Movie Trailer's To Help Kids Deal With Annoying Problems

Check out this great book trailer for Jennifer LaRue Huget and Edward Koren's exiting book, How To Clean Your Room in 10 Easy Steps.

Here is another fantastic trailer for anyone that has ever felt bullied, uncomfortable, or different.

If you like reading about Lilly you will love to hear what happens when her mother has a baby!  Will Lilly adjust to a new baby?  Will she want to send him back?  What if her cousin doesn't like the baby either?

Module 15 - And Tango Makes Three

Summary

Two male penguins live in the Central Park Zoo.  They eventually become inseparable, swimming together, playing together, and creating a nest to sleep in together.  They are sad when they realize they cannot lay an egg like the other penguin couples.  One of the zoo keepers notice this.  He gives them an egg to care for after another family of penguins has two and can only care for one.  The two fathers do a great job of hatching and caring for the young penguin.  

Bibliographic Citation

Richardson, J. & Parnell, P. (2005). And tango makes three. New York; Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.  

Personal Impressions

This was a very uniquely and well written book.  The idea that families can look different is portrayed in an easy to understand way for young readers.  The introduction that shows many "traditional" family units of animals is both engaging to read and illustrated nicely.  

Reviews

Jennifer Mattson (Booklist, May 15, 2005 (Vol. 101, No. 18))
Roy and Silo were "a little bit different" from the other male penguins: instead of noticing females, they noticed each other. Thus penguin chick Tango, hatched from a fertilized egg given to the pining, bewildered pair, came to be "the only penguin in the Central Park Zoo with two daddies." As told by Richardson and Parnell (a psychiatrist and playwright), this true story remains firmly within the bounds of the zoo's polar environment, as do Cole's expressive but still realistic watercolors (a far cry from his effete caricatures in Harvey Fierstein's The Sissy Duckling, 2002). Emphasizing the penguins' naturally ridiculous physiques while gently acknowledging their situation, Cole's pictures complement the perfectly cadenced text--showing, for example, the bewildered pair craning their necks toward a nest that was "nice, but a little empty." Indeed, intrusions from the zookeeper, who remarks that the nuzzling males "must be in love," strike the narrative's only false note. Further facts about the episode conclude, but it's naive to expect this will be read only as a zoo anecdote. However, those who share this with children will find themselves returning to it again and again--not for the entree it might offer to matters of human sexuality, but for the two irresistible birds at its center and for the celebration of patient, loving fathers who "knew just what to do." Category: Books for the Young--Fiction. 2

005, Simon & Schuster, $14.95. PreS-Gr. 2. Starred Review

Joan Kindig, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
We live in a time where the definition of family has changed dramatically. No longer do all children live in a Leave It To Beaver household with mom in an apron and dad singing, “I’m home” each evening as he returns to hearth and home. Families now--and, frankly, probably always did--come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and sexes and children need to see their own situations reflected in the books they read. And Tango Makes Three centers on a true story of two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo that began to exhibit mating behaviors including building a nest. A cast-off egg was provided to them, they hatched it together, and a new family was born. What a wonderful example of a “different” family for children to read or hear. This story provides an easy way for children to see what family is: a group of supportive and loving members. Henry Cole’s pastel illustrations provide the warmth and coziness inherent in this story. 2005, Simon & Schuster, $14.95. Ages 4 to 7.

Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
Here is a book that will be controversial even though it is based on fact. Two male penguins, Roy and Silo, become a couple at the Central Park Zoo. They spend time together, build a nest and try to incubate a rock when they see other penguin couples incubating eggs. They were unhappy until one day the zookeeper found a fertilized egg and put it in their nest. Roy and Silo knew just what to do and then one fine day a little chick emerged from the egg. They fed her, snuggled up with her at night and did everything any penguin couple would do. Their little girl was named Tango by the zookeeper “because it takes two to make a Tango.” For kids who live in homes with same sex partners, this book will be welcome, for those who are willing to accept homosexuality this book will be welcome, for those who believe that such behavior is abnormal , they will probably want the book banned from schools and libraries. Too bad, it is a true story; and it is well told and well illustrated. How Henry Cole manages to give the penguins personality and expression is a testament to his skill as an artist. Kids will enjoy the book, and I doubt that they will be concerned that Tango has two daddies. 2005, Simon & Schuster, $14.95. Ages 4 to 8.

Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature)
And Tango Makes Three spotlights two exemplary dads from the animal kingdom. Co-authors Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell tell the true story of the chinstrap penguins Roy and Silo, of New York City’s Central Park Zoo, who became partners, built a nest, and even tried to hatch a rock. Noting this behavior, their keeper replaced the rock with a fertile egg. The two took turns warming the egg till it hatched a fuzzy chick named Tango--and then cared for the baby together. This endearing story celebrates the love of alternative families. Henry Cole brings his trademark gentle humor to the watercolor illustrations. Especially fun is the picture of the proud papas teaching their excited little one how to sing for her supper. 2005, Simon & Schuster, $14.95. Ages 4 to 8.

CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices, 2006)
This groundbreaking picture book is based on the true story of a penguin chick being raised by two male penguins in the Central Park Zoo. Back in 1998, workers at the zoo noticed that two male penguins, Roy and Silo, had become a couple. They did all of the things that pairs of male and female penguins typically did—building a nest together, sleeping together, and spending all of their time with each other. When zookeeper Rob Gramzay observed that the two were sitting on an egg-shaped rock, he got an idea: he took an abandoned fertilized egg and placed it in Roy and Silo’s nest. The two took turns sitting on the egg until it hatched, and then they shared responsibility for taking care of the chick, named Tango by Gramzay. The straightforward simplicity of the narrative lends an understated eloquence to the story, which wisely refrains from humanizing the penguins. Henry Cole’s subtle use of ice blue contrasts nicely with the requisite predominance of black and white, and his shifting perspectives underscore the drama inherent in the story. The book concludes with an authors’ note that provides some additional information about the key players. CCBC Category: Picture Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers. 2005, Simon & Schuster, 32 pages, $14.95. Ages 3-6.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 2005 (Vol. 73, No. 11))
In this true, straightforwardly (so to speak) delivered tale, two male chinstrap penguins at New York City's Central Park Zoo bond, build a nest and-thanks to a helping hand from an observant zookeeper-hatch and raise a penguin chick. Seeing that the penguins dubbed Roy and Silo "did everything together. They bowed to each other. And walked together. They sang to each other. And swam together," their keeper, Mr. Gramzay, thinks, "They must be in love." And so, when Roy and Silo copy the other penguin couples and build a nest of stones, it's Gramzay who brings a neighboring couple's second egg for them to tend, then names the resulting hatchling "Tango." Cole gives the proud parents and their surrogate offspring small smiles, but otherwise depicts figures and setting with tidy, appealing accuracy. Unlike Harvey Fierstein's groundbreaking The Sissy Duckling (2002), also illustrated by Cole, this doesn't carry its agenda on its shoulder; readers may find its theme of acceptance even more convincing for being delivered in such a matter of fact, non-preachy way. (afterword) 2005, Simon & Schuster, 32p, $14.95. Category: Picture book/nonfiction. Ages 5 to 9. Starred Review. © 2005 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Allison Bernstein (Library Media Connection, January 2006)
Based on a true story, this book tells about Silo and Roy, two male chinstrap penguins who befriend each other in the Central Park Zoo and do everything together that other penguin "couples" do, except have baby penguins. Until one day, the penguin keeper gives them an egg from a penguin couple that couldn't raise it themselves, which Silo and Roy lovingly hatch and raise on their own. Throughout the book, families-both human and animal-are mentioned doing similar things despite their superficial differences. Depending on your community, you may want to brace yourself for some objections, but what makes this story all the better is the fact that it is true. As the author notes, Roy and Silo did adopt Tango and can still be seen at the zoo playing together in the penguin tank. Attractive watercolor illustrations complement the text and playfully show the penguin couple making a nest, trying to hatch a rock, and raising their family together. Overall this is a straightforward story without being overtly about homosexuality, but rather focusing on the familial relationship of Roy and Silo and acceptance of others' differences. Recommended. 2005, Simon & Schuster, 32pp., $14.95 hc. Ages 6 to 9.

Rosemary R. Garza (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 18, No. 4))
This book is taken from a true story about two male chinstrap penguins that live in the Central Park Zoo. The story starts out telling about different kinds of families that visit or live at the zoo. Then the story focuses on the two male penguins that do everything together, including wanting to have a baby penguin. They build a nest, and the zookeeper brings an egg for them, so they raise a baby penguin together. The book introduces the concept of homosexuality in a matter-of-fact way without dwelling on the fact that the penguins are two males. The last page explains that the family of three penguins is just like any of the different kinds of families there are in the city. The illustrations are realistic and beautiful with a great story to tell. Fiction. Grades PreK-3. 2005, Simon & Schuster, Unpaged., $14.95. Ages 3 to 9.

Elementary Library Uses

I think this would be a great book to use to introduce the concept of inherited traits.  Teachers could use it as a jumping board to discuss how the other animals; monkeys, bears, and tamarin, all look like their parents.  The idea of adoption would pair well with this concept.  Will the baby penguin look exactly the same?  Will it have some similarities?  What if Tango was not a chinstrap penguin?  

Module 14 - Bean Soup

Summary

A young, nameless boy, begins making bean soup for his family.  As he dances around the kitchen he describes step by step how to make the soup.  With each difficult or dangerous step a small star reminds readers to get parents to help.  Each time he describes a step or an ingredient he does so in a descriptive way.  He calls the foam ontop of the cooking beans clouds, the pot is as round as the moon, and he throws the beans into the pot's lake.  

Bibliographic Citation

Argueta, J. (2009). Bean soup. Toronto, Groundwood Books. 

Personal Impressions

I was excited to see a poem that used so many metaphors and similes.  I was disappointed when I realized that there was no variety in them.  The first few stanzas contained many that related to times of day, but not enough to feel like it was a pattern rather than a lack of creativity.  Also, several of these similes and metaphors are not relate-able to kids, the intended audience.  

I love that there was a star placed next to each step that required adult supervision however, it took quite a bit of searching to find out what the star meant.  I searched through each page a second and third time, looked at the back of the book, made my own predictions, and finally found it at the front of the book hidden on the title page.  

I also love that the Spanish text was written first and the English was second.  Almost every other bilingual book puts English first.  I liked the variety and equality in this book.  

Reviews

John Peters (Booklist, Mar. 15, 2009 (Vol. 105, No. 14))

Reinforcing the strong connection between cooking and poetry, Argueta combines the two in a bilingual free-verse recipe for “una sabrosa / sopita de frijoles,” or “yummy / bean soup.” Yockteng depicts a lad rising from his video game to gather ingredients, fling handfuls of beans into the air and into a pot, float through the kitchen on savory waves of scent, then sit down at last with his smiling family. Steps that require adult help or supervision are marked with an asterisk in the Spanish-over-English verses and (usually) with a hovering parent in the illustrations. Though the English is a bit plainer than the Spanish—“El fuego va a bailer / mientras los frijoles / se van ablandando / lentamente” is rendered “The fire will dance / while the beans / slowly get soft”—both versions have an easy flow that positively bubbles with the young chef’s elemental delight. LAyyy qué sabor!” Grades 1-3

Traci Avalos (Children's Literature)

What should you do when you are tired of playing videogames? Cook a meal for your family, of course! This is the story of one young boy who finds something better to do with his time than sitting on the sofa. In poetic form, this book gives readers step-by-step instructions for making a delicious bean soup. From the gathering of the ingredients to the disposal of the byproducts, this book will give readers a productive afternoon activity. The illustrations are charming in their detail and are sure to make readers smile. The verses are fun and give readers a chance to sing to the rhythm of the words. It promotes the idea of helping the family and spending quality time together, as much of the cooking requires an adult to supervise. The only things lacking in the book are specific measurements and cooking times, but those could be easily approximated or looked up. This book is fully bilingual in English and Spanish. 2009, Groundwood Books, $18.95. Ages 4 to 8.

