious about her heritage. She uses some of the Korean language in the interlingual format with words such as Korean beef bone soup, kimchi. In the poem JOYCE’S BEAUTY SALON “They call my mother the perm lady, “PumAjima.” This poem also brings in the cultural marker of the straight, heavy hair of the Korean people, and like so many of any culture, they are unhappy with the way their hair looks. They leave the salon with lighter hair and carefree curls. Another poem in this section HOSPITALITY reminds the reader of the Korean culture of removing the shoes before entering the house. Ms.Wong’s visitor seems not to notice all the shoes lined up by the door and the displeasure of her Mother is shown when she doesn’t offer the visitor anything to eat. CAMPFIRE is reminiscent of the way Mother could build a fire with just rocks as a child in her homeland of Korea. Mother would enjoy the roasting of grasshoppers as a snack and when Janet comes along Mother enjoys making the campfire in the same old way, but with a more delectable snack of marshmallows. Many of her poems are comparing the old ways to the new ways. The second set of selections is taken from the Chinese side of the family which was her fathers. In the introductory selection she again uses a cultural word GongGong and explains that this is a Chinese word for Grandfather. Wong tells of her upbringing in the 1950’s Los Angeles where her Grandfather owned a restaurant called Wong’s Café. She would work an hour or two there cleaning tables or sweeping at her mother’s beauty shop a few stores down. One poem in this section titled ALBERT J. BELL tells of a favorite customer that she knew as Uncle Al. Although there was a forty year friendship between her Grandfather and Uncle Al, he never learned to use chopsticks, and Grandfather always failed to give him a fork. This is a cultural marker in the tradition of how the Chinese people eat their food. Another poem in this group titled WHEN I GROW UP shows the artistic side of Wong as she dreams of being a writer, artist, dancer or singer. Her Grandpa wants her to become a professional so she can make a good living and won’t be poor like the people in China who “eat one chicken, work all year.” Wong explains to her Grandpa that “things are different here.” A comparison of the life in China where at the time of Grandpa’s youth there was little chance of advancement to all the opportunities available in America. MONEY ORDER reminds the reader of the close ties within the Chinese community where those in America send money back to relatives in the homeland so they can have some of their desires. However, Wong questions that they used the money to buy a color TV instead of using the money for essentials. GRANDMOTHER’S ALMOND COOKIES is a favorite of mine as it brings back the way my Mother and Grandmother cooked. Ask for a recipe and what do you get? A little of this, a handful of that, a little wetter, no recipe! The final selections surround the fact that although her heritage is Korean/Chinese, she is indeed an American. She is often asked “Where are you from” and in this section she tries to answer that question. In MANNERS she compares the heritages, Chinese eat in porcelain bowls, pick up the bowl and push the rice into the mouth with chopsticks. The Koreans leave the stainless steel bowl on the table, even when the food has gone cold. When you are born in LA half and half, you use a fork and knife. IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD takes her back to the past to the house she lived in as a child. She remembers how wonderful it was when she was a child and now it is just like all the rest. The last poem in her book sums up the heritage of all Americans:
QUILT
Our family
is a quilt
of odd remnants
patched together
in a strange pattern,
threads fraying,
fabric wearing thin –
but made to keep
its warmth
even in bitter
cold.
Ms. Wong’s poetry separates and brings the three cultures together to make her who she is. They define the differences in each culture. It is interestingly noted that the few illustrations within the book are called “ decorations by the author.” The “decoration” on the first part is of one of her now favorite Korean dishes – Korean beef bone soup (kimchi) with lots of garlic. She has titled this decoration “Garlic Boat. The second section of Chinese poems illustrates the Gold Mountain Tea, a favorite of her Grandfather’s cooked in the old family teapot.
Reviews
School Library Journal: Wong was born in America of Chinese and Korean heritage, but the basic subjects she addresses in neat stanzas of free verse aim at the heart of any family, any race. The quiet, touching poems are divided into three sections, each honoring another part of her ethnicity. The Korean section deals with such diverse topics as hospitality, acupuncture, or the spicy kimchi that was a frequent dinner food. The author learned about Chinese culture from her father's parents, whose presence plays a large role in these poems of family. As an American, Wong writes poems of realization and identity. Whether the words are about customs or careers, they provide a sense of who the author has become because of her pride in her blood-lines. People may ask Asian-Americans "Where are you from?" This collection, appropriate for YAs of any culture, may make this question less relevant and important as they realize the commonalties among cultures.
