Speaking For Those Who Cannot Speak

Earlier this week when visiting the vet for Xena's weekly cold laser treatment, something happened which made me sick at heart.  With all the vacationers and summer residents back for a few months, the office is more crowded than usual.  On this day as we were leaving the room, all the chairs on two sides of the space were filled with people and their pets.

Right outside our door was a black Labrador mix with her human. Xena saw the other dog and they began barking.  This dog was growling too.  Holding tightly to the lease attached to Xena's harness with my legs on either side of her, I guided her through the gauntlet.

We were nearly past this dog when all of a sudden her man decided to bully her into submission.  The loud resounding whack echoed in the office after he struck his dog.  I was stunned saying, "No...No...No." as I left the building.  When I came back inside to make my payment, the dog and her man were already in an examination room.

Mistreatment of animals is beyond my comprehension.  Even today whenever I see a deer, a fox, a hawk, and other creatures of water, forest and field, I softly gasp in wonder.  Those people who champion their protection are my heroes. For these reasons when I closed the cover of A Boy And A Jaguar (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) written by Alan Rabinowitz with illustrations by Catia Chien, I cried.  

I'm standing in the great cat house at the Bronx Zoo.

Why is this jaguar kept in a bare room?  I wonder.

When the boy moves to the bars to speak to the animal his father asks him what he is doing.  He is unable to reply.  The boy is a stutterer.  At school even though his parents say he is not disturbed, that is the class in which he is placed.  The boy, understandably, feels as though he is incomplete.

Returning home each day he is able to speak easily with the animals he keeps in his bedroom closet; a hamster, a gerbil, a turtle, a chameleon, and a garter snake.  He makes a promise to his pets and to the jaguar on a return visit to the zoo.  He survives school enrolling in a special program for stutterers in college.  Working with a teacher for the first time in his life he can talk without stuttering.

Still feeling incomplete on the inside, the young man goes alone to habitats to study black bears, then jaguars.  His work makes him feel complete.  His new found happiness is tinged with sadness though as he realizes despite his best efforts jaguars are being killed by trophy hunters.

This man remembers his childhood promise.  He uses his voice to help those with no voice.  A jaguar preserve is created, the first and only one in the world.  Back in the tropical forest whispered words are again spoken.


When Alan Rabinowitz tells his story, readers feel an immediate empathy.  His use of specific experiences from his childhood, young adulthood and his subsequent work in the field are exactly what we need to know to understand his purpose and passion.  The style of writing is easily understood by younger readers but strikes a chord in readers of any age.  There are pauses in the text perfectly placed to help bring us closer into Rabinowitz's world.  Here is a single passage.

But my father knows the one thing that does
work.  He takes me to the great cat house at
the Bronx Zoo.  I go straight to the cage with
the lone jaguar, lean over the railing, and
put my face against the bars.

I whisper my promise to her.  Fluently.


The two full page illustration spread across the dust jacket and book case is initially intriguing.  After reading the book you are aware of its portrayal of the meeting of the past with a momentous incident in the future.  Catia Chien's choice to place a smaller picture of Alan and his father walking through the entrance to the Bronx Zoo on the title page is of particular importance too.

Rendered in acrylic and charcoal pencil the pictures beautifully depict the isolation this boy felt, how he worked to become whole and of the great things he has accomplished.  Chien alters the image sizes and background colors to convey emotional moments.  The darker burgundy used when Alan explains how he is unable to talk and when he is placed in the class for disturbed children is heart-wrenching.  This is followed by scenes of him speaking to his pets at home with a background of golden yellow; lifting our spirits as his are lifted.

When the young man knows he needs to do more to become whole, all of the pictures extend across two pages with the exception of two single pages.  This makes us aware of the big changes in his life.  Chien also places a single framed smaller picture within two of these larger visuals to provide specific details.