Valerie Nielsen (CM Magazine, February 6, 2009 (Vol. XV, No. 12))

For maximum enjoyment of Sopa de frijoles : Bean Soup, all you need are a little familiarity with (or interest in) Spanish and a small person with whom to share this delightful little bilingual picture poem. Simply written and sprinkled with metaphoric images, the text of Sopa de frijoles : Bean Soup is fun to read in either language. It is indeed a "cooking poem" with no forced rhymes or attempts to make the lines scan to interfere with the poetic flow of the text. "First spread the beans out on the sky of the table. The beans are stars. Throw away any little pebbles. When the beans touch they clink a little song. You can sing too." Writer Jorge Argueta, a native Salvordoran who now lives in San Francisco, CA, is an award- winning author of picture books and poetry for young children. His fusion of poetic language and cooking instructions works beautifully. On each of sixteen pages of the book, the Spanish words appear first with the English translation underneath. Opposite each page of text, there appears a painting by the talented South American illustrator Rafael Yockteng. The artist's depiction of the small cook and the series of actions in which he engages as he concocts the beansoup will appeal to both young listeners and older readers. Observant readers will notice and enjoy Yockteng's inclusion of spills and messes the little chef leaves in his wake for his mama to clean up. A note at the beginning of the book warns readers that all instructions marked with an asterisk require the participation or supervision of an adult. Though children living in many areas of the United States have the opportunity to hear or speak Spanish frequently, such is not the case with Canadian children. For this reason, Sopa de frijoles : Bean Soup is not likely to be as popular a read-aloud for the 4 to 7-year-old group in this country as it would be south of the border. Nonetheless, young children are often fascinated with language and are at an excellent stage in their linguistic development to enjoy and appreciate Argueta and Yockteng's charming little cooking poem. Highly Recommended. Rating: *** ½ /4. Preschool-grade 2. 2009, Groundwood/House of Anansi, 32 pp., hardcover, $18.95. Ages 4 to 7.

CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 2010)

A boy describes how to make bean soup in a poem that is mindful of the sensory experiences of cooking and the pleasure of sharing the results. Use beans that are “red, white, or black as night,” garlic that is “white as midday,” and an onion that is white or “yellow as the dawn.” Before cutting the onion, say, “Thank you for your lovely taste.” The beans are washed and soaked, the vegetables chopped, and all is put with water and salt into a pot that is “round as the moon / and as deep / as a little lake.” When the soup is finally done, it’s time to share the goodness with family. Jorge Argueta’s bilingual (Spanish/English) poem could be used as a recipe and how-to guide (the need for adult supervision is noted, perhaps unnecessarily), but the savory words are satisfying all on their own. Rafael Yockteng’s illustrations of the boy making the soup with his mother are in beautifully muted tones. CCBC Category: Poetry. 2009, Groundwood / Libros Tigrillo / House of Anansi Press, 32 pages, $18.95. Ages 4-8.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 2009 (Vol. 77, No. 5))

This free-verse cooking poem is more than a simple recipe for bean soup. Argueta's lyrical Spanish translated into its counterpart English is filled with visual and aromatic imagery that turns soup-making into art. Describing ingredients such as water "whose caresses give us life," garlic cloves each "in a little white dress" and salt sprinkled "as though it were rain blossoming from your hand," Argueta's metaphorical instructions produce bean-filled water that doesn't just boil, but sings as it turns brown, "the color of mother Earth," making the house smell "like the earth after the first winter rains." Yockteng's parallel earthy-toned paintings oppose each new instructive page, illustrating an animated boy performing each step of the recipe until the inviting scent and warmth of the kitchen beckons a loving family to the table. Starred cues appropriately indicate adult help where needed in this eloquent rendering of a nutritious and delicious meal. 2009, Groundwood, 32p, $18.95. Category: Picture book. Ages 5 to 8. © 2009 Kirkus

Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Brenda Dales (Library Media Connection, October 2009)

In Spanish and English, this is a poem about making bean soup. Stanzas are first presented in Spanish, then in English, with full-page illustrations. The young cook describes each ingredient with delicious detail and carefully explains each facet of preparing the recipe. He intersperses the cooking with thinking about his family eating the soup, and how tasty it will be. He also offers a ritual of burying the onion peel, garlic skins, and pebbles from the beans “so Mother Earth/keeps on growing flavors.” Every aspect is mentioned, from thanking the ingredients for their flavors to heating the tortillas and setting the table with bowls, spoons, and flowers—creating anticipation that seems to fill your own surroundings with flavorsome aromas. Colors in the illustrations are rich yet dark, like a hearty dish of bean soup. Help yourself to a generous portion of this fulfilling, nurturing, and sustaining mixture. Recommended. 2009, Groundwood Books, 32pp., $18.95 hc. Ages 5 to 10.

Susan Prior (Resource Links, June 2009 (Vol. 14, No. 5))

This simple, bilingual (Spanish/English) story poem begins with a young boy, tired of his toys and games, deciding that he wants to cook a yummy bean soup. With the help of his mother, he goes through the steps: sorting the beans, boiling them, chopping the garlic and onion and adding the salt. As the delicious smell of the soup fills the house, the boy sets the table and looks forward to his family coming home to eat it. The book is well-laid out, with the Spanish and English text corresponding to the illustration on the opposite page. For those who don’t read Spanish, the words are not difficult to figure out since in most instances, the sentences translate exactly to their English counterparts. Steps in the recipe that require adult supervision are marked with an asterisk *. Although this book is essentially a recipe for bean soup, Argueta makes it interesting through his poetic language. When the boy sorts the beans, for example, the table is the sky and the beans are the stars, and when he stirs the pot, he is “Mother Earth turning around the sun”. The illustrations, with their terra cotta and turquoise palette, suit the story perfectly. After reading this book, I expect that there will be many young children who will want to try their hand at making bean soup! Category: Picture Books. Thematic Links: Cooking; Poetry. Resource Links Rating: G-E (Good/Excellent), Gr. PreSchool - 2. 2009, Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press, 29p. Illus., Hdbk. $18.95. Ages 2 to 8.

