Priceless Perspective

To the best of my knowledge author/illustrator Kadir Nelson has been winning awards for the past eight years for his writing and illustrations evoking truth and realism. Beginning with a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award for Thunder Rose written by Jerdine Nolen in 2004 and culminating this year with the Coretta Scott King Author Award and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award for Heart and Soul:  The Story of America and African Americans; at least eight other awards in between.  The name Kadir Nelson has become synonymous with the highest order of excellence.


I have cherished reading such titles as Ellington Was Not A Street written by Ntozake Shange and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, Henry's Freedom Box written by Ellen Levine and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, Moses:  When Harriet Led Her People to Freedom written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Kadir Nelson to name a few but none has touched me as has Heart and Soul:  The Story of America and African Americans.  The narrative completely captivated me, consuming it as one starved for a new view of a history that is America.  Visuals radiantly portrayed what I read but in a very personal perspective filled with an array of emotion.

Let me begin at the beginning.  This is the dedication written by Kadir Nelson.

For my family:  the Reaveses, the Pittmans, the Nelsons, the Hardys, the Wrights, and the Gunters; and for every American family whose invaluable contributions and stories have helped stitch the grand quilt of these United States.

The prologue introduces readers to the voice of an elder African American woman speaking to a child; asking for her attention... to listen, to hear of the good times and the bad times. Their history, the African American history, is America's history. 

You have to know where you come from so you can move forward.

Readers walk with the two through the rotunda of the Capitol gazing at the historic paintings none of which depict any African Americans but the truth is that as long as Europeans have been here so have they.  As the subsequent pages are turned time flows back to the American Revolution moving forward through twelve chapters concluding with an epilogue, the election of the first African American president, Barack Obama.  It is told with a quiet dignity never faltering when disclosing the stark realities of slavery, the thankful rise of abolitionists, the realities of the Civil War and the Lincoln presidency, the dark years of Reconstruction, the settlement of the West to make a new life, the Great Migration north and the injustice of Jim Crow, the uplifting Harlem Renaissance, the struggle for women to vote, the economic woes of the Depression and World War II, African American movers and shakers whose ideas changed our everyday lives, and the Civil Rights movement.

As each successive period is revealed to the reader, many times through a recounting of the life of a member of the elder woman's family, or in the relating of landmark personalities who lead, the perseverance, the pride, the greatness of people such as these is set forth in all its magnificence.  Kadir Nelson as an author has a way with words breathing life into the past bringing it to the present; an intimacy that is astounding.  Make no mistake, everyone who reads this book is that child listening intently.  Here is an example near the end of the chapter, Hard Times and World War II.

When most tank battalions lasted only seventeen days on the battlefield, the 761st, an all-black unit, fought for one hundred eighty-three days straight, longer than any other battalion in the whole war.  They helped win the Battle of the Bulge.  And I'm proud to say that both of my brothers were right there with them, giving it to the Germans.  But would you believe that after all the fighting they did for the country, the black soldiers were mostly ignored?  White units got their medals during the war and were even commended by the president while our soldiers weren't honored until several decades later.

Kadir Nelson's illustrations, forty-eight in total, most single and some double page spreads (not including the front cover), are simply stunning.  The richness in color, the play of light on the people's faces, the captured moments in time combine to create oil paintings with the trick of an eye or the click of a switch could spring to life.  The portrait opposite the prologue page, a younger version of the narrator dressed in Sunday-best, and the cupped, wrinkled hands of her elder self holding a red, white and blue I Voted button opposite the epilogue page speak volumes.

The solemn, Frederick Douglas gazing into the distance as if he can see a future laid before him, Harriet Tubman determined, strong hands grasping a walking stick, against a cloudy sky white birds taking flight in the distance, a young woman her hands upon her father's shoulders teaching him how to read in a small room, piles of cotton on the wooden floor, a school teacher standing on the porch outside her doorway bell in hand, a slight smile playing across her face, workers in a munitions factory American flag hanging in the windows, or courageous children standing strong in Little Rock, Arkansas are eloquent; the very pieces in the grand quilt of which Kadir Nelson spoke. 

Heart and Soul:  The Story of America and African Americans words and paintings by Kadir Nelson is a book for each and every American to read and most importantly to share; a story told by a master in every sense of the word.

