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Elizabeth, Queen of The Seas by Lynne Cox

3/28/2016

2 Comments

 
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Publisher Schwartz & Wade: World-renowned swimmer and bestselling author Lynne Cox and Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator Brian Floca team up to bring us this inspiring story of an elephant seal who knew exactly where she belonged. 

Here is the incredible story of Elizabeth, a real-life elephant seal who made her home in the Avon River in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. When Elizabeth decides to stretch out across a two-lane road, the citizens worry she might get hurt or cause traffic accidents, so a group of volunteers tows her out to sea. But Elizabeth swims all the way back to Christchurch. The volunteers catch her again and again—each time towing her farther, even hundreds of miles away—but, still, Elizabeth finds her way back home.

​Nugget: An elephant seal prefers life in the city rather than life in the expected open ocean waters.

Need Enticement: Hello, a seal who actually lives in the city by choice. What isn't enticing about that?

Escalation: Volunteers take Elizabeth the seal out where other elephant seals lived, she found her way back.
Volunteers take Elizabeth out even farther, she finds her way back again.
Volunteers take Elizabeth was taken hundreds of miles out in the deep dark ocean and left. Months passed and finally she returned to the city.
** Notice the three attempts? Power of three.

Satisfying Ending:  The folks in the city were happy to see her and this time made changes to their community to accommodate Elizabeth.

Sources: This story was based on one person's story and was interviewed for details so no other sources were needed.

Show Words: In the book they use a comparison of 15 labrador retrievers to show how large Elizabeth is. The author also used words that described the color and murkiness of the water.

Why- why this story? This story appeals to children and animal lovers but also shows how far we go for loved ones. Why this story works is because the author didn't just give us a story about an elephant seal, she gave us a story with emotion using words to make us feel the heartbreak of leaving home. The other major factor is that the author does not try and give us a second story (a story about Elephant Seals) but instead sticks to the focus- a seal that lives in the city.

Need and Want: Elizabeth needs to be in water to survive. But she wants to be in water near people where she can hear voices and see faces.

2 Comments

Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat: Ella Fitzgerald

3/21/2016

1 Comment

 
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Candlewick Publisher: A swinging bio of young Ella Fitzgerald, who pushed through the toughest of times to become one of America’s most beloved jazz singers.

When Ella Fitzgerald danced the Lindy Hop on the streets of 1930s Yonkers, passersby said good-bye to their loose change. But for a girl who was orphaned and hungry, with raggedy clothes and often no place to spend the night, small change was not enough. One amateur night at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, Ella made a discovery: the dancing beat in her feet could travel up and out of her mouth in a powerful song —and the feeling of being listened to was like a salve to her heart. With lively prose, Roxane Orgill follows the gutsy Ella from school-girl days to a featured spot with Chick Webb’s band and all the way to her number-one radio hit "A-Tisket, A-Tasket." Jazzy mixed-media art by illustrator Sean Qualls brings the singer’s indomitable spirit to life.



The beauty about books is that everyone will find ones that they love and ones that don't touch them.


This was one of those books that I found extremely hard to follow, finish and analyze. My first impression was that it was written in "Skat" but it didn't flow.

Here is my analysis:
Nugget: How Ella Fitzgerald found her place in the world.

Needs Enticement: Begins with Ella cranking the handle of a photography and three Boswell sisters sing.
* I know what a phonograph machine is but do children? Was it really important to already have the name of other characters that were truly irrelevant to the story?

Escalation: Ella's home life. Ella's learning and traveling to hear music and dance. Ella finding her fame.

Satisfying Ending: I am not sure that I was satisfied. It does tie the title in nicely though.
Sources: I love how this bibliography was done. Everything was separated by reading, listening and viewing resources as well as websites.
Show Words: Skit scat, skedddle, the words in this story are fun to say over and over. Words such as smooth as honey to describe a voice. I really loved the choice of words to describe scenes.
Why: Ella Fitzgerald lived a hard life and still found a way to survive. I truly think there is a great story about her waiting to be written but not sure that this was it.
Need and Want: Ella needs stability but wants to be famous. This story only focused on the want and never provided the need. Sat truly.

1 Comment

All Different Now: Juneteenth, First Day of Freedom

3/7/2016

1 Comment

 
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Publisher Simon & Schuster: Experience the joy of Juneteenth in this celebration of freedom from the award-winning team of Angela Johnson and E.B. Lewis.

Through the eyes of one little girl, All Different Now tells the story of the first Juneteenth, the day freedom finally came to the last of the slaves in the South. Since then, the observance of June 19 as African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. This stunning picture book includes notes from the author and illustrator, a timeline of important dates, and a glossary of relevant terms.

Told in Angela Johnson’s signature melodic style and brought to life by E.B. Lewis’s striking paintings, All Different Now is a joyous portrait of the dawn breaking on the darkest time in our nation’s history.

N- Nugget, Juneteenth is a holiday that I recently learned about. It had never been taught in my classrooms growing up or in my children's. It was the day when slaves gathered for word that the emancipation proclamation had been signed.


NE- A truly enchanting enticement that slowly pulls you into the book. Her words mirror the flow of the breeze in rhythm.
* Did you notice the point of view? Very unique.

E- Waiting for word that slavery was ended.
The general reading from a balcony declaring slavery had ended.
Their actions as a family after realizing that they were free.

SE- Her ending begins just as the story started but ends with All Different Now.
** Did you notice the softness of this story? What an oxymoron for the event that should have been shouted through the land.

S- Because this is a perspective of how events happened the author tells you that this is her perception. Since this is historical fiction the sources aren't included. But, she does include an author's note, there is an illustrator's note, glossary, index of dates and how Juneteenth is celebrated today. Also included are several sources for further reading.

SW- This is a perfect example of author and illustrator doing their 50%. Author's word are soft and flowing while the illustrator captured the strength in pictures. Simple wrinkled hands gathered in prayer, young arms stretched to they sky.

W- This is a little known celebration that to me should be celebrated at the same level as Thanksgiving and Independence Day. Thanksgiving is our celebration of coming to America with a new start. Independence Day is our celebration of earning our freedom from England. Juneteenth should be our celebration of Independence as a person- each of us responsible for ourselves.

NW- The need is clear, their needs to be freedom. What is missing (but it works is the want), there isn't a want in the story because the characters do not know that they have a right to want.

1 Comment
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    Kristen Fulton

    Kristen is the author of several up coming nonfiction picture books. Following the simple points on a compass rose, Kristen finds direction in nonfiction writing.

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