Post #17: Horton Hears a Who!

Title: Horton Hears a Who!
Author & Illustrator: Dr. Seuss
Category: Children’s Book Produced as a Feature Film

My son started school last year and attended kindergarten at our brand new Early Childhood Center – which houses kindergarten, preschool, and Head Start. In the lobby just beyond the front entrance is a large poster that says, “A person’s a person. No matter how small.” It is really cute and so appropriate for these little students who are just beginning school. I love the concept of respect and appreciation fostered by this statement – and that’s why I chose this book for my blog.

Of course, any time a book of any kind is transformed into a feature film, there will be changes – differences between the book and the movie. Movies add all kinds of filler & fodder – things that add personality to the character & things that develop the plot more deeply. I like the dramatic beginning of the movie, which reveals the reason that the speck on which the Whos live is floating around in the air. The book just begins with the speck flying by Horton as he splashes in the Pool of Nool. In the movie, the speck is shaken loose from its home on a flower by a rolling, prickly ball.

The movie is narrated from time to time with actual lines from the book. For example the scene in which Horton first encounters the speck is narrated with the exact lines from the very first page of the book. However, some parts are narrated with lines that sound like they could have been in the book – but they aren’t. Rather, there are new lines inserted to sound like original Dr. Seuss lines – but fit the changes in the movie. For example, when the grumpy kangaroo first arrives on the scene – the narration says: “Then humpfing a “humpf” was a sour kangaroo. The type who’s convinced she knows better than you. She made every law and enforced every rule. As self-proclaimed head of the Jungle of Nool.” These lines are clever and sound just like words that would be in this book – but they are not. And that’s only the beginning. The movie is chockfull of catchy little phrases that sound so much like Dr. Seussisms that it’s unbelievable. It really adds so much to the movie – to link it to the book. When Horton’s friend, Morton, (who appears to be a mouse like creature) tries to convince him to get rid of the clover with the speck, Horton replies, “I can’t. I meant what I said and I said what I meant. And an elephant is faithful, one hundred percent.” Horton says that’s his motto.

In the movie, Horton actually hears the voices from the speck & then has to chase it down in a very dramatic scene – in which he is assaulted by the whole Wickersham monkey family. Some of the characters in the book are the same – such as the Kangaroo & her son, the Wickersham monkeys, and the Whoville Mayor. However – other characters are new to the movie. New characters include the mayor’s sassy secretary, Horton’s students, Ms. LaRue - the scientist at Who U, the ornery councilmen, and many others. But even the characters that are the same are given more personality & character attributes. The kangaroo, voiced by Carol Burnett in the movie, channels the nasty Miss Hannigan from Annie. Horton, voiced by Jim Carrey, is as goofy as any character the actor ever played. And what a perfect choice – since Carrey portrayed the Grinch years earlier. The mayor is brought to life by actor Steve Carrel, who is raising 96 daughters with his lovely wife - a fact the book failed to mention. In addition, the mayor also has one son – named Jo-Jo – his successor as mayor. In the book, Jo-Jo is the slacker whom the mayor found playing with a yo-yo when the whole town was making noise and trying to be heard. It was Jo-Jo’s yelp that was enough to make the difference and save the town in the book. And at the end of the movie – it was also Jo-Jo’s yelp that was enough to make their voices heard and to save the town. But, Jo-Jo was more than just a runt slacker – he was the tragically misunderstood only son of the mayor, who had never spoken until that point. Very dramatic.

