Hush! A Thai Lullaby

Ho, Minfong. 1996. HUSH! A THAI LULLABY. Illustrated by Holly Meade. New York: Orchard Books. 3-1551-03127-2771.

Plot Summary
In this Caldecott Winner, we learn a lullaby from Thailand. As a mother puts her child to sleep, she asks several animals to hush since her baby is sleeping. The irony in the story is that the baby is seen in the background not doing much sleeping at all.

Analysis
What is a mother to do if animals are strutting about making noises while her little one is drifting off to sleep?

“Wee-Wee,” A small mosquito
“Jeed-Jeed,” A fat gray mouse…
With illustrations that incorporate deep earth tones of orange and browns and with simple text-- but with a melodious repetitive refrain, the mother hushes the animals that roam about in order to allow her baby to sleep peacefully.

This melodic and repetitive refrain invites the listeners to join in:

Lizard, Lizard,
Don’t you cry,
My baby’s sleeping right nearby.

There is a secondary story in the background since the supposedly sleeping child is depicted in most illustrations as a busybody.

In the description of each animal the author inserts adjectives,
a long-tailed lizard,
a lean black cat,
a fat gray mouse…

These are simple enough for a preschooler to begin understanding the concept of describing words. These also would be of great benefit to English Language Learners in understanding adjectives and increasing their vocabulary. Likewise, the lullaby is also rich in the use of present progressive tenses -- wonderfully helping second language learners and toddlers to increase their vocabulary.

Who’s that weeping…
Who’s that peeping
Who’s that creeping…
The illustrator, Holly Meade, depicts the mother and child in a tan skin hue. And we take notice of the hut with the straw roof and the lack of electricity -- all of this accurately portraying Thailand's countryside. In her use of collage, she pays careful attention to detail. We can see the ridges in the elephant's legs, for example.
There may be some initial concern when we notice the character’s eyes in some illustrations are depicted as slits, without pupils -- but I feel this was done merely to show that their eyes were closed.

While there is no author’s note to provide background information regarding the lullaby, the author does dedicate the book to her father, stating that his wonderful stories would leave her more wide-eyed than sleepy as she was growing up. The author does; however, provide the subtitle of “A Thai Lullaby," thus informing the reader of the specific Asian group from which this lullaby originates.

Our family quickly took to this book. This has become a favorite bed time story. Like the author, this story often left my daughter more wide-eyed than sleepy. My three year old daughter made it a point to look for the child on each page and determine what exactly he was up to. Without a doubt this would make a fantastic read aloud. This book would also make a beautiful addition to a home or classroom collection.

Review Excerpts
"The setting, apparently a remote Thai village, is gently evoked in cut paper and ink pictures that are bold enough to be used with groups. The unusual compositions are visually arresting, thanks, in part, to bright orange outlines, and the comforting earth tones suit the quiet nature of the story" --from Booklist

"Exceptionally beautiful cut-paper-and-ink illustrations in earth tones use the varied textures of the paper to wonderful effect, depicting traditional Thai textiles, basketry, and building styles. All of young children's favorite elements are here: a reassuringly predictable, rhyming text, animals and their sounds, a mischievous subplot in the pictures, and an ever-so-slightly naughty child who fools everyone in the end. A sure winner."--From Kirkus Reviews

Connections
Other titles by the author include:

Peek!: A Thai Hide and Seek
Maples in the Mist: Children's Poems from the Tang Dynasty
Brother Rabbit: A Cambodian Tale
Website:
http://members.authorsguild.net/minfong/