Booklist: As she did in Good Luck Gold (1994), Wong writes in simple, casual free verse about herself. This time she has divided the small collection into three parts: Korean, Chinese, and American poems. At the start of each section is a page of autobiography as interesting as the poems. Her Korean mother met and married Wong's father when he was in Korea with the U.S. Army. He is Chinese but came to this country when he was 12. Wong was born here. Some of the poems are flat, but the best of them show a mix of feelings. Koreatown is growing, spreading--and "splitting." Korean women, furious with their families, come to the beauty salon to change their "stubborn, straight, heavy hair" and get themselves a perm. The poems overlap their ethnicity and subject, of course, and young people will recognize many of the situations, whether Wong is imagining her parents' "Love at First Sight" or chafing at their high expectations and their disappointment.
Connections
Students look through previously selected books of poetry to find a poem relating to their culture and heritage
Write a poem about culture/heritage
Other poetry books by this author:
GOOD LUCK GOLD AND OTHER POEMS
NIGHT GARDEN: POEMS FROM THE WORLD OF DREAMS
TWIST: YOGA POEMS
KNOCK ON WOOD: POEMS ABOUT SUPERSTITIONS
THE RAINBOW HAND: POEMS ABOUT MOTHERS AND CHILDREN
BEHIND THE WHEEL: DRIVING POEMS
Teacher Materials by Janet Wong
POETRY WORKSHOP: THE POETRY SUITCASE
YOU HAVE TO WRITE WITH JANET WONG
Asian Pacific Lit. KAMISHIBAI MAN by: Allen Say
Bibliography: Say, Allen. 2005. KAMISHIBAI MAN. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618479546
Summary
The kamishibai man has been retired for a number of years and goes back to the city to perform for the children. When he goes back there are many changes with buildings and traffic everywhere. There are no children interested in hearing his stories. However, a group of adults soon begin to form around him. These are the ones he told stories to when they were children. Nostalgically they enjoy hearing his stories and buying his candies again.
Critical Analysis:
A fall 2005 Parent’s Choice Gold Award winner for picture books, KAMISHIBAI MAN, is based on how the kamishibai man earned a living in the 1930’s through the 1950’s in Japan. This 32 page picture book in muted colors illustrates the timeless quality of Jiicahn’s home and then as he travels to the city the illustrations jump to the high rise buildings and looming traffic of the modern world. One illustration depicts the vast difference in the city that Jicahan remembers as he precariously rides his bicycle with a huge truck advancing upon him and blasting his horn for him to move out of the way. He finds the area where the park used to be now full of restaurants and stores. The gray hues of the illustrations versus the text of the story which tells of the beautiful trees now all chopped down to make room for the restaurants and stores. His box for his performance and the pictures that tell the stories are authentically illustrated. Although his return to the city does not attract the children as it did in years past the adults gather to hear the stories they remember from their childhoods. The illustrations of the adults show them in contemporary clothing of modern day Japan with the business women and men dressed in business suits and others in their casual clothing. Facial expressions are varied, some wearing eyeglasses and eyes shining as they go back to their childhood. The illustrations of the young children listening to the kamishibai man are shown in contemporary clothing as well. Then in the last illustration Jicahan is back at home with his wife in the traditional setting of the Japanese home, with them eating, sitting on the floor dressed in their traditional Japanese clothing. The modern television reflects changes in society, but the news story of the day by the young man carrying the camera was of the return of the kamishibai man. The names of Jicahan and Baachan mean simply Grandpa and Grandma. Although they did not have children of their own it is obvious that they have a love for children with his passion for storytelling and hers for making the candies for the children.
The foreword explains what the kamishibai means “paper theater”. The kamishibai man of Japan would ride a bicycle with a wooden box mounted on the backseat. The box had drawers full of candies and a stage on top. This is reminiscent of his childhood in Japan. The stories told by the kamishibai man were “cliff-hangers” to be continued. Each day would bring a new story, but they were actually a never-ending tale. In this book he introduces the tradition of the kamishibai man to his audience. The afterword is written by Tara McGowan, a Japanese folklore scholar. Historically the kamishibai is said to have stared in the 1930’s, but is part of a long tradition of picture storytelling in Japan. The kamishibai consisted of an easily transported wooden box which held the story pictures and candies. The performer would carry his stories from town to town. The storylines many times came from popular films. This was the poor man’s theater. They were abundant in Japan from the 1930’s to the 1950’s during the time of a great economic depression in Japan and following through until after World War II. After the advent of television the kamishibai became less desirable. People began to see it associated with poverty and backwardness. When the phase of the kamishibai passed many of the artists turned to the creation of comic books.