One of my favorite illustrations is of Alan in the tropical forest bending to look at jaguar prints in the soil; noticing a new set.  We readers see the large male jaguar peeking around from behind a tree watching.  The color palette captures this moment splendidly; the rich earth tones of the jungle, the falling shadows as daylight leaves, and the facial expressions on Alan and the jaguar.  This signals the beginning of a memorable encounter.


A wonderful collaboration of narrative and pictures A Boy And A Jaguar written by Alan Rabinowitz with illustrations by Catia Chien is a very important book.  It acts as a bridge, a connection, leading to greater compassion and understanding.  On the larger than normal back flap Rabinowitz is asked and answers five questions about big cats and stuttering.

By following the links embedded in the author's and illustrator's names you can discover more information about each of them and their work.  This link takes you to a special publisher page specifically for this title.  Enjoy the video below.

I know I say this every week but it's the honest-to-goodness truth.  I love participating in the 2014 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.  I have learned so much about people, places and a host of other things that I would never have known about without this challenge.  Thanks go to Alyson Beecher at Kid Lit Frenzy for hosting.

I hope you are able to pick up a copy of this book at your local indie store or your public library.  My personal copy was purchased at McLean & Eakin in Petoskey, Michigan.

Simple, Right?

You have a plan.  You have a list.  You have directions to follow.  You have three steps to reach your goal.

A lightning strike during a thunderstorm causes your power to go out so you won't be leaving the house on time.  Looking at your gauge as the needle points dangerously near the E makes you realize stopping at the gas station should have been among your to-do items.  It would have been nice if during the early morning news they had mentioned US-31 would be down to one lane due to painting traffic lines.  It's odd they never mentioned which products not to use when cleaning the spot before placing the new yearly sticker on your license plate.

Even on a good day our best intentions might not turn out as expected.  We begin with one vision in mind only to end with an entirely different scenario.  In A Piece of Cake (Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers) written and illustrated by LeUyen Pham, on Mouse's path to a friend's house surprising encounters create surprising results.

It was Little Bird's birthday.  Mouse, who was a very kind mouse, made her a cake.

In making Little Bird's cake, Mouse has used up everything he has in his pantry.  He is pleased with the delicious outcome as he sets off to deliver his gift.  He's not the only one out and about on this fine day.

Fairly soon he meets another friend, Chicken.  Now Chicken takes one look at the cake and expresses a passion for a piece.  Wanting to be fair, Chicken offers to give Mouse a cork in exchange.  A cork?  Mouse is not sure what Little Bird will do with a cork, but he is, as we know, a very kind mouse.  The trade is made.

Three other cheerful pals, Squirrel, Bear and Cow, crave cake.  They all barter with equally odd items.  Puzzled by the possible use of each, Mouse, with affection overruling common sense, arrives at Little Bird's house with no cake but a curious collection.

Little Bird is pleasantly pleased with the presents.  It would seem Mouse's kindness is equaled by Little Bird's cleverness.  She is sure each will become most useful; asking Mouse to follow her.  The two companions find Cow, Bear, Squirrel and Chicken in a bit of a quandary.  Four problems with four marvelous solutions will astonish readers as much as they do Mouse.  There might be cake involved.


LeUyen Pham tells an original circle story prepared using the best kind of storytelling ingredients.  Each time Mouse meets his four friends the same greeting is used with only a slight alteration.  Like phrases are used in the following conversations which are a direct invitation for participation.  A give-and-take rhythm is established not only between the characters but between the narrative and the reader.

The brilliance of this tale is in the return trip back to Mouse's house.  Pham designs predicaments with obvious answers but Little Bird wittily thinks outside the box generating more fun for everyone.  When Cow needs a stopper, Little Bird gives her bubbles.  Here is a single sample of a conversation.

Next, Mouse met Squirrel, who was gathering nuts.
Hello, Squirrel! said Mouse.
Squirrel said.
Gadzooks, that's one tasty-looking cake!
Mouse, old buddy, how about giving me some?  
If you give me a piece of cake,
I'll trade you...

