Review of LUGALBANDA: THE BOY WHO GOT CAUGHT UP IN A WAR

Henderson, Kathy. Jane Ray (Ill.) 2006. LUGALBANDA: THE BOY WHO GOT CAUGHT UP IN A WAR. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 0-763-62782-8

In this 2007 Aesop award winning book, Kathy Henderson brings to light a piece of history from a part of the world about which Americans are so much in the dark. The story of Lugalbanda is an “epic tale from ancient Iraq.” Each of the characters is imbued with qualities which makes him believable. Henderson ensures that readers will be sympathetic to Lugalbanda, his brothers and the king by showing their human sides. Lugalbanda’s brothers, each a commander in the army, “bowed down with grief” as they were forced to leave their young brother behind. Lugalbanda showed his humility and intelligence as he won over the ferocious Anzu bird by caring for its chick. Even the king, through Henderson’s careful word choice, proved to be compassionate by ultimately putting the safe return of his army above the possible spoils of war. Ray’s illustrations add as much to the story as the text. When Lugalbanda was ill, his eyes were colorless and all seven brothers’ cried by his side. The Lullubu Mountains were as barren as the text describes. Both author and illustrator attempt to authentically represent the culture in which this story takes place. Geographic locations, maps, skin tone, hair color, eye shape—all are indicative of the area now known as Iraq. (Although the seven brothers appear to be septuplets!) The text includes an informative prologue and end notes which give the reader a 5000-year old history lesson. The origin of Lugalbanda is a fascinating story in itself.

LUGALBANDA is appropriate as a multi-sitting read aloud or for individual reading and is highly recommended for readers ages 8 years and older.

Review of NOAH’S ARK

Janisch, Heinz. Lisbeth Zwerger (Ill.) 1997. NOAH’S ARK. New York: North-South Books, Inc. ISBN 0-329-23633-4

Translated from the original Swiss, author Heinz Janisch’s adaptation of this classic biblical story combines an age-old text with modern illustrations. This juxtaposition facilitates the sharing of NOAH’S ARK in a secular setting. While the biblical phraseology is evident in “he was righteous” and “God had commanded” and “washed the earth clean,” the text is no less accessible to a variety readers. However, this juxtaposition also takes away from the story’s meaning. As someone who is familiar with the story, my focus was drawn to Zwerger’s illustrations. The detailed and realistic illustrations of paired animals are presented in the form of Tables and Figures, much like one would see in an academic diagram. However, the people in the pictures are less accurately represented. The 1960s-clad Noah and his family have disproportionate bodies. In addition, each looks more Swiss in appearance than Turkish—which is historically the more likely culture of Noah’s family. Though this projection of one’s own culture onto biblical characters is common, it is ethnocentrism just the same. These cultural and historical inaccuracies may prove confusing for younger audiences.

If you are in the market for a 'Noah story' that will Wow! you, this probably won’t fit the bill. The illustrations make the target audience a bit older than may be expected for a picture book. Recommended for one-on-one or independent reading for children ages 9-12 years.

Review of FABLES FROM AESOP

Lynch, Tom. 2000. FABLES FROM AESOP. New York: Puffin Books. ISBN 0-329-230194-9

In this adaptation, Tom Lynch includes 13 different fables attributed to the sixth century B.C. slave, Aesop. Though some fables are familiar, others may be new to young readers. Each fable is less than a page long and is accompanied by a lively and detailed illustration. This collection fits the mold for fables by including clever animals and an overtly stated moral to the story. The characters in each fable are straightforward and transparent. From the slow-but-steady tortoise to the vain crow to the foolish monkey, all of the characters teach readers a lesson either by positive or negative example. The setting differs from fable to fable, though few textual clues are given. Rather, Lynch uses his hand-sewn patchwork to reveal setting, perspective and other details about the stories. Lynch’s style is clear and succinct. As in most fables, these brief stories make their points quickly and sum up in a final statement which begins, “So remember!...” Though as a reader I felt nearly beaten over the head with the direct statement of the moral, this reiterative ending is traditional for fables. Historical information about Aesop is included in an author’s note.
The fables’ illustrations and brevity lend this collection to read-alouds for young children. However, older children may participate in lively discussions of the messages. “So remember!” Lynch’s FABLES FROM AESOP is recommended for readers ages 4-12.

Review of MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD: WORLD FOLKTALES FOR STRONG BOYS

Yolen, Jane. Raul Colón. (Ill.) 2003. MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD: WORLD FOLKTALES FOR STRONG BOYS. New York: Harcourt. ISBN 0-15-216391-3

