LIGHTNING by Seymour Simon

1. Bibliographic data

Seymour, Simon. 1997. Lightning. New York: Morrow Junior Books. 0-5900-3613-0.

2. Plot summary

Seymour Simon's Lightning provides a plethora of information about lightning in our world yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Simon begins with the different explanations have had for the source of lightning through the years. He provides information about lightning's speed, voltage, causes, types, history, and experiments that have been conducted to learn more about lightning. He uses photographs paired with text to explain what occurs when lightning strikes, as well as to reveal new kinds of lightning recently discovered. He highlights Tucson, Arizona and the entire state of Florida as lightning-prone location. Simon concludes by giving advice concerning lightning safety.

3. Critical Analysis

As I read Lightning, I was surprised to run across bits of information that I had never heard of before. This edition of Seymour Simon's book was published in 1997, so I was naturally surprised to find myself learning from a book that was ten years old. Most of the facts I already knew to be true, so I think this book is very accurate for the year of 1997. I know that Simon recently published a new Lightning in 2006, so this edition is sure to have more up-to-date information. Despite its older publication date, this book's facts have not be disproved and I feel like it is accurate for its time. However, if I had the choice between the 1997 and 2006 editions, I would definitely choose the latter for my class.

I was not as impressed with this book's organization. There are no reference aids - no table of contents, subheadings, or index. The book seems to go all over the place, and there is no flow of subject matter. Simon's focus bounces from people's perceptions of lightning to lightning's speed and voltage, to how and why lightning strikes, to Benjamin Franklin, to how scientists study lightning, to lightning's temperature, to thunder, to the different types of lightning, to more types of lightning, to new kinds of lightning, to examples of high lightning areas, to lightning made in the lab, and then finally to advice about lightning safety and possible future discoveries. If this book's organization is in fact organized, I missed it. I think subheadings and re-organization would help - perhaps this was achieved in the new 2006 edition.

Lightning's design is great. I find the cover and design within very inviting. The full-page photos attract the eye and draw the reader's interest. I found that most of the photos complemented the text. I realize that not all of the text's information (for example, the page about thunder and temperature of lightning) could be translated into photographs. Heat and sound cannot be felt in a picture, so a photograph of lightning suffices. I felt like the overall layout was appropriate to the subject matter. The subject of lightning and photographs of its majesty don't really need any fancy graphics or imaginative design to be impressive. They stand alone.

Simon writes Lightning in a very appropriate tone for children and adults alike. He doesn't talk down or attempt to discuss concepts beyond our reach. Simon is pretty objective and straightforward in his writing: "Lightning sometimes strikes the ground and tunnels downward into the soil. The intense heat of the electricity fuses the sand particles together into the shape of the bolt's path." While Simon's gives descriptions of lightning clouds and suggests experiments students can do safely at home, I don't really sense a great deal of enthusiasm in his writing. After reading this book, I wasn't aching to read anything more about lightning. If he did have any enthusiasm, it didn't translate to me.

I didn't find any instances of Simon challenging students to think critically. While his vocabulary was appropriate, his words didn't encourage any curiosity within me. Any desire on my part to read more about lightning would be because of the wonder of lightning itself, not Simon's description of it.

While I applaud Simon's objective descriptions and factual information, I wasn't incredibly intrigued by Lightning. This book is worth its weight because of the beautiful pictures and factual information, but it doesn't really encourage critical thinking, curiosity, or further reading. This is a good read, but not a must read.

4. Review Excerpts

"Simon's simple yet dramatic description of lightning as a "river of electricity rushing through an ocean of air" sets the tone for this excellent photo-essay. The subject is exciting, the information is amazing, and the full-color photographs are riveting, each spectacular picture more exciting than the last. Simon's explanations are concise but thorough. He includes plenty of information for student researchers--incredible statistics about lightning strikes and storms, explanations of different types of lightning (including some recently discovered ones), and information on how lightning occurs and is studied by scientists. There are also some intriguing anecdotes to add texture to the facts. The book will be a valuable addition to science classrooms and library collections serving a variety of age levels. Even students older than the target audience will enjoy browsing the wonderful pictures..." - Booklist

"A purple-hued cover photo attracts readers to this fascinating topic. The stunning, vibrantly colored photographs help to explain the text, illustrating points such as the differences between the three kinds of lightning. Short, simple sentences make this topic accessible to younger readers but do not talk down to older report writers. Simon emphasizes precautions about lightning (for example, "If you are in water, get out as soon as possible"). He also lists safe places to be if you are caught out in the open during a lightning storm...outstanding photos make Simon's book a striking selection." - School Library Journal

5. Connections

Related Books:

Seymour, Simon. 2002. Danger! Earthquakes. New York: Seastar Books. 1-5871-7140-6.

Seymour, Simon. 1992. Storms. New York: Mulberry Books. 0-6881-1708-2.

Seymour, Simon. 1999. Tornadoes. New York: Morrow Junior Books. 0-0644-3791-4.

KEESHA'S HOUSE by Helen Frost

1. Bibliographic data

Frost, Helen. 2003. Keesha's House. New York: Frances Foster Books/Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 0-3744-0012-1.

2. Plot summary

Keesha's House relates the intertwining story lines of Keesha, Stephie, Jason, Dontay, Carmen, Harris, and Katie. Each character battles with something in their lives. Keesha has an alcoholic father, Stephie is pregnant as a high school junior, Jason is struggling between choosing college football or providing for his pregnant girlfriend, Dontay fights the foster care system, Carmen struggles to stay out of jail and away from alcohol, Harris is rejected by his family because he's homosexual, and Katie is angry with her mother for siding with her abuse stepfather. Through free verse, Helen Foster tells the story of these teenagers' struggles as they face adversity in their lives and find refuge in Keesha's house.

3. Critical Analysis

A story rich with meaning and poetic quality, Keesha's House sends forth a message of understanding, compassion, faith, love, and acceptance. This verse novel engages the reader in the worlds of six different high school students as they face adversity in their lives. Some battle the addiction of alcohol, while others battle the abusive lifestyles of their parents. One boy attempts to understand his place as a homosexual in a straight world as a girl becomes frightened and feels lost after discovering that she is pregnant. Two other children are alone in the world, and must take care of themselves because their parents are incapable. Helen Frost expresses each child's thoughts in poem form and intertwines their stories as their lives change.

Helen Frost's poetry in Keesha's House is outstanding. Each poem is written from the point of view of the child as they struggle with their lives. In a note in the back matter, Frost writes that she used the sonnet and sestina forms in this book, but that she played with rules every now and then. Ultimately, she notes, the characters had the final say in where the poem went. The language is not difficult to understand, but Frost keeps it interesting by giving each character a style of speaking. Similar to The Babysitter's Club series, the reader becomes familiar with how each character speaks and writes so that at times, it isn't even necessary to read their name at the beginning of the passage.

Each child's story is an eye opener. We learn more about the downfalls of the foster care system through Dontay, we experience jail time and the draw of alcohol through Carmen, we see the effects of abuse, rejection, and alcoholism through Keesha and Katie, we feel the fear of the unknown when Stephie gets pregnant, we are torn between possibilities and responsibilities as Jason decides between Stephie and a college career in football, and we are shocked as Harris is thrown out and rejected by his father because of being gay. As we read, we become each child's confidant. This role allows us soak in their experiences and feel like we are right there.

Perhaps the greatest message that this book relays is that of acceptance and compassion. Keesha's house is a place where everyone is welcome no matter who they are and what is going on in their lives. In Keesha's house, every character finds solace and a bit of home at some point in their own story. I think that Keesha's house represents what we as people should be: accepting, loving, giving, and understanding of all humankind.

This book is a must-read for many reasons. The poetry is so real and natural that one could finish the book without even realizing they were reading poetry! The reader also learns a great deal about the difficulties each character went through. For a student who has never experienced these particular adversities, this book is a great opportunity to be in someone else's shoes who has. It also provides examples of how poetry can be used to express emotion and thoughts as well as tell a poignant story. Students in middle school would profit greatly from reading Keesha's House, not only for its poetry but also for its message.

