An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Aston

Plot Summary:

An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Aston is a picture book about eggs. Aston explains and compares how eggs can be from quiet, to smart, to artistic to noisy! The book is an array of many different shapes, sizes and colors. It begins by explaining that eggs can be of many different shapes from round to pointy and even camouflaged. Eggs can be big and can be held in two hands or tiny as a jelly bean. Eggs can even be artistic. Aston explains the life cycle from the yolk to the albumen to the actual hatching of the egg.

Impression about the book:

The beautifully depicted eggs are so delicately represented that the reader is feasts on the different shapes, sizes and colors. This is a fantastic representation of the egg.

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts:

This is an amazing plethora of eggs. It is an excellent picture book.

Suggestions for library use:

This book can be read as a read aloud to introduce to children the life cycle of an egg.

What if You Met a Pirate? by Jan Adkins

Plot Summary:

What if You Met a Pirate? written and illustrated by Jan Adkins vividly depicts the true representation of what it would be like to actually meet a real pirate. The story begins by denouncing the way the movies portray pirates. It sarcastically explains to the reader the ludicrous ways in which a movie pirate would have problems with his attire. Adkins details the reasons behind each piece of garment, weapon and job that a real pirate maintained.

Impression about the book:

The insight on what a real pirate is like is very entertaining. The way in which Adkins manages to educate the reader is somewhat humorous.

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts:

This is a great book. Readers can get insightful information of what pirate life was really like.

Suggestions for library use:

This book is a great read aloud. The details in the illustration are sure to hook the reader.

Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco

Plot Summary:

Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco is about two unlikely characters that interconnect in unusual circumstances. Patricia Polacco sets this book during the Civil War. It begins in a field in Georgia when a 15 year old white soldier, Sheldon Curtis or Say, is coming in and out of consciousness is due to a wound. A passer by, An African American Union soldier, Pinkus Aylee or Pink, finds him and carries him home to his mother, Moe Moe Bay. With the care of Moe Moe Bay, Say is slowly nursed back to health. While Say is healing, he discovers that Pink can read. Say confesses that he can’t. He also tells Pink that he is afraid to fight. Pink urges him to go back to the unit to help the others and the cause. Say tells Pink that he once shook the hand of President Abraham Lincoln. Pink immediately wants to touch the hand that touched the president. In the end, Moe Moe Bay is killed and the boys are taken. Right before the boys are torn apart, Pink cries out to Say, “Let me touch the hand that touched Mr. Lincoln, Say, just one last time.” Pink is killed and Say survives to tell the story of a solider who saved his life.

Impression about the book:

Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco is one of my favorite picture books. The visual elements of this book exceed the qualities of a high-quality picture book. The uses of lines in Pink and Say are curved. The lines construct the wonderful images of the book. The lines direct the viewer’s eyes from the text to the enjoyment of each illustration. The two-dimensional objects representing the illustrations in Pink and Say are angular shaped, giving the human characters life on the pages. The lines construct appealing sight to the viewer, allowing the viewer to appreciate the shapes on each page. The color used in Pink and Say is considered warm. The value is light in color with a bright saturation capturing the great storyline Patricia Polacco is trying to convey. The texture in Pink and Say is depicted as smooth. The visual elements in Pink and Say well depict the author’s intention. The unification of both text and illustrations complement one another creating this great picture book. The great use of object dominance attracts certain images as a powerful symbol of the book. For example, the illustration depicting the departure at the end of the book is a great example of object dominance.

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts:

Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco is by far one of the most touching picture books on the shelves today. The visual elements uniquely make this picture book an instant classic. The story line is so well thought-out, that it leaves the reader with the sense of hope for the true optimist in the world. The words, “Let me touch the hand that touched Mr. Lincoln, Say, just one last time,” will forever be the most impactful image etched in the minds of the readers.

Suggestions for library use:

Librarians could use this book as a read aloud as an insight of two young adults who are fighting in the Civil War. Also, this book can be a recommendation for those seek a serious, yet easy read. The librarian can show the pictures to have the students to captivate the wonderful storyline.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Plot Summary:

