Batchhelder, Pura Belpre, Schneider, Stonewall, Odessey

 By Christopher Paul Curtis

This book won a Newberry Award Honor Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award for its outstanding plot and underlying peace-promoting message. This book is a feel-good read containing both humor and sincere human emotion. I found myself either laughing, smiling or crying while reading it. Even though he includes humor in every chapter,Curtis touches on several serious and heart-wrenching  aspects including the physical disability of a child, poverty, bullying, gangs, racism, and hate acts. These hard topics are woven into the lighthearted plot revealing friendship, love, and trust. 

The book is told in first person narrative by the main character Kenny, the middle child in a "wacky" Watson family.  Kenny's experiences and relationships with his family and friends serve as the basis for the book's plot.  Kenny's relationship with his older brother Byron is especially important in the plot because it acts as a "gateway" for several of the book's main themes: childhood experiences, sibling rivalry, unspoken "family" bonds, and the realization of the many cruelties in the world. The character Rufus, the "new" kid in town (and eventually Kenny's best friend) promotes an emotional and mental growth in Kenny. Kenny learns a few hard lessons from Rufus and becomes more in tune with others' feelings and their situations. 

The last few chapters in the book are by far the most powerful and emotional.  It is during this part the reader understands Curtis' book dedication which is in memory of the three young African American girls who were killed during a church bombing. Curtis states that their deaths were "the toll for one day in one city." After reading the dedication at the beginning of the book, I expected the plot to be  most sad and serious. By the time I was halfway through the book, I wondered why Curtis chose his specific dedication. The last part of the book put an end to my speculations and brought the book's many themes together. 

I enjoyed every aspect of this book. Curtis is a strong and profound writer who possesses the ability to acclimate tough subjects into children's literature all while including humor and sentimental themes. I would recommend this book to upper elementary, middle and high school students. 

                                 Martin's Big  Words

                 By Doreen Rappaport and Illustrated By Bryan Collier

This book is absolutely one of my favorites to use in the classroom! Whether it's teaching a lesson on famous americans, "What is History?," or qualities in a friend, this book makes an impact on students.  I also read this book twice during National Black History Month, once at the beginning to introduce the theme, and again at the end to assess my students' mental expansion and growth from the focus of our literature that month.  The student's always "pick up on" something new and different each time I read this book to them.  This is most likely due to the fact that it contains such numerous and significant ideas and messages. There are countless amounts of topics derived from this book that can be used in classrooms of all grade levels.  I particularly enjoy discussing the significance and symbolism of the book's cover.

The book's cover does not contain any text. The close-up illustration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s face and three medals are all that appear on the cover. This layout represents the impact Luther has had on our nation's history. It's word-lessness cover makes Martin's words even more meaningful inside the book. The awards send the message that "this book is important and has made an impression on many people." 

Rapport displays strength and significance in her writing. She uses her own style to explain several prolific quotes stated by Martin Luther King.  Each quote stated by Luther is in bold, large print and in a color that corresponded to the powerful images on that specific page. Martin's words are literally big on the page to signify their importance while corresponding with the book's title "Martin's Big Words."

The illustrations in this book were created using collage art and mixed media.  Collier's work serves as a significant attribute towards the powerful impact of the book. The images themselves, convey symbolism and meaning that memorizes the reader. Student's are able to develop deep discussions using the images alone. The combination of the text and illustrations make this book a timeless classic and a crucial addition to every classroom library.