One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance

Bibliography
Grimes, N. (2020). One last word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance. Bloomsbury Children's Books.

Critical Analysis
To begin my analysis, I first want to discuss Grimes’ poetry form of choice. Until I read this book, I had never heard of the Golden Shovel form of poetry. In the forward of the book, Grimes discusses this particular form of poetry and gives an example of how it is written. The idea behind recycling words from other poems to create new poems is absolutely fascinating. Grimes pays tribute to the poets of the Harlem Renaissance by creating new poems that transpose the  themes from the originals to new poems that today’s readers will be able to relate to. From Langston Hughes’ poem “Mother to Son,” Grimes borrows the verse “Don’t you fall now” to create the stanza,

“No matter what, don’t
let a few mean people shake you
till your young dreams lose their feathers and fall.
Hide those baby dreams in the cage of your heart --for now.”

Both poems are from a mother to her son about the tough road she has walked and how her son must overcome obstacles for a better life, a better tomorrow. The beauty behind both poems will bring chills to your skin. Grimes’ work evokes thoughts and emotions from her work that are also evoked from the original poems. What an amazing tribute to the Harlem Renaissance.

Review Excerpts
From Publishers Weekly: 
“Through a chorus of contemporary voices—including proud parents, striving children, and weary but determined elders—Grimes powerfully transposes the original poems’ themes of racial bias, hidden inner selves, beauty, and pride into the here and now.”
From Kirkus Reviews: 
“Timely and thought-provoking, Grimes’ collection transports young readers through the enduring expressiveness of the Harlem Renaissance, juxtaposing classic poems of the era with her own original work and full-color art by contemporary African-American illustrators.”

Connections
This book should be included when discussing the Harlem Renaissance. 
The poems from this book can be used to discuss Golden Shovel form poetry. Allow students to find a short poem then create their own poem using the Golden Shovel form.

 
One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies

Bibliography
Sones, S. (2013). One of those hideous books where the mother dies. Simon & Schuster.

Critical Analysis
Sonya Sones introduces us to Ruby in this novel in verse. The limited word count allows Sones to be straightforward and thought provoking. Sones is able to provide a well-developed plot and characters. Readers are able to feel Ruby’s angst as she travels across the country to live with a father she has never met but seen on the big screen. Heartbroken after her mother’s death, Ruby is forced to leave behind everything she’s ever known. While moving to L.A. to live with a movie star might be every teen girl’s dream, Ruby is not excited about any of it. In the poem titled “I didn’t Want to Get on This Plane,” Ruby states that she doesn’t want to get off the plane and how as she does get off she spots “the sperm donor himself.” She slowly warms up to life in a place that rarely has rain, or clouds, or Fall colors. Ruby also warms up to her father, Whip. Her resentment is slowly fading away as she learns of her father’s love for her mother and the reason he’s been MIA for so long. 
While I do not normally choose books that have anything to do with poetry, I really enjoyed this book. The novel in verse makes it a quick read but still enjoyable. The verse becomes Ruby’s voice which allowed me to be able to relate to Ruby and her struggles.

Review Excerpts

From Publishers Weekly: 
“Sones gives the audience clear signals of what Ruby can't allow herself to take in. Readers will accept some melodrama because, even with a few contrivances, Ruby's voice conveys genuine emotions.”
From Teen Ink:  
“The book follows Ruby through a tough long-distance relationship with her boyfriend and best friend, as well as following her through the difficulty of starting a new school. But, the main conflict of the book surrounds Ruby’s relationship with her father. The book was enjoyable, but light. It had parts that were quite humorous.”

Connections
This novel would work well in a high school classroom. Students would be able to identify plot, characters, and conflict. 
This novel could also be used as an introduction to journaling. Students can read the novel and begin journaling during time in class.

Freedom Over Me: Eleven slaves, their lives and dreams brought to life

Bibliography

Bryan, A. (2016). Freedom over me: Eleven slaves, their lives and dreams brought to life by Ashley Bryan. Simon & Schuster.

Critical Analysis

Bryan creates an engaging masterpiece by using free verse to bring to life slaves owned by the Fairchild's. Bryan used an appraisal of the Fairchild’s estate as a reference aid to bring a voice to the voiceless. While the appraisal does not contain any personal information about the slaves that lived on property, Bryan used their names to imagine their pictures, stories, and dreams. Bryan began by creating portraits for each person. He then studied them and listened for their voices. He used what he heard to create a free verse poem that depicts each person's role on the plantation and another poem that focuses on the person’s dreams. We learn each slave’s “real” name, the name they were given at birth by their parents or for the slaves born into slavery the name that the other members call them in private. Each slave’s initial portrait is carefully drawn with little life or color, like a black and white portrait. The pictures associated with each slave’s dreams poem bring in color and vibrancy that allows readers to feel the life the slave's dream to live. The words and the pictures allow readers to feel the hardships suffered by these people. Bryan does an excellent job of using the slaves’ life experiences and dreams to help the reader understand that their lives are priceless compared to the monetary value placed on them in the appraisal.