Grandfather's Journey

Say, Allen. 1993. GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY. Illustrated by Allen Say. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 3-1551-07503-2339.
Plot Summary
Allen Say relates his grandfather's initial journey to American and all the beauty he encounters there. He returns to Japan, marries and again returns to America with his family. Time passes on and his grandfather's heart longs for the old country, yet while he is there he longs for America. In time the author relates to his grandfather's longing for one country while in another.
Analysis
In this Caldecott winner, Allen Say pays tribute to his grandfather with his words and illustrations. The story begins with an illustration of Say's grandfather wearing traditional Japanese clothing. In the following illustration we are told he is wearing European clothing. We also learn of his adventurous spirit,
"He explored North America by train and riverboat, and often walked for days on end."
The water color illustrations depict the majestic and breathtaking views of North America's country side. To balance those illustrations, we also see that the grandfather was bewildered with the huge factories and tall buildings.
Say accurately portrays the beauty of nature, but also depicts the pollution of those same factories that bewildered his grandfather.
Say comments on his grandfather's character as he states,
"He met many people along the way. He shook hands with black men and white men, with yellow men and red men."
Once he returned to his village, we see the grandfather rowing a boat with his new bride. Both are wearing clothing of the era -- not the traditional Japanese clothing. We are reminded this story has taken place some time ago, since the clothing differs from today's. The family then relocates to San Francisco.
Some of the illustrations resemble family portraits: the family outside dressed in nice clothing and seemingly posing for a camera, or the daughter standing with her blond doll as it sits on a stroller. Other illustrations don't seem to be poses. For example, we see the grandfather pensively looking out the window as he is surrounded by songbirds. This illustration strongly depicts the text that goes along with it, "He remembered the mountains and rivers of his home. He surrounded himself with songbirds, but he could not forget." In the background we see a clock telling the time. Adults may see this as time passing by and children will be quick to notice the numerous songbirds that surround the grandfather.
So the grandfather's longing for his homeland is so strong, that he returns to it. In the same manner that readers marveled at the beauty of the illustrations of North America, the readers now marvel at the beauty of Japan's countryside. Just as we think all is well, Say depicts a generation gap in his illustrations. We see Grandfather's daughter in modern clothing and in the background a woman is kneeling in traditional Japanese clothing. This powerful illustration also matches Say's text,
"But the village was not a place for a daughter from San Francisco. So my grandfather bought a house in a large city nearby."
While in the city, Say tells us the young woman falls in love and marries. From this union comes forth the author. He hears of many stories about California from his beloved grandfather. The last time Say sees his grandfather, he tells Say that he longs to see California one more time. Sadly, he was not able to do so.
As his grandfather had done, Say too travels to California. Perhaps to fulfill his grandfather's longing.
"After a time, I came to love the land my grandfather had loved, and I stayed on and on until I had a daughter of my own. "
Like his grandfather, he yearns for the land and people of his childhood. He returns from time to time. One of the final lines in his book is one that is best understood by immigrants that have fallen in love with their new country and all the while reminisce and long for the old country.
"The funny thing is, the moment I am in one country, I am homesick for the other."
The elegance of the words, the life-like illustrations, and the topic that is so close to an immigrant's heart makes this a jewel of a book. All the while, Say educates the reader and dispels misconceptions we may have had: Japanese marriages were always arranged or Japanese traditional clothing was the norm. The warmth this book carries convinces you that had Say's grandfather read this, he would have been very proud of his grandchild. It is the sort of book I would love to pen to pay tribute to my parents and grandparents.
Review Excerpts
"Say transcends the achievements of his Tree of Cranes and A River Dream with this breathtaking picture book, at once a very personal tribute to his grandfather and a distillation of universally shared emotions. Elegantly honed text accompanies large, formally composed paintings to convey Say's family history; the sepia tones and delicately faded colors of the art suggest a much-cherished and carefully preserved family album."-From Publisher's Weekly
"In lucid, graceful language, he chronicles these passages, reflecting his love of both countries--plus the expatriate's ever-present longing for home--in both simple text and exquisitely composed watercolors: scenes of his grandfather discovering his new country and returning with new appreciation to the old, and pensive portraits recalling family photos, including two evoking the war and its aftermath. Lovely, quiet- -with a tenderness and warmth new to this fine illustrator's work."--From Kirkus Reviews
Connections
Other picture books by Allen Say:
How My Parents learned to Eat
The Boy of the Three-Year Nap
Tree of Cranes
Home of the Brave
Allison
Emma's Rug
Websites
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/authors/allensay/index.shtml

A Year Down Yonder

Peck, Richard. 2000. A Year Down Yonder. New York: Dial. ISBN 0803725183.

Plot summary
This is the sequel to Peck’s Newbery Honor award winner: A Long Way to Chicago. The story is set during the Depression and told through the eyes of fifteen year-old Mary. Mary’s family, like most of the country, is facing hard times. Consequently, Mary will reside with her feisty grandmother for a year until her parents are able to get back on their feet.

Analysis
Don't feel you've got to run out and purchase the prequel to this book. No, sir. Reading it is not a prerequisite, but after reading A Year Down Yonder, you won't help but to RUN to your nearest library and read more about these endearing characters!
The book does not overwhelm the reader with numerous details describing the time period. In fact, I feel Peck would have done a good thing in providing us with more glimpses of the Depression.
While the story is told from Mary Alice's point of view, it is without a doubt, Grandma Dowdel's antics that quickly make this book a difficult one to put down.

But I was suddenly arrested by a sight that only
Grandma and I saw. Mildred's big gray horse was trotting away, past the porch,
free as air. Tied around its neck were Mildred's boots.

I suppose that will teach Mildred NOT to mess with Grandma Dowdel's granddaughter.
What I loved about the story is that Mary Alice is an ordinary girl,who is considered rich, since she's coming from Chicago, but she could be any girl sitting in a classroom struggling with Math just as Mary Alice did. I was Mary Alice. She is so very real.

My students enjoyed the "Hick Talk" as they put it. Phrases such as "Dag nab it! and "Hop to it like bed bugs," had them rolling!" They really thought their English was so much better. When the following exchange took place between Ina-Rae and Mary Alice, I could have sworn I was a stand up comedian.

'I thought this was English class,' I whispered across
to Ina-Rae. 'Wasn't that Shakespeare?'
'Who?' Ina-Rae said.