The smiling faces, cheery colors and warmth in the layout and design greeting readers on the matching dust jacket and book case are a definite attraction.  You know by facial expressions at least four of those characters desire what friends Mouse and Little Bird are holding.  On the title page LeUyen Pham begins her story with Mouse carrying a milk bottle, a small jar of honey and a basket of acorns.

Drawing them in pencil and digitally coloring her illustrations, Pham shifts her backgrounds for her two page pictures using lighter shades of more prominent colors in her characters and their settings.  Her visuals on the following pages are smaller, grouped together and framed with the same hues surrounded by white.  This technique mirrors the cadence created by the text.

Each item given to Mouse in exchange for a piece of cake is taken from an inclusive detail in the illustrations.  The settings of Chicken, Squirrel, Bear and Cow in which Mouse initially finds them also provide the possibility for each of their eventual problems.  Careful readers will also notice Mouse collecting his own items on the return trip home.  All the elements in LeUyen Pham's illustrations have a purpose relative to her story.

The expression on Mouse's face when Little Bird offers Cow a wire in trade for some milk is hilarious.  It reflects the unexpectedness of Little Bird's suggestion.  This illustration is one of my favorite ones.  It introduces readers to exactly how clever Little Bird really is; setting the stage for the story's marvelous twists and turns.


There is much deliciousness between the covers of A Piece of Cake written and illustrated by LeUyen Pham.  Mouse's kindness and Little Bird's cleverness are a sweet treat certain to brighten any day.  This book is perfect for story time, bed time, reader's theater and teaching children how to tell a story without words using props.  Plus it's sheer genius on the part of LeUyen Pham to title her story with those four words considering their meaning other than the obvious.

To learn more about LeUyen Pham please follow the link embedded in her name.  The chance to win one of her handmade characters is still available.  To view more pages from the book follow this link to the publisher's website. Although this video was made for another project, it gives you insight into Pham's process and passion for her work. (I could not get an embed code to appear.)  Author Julie Falatko presents an audio review on Katie Davis' Brain Burps.

I wholeheartedly encourage you to get a copy of this book from your closest indie book seller.  I got my personal copy from McLean & Eakin in Petoskey, Michigan.  Check with your local library too.

He Says Yes, She Says No (See You In September #2)

Having a reputation for being one of the best sixth grade language arts teachers, she presided over her classroom for decades like none other.  We were too scared not to learn.  Clear as a bell, I can see her standing at the blackboard diagramming sentences with us dutifully mirroring her every line and word.

One day a classmate was spinning a coin on his desktop during a lesson.  Unfortunately he lost control of it.  In a room where you could have heard a pin drop, the clinking of the nickel sounded like the tolling of a gong.  With surprising speed, she pinpointed the culprit, walked down the aisle and whacked his desk with a ruler.  Needless to say, the entire room looked like a game of Statues had begun.

I'll wager that most of us have teachers in our lives who are memorable for one reason or another.  I'll even go so far as to say some might have thought their teachers downright dreadful. (My teachers were all wonderful.  Maybe that's why I wanted to become one myself.) My Teacher Is a Monster! (No, I Am Not.) (Little, Brown and Company) written and illustrated by Peter Brown acquaints readers with Bobby's teacher who most definitely looks like a monster...a big cranky green monster.

Bobby had a big problem at school.
Her name was Ms. Kirby.

She screeches his full name, Robert, when he flies a paper airplane, stomps her feet demanding people move as if she is parting the Red Sea and bellows for her students to be quiet once and for all.  Her rule about missing recess for flying paper airplanes in class is the last straw.  This teacher is no lady.  This teacher IS a monster.

Luckily Bobby has a sanctuary on the weekends from all this scariness.  He looks forward to going to the park on Saturdays.  To his utter shock one Saturday, Ms. Kirby is at the park.  YIKES! His fear draws him to her like a magnet.