This is a well written book about the history of a specific type of storytelling indigenous to Japan which entertained children from the 1930’s to the 1950’s. Both the illustrations and the text give an authentic picture of the life of the kamishibai man.
Reviews
Horn Book Guide: In Say's nostalgic homage to kamishibai ("paper theater" of 1930s Japan), retired performer Jiichan essays a decades-later visit to his old haunts in a now-crowded city. Miraculously, recounting his story summons his former audience grown up, a throng of adults who greet him with affection and praise. Say's lovely paintings feature eloquent characterizations and evocative landscapes.
Booklist: In a foreword, Say explains that Kamishibai means paper theater and that years ago Kamishibai men were itinerant storytellers who traveled around Japan on bicycles with a big, wooden box mounted on the back seat. The box contained a miniature theater, and beneath it were drawers of candy that the performer sold to eke out a living. As a storyteller spun his tale, he used picture cards to illustrate dramatic points, finishing each time with a cliffhanger designed to entice the children in his audience to come back another time to hear the continuation of the story. Say's lovely new book is about an elderly Kamishibai man, long retired, who, missing his rounds, decides to pedal back to the old neighborhood for one last performance. The story-within-a-story that emerges reveals why this unique type of performance art has all but disappeared. The quietly dramatic, beautifully evocative tale contains a cliffhanger of its own, and its exquisite art, in the style of Kamishibai picture cards, will attract even the most jaded kid away from the TV to enjoy a good, good book.
Connection
Students draw illustrations and tell stories using their illustrations
KAMISHIBAI STORY THEATER: THE ART OF PICTURE TELLING Author: Dianne De las Casas ISBN 1591584043 – 25 folktales from across Asia for the classroom, Using the method of storytelling through pictures. Students could use these stories to share with each other, or other classes.
Other books by Allen Say
GRANDFATHER’S JOURNEY
TREE OF CRANES
THE BICYCLE MAN
Summary
The kamishibai man has been retired for a number of years and goes back to the city to perform for the children. When he goes back there are many changes with buildings and traffic everywhere. There are no children interested in hearing his stories. However, a group of adults soon begin to form around him. These are the ones he told stories to when they were children. Nostalgically they enjoy hearing his stories and buying his candies again.
Critical Analysis:
A fall 2005 Parent’s Choice Gold Award winner for picture books, KAMISHIBAI MAN, is based on how the kamishibai man earned a living in the 1930’s through the 1950’s in Japan. This 32 page picture book in muted colors illustrates the timeless quality of Jiicahn’s home and then as he travels to the city the illustrations jump to the high rise buildings and looming traffic of the modern world. One illustration depicts the vast difference in the city that Jicahan remembers as he precariously rides his bicycle with a huge truck advancing upon him and blasting his horn for him to move out of the way. He finds the area where the park used to be now full of restaurants and stores. The gray hues of the illustrations versus the text of the story which tells of the beautiful trees now all chopped down to make room for the restaurants and stores. His box for his performance and the pictures that tell the stories are authentically illustrated. Although his return to the city does not attract the children as it did in years past the adults gather to hear the stories they remember from their childhoods. The illustrations of the adults show them in contemporary clothing of modern day Japan with the business women and men dressed in business suits and others in their casual clothing. Facial expressions are varied, some wearing eyeglasses and eyes shining as they go back to their childhood. The illustrations of the young children listening to the kamishibai man are shown in contemporary clothing as well. Then in the last illustration Jicahan is back at home with his wife in the traditional setting of the Japanese home, with them eating, sitting on the floor dressed in their traditional Japanese clothing. The modern television reflects changes in society, but the news story of the day by the young man carrying the camera was of the return of the kamishibai man. The names of Jicahan and Baachan mean simply Grandpa and Grandma. Although they did not have children of their own it is obvious that they have a love for children with his passion for storytelling and hers for making the candies for the children.
The foreword explains what the kamishibai means “paper theater”. The kamishibai man of Japan would ride a bicycle with a wooden box mounted on the backseat. The box had drawers full of candies and a stage on top. This is reminiscent of his childhood in Japan. The stories told by the kamishibai man were “cliff-hangers” to be continued. Each day would bring a new story, but they were actually a never-ending tale. In this book he introduces the tradition of the kamishibai man to his audience. The afterword is written by Tara McGowan, a Japanese folklore scholar. Historically the kamishibai is said to have stared in the 1930’s, but is part of a long tradition of picture storytelling in Japan. The kamishibai consisted of an easily transported wooden box which held the story pictures and candies. The performer would carry his stories from town to town. The storylines many times came from popular films. This was the poor man’s theater. They were abundant in Japan from the 1930’s to the 1950’s during the time of a great economic depression in Japan and following through until after World War II. After the advent of television the kamishibai became less desirable. People began to see it associated with poverty and backwardness. When the phase of the kamishibai passed many of the artists turned to the creation of comic books.
This is a well written book about the history of a specific type of storytelling indigenous to Japan which entertained children from the 1930’s to the 1950’s. Both the illustrations and the text give an authentic picture of the life of the kamishibai man.
Reviews
Horn Book Guide: In Say's nostalgic homage to kamishibai ("paper theater" of 1930s Japan), retired performer Jiichan essays a decades-later visit to his old haunts in a now-crowded city. Miraculously, recounting his story summons his former audience grown up, a throng of adults who greet him with affection and praise. Say's lovely paintings feature eloquent characterizations and evocative landscapes.
Booklist: In a foreword, Say explains that Kamishibai means paper theater and that years ago Kamishibai men were itinerant storytellers who traveled around Japan on bicycles with a big, wooden box mounted on the back seat. The box contained a miniature theater, and beneath it were drawers of candy that the performer sold to eke out a living. As a storyteller spun his tale, he used picture cards to illustrate dramatic points, finishing each time with a cliffhanger designed to entice the children in his audience to come back another time to hear the continuation of the story. Say's lovely new book is about an elderly Kamishibai man, long retired, who, missing his rounds, decides to pedal back to the old neighborhood for one last performance. The story-within-a-story that emerges reveals why this unique type of performance art has all but disappeared. The quietly dramatic, beautifully evocative tale contains a cliffhanger of its own, and its exquisite art, in the style of Kamishibai picture cards, will attract even the most jaded kid away from the TV to enjoy a good, good book.
Connection
Students draw illustrations and tell stories using their illustrations
KAMISHIBAI STORY THEATER: THE ART OF PICTURE TELLING Author: Dianne De las Casas ISBN 1591584043 – 25 folktales from across Asia for the classroom, Using the method of storytelling through pictures. Students could use these stories to share with each other, or other classes.
Other books by Allen Say
GRANDFATHER’S JOURNEY
TREE OF CRANES
THE BICYCLE MAN
Asian Pacific American Lit. DRAGONWINGS by: Laurence Yep
Bibliography: Yep, Laurence. 1975. DRAGONWINGS. New York: Harper & Row. ISBN 006440859
Summary
Moon Shadow, the young protagonist, arrives in San Francisco in 1903 to join his father, whom he has never seen, and leaves his mother and grandmother behind in China. The story follows the live of Moon Shadow, his father, Windrider, and other male relatives of the Tang family. The family earns a living laundering clothes for the white people whom they refer to as “demons”. His father dreams of building a flying machine which he calls Dragonwings. Eventually Moon Shadow and Windrider leave the family to live among the demons. This occasionally puts the two of them in perilous situations as their kind is not accepted within the general population. After many struggles Windrider finally accomplishes his goal of building Dragonwings, but crashes it after only a few minutes. Fortunately his injuries are non-life threatening. Windrider finally realizes that the most important thing in his life is his family and he loses his desire to build another aeroplane.