“Hero is about being clever, learning from your mistakes, being kind and compassionate, and finding good friends.” (p. ix) In a preface, Jane Yolen writes an open letter to her sons and grandsons explaining why she has collected and retold these folktales. In this fresh approach to traditional stories, the reader finds him or herself in the midst of heroes who use their brains rather than brawn to triumph. Each vignette is accompanied by a moral and a black and white drawing. In addition, the country of origin is noted. MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD includes folktales such as beast tales and fairy tales. The characters include anthropomorphized animals and the plots are formulaic and full of action. For example in Jake and His Companions, a boy, donkey, dog, cat and rooster seek their fortune. En route, they take on a band of thieves. When Jack and his friends overcome six ruffians, albeit in an unlikely manner, the reader is nonetheless satisfied. This collection also includes fables such as Knee-High Man. After talking with several animals about his petite stature, Knee-High Man learns it is more important to have a big brain than a big body. This story has a moral, talking animals and brevity—all typical ingredients for a fable. Yolen takes care to use culturally specific words in the different stories. In the African-American tale, the term brother is used to mean friend; the Norwegian tale has a character named Ole; and the Angolan story refers to the river Lukala which runs through the capital city Kwanza Norte. Some recognition of cultures may be seen in the illustrations as well. Adding to this collection’s value are the Table of Contents and Notes on the Stories sections.
Providing many opportunities to tout brains over brawn, this collection of folktales is recommended for readers ages 8-12 years.

Review of I LIKE MYSELF

Beaumont, Karen. David Catrow (Ill.) 2004. I LIKE MYSELF. New York: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 0-15-202013-6

More of a monologue than a story, I LIKE MYSELF is an upbeat piece about a little girl with a wonderful self-concept. Accompanied by her dog, she recites a litany of things she likes about herself. The protagonist also makes it clear she ascribes to the ‘sticks and stones’ mantra. “And I don’t care in any way what someone else may think or say.” By using words such as ‘cause and phrases like beaver breath, the reader can easily hear the childlike voice Beaumont has created. In addition, Beaumont’s use of rhyme and meter make this story fun to read aloud and read along. By using the cloze method in a read aloud, caregivers can encourage young children to finish sentences through the use of rhyme and context. For all the silliness within the text; the watercolor, ink and pencil illustrations are laugh-out-loud funny. Catrow’s ability to show emotion in facial expressions is evident in both the girl and her dog. Through the illustrations, we see the dog becoming more and more unnerved by the girl’s metamorphosis. However, even with a pig’s snout, horns, and purple polka-dotted lips, the faithful friend never leaves her side. Catrow’s hilarious illustrations keep readers engaged in the story, thus allowing the positive message of self confidence to be conveyed.

Highly recommended for readers ages 3-7 years. I can’t wait to read this one to Pre-K!

Review of LET IT SHINE: THREE FAVORITE SPIRITUALS

Bryan, Ashley. 2007. LET IT SHINE: THREE FAVORITE SPIRITUALS. New York: Antheneum Books for Young Children. ISBN 0-689-84732-7

This Corretta Scott King Medal Award winner revisits three Spirituals: This Little Light, When the Saints, and In His Hands. Though these Spirituals have been published many times in many formats, this version stands out because of its beautifully rendered illustrations. Artist Ashley Bryan has earned several awards for his extraordinary ability to capture song and stories. The illustrations in LET IT SHINE are construction paper collages which fill the pages. The children in the illustrations are represented in a variety of hues; including magenta, black, green, brown, and yellow. This inclusivity extends to clothing and hair styles as well. Bryan’s attention to detail is evident in the meticulous way in which light is portrayed. From big, bright backgrounds to thin strips of “shine,” the pervasive light seems to represent the enduring hope in the hearts of the African-American slaves credited with creating these beautiful songs. Finally, in an author’s note, Bryan provides readers with a brief history of Spirituals. Though not necessarily an appropriate part of a read-aloud, teachers and caregivers will find it interesting and may choose to summarize the information depending on the listeners’ level.

Recommended for readers ages 4-9 years. For those who want to be able to sing the songs rather than read, sheet music for each song is provided.

Review of ZEN SHORTS

Muth, Jon J. 2005. ZEN SHORTS. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0-329-45474-9

ZEN SHORTS is stories within a story. The story begins with Karl, the youngest of three siblings, seeing a panda bear in the backyard. His name is Stillwater. Each of the children visit with Stillwater and, in turn, is told a story. Stillwater’s traditional Buddhist and Taoist stories reflect human desires, fears, and the struggle for inner peace. While these stories have centuries-old roots, their placement in western children’s literature is distinctive. Despite the stories’ esoteric nature, the audience’s interest is piqued through the use of a story-telling panda. Muth appropriately assigns a calm voice to Stillwater, thus increasing the likelihood the characters (and the audience) will hear his message. Other indications of Muth’s ability to use voice and characterization are the typical complaints about a bossy big brother and a child’s wonderings about flight. When the children talk with Stillwater, he tells them stories which address their concerns and clarify their personalities. Finally, Muth’s painterly techniques with watercolor and ink garnered this book a Caldecott Honor Medal. With the exception of the bright red umbrella; muted, calming colors fill the pages. Supporting the text, the illustrations show Stillwater’s giant, unobtrusive, and nonjudgmental presence. But for an occasional smile, he stands and listens, his expression relatively unchanging. Muth’s use of details such as the bamboo-adorned cake and flying paper airplanes add depth and breadth to the story’s text.

Highly recommended for readers ages 6-11+ years. Though the anecdotes may be a bit obscure for younger readers, they provide fantastic springboards for conversations.