Informational

By Brad Herzog and Illustrated By Doug Bowles

G is for Gold Medal is part of the Sleeping Bear Press collection of alphabet books. Each book in the collection focuses on an educational, non-fiction theme. Each letter of the alphabet is used in the description of one of the components in the specified theme. All of the letters contain a detailed description of the component being represented. The description sections of each book are what make this collection so appealing to teachers (and students!). Every reader will walk away from each book having learned at least a few new facts on the subject of the book. 

G is for Gold Medal provides a vast amount of information about the history, background, athletes, and countries competing in the Olympic Games. The first page/the letter 'A' represents Ancient Greece where the very first olympics was held. The reader learns how the Games originated and the sporting events that took place (chariot racing was one of the most popular sports during this time!).  The information section also reveals that women were not allowed to compete in the Olympics (or even watch) for hundreds of years! 

Both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games are featured in this book. The letter 'C' stands for all the countries that unite together and also for Chamonix, France, where the first Winter Olympics was held. Winter traditions and sports (ice skating, skiing, hockey, and snowboarding to name a few) are included and described in great detail. Many people only think of the Summer sporting events when they think about The Olympics. I was glad that the book offered as much information on the Winter Games as the Summer. 

The last page of the book provides the reader with a list of dates and locations of where and when each Summer and Winter Games was held. There is also a side note explaining the reasons for the cancellation of the Games on certain years (World War I and II).  This book would be an excellent resource to use in a classroom of all grade levels. I personally bought this book recently with the intention to use it with my students during the first semester this Fall during a "Look back on Summer" lesson.  I would not read ALL of the information pages to the class (this would be far too time consuming) but would choose the most important ones that coincide with my lesson objective. 

                                 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. 

                                     By Melissa Sweet

This book tells the story of the life of Anthony "Tony" Fredrick Sarg, the puppeteer responsible for the birth of the Macy's Thanksgiving parade. Mixed media is prominent on every page including the front matter. The beginning end pages are images of the "Tony Sarg Marionette Book" along with marionette "parts" that appear extremely lifelike (Sweet uses this technique throughout the book). The last end page includes a vertical copy of the original advertisement from The New York Times in 1933 promoting the Macy's Parade. The end pages alone tell the story in a condensed and "visually enhanced" version.  

Sweet begins the book displaying a picture of Anthony Sarg within a picture frame "hanging" on the page.  His years of life (1880-1942) are placed underneath using a scrapbooking method of text. The opposite page includes the quotation: "Every little movement has a meaning of its own. -Tony Sarg" appearing in the same scrapbooking/mixed media technique. The background consists of various types of notebook, journal, flashcard, and artist paper reflecting the theme of "creativity." 

The story itself consists of a different type of method for the text and illustrations. The illustrations are draw and contain small sections of Sweet's mixed media technique used introduced in the front matter. The majority of text is a printed font and located outside the bordered illustrations. The layout of some of the pages is vertical to emphasize the height and grandeur of the balloons. Sweet also uses position and size to make the same emphasis. The balloons size is monumental compared to the buildings, and characters to mimic the "actual size" of the balloons created by Sarg. The balloons size in the illustrations become larger and larger as the book progresses due to the fact that Sarg made the balloons larger each year as his method of operating them changed and improved with time. 

The theme of "puppeteering" is present throughout the book.  Sweet uses "stage models" to frame certain illustrations in the story.  For example, in the illustration depicting the crowd watching the parade, the reader feels as though they are inside the Macy's window looking out. Also, on the last page Sweet concludes the story with an image of a curtain "closing" over a silhouette of Sarg with the parade in the background.  Both images appear as though they are "on stage" like the marionettes made by Sarg. 

Sweet includes a two page information section at the back of the book.  Here readers can view her author's note explaining the methods and research used during the creation of the book. Other information including an actual picture of Sarg and one of his balloons, a thank-you note to Sarg from a child and the author's thank-yous and resource list are presented using the same scrapbooking method presented in the front matter. Sweet also includes a think to her website with even more information about the creation of the book: http://melissasweet.net. 

                                     A Mostly True Tale

                  By Margaret McNamara and Illustrated by Barry Blitt

This book dissipates many of the famous "rumors" associated with the life of George Washington.  Many tales have emerged overtime embellishing facts linked with Washington's childhood.  For example, many people have heard the rumor that George Washington cut down a cherry tree then truthfully admitted "It Was I that cut down the cherry tree" to his father. The book informs the reader that this rumor emerged as a result of Washington's honest and noble personality. People trusted him so much that they liked to believe that Washington would have made such an honorable confession over a minute mistake. Another famous myth associated with George Washington is the story of how he was so strong that h threw a stone across the Rappahannock River. The river that ran beside Washington's family farm was over two hundred feet wide. Therefore, it would have been impossible for him to have done such a thing. 

The book's layout includes text telling the story of the "myths" or "facts" surrounding large, medium and small illustrations (varying page to page). At the end of each short myth, McNamara includes a framed text box, written in a smaller font and different style, labeled either "Myth" of "Fact" followed by an explanation.  These informational tidbits are strategically placed off to the side or at the bottom of the page so that they don't retract from the story.  Each short story supports the theme of Washington's family "forgetting" his birthday (they plan a surprise party for him at the end of the book). McNamara cleverly uses this base-plot to create a balance between each of the stories (which ultimately lead up to his evening party). 

The Illustrations are presented in the style associated with Barry Blitt.  Blitt is a famous political cartoon artist who has frequently been criticized for his controversial images. One of the most well known controversial image was his portrayal of the Obama's on a 2008 New York Times cover (left). Many readers felt Blitt's illustration was very "anti-American." Fortunately, Blitt's illustrations in George Washington's Birthday are anything but. In fact, one could consider him to be "patriotic" for their creation. Here is a link to a story about Blitt defending his drawing for the 2008 cover: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/13/barry-blitt-addresses-his_n_112432.html.  What do you think?

By Ellen Levine and Illustrated By Kadir Nelson

This Caldecott Honor book tells the story of how Henry "Box" Brown excaped slavery by "mailing" himself in a box to the North using the Underground Railroad. The back cover consists of brown wood, much like what was used to make wooden cratesin the 1800's. The end pages are also a brownish bronze color similar to the color of the box as well.  The end paper color also reflects the skin color of Henry on the front color. This layout technique ties into the theme of slavery and African American history. 

This book conveys a strong message with the intent to inform the reader while "sparking" emotions associated with sadness, anger, and hope.  The reader will experience sadness and anger after learning that Henry did not know his birthday, lived his childhood and most of his adulthood as a slave, was torn from his wife and children, and suffered greatly during the dangerous trip to Pennsylvania. Hope can be felt when Henry arrives safely and can celebrate his "birthday" of freedom. Even though the book encourages the celebration of his freedom, I was still left feeling very sad about the story.  The hardest part was contemplating the amount of loss he experienced in his life.  The illustrations contributed greatly to these feelings.  The sadness that is evident on the faces of Henry and his family truly impact the reader. The visual representation of Henry being  "squeezed" in the box made Henry's story come alive even more. 

Nelson's beautiful illustrations are crucial in the emphasis of the book's content. The use of ashy, warm colors reflects the time period, setting and tone of the book. Nelson's use of pencil, watercolor, and oil make illustrations appear more vivid and emphasized. The images alone tell Henry's story in a powerful voice. readers of all abilities will become mesmerized with the pictures and surprised, astonished, and touched by Henry's true story.