Critical Analysis
DRAGONWINGS is a 1976 Newbery Honor Book and is written by Laurence Yep, an Asian-American well known for his work in children’s literature. The cover illustration of the book represents Moon Shadow and Windrider as they fly one of his kites. The facial features of Moon Shadow show the detail of the Chinese face and with his father’s back featured, the traditional queue is noted in his hairstyle. The clothing they are wearing is the authentic clothing of the Chinese in early 20th century America. The book gives some background of the Tang people and the Chinese dynasty and how that history caused the arrival of so many Chinese to America in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Historically most of the men traveled to America without their families and sent money back home to their wives. The cost of the trip to bring families over, as well as the danger to the women and children kept them in China. There were stories of the Golden Mountain in America where the sun shines on the mountain and men can scoop buckets of gold, but it is the “demons” that get the gold. The title of the book is significant as the Chinese culture gives much honor to the dragon, unlike the Americans, the demons, who consider the dragon to be full of firebreathing rage. Uncle Bright Star had come to America originally and worked on the railroads as so many of the Chinese immigrants of the time did. Among the family, he was the traditional leader. Lefty, a member of the family, had cut off his right hand because he gambled so much and Black Dog had a big problem with drugs (opium). All of these problems were those that the Chinese of the time encountered in their lives in America. In Dr.Vardell’s discussion she addresses the fact that Laurence Yep chooses the names of his characters from some of the nicknames he hears in Chinatown. The Chinese Americans used colorful nicknames and he has authentically chosen nicknames that add meaning to the character. The book addresses the differences in the Chinese calendar and that of the Americans. The demon’s calendar is based on the movement of the sun with a certain number of days and months and seven day weeks. Moon Shadow then describes the calendar of his people which is based on the movement of the moon and the first day of the New Year changed each year as did many of their holidays. The Chinese week was ten days. All of this confused Moon Shadow. As Moon Shadow begins to learn the language of the demons his speech is choppy and sentences are short as is typical of those learning the English language. Please. I drink lot. Too much. You take tea. Moon Shadow also found the alphabet of the American language to be confusing as well with only twenty-six letters as the Chinese language has many different symbols. A historical event that was an important part of the history of early San Francisco was addressed in this book, the great earthquake of 1906. The reaction of the people from their can do attitude, to zombie appearance, to hysteria and greed and looting was all addressed in this book. Mrs. Whitlaw had a stained glass window that featured a dragon spewing fire and it was one of the few items that was saved from the ravages of the earthquake. Kites and flying have historically been a part of the Chinese tradition and this book takes us into the passion for this art even taking the reader into the world of the first aeroplanes. Finally; however, this book addresses families that work together, forgive each other and find that above all else family is most important. It shows the characteristic Chinese values of respecting and honoring the elders in the family.
The afterword explains that Mr. Yep considers this book to be a historical fantasy after reading about a young Chinese flyer Fung Joe Guey who flew the hills of Oakland in 1909 for twenty minutes before his plane went down. This is all the information he found about Fung Joe Guey, but it set him to thinking about all the Chinese that came to America with fears and hopes as others who came. To so many they were a dull, faceless mass, but he makes their story come to life.
Reviews
School Library Journal: Laurence Yep's Newbery Honor book (HarperCollins, 1975) offers insights into the lives of Chinese-Americans in early 20th century California. The story begins as eight-year-old Moon Shadow Lee journeys across the Pacific to join his proud and clever father at the family-owned laundry in San Francisco. The boy recounts their problems with prejudice, as well as the kindness of uncles and cousins. Father and son must leave the protection of the family to move out of Chinatown, but they find refuge with a generous and friendly landlady. Once they have successfully established a repair business, they turn their attention to making a flying machine. Though it's a modern invention, part of their motivation is the elder's belief in his own previous dragon existence. Yep draws heavily on his own heritage, but also includes figures such as Teddy Roosevelt and the Wright Brothers, and historic events such as the San Francisco Earthquake. The result is a heartwarming story set in a familiar time and place, but told from a new perspective. The quiet intensity of B. D. Wong's narration enriches the text as he creates memorable voices for a large cast of characters. Wafting, ethereal music signals the end of each side of the cassette, and the cover art is attractive. The only problem is the lightweight cardboard package, which is not sturdy enough for heavy circulation. That shouldn't deter libraries from purchasing this fine recording which will provide upper elementary and middle school listeners with lessons in history, and a gentle reminder of the value of a loving family and loyal friends.
Booklist: In this sensitive immigration novel, Moon Shadow leaves his mother in China and sails to America in 1903 to join his father, who lives in San Francisco's Chinatown, works in a laundry, and dares to dream of flying a biplane.
Connections:
Have students design a kite or bring a kite from home and have a “kite flying day”
Check your library for some of the many books about the invention of the air plane and the Wright brothers.