4. Review Excerpts

"It sounds like a soap opera, but the poems that recount these stories unfold realistically. Revealing heartbreak and hope, these poems could stand alone, but work best as a story collection. Teens may read this engaging novel without even realizing they are reading poetry." - School Library Journal

"Interwoven with the angry, desperate teen voices are those of the adults in their lives: caring, helpless, abusive, indifferent. In a long note, Frost talks about the poetic forms she has used, the sestina and the sonnet. But most readers will be less interested in that framework than in the characters, drawn with aching realism, who speak poetry in ordinary words and make connections." - Booklist

5. Connections

Related Books:

Blumenthal, Bob. 2005. A Parent/Teacher Guide to Children's Books on Peace and Tolerance. Victoria, Canada: Trafford Publishing. 1-4120-4259-3.

Frost, Helen. 2004. Spinning Through the Universe. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 0-3743-7159-8 .

Frost, Helen. 2006. The Braid. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 0-3743-0962-0.

BEHIND THE WHEEL: POEMS ABOUT DRIVING by Janet S. Wong

1. Bibliographic data

Wong, Janet S. 1999. Behind the Wheel: Poems about Driving. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. 0-6898-2531-5.

2. Plot summary

Janet Wong uses her words in the book Behind the Wheel: Poems about Driving to express a myriad of circumstances and emotions that deal with growing up and experiencing what life throws at you. From the point of view of a teenager just beginning to drive, Wong uses driving actions such as braking, turning, crashing, signaling, and following the speed limit as lessons for life.

3. Critical Analysis

An inventive book which uses driving to reveals lessons about life, Behind the Wheel: Poems about Driving by Janet S. Wong expresses what it feels like to grow up and learn about interacting with the world around you.

Relying solely on words, Wong uses free verse to express her thoughts on driving and life. Suing her creative license to divide up lines and phrases as she chooses, Wong gives emphasis and meaning to different parts of the poem. Wong often repeats lines that she wants to emphasis such as "You need insurance. / You need insurance. / You need insurance. / Got it?" to get her point across. Wong even puts all of her words together in a paragraph, like the poem "ILMN444."

The content of Wong's poems differs throughout the book. At times it seems as if she is trying to teach the reader something through her poems about driving, such as "Forget kindergarten, / sharing. / Everything you need to know / you learn right here / behind the wheel." Other times, she simply relates feelings that have to do with driving, such as "read the handbook / read it again / read it again / sleep on it / dream those signs / dream / the license is mine." Whether Wong is trying to teach a lesson about life or driving is not always apparent, but there is always something to be learned through her words.

In addition to lessons about driving and life, Wong gives the reader a taste of her family's culture. She speaks of her grandfather's Chinese paper dollars in her poem "Crash" and how 444 is an old Chinese number for death in "ILMN444." These few mentions provide insight into the life of another culture and teaches the reader not only something new about Chinese culture, but also shows that every family - no matter what background - goes through similar things like teenagers learning to drive.

I think that these poems are best fit for middle school children, particularly seventh or eighth grade. Students of this age are nearing the age to drive and will better understand the pressures, situations, and imagery present in this book. Many poems in this book have a depth and seriousness to them that would take a knowledgeable and more advanced reader to fully comprehend.

I learned a lot from this book. I have never perceived driving as being anything else than how I get from Point A to Point B, so Behind the Wheel: Poems about Driving was refreshing and enlightening to read. I liked how it was about so much more than driving, and I connected with many of the stories about beginning and learning to drive. The poetry is inventive and the content is unusual, and you are done reading before you know it. I really liked this book and would recommend it to students and adults alike.

4. Review Excerpts

"Wong presents driving as a metaphor for life. She makes the rather obvious analogy in the poem "Behind the Wheel": "Everything you need to know/you learn right here/behind the wheel./Watch out for the other guy./Keep your eye on your rear./Thank the old lady who lets you in./Don't steal someone else's spot./When you rush to park and end up hopeless, crooked-/just start over." Many of the poems are simply memories of driving-related events, e.g., taking grandma to the store, a first hitchhiking attempt, and dreaming of luxury cars at the auto show. These glimpses are a bit distant, not really enticing readers to slip inside the memories. The metaphors continue throughout the book, often becoming tiresome. In "Restraint," parents are compared first to seat belts, and then to airbags: "...when you mess up-WOOOMPH!-/they're there, like air bags,/in your face." There is the obligatory, somewhat preachy poem about drunk driving, a little too light to have much impact. Not entirely convincing, these poems don't succeed as extended views of life." - Library Journal

"Wong's brief, clear lines will be accessible even to the most reluctant poetry readers, and readers of all ages will be moved by the intersection of poignancy and humor as she describes the thrilling freedom of the car and an emerging adult's awareness that, although she's traveled, her road still leads to home." - Booklist

5. Connections

Activity: Ask students to think of any activity - eating breakfast, cleaning, sleeping, going to the movies - and have them write a free verse poem about it. Collect the poems and make a class book titled "Poems about _(insert activity here)_."

Related Books:

Wong, Janet S. 1999. The Rainbow Hand: Poems about Mothers and Children. Ill. by Jennifer Hewitson. New York: M.K. McElderry Books. 0689821484.

WINTER EYES: POEMS AND PAINTINGS written and illustrated by Douglas Florian

1. Bibliographic data

Florian, Douglas. 1999. Winter Eyes. Ill. by Douglas Florian. New York: Greenwillow Books. 0-6881-6458-7.

2. Plot summary

Winter Eyes is a collection of poems that express all sorts of sentiments concerning the winter season. Douglas Florian writes twenty-eight poems about the atmosphere of winter, what it looks like in the outdoors and indoors, what he hates and loves about it, what you wear during winter, what you do during the winter, and much more.With his paintings and poems, Florian allows the reader to see and experience many aspects of winter through his own eyes.

3. Critical Analysis

Douglas Florian's delightful collection of winter poems, Winter Eyes, is an honest portrayal of the winter months through the eyes of a child. He begins with clear, beautiful imagery: "Look at winter/ With winter eyes,/ As smoke curls from rooftops/ To clear cobalt skies." This first poem, aptly named "Winter Eyes," portrays winter first through sight, then through smell, through touch, and lastly through sound. This is the perfect starting point for Winter Eyes, as Florian uses the remainder of the book to add depth to all of these senses.

One of the endearing aspects of Winter Eyes is that the poems seem to be Florian's childhood memories put on paper. In "What I Love About Winter," he speaks of snowball fights, funny hats, hot cocoa, ice skating, chimneys, and the holidays. In other poems, he writes about sledding, building snow men, doing chores, and being stuck inside because of bad weather. Reading Winter Eyes reminded me so much of my childhood playing in the snow, and I connected with a lot of Florian's imagery.

There are several different forms of poems in Winter Eyes. Florian uses the AABB form, the AABBCC (and so on) form, the ABAB form, and free verse. Florian often pairs his free verse with a painting or makes an image out of his words. I especially love Florian's poem about sledding: "First you budge then slowly trudge your sled to the top and then you speed you sail you whiz you wail and start all over again." This poem is very special because Florian fits his words into the contours of a hill. While reading, you actually feel like you're sledding! In a poem about two snowflakes meeting, Florian uses his words in a design that looks like two snowflakes are colliding. These techniques add an action element to the story and make the poems even more fun to read!

Florian's poems in Winter Eyes are pretty simple and easy to read. He throws in the occasional difficult words such as "ochre" or "umber," but the remainder of the poems could be easily understood by upper elementary students. The language will not be a barrier at all, and I think students will enjoy how he uses words to create images and will connect with many of the winter activities that he writes about - unless they have never seen snow. In that case, this book is a great eye-opener!

Florian's poems add a childhood dimension to his poems, and enliven his words. His pictures of runaway snowmen, animals burrowed underground, the bleak winter landscape, and sheep in scarves provide a charming and colorful background for his poems. For example, in "Winter Wool," Florian never speaks of sheep, but focuses on how much wool children must wear in the winter. His picture of sheep in scarves implies to me how so much wool-wearing has turned the children into sheep! These pictures shed light on these poems and brought a smile to my face.

I really enjoyed reading Winter Eyes. It brought back many childhood memories and made me miss snow (and then not miss it as well!). The poetry was simple and easy to understand, and right on target in depicting winter, in my opinion. I often felt as if I could have written many of the poems because I agreed with them so much! Florian uses a good combination of poetic styles to accurately depict his thoughts and description and keep it interesting. These poems and paintings are a delight to behold, and I definitely recommend this book.