Elementary Library Uses

This is a great example of a how-to poem.  I think it would be great for kids to use this book to guide either writing or making a recipe.  It would also be great to have students search for similes and metaphors.  

Module 12 - Hole in My Life

Summary

Writer Jack Gantos describes his life before becoming a writer. While his life seemed fairly ordinary at first he led a more extreme life as he became an adolescent and into his early adult years.  While living on his own in an effort to finish high school this ambitious and aspiring writer was offered drugs.  This choice led him to a few more bad choices, including sailing a boat full of drugs with a drug dealer north to sell illegally.   After finding himself in prison Jack learns the error of his ways and how he should begin writing.  

Bibliographic Citation

Gantos, J. (2002). Hole in my life. New York: Farrar, Straus an Giroux.

Personal Impressions

Jack Gantos opened my eyes to the world of drug trafficing and the pressures many of our students are struggling with.  I have never read any books written by Gantos.  After reading this book I am very interested in seeing how his rough adolescence influenced him to write for children.  While following the though process of the writer this book was a bit difficult for me.  The characters written about are all male, making this a great for older boys.  

Reviews

Michael Cart (Booklist, Apr. 1, 2002 (Vol. 98, No. 15))

Jack Gantos' riveting memoir of the 15 months he spent as a young man in federal prison for drug smuggling is more than a harrowing, scared-straight confession: it is a beautifully realized story about the making of a writer. As Gantos himself notes: "It [prison] is where I went from thinking about becoming a writer, to writing." His examination of the process--including his unsparing portrayal of his fears, failings, and false starts--is brilliant and breathtaking in its candor and authenticity. Particularly fascinating is his generous use of literary allusions to everything from Baudelaire to Billy Budd, which subtly yet richly dramatize how he evolved from a reader who became a character in the books he was reading to a writer and a character in his own life story. Gantos' spare narrative style and straightforward revelation of the truth have, together, a cumulative power that will capture not only a reader's attention but also empathy and imagination. This is great for every aspiring writer and also a wonderful biography for teens struggling to discover their deepest, truest selves. Category: Books for Middle Readers--Nonfiction. 2002, Farrar, $16. Gr. 8-up. Starred Review

Judy Silverman (Children's Literature)

Jack Gantos, widely read author of the "Rotten Ralph" series of picture books and the Joey Pigza books, among others, did not become an author easily. He feels that he always wanted to write, and that he would become a famous author, but as a young man he never quite got around to putting his words on paper. His family moved around a lot, he didn't feel connected to anyone, and he didn't really care for school. Everything changed in 1971, when he made a really bad choice. For $10,000 (what seemed like a fortune) he agreed to help sail a ship from the Virgin Islands to New York City. An easy job, but the ship was loaded with hashish. Gantos didn't realize that Federal agents had been tracking them nearly all the way. At the age of twenty, he was sent to prison for six years. At first he didn't see any way to change his ways or his life-style, nor did he see anything that would give him reason to change. But he did want to finish high school, and was fortunate in finding a teacher who encouraged him and convinced him that the only way one becomes a writer is by writing, and the only way for a writer to get his work published is to write well. It was not an easy life that Gantos had chosen, but he was determined to succeed, and eventually he did. The book is well put together, and is written in a conversational style that is easy to read without talking down to the reader. Prison lifeis presented as the horror that it is. An encouraging look at a terrible part of life, and how this remarkable young man was capable of overcoming disadvantages and becoming what he had always wanted to be--a writer. 2002, Farrar Straus and Giroux, $16.00. Ages 12 to 16.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, February 15, 2002 (Vol. 70, No. 4))

We didn't so much arrive at our destinations as aim and crash into them like kamikaze yachtsmen." So Gantos describes himself as a 20-year-old about to be arrested and imprisoned for smuggling two thousand pounds of hashish from St. Croix to New York City. Young Jack seems to share with his fictional characters-Joey Pigza and Jack Henry-a blithe disregard for the consequences of wild behavior. Readers follow him from a seedy motel run by the great-great-granddaughter of Davy Crockett to a Keystone Kops adventure on the sea, from a madcap escape from FBI and Treasury agents to his arrest and trial, represented by his lawyer, Al E. Newman. This true tale of the worst year in the author's life will be a big surprise for his many fans. Gantos has the storyteller's gift of a spare prose style and a flair for the vivid simile: Davy has "brown wrinkled skin like a well-used pirate map"; a prisoner he met was "nervous as a dragonfly"; another strutted "like a bowlegged bulldog." This is a story of mistakes, dues, redemption, and finally success at what he always wanted to do: write books. The explicit descriptions of drug use and prison violence make this a work for older readers. Not the usual "How I Became A Writer" treatise, it is an honest, utterly compelling, and life-affirming chronicle of a personal journey for older teens and adults. 2002, Farrar Straus & Giroux, $16.00. Category: Nonfiction. Ages 13 up. Starred Review. © 2002 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thomas Nigel Hames (The ALAN Review, Spring/Summer 2002 (Vol. 29, No. 3))

In this bittersweet autobiography, the future author Jack Gantos is looking for away off his homeland of St. Croix, an island full of racial turmoil and personal stagnation. He wants to go to the United States and try his hand at college so he can fulfill his dreams of becoming a writer. One day, the opportunity of a lifetime lands in his lap, and he finds that he cannot say "no." All he has to do is help smuggle 2,000 pounds of hash on a boat from St. Croiz to New York. For this, he could receive ten thousand dollars, and his ticket to school. Desperate to leave, Gantos falls prey to this crime of convenience, and as fate would have it, he lands in prison. This surprising book recounts the popular YA author's late-teen life, his subsequent arrest and imprisonment. It is frank, harsh, and beautifully truthful at times -- especially about life in prison. Above all, this is the story of a young writer trying to find inspiration for his work. Ultimately, he finds the greatest inspiration within himself. Category: Autobiography. YA--Young Adult. 2002, Farrar Straus & Giroux, 200 pp., $16.00. Ages young adult.Orlando, Florida