Review Excerpts

From Social Justice Books: 

“In a book that emphasizes the full humanity of these individuals, that speaks the imagined truths of their lives but also gives weight and breath to their imagined hopes and dreams, the atrocity of slavery is represented first and foremost by that purchase price accompanying every portrait.”

From Common Sense Media: 

“Free-verse, first-person narratives effectively give personalities, hopes, and dreams to the individuals who were only names with a monetary value noted in an actual 1828 will.”

From Publishers Weekly: 

“His portraits show the men, women, and children gazing out at readers, the contours of their faces traced as if carved from wood, while strong rhythmic outlines mimic stained glass, echoing the sense of sacred memory.”

Connections

The book contains a copy of the actual appraisal used to create the poems. Students can use the picture to discuss primary sources. 

This book can also be paired with the following books to discuss slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation:

• I Survived the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863 by Lauren Tarshis

• Never Caught, The Story of Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong and Kathleen Van Cleve

• I Am Harriet Tubman by Brad Meltzer

• I Am Abraham Lincoln by Brad Meltzer

Students can use the information provided by Bryan to continue the slaves’ stories.

 

Beautiful Blackbird

Bibliography

Bryan, A. (2003). Beautiful blackbird. Coretta Scott King Award - Ill.

Plot Summary

Blackbird is deemed the most beautiful bird by the other birds. The other birds do not have any black on their feathers, they are various other colors like red, blue, green, and yellow. They want to be like Blackbird with black on their feathers. They ask Blackbird to paint them with black so they can be just as beautiful as he. Blackbird reminds the other birds that while they may now contain black on their feathers, they are still, on the inside, who they were before, they are not him but a different version of themselves.

Critical Analysis

Bryan’s retelling of a Zambian folktale will grab young readers’ attention. The cut paper silhouettes are bold and colorful. The many colors of the other birds provides a stark difference to blackbird’s bold color. Bryan includes pictures of the scissors used to create his art which might be inspiring for young authors. The words throughout the book are rhythmic and the sing song nature draws readers in. The chants as the birds dance will inspire young readers to sing and dance along, “Beak to beak, peck, peck, peck, spread your wings, stretch your neck. Black is beautiful, uh-huh! Black is beautiful, uh-huh!” While Blackbird eventually gives in and shares his blackness, he does so with the disclaimer, “Just remember, whatever I do, I’ll be me and you’ll be you.” This tale will resonate with readers young and old about the importance of appreciating one’s beauty and uniqueness.

Review Excerpts

From Publishers’ Weekly:

“Scenes of the rainbow of wings are outdone only by a lakeside view of their colors intricately "mirrored in the waters." And Bryan's lilting and magical language is infectious.”

From Kirkus Reviews:

“Blackbird talks of the difference a little black can make, but he also emphasizes that external appearances do not reflect the inner self. Which of the two is more important is never clarified. Still, the rolling language and appealing illustrations make this a must.”

From Common Sense Media:

“Ashley Bryan's cut-paper collage artwork is in an array of interesting muted colors -- from maroon and pink to green, blue, orange, gold, and, of course, black. The figures are lively and incredibly expressive. Young children will enjoy the colors, the spirited pictures, and the fun of the lilting text.”

Awards and Honors

• Coretta Scott King Award (ALA)

• Texas 2x2 Reading List

Connections

This title can be used when speaking about individuality and equality. The Blackbird expressees to the other birds, “Color on the outside is not what’s on the inside. You don’t act like me. You don’t eat like me.” and  “We’ll see the difference a touch of black can make. Just remember, whatever I do, I’ll be me and you’ll be you.” 

Classes can discuss sharing as well, as Blackbird shared his blackness with the other birds.

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There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

Bibliography

Taback, S. (1997). There was an old lady who swallowed a fly.

Plot Summary

This book is based on the well known poem about the Old Lady who swallowed a fly. The Old Lady swallows a fly and then is forced to swallow other things to catch the fly. This story moves from attempting to rid herself of this fly to the moral of the story, never swallow a horse.

Critical Analysis

Taback provides readers with a visual representation of the beloved poem about the Old Lady who swallowed the fly. Readers are able to follow the Old Lady’s journey as her waistline expands with the various creatures she has swallowed. Taback provides die cut pages that allow readers to peek inside the Old Lady’s belly to view the chaos she is creating inside herself. This version also includes rhyming commentary throughout the book providing additional opportunities for smirks and laughter . This Caldecott Honor book definitely earned its medal with the well thought out illustrations that provide details that will entertain the reader through the retelling of this favorite American folk poem. 

Review Excerpts

From Common Sense Media:

 “Simms Taback adds visual fuel to a folk poem already brimming with hilarity. While the poem stands on its own as a celebration of rhyme and tomfoolery, Taback captures the action in boldly colored cartoon illustrations that cover each page.”

From Publishers Weekly:

“The gleefully dizzy mood is intensified by Taback's use of black hand-lettered words set in blocks of bright colors laid atop orange or black backgrounds, and occasionally sprinