FLORA
AND ULYSSES: THE ILLUMINATED ADVENTURES
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
2. PLOT
SUMMARY
The illustrations in this
book add entertainment to the novel, making the text more enjoyable for young
readers. K.G. Campbell’s artwork complemented
the author’s text perfectly, using full-page illustrations produced in
black-and-white. DiCamillo’s writing
style and voice given to the main character, makes this piece of literature
unique. Her ability to incorporate animals
in a story to bring the finest and foulest characteristics of individuals, is
remarkable. In this case she used
Ulysses the squirrel as a superhero, to help Flora break away from her cynical
self to soften up to others.
This novel shows readers
the realistic side of issues divorced families might face. The dark issue of divorced is present
throughout the story, yet love is also represented through Flora and Ulysses’s
friendship. It is a middle grade novel
that incorporates high vocabulary and issues children can relate to and
appreciate. I recommend this book to be
read aloud or as an unabridged audiobook.
4. REVIEW
EXCERPTS
5.
CONNECTIONS
RULES
1.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2.
PLOT SUMMARY
1.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
As Catherine tries to make new
friends, she befriends Jason, a wheelchair and speechless boy. Lord
captures the apprehension of people’s encounters with David and Jason. She offers accurate details of autistic
behaviors. This book focuses on the
themes of family, friends, acceptance, and disabilities. These themes give
readers an insight of what is like to live with someone with a disability. Cynthia Lord’s portrayal of Catherine and her endeavors is
charming, yet heartbroken. The love and
weariness of Catherine, stands out throughout the story and will make the
readers understand the character and feel her emotions. The main character goes through a journey of
emotions, and finally realizes it is fine to be herself and to love her life.
The setting of this story takes place in a town in modern
day America during the Summer. Video store, occupational therapy, swimming
hole, community dance, beach, are all locations that readers can relate to,
making this story timeless and relevant to children today. Lord created characters without stereotyping
or discussing their ethnicity or culture, which offers a wide appeal to a vast
amount of readers.
Rules is a magnificent book that presents a serious topic,
yet allows the readers to enjoy the read with its gentle humor. I recommend this book to young children and
to those who need a fresh reminder of humility and acceptance.
2.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
3.
CONNECTIONS
LUNCH
LADY AND THE LEAGUE OF LIBRARIANS
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
2. PLOT
SUMMARY
3. CRITICAL
ANALYSIS
Like many graphic novels or comics, the
storyline includes a mission to defeat the villains. In this case, the League of Librarians, are the villains who are coming up with an evil
plan and the Lunch Lady and her sidekick are the heroes working together to
defeat them. The theme of good versus
evil is represented throughout the book.
The story’s setting takes place at a school. Krosoczka gives the readers a scenery they
can connect with reality, using the library, book fair, and cafeteria as
locations. The author also incorporates sensory
details using onomatopoeia. "FWOMP," "BLEEP, BLEEP," and
"RUMBLE" are a few of the words that allow the readers to perceive
the sounds of the school. I appreciated how there was a scene where the
Lunch Lady checks out the other teachers and readers get to eavesdrop on what
teachers do when others are not looking.
It is rather amusing and is relevant to kids who wonder what teachers do
when they aren’t around.
I recommend this book for children of all ages. I enjoyed the subtle humor and action-packed
graphics throughout the story, showcased in Krosoczka’s style of writing. Readers will be intrigued to find out what
the Lunch Lady will do next, and ask for the next book in the series.
4. REVIEW
EXCERPTS
5.
CONNECTIONS
Lunch Lady and the Mutant Mathletes.
ISBN 978-0375970283
Lunch Lady and the Author Visit
Vendetta. ISBN 978-0375860942
*Other award-winning graphic novels such
as the Babymouse series by Jennifer L. Holm
BABY
MOUSE: QUEEN OF THE WORLD!
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
2. PLOT
SUMMARY
3. CRITICAL
ANALYSIS
This installment of the series, Babymouse is
an adorable mouse who gradually learns to value herself and to appreciate what
is important in her life. I recommend
this book to discuss topics of self-acceptance and popular vs. unpopular. The book’s lesson to not compromise who you
are in order to make friends or be popular is an excellent message for children
to learn at a young age.
This brother-sister collaboration hit the
nail on the head with this amazing first book in the series. I am sure readers will find themselves going
back to the library to check out the next book in the series and finding out
what Babymouse is up to.
4. REVIEW
EXCERPTS
*Author study of
K.DiCamillo
1.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lord, Cynthia. 2006. RULES. New York, NY. Scholastic Inc. ISBN: 978-0545036405
2.
PLOT SUMMARY
RULES
is about a twelve-year-old girl, Catherine, who simply wishes to have a normal
life. She has a brother with autism, and
must cope with his disability and her family’s expectations of her. Catherine sets a set of rules for her brother
to follow and help him be a bit normal.