Deborah Stevenson (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, May 2002 (Vol. 55, No. 9))

Gantos, already an author of fictionalized autobiography (in the Jack books, such as Heads or Tails, BCCB 7/94), turns here to acknowledged autobiography. He first tells of his aimless late-teen years, where he largely lived apart from his parents, read writers he desperately wanted to emulate, and grew increasingly restless. After moving down to St. Croix, an island paradise increasingly torn by racial strife, to work for his father, he gets a ticket not just out but to New York, in the form of a $10,000 offer to crew a boat laden with hash from the Virgin Islands to New York. The journey is surreal but the consequences are stunningly concrete--Gantos is apprehended and sentenced to federal prison, where he spends eighteen months. Gantos writes with his usual energy and crispness, and there’s a devastating low-key precision to his observations about the situation, his acquaintances and cohorts, and himself (“Dad’s keen eye for spotting criminals of all stripes was impressive. But it wasn’t perfect. He never pegged me for being one of them”). He paints his young self as realistically clueless (Gantos poured out all his thoughts about drug smuggling and the ethics thereof into the ship’s log book, which was, of course, used against him in his trial), but he’s never retroactively indulgent, instead keeping a keen eye on the issue of culpability. While the book brings Midnight Express to mind (though Gantos fortunately got a job as an x-ray tech that kept him out of the violence of the main prison population), there’s a closer kinship to Walter Dean Myers’ Bad Boy (BCCB 9/01); like the young Myers, the young Gantos is reading voraciously, trying to get to the writing he longs to do, and drifting beyond the boundaries. Readers will be relieved and glad that he found his way back, and high-schoolers who devoured the Jack books in their middle-grade youth will savor the acerbic exploration of their author’s formative time. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2002, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2002, Farrar, 200p, $16.00. Grades 9 up.

Loveta Campbell (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 15, No. 4))

Since early youth, all Jack Gantos has wanted to do is write. His desire is to go to college and study writing skills. Hampered by environment and funds, he seeks ways to make this dream come true. Gantos openly shares with the reader how his unwise judgement and his desire for finances lead him to agree to help sail a hashish smuggling boat from St. Croix to New York City. This leads to his capture and a prison sentence. Through the frightening and unfamiliar time of his incarceration, he never loses his desire to go to college and write. Gantos relates the incarceration experiences in crude, raw, and graphic language. Some of the content is spine chilling but honest. The author gives a clear picture of consequences to youth who may be contemplating unwise choices. Jack Gantos has written several children's books. Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key was a National Book Award finalist and Hole in My Life and Joey Pigza Loses Control are both Newbery Honor Books. Nonfiction (813 or biography). Grades 11 and up. 2002, Farrar Straus Giroux, 199p, $16.00. Ages 16 up.

James Blasingame (VOYA, June 2002 (Vol. 25, No. 2))

Gantos, successful author of books for children and young adults, ventures outside his accustomed venue with this autobiographical work. At the age of nineteen, Gantos helped to smuggle one ton of hashish from St. Croix to New York City, and as a result of being caught, served two years of imprisonment in a federal penitentiary in Ashland, Kentucky. Throughout the first few chapters, the saga seems an extension of the Jack Henry stories. The tone soon changes, however, from the comical eccentricity of Gantos's later teenage years to the tension and paranoia of drug smuggling, and finally the fear and despair of prison life. The reader suffers through each agonizing and vulnerable moment until Jack is released and starts a new life, fulfilling his dream of becoming a writer. Children of the sixties, whose youthful indiscretions turned, or nearly turned, into more disasters, will read this book cover-to-cover without stopping. Even young readers without relevant experience will find their hearts racing and their blood pressure rising as the frightening events of his story unfold. Gantos's honesty and directness in describing the whole experience make reading this book a gut-wrenching experience. Gritty details make it a better fit for older high school students and adults, and teachers who have used Gantos's previous books will find it especially intriguing. VOYA CODES: 5Q 4P S A/YA (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult-marketed book recommended for Young Adults). 2002, Farrar Straus Giroux, 208p, $16. Ages 15 to Adult.

Elementary Library Uses

This would be an excellent book to suggest to students struggling with peer pressure or drug abuse.  It would also be great to pair some of Gantos writing for children with this biography for high school students in an author study.  

Module 13 - Rapunzel's Revenge

Summary

This twist on Rapunzel is a great way to draw readers into traditional literature.  While Rapunzel is frequently seen as a meek and mild girl awaiting her prince charming this one is different.  She discovers she has a cowgirl-like ability to whip bad guys into shape, literally, using her long luscious locks.   After growing up in an enclosed castle with Mother Gothel, who had taken her from her real parents at an early age, Rapunzel is banished to live inside of a hollowed out tree in the middle of a forest when she tries to run away to find her real mother.  Eventually she is able to escape and meets a young boy that is also on the run.  While attempting to get back to her real mother Rapunzel and her new found friend, Jack, must pass through many different communities.  In each they either barely escape with their lives or help the community in some fantastic way, such as killing an evil serpent that was haunting one town and keeping them from being able to fish to feed their families.  In each community Rapunzel learns more and more about the cruelty with which Mother Gothel governs the area.  She uses her magic growth power to keep each community tied to her.  In the end Jack and Rapunzel work together to finally defeat Mother Gothel and save the lives and lively hood of all of those around.  

Bibliographic Citation

Hale, S. (2008). Rapunzels revenge. Bloomsbury.

Personal Impressions

I love to read new fractured fairy tales. Having a strong female protagonist was great to see, especially since many fairy tales and fractured fairy tales contain weak female characters awaiting their prince charming to come in and save the day.  This one was exceptionally well written.  The plot was both intricate and exciting.  It kept readers entertained.  I did feel that after the third sticky situation that Jack and Rapunzel got themselves into the plot began to get a bit long winded.  