Careful to keep his distance he sits at the opposite end of the bench from where she is.  As if they are in the classroom he raises his hand.  Ms. Kirby replies that out here in the park that is not necessary.  A polite conversation begins but stalls.

The silence is broken by a stiff breeze sending Ms. Kirby's rather large hat sailing.  Running, quacking (quacking?), climbing and piloting supply the needed ingredients for an astonishing transformation.  Change really is in the wind.


Beauty and the Beast has been a beloved fairy tale of mine for as long as I can remember.  For some reason this narrative by Peter Brown seemed to have similar elements.  Ms. Kirby's response to Bobby's airplane flying is like Beast's response to the rose being picked.  When rules are broken there will be consequences even if the rule breaker does not understand.  The person in charge is or can appear to be a monster.  When common ground is reached or experiences are shared each person, each character, reaches a greater understanding.  Perceptions fade; replaced by truth.

Brown's choice to focus on the paper airplane incident will find a wide audience; the urge to fly these creations is universal.  Comedy is introduced when Bobby raises his hand to speak in the park and with the duck quacking serenade.  Word choices and sentence structure will appeal to the intended audience, striking a beautiful balance in pacing.


I can't help but laugh when I look at the matching book case and dust jacket of this title.  The expressions on Ms. Kirby's face combined with the wide eyes and cowlick hair of Bobby are hilarious.  Both are equally sincere in their beliefs.  For the most part Peter Brown continues to use white space throughout the remainder of the book as he does here to highlight his characters and their interactions.  The bright sky blue seen on the back as well as the opening and closing endpapers is the only exception.

Rendered in India ink, watercolor, gouache, and pencil on paper then digitally composited and colored, the illustrations retain the same color palette on all the pages establishing a sense of security, a comfort level necessary to tell this story.  Reader interest is maintained with the alteration of picture size; two pages, a single page, or smaller visuals grouped on a full page especially when Ms. Kirby and Bobby are speaking to one another in the park.  There is such strength in Brown's illustrations he chooses to have no text on several pages.

Perhaps my favorite visuals are the wordless ones when Bobby and Ms. Kirby initially see each other at the park and when they are with the ducks.  The contrast in these two situations is evident.  No text is necessary.


According to a post on his blog, Pete Brown did extensive personal research prior to developing the final narrative for this book.  This is evident when readers follow the story of My Teacher Is a Monster! (No, I Am Not).  There is a realistic sincerity in all the conversations and situations.  That is exactly what makes this book an A++ winner. Make sure this title is part of your personal and professional collections.  I will be placing this on my Mock Caldecott list.

Please follow the link embedded in Peter Brown's name to visit his website.  This link takes you to an Activity Kit!  This blog post explains the process for developing this book with plenty of artwork included.  This link takes you to a chat between Peter Brown and Julie Danielson of Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast at Kirkus.

Pick up a copy at your local indie book seller.  I got mine at McLean & Eakin in Petoskey.  Or visit your nearest library.

Connection, Curation, Connection #4

Certainly a highlight of this week was reading all the tweets filling our collective feeds with news of the second annual #nErDcampMI held in Parma, Michigan this year.  Don't miss the links so you can share in this day of learning and celebrating the best things being done in education, books and reading.  Also people are reading up a storm posting all those books they love by using the #bookaday hashtag.  Enjoy the collected tweets and updated collections below.  Take time for reading.  Have a great week.

Walter Dean Myers---These are the collected tweets and conversations beginning on July 2, 2014 as word of this wonderful man's passing was spread.


Xena's Wooferlicious Tweets---These are gathered tweets that feature dogs or cats...yes cats; many from authors, illustrators and treasured friends.


Readying Our Spaces, Creating Warmth, Inviting In Our Students---This is a collection of tweets which members of my PLN on Twitter are sharing about the spaces they are designing for their students.  It highlights the extras.


