Blog #3

Blog: School Library Journal
Title: The Textbook Problem
My Comment: I think the textbook is an interesting topic. I think the obvious difference between a story and a textbook is that a textbook is there for learning about something, while the story has a plot going on and different elements in the same book that work with one another to make the story interesting. However, I don't doubt what the textbook can do to students is powerful. In fact, I somewhat view textbooks with different elements that make up one big story that not only includes tools that will help students with their education journey, but it will also help them learn about our world. Each subject will include a certain element(s) but I feel that it is ok. For history textbook, it could be considered one big story by different plots and persepctives. For science and math it explains how something is done. A geography textbook can give the setting (and yes, history textbook can as well). They all have different elements but have the same purpose of teaching kids. Yes, textbooks may be wordy and long and your teacher may want you to read it by next class, but I think it really helps the students a lot.

Blog #2

Blog: The PlanetEsme Plan: The Best New Children's Books from Esme's Shelf
Title:WHEN I GROW UP (NONFICTION)
My Comment: Hello! I really love your blog. I definitely agree about showing children different jobs other than the norm. Being a lawyer or a doctor is really cool, but there are other jobs than that.I think it is a wonderful way to expand children's horizons and future. Children have the right to look at the different choices around them. If they are really interested in something, love it and feel the most happy with it, then I say they should follow their dreams and these books gives them the opportunity. I will definitely remember these books when I become a teacher, in order to show them that their dreams are not impossible, and that these different jobs, no matter how different they are, they each have their own uniqueness. Children do not have pick only one job that is "normal" Heck! There is no such thing as a "normal job".

Blog #1

Blog: Miss Rumpius Effect
Title:Are Children's Books So Cut and Dried?
My Comment: That was an interesting article that you talked about and I agree with you. I think it's hard to classify what is good and what is evil. I mean, I guess it's ok for children, but I feel that once you become an adult, you learn more about the world and you begin to analyze literature a little bit more closely when you realized that there is really no such thing as an absolute good nor an absolute evil. You can't really go back to what you thought like when you were a child. You can't really assume something and classify something as good or bad because one not see the whole picture. And hey! "Evil people" can be "weak-kneed". It's a sticky situation, but one can question why we have that distiction of good and evil presented to kids in the first place. Yes, it may be for the drive and motivation of the story, but one has to wonder why you have to classify some characters as the absolute hero and the absolute villan.

Fruits Baskets

Title: Fruits Baskets
Author: Natsuki Takaya
Illustrated: Natsuki Takaya
Published: TokyoPop, Japan
Date: February 10, 2004
Summary: Tohru Honda was an orphan when one day fate kicked her out of the house and on to land belonging to the mysterious Sohma family. After stumbling upon the teenage squatter, the Sohmas invite Tohru to stay in their house in exchange for cooking and cleaning. Everything goes well until she discovers the Sohma family's secret, when hugged by members of the opposite sex, they turn into their Chinese Zodiac animal!
Age Level: Young Adult (14 and up)
Strengths: This is a very funny story because of its characters. The main character, Tohru is a happy girl and at first lived in a tent. Her mother died when she was in junior high but she always had a happy attitude about the things around her. What is interesting is that not only is the dialogue a good way to see what the character's personalities are like, you also have some of their thoughts. At first, Tohru's thoughts are in a square like frame, either alone, or on the same image without the frame around it. Soon, the series transfers from Tohru's thoughts to the other character's thoughts. I like how the Souhma's family (the family that Tohru is living with) all has different personality traits that resembled the animal they turn into. For example, legend says that there was a great feast for the zodiac animals. The rat told the cat that the feast was held on another day, and so the cat didn't come. It said that the cat never forgave the mouse and was angry ever since (because he was alone). Kyo Souhma turns into "the cat" from the story when hugged and he is very closed up, angry, and yells at everyone he knows. He especially hates Yuki, who turns into a rat when hugged. Yuki is more calm and quiet. Kyo always challenges him and says that he will beat Yuki one day (in karate). Though these characters represent their animals, there is more to them than meets the eyes. They each have a different but intense past, and different emotions that conflict with themselves. At the end of the series, you learn that they really craved freedom from not only the curse they had, but also free from themselves and others who have tried to put them down.
Concerns: In this graphic novel, every picture is in black and white. In the images, it looks like Tohru has blonde hair, when she actually has brown hair. Some teenagers might get confused with this difference and may perceive Tohru with blond hair instead of brown because it is not shaded in the story.
Comments: This a funny but also a serious story about finding yourself and how one girl miraculously showed the Souhma family about confidence, courage, accepting yourself and love. Once again, there may be curse words and this graphic novel may not be suitable for kids under 14.