Reviews

Tina Coleman (Booklist, Sep. 1, 2008 (Vol. 105, No. 1))

This graphic novel retelling of the fairy-tale classic, set in a swashbuckling Wild West, puts action first and features some serious girl power in its spunky and strong heroine. Young Rapunzel lives a lonely life, never knowing what lies beyond the high garden walls of her mother’s royal villa until one day she climbs the wall to see what’s on the other side. When she finds that the world outside is a dark place oppressed by her mother’s greed for power and uncovers the real secret of her own birth, she is imprisoned in a magic tree tower. In her years of captivity, she learns a lot about self-reliance and care for her exceptionally long hair, and eventually she is able to escape, vowing to bring down her mother’s cruel empire. Hale’s art matches the story well, yielding expressive characters and lending a wonderful sense of place to the fantasy landscape. Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers. Grades 5-8

Paula McMillen, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)

The original fairytale about Rapunzel has her shut in a tower by a witch and rescued by a prince. This graphic novel version definitely twists the character and the storyline. This Rapunzel is no fainting flower. In fact, she takes the lead in a series of adventures, using her long braids to get herself out of all kinds of bad situations and to help others in the process. For example, she rescues herself from the tower by lassoing a nearby treetop to escape her prison. Then, she turns the tables on the conceited handsome cowboy who shows up thinking to take advantage of a naïve maiden in distress, even though he had no plans to actually rescue her. This version is set in the Wild West, where horse-thieving is a crime and seemingly no one can be trusted. The woman who put Rapunzel in the tower is a ruthless land baron who is holding the miners, ranchers and farmers hostage with her witching ability to make things grow or wither away. The artwork is engaging, as are the characters of the resourceful female protagonist and her sidekick, Jack--who carries around a goose and hoards a magic bean. This is a wonderful recasting of the traditional helpless female fairytale, and you will want to pass it along to all the girls you know. 2008, Bloomsbury, $14.99 and $18.99. Ages 10 to 14.

Kate Reynolds (Childrens Book and Play Review, September/October 2008 (Vol. 29, No. 1))

Newbery Honor author Shannon Hale has teamed up with her husband to create a delightfully whacky graphic novel version of Rapunzel. Rapunzel is the sheltered and lonely (supposed) daughter of a powerful southwestern patrona, Gothel. On her twelfth birthday, Rapunzel discovers the terrible working conditions outside the hacienda walls and the truth about her real parents who have been forced to work as slaves in Gothel's mines. Rapunzel denounces her former life so Gothel uses plant magic to grow a giant tree and imprisons Rapunzel in its top. The magic that Gothel uses to grow the tree also makes Rapunzel's hair grow, and she eventually uses her hair to escape. Rapunzel meets a thief named Jack, of course, and together they set off to bring an end to Gothel's evil control over the region. The way Hale has twisted a familiar fairy tale to make the female character stronger is reminiscent of Levine's Princess Tales (e.g. Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep, Harper 1999). This is definitely a strong girl book. Jack repeatedly leaves the fighting to Rapunzel who uses her hair like a bull whip to defeat the bad guys. The text is spare, mostly dialog, allowing the illustrations to tell the remainder of the story. Nathan Hale's illustrations are colorful, fun, and full of action. They clearly communicate not only what is happening, but also how the characters feel. Nothing but pure fun and a great book for reluctant reader girls. Rating: Outstanding. Reading Level: Intermediate. Category: Fairy tales; Graphic novels. 2008, Bloomsbury, 144 p., $18.99. © 2002, Brigham Young University.

CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 2009)

A spirited graphic novel twines characters from two traditional fairy tales into a fresh, funny new story. When Rapunzel discovers that her “mother,” Gothel, stole her as a baby, the girl rebels and is locked up in a tree that has grown to towering proportions by Gothel’s use of magic. Rapunzel’s hair grows copiously, too, fashioning the means of her escape. Swinging to freedom, she is determined to rescue her real mother from Gothel’s mines, where she has toiled for years. Rapunzel soon meets Jack, a young man with troubles of his own, whose only companion is a goose unwilling to lay eggs. After Rapunzel rescues Jack from a sticky situation with a rapid crack of her lariat braids, they become inseparable. Their clashing values (Jack is not above a little larceny for a good cause—the best cause being his own well-being) and droll exchanges can’t mask their growing fondness for each other. Likewise, their knack for stumbling into trouble is mitigated by their ever-growing finesse at getting out of it, often helping the citizens whom Mother Gothel has been terrorizing with her magic along the way. Shannon and Dean Hale establish the humor with Rapunzel’s self-deprecating storytelling and the lively exchanges between characters, while Nathan Hale’s full-color panel illustrations fulfill the possibilities of this witty tale full of long-haired heroism. CCBC Category: Fiction for Children. 2008, Bloomsbury, 144 pages, $18.99 and $14.99. Ages 10-15.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, August 1, 2008 (Vol. 76, No. 15))

A beloved fairy tale gets a glossy graphic-novel makeover, reworked in a fanciful Old West setting. Rapunzel lives an idyllic life in Mother Gothel's verdant villa until she dares question her about what lies beyond the outer wall. Her curiosity leads her to uncover the shocking truth about her past, resulting in her subsequent isolation in a faraway tower. Propelled by her strong desire to see Gothel brought to justice for her misdeeds, she escapes and embarks upon a journey to seek the truth. Along the way, she meets up with Jack (of beanstalk fame) and faces enemies of epic proportions, including sea serpents and a pack of murderous coyotes. The Hales apply a new twist (or three) to the classic tale, creating a strong, sassy, braid-whipping character who waits for no prince. Nathan Hale's art, stylistically reminiscent of a picture book, provides a snazzy counterpoint to the folksy text. A dash of typical fairy-tale romance, a strong sense of social justice and a spunky heroine make this a standout choice for younger teens. 2008, Bloomsbury, 144p, $18.99. Category: Graphic fiction. Ages 10 to 14. © 2008 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Karen Scott (Library Media Connection, November/December 2008)

Rapunzel lives in a grand villa with good food, loyal servants, and her ‘mother,’ or so she thought, Gothel. Outside the walls the people work hard for very little. One day Rapunzel sneaks out of the villa and finds her real mother working in the mines as a slave. When Rapunzel lets Gothel feel her wrath, she is taken far, far away to a magical garden where she is imprisoned in a tree. Although the main element of the fairytale remains the same--Rapunzel’s hair grows long enough to aid in her escape--the similarities end there. This Rapunzel takes us on a rollicking, adventure-filled journey through the countryside where she meets up with Jack (owner of a magic bean and ‘Goldy’ the goose) who follows her and helps to reunite her with her true mother. This wonderfully illustrated graphic novel adds spark and excitement to the tale. The bright colors and duller tones distinguish between the haves and the have nots. Rapunzel and Jack are unique characters, and their dialogue allows that uniqueness to shine through. This is a fun read for all ages. Highly Recommended. 2008, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 144pp., $18.99 hc. Ages 9 to 14.

Phyllis Thompson (The ALAN Review, Winter 2010 (Vol. 37, No. 2))

If you loved The Goose Girl and Book of a Thousand Days, you are in for another treat. In Rapunzel’s Revenge, author Shannon Hale partners with Dean Hale and Nathan Hale to retell the Grimm’s classic as a graphic novel. This is definitely not your grandmother’s Rapunzel--the quietly submissive, longsuffering princess, waiting for the prince to rescue her. The Hales’s updated teenager-ina- tower has a big heart, strong braids, and a swashbuckling, high-energy, big-adventure story to tell. This Rapunzel is “WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE for horse thieving, kidnapping, jail breaking, and using her hair in a manner other than nature intended!” While Rapunzel’s Revenge is definitely the stuff of high adventure and the old West, it is very much a story about growing up female, taking chances, negotiating potentially dangerous landscapes, confronting cruelty and loss, and re-finding the nurture and comfort that can be had in love. Category: Adventure/Growing Up/Self. YA--Young Adult. 2008, Bloomsbury, 144 pp., $14.99. Ages young adult.Johnson City, TN

Karen Coats (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, September 2008 (Vol. 62, No. 1))

In this oversized full-color graphic novel, Mother Gothel is using her growth magic to build an empire by limiting the areas where crops will grow, exacting excessive taxes, and consigning peasants to back-breaking labor in her mines. Her adopted daughter is oblivious to her mother’s cruelty until the day when she finally climbs the wall that surrounds her home and sees the wasteland that exists beyond and meets her real mother. Outraged at her disobedience, Mother Gothel locks her up in a special tree she has grown for the purpose. After five years, Rapunzel uses her growth-accelerated red hair to escape, and, determined to rescue her real mother, she eventually teams up with a colorful, harmless thief. Adventure after adventure reveals to her the extent of Mother Gothel’s cruel reach, and she decides she must set her to rights as well. Using her whippy, ropelike braids and a few athletic fighting tricks she has picked up along the way, she battles sea monsters, wild coyotes, bandits, and henchmen on her way to her righteous revenge. Shannon Hale’s comic wit and romantic sensibilities translate well to this new format, which blends fairy-tale revision, journey quest, Wild West shoot-’em-up, and action adventure into one wild ride. The easy-to-follow panel arrangements with their multicultural cast of characters guide even reluctant graphic-novel readers seamlessly through the fast-paced narrative. Readers with a high degree of empathy will appreciate the attention given to the small details of the way she manages her hair so as to never to pull it straight from her head when she’s using it to wrangle outlaws and varmints. The surprising character revelation at the end provides a perfect climactic pivot and slides elegantly into the light-hearted comedic structure of a romantic happily ever after for Rapunzel, her mother, and her man Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2008, Bloomsbury, 144p.; Reviewed from galleys, $18.99 and $14.99. Grades 4-7.

Laura Lehner (VOYA, October 2008 (Vol. 31, No. 4))

This version of the classic fairy tale Rapunzel is set in the old Southwest, complete with cowboys, coal mines, and coyotes. Rapunzel is a young girl living in a fortress with Mother Gothel, an enchantress who can make plants grow at her whim. Although their home is overflowing with fruits and flowers, it is surrounded by a wall that masks the desert and coal mines outside-Gothel owns everything, and the native people depend on her good will to keep their crops growing. When Rapunzel sneaks over the wall on her twelfth birthday, she sees the desolate world over which Mother Gothel rules, and she meets her real mother who was forced to give Rapunzel to Gothel at birth. To punish her curiosity, Gothel imprisons Rapunzel inside an enchanted tree that has only one window, far above the ground. Just as in the original version, Rapunzel's hair grows prodigiously. But this girl does not need a prince to climb up and rescue her. She uses her braid as a lasso to escape the tree and goes on many adventures that lead her ultimately to reunite with her mother and find true love in a boy named Jack, whose companion is an uncooperative goose. The Hale team creates an engaging heroine. Rapunzel gallivants across the unexpected setting, meets a cast of characters both humorous and threatening, and in the end comes to inherit the land that Gothel had stripped of life and returns it to the native people. This novel presents entertaining girl power at its quirkiest. VOYA CODES: 3Q 3P M J G (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Graphic Novel Format). 2008, Bloomsbury, 144p., $18.99. Ages 11 to 15.

Elementary Library Uses

Comparing this version of Rapunzel to another, more traditional version, would be a fantastic way to analyze the story.  Students could compare different story elements such as characters and plot.  Students could do this using a venn diagram.

Module 9 - 39 Clues Cahills Vs. Vespers Book One: The Medusa Plot

Summary

Siblings Dan and Amy are attempting to steal an ancient work of art in an attempt to save 7 of their family members, all being held hostage by an unknown person that calls himself Vesper 1.  As readers dive into this book they will identify many references to previous books from the 39 clues series.  A reader would be able to follow the story line somewhat easier if they have already read the previous books.  While attempting to steal this artwork these siblings, along with the help of their attorney, a boyfriend, and a collection of extremely rich and intelligent relatives, overcome obstacle after obstacle.  While most scenarios in this story are hard to believe and many coincidences keep readers from feeling involved in this somewhat predictable book.   