The Household Habitat of Julie---Julie Falatko is an author whose family life is uplifting and joyous.


Author Tips on Writing---This is a collection of tweets about blog posts by authors helping others with their writing.  It is my thought that this can be used in classrooms.


The Wit and Humor of Ame Dyckman II---The author of Boy+ Bot and Tea Party Rules,  Ame Dyckman, provides quirky views, one liners, laced liberally with humor each and every day on Twitter, keeping her followers in stitches and filled with positive vibes. Here is the second collection.


Cyber-Sleuth---Mr. Schu---John Schumacher, teacher librarian, 2011 Library Journal Movers & Shakers, member of the 2014 Newbery Award committee and blogger at Watch. Connect. Read. is the King of gathering resources for his followers' benefit.  This is a collection of his tweets.


Ivan-A Gorilla-A Mighty Silverback---January 2012 welcomed a new book by Katherine Applegate, The One and Only Ivan.  A work of fiction, based upon the real Ivan living in Zoo Atlanta, impacted the reading community as only a powerful story can. On Monday August 21, 2012 Ivan passed away. This is what happened on Twitter then and now.

See You In September #1

I've been collecting some new titles with a common theme; stacking them up hoping to do a top ten post combining them with past favorites.  Two things made me decide to do a separate post for each one; they are all special in their unique story line and signature illustrations plus this tweet appeared in my feed yesterday.

#bookaday Dinosaur vs. School by @bobshea http://t.co/xlWiHXKScf. Roar! Roar! Roar! This book wins!
— John Schu (@MrSchuReads) July 10, 2014

For the next few weeks get ready to read about fun-filled new titles set within and outside the walls of schools and classrooms.

Did you see a flash of red?  Did you hear an earth-shattering sound?  Did you catch a whiff of victory in the air?  If so you must be in the presence of Bob Shea's boisterous bundle of get-up-and-go grinning and roaring his way through his latest escapade, Dinosaur vs. School (Disney Hyperion Books).

ROAR!
I'M A DINOSAUR!

Clad in plaid our bold hero is off to school for the first time.  Even though you would hardly label him as shy, he isn't quite sure if he will make any new friends.  Wait a minute.  Yes!

DINOSAUR
WINS!

Next he and his pals head over to the treasure trove provided for pretend, trying on everything to get the right look.  Coming up is crafting at the art center.  (His teacher might need to re-stock her supply of googly eyes.)  Snack time offers more opportunities for creativity and munching on a delicious treat.

Musical instruments for everyone!  It's time to feel the beat.  It's a symphony of sizzling sound.

Pals, dress-up, gooey glue, tasty goodies and home-made melodies are adding up to the winningest day this little guy has ever known.  What's that you say?  Oh.  This is not part of any plan these school chums imagined.  This could spell defeat for our daring dinosaur's future.  Win or lose, they need to choose.


As in the previous titles in this series, (Dinosaur vs. Bedtime, Dinosaur vs. The Potty, Dinosaur vs. The Library and Dinosaur vs. Santa, Bob Shea addresses everyday situations with clarity and care.  Boys and girls attending school for the first time can be apprehensive about who they will met, what they will eat, and how they will spend their day.  Shea turns each situation into a win with readers feeling like they can roar their way to success.  His use of the same repetitious phrases from the previous titles provides a comfortable cadence for his young audience; like spending time with a best friend.

Red, bright yellow and shades of blue boldly beckon to readers on the dust jacket and matching book case.  The background of a piece of enlarged lined writing paper pairs well with the theme and the snazzy coat Dinosaur is wearing.  Take note and laugh out loud at Dinosaur's lunch box; these tiny details add to the overall distinction of this title.  On the back Bob Shea highlights a lively group of students laughing together.  Opening and closing endpapers in the hoped-for argyle pattern foreshadow the story's end.  On the title page all the characters are introduced to readers resting in colorful squares before they begin their school day.

