A HOME FOR MR. EMERSON by Barbara Kerley

Bibliographic Data

Kerley, Barbara.  2014.  A HOME FOR MR. EMERSON.  New York:  Scholastic Press.  ISBN:  9780545350884

Plot Summary

As a boy, Ralph dreamed of making a comfortable home for himself.  When he grew up to become Ralph Waldo Emerson, he did just that!  Nothing could tempt Mr. Emerson to leave his wonderful life in Concord, Massachusetts, until a fire devastates his beloved home.  A distraught Mr. Emerson is persuaded to seek out a series of adventures that will help him heal, as his loyal and devoted Concord neighbors work to do the same back home.

Critical Analysis

Barbara Kerley delivers a simple and heartwarming narrative of the complex and brilliant Ralph Waldo Emerson.  The story revolves around Emerson’s love for the town of Concord, beginning with his childhood dreams of making a pleasant life through adulthood when he chooses Concord as the perfect place to transform those dreams into reality.  Amusing, little-known details - such as his volunteer duty rounding up wayward hogs around town or his habit of eating apple pie for breakfast every morning – portray Emerson as a friendly, personable character that every reader will wish to have for a neighbor. 

Emerson is described as a welcoming host, who loves to entertain and longs to befriend anyone and everyone he encounters.  An author’s note in the back matter further describes Emerson’s special attachments and generosity.  We read of him ice skating with Nathanial Hawthorne, loaning books to his neighbor Louisa May Alcott, and allowing his good friend, Henry David Thoreau, to build a cabin on his land next to Walden Pond and reside there for two years.  A true neighbor and friend, Mr. Emerson was well loved and respected in his hometown as much as he was by people all around the world.

Quotes from Emerson’s own writings are woven into the text, authentically describing his love for home, nature, words, and ideas.  The text is complemented by literal illustrations of metaphoric ideas, as Emerson “dives” into a stack of books and walks out the other side into an imagined forest or flies over the ocean, urged on by his neighbors, “to run across the sea, and rest and repair.”    These colorful, fanciful, and child-friendly images will appeal to even the very young readers, but also reveal a glimpse of the hurt and pain he feels when his home is destroyed.

Though biographical in nature, this story is not intended as a factual account of the writer, philosopher, and poet we know as Ralph Waldo Emerson.  It is instead a lovely portrait of a contented life, good neighbors, and the joys of homecoming. 

Review Excerpts

“Emerson, who is likely little known to younger students, is brought to life in an approachable biography…An eye-catching, kid-friendly biography that is a wonderful addition to any collection.”  – School Library Journal

"This work about Ralph Waldo Emerson—someone who is probably not known to many children—is a tale of deep love for his home and community in Concord, Massachusetts." –Booklist

"[A] tightly crafted narrative arc that stresses the hope, community and optimism required to create the life of one’s dreams....Emerson’s joie de vivre explodes from the pages.... Jubilant."  -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Connections

• Include in a study of influential Americans
• Read excerpts from the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson
• As an extension, research Mr. Emerson’s well known friends:  Henry David Thoreau, Nathanial Hawthorne, and Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Learn more and see photos of Emerson’s home at https://www.ralphwaldoemersonhouse.org/

Awards and Honors

• A Junior Library Guild Selection
• 2014 Parents’ Choice Gold Award
• NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book
• 2014 Oregon Spirit Book Award for Nonfiction
• Best New England Books 2014, The Boston Globe
• Gold Award Winner, National Parenting Publications Awards
• “Trailblazers” Seasonal Showcase, The Children’s Book Council
• 2015 International Literacy Association Teacher’s Choices Reading List
• 2015 “Must-Reads” Picture Books, Massachusetts Center for the Book

DOWN, DOWN, DOWN by Steve Jenkins

Bibliographic Data

Jenkins, Steve.  2009.  DOWN, DOWN, DOWN:  A JOURNEY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA.  Boston:  Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.  ISBN:  9780618966363

Plot Summary

Gear up for an exhilarating learning adventure as author Steve Jenkins invites you to explore the deepest depths of the ocean while educating you to the fullest with facts, figures, and images about this amazing body of water that covers most of our Earth.  Many surprises await you as you plunge downward towards the very bottom of the Mariana Trench at 35,838 feet.  Reaching this final destination will only wet your appetite, as you will want to take this trip again and again!

Critical Analysis

It is evident from the meticulously detailed text that Jenkins has performed extensive research on the ocean and its life forms.  Ocean zones, measurements of depth and temperature, animals and their descriptive behaviors all contribute to making this a quality informational text for young people. 

The text is condensed and confined to a small section of each two page spread, allowing the illustrations to draw the reader’s interest prior to delving into the technical details of the ocean habitat.  The non-fiction text features truly enhance the reading, even to the very back matter where further information can be found about each animal mentioned in the book.  Every life form is clearly labeled and beautifully represented in colorful and textured torn paper collage.  Succinct yet intriguing headings prepare the reader to use their schema prior to reading on.  On the right side of each two page spread is a measurement bar, which notes how far down you are traveling into the ocean and identifying the oceanic zone you currently occupy.  As you turn each page, the background gets darker, just as it would if you descend deeper and deeper towards the ocean floor.

Bursting with scientific facts and data, this educational ocean adventure has certainly not been “watered-down” for adolescent learners – there is much to be learned and discovered on this journey to the depths of the sea.

Review Excerpts

"In this plunge into the deep, Jenkins displays his usual keen awareness of what is fascinating about biology and imparts it without sensationalism—the facts speak for themselves . . Sophisticated cut- and torn-paper collage-work fit the alien qualities of the subjects well; it’s equally at home capturing the tiered needlepoints of lizardfish teeth as it is delivering an impressive and illuminating display of bioluminescence."--Booklist

“Browsers will be delighted by the variety of species, shown in their appropriate colors although not to scale. Backmatter provides some information about the animals pictured, including sizes compared to a human body or hand, although the bibliography does not seem to include the sources used for those facts. Once again, Jenkins provides an almost irresistible entry into our natural world for the youngest readers.”--Kirkus Reviews

"Jenkins takes his signature collage to the oceans, sinking readers from the surface of the Pacific Ocean down nearly 11,000 meters to the bottom of the Marianas Trench. His style works well here: with passage into each zone (from the surface to the sunlit zone to the twilight zone, etc.), the blue backgrounds shade darker and murkier, which allows the intricate cut-paper animal illustrations to pop."--Horn Book

"Depicted in Jenkins's signature handsome collages, the denizens of each level swim against ever-darkening backgrounds ranging from sunny blue to deepest black . . . The bold views tend to emphasize the weirdness of these little-known species, but the repeated message that humans have much to explore and learn in the deeper ocean is intriguing and inviting."--School Library Journal

Connections

• Use with a  study on ocean habitat and life forms
• Read poetry about the ocean and ocean life to extend learning
• Research a new animal from the text
• Research the Mariana Trench
• Compare with another non-fiction text on this topic that includes photographs

Awards and Honors

• Cybils Award Nominee for Nonfiction Picture Books (2009)
• CCBC Choices Selection (2010)
• ALSC Noteable Children’s Book – Commended (2010)

THE RIGHT WORD: ROGET AND HIS THESAURUS by Jen Bryant

Bibliographic Data

Bryant, Jen.  2014.  THE RIGHT WORD: ROGET AND HIS THESAURUS.  Grand Rapids, Michigan:  Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.  ISBN:  9780802853851

Plot Summary

As a young boy, Peter Roget was quiet and introverted, and had difficulty making friends when his family moved so frequently.  Peter used his quiet time to make lists:  lists of events, lists of knowledge, and lists of interesting words.  This is the story of how the gifted young Peter’s love of knowledge and words led him to create Roget's Thesaurus:  published in 1852 and still in use today. 

Critical Analysis

This fascinating, well-researched book is a true tribute to the genius of Peter Roget.  The narrative story is captivating and informative, but it is the illustrations that steal the thunder and make this a breathtaking, awe-inspiring read.  Each page is littered with words, dutifully organized, and accented with scattered illustrations of partial maps, books, decorative papers, botanicals, and miscellaneous objects of random interest.  Just as Roget was interested in every subject, so this book is filled with numerous little bits of everything.  The biographical text is often organized in list-like form, sentences travelling vertically down the page, as an homage to Roget’s love for “lists in long, neat rows.”  Bundles of words are scribbled, drawn, and emphasized in child-like print, colorfully accented and appropriately clustered by category, a visual representation of Peter’s mind at work as he searches for just the right word in every situation.  The final pages include a timeline of Roget's life, aptly titled "List of Principal Events" and modeled by the very first list Peter wrote as a young boy.

The author and illustrator show true reverence for Roget’s extensive intellect.  Both include notes to the reader at the end of the book, describing time spent poring over a copy of the original thesaurus and marveling at the dedication it took to classify and record most every English word by its meaning.

Children will love this story of a boy who collected words and grew to create a useful tool that is still around today. 

Review Excerpts

"Sweet envisions Roget's work as a shadow box crammed with the wonders of the natural world, adorned with exuberant hand-lettered typography. Together with Bryant's sympathetic account, Sweet's gentle riot of images and words humanizes the man behind this ubiquitous reference work and demystifies the thesaurus itself." -- Publishers Weekly (STARRED Review)

"In brilliant pages teeming with enthusiasm for language and learning, Bryant and Sweet joyfully celebrate curiosity, the love of knowledge, and the power of words."

-- Booklist (STARRED review)

 “Expertly researched and well written, Bryant’s narrative not only details the creation of the thesaurus; it also conveys a sense of Roget the man. . . . An excellent illustrated biography.” -- School Library Journal (STARRED review)

"Encourages a sense of wonder. . . . Myriad visual temptations luring viewers into a fine browsing experience." -The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

• Connections
  Include in grammatical studies of synonyms, antonyms, and homophones
• Connect the classification of words with the classification of object properties in scientific studiesa
• Read other books that pay tribute to words and the English language, such as Max’s Words by Kate Banks and The Boy Who Loved Words by Roni Schotter
• Start a collection of interesting words by cutting them from newspapers and magazines.  Categorize them and glue in a journal.

