Lincoln
Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (and the country), Reviewed by Vanessa Flores
1.
Bibliography
Krull, Kathleen and Paul Brewer. Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the
President (and the country). Ill. Stacy Inmerst. New York: Harcourt
Children’s Books, 2010. ISBN 978015206639
2.
Plot
Summary
In this picture book biography,
Lincoln makes jokes and laughs throughout any ordeal he faced. As he was
growing up he would work to help take care of his family and worked hard at
reading and learning as much as he could, but after a longs days work he would
enjoy a good story and laugh. As he grew he would make others laugh making it
difficult for those who knew him to take him seriously. When he decided to enter
into politics he lost many races, especially in one where his campaign tactic
was to tell jokes, but when he finally succeeded in winning, the Illinois House
of Representatives was in continuous uproar with all his joking. When he would
see a neighbor feeling down, he would cheer them up with a joke, “It’s a great
day for the race. What race? The neighbor would ask. The human race!!!” Lincoln’s
life went on and so did his laughter even when things were tough he believed
laughter sweetened the news. After marrying, losing two children and going into
war almost separating the country into two, Lincoln managed to keep the country
together through his eloquent talk and humor. At the time he was very unpopular
but he is seen today as one of the best presidents in U.S history today. It is said
he died doing what the loved best, “laughing.”
3.
Critical
Analysis
Lincoln
Tells a Joke is a picture book biography that is organized
from his childhood up to his unfortunate death, with accurate details which are
cited with sources at the end of the book. The illustrations give the reader a whimsical visual
on the time and setting of Lincoln’s life. For example the book has a picture
of Lincolns long legs being hugged by children to show the love the children
had for him while still showing how tall he was. The design of the book’s font that
changes from manuscript to cursive, demonstrates to the reader the difference between
what is said by the author to Lincoln’s own words. The color scheme, of bright,
dark and neutral colors, is used to enhance the appearance of the biography as
well. The color, style organization and details invite any reader to open the
book.
4.
Review Excerpt(s)
From School Library Journal, - "Children will be
drawn in by the straightforward prose, and librarians will enjoy sharing the
book aloud. Innerst’s colorful and unconventional acrylic illustrations cover
the entire page and are the perfect complement to both the text and the subject
matter, making this a standout biography. Pair it with Deborah Chandra and
Madeleine Comora’s George Washington’s Teeth (Farrar, 2003) for a unique look at
two of our most famous leaders."--
From Publishers Weekly- “Readers will smile, too, at this
lighthearted look at Lincoln and the many droll quotations attributed to
him."
From Booklist- "Laughter is not
only good medicine. It can also be a political tool, human motivator, and
saving grace, as the authors show in this upbeat overview of Lincoln's
life."
From Kirkus- "Innerst’s gorgeous,
textured paintings, many of them caricatures, are varied and inventive: When
Lincoln’s great height is described in the text, his head and feet are cropped
off the page. It’s a quirkily specific biography, but, as with Deborah Chandra
and Madeleine Comora’s wonderful George Washington’s Teeth, illustrated by
Brock Cole (2003), it reveals the human side of an American icon in an unusual,
lively and thought-provoking way."
5.
Connections:
Discover other biography books written by
Kathleen Krull along with other authors:
·
Hewitt, Kathryn. Lives of the
Scientists: Experiments, Explosions (and What the Neighbors Thought). ISBN 0152059091
·
Hewitt, Kathryn. Lives of the
Artists: Masterpieces, Messes (and What the Neighbors Thought) ISBN
0544252233
Discover other books about
Lincoln:
·
Meltzer, Brad and
Christopher Eliopoulos. I am Abraham Lincoln (Ordinary People
Change World) ISBN 0803740832
·
Brenner, Martha and Donald Cook Abe Lincoln's
Hat (Step into Reading) ISBN 0590621874
The following activities are
available to use as resources:
·
Learn more about Lincoln through Abraham
Lincoln Research Site:
·
Abraham Lincoln Crafts and Activities for
Kid:
Historical Fiction
Breaking
Stalin's Nose, Reviewed
by Vanessa Flores
1.
Bibliography
Yelchin, Eugene. Breaking Stalin's Nose. Ill. Eugene
Yelchin. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2011. ISBN 9780805092165
2.
Plot
Summary
Set in the time of Communist Russia
under the reign of Stalin, a boy is brought up to praise communism and Stalin.
The story begins with a young boy, Sasha, who is writing a letter to Stalin, in
which he praises and thanks Stalin for all he has. When his father arrives home
after a longs day at work, everyone stays quiet and does not say a word. His
father gathers him up and carries him up to their room, where he listens to the
young boy read his letter, during that time the father hugs the boy and tells him
something that intrigues him, “Anything ever happens to me, go to Aunt Larisa.
She’ll put you up.” This foreshadowed the events that followed that night. In
the middle of the night Sasha and his father were awakened by soldiers who came
in and took his father, and at the same time a nosey neighbor, who reported his
father, came into his room and occupied their room throwing him out into the
cold. He did the only thing he could do, he went to his Aunt’s home just as his
father had told him, but she could not help him all she did was give him money.
When morning came he went to school like as if nothing happened hoping he would
see his dad at the Pioneer assembly in which earlier his father had told him he
would be a special guest. As he arrived at a school that day he learned many
things that changed his whole outlook on life. It began with being honored to
hold the pioneer flag, but in his course of retrieving the flag the unexpected
happened, he broke the nose off of Stalin’s statue, that stood in the main
hallway of his school. The first thought came to mind was that he was going to
be tried as an enemy, a spy. To his surprise another boy, who wanted to see his
parents, took the fault saving Sasha, but an old friend of his knew the truth.
Just when Sasha thought his old friend was going to turn him in, the boy blamed
the teacher, who he hated very much, and like that the teacher was taken away.
When he thought all was over the boy was taken to the school basement to speak
to a lieutenant in private. He tried to make a deal with Sasha and told him, if
he would become a spy for him, he would not be considered a traitor like his
father. During this talk he learned his father had turned his mother over to
the Russian government for possible connections to being a spy, and was shot
and killed. Of course not believing a single word, the boy agreed but at the
last minute changed his mind and ran to see his father, who was locked up in
prison. While in line he met a woman who seems to have now become his new
family.
3.
Critical
Analysis
This World History, historical fiction,
story takes place in times of communism in Russia. The reader is able to connect
to the young main character and the other characters around him to the emotions
each one goes through. As the boy speaks, the reader can understand where his
feelings and mixed emotions drive him through the plot of the story. The
stories settings guide us through Sasha’s eventful day of happiness, surprise, disappointment,
anger, disbelief and yearning to be with his dad. This is all portrayed through
the various illustrations and words throughout the story. With in just two days
Sasha is made to grow up learning that what he once believed in wholeheartedly
was now a complete and total misrepresentation of the truth.
4.
Review Excerpt(s)
Horn Book’s Best Fiction Books
of 2011
2012 Newbery Honor Winner
From Publishers Weekly- "Picture book author/illustrator
Yelchin makes an impressive middle-grade debut with this compact novel about a
devoted young Communist in Stalin-era Russia, illustrated with dramatically lit
spot art."
From The Horn Book- "This brief novel gets at the heart of
a society that asks its citizens, even its children, to report on relatives and
friends. Appropriately menacing illustrations by first-time novelist Yelchin
add a sinister tone."
From Kirkus- "Yelchin’s graphite illustrations are an
effective complement to his prose, which unfurls in Sasha’s steady,
first-person voice, and together they tell an important tale."
From School Library Journal- "Yelchin skillfully combines narrative
with dramatic black-and-white illustrations to tell the story of life in the
Soviet Union under Stalin."
5.
Connections:
Discover other books illustrated by Eugene
Yelchin:
·
Kuryla, Mary. Ghost Files: The Haunting
Truth. ISBN 0061283959
·
Kuryla, Mary. Heart of a Snowman ISBN 0061259268
The following activities are
available to use as resources:
·
A Discussion Guide to Breaking Stalin’s Nose,
filled with questions and vocabulary to aid in comprehension.