One big difference between the book and the movie is that Horton is portrayed as a school teacher. Another difference is that the kangaroo’s joey is really open to everything Horton says and does – instead of just echoing her every criticism, as in the book. He especially loves it when Horton stands up to his mom & says, “A person’s a person. No matter how small.” I like the way that illustrations from the book are incorporated into the movie. When Horton thinks about what the people on the speck might look like – he envisions people who look like the book’s illustrations. On the speck, in the town of Whoville – the mayor has noticed some strange things that cause him to become concerned. He suggested to the city council – a group of elders who appear to be the town’s governing body – that the much anticipated WhoCentennial Celebration should be postponed – just to be safe. But the council refuses, calling the mayor a boob. The mayor is dejected and knows that there is a reason for the stranges “goings-on”. Finally, he hears Horton’s voice. The exchange between Horton and the mayor is hilarious, as Horton tries to convince the mayor that Whoville is on a speck. The mayor finally believes and knows that he must do something to save the town. It’s a dramatic moment when the mayor gains the courage to tell the town about Horton. See, just at the big people find it hard to believe that a whole world could exist on a speck on a clover – the little Whos find it hard to believe that they are being held in the trunk of a giant elephant. The black-bottomed eagle villain from the book – Vlad Vlad-i-koff also makes an appearance in the movie, to team up with the scheming kangaroo. In the book, Vlad steals the clover and flies around all night with it. He finally releases the clover into a field of millions of clover – knowing that Horton will never find it. In the movie – Vlad pursues Horton mercilessly, wreaking havoc in Whoville. It’s just that moment, as Horton is about to speak, that Vlad whisks the clover away and flies off.

The townspeople ignore the mayor’s pleas and the dramatic changes in the weather, as they continue on with the WhoCentennial celebration. Horton charges on, chasing Vlad up a mountain and through the snow. The intense chase scene conveys more intensity than the book, but the result is the same – Vlad drops the clover into a field with millions of others. The narration during the scenes in which Horton searches for HIS clover is intermingled with quotes directly from the book and new catchy ones. But just as things begin to look sunny – as the Whoville townsfolks believe in Horton and as he pledges a safe future to them – a revolt is forming in the jungle. The angry kangaroo is leading all the jungle animals to get the clover away from Horton. Determined to rope him and cage him – the angry mob stampedes toward Horton and the clover – with the speck on top. Horton was confronted & the kangaroo demanded that he deny all the “nonsense” about people living on the speck or face the consequences. Horton refused & the mob charged toward him. He valiantly fought them off for a while – urging the citizens of Whoville to make noise so that they would be heard. They faced a boiling pot of Beezle-Nut juice – the same fate as the book tells. But, their voices are not heard and the kangaroo drops the clover over the pot of boiling Beezle-Nut juice. But, her young joey – named Rudy – reaches out and rescues the clover and the speck because he finally hears their voices just as Jo-Jo lets loose his yelp. This is a very different joey than the one portrayed in the book. The movie joey takes the clover back to Horton, because he too believes that, “A person’s a person. No matter how small.” It’s a touching moment as Horton and the kangaroo put aside their differences and forgive one another over a chocolate chip cookie and a fuzzy umbrella. But before tears have a chance to form, the whole cast of characters break into a hilarious karaoke version of REO Speedwagon’s I Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore. The movie ends with the line, “And so let that be a lesson to one and all. A person’s a person. No matter how small.” The scene cuts to a view of the galaxy with tiny specks flying around everywhere. The movie was an excellent representation of the book – changing only a few things and adding a few things to make the story movie-ready. And so…this is my last entry in my reading journal blog for LME 518 – Woohoo. Done…two days early!

Post #16: Bad News for Outlaws

Book: Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal
Author: Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Illustrator: R. Gregory Christie
Category: Coretta Scott King Award Book