An author's note, timeline, bibliography and index conclude this volume.  I encourage you to explore Kadir Nelson's web site referenced above with a link to his name.  In his news he states that the original paintings from his award winning We Are The Ship can be viewed at the Eric Carle Museum beginning February 7, 2012.  What a sight that would be to see.

At the publisher's website you can view an excerpt from the book.

NPR Books, All Things Considered conducted an interview with Kadir Nelson, 'Heart and Soul':  An African-American History on September 26, 2011.  It is well worth reading.

Below is Kadir Nelson speaking about the process involved in bringing Heart and Soul:  The Story of America and African Americans into our lives.

Making a Story

Several weeks ago John Schumacher, librarian and blogger at Watch. Connect. Read, mentioned in a tweet that his students were using an application named My StoryMaker.  This application has been available for several years housed at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh KIDS page.  It is funded by a generous grant from The Grable Foundation.

To begin follow the link referenced above.  Users are asked to click on the button in the center of the book.  When the page opens type in your name and click okay. 

The next page opens asking you to set your goal by first choosing the main character from a series of caricature thumbnails.  Defeat, find, love, make friends, rescue, travel and want are goals that your main character is seeking.  Another character needs to be selected to participate in the storyline.  Then click okay.

The application displays a title which the author can accept or reject.  A glowing arrow at the bottom right corner of the page invites you to continue.  The work space for the first page of the story appears.

Authors can play instructions or start their story.  To begin click which characters, objects, items and settings you want to be on that first page.  Click and drag to move parts of the story around on the page even those which need to move within the story; the dropping of a ball as an example.  To erase click and move the item out of the story to the right.

Characters' feeling, actions and interactions can be altered by clicking on them (character) in the upper left corner and toggling through the options.  To add text to the story click and type below the illustrations.  Or when you pick actions and interactions they are written in the text below. To begin a new page simply click on the arrow just as you did to get to the original page.

Users can move from one page to another by clicking on the images located above in the strip.  To preview your story click the Preview tab; to save and print click the tab labeled End.  Stories, due to space, will only be saved on their server for about a month.  Clicking the clear button will wipe the page clean.  Any time help is needed click on the little animated helper located in the right corner at the bottom.

When you wish to save and print your story you are asked if you wish to share it or not.  When share is selected you are given a "magic" number for accessing your story, the ability to print, preview or start a new story is shown along with that number.  If you do not wish to share your story no number appears; you are done until you begin another story.  It is recommended that story lengths are kept to ten pages or under.

Engaging, fun and learning are a winning combination. Users of My StoryMaker will experience all three plus getting to save and share their work.   

Where Eyes Can Not See

With a shortage of snowfall in northern Michigan I have been craving those crisp, clear, windless days of snowshoeing and cross-county skiing in the woods with my dog, Xena; days when you stop to rest surrounded by silence, only broken by the occasional inviting call of a chickadee or the persistent tapping of a hungry woodpecker.  On those days it's as if life has stopped; resting until spring. Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner with art by Christopher Silas Neal reveals a world beneath that quiet, a world full of comings and goings.

Over the snow I glide. Into woods, frosted fresh and white.

Readers follow a young girl's narration as she and her Dad cross-country ski through a winter wonderland.  A quick glimpse of a vanishing squirrel's tale prompts a question about where he went.  Her Dad replies that he went under the snow; further explaining...

"Under the snow is a whole secret kingdom, where the smallest forest animals stay safe and warm."

Beneath their journey a red squirrel, a shrew, deer mice, a vole, bullfrogs, beavers, a chipmunk, a black bear and a queen bumblebee forge for food, rest for the day or slumber until spring.  The great horned owl like a sentinel waiting for food, a trail of deer tracks leading to a melted patch of snow, an almost invisible snowshoe hare gazing from under a spruce branch, and a red fox listening for a meal, add to the marvel of their travels in this snowy season.  As the moon rises in a starry sky the two make their way toward a roaring fire where a supper of hot chocolate, hot dogs and roasted marshmallows awaits.

Closing this day Mom, Dad and daughter head home where in bed under her blankets the girl dreams of those beings whose world in winter is under the snow.

Kate Messner takes us on a day trip with a parent and child employing text that flows seamlessly as it informs but also brings readers into the realm; it's like you're riding in a coat pocket peering over the top.  With details and a rhythm reminiscent of the most engaging of poetry, we wander the woods in wonder and appreciation.