Other books by this Laurence Yep:
THE EARTH DRAGON AWAKES: THE SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE OF 1906
THE TRAITOR: GOLDEN MOUNTAIN CHRONICLES: 1885
DRAGON’S GATE…
And many others
Summary
Moon Shadow, the young protagonist, arrives in San Francisco in 1903 to join his father, whom he has never seen, and leaves his mother and grandmother behind in China. The story follows the live of Moon Shadow, his father, Windrider, and other male relatives of the Tang family. The family earns a living laundering clothes for the white people whom they refer to as “demons”. His father dreams of building a flying machine which he calls Dragonwings. Eventually Moon Shadow and Windrider leave the family to live among the demons. This occasionally puts the two of them in perilous situations as their kind is not accepted within the general population. After many struggles Windrider finally accomplishes his goal of building Dragonwings, but crashes it after only a few minutes. Fortunately his injuries are non-life threatening. Windrider finally realizes that the most important thing in his life is his family and he loses his desire to build another aeroplane.
Critical Analysis
DRAGONWINGS is a 1976 Newbery Honor Book and is written by Laurence Yep, an Asian-American well known for his work in children’s literature. The cover illustration of the book represents Moon Shadow and Windrider as they fly one of his kites. The facial features of Moon Shadow show the detail of the Chinese face and with his father’s back featured, the traditional queue is noted in his hairstyle. The clothing they are wearing is the authentic clothing of the Chinese in early 20th century America. The book gives some background of the Tang people and the Chinese dynasty and how that history caused the arrival of so many Chinese to America in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Historically most of the men traveled to America without their families and sent money back home to their wives. The cost of the trip to bring families over, as well as the danger to the women and children kept them in China. There were stories of the Golden Mountain in America where the sun shines on the mountain and men can scoop buckets of gold, but it is the “demons” that get the gold. The title of the book is significant as the Chinese culture gives much honor to the dragon, unlike the Americans, the demons, who consider the dragon to be full of firebreathing rage. Uncle Bright Star had come to America originally and worked on the railroads as so many of the Chinese immigrants of the time did. Among the family, he was the traditional leader. Lefty, a member of the family, had cut off his right hand because he gambled so much and Black Dog had a big problem with drugs (opium). All of these problems were those that the Chinese of the time encountered in their lives in America. In Dr.Vardell’s discussion she addresses the fact that Laurence Yep chooses the names of his characters from some of the nicknames he hears in Chinatown. The Chinese Americans used colorful nicknames and he has authentically chosen nicknames that add meaning to the character. The book addresses the differences in the Chinese calendar and that of the Americans. The demon’s calendar is based on the movement of the sun with a certain number of days and months and seven day weeks. Moon Shadow then describes the calendar of his people which is based on the movement of the moon and the first day of the New Year changed each year as did many of their holidays. The Chinese week was ten days. All of this confused Moon Shadow. As Moon Shadow begins to learn the language of the demons his speech is choppy and sentences are short as is typical of those learning the English language. Please. I drink lot. Too much. You take tea. Moon Shadow also found the alphabet of the American language to be confusing as well with only twenty-six letters as the Chinese language has many different symbols. A historical event that was an important part of the history of early San Francisco was addressed in this book, the great earthquake of 1906. The reaction of the people from their can do attitude, to zombie appearance, to hysteria and greed and looting was all addressed in this book. Mrs. Whitlaw had a stained glass window that featured a dragon spewing fire and it was one of the few items that was saved from the ravages of the earthquake. Kites and flying have historically been a part of the Chinese tradition and this book takes us into the passion for this art even taking the reader into the world of the first aeroplanes. Finally; however, this book addresses families that work together, forgive each other and find that above all else family is most important. It shows the characteristic Chinese values of respecting and honoring the elders in the family.
The afterword explains that Mr. Yep considers this book to be a historical fantasy after reading about a young Chinese flyer Fung Joe Guey who flew the hills of Oakland in 1909 for twenty minutes before his plane went down. This is all the information he found about Fung Joe Guey, but it set him to thinking about all the Chinese that came to America with fears and hopes as others who came. To so many they were a dull, faceless mass, but he makes their story come to life.