(The only reason my 4th graders know about Shakespeare was thanks to a field trip we had recently taken.) I did, however; appreciate the confidence my students demonstrated. I whole-heartedly believe they related to Mary Alice, because they truly saw themselves in her. Not only that but my students also had incredibly lovable, but prickly grandmothers at home.
There is a beauty in the love that grows between Mary Alice and her grandmother. So much so, that it is in her grandmother's home that she weds. That is a fairy tale ending. Here too I wish Peck wouldn't have done so. The influence of Hollywood is apparent. I would have rather relished she married another and not her high school sweetheart.
Reviews
"Between antic capers, Peck reveals a marshmallow heart inside Grandma's rock-hard exterior and adroitly exposes the mutual, unspoken affection she shares with her granddaughter. Like Mary Alice, audience members will breathe a sigh of regret when the eventful year "down yonder" draws to a close." - From Publisher's Weekly

"A Year down Yonder seems more a companion than a sequel to Peck's 1999 Newbery Honor book, A Long Way from Chicago. Peck shows his brilliance in setting up parallel structures and creating two very different books." - From Children's Literature

Connections
Other titles with the Depression Era topic are Out of the Dust by and Karen Hesse
Children of the Great Depression by Russell Freedman
Children of the Dust Bowl: The True Story of the School at Weedpatch Camp
A great book to display if your curriculum covers the Depression Era and also makes a wonderful read-aloud. This could also be used to incorporate journal writings during language arts or social studies.

Good Queen Bess: The Story of Elizabeth I of England

Stanley, Diane and Peter Vennema. 1990. GOOD QUEEN BESS: THE STORY OF ELIZABETH I OF ENGLAND. By Diane Stanley. New York: Collier Macmillan Canada.

PLOT SUMMARY

Diane Stanley teams up with her husband to relate the life of Queen Elizabeth I of England. In this picture biography Stanley uses beautiful illustrations to depict the Elizabethan era . We learn of King Henry VIII, the conflict that existed between the Catholics and Protestants, and how England kept peace with neighboring countries. We also learn of the love Queen Elizabeth had for her subjects.

Analysis

An Author’s note is included at the beginning of the book that sets the premise of the book. Telling the story of Queen Elizabeth I of England is no easy task! One must understand a great deal of background information in order to understand Elizabeth’s life, and the authors do a fantastic job of presenting the material in a logical and coherent manner. They do this without sugarcoating the truth. We are told that Mary, Elizabeth's Catholic half sister, burned almost three hundred of her subjects when they refused to convert to Catholicism.

Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema present Elizabeth's life with accuracy and outstanding attention to detail in the illustrations.Stanley’s rich, and precise illustrations of the dress of the time period are outstanding. I was amazed at the detail of the broaches the women wore! The illustrations alone are enough to drive a reader to want to know more! Even so, the authors present the sort of facts that spellbound youngsters.

Her court was a lively one, with everyone striving to outdo one another…The
meneven dyed their beards purple or orange to match their coats.

And teenagers think they are the first to think this up! Elizabeth was presented as authentic and devoted to her subjects, yet she is not glorified.

She usually rode openly on horseback so that everyone could see her.
Shestopped in little villages and listened graciously to long speeches, received
humble gifts or cakes or flowers, gave her hand to be kissed, and won the hearts
of her people.

With this description, the authors have explained how Elizabeth I became “Good Queen Bess.”

I especially appreciated Queen Elizabeth I not presented as a perfect woman. It was noted that she manipulated heads of state, threw tantrums and was conniving even with her councillors.

She rarely met with them as a group, since they might unite to overwhelm her.
She talked with them separately and sometimes played on their feelings of
rivalry to divide them.

The authors provide a bibliography that cites twelve works and they take the time to point out that three of these are intended for younger readers. Stanley and Vennema’s use of quotes are the finishing touches to an exceptional well written biography of Elizabeth I of England.

Though you have had - and may have- many mightier and wiser princes sitting
in this sear, yet you never had - not shall have - any that will love you
better.

My students were very inquisitive as a I read this book aloud to them, which thrilled me!Since the most significant facts are included, I could see this book also used to introduce the era, and in ESL classrooms

REVIEWS

" With their attention to period detail--most strikingly the elaborate Elizabethan dress, jewels and palace furnishings--Stanley's paintings transport readers back to an intriguing era." - From Publisher's Weekly

"Author/illustrator Diane Stanley and her husband, Peter Vennema charmed us with Peter the Great and now they have brilliantly brought to life Elizabeth I of England. In a mere 40 pages the reader learns of Henry VIII and his wives, his falling out with the Pope, the birth of Elizabeth, her rise to power, the pageantry of her Court, and her astute political savvy. Ms Stanley's illustrations depict the grandeur of the Court and the magnificence of the Queen's costumes." - From Children's Literature

CONNECTIONS

The authors provide a bibliography that has younger readers in mind as well.
Diana Stanley has written a great number of biographies: Bard of Avalon: The Story of William Shakespeare, Michelangelo, Joan Of Arc, Leonardo da Vinci, Peter the Great, and Cleopatra. It is important to note that this list is not complete. With the number of biographies one could easily do a author study. How did Diana become so involved in writing biographies? What is her inspiration? How much of her time is devoted to research? These could be great questions to tackle in an author study.