Awards and Honors

• Booklist’s 2014 Lasting Connections
• Booklist Editor's Choice List—Books for Youth: nonfiction
• Caldecott Honor Book 
• CLSC Young Readers selection for 2015
• Eureka! Honor Award, 2014
• Horn Book Magazine‘s Best Books of 2014
• The Horn Book Fanfare 2014 
• Huffington Post Best Picture Books of 2014
• IRA Reading Today Online Best Picture Books of 2014 
• Junior Library Guild Selection
• Kirkus Review Best of 2014—Children's Books
• Maine Lupine Book Award
• Nerdy Book Club’s 2014 Nerdy Awards for Nonfiction Picture Books 
• New York Times Notable Children’s Books 2014
• Orbis Pictus Honor Book 2015 (NCTE)
• Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal 
• Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2014
• SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Illustration 
• School Library Journal Best Books 2014
• Society of Illustrators Original Art Exhibit 2014 selection 
• Texas Bluebonnet Master List for 2015-16 

THE CROSSOVER by Kwame Alexander

Bibliographic Data

Alexander, Kwame.  2014.  THE CROSSOVER.  New York:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  ISBN:  9780544107717

Plot Summary 

This novel-in-verse tells the story of Josh Bell, a middle schooler and basketball star, who is trying to find his way through the ups and downs life sends his way.  Through verse, we experience Josh’s roller coaster of emotions as he deals with the complexities of middle school, his dad’s sudden health issues, eavesdropping on his parents’ arguments, and jealousy for the things his twin brother has.

Critical Analysis

Kwame Alexander does a stellar job at divulging this story’s character, plot, and setting entirely through verse.  With each turn of a page, a new poem reveals to us a little bit more of who Josh is and the daily struggles he faces.  We learn he is a basketball prodigy, but also an intelligent scholar.  He is devoted to his twin brother, but also makes a choice to intentionally hurt him when anger and envy drive him to frustration.  He has a special bond with his mom, but resents the effects of her position as the assistant principal at his school.  He is loyal to a fault where his dad is concerned, wanting to preserve his happiness even at the cost of hiding signs of his depleting health from his mother.

The poems are generally free verse, but unexpected bursts of rhyme are scattered about, non-traditionally placed, which delivers a surprising and impactful rap effect. 

He has the better jumper, but I’m the better

slasher.  And much faster.  We both 

pass well.  Especially to each other.

The frequent use of capital letters, italics, varying font size, and vertical text make the words look as though they are moving across the page, becoming more sporadic and varied as the action rises, for instance, during the midst of an intense ball game. 

The chapters are cleverly sectioned off as quarters in a basketball game, beginning with Warm-Up, going through all four quarters, and ending with Overtime.  Josh, the wordmaster, occasionally pauses the story to define the advanced vocabulary being used and provide contextual examples which give a little more insight into his feelings about the events playing out around him.  Some of the poems consist entirely of dialogue between two characters, one shown in italicized font to distinguish it from the other character’s words. 

What begins as a creative expression of a basketball star’s day to day life quickly becomes something much more serious, as Josh deals with family hardships, middle school drama, and newfound feelings of loneliness, worry, and regret over his choices and their consequences.  This is not a novel you will be able to set down and forget after turning the last page; this is a story that will impact you and stick with you long after the last word is read.

Review Excerpts

"Alexander fully captures Josh's athletic finesse and coming-of-age angst in a mix of free verse and hip-hop poetry that will have broad appeal. . . . This will inspire budding players and poets alike."  —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

"The poems dodge and weave with the speed of a point guard driving for the basket, mixing basketball action with vocabulary-themed poems, newspaper clippings, and Josh's sincere first-person accounts that swing from moments of swagger-worth triumph to profound pain."  —Publishers Weekly

"The Crossover is destined to reach—and touch—readers who never gave basketball or poetry a second thought until now. It’s tough, muscular writing about a tender, unguarded heart."  —BookPage

"Since poet Alexander has the swagger and cool confidence of a star player and the finesse of a perfectly in-control ball-handler, wordplay and alliteration roll out like hip-hop lyrics, and the use of the concrete forms and playful font changes keep things dynamic." —Horn Book Magazine

• Connections
  Read other books in the series, Booked and Rebound, or the graphic novel version of The Crossover
• Perform selections of the text as a rap in front of an audience
• Read other novels in verse, such as The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo or Stop Pretending by Sonya Sones
• Pair with non-fiction books about sports and athletes

Awards and Honors

• New York Times bestseller
• Newbery Medal Winner
• Coretta Scott King Honor Award
• YALSA 2015 Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults
• 2015 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
• Publishers Weekly Best Book
• School Library Journal Best Book
• Kirkus Best Book