4. Review Excerpts

"Small, quiet poems and pictures capture how winter feels to a small child, especially the physicalness of it, from "sloppy slush" to "grumpy" sun, and the wind "that hustles rusty leaves along." The short rhyming lines are clear and will be easy to read aloud, and the softly toned watercolor-and-colored-pencil pictures show snowy winter scenes, some realistic, some playful. Opposite a poem about the amount of wool to wear in winter, there's a wry picture showing people turning into sheep. There are things people love about winter ("Snowball fights / Fireplace nights"), as well as things they hate ("Frozen toes / Running nose"), and children may want to add their own wintry images." - Booklist

"Winter Eyes does not address seasonal holidays and religious celebrations. The season itself is the celebration; it is alive and ever changing. When winter begins to hold on too long, readers bid adieu and welcome spring in the final poem, "Good-Bye, Winter." Quiet and reflective as the whispers of falling snowflakes and as jubilant as the whizzing of sleds, this book will be as welcome as a warm cup of cocoa after a long day of making snowmen and turning figure eights." - School Library Journal

5. Connections

Activity: Pick another season besides winter and ask students to write a poem in any form about any aspect of that season. Ask them to draw corresponding pictures and put all of the work. They've made their own seasonal poetry book just like Winter Eyes!

Related Books:

Florian, Douglas. 1987. Winter Day. Ill. by Douglas Florian. New York: Greenwillow Books. 0590443860.

Frost, Robert. 1978. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. Ill. by Susan Jeffers. New York: Dutton. 0525467343.

Rogasky, Barbara. 1994. Winter Poems. Ill. by Trina Schart Hyman. New York: Scholastic Inc. 059042873X.

MOONBEAMS, DUMPLINGS & DRAGON BOATS: A TREASURY OF CHINESE HOLIDAY TALES, ACTIVITIES & RECIPES by Nina Simonds and Leslie Swartz

1. Bibliographic data

Simonds, Nina, Leslie Swartz, and The Children's Museum, Boston. 2002. Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes. Ill. by Meilo. San Diego: Harcourt, Inc. 0-1520-1983-9.

2. Plot summary

Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes focuses on five major Chinese holidays: Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, the Cold Foods Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the mid-Autumn Moon Festival. A chapter is devoted to each holiday and begins with a page of background information. This is followed by a Chinese story related to the holiday. Each chapter ends with fun activities, Chinese recipes, and additional information about Chinese traditions.

3. Critical Analysis

Moonbeams is a delightful collection that is informative, interesting, funny, and easy to read.

The authors provide essential background information for each holiday so those unfamiliar with Chinese tradition can learn something new. Each holiday is also accompanied with a story which details how the holiday came about. For example, in the "Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival" chapter, we read "The Story of the Kitchen God" and learn why the kitchen god is overfed by Chinese people. Like the other tales in the book, this story is very readable and intriguing -- filled with dialogue and descriptions. The authors make the stories fun and readers can acquire a good deal of insight into Chinese culture and tradition.

Moonbeams activities bring each holiday to life. Each activity is explained, a material list is provided, and easy instructions are detailed. Those who complete these activities will feel as if they are participating in the traditions of Chinese culture as they create "New Year Prints," "Paper Lanterns," and "Dragon Boats." Activities such as these bring a country that is across the globe directly to your doorstep.

As the stories delight your ears and the activities busy your hands, Moonbeam's recipes make your taste buds dance. These simple recipes provide children and adults alike with authentic Chinese cuisine related to each holiday in Moonbeams. Dishes such as "Fresh Spring Rolls," "Barbecued Chicken Drumsticks," and "Sweet Rice Packages" are easy to make and fun to eat.

The artwork is perfectly suited for Moonbeams. The illustrations are bright and colorful and painted in watercolors. Artistic style which is indicative of Chinese art -- simple, clean lines -- grace every page, leaving readers to experience not only stories and activities, but the art of China as well. Chinese characters are present on nearly every page and lively characters and landscapes emit a spirit of joy.

Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes is a wonderful resource for adults and children who would like to learn something new about a culture together. This delightful collection of stories, recipes, and activities is family-friendly and a great way to learn about Chinese culture.