At the same time, she craves her parent’s attention, just like the one
they give her brother. She befriends
Jason a wheelchair-bound boy who can only communicate by pointing to word
cards. This in return makes her better
recognized and understand how people with disabilities feel and empathize how
they are treated.
1.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
RULES is a contemporary realistic fiction book with a nice
rhythm, which makes it a fast, easy and enjoyable read. Readers can relate to Catherine, a
twelve-year-old girl who is coping with having a brother with autism, and
parents that center everything around him.
Lord's does an excellent job portraying the life of an adolescent living
with a brother who has a disability. All
Catherine wants is a "normal" life and be accepted. She embarks her situation by making a list of
rules for her brother to follow, so that she can have a normal life. Lord cleverly began each chapter with one of
the ‘rules’ for David, reminding the readers of Catherine’s expectations
towards her brother. These rules are her
force to endure her situation of living with her brother, however they become
her obstacle to accept her life and be happy.
As Catherine tries to make new
friends, she befriends Jason, a wheelchair and speechless boy. Lord
captures the apprehension of people’s encounters with David and Jason. She offers accurate details of autistic
behaviors. This book focuses on the
themes of family, friends, acceptance, and disabilities. These themes give
readers an insight of what is like to live with someone with a disability. Cynthia Lord’s portrayal of Catherine and her endeavors is
charming, yet heartbroken. The love and
weariness of Catherine, stands out throughout the story and will make the
readers understand the character and feel her emotions. The main character goes through a journey of
emotions, and finally realizes it is fine to be herself and to love her life.
The setting of this story takes place in a town in modern
day America during the Summer. Video store, occupational therapy, swimming
hole, community dance, beach, are all locations that readers can relate to,
making this story timeless and relevant to children today. Lord created characters without stereotyping
or discussing their ethnicity or culture, which offers a wide appeal to a vast
amount of readers.
Rules is a magnificent book that presents a serious topic,
yet allows the readers to enjoy the read with its gentle humor. I recommend this book to young children and
to those who need a fresh reminder of humility and acceptance.
2.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
2007
Newbery Honor Book
2007
Schneider Family Book Award
2007
American Library Association Notable Books for Children
SCHOOL
LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Lord has candidly captured the delicate dynamics in a family
that revolves around a child’s disability.”
KIRKUS
REVIEW: “Middle-grade readers will recognize longing for acceptance and be
intrigued by this exploration of dealing with differences.”
BOOKLIST:
“The details of autistic behavior are handled well, as are depictions of
relationships.”
PUBLISHER’S
WEEKLY: “In the able hands of the author, mother of an autistic child,
Catherine’s emotions come across as entirely convincing, especially her
alternating devotion to and resentment of David, ad her guilt at her impatience
with him…A rewarding story that may well inspire readers to think about others’
points of view.”
3.
CONNECTIONS
* Read other books by Cynthia Lord:
HALF A CHANCE.
ISBN 978-0545035330
TOUCH BLUE.
ISBN 978-0545035323
*Read other books about characters with
disabilities:
Van Draanen, Wendelin. THE RUNNING DREAM. ISBN 978-0375866678
Martin, Ann M.
RAIN REIGN. ISBN 978-0312643003
Elder, Jennifer.
DIFFERENT LIKE ME. ISBN
978-184310815
*Have students choose one rule, and have them
write about why they believe that particular rule is important.
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Krosoczka
Jarrett J. 2009. LUNCH LADY AND THE LEAGUE OF LIBRARIANS. New
York, NY. Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books. ISBN: 978-0375846847
2. PLOT
SUMMARY
LUNCH LADY AND THE LEAGE OF LIBRARIANS is
the second book in the series of humorous graphic novels about lunch ladies who are
secretly crime stoppers. Hector, Dee,
and Terrance, the Breakfast Bunch, uncover an evil plot by the librarians to
destroy all video games and consoles. The Breakfast Bunch joins the Lunch
Ladies just in time to defeat the librarians, who are caught and arrested. The Lunch Lady comes up with a plan to save
the Read-a-Thon by telling students they can read while they wait to play the
new X-Station 5000. The Lunch Ladies
save the day and are the heroes once again.
3. CRITICAL
ANALYSIS
This graphic novel is fun and
entertaining. Endearing and original,
the lunch lady will become a beloved heroine.
With its black and white illustrations and splashes of yellow, LUNCH
LADY and THE LEAGUE OF LIBRARIANS has a comic feel to it. The details of the illustrations and the
character’s interactions add a bit of humor to the story. Readers will easily identify with these
characters due to their familiar roles, which are the lunch ladies and
librarians. Krosoczka skillfully named
some of the characters with names they can relate to, like “Jane Shelver”,
“Rhonda Page”, and “Vivian Bookwormer”, which add a bit of humor to the book.
Like many graphic novels or comics, the
storyline includes a mission to defeat the villains. In this case, the League of Librarians, are the villains who are coming up with an evil
plan and the Lunch Lady and her sidekick are the heroes working together to
defeat them. The theme of good versus
evil is represented throughout the book.