Reviews
School Library Journal: Laurence Yep's Newbery Honor book (HarperCollins, 1975) offers insights into the lives of Chinese-Americans in early 20th century California. The story begins as eight-year-old Moon Shadow Lee journeys across the Pacific to join his proud and clever father at the family-owned laundry in San Francisco. The boy recounts their problems with prejudice, as well as the kindness of uncles and cousins. Father and son must leave the protection of the family to move out of Chinatown, but they find refuge with a generous and friendly landlady. Once they have successfully established a repair business, they turn their attention to making a flying machine. Though it's a modern invention, part of their motivation is the elder's belief in his own previous dragon existence. Yep draws heavily on his own heritage, but also includes figures such as Teddy Roosevelt and the Wright Brothers, and historic events such as the San Francisco Earthquake. The result is a heartwarming story set in a familiar time and place, but told from a new perspective. The quiet intensity of B. D. Wong's narration enriches the text as he creates memorable voices for a large cast of characters. Wafting, ethereal music signals the end of each side of the cassette, and the cover art is attractive. The only problem is the lightweight cardboard package, which is not sturdy enough for heavy circulation. That shouldn't deter libraries from purchasing this fine recording which will provide upper elementary and middle school listeners with lessons in history, and a gentle reminder of the value of a loving family and loyal friends.
Booklist: In this sensitive immigration novel, Moon Shadow leaves his mother in China and sails to America in 1903 to join his father, who lives in San Francisco's Chinatown, works in a laundry, and dares to dream of flying a biplane.
Connections:
Have students design a kite or bring a kite from home and have a “kite flying day”
Check your library for some of the many books about the invention of the air plane and the Wright brothers.
Other books by this Laurence Yep:
THE EARTH DRAGON AWAKES: THE SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE OF 1906
THE TRAITOR: GOLDEN MOUNTAIN CHRONICLES: 1885
DRAGON’S GATE…
And many others
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Native American Literature THE GREAT BALL GAME by: Joseph Bruchac
Bibliography: Bruchac, Joseph. 1994. THE GREAT BALL GAME Ill. Roth, Susan L. New York: Dial ISBN 0803715404
Summary
The animals and the birds are in disagreement over who is the best. The animals thought they were better because they have teeth and the birds thought they were better because they have wings. They decided to have a ballgame and the one to get the first goal would be considered the best. As teams were set up, neither side wanted the bat. The birds said he could not be on their side because he was so little, so he went back to the animals and they felt sorry for him and let him be on their side. As the game progressed and night approached it seemed as if the birds would win; however, in the end the animals won with the help of the bat who could see so well at night.
Critical Analysis
This Native American folktale (a Muskogee Story) is retold by Joseph Bruchac. An author’s note explains that this story is from the Muskogee (also known as the Creek) Indian Nation in an area we now know as Georgia. Many ball games were played throughout the centuries in the Americas. Stories of games between birds and animals are found throughout not only the southeast but the northeast and plains regions as well. This version is based on a story told to the author by Louis Littlecoon Oliver, an Oklahoma Muskogee elder. The game chosen for this tale is a game similar to a lacrosse-like sport using two rackets, one in each hand. Historically playing games are documented throughout the tribes of Native Americans. Lacrosse and stickball originated in the Native Nations of North America. Mr. Bruchac is a renowned author and student of Native American history. His origin is Abenaki Indian, English and Slovak.
Native Americans are known for their storytelling and this picture books retells the story of why the birds fly south in the winter. According to this story it is because they lost the game of stick ball that they played against the animals. The collaged illustrations in vibrant reds, blacks, browns and shades of gray and white are two paged spreads. The animals and birds do have the nose and mouth; however, the most prominent facial feature is the eyes which are typical of the illustrations in Native American books. The illustrations early on show the animals and birds arguing, and then their leaders the Crane and the Bear agreeing to have a ball game. As the game is played the animals and birds are shown with the two rackets, one in each hand.
Because this is a picture book it is difficult to find cultural markers, but the story itself is indicative of the stories that the Native Americans shared to explain forces in nature and the changing of the seasons.
Reviews
Horn Book Guide: The Birds and the Animals decide to settle a disagreement with a stickball game, and the first side to score sets the losers' penalty. Bat, originally excluded from both teams, flies at dusk to help the Animals win. The Birds' penalty? They must leave for half of each year, which explains why birds fly south each winter. Artful cut- and torn-paper collages feature creatures juxtaposed against brilliantly colored or patterned backgrounds.