I picked up this book at the public library last week to (almost) finish my reading journal blog. This title was selected to fulfill the Coretta Scott King Award book category. Bad News for Outlaws is the 2010 Coretta Scott King Award winner. The librarian was very enthusiastic about her recommendation of this book, as it is a recent acquisition for our library. It was all shiny and crisp, still on the new book cart by the circulation desk – just waiting for someone to take it home. So I did – I was the first one. I’d like to start out by saying that this book has absolutely gorgeous illustrations! I really like it better than some of the Caldecott Award winning books that I’ve reviewed for my blog. The pictures practically jump off the page. The rich, warm colors beautifully tell the story of Bass Reeves, and what a story it is! This book addresses diversity in a very straightforward manner, explaining that Bass Reeves was different from most U.S. Marshals trying to keep the peace in hostile Indian Territory. He was different because he was black. Growing up as a slave, he overcame many obstacles to become a revered and feared man of law who was honest and fair. I love the way that this story is presented, because it reads like a tall tale – but it is actually a historical biography designed to entice young readers. This is one of the big revelations I’ve had through completing this reading journal blog. I was totally unaware of the creative ways that nonfiction literature can be presented. This book is honest and forthright about the pleasant and unpleasant aspects of this American hero’s life. Bass Reeves was a slave who was believed to have escaped to freedom after a physical conflict with his owner. It seems very strange to even write that sentence – to think that one person could OWN another. I think kids need to hear that – to see how far we have come as a nation – and to remember to always value the rights of others. The book specifically stated that some white people didn’t’ like the notion of a black man with a badge. However, the focus of the book was on the great accomplishments of Reeves’ thirty two years of service to peace-keeping in the American West. The exciting stories of this man’s life are written in such a way that the reader is drawn in and hanging on the next work. Bad guys – lots and lots of bad guys – are arrested and brought to justice under this marshal’s reign. Even Reeves’ own son was not exempt from his dedication to justice and fairness. I love the stories of how Bass Reeves used cunning and craftiness in his approach to catching criminals on the run. He altered his appearance, rode on broken down horses, and assumed the identity of the wanted – in order to capture the wanted. Bass Reeves was a good moral man who resorted to violence as a last resort and was dedicated to his calling. And I’d never heard of him. I’m really happy that I had the opportunity to read this book and to learn about his life. I love how this book addresses diversity by brilliantly telling the extraordinary story of a remarkable man who was simply forgotten. I am excited about the power that we possess in children’s literature to introduce kids to wonderful human beings through the enchanting and compelling media of storybooks. What a wonderful way to immortalize historical figures – especially minority figures – who easily slip through the pages of history books without being noticed, or who simply fail to make the pages at all. I love kiddie lit that entertains and inspires – and this book does just that!!!

Post #15: Because of Winn Dixie

Title: Because of Winn Dixie
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Category: Children’s Book Produced as a Feature Film (Also a Newbery Honor book)