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer is a love story between a good looking, wealthy vampire and the all American girl. After her mother remarries Isabella Swan moves to the town of Forks, Washington to give her mother and her new husband some privacy. Back home in Arizona, Bella is the odd ball at school. At Forks, she becomes the most popular girl in school. However, her sights are on Edward Cullen, the cute vampire. Edward seems to be annoyed by the new girl but when the become lab partners in her Biology class, he start to take an interest in Bella. Bella cannot seem to stop thinking about Edward. It turns out that the scent of Bella’s blood drives him crazy and he cannot control himself so he disappears for days at a time. This affect Bella’s self-esteem until one day, Edward confesses that her scent drives him wild. Their friendship/ relationship seems to be growing every time they are together, however Edward continues to disappear. One day on a trip to the beach in near by La Push, Bella is befriended by Jacob Black. He tells her stories about werewolves and vampires. He also warns her about the Cullen’s. This intrigues Bella more to continue her relationship with Edward. Bella searches for vampires on line and discovers that the Cullen’s are vampires living among the community. Bella joins her friends on a shopping trip to Port Angels to shop for prom dresses. Bella goes off on her own and is encountered by a group of guys. They soon after the close in on her and jut then Edward Cullen comes to her rescue. Edward and Bella start a new relationship. One day, Edward takes Bella to a game out in a clearing. It is here that a group of three vampires smell Bella’s scent and challenge the Cullen’s for the girl. Bella is now being hunted down by a group of unfriendly, blood sucking vampires. Bella wanting to escape goes back to Phoenix where she once lived with her mother. She seems not to get through to her mother the whole way back to Phoenix. Laurent, the leader of the unfriendly vampires, tricked her into thinking that her mother was in danger. He sets a trap by using old home videos. Edward comes to Phoenix where Alice sees Bella in a dance studio. Edward has a confrontation and defends the woman he loves by killing Laurent and saving Bella. The Cullen’s take Bella back to Forks where she goes to the prom in a cast.

Impression about the book:

This book portrays a false notion to young adults about real life. The book entails for young adults to have a false sense of reality.

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts:

Science Fiction is not my forte. The story was not to my liking. The unconditional love Bella and Edward carry out, the novel does not portray love realistically. As a teacher I forced myself to read all four novels. This book is recommended with reservation.

Suggestions for library use:

The librarian can read aloud an excerpt and be captivated by Meyer’s writing style. Also, the librarian can promote science fiction by suggesting the Twilight Series.

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Plot Summary:

In Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer, making a decision is not always easy, especially when your own life depends on it. That is was Bella Swan or should I say Bella Cullen must do in fourth and final book of the Twilight Series, Breaking Dawn. This love story between a human and a vampire finally tie the knot and live happily ever after but first…. the honeymoon. After the long awaited and dreadful wedding. Bella Swan becomes Bella Cullen. The picture perfect wedding, with no expense to be spared has the wedding of the century in the little town of Forks, Washington. With reservation, I recommend the final book. The book did promote abstinence by waiting until marriage to be intimate with a partner. As with any book that deals with adult issues, young adults will have in their minds a preconceived notion of what life is all about when it comes to marriage and sex. I give credit to the author for not including the sexy details aside from the torn up pillows, the bruising, the soreness, and the breaking of the bed. It is all left to the imagination. The book consists of three parts Part One is titled “Bella”. This part of the book gives details about the long awaited wedding, the preparations, the fabulous life Bella will living as Mrs. Edward Cullen. The book proceeds with the most romantic honeymoon off the Coast of Brazil on a private Isle named after Esme. At Isle Esme, Bella and Edward consummate the marriage and after weeks of wedded bliss, Bella starts to feel sick. Pregnancy can do that to you. The end of book one leaves a cliffhanger because Edward wants to destroy the baby and Bella asks the help of an unusual allied, Rosalie. This section of the book does promote abstinence and give the sense of hope to those who wait until the wedding night. Is this promoting teenage pregnancy? After all, Bella just graduated from high school.However, how can a vampire procreate with a human? It is not explained.

In book Two, is Jacob Black’s Perspective in the novel. Jacob wants to kill the Cullen’s because he knows that Bella has been turned into a vampire. He is determine to destroy the Cullen’s as soon as he learns they broke the treaty and have killed a human, in this case Bella. To his surprise, Jacob discovers that Bella is alive; and pregnant. This section of the book is too graphic and too gory. Bella with Rosalie’s help has convinced everybody that she is going to have her mutant baby, even if it kills her. Because Jacob must protect Bella, he breaks away from his pack and he starts his new pack, one that protects Bella. The pregnancy and then the birthing process are far too unimaginable with far too many bloody details. Bella is dying and Edward, forced to transform her, finally makes her immortal. Renesmee has been worth it. She is born alive. This part of the book leaves you wondering is Bella actually survived the sacrifice so her son, no, her daughter could live. It makes you wonder if Stephanie Meyers is advocating prolife. Because of the overly graphic birthing details in this part of the book, the book is recommended with reservation.

In Book Three, the final stretch of the book. Bella survives! As a new born, Bella is not the uncontrollable newborn vampire that everyone is expecting. Stephanie Meyers depicted that newborn vampires were so uncontrollable that they must maintain their distance from human blood and that maybe within two years, Bella would be able to control her thirst for blood and come back to civilization. That did not happen. Bella caught on. She was the G.T. of the newborn Vampires. As prefect as she has become, she surpassed and controlled all cravings for human blood and is able to assume life as usual. After Bella returns from sucking up a lion on her first hunting trip, she is outraged that Jacob has imprinted on her new baby, Renesmee. That would explain why Jacob’s love towards Bella was so strong. After things somewhat go back to normal, problems arise as the final climax before the big finale. The rumble between the Volturi and the Cullen’s. Irina exposes the Cullen Clan thinking that they have an immortal child. Having an immortal child is forbidden, as explained in book one in Breaking Dawn, because the infants lack self-control. The Volturi are coming to destroy the child according to Alice. The Cullen’s seek allies to help protect Renesmee. They gather witnesses from all over the world to help protect the child. In the clearing, the Volturi arrive only to learn that Irina made a mistake and no crime was committed. The Volturi kill Irina for her mistake. After, the Volturi still want to kill the child just in case she poses a danger. Just then, Alice and Jasper comes into the scene exposing Nahuel, a half human half vampire being that is over 150 years old. He has two sisters as well. Since there was no danger, the Volturi leave sparing the child. Then they lived happily ever after.

