Really a sweet book in which the title pretty much sums it up. As a music teacher (one who teaches orchestral and band instruments) I'm always trying Really a sweet book in which the title pretty much sums it up. As a music teacher (one who teaches orchestral and band instruments) I'm always trying to find ways to combine other interests with music (sports). This book fits in sweetly but there are two things it needs for it to be perfect.
1. I really feel it would be so wonderful if the author put in some background information. What led them to write this book? Tell me more about the inspiration behind the characters, the team, the story. Historical information. Yes, I can google (well, actually I'm terrible at it), but I always love the author's point of view.
2.. I'm coming from years of experience as a beginning violin teacher, and everyone else will think I'm a bit much. Buuuut.... I can't express the importance of modeling good posture and this book misses that mark. In the illustration there are some issues with bow hold, left hand technique and body posture. Minor, but important when teaching. Also, the illustrator did such a beautiful job, I feel it would have been easy for them if they had a proper model.
*read for OSU's Summer Reading BINGO Challenge, category *about music or a musician*...more
Wonderful retelling of a Mexican Myth. Hal Ober explains his source and his reasons for any deviations from the myth, while wife Carol Ober (the illusWonderful retelling of a Mexican Myth. Hal Ober explains his source and his reasons for any deviations from the myth, while wife Carol Ober (the illustrator) takes two trips to Mexico for her inspirations of art. Taking pictures of artifacts, using books, and even taking classes to inspire her illustrations, the art is a wonderful representation of ancient art in Mexico. Thus giving Hal a wonderful backdrop to his story. ...more
So I caught the full version of this in a collection of Disney shorts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvAJK... I loved it, especially the creator's (SanSo I caught the full version of this in a collection of Disney shorts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvAJK... I loved it, especially the creator's (Sanjay Patel) story of how the short came to be. So I was super excited to see this book written by the same person. I love learning about other cultures, their beliefs, and their religions. I hope to find more Hindu stories to read. I do have Ramayana, but it looks like the translation is choppy....more
This is a well researched sample of multicultural children's literature. The story is entertaining that children can relate to and laugh with. And theThis is a well researched sample of multicultural children's literature. The story is entertaining that children can relate to and laugh with. And there is a glossary at the end with pronunciation. ...more
What a great book to start off African American History Month. I love this month, I never fail to learn something new in the history of such an amazinWhat a great book to start off African American History Month. I love this month, I never fail to learn something new in the history of such an amazing culture. I have never heard of Henry "Box" Brown before and this is a lovely telling of his story. Perfect for music class. Includes an informative author's note, including excerpts from a letter written by the man who received Henry. ...more
I have another book by this author/illustrator duo on my to read list that I haven't been able to get at the library yet, so when I saw this one thereI have another book by this author/illustrator duo on my to read list that I haven't been able to get at the library yet, so when I saw this one there, I snatched it up.
Wonderful for black history month, I think this would work for any elementary age. It's a story of Rosa and her mother leaving the plantation in the middle of the night to learn how to read. Very dangerous since slave masters did not want their slaves to learn and slaves were often punished for learning.
The author did some background research and the illustration fits very well with the tone of the story as well as being historically accurate (clothing), and facial features varying....more
Story line: Excellent. Children will relate to Jenny's dilemma. Her favorite Uncle is getting married and she's upset that his new wife will tAges 4-8
Story line: Excellent. Children will relate to Jenny's dilemma. Her favorite Uncle is getting married and she's upset that his new wife will take him away from her. The plot will hold interest.
Author: Excellent. Writes about own culture.
Illustrator: Excellent. Clothing, facial characteristics reflect culture. Skin tone variations, and variations within variations.
Text Accuracy: Excellent. Culture is clearly represented. Words and popular phrases are integrated within text. Rich in details of the Chinese wedding celebration.
Highly recommend for representation of Chinese culture. Would be great for a unit on wedding celebrations/rituals throughout the world....more
Wonderful book to be used with Hispanic culture and music, specifically Celia Cruz.
Plot line: Average. There is very little plot. A girl goes around cWonderful book to be used with Hispanic culture and music, specifically Celia Cruz.
Plot line: Average. There is very little plot. A girl goes around carrying her favorite record calling for Celia to sing. While she listens to the music, the little girl talks about how Celia's music makes her feel.
Author: Excellent. The author is writing about a singer that she feels very close to.
Illustrations: Excellent. Variations in skin tone, hair, hair styles, and facial features. Also variations in clothes.
Text Accuracy: Excellent. Culture represented is clear. Words and phrases represent the culture as well as the person the book is about. A nice glossary in the back helps explain the Spanish words used in the book.
Perfect book to use in class not only for Celia Cruz's music, but the text also discusses flamenco, guaguanco, rumba, and la salsa which would lead into the listening to the music and possibly learning the dance steps to these dances....more
Nzambi Mpungu is creating the animals, she took all day to make the elephant and by night she is too tired to finish her next creation, so she tells cNzambi Mpungu is creating the animals, she took all day to make the elephant and by night she is too tired to finish her next creation, so she tells crab to come back the next morning for a head. Crab goes to all the other animals bragging about the fine head that he will recieve and invites the other animals to Nzambi's the next morning to watch. Nzambi sees how proud crab is and decides that crab is just fine the way she is.
I love these fables of how animals became the way they are.
While this book would be an excellent introduction to the animals in Africa, and a fair intro to an African culture. It's not a great multicultural book. There is nothing in this for us to understand the culture of the Bakongo people of Zaire.
A fine story, not a good representation of a culture....more
The book recommends this for ages 8-12. I tend to agree it's a bit much for younger children, but the poetry and pictures are great for much older ageThe book recommends this for ages 8-12. I tend to agree it's a bit much for younger children, but the poetry and pictures are great for much older ages. Unfortunately, since it's printed in picture book format, older students won't want to read it. The other complaint I have is with the printing. I don't think this is the poet's fault, but the editors. In my opinion, you either print poems with "/'s" for a break in passage all the way through, or you use line change/not both it's a little confusing to the rhythm of a poem.
The poetry itself is lovely and eerie at times. I really love how the words came together to convey a lot of information. ...more
Good picture book on Larry Doby with a nice "Historical Note" section where readers can learn more about the setting of the time between blacks and whGood picture book on Larry Doby with a nice "Historical Note" section where readers can learn more about the setting of the time between blacks and whites. Aside from the picture of Gromek and Doby hugging, I was slightly disappointed in the illustrations. While it looks like clothing might have been historically researched, I found the diversity of peoples lacking. Many characters seemed to be the same person drawn again, just smaller for the children. Very little variations....more
Grades: 3-7 I know picture books aren't really the thing for older students, but there are some topics here that I don't feel comfortable trying to expGrades: 3-7 I know picture books aren't really the thing for older students, but there are some topics here that I don't feel comfortable trying to explain to a younger audience. This is MY opinion, read the book for yourself and make your own judgment. Given the story and the colorful sounds, it's enough to keep older kids interested and talking about the issues of racism, the arts, and integration. Plus it's a good intro to Black History Month, Josephine Baker, or arts/sports/integration.
Aside from the story, there is also a nice Author's Note at the end that gives the reader more information about Josephine Baker and her commitment to racial integration....more
This is a wonderful introduction to Fredrick Douglas for young students. It's also a great book for use in Black History month. I love the message of This is a wonderful introduction to Fredrick Douglas for young students. It's also a great book for use in Black History month. I love the message of how reading set him free. Many people say that reading "sets them free", but he meant it quite literally. Unfortunately, it's just too short for such a great man. ...more
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