Inuyasha

Title: Inuyasha
Author: Rumiko Takahashi
Illustrated: Rumiko Takahashi
Published: VIZ Media LLC (First originated from Japan)
Date: 2001
Summary: Transported back to Japan's feudal era, high school student Kagome accidentally releases the feral half-demon dog boy Inu-Yasha from his imprisonment for stealing the Jewel of Four Souls.
Age Level: Young Adult (14 and up)
Strengths: This graphic novel is called a manga (which is Japanese cartoons, except in novel format). Inuyasha is a very interesting story. I liked how the author used the concept of traveling back in time by going through an old well, into the feudal era of Japan. This would definitely be interesting for people who do not live in Japan because not a lot of people know about Japan and its history, culture and traditions. This story will teach readers a little about what Japan was like during that time and how it's like during the present (because Kagome goes back an fourth between the present (her home) and the fuedal era (where Inuyasaha lives). I liked the dialogue of the story as well because it is the only text that the readers receive when reading this graphic novel. The dialogues are very interesting because besides from facial expressions, the character's words are the ones that show the reader who the characters really are. Inuyasaha at first is angry and tries to kill Kagome. Then when he and Kagome travel together in order to search for the sacred jewel shards, he begins to brag and boast about himself (but he really wants some actions and kill evil demons). Then he lightens up as the series continues because he falls in love with Kagome (but the problem is, he was in love with another person named Kikyou and hasn't forgotton her). He starts to talk soft, and the reader knows he really likes Kagome (which, by the way, is the reincarnation of Kikyou). The framing is also very interesting because it's the frames that represents the actions being carried out. If Inuyasha is fighting with a demon, the frames will slant and change from neat and orderly, to big a rigid.
Concerns: There are many things that may be a little inappropiate for younger children. There may be some cursing as well. Also, the demons in the book are weird looking and a little scary, not to mention a love triangle between Kagome, Inuyasha and Kikyou. There are a lot of deep emotions as well that make this not only fantasty like but powerful. What I didn't like about this story was that it went on for a very long time! The author started this in 2000 (or 1999) and it was completed in 2008. It's a very long series.
Comments: Once again, this is for young adults and may not be appropiate for children. Though it has a lot of sub plots witihn the story, it does have great action, romance and yes, comedy!

Jeremiah Learns to Read

Title: Jeremiah Learns to Read
Author: Jo Ellen Bogart
Illustrated: Laura Fernandez and Rick Jacobson
Published: Orchards Books, New York
Date: 1997
Summary: Elderly Jeremiah decides that it's finally time to learn to read.
Age Level: Primary (Kindergarten-2)
Strengths: I like how at the beginning of the story, the text tells the reader that Jeremiah knew how to do a lot of things, but he didn't know how to read. It bothered Jeremiah because he wanted to learn, so one day he went to school, like he was a kid and he learned about letters and words. He loved it so much. And he was teaching the kids and his teachers different things as well. I think this is a heart-warming story about a person who wanted to read and was determined to learn. From this information, the reader can guess that he didn't go to school when he was younger. I think it was cute that his wife wanted him to read to her and he read to her one night about different poems. At the end, she said she wanted to learn to read to. The last page shows Jeramiah, the school kids and his wife heading for school. I like how the pictures goes in depth with the characters experessions (it's almost like still life).
Concerns: I wonder what the time period was of this story and I wonder why Jeramiah did not go to school. It's evident that he lived in a rural area, but they never explained why. This story was told in the present.
Comments: This is a great encouragement book that tells the reader that anyone can learn to read at any age, and if they believe in themselves.

Animalia

Title: Animalia
Author: Graeme Base
Illustrated: Graeme Base
Published:Harry N. Abrams Inc. New York
Date: 1987
Summary: This is an alphabet book which shows many different animals, words and even an author hidden within each page.
Age Level: Elementary to Upper Elementary (3-6)
Stregths: I really loved how not only were each letter had an animal on it, but also the text was unique. It cold be big or small or large or round! I loved how the text used alliteration and used very interesting, yet complex words in order to describe the animals. I also liked how on each page, the reader has to find the author of the book on each page. It is like the "I Spy" series for there is a lot of interesting things displayed within the images. You have to look all around until you see a figure wearing a yellow and red striped shirt and jeans. He has fair skin and blonde hair, but sometimes, he will be hard to see and he will show up in the most unlikely of places.
Concerns: I think this should be students who want a challenge not only in problem solving, but also with vocabulary. A lot of students will not know what some of the words mean. Also, some of the things in the images are a little strange (such as the background). Also, this story has animals doing human abilities such as the vulture playing with a puppet and the lions reading in a library.
Comments: This would be a great (outside of the box) learning experience for those who want to learn more about the alphabet, and more vocabulary.