The story’s setting takes place at a school. Krosoczka gives the readers a scenery they
can connect with reality, using the library, book fair, and cafeteria as
locations. The author also incorporates sensory
details using onomatopoeia. "FWOMP," "BLEEP, BLEEP," and
"RUMBLE" are a few of the words that allow the readers to perceive
the sounds of the school. I appreciated how there was a scene where the
Lunch Lady checks out the other teachers and readers get to eavesdrop on what
teachers do when others are not looking.
It is rather amusing and is relevant to kids who wonder what teachers do
when they aren’t around.
I recommend this book for children of all ages. I enjoyed the subtle humor and action-packed
graphics throughout the story, showcased in Krosoczka’s style of writing. Readers will be intrigued to find out what
the Lunch Lady will do next, and ask for the next book in the series.
4. REVIEW
EXCERPTS
2010 Cooperative Children’s Book
Center Choices
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “With its
appealing mix of action and humor, this clever, entertaining addition to the
series should have wide appeal.”
BOOKLIST: “This tongue-in-cheek
superheroine graphic novel will hit the spot ofor chapter-book readers.”
HORN BOOK: “This tongue-in-cheek
graphic novel series, illustrated in bold black-and-white with vibrant
highlighter-yellow accents, is a strong choice for superhero-spoof fans.”
5.
CONNECTIONS
*Visit the author's site
for extended activities: http://www.studiojjk.com/graphicnovels.html
*Expose students to
Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s entire Lunch Lady series:
Lunch Lady and the Mutant Mathletes. ISBN 978-0375970283
Lunch Lady and the Mutant Mathletes. ISBN 978-0375970283
Lunch
Lady and the Cyborg Substitute. ISBN 978-0307974457
Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta. ISBN 978-0375860942
Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta. ISBN 978-0375860942
Lunch
Lady and the Picture Day Peril. ISBN 978-0307981721
Lunch
Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit. ISBN 978-0375867293
*Other award-winning graphic novels such as the Babymouse series by Jennifer L. Holm
*Other award-winning graphic novels such as the Babymouse series by Jennifer L. Holm
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Holm,
Jennifer L. and Matthew Holm. 2005. BABY MOUSE: QUEEN OF THE WORLD!. New
York, NY. Random House. ISBN: 978-0375932291
2. PLOT
SUMMARY
BABY MOUSE: QUEEN OF THE WORLD! is a
graphic novel and it is the first in a series of twenty books. In this series, Babymouse wants to be
popular, she wants to be queen of the world.
She is an imaginative mouse with curly fuzzy whiskers that longs to get
an invitation to the party of the most popular girl, Felicia Furrypaws. Her idea to be friends with Felicia and in
return be popular, could possibly jeopardize her friendship with her best
friend Wilson the Weasel. Babymouse
takes the risk and goes to the party, only to find out it was nothing like she
expected. She recognizes she does not
need to be popular, because she has the most amazing friend ever and she is
already the queen of the world.
3. CRITICAL
ANALYSIS
The first graphic novel in the series of
Babymouse, has an adorable theme that many children will be able to
connect. The themes of true friendship
and peer pressure will allow students to easily identify themselves with the
characters. This book is relevant to
both boy and girls, and definitely suitable for all grade levels, from
elementary to high school. The writing
of the story is fairly easy, but the topic is appropriate to discuss across the
board.
This installment of the series, Babymouse is
an adorable mouse who gradually learns to value herself and to appreciate what
is important in her life. I recommend
this book to discuss topics of self-acceptance and popular vs. unpopular. The book’s lesson to not compromise who you
are in order to make friends or be popular is an excellent message for children
to learn at a young age.
The artwork is simple, yet it effectively
complements the text. Amazingly, the
Holms use splashes of pink to let the readers know when Babymouse is using her
imagination and black and white illustration when she is in the reality. The setting is depicted day by day at Babymouse’s
school as well as at the sleepover, using the skillfully illustrated drawings.
This brother-sister collaboration hit the
nail on the head with this amazing first book in the series. I am sure readers will find themselves going
back to the library to check out the next book in the series and finding out
what Babymouse is up to.
4. REVIEW
EXCERPTS
2006 American Library Association Notable
Children’s Books
Starred review in THE HORN BOOK: “Nobody
puts Babymouse in the corner!”
BOOKLIST: “The Holms spruce up some well-trod
ground with breathless pacing and clever flights of Babymouse’s imagination,
and their manic, pink-toned illustrations of Babymouse and her cohorts
vigorously reflect the internal life of any million-ideas-a-minute
middle-school student.”
5.
CONNECTIONS
*Extended reading: Full collection of Babymouse
series.
*Compare and Contrast characters from two
different series.
*As an Art lesson,
have students make a one-page comic story.
*Other graphic novel series:
Lunch Lady series by Jarrett J. Krososczka
Sunny series by Jennifer L. & Matthew
Holm