I’m beginning to sense a pattern here. I must be a sucker for sweet, sappy kiddie lit with precious little girls as the main characters. Just like in Everything on a Waffle & in The Higher Power of Lucky, Opal Buloni is a young girl with guardianship issues who sets out on a summer of adventure and discovery with the help of some very colorful characters. The movie began with familiar lines about Opal going to the grocery store to get macaroni & cheese, rice, and eggs. Even the “Pick-it-Quick” setting for the Open Arms church was straight out of the book. I was tickled to see how Sweetie Pie Thomas, Dunlap & Stevie Dewberry, and Amanda Wilkinson came alive! Sweetie Pie was there in pig-tails, sucking on her knuckle. The Dewberry brothers were sporting shiny, bald heads and were as mean as ever. And Amanda Wilkinson sat quietly with her face all “pinched-up” – just like Opal had described. As the movie began, I felt as though I was meeting people that a friend had already described to me. Most things were straight out of the book, and some things were added to fill up the movie and make it more interesting. It was clear in the book that Opal missed her old hometown of Watley. In the movie, Opal sat unpacking her things and looked longingly at a photo of her little league team from her old hometown – and said, “I bet they already have a pitcher.” The whole scene that sets the story played out on screen just like it was written in the book. Opal witnesses a stray dog running amuck in the middle of the grocery store and claims him for her own - dubbing him “Winn Dixie”. Even the manager of the store crying is consistent with the story. I found “the preacher” – Opal’s dad – to be a bit fussier in the movie than in the book. He put up quite a fight when Opal brought Winn Dixie home and only agreed to let him stay while Opal looked for him a permanent home. In the book – her father resisted only for a few breaths – and then conceded that the dog was a “less fortunate” if ever he’d seen one and agreed that he had found his home. The issue with trailer-park owner was also exaggerated in the movie. He allowed the preacher and Opal to stay in a trailer rent free, but he definitely wanted rid of the dog. He even threatened that they had a choice – a home or the dog. The preacher actually called the pound and Opal came racing out of the trailer crying and begging her dad not to take him away because he was her only friend. He let Opal keep Winn Dixie, but had to take out a loan from the church to pay back all their rent. He still had to promise to find a home for her dog by the end of summer. The book seemed to be all about Opal’s adventures “because of Winn Dixie”. But the movie emphasized more that it was a struggle for her to even keep him. It was interesting to see how the other characters in the book came alive. All of them seemed to have “added” personality traits – perhaps to make the movie a bit livelier. Otis was a bit creepier at first than I had envisioned after reading the book. When Gertrude the bird flew over to Winn Dixie & landed on his head, Otis said, “Well I’ll be damned.” I thought that was certainly unnecessary – especially in a children’s movie. Ms. Franny Block came to life just as she was described on the pages of the book; although, the Herman W. Block Memorial Library didn’t quite appear like the one I’d read about. The one in the movie seemed more like a funeral home or an old, historic house. The movie pretty well followed the story told in the book. Opal narrated it with select passages from the book. Otis charmed all the animals in Gertrude’s pet shop by playing his guitar. Sweetie Pie ran in sucking on her knuckle and took it out of her mouth long enough to call Otis a “magic man”. The scene in which Winn Dixie caught a mouse in church was very funny – although the mouse was more like the size of a rat. They set it free in a field. It was obvious that the preacher had a big heart, but he was just a bit more contrary on screen than on the pages of the book. Gloria Dump’s yard looked about like I had imagined – an overgrown jungle. Gloria came to life as a half-blind, wild-haired, black lady with a gigantic heart. Opal talked with Gloria Dump and shared with her the biggest secrets of her own heart – about how her mom had left. For me, one of the most touching parts of the book is the chapter in which Winn Dixie goes wild because he is afraid of the storm and Opal’s dad says that they have to watch him really carefully during storms and protect him so that he won’t run away. Fortunately this tender, sweet moment was played out just like in the book. The events in the book & the events in the movie did not follow the same order – some came earlier and some came later. One big difference between the book and the movie comes when Opal’s dad finally agrees to tell her 10 things about her mom: one for each year she’s been alive. In the book, the preacher names off ten things just as Opal requested: 1) She was funny, 2) She had fair hair & freckles, 3) She liked to plant things, 4) She could run fast, 5) She couldn’t cook, 6) She loved a story, 7) She knew all the constellations, 8) She hated being a preacher’s wife, 9) She drank, & 10) She loved you. In the movie, the preacher named off the first eight things, skipped number 9, and went on to number 10. He refused to give Opal a #10, just said that her mom packed up everything & left them – she didn’t leave a thing. He did not tell Opal that her mother drank beer, wine, whiskey….and sometimes couldn’t stop. That seemed like an important point, considering how she related to Gloria Dump through this fact, so I wondered if it would be included at all. Gloria took Opal to her backyard and showed her the mistake tree with all the old bottles. Opal asked questions and I wondered if she would say anything about her mother. ..but she didn’t. I really didn’t think that this part of the movie made sense. It’s inconsistency with the book just didn’t seem to fit at all. I think the fact that Opal’s mother drank was an important link to Gloria. It shows up later. The scene in which a police interrogates Opal about Otis is not in the book. In the book, Otis tells Opal about his jail time, not a snooping “Barney Fife” deputy. Ms. Franny told the story about Litmus – about him going off to war – and coming home to find that he was an orphan – and about him building a candy factory and creating the Litmus Lozenge. She tells the story to both Opal and Amanda - just like in the book. The secret ingredient in the candy is sadness. Opal thinks about how she misses her mother when she tastes the candy. Amanda says that she thinks about Carson and then she runs away. In the book, Opal finds out from her father that Carson was Amanda’s five-year-old brother who drowned the year before. But, in the movie she finds out from Dunlap. Otis says that the candy tastes like music and reminds him of being in jail. He then reveals to Opal why he went to jail – for playing his guitar on the street, disturbing the peace, and assaulting a police officer. Sweetie Pie said the candy tasted like not having a dog. One strange little scene in the movie was nowhere to be found in the book. Some of the neighborhood kids and the Dewberry boys are playing baseball. Winn Dixie catches a fly ball in his mouth and then all the kids begin chasing him. The same goofball police officer that interrogated Opal about Otis stops by to break up the ruckus. Winn Dixie grabs his pants and chases him back into his car. He leaves – calling them all sea monkeys. It was a weird, bizarre, pointless scene. Opal gives her dad a piece of candy and he says it tastes melancholy and reminds him of her mother – just like in the book. However, Opal then asks her father, “Did mom drink?” And…perhaps that’s more realistic. Maybe a single father who just happened to be a preacher wouldn’t tell his ten-year-old daughter that her mother was an alcoholic. When confronted with the truth, the preacher initially says that Opal is just too young to know some things. I guess Opal just figured it out, although I’m not sure how….the preacher certainly didn’t allude to it. She pleads with him and says that she wants to understand. Her dad concedes that Opal is right – that’s what happened with her mom – she started drinking. She asks if that was the tenth thing – and her dad says that it was. Just like in the book, the movie ends with a party – inspired by Gone with the Wind. However, Gloria is much more resistant to the party than in the book – much more reclusive. She finally agrees though and Opal sets out giving invitations to everyone…even the grumpy old trail-park owner. Just like in the book, Otis shows up a little bit late, awkwardly carrying a jar of pickles. A summer storm breaks up the party and everyone moves inside. Otis takes this opportunity to give Opal the red, leather dog collar that she’s been working for in the pet shop. Just then thunder crashes and Opal remembers Winn Dixie’s fear of storms. She takes off looking for him in the storm. In the book, Opal searches for him with her dad…but in the movie, her dad didn’t come to the party and Opal searches by herself. He joins her in the search after she looks for him at their trailer. She is so adorable as she lists ten things she knows about Winn Dixie. When her dad is ready to give up looking, she accuses him of always giving up – even on her mom. It’s obvious his heart is broken too as he assures her that he tried and tried to make her stay. He tells her that he loves Winn Dixie too and he is sad the he is lost too. She asks if he thinks her mom will come back and he says that he doesn’t think she will. And then he tells her he was wrong when he said that Opal’s mom took everything with her when she left. He says that she left one very important thing – Opal – and that he thanks God that she left her. They return to Gloria’s house and the party, but they do not find that Winn Dixie has been hiding under the bed –like in the book. Opal leaves Winn Dixie’s new collar by the tree she planted in the yard. Everyone sits around singing in the living room as Otis plays the guitar. Suddenly a chorus of howling joins in. Winn Dixie has come home. And Opal says that her heart isn’t so empty any more – it’s full all the way up to the top with Gloria and Ms. Franny and Amanda and her Daddy and the Dewberry boys and Otis – and it’s all “Because of Winn Dixie.”