Bibliographic Citation

Korma, G. (2011). The medusa plot. New York, Scholastic Inc. 

Personal Impressions

I had a difficult time finding the draw in this mystery.  The characters lacked a realism that many students generally enjoy.  The mystery was somewhat predictable.  The characters did not face challenges that would have been logical in their circumstances. 

Reviews

Ian Chipman (Booklist, Nov. 1, 2011 (Vol. 108, No. 5))

The 39 Clues crew return to the well for this opener to a new series, Cahills versus Vespers. The Cahills, of course, are the world’s most powerful family you never knew existed, and their family tree is a who’s who of the past half-millennium. The Vespers are their secret, centuries-old rival, and now pop up to kidnap Cahills for some sure-to-be-diabolical reason. Dan and Amy, two years after solving the massive global puzzle of the 39 Clues, jump back into action to help save their relations and take down the villainous Vespers. Sure, it is as much a multiplatform marketing ploy (with collectible cards and an immersive online presence to swallow up chunks of fans’ spare time) as a book series, but that doesn’t take away from what it is at its core: a lean, easy-to-like thrill ride with guaranteed crowd-pleasing elements like secret societies, art heists, and heroes with unlimited cash and connections to fuel their around-the-world intrigue. Like the first series, a new author for each volume ensures lickety-split rollouts. Grades 5-8Miranda McClain (Children's Literature)

If Dan and Amy Cahill thought their life would settle down after they completed their search for the thirty-nine clues they could not have been more wrong. After narrowly escaping being kidnapped from their school bus, Amy and Dan are contacted by Vesper One, an ancient enemy of the Cahill family. It turns out that several other Cahill Clan members have been kidnapped by the mysteriousVespers and now Dan and Amy are expected to follow explicit instructions to insure the hostages’ safety and eventual release. The two siblings are sent to Florence where they find out their mission is to be an art heist. But Vesper One does not want just any painting. He expects Amy and Dan to steal Caravaggio’s Medusa from the famous Uffizi Gallery. To complete their assignment the kids enlist the help of some other Cahill family members, in particular, Jonah Wizard, international pop star, and Hamilton Holt, former billionaire. The group manages to nab the painting and make the drop only to discover the painting they stole was a fake. Vesper One expresses his anger at this perceived betrayal by shooting Dan and Amy’s former nanny, Nellie Gomez, eliminating any doubts of his potential for cruelty. Now they are given ninety-six hours to locate and deliver the original Medusa which begins an international wild goose chase that involves help from Amy’s boyfriend Evan and Dan’s online buddy Atticus. The quick pace and edge of your seat drama in this first installment of the “Cahills vs. Vespers” series will not disappoint fans of the “Thirty-nine Clues” series. Although, a heavily violent plot and Dan’s growing inner turmoil add a touch of darkness that may be a bit much for younger readers. 2011, Scholastic Inc,, $12.99. Ages 9 to 12.

Joan Marshall (Resource Links Reviews, December 2011 (Vol. 17, No. 2))

Orphaned 15-year-old Amy Cahill and her 13-year-old brother Dan, heroes of the 39 Clues Series, have solved the puzzle of the serum with 39 ingredients guaranteed to bestow superhuman powers, a serum that was destroyed, but not before Dan’s photographic memory burned its recipe into his brain. Although serenity prevailed for a while, suddenly a mysterious group called the Vespers kidnap key young members of the powerful worldwide Cahill family. Amy and Dan travel to Europe, pressured into stealing valuable artwork in order to prevent the murder of their relatives, while other young cohorts remain in the U.S. to manage the control centre at the Cahill mansion. Amy and Dan figure out the puzzle of Caravaggio’s Medusa and find the treasure to which it leads - an original manuscript of Marco Polo - but they are again betrayed by the Vespers and must re-dedicate themselves to saving their family, even it means re-activating the deadly serum. Both Amy and Dan are complex, three dimensional characters. Amy longs for a normal life complete with an uncomplicated boyfriend. She trains obsessively to retain the physical strength she knows she’ll need to survive the dangers her family faces. Amy keeps her head and stays calm, sensitive to the emotions swirling around her. She persists and approaches problems thoughtfully. Dan is witty, impulsive, and bored at school, a powerful, driven boy who acts decisively and is totally committed to his family. Secondary characters such as their compatriot Sinead the genius, their gangsta cousin Jonah the celebrity, and even the enigmatic Vesper One, are quirky and add to the richness of the story. The action and technology on display in this novel are relentless. The Cahills stay in instant touch with each other as they battleVesper One, who communicates with them by texting. Our heroes are chased, attacked and threatened as they run, escape and disguise themselves - a real spy thriller. Readers can use cards to follow the game online also. Italy provides a sumptuous background for this story, from Florence’s Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze to the markets and the Uffizi Gallery, and on to Rome’s Colosseum and its dungeons. In tune with today’s shrinking world the teens are travel savvy, confidently managing on their own without adult interference. This book screams “sequel” as Vesper One sends theCahills off to Switzerland for Book Two which will no doubt be eagerly anticipated by the fans of the 39 Clues Series. (The 39 Clues Series) Category: Fiction Grades 7-12. Thematic Links: Art; Technology; Sibling and Family Relationships. Resource Links Rating: G (Good, great at times, generally useful!), Gr. 5-8. 2011, Scholastic, 222p., Pbk. $14.99. Ages 10 to 14.

Elementary Library Uses

Due to its popularity this book would be great to use as a way to introduce students to what may be a new genre for them, mysteries.  By reading one as a read aloud or in small group students would be encouraged to devour the rest of the series.  The cards that accompany the book also entice young readers as they use the cards as clue to help them solve the mystery.