A kaleidoscope of hues heightens the spirited classmates enjoying every activity.   A checkered pattern and real objects add variation to the vivid backgrounds.  Once Dinosaur is in the classroom Shea introduces each challenge with a line of one or more friends following him, ready to participate.  Given all the happiness and smiling faces in the first five portions of Dinosaur's day, it makes for perfect comic contrast when the final request is asked.  The expressions on the little cat, fox, pig, cloud, horse and Dinosaur are hilarious.

One of my favorite illustrations is of Dinosaur and his classmates gathering their musical instruments and playing them.  The combination of complimentary colors evokes a sense of music.  Shea includes all the words for the sounds each instrument makes as part of his design.


Written and illustrated by Bob Shea Dinosaur vs. School is an exceptional title in an already well-loved series.  Readers and listeners alike will be hard-pressed not to roar along with Dinosaur and company. (I don't care how old you are.)  Who wouldn't want to be a part of a classroom with this guy?

For more about Bob Shea and his other books please follow the link embedded in his name to access his website.

I encourage you to get a copy of this delightful book at your favorite indie book store.  I got mine at McLean & Eakin in Petoskey.  Or visit your local library.

Minion by John David Anderson Blog Tour

Remember thirty years ago when Bonnie Tyler's voice rang out loud and clear singing the lyrics for Holding Out For A Hero?  She sang about what readers of mythology and folktales have always known; people throughout history seek a champion.  People want to believe goodness with always be triumphant over evil.

The line between right and wrong can get very fine; people who are basically honorable can make flawed choices and those thought to be bad can unexpectedly be downright respectable.  John David Anderson created the alternate world of Justicia in his novel, Sidekicked (Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, June 2013); a world much like our own but populated with superheroes, supervillains and their sidekicks.  In the newly released companion volume, Minion (Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers) in another town, New Liberty, no superheroes or supervillains have chosen to make an appearance for years.  This does by no means equal the absence of good and evil.

I want you to know, right from the start, that I'm not evil.  I'm not saying I'm Captain Fantastic, either.  I just don't want you to misinterpret everything that I'm about to tell you.

Michael Marion Magdalene Morn has been raised by nuns at the St. Mary of the Woods School for Wayward Boys having been found as a baby abandoned in a White Castle restaurant.  When he had all but given up hope of ever being adopted a Professor Benjamin Edson shows up one day and three days later Michael is no longer a resident of St. Mary of the Woods School for Wayward Boys. His life with Professor Edson does not follow what people would call the straight and narrow.

First and foremost Michael has a gift, the ability to look people straight in the eyes and command them to do his bidding.  Secondly, Professor Edson, Dad, is a genius creating small black boxes of various sizes filled with technology capable of doing anything you can imagine...really.  This duo, son and adopted father, have made a life for themselves, carefully leaving no real trace of their existence except for a few carefully selected friends.  They have survived by crossing that fine line drifting into the criminal element.

For protection Michael is homeschooled studying year round.  His best friend, Zach, is a henchman for one of the local mob kings, Tony Romano.  Romano is also a business associate of his father.  After a trip to the local mall one afternoon, on their return home, Michael and Zach witness a crime the likes of which New Liberty has rarely seen.  What makes this event even more startling is the ear-shattering sonic boom which announces the return of a superhero, a streak of blue which drops from the sky and returns with equal speed, named by the media as the Comet. The game being played by Michael, his Dad, Zach and the controlling mobs in town is about to change in far-reaching and frightening ways.

Relationships will be tested, the meaning of family will be defined by the actions of Michael, his Dad, Zach and Tony Romano and a chance meeting with a girl named Viola adds a new dimension to Michael's musings about the direction his life will take.  Understand that woven into all the action of superheroes, supervillains, mobsters and the three teens (not to mention several plot twists and turns) is the constant weighing of choices balanced by intention.  Even the final sentence leaves readers wondering, albeit with a smile on their faces.