Post #14: Dr. Seuss books

Title: The Cat in the Hat & The Lorax
Author & Illustrator: Dr. Seuss
Category: Discussion questions

A. Identify a contemporary book that has the tension presented in The Cat in the Hat.
The first children’s book that immediately came to mind is Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.

B. Why does the selected book appeal to children?
I think Where the Wild Things Are appeals to kids because Max is what most kids really want to be at heart – wild! He enjoys being mischievous and dressing up in costumes. He actually sounds just like my 7-year old. He is naughty to his dog and he is naughty to his mom…and he is finally sent to bed without supper. The punishment may be a bit dated, but the story is timeless. Kids can relate. Kids don’t always do what’s right. And kids sometimes go off to their bedrooms and dream of sailing off to a land where they can run free…with the wild things.

A. What makes The Lorax didactic?
By definition, didactic means “intended for instruction; inclined to teach or lecture others too much; teaching or intending to teach a moral lesson.” The Lorax is a story about the intrusion of industry and pollution on nature. The dark and dreary scenes in the beginning of the book are contrasted with the beautiful, colorful land where the Truffula Trees grew. Swomee-Swans flew through the air, Humming-Fish swam in the pond, and Brown Bar-ba-loot played and ate the fruit of the trees. The Once-ler discovered this glorious, unadulterated land and immediately began chopping down trees and building a factory. Time and time again the Lorax, who is the guardian of the trees and animals, warns the Once-ler to stop. But he doesn’t listen. Greed has taken hold of his heart. By the end of the book, the entire land is destroyed, all of the Truffula Trees are gone, all the animals are gone, and the Once-ler is left alone with his empty factory. The message of the book is clear. The invasion of big industry and factories upon the purity and sanctity of nature is a travesty. Smog fills the air, gunk fills the pond, and the land is stripped of all living thing. The Once-ler is sorry, but it’s too late. The damage is already done. The Lorax is taken away. Readers are left with the heavy lesson about our responsibility to take care of the earth. Although everything in the book is depicted in fantasy illustrations with gobbledygook names, the story makes very clear connections with real life. It is most definitely intended to be didactic or for instruction – to teach a moral lesson.

B. Are didactic children’s books published today? If not, why not?
Yes, didactic children’s books are still published today. There are still lots of lessons to be learned, so authors are still writing children’s books to teach kids social and moral lessons. Examples of such books include: The Empty Pot (integrity & honesty), The Greedy Triangle (being content), The Magic Fish (selfishness), & Odd Velvet (tolerance).

Post #13: Caldecott & Newbery Awards

Now that I have finished all of my Caldecott & Newbery selections for this blog, I thought I’d go ahead and tackle Task #4: Describe the difference between the two awards.



According to the ALA, the Newbery Medal is awarded annually for the most distinguished American children's book published the previous year. The award was proposed on June 22, 1921 by Frederic G. Melcher. He suggested that the award be named for the 18th century English bookseller John Newbery. The Newbery was the first children’s book award in the world. The winner of the very first Newbery Award in 1922 was The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem van Loon. The 2010 Newbery Medal winner is When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. The Newbery Medal is an award for the text of a book and honors books that make a distinguished contribution to American literature for children.


The idea for an award for illustrations in children’s books also came from Frederic G. Melcher in 1937. According to the ALA, the Caldecott Medal "shall be awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American Picture Book for Children published in the United States during the preceding year. The award shall go to the artist, who must be a citizen or resident of the United States, whether or not he be the author of the text.” The medal was designed in 1937 by René Paul Chambellan. It is made of bronze, with the name of the winner and the date engraved on the back of the medal. The award is administered by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the ALA. The Caldecott Medal is named after Randolph Caldecott, who was an influential illustrator of children’s books in English during the 19th century. He is noted for his unique illustrations that complemented stories with humor and movement. The winner of the very first Caldecott Medal Award in 1938 was Animals of the Bible, A Picture Book, illustrated by Dorothy P. Lathrop. The 2010 Caldecott Medal winner is The Lion & the Mouse, illustrated and written by Jerry Pinkney. The Caldecott Medal is an award for artwork / illustrations in children’s books.


Since the Newbery and Caldecott Medals were awarded, the selection committees often named “runners-up”. In 1971, the “runners-up” were officially declared to be “honor books”. While only one Medal Award winner is selected each year, as few as one or as many as five Honor books may be named.