Impression about the book:

This book portrays a false notion to young adults about real life. From getting married fresh out of high school, not furthering their education, getting pregnant while still a teenager, the pain of childbirth, wanting to die when things are too unbearable to take and protecting the child at all costs as to forging documents are all the book entails for young adults to have a false sense of reality.

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts:

Science Fiction is not my forte. The ending was not to my liking. How could the Volturi not know about Nahuel and his sisters? They has all the powers in the world and had lived hundreds of years and not know that he existed?

Aside from the romance and the unconditional love Bella and Edward carry out, the novel does not portray love realistically. Bella always wins when she is upset, discouraged, or disappointed. Edwards caters to her at every whim. The too perfect notion of a relationship might hinder the true expectations of what a relationship might actually entail. As a teacher I forced myself to read all four novels. This book is recommended with reservation.

Suggestions for library use:

The librarian can read aloud an excerpt and be captivated by Meyer’s writing style. Also, the librarian can promote science fiction by suggesting the Twilight Series.

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

Plot Summary:

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg begins with the reason behind the illustrations. Each illustration is correlated with a title and a caption about the illustration and nothing else. The magic and mystery about The Mysteries of Harris Burdick is that the story is told through the reader, not the author.

Impression about the book

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg is a well orchestrated picture book. The visual elements of this book surpass the qualities of a great picture book. Like all of Chris Van Allsburg books, the lines used in the illustrations are dominantly vertical. This is exemplified in the crown molding and the chair railing on the first two illustrations as well as the majority of the illustrations. The lines direct the viewer’s eyes to take pleasure in the illustration and allow the mind to wander to formulate insight of the illustration. The two-dimensional objects representing the illustrations in The Mysteries of Harris Burdick are appealing to the viewer allowing the viewer to appreciate the shapes on each page. Chris Van Allsburg uses achromatic illustrations by using dark values of hues with saturation of dullness to capture a mysterious mood as the title suggests. In The Mysteries of Harris Burdick the texture is depicted as smooth. The visual elements in The Mysteries of Harris Burdick depict the author’s intention of creating the illustrations to be left up to the viewer’s interpretation. Van Allsburg uses object dominance accurately on the pages to create the mysterious mood throughout the book.

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg contains all the visual elements that make this picture book a must have in all classrooms and libraries. The story line is minimal, but the questions and stories the illustrations create in the viewer’s mind far exceed the limitations of the author’s intention. This book, as the title suggests, is mysterious and the illustrations are left up to the viewer’s interpretation.

Suggestions for library use:

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg can be used as story starters as inspiration for writing. This is a true example of how voice can be interpreted in various ways.

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate Di Camillo

Plot Summary:

Kate Di Camillo’s, Because of Winn Dixie is one of my favorites! India Opal Buloni overcomes the abandonment she feels because her mother left her and her father when she was an infant. Opal and her Preacher Father arrive at the small town of Naomi, Florida. As the new comer, Opal has difficulty making new friends. One day, she goes to the local grocery store, Winn Dixie, where her life changes forever. Opal assumes responsibility of the dog that is causing the chaos at the grocery store. When the store manager threatens to call the pound to have the dog removed, Opal intervenes and shocks the store manager by call out, “Winn Dixie!” To everyone’s surprise, including Opal, the dog obeys and that is where the story begins. Opal and Winn Dixie venture out to find new friends in the town of Naomi. However, Opal finds much more in this heartwarming tale of a dog named Winn Dixie.

Impression about the book

My favorite part in Because of Winn Dixie is the scene where Opal’s father has been looking for Winn Dixie in the rain and Opal feels her father doesn’t care about anything that is important to Opal. There is the epiphany when he explains to Opal that the her mother did not leave one thing behind when she left them, he explains he was wrong, she did leave one thing behind, “She left you behind and thank God for that,” he tells her. I sobbed and sobbed. This poor, lonely girl befriends the ugliest dog and makes him her best friend..

Reviews / Reviews Excerpts

This book is beautifully written to capture a young girl with a thirst to be liked. Anyone who reads the story of how Winn Dixie came to be will fall in love with the unique but likeable pooch.

Suggestions for library use:

Librarians could use this book as an example of a person who is new in town or feels out of place within their community. The librarian can read aloud an excerpt and be captivated by the simple yet well written novel. This book is recommended for those who have a low self-esteem, have lost a parent, or feel lonely.