The writing style of John David Anderson in this title, as in Sidekicked, keeps you constantly on the edge of your seat, flipping through the pages as fast as you can to discover what happens next.  Chapter by chapter he builds his plot, fleshing out his players' personalities, through Michael's voice and character dialogue.  You have to remind yourself to breath during the descriptive battles between those for whom you are silently cheering and those you hope will lose.

To provide understanding to the reader about the relationship between Michael and his Dad Anderson skillfully employs a technique of flashback at the beginning of many chapters blending it with the present.  His perception of how teens think, act and speak is right on target.  You can't help but want the less than good guys but not quite bad guys to win.  What follows are a few samples of his writing from this book.

"Are you planning on taking over the world?" I asked.
"No," the man said.  "That was a joke.  Why? Are you interested in taking over the world?"
"Are you kidding?" I cringed.  "That's like asking to have everyone's problems dumped on you all at once."
Professor Benjamin Edson pounded on the table with hairy-knuckled fists, causing me to jump out of my seat.  "That's exactly what I keep telling them, but they never listen to me."
I said I didn't know who them was.  He said he didn't either.  This man was bizarre.  I kind of liked him.

Villains wear masks because it gives them courage to do something extraordinary, something they might not have the guts to do otherwise.  But heroes?  Heroes wear masks because deep down inside, I'm guessing, they just want the chance to be normal.  That's my theory, anyway.
Personally, I don't trust either of them.

Minion written by John David Anderson is one wild roller coaster of a read exploring what it means to be good and evil.  Even when the last page is read, you will be reluctant to leave New Liberty and the people you have come to know very well.  I, for one, certainly hope this series will continue.

To learn more about John David Anderson follow the link to his website embedded in his name.  To read an excerpt from this title follow this link to the publisher's website.

ABOUT JOHN DAVID ANDERSON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR, IN HIS OWN WORDS:

John David Anderson writes novels for young people and then, occasionally, gets them published. Besides Minion, he is the author of Sidekicked, and Standard Hero Behavior. He lives with his patient wife and brilliant twins in Indianapolis, Indiana, right next to a State park and a Walmart. He enjoys hiking, reading, chocolate, spending time with his family, playing the piano, chocolate, making board games, chocolate, not putting away his laundry, watching movies, and chocolate. Those aren't his real teeth.

To read other posts on this tour please visit:
June 23 Maria's Melange
June 24 The Library Fanatic
June 25 The Next Best Book
June 27 The Book Egg
June 28 Word Spelunking
June 30 Ms. Yingling Reads
July 1 The Book Monsters
July 2 The Book Monsters
July 3 Read Now, Sleep Later
July 7 The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia
July 8 Candace's Book Blog
July 9 Middle Grade Mafioso
July 10 Librarian's Quest
July 11 Unleashing Readers
July 12 Trisha Perry
July 14 This Kid Reviews Books
July 16 Charlotte's Library
July 17 Literacy Toolbox
July 18 Small Review

A Song And The Freedoms It Fueled

We know words are powerful whether written or spoken.  Dictionary definitions, the context in which they are used, the emotion in the voice of the speaker, shared and individual experiences all contribute to their potential effect.  When a melody is attached their capacity to bring about change, champion a cause, or unify a nation knows no limits.

Unless you were alive in 1831 it's probably hard to pinpoint when America, words penned by Samuel Francis Smith, was assimilated into your mind's cultural repertoire.  It stands to reason it was probably first heard in an elementary school music class.  For other individual groups throughout history it gave voice to their beliefs.  My Country 'Tis of Thee: How One Song Reveals the History of Civil Rights (Henry Holt and Company) written by Claire Rudolf Murphy with illustrations by Bryan Collier explores the value of a single song; its place on the timeline of change in the United States.

More than any other, one song traces America's history of patriotism and protest.

On the other side of the Atlantic, another set of words was assigned to the tune of God Save The King back when men were fighting to acquire supreme power in Britain.  Verses were added to reflect the victories in these battles.  As British colonists settled in America, the song followed.