Booklist: In this Muskogee Indian tale, the birds argue with the beasts about which are better--those with teeth or those with wings. When the quarrel escalates to the brink of war, both sides agree to settle their disagreement on the playing field. The first side to score a point will set the other's punishment. The bat, who has wings as well as teeth, is initially spurned by both sides, then permitted to join the beasts. He scores the goal and banishes the birds for half the year. "So it is that the Birds fly south each winter. . . . And every day at dusk Bat still comes flying to see if the Animals need him to play ball." Roth's dynamic collages combine cut papers of varied textures and hues to create a series of effective illustrations. Short and well told, this appealing pourquoi tale lends itself to reading aloud.
Connections:
This book could be used with a science unit on seasons.
Other books on Native American Folktales by Joseph and James Bruchac
THE GIRL WHO HELPED THUNDER AND OTHER NATIVE AMERICAN FOLKTALES (to be published in April 2008)
WHIRLWIND IS A SPIRIT DANCING: POEMS BASED ON TRADTIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN SONGS AND STORIES
Summary
The animals and the birds are in disagreement over who is the best. The animals thought they were better because they have teeth and the birds thought they were better because they have wings. They decided to have a ballgame and the one to get the first goal would be considered the best. As teams were set up, neither side wanted the bat. The birds said he could not be on their side because he was so little, so he went back to the animals and they felt sorry for him and let him be on their side. As the game progressed and night approached it seemed as if the birds would win; however, in the end the animals won with the help of the bat who could see so well at night.
Critical Analysis
This Native American folktale (a Muskogee Story) is retold by Joseph Bruchac. An author’s note explains that this story is from the Muskogee (also known as the Creek) Indian Nation in an area we now know as Georgia. Many ball games were played throughout the centuries in the Americas. Stories of games between birds and animals are found throughout not only the southeast but the northeast and plains regions as well. This version is based on a story told to the author by Louis Littlecoon Oliver, an Oklahoma Muskogee elder. The game chosen for this tale is a game similar to a lacrosse-like sport using two rackets, one in each hand. Historically playing games are documented throughout the tribes of Native Americans. Lacrosse and stickball originated in the Native Nations of North America. Mr. Bruchac is a renowned author and student of Native American history. His origin is Abenaki Indian, English and Slovak.
Native Americans are known for their storytelling and this picture books retells the story of why the birds fly south in the winter. According to this story it is because they lost the game of stick ball that they played against the animals. The collaged illustrations in vibrant reds, blacks, browns and shades of gray and white are two paged spreads. The animals and birds do have the nose and mouth; however, the most prominent facial feature is the eyes which are typical of the illustrations in Native American books. The illustrations early on show the animals and birds arguing, and then their leaders the Crane and the Bear agreeing to have a ball game. As the game is played the animals and birds are shown with the two rackets, one in each hand.
Because this is a picture book it is difficult to find cultural markers, but the story itself is indicative of the stories that the Native Americans shared to explain forces in nature and the changing of the seasons.
Reviews
Horn Book Guide: The Birds and the Animals decide to settle a disagreement with a stickball game, and the first side to score sets the losers' penalty. Bat, originally excluded from both teams, flies at dusk to help the Animals win. The Birds' penalty? They must leave for half of each year, which explains why birds fly south each winter. Artful cut- and torn-paper collages feature creatures juxtaposed against brilliantly colored or patterned backgrounds.
Booklist: In this Muskogee Indian tale, the birds argue with the beasts about which are better--those with teeth or those with wings. When the quarrel escalates to the brink of war, both sides agree to settle their disagreement on the playing field. The first side to score a point will set the other's punishment. The bat, who has wings as well as teeth, is initially spurned by both sides, then permitted to join the beasts. He scores the goal and banishes the birds for half the year. "So it is that the Birds fly south each winter. . . . And every day at dusk Bat still comes flying to see if the Animals need him to play ball." Roth's dynamic collages combine cut papers of varied textures and hues to create a series of effective illustrations. Short and well told, this appealing pourquoi tale lends itself to reading aloud.
Connections:
This book could be used with a science unit on seasons.
Other books on Native American Folktales by Joseph and James Bruchac
THE GIRL WHO HELPED THUNDER AND OTHER NATIVE AMERICAN FOLKTALES (to be published in April 2008)
WHIRLWIND IS A SPIRIT DANCING: POEMS BASED ON TRADTIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN SONGS AND STORIES
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