Insectlopedia

Florian, Douglas. 1998. INSECTLOPEDIA. New York: Harcout Inc. ISBN 0-15-201306-7

PLOT SUMMARY

A collection of 21 witty and delightful poems dedicated to those lovely insects. The poems provide a wealth of information regarding the insects in a most humorous manner. The book provides further fuel for the imagination as each poem is accompanied by a watercolor illustration done by the author.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Is it an encyclopedia?

Perhaps.

A picture book?

May be.

Is it poetry?

Could be all three.

When most children think of insects, they will rarely jump up and down with joy. Often times, they will cringe and frown! Douglas Florian has done a fantastic job of taking the "ooginess" out of insects. He begins with a caterpillar.

She eats eight leaves at least

To fill her,

Which leaves her like a

Fatterpillar,

Then rents a room inside

A pupa,

And checks out: Madame Butterfly -

How super!

Nevertheless, Florian does not let us forget that these creatures can indeed be ferocious.

The Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are thin.

Mosquitoes are rude.

They feast on your skin

For take-out food.

Most of the poems often talk about the insect as a predator or what the insect does to protect itself from other predators. The Walking stick blends in with other sticks, the Io moth uses her mam-moth eyes to scare off predators, and the Monarch Butterfly has a poison that makes it impossible for swallows to swallow him. They would rather spit him out. So much could be learned just from these delightful limericks! These poems are excellent at either introducing or reinforcing science concepts. The poems would make a great read aloud, but are also a feast for the eyes. Florian includes several concrete poems further providing a visual for children to appreciate.

My second grade students as well as my three year old asked me to repeat some of them. I could also see this book being transformed into some sort of dictionary. Most of the illustrations have the first letter of the name of the insect embedded into the drawing. For all these reasons, this is one book that should be included in every library.

REVIEWS

"Short, clever, witty poems catalogued alphabetically provide details about 21 different spiders and insects. Unique, thought-provoking illustrations accompany the text. There are some difficult words used, like "aggrieved" and "parasitic," but they are few and provide yet another opportunity to learn." - From Children's Literature

"The silly, imaginative verses about whirligig beetles and waterbugs (almost) match the exquisite pictures in playfulness and wit. The result is downright stunning," -From Publisher's Weekly

CONNECTIONS

The poems could easily be clapped, sung to the tune of known songs, or echoed to name a few. The book easily lends itself to be used during Science time for introduction, review and/or reinforcements of science concepts.

Students could also use the poems as formats to create their own poems about insects.

Out of the Dust

Hesse, Karen. 1997. OUT OF THE DUST. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0-590-36080-9

PLOT SUMMARY

Written in free verse and set in Oklahoma during the dust bowl years, fourteen year old Billie Jo shares the trials of living on a wheat farm. In addition to combating the dust storms, Billie Jo must deal with the accidental death of her pregnant mother, the abyss that exists between her and her father, and the burning of her hands -which were the key to her escape from the dust: playing the piano.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The title resonates a genesis of sorts. In school I was taught not to judge a book by its cover, yet that is exactly what I done. The dreadful blue cover and black and white picture of a rather ordinary girl does not say,"Pick me up! I'm a great read!" Nevertheless, I am captivated early on by the authenticity of voice and the beautiful imagery in the descriptions. Of her pregnant mother she states:

She was bare as a pear... My dazzling ma, round and ripe and striped like a
melon.

Of her father she states:

My father's voice starts and stops like a car short of gas, like an engine
chocked with dust...

As a fourteen year old, Billie Jo demonstrates a maturity beyond her years as she comes to conclude certain things about her life.

The way I see it, hard times aren't only

about money

or drought,

or dust.

Hard times are about losing spirit,

and hope,

and what happens when dreams dry up.

Readers are left with the comfort that Billie Jo and her father are on the road to better communication. While girls will be drawn to the journal-like entries of the book, the lack of riveting action packed scenes leads me to think that boys may see this a "chick book." While most of today's youngsters may not relate to a farm girl, they will relate to her plights: deferred dreams, fathers that are present, yet distant, and seeking forgiveness as well as seeking to forgive others.

This novel makes an enormous contribution heralding American heritage. The novel is for young adults and naturally lends itself to form part of American history curriculum. This novel would also make an excellent daily read aloud since the entries are short yet poignant.

REVIEWS

In a starred review of the 1998 Newbery Medal winner, set during the Depression, PW said, "This intimate novel, written in stanza form, poetically conveys the heat, dust and wind of Oklahoma. With each meticulously arranged entry Hesse paints a vivid picture of her heroine's emotions." From Publishers Weekly

"...Told in free-verse poetry of dated entries that span the winter of 1934 to the winter of 1935, this is an unremittingly bleak portrait of one corner of Depression-era life. In Billie Jo, the only character who comes to life, Hesse (The Music of Dolphins, 1996, etc.) presents a hale and determined heroine who confronts unrelenting misery and begins to transcend it. The poem/novel ends with only a trace of hope; there are no pat endings, but a glimpse of beauty wrought from brutal reality. -From Kirkus Reviews

CONNECTIONS

So much can be done! This may be a great way to introduce journal writing across the contents.

There is a wealth of history and geography and art that can be connected to this book.

PBS presented Surviving the Dust bowl. It provides a documentary as well as excellent photography of dust storms.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dustbowl/

The book makes mention of the Dionne Quintuplets. Students could read on the history of the girls and

http://www.quintland.com/start.html

Other books by Karen Hesse for younger readers: Lavender, Sable, Poppy's Chair and Lester's Dog.