A brave preacher, George Whitefield, spoke of freedom for all men.  Revolutionaries sang out a call to arms and a wish for victory.  On Inauguration Day in 1780 for George Washington words proclaimed praise, joy, and glory.

Despite calling for inclusion women did not share in the same freedoms as some men; an unnamed female author penned a verse of objection.  Fourth of July celebrations came and went but our nation had no anthem.  Samuel Francis Smith wrote four verses to be sung in 1831 by a church choir in Boston.  Regardless of his efforts, America was not chosen based on the tune's historical origins.

Slaves sang their own words.  Union soldiers sang their own words.  Confederate soldiers sang their own words.  Verses of jubilation shook the leaves on the trees when the Civil War ended.  

Conditions for workers needed to improve, immigrants were required to learn the patriotic words of the Smith song, women sought the right to vote, and a Native American poet challenged their disassociation as alterations were made and added citing the disparity in the original song's lines.  The Lincoln Memorial provided the backdrop for Marian Anderson's important modifications to the song in 1939 and again in 1963 when Martin Luther King delivered his I Have A Dream speech using a portion of the verses.  Yes...this song is a true reflection of all people seeking the same freedoms especially on the day Aretha Franklin sang it out loud and clear at President Barack Obama's inauguration.

Readers will be interested in the factual presentation of information meticulously researched and available to read in this title.  For each two pages Claire Rudolf Murphy includes a brief explanatory paragraph, the lines of the changed verse and a concluding commentary sentence.  What she chooses to include makes you unable to put the book down until you've read it cover to cover.  This is no dry display of facts but the careful peeling back of layers covering the true significance of this song.

Rendered in watercolor and collage Bryan Collier's illustrations lift each and every event from the annals of history into the present day.  Enhancing two pages of the dust jacket fireworks, the moving flag, a silhouette of a ship moving through clouds, President George Washington and thumbnails of portions of illustrations from within the title proclaim the book's contents.  The exquisite artwork portraying Aretha Franklin singing in front of an American flag graces the book case.  Collier uses people from the crowd among the white stripes. Opening and closing endpapers showcase four verses of the Samuel Francis Smith song in two different visuals.

Each picture radiantly portrays the text elevating it to the point readers feel as though they can step into each scene.  It's like walking through a museum of paintings with carefully placed pieces; each element of the design is critical to the overall effect.  Small oval portraits of King George and Prince Charles are placed over a large antique clock face, an anonymous woman is superimposed on a recreation of the signers of the Constitution, real photographs of girl's faces appear in two different illustrations, and protest signs are mixed in with rows of crops being worked by laborers. 

One of my favorite illustrations is of the depiction of the verses sung by the Union and Confederate soldiers.  A tent stretches out from the gutter.  On the inside folds we see soldiers from both sides fighting.  Worded documents appear on the underside of the folds along the bottom.  Off to the left slaves toil in the cotton fields. 

Not only is My Country 'Tis of Thee:  How One Song Reveals the History of Civil Rights written by Claire Rudolf Murphy with illustrations by Bryan Collier a stunning picture book title for younger readers but any reader.  I would not hesitate to recommend this book for any person to read.  I guarantee everyone will learn something new.  Source notes, a bibliography, and further resources are included at the back of the book.

For more information about Claire Rudolf Murphy and Bryan Collier please follow the links embedded in their names above to access their websites.  Claire Rudolf Murphy is challenging readers to submit new verses in a contest.  Here is a link to the publisher's website to view images from the book.  This links to an interview of Claire Rudolf Murphy in the The Spokesman-Review.  TeachingBooks.net has additional resources on both Murphy and Collier.  Reading Rockets has a video interview of Bryan Collier.

Please follow this link to Kid Lit Frenzy hosted by Alyson Beecher to see what other titles bloggers have listed as they participate in the 2014 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.