4. Review Excerpts

"In Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes by Nina Simonds, Leslie Swartz and the Children's Museum, Boston, illus. by Meilo So, each of a quartet of holidays includes a brief background and introduces a bevy of crafts, recipes and legends. "The Story of the Kitchen God" kicks off the section on the Chinese New Year (and the reason behind serving the traditional tanggua, or candied melons); a recipe for Five-Treasure Moon Cakes stuffed with apricot preserves, pitted dates, sweet coconut and raisins helps youngsters celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. Step-by-step illustrations aid in food preparation or crafts such as New Year Prints or Good Luck Characters in this elegantly designed volume." - Publishers Weekly

"Moonbeams is a useful, visually appealing addition to any holiday collection." - School Library Journal

5. Connections

Activity: Have students read select stories and recipes in Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes, and have them complete an activity. Afterwards, ask students what five American holidays they would focus on if they were compiling a U.S. version of Moonbeams. Ask them what recipes and activities they'd include.

Related Books:

Compestine, Ying Chang. 2006. D Is For Dragon Dance. Ill. by Yongsheng Xuan. New York: Holiday House. 0823418871 .

Holub, Joan. Dragon Dance: 2003. A Chinese New Year Lift-the-Flap Book. Ill. by Benrei Huang. New York: Puffin. 0142400009.

Katz, Katy. 2004. My First Chinese New Year. New York: Henry Holt & Co. 0805070761 .

BABA YAGA: A RUSSIAN FOLKTALE retold by Eric A. Kimmel; Illustrated by Megan Lloyd

1. Bibliographic data

Kimmel, Eric A. 1991. Baba Yaga: A Russian Folktale. Ill. by Megan Lloyd. New York: Holiday House. 0-8234-1060-9.

2. Plot summary

Kimmel's retelling of the Russian folktale of Baba Yaga begins with a loving family of two children. One daughter, Marina, is the father's -- the child of his late wife -- and is beautiful inside and out except for a ugly horn which grows from her forehead. Marusia, the other daughter, belongs to his new wife, and is a very hateful, spoiled child. When the father is absent for a year, his wife is very cruel to Marina and makes her a servant for herself and her spoiled brat of a daughter. When Marusia complains about Marina's ugly horn, her mother sends Marina to Baba Yaga, a crazy witch who will surely kill her. Because Marina heeds the advice of a friendly frog, she escapes the witch and becomes free of her horn. Her father returns and throws out his wife and Marusia for mistreating Marina. When Marina approaches Baba Yaga, she behaves very badly and leaves with Marina's horn on her head.

3. Critical Analysis

The element of Baba Yaga that stands out most to me are the illustrations. In my opinion, Megan Lloyd does a phenomenal job with her artwork. The illustrations are colorful, fluid, detailed, and, most importantly, humorous. She shows the characters in action -- moving their arms and speaking to one another. The story could be a very frightening one for a child to read, but Lloyd's pictures make the tale comical and easy to stomach. I would much rather laugh at funny pictures than be scared by a haunting tale and gory illustrations, so I really enjoyed Baba Yaga's illustrations.

I have never read the original story of Baba Yaga, but I certainly enjoyed Kimmel's version of the tale. His words are very easy to read and mesh perfectly with the accompanying illustrations. I enjoy his descriptions: "Her face looked like a bowl of gray pudding." His language is simple and direct, which makes the story funny. This story was very similar to Cinderella: the evil stepmother, spoiled sister, and the absent father. The horn and the evil witch add a new element to the tale, which I found very funny.

Since this tale is Russian, I expected to learn more about the Russian culture from readig the book. Other than the characters' appearance in the illustrations and their Russian names, I really didn't see any other aspects of the Russian culture in the story. The only unusual element of the illustrations is Baba Yaga's house, which sits on chicken feet.

Kimmel's Baba Yaga is engaging and funny, and the comical illustrations make the folktale a good read. However, if one wants to learn more about the Russian culture, this wouldn't be the book to read.

4. Review Excerpts

"This engrossing story is both fanciful and suspenseful. Lloyd's ( How We Learned the Earth Is Round ) burnished, somewhat cartoon illustrations of the rural scene--with such enticing details as a witch's cabin resting on chicken feet--are just right." - Publishers Weekly

"The elements new to this version--the horn, the frog, and a pot with a hole--seem to be drawn from Germanic and Gaelic folklore, but often have a jarring effect upon the story. Thus, Kimmel's version ultimately lacks the elemental power of other Baba Yaga stories. Nowhere is this more evident than in Lloyd's pen-and-ink and watercolor cartoons. Rather than a menacing force, Lloyd dilutes her witch until she becomes merely a nasty old woman. Even Baba Yaga's house and gruesome fence of skeleton bones have been trivialized to the point of ineffectiveness. The proportions of the human characters are awkward, and the illustrations lack an animate quality. Although the use of color is pleasing, only the barest sense of place is suggested. This offering may have use in comparative folklore but, taken as a whole, it does not do justice to Baba Yaga." - School Library Journal

5. Connections

Related books:

Arnold, Katya. 1994. Baba Yaga & the Little Girl: A Russian Folktale. New York: North-South Books. 1-5585-8288-6.

Oram, Hiawyn. 1998. Baba Yaga & the Wise Doll: A Traditional Russian Folktale. Ill. by Ruth Brown. New York: Dutton Children’s Books. 0-5254-5947-2.

Phinney, Margaret Yatsevitch. 1995. Baba Yaga: A Russian Folk Tale. Ill. by Lydian Green. Greenvale, N.Y.: Mondo Pub. 1-5725-5004-X.

THE TURKEY GIRL: A ZUNI CINDERELLA STORY retold by Penny Pollock; Illustrated by Ed Young

1. Bibliographic data

Pollock, Penny. 1996. The Turkey Girl: A Zuni Cinderella Story. Ill. by Ed Young. Boston: Little, Brown & Co. 0-316-71314-7.

2. Plot summary

The Turkey Girl: A Zuni Cinderella Story tells the story of a young Indian girl who tends turkeys for a living. She is poor and badly dressed, and is made fun of by the other children in her village. On the night of the sacred dance, the turkey girl's flock speaks to her and offers to transform her so she can attend the dance. They will help her on one condition: She must return before the sun sets or they will be set free forever. The turkey agrees and attends the dance, but does not return in time to keep her flock. Because she did not keep her promise, her source of livelihood has left her.

3. Critical Analysis

The Turkey Girl is an intriguing tale that adds many twists to the Cinderella story. Pollock sets this story in the pueblo village of Matsaki, which sits in the shadow of Thunder Mountain. Cinderella is the "Turkey Girl" -- a poor child who must herd turkeys for a living. Pollock's use of the turkeys as the girl's fairy godmother is endearing and humorous, and her description of the girl's new robes give new life and depth to the Cinderella story: "...the Turkey Girl stood in a white doeskin dress belted with red-and-yellow cloth. Rare shells dangled from its hem. Colored twine and beads threaded her soft white moccasins." I really enjoyed all of Pollock's twists because they made the story was refreshing and new to me.

Pollock's incorporation of the Zuni culture gives the story a richness of culture and tradition that I haven't sensed before in the tale of Cinderella. The sacred dance, the manner in which the turkeys dress the Turkey Girl, the references to the Sun-Father, Old One, and Maiden Mother, and the language of the Zuni people provide an element of multiculturalism that leaves the reader feeling as if they've learned more about others in addition to reading a good story. Pollock's ending also sends a message to the readers: Keep your word.

Ed Young's illustrations add greatly to the Zuni story. The blurred images and bleak landscapes give the tale a lonely feel, but support the text's message that nature is integral to this story. Some pages are vivid in color while others are very light. This contrast gives richness to the story and gives life to the accompanying text. Young's use of chalk perfectly fits this particular landscape - it is rough but bright, and gives the image a tangible feel.

Turkey Girl is a wonderful alternative to the Cinderella story. It breathes new life into the tale and leaves the reader with a message. I think children would learn many new things from this Zuni tale.

4. Review Excerpts

"Pollock's retelling is steady and solid, and her source is clearly indicating in an author's note." - Booklist

"The colors evoke the Southwest desert; open spacing and broad forms suggest its isolation." - Horn Book

"... Pollock's thoughtful retelling, which itself gracefully captures the Zuni landscape." - School Library Journal

5. Connections

Activity: Have students research the Zuni culture and write their own versions of popular fairy tales using elements of the Zuni tribe culture.