"The Lorax"

Seuss, Dr. (1999). The Lorax. New York: Random House.

I enjoyed this story. I think it presents a compelling message that resonates even today, and it is done in such a way that children readily understand the point he is trying to make. It is didactic in the sense that it is intended to teach children what happens when greed overpowers good sense and people use all of the natural resources without thought to the future. I think there are didactic books today. Books, especially fiction books, are a wonderful way to teach children lessons in a fun way, so that they do not realize they are learning. A few examples are:

Hoobler, Dorothy and Tom. (2002). Earthsong. Brookfield, Conn.: The Millbrook Press.

Child, Lauren. (2001). What planet are you from, Clarice Bean? Cambridge, MASS.: Candlewick Press.

Cherry, Lynne. (1990). The great kapok tree. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace & Company.

Cherry, Lynne. (1992). A river ran wild. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers.

These are just a few examples of children's books that could be considered didactic. Admittedly they may be as subtle as the Lorax, but they are good books with wonderful messages.

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"The Cat in the Hat"

Seus, Dr. (1957). The cat in the hat. New York: Random House.

I always enjoy this book, every time I read it. I never noticed the language or the tension between doing the right thing and playing. Re-reading it as an adult it is easier to pick up on these things. I think the book does apeal to children today. Children are always tempted to disobey their parents, especially on rainy days when they are cooped up in the house. I cannot think if a single book, either from recent years or from the time of The Cat in the Hat, that could compare to it in any way.

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"The Lion, the whitch, and Wardrobe"

Lewis, C. S. (1950). The lion, the whitch, and the wardrobe. New York:HaperCollins Children's Books.

I really enjoyed this book. The story is about four children, Susan, Peter, Lucy, and Edmund. During World War II they are sent into the country for safety. While there they discover a magic wardrobe that leads them to the hidden realm of Narnia. After many adventures they becomes Kings and Queens of Narnia. I had actually read it before the movie came out, so I knew what to expect going in. I actually kind of dreaded watching the movie, as I was afraid the movie people would butcher it as they do so many adaptations. However, the movie was extremely close to the book. There were only one or two differences and the were very minor and unimportant. I think the movies was an excellent adaptation of the book, and they go really well together.

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"Hoot"

Hiaasen, Carl. (2002). Hoot. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

I loved this book. Once I picked it up I could not sit it down for anything. This book is about a boy who moves all over the US with his parents. Finally they settle in Florida. There he makes few friends, until he sees a “barefoot kid” running by the bus. He follows him a few times and is eventually able to befriend him. The kid tells him of the plight of these tiny owls that burrow into the ground. In the process of trying to save the owls from death due to construction of the area, he befriends the boy and his sister. They manage to save the owls in the end.

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Caldecott vs. Newberry

What is the difference between the Caldecott Award and the Newberry Award? Is one better than the other? These are very important questions to consider as a Library Media Specialist. According the the text, Essentials of Children's Literature, the Caldecott Medal is awarded to the "most distinguished picture book for children published in the previous year" (Lynch-Brown & Tomlinson, p14). The Newberry Medal is awarded to the "most distinguished contribution to children's literature published in the previous year" (Lynch-Brown & Tomlinson, p14). In other words the Caldecott is given to outstanding picture books while the Newberry award is given to, presumably, chapter books.
I don't think that one is more important than another, as they are awarded for different things, and in different categories. That would be like saying that chapter books are more important than chapter books or visa-verse.

Lynch-Brown, Carol & Tomlinson, Carl M. (2005). Essentials of children's literature. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

"Surviving the Applewhites"

Tolan, Stephanie S. (2002). Surviving the Applewhites. New York: Scholastic, Inc.

I loved this book. It is not often that I am unable to put down a children's book, but this was one of them. The story focuses on a teenage boy whose parents are in prison and after exhausting the foster homes in his home town, he ends up with his grandfather in Traybridge. After getting expelled from the middle school he had run out of option. His only choice, besides juvenile detention is to join the Applewhites academy, a home school program of independence. In the course of his education he is finally able to discover who he really is, and where his talents lie.

I think this is a wonderful story about a boys discovery of himself and who he is. It is very well told with kid freindly language. I would recomend this book to both children and adults.

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"pictures of hollis woods"

Giff, Paticia Reily. (2002). Pictures of hollis woods. New York: Scholastic, Inc.

I really loved this book. It was a total surprise and very unpredictable. I loved the back and forth between the past and the present, and being left wondering what had happened and what was going to happen. This book is told in a non-linear fashion. It is about a young girl who is abandoned in Hollis Woods, so that becomes her name. After several foster homes that leave her emotionally scared, she ends up with a wonderful family who seem like they may be the last. However, after a horrible accident, she is driven to run away out of guilt.

I had not seen a children's book that was organized in this fashion before. I would have thought that it would be difficult for children to understand it, but everyone I talked to loved this book.

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