One award is not better than the other. The awards are designed to recognize different aspects of children’s literature. The Newbery is an indication of the quality of the actual text of the book, while the Caldecott is an indication of the quality of the artwork of a book.

References
American Library Association. (2010). Book and Media Awards. Retrieved March 20, 2010 from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/index.cfm.

Post #12: Hondo & Fabian

Title: Hondo & Fabian
Author & Illustrator: Peter McCarty
Category: Caldecott Medal Honor Book


Hondo & Fabian is a sweet story about a dog named Hondo and a cat named Fabian. The story begins with each of them asleep in their respective places – the cat in the windowsill and the dog on the floor. Each one spends the day in a different way. Hondo goes to the beach to play with his friend Fred, while Fabian stays at home to play with the baby. The illustrations are smoky, almost like everything is illustrated under candlelight. The pictures are also very simple – not too much to distract from the focal point of the page. In one illustration, the baby holds Fabian in her arms. The windowsill is visible, but nothing on the wall or floor takes away from the baby and Fabian. Hondo and Fred play in the waves at the beach. Fabian unrolls a roll of toilet paper in the bathroom. At the end of the story, and the end of the day, both animals resume their original positions and rest after a playful day. I like this book because the illustrations are easy to look at – if that makes any sense. They are easy on the eyes. The little pictures are soft and gentle. Peter McCarty has also written and illustrated other children’s books, including Little Bunny on the Move and Baby Steps. He has also illustrated Night Driving and Frozen Man. This book is similar to his other books in that all of the pictures have very soft, earthy tones. This method of using warm, washed-out colors seems to carry through to his other books. The illustrations are a little cartoonish; however, something about them is also very lifelike. The faces of Hondo and Fabian seem very real. Reading this book has reinforced to me that illustrations in children’s books vary so much. And….illustrations that are deemed excellent and award-winning also vary widely. The Caldecott Award recognizes many different styles of artwork in children’s literature. I think I got to see a good sampling of that with my Caldecott choices for this blog.

Post #11: Martin's Big Words

Title: Martin’s Big Words
Author: Doreen Rappaport
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Category: Recent Book that Addresses Diversity (Picture Story Book)

The cover of this book is adorned with a close-up illustration of the face of Dr. King, Jr. No words. It is absolutely striking. I selected this book for this category because I really do feel that it belongs in every school library media center collection. As a picture book that addresses diversity, Martin’s Big Words has so much to offer. First, this book is highly acclaimed. It is a Caldecott Honor Book, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book, and the recipient of the 2001 Best Illustrated Children’s Book award from the New York Times Book Review. The illustrations are interesting and unique. The pictures appear to be formed from torn pieces of colorful paper. They are like a feast for the eyes. The book tells the story of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement. It follows him from his life as a little boy in the south during segregation to his rise as a national leader. Martin’s big words were not lengthy, scholarly words – like Bill O’Reilly’s words of the day – meant to impress. No, Martin’s words were heavy, hopeful words from the heart. Martin’s words were love, together, and peace. At the bottom of most pages, a quote from Martin is presented in big, bright, bold letters. I love the page that says Martin “taught others to fight with words, not fists.” What a legacy. The spread that holds these words also has an illustration of a beautiful little girl in front of the American flag on the opposite page. It appears to be illustrated with torn scraps of paper, woven together into a beautiful tapestry like mismatched pieces of a puzzle. The book is visually appealing, but also historically important. While the pictures are attractive, the story is not sugar-coated. The violence and anger and fear that were prevalent in the days of the civil rights movement are conveyed in a way that is appropriate for children, but accurately enough to fully convey the seriousness of the time. The book ends with Martin’s death, but the story offers the hope that his words are still alive for us today. I honestly haven’t read a whole lot of books that address diversity, but I fell in love with this one. I think it is a “must have” for the Library Media Center! From this book, I once again learned that heavy and serious subjects can be addressed in the format of a picture book. I find this method of presenting nonfiction subject matter to be very appealing. Martin Luther