Over the snow I glide, past beech trees rattling leftover leaves and strong, silent pines that stretch to the sky.

Complimenting her story the mixed media illustrations of Christopher Silas Neal evoke the season, its inhabitants, in earthy hues of chilly blues, dark browns, grays, dusty greens and black with splashes of color.  The liberal use of white space draws readers right into this joyful jaunt as do the endpapers done in a snowflake pattern on deep sky blue.  True to life depictions of creatures over and under the snow invite closer inspection with their museum like quality.

Of particular interest is an interview that Kate Messner conducted with illustrator Christoper Silas Neal about the process he used in creating the art for this book.

At the book's end each animal mentioned in the text is further discussed following an author's note.  A small bibliography of resources for additional reading on winter and animals is included.

Kate Messner and Christoper Silas Neal have created an idyllic title for any time of the year but, like a cozy comforter, perfect for curling up and sharing on a winter's day or night.  Readers, like myself, will be watching with new eyes the next time they explore winter's world, hoping to see what they can see Over and Under the Snow.  I am certainly wishing to see more from these two talented artists.

Twitterville Talk #34

Back in November 2011, School Library Journal's blog, Curriculum Connections, posted an interview, Melissa Sweet:  Her Work Is Play.  Melissa Sweet is the winner of the 2012 Robert F. Sibert Award, awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year, for her title, Balloons Over Broadway:  The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade.

Author James Patterson, on his site, offers his opinion, We Can Get Our  Kids Reading.

And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.  The New York Times Education page carried an article, Mulberry Street May Fade, but "Mulberry Street" Shines On. 

Thanks to Literacyhead for this link.

John Schumacher at Watch. Connect. Read retweeted a link to LitWorld's video, What Would the World be Like if Everyone Could Read? in preparation for World Read Aloud Day, March 7, 2012.

If you are thinking of doing an author/illustrator study on Kevin Henkes, his new web site is just the ticket.

ALA News lists a link to the current YouTube video playlist "Thanks" from a variety of Youth Media Award winners.  Follow the embedded link.


Children's Bookshelf of Publishers Weekly announces that a new movie trailer for The Hunger Games will be aired during the pre-game show for the Super Bowl.  I'm suddenly craving football.

Fox options John Green's The Fault in Our Stars.  I think I might have to see that in the privacy of my own home.  I was pretty tearful for more than an hour at the book's end.  I read it in under 24 hours; and no, I did not forget to sleep or go to work.

View with extreme pleasure the Original "Charlotte's Web" Illustrations, 1952. 

Catch CBS Morning video interviews:  Martin Scorsese on "Hugo":  A very personal film and several others including Brian Selznick, author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, on the Lost art of Automatons alive again.

Fans of Maggie Stiefvater rejoice, she has a new series that it going to be released by Scholastic in September 2012---The Raven Boys.

I am jumping for joy.  There is a new The Hunger Games movie trailer.  Is this the same one that is going to be aired before the Super Bowl? 
Thanks to Children's Bookshelf for these tweets.

Publishers Weekly includes a link to the entire fifteen minute plus film, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore done by Moonbot Studios which is up for the 2012 Academy Awards' Best Animated Short category.  This is another excellent reason for me to stay tuned to the awards, that and all the Hugo award nominations.  I was fortunate to attend a viewing of Hugo today with the entire third and fourth grade classes at Charlevoix Elementary School. Double thumbs up.

The Children's Book Council, CBC Book, suggests a link to a video interview with Christopher Paul Curtis about his work in an automobile factory in Flint, Michigan, writing and his new title, The Mighty Miss Malone.

Scholastic has a group of boards on Pinterest.  I finally got my invitation but have not had a block of time to begin exploring but the boards of Scholastic and others are a visual feast.

Ultimate Titanic is a site constructed by teachers and Titanic historians to commemorate the 100th anniversary.  Thanks to Larry Ferlazzo of Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day...

American Library Association publication Booklist posted Interview with Jack Gantos.  Great questions and answers; good insight into the power of audio books.  Listen to the video of Jack Gantos at the end.

Have a wonderful, restful weekend filled with lots of reading, of course.

Like Father, Like Son

Since the 2002 publication of her first picture book, The Sea Chest illustrated by Mary GrandPre, I've been following author Toni Buzzeo.  Her titles about libraries and librarians have found spots on my personal shelves.
I can not imagine a library under my care nor the shelves in my home, for that matter, not being filled with titles illustrated by Caldecott Medalist, David Small, winning in 2001 with So You Want To Be President? by Judith St. George, and Caldecott Honoree for The Gardener written by Sarah Stewart, his wife, in 1998.  A huge poster of an illustration by Small from The Library written by Sarah Stewart will always have a place on the wall in my home.

To my delight Toni Buzzeo and David Small have collaborated on a title that was released January 10, 2012, One Cool Friend.  Readers will come to realize through the narrative and illustrations that more than one definition of cool is present in this book.

Elliot was a very proper young man.

In fact, unless daily circumstances dictate otherwise, he is most appropriately and usually attired in a tuxedo-like suit, bow tie firmly in place.  On a Saturday morning at his academic, professorial father's suggestion, Elliot reluctantly but politely agrees to attend Family Fun Day at the aquarium.  Relaxing on a bench National Geographic magazine at the ready his father urges Elliot to have fun.

Avoiding the mobs of kids, Elliot is drawn to the hall's end in the aquarium, home of the penguins; so much like Elliot in appearance.  About midday Elliot returns to ask his father if he may have a penguin.  Looking at a display of fuzzy toy penguins, Elliot's father replies handing him a twenty-dollar bill, "Sure".

Without further ado Elliot pops the smallest live penguin in his trusty backpack.  Dialing down the air conditioning in his bedroom to frigid, Elliot and the newly named Magellan begin to bond; skating on an ice rink in his room, visiting the public library, raiding the freezer for food and a swim for Magellan in the bathroom tub.  That watery dip ends in a huge exclamation and a most delightful surprise.

Toni Buzzeo's use of deliberately chosen language to convey the storyline engaging readers with hints of humor and word play is simply perfect.  Elliot will say one thing and his father will take away a completely different meaning.  In a review and interview Anna Boll: Book Review Wednesday:  One Cool Friend-One Cool Contest, Buzzeo talks about the writing process in general and the specifics of this book.  The interview also includes remarks about her collaboration with David Small.

After multiple readings all I can say is the use of pen and ink, ink wash, watercolor and colored pencil by David Small is brilliant.  Soft, warm black and white illustrations with splashes of color, chilly light blues, a lime plaid suit for the father, rosy cheeks for the two, a red backpack for Elliot, green garden hose, a marvelous skating outfit for Elliot, add to the nostalgic feel of this story as does the grand home and furnishings where the two reside.  His sense of humor, his extension of the text, is down right hilarious particularly evident in the characters' eyes.  Other touches such as a child running panic-stricken crab pinching her finger from the tide pool exhibit, the shark watching Elliot smuggle the penguin out in his pack, Elliot's bed filled with toy penguins, the penguin himself animated and happy-go-lucky, speech bubbles around the characters' conversations and thoughts and those oh, so, subtle hints at the unexpected conclusion contribute to the anticipated chorus of "read it again, please, please, please".

I cannot think of a better tale to introduce a unit on Caldecott Medalist David Small, the value of friendship, word play in narratives, or the study of penguins.  One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo with pictures by David Small is as we used to say "real cool"; it excels from beginning to end.

Check What?

Just over a week ago Larry Ferlazzo host and blogger of Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... posted about a new web 2.0 application that is free with no registration requirement called CheckThis.
I have previously reviewed similar applications on this blog, Instablogg, PageORama and Weebly.  Each with their own specific features tailored to fit individual tastes and needs.

CheckThis does have a unique premise, templates for what you want to post.  By toggling through the options a new screen appears for each.

If you just have something to Tell fill in a title, then click on the text body beneath.  Text can be bold, italics, struck through, heading size or normal.  A link can be added or a list that is bulleted or numbered.  By clicking on the green plus sign at the bottom of the text box, additional text, images, video, map, sound, tweets, additional weblinks, a contact, payment or poll can be added.
Images can be added using a URL or uploaded from your computer.  To add a video (YouTube, Vimeo) paste in the URL.  It appears that most of the remaining extras are added by pasting in a URL.

Your Sell template looks like this:

If you desire to post information about a job that needs to be filled the template looks like this:

You can also customize a web page from scratch using those items that appear when the green plus sign is clicked.

In the upper right hand corner are a series of icons with services available to the user of this application.
The first allows for a choice of appearance, a series of ten backgrounds or the option to upload from your computer and a visual list of palettes which determines the title, text, block and page colors.

Users can change the title, visibility (public or hidden) or the expiration (never, one week, one month) by clicking the second, settings, icon.

If you click the preview box you will need to register with your email, name and acceptance of the terms of service as you also need to do when you click the publish box, it did not matter if the visibility, public or hidden, was checked.  The only way I could see that this service could be used without registration is by copying the link formed when you began a page; when you are in edit mode.

Each frame of the web page can be moved from place to place within that page, linked or deleted using icons in the right corner of each frame.

When I did that the following page appeared which allowed me to read about the application, watch the video embedded below, ask for help, read the terms, report problems or link to their Twitter account.  I could also go back and edit my page from this spot.  It appears that to use this service as demonstrated in the video you would need to register but I can still see a use for this in the classroom as long as the URL is saved so that work can be continued.

Meet checkthis from checkthis on Vimeo.

Lessons From A Gorilla

humane:  marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for humans or animals
                                                  Merriam-Webster

January 17, 2012 heralded the release of The One and Only Ivan (HarperCollinsPublishers) by Katherine Applegate and illustrated by Patricia Castelao.  Ivan, a gorilla in captivity, gives voice to his story; simultaneously bringing attention to all animals in like living conditions.  His story should be heard, needs to be heard and will either affirm what your heart already holds or will change you profoundly.

                                      hello
I am Ivan.  I am a gorilla.
It's not as easy as it looks.

This is chapter one in a narrative of the lives of humans but mostly the animals at Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade.  Each of the following chapters have lower case letters written in one word or simple phrase headings.  Whether a half page or several pages each chapter is so full of heart that sometimes you believe your heart can not bear it.

Stella, an ancient elephant and Bob, a dog with no home, are Ivan's dearest friends; he does have Not-Tag a stuffed toy gorilla.  George is the do-everything maintenance man and Julia is his ten-year-old daughter.  Mack owns the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade.

Ivan's words describe the cages in which he and his friends live, their day-to-day existence of performing tricks for the people who come to see what can be seen and of what each remembers, of what each dreams.  We are introduced to the personalities of each of the humans through Ivan's simple assessments, Stella's wisdom and Bob's true but sarcastic comments. But...

                                                                        
A new animal is coming to the Big Top Mall.
How do we know this?  Because we listen, we watch, and most of all, we sniff the air.
Humans always smell odd when change is in the air.
Like rotten meat, with a hint of papaya.

Ruby, the new arrival, is a baby elephant.  Her curiosity, her questions and her reluctant, fearful ability to perform create changes, a new way of seeing, a stirring of memories for most at the Big Top Mall, but not for all.  Stella, lover of moonlight, awakens Ivan on such a night, evoking from him a promise.  This promise goes to the core of his being as a silverback although the how of it seems impossible.

Tragedy hanging heavy in the air, mounting tension and that promise prompt Ivan to make use of his artistic talents, his gift of drawing with whatever materials are placed before him (that he doesn't decide to eat.)  Forming a plan pieced together with hope he creates a puzzle of opportunity that only certain eyes will see.  Principle, protesters, and possibilities merge to mend readers faith in humanity; to plant the seed of compassion for those without words to speak.

Katherine Applegate's brilliant use of language permeates every single page.  Reading like poetry we are compelled to follow the course of a narrative so haunting that it pierces your very soul.  Lips will form laughter, eyes will fill with tears, minds will be shocked and voices will cheer as words clearly, carefully bring readers into the very center of the tale.

Once, however, I was able to enjoy a book left in my domain by one of my keepers.
It tasted like termites.

"They think I'm too old to cause trouble," Stella says.
"Old age," she says, "is a powerful disguise."

Patricia Castelao, based in Spain, provides artwork that adds warmth, realism to Ivan's story.  Although most of the work at her site is watercolor painting I can not be sure that is how she rendered the illustrations in this title.

Katherine Applegate was inspired to write The Only and Only Ivan based upon the life of the real Ivan who spent nearly 30 years without benefit of being with another gorilla.  Now housed in Zoo Atlanta, the real Ivan lives a life in the companionship of other gorillas.  Readers can find out more about the imaginary and real Ivan at the site linked above.  At the HarperCollins site a look inside the book is provided as well as a discussion guide and this book trailer.