·
Learn more about Eugene Yelchin and his books
through his website:
Book
Review
One
Crazy Summer, Reviewed
by Vanessa Flores
1.
Bibliography
Willliams-Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer. New York: HarpeCollins
Publisher, 2010. ISBN 9780060760885
2.
Plot
Summary
This historical fiction book, places
three sisters, Delphine, Vionetta, and Fern, in the care of their mother for
twenty eight days. Their father had decided that it was time they met their
mother who had abandoned them when they were small. Against their grandmothers
wishes the girls were off to California to meet their mother Cecile. The girls
imagined their mother would be excited to see them, but to their disappointment
their mother saw them as a bother. Upon arrival the girls were picked up at the
airport by Cecile who seemed bothered by their presence. Cecile hurriedly took
them to her home, told them where to sleep and where to get food. When one of
the girls asked her if she was going to accompany them she showed no interest. Each
day Cecile expected the girls to stay out all day and find ways to feed
themselves. Through the summer, the girls learned their way in an around the
neighborhood. Every day they would make their way to a Black Panther’s
community center, where they made friends and received a radical education on
the beliefs of the Black Panther movement. One day they decided to take an
adventurous day out on the town, sightseeing and buying souvenirs. Upon their return back home, they witnessed
their mother being arrested and taken away by the police officers. When
questioned if she had kids Cecile denied it and so did the girls. Once the
police were gone the girls went into the house and locked themselves in. The
next day their friend, Hirohito, and his mother came to the house, fed them and
took them in at her house. As the girls waited for their mothers release the
girls did not bother to contact their father, instead the girls waited and
participated in more of the community centers activities, which include passing
out flyers and participating in a rally. The night of the rally the girls
became a part of the movement and embraced their mother’s poetry by presenting
their mothers poem at the rally. When they came off the stage to their surprise
their mother was there free and loving, something she had never been to the
girls before. That night changed everything and the feelings of dislike left
the girls.
3.
Critical
Analysis
This historical fiction story takes
place during a time where the Black Panthers were involved in different
movements towards peace. The main characters in the story are brought up in the
1960’s where inequality can still be seen, but are sheltered from it. When the
young girls travel to Oakland to meet their mother they are in for a rude
awakening. Their wishes of feeling loved are quickly replaced by cold and
bitter emotions. The author uses her writing to portray a vivid picture of the
world the girls are living in as well as the up and down emotions the girls
feel. Their innocent beliefs cause their misunderstanding of the Black Panther’s
movement, but as time goes on the girls are changed with this new world of
ideals.
Winner of the 2011
Coretta Scott King Author Book Award
2011 Newbery Honor
Book
From Publishers Weekly- “Delphine’s growing awareness of injustice
on a personal and universal level is smoothly woven into the story in poetic
language that will stimulate and move readers.”
From The Horn Book- “The setting and time period are as vividly
realized as the characters, and readers will want to know more about Delphine
and her sisters after they return to Brooklyn...”
From Kirkus- "“Delphine is the pitch-perfect older
sister, wise beyond her years, an expert at handling her siblings...while the
girls are caught up in the difficulties of adults, their resilience is
celebrated and energetically told with writing that snaps off the page.”
From School Library Journal- “Emotionally challenging and beautifully
written, this book immerses readers in a time and place and raises difficult
questions of cultural and ethnic identity and personal responsibility. With
memorable characters (all three girls have engaging, strong voices) and a
powerful story, this is a book well worth reading and rereading.”
From Booklist-“Regimented, responsible, strong-willed
Delphine narrates in an unforgettable voice, but each of the sisters emerges as
a distinct, memorable character, whose hard-won, tenuous connections with their
mother build to an aching, triumphant conclusion.”
5.
Connections:
Discover other books written by Williams-Garcia,
Rita:
·
Jumped.
ISBN
0060760931
·
Like
Sisters on the Homefront. ISBN 0140385614
·
Blue
Tights ISBN 0140380450
The following activities are available to use as
resources:
·
A Discussion Guide to One Crazy Summer filled with questions and vocabulary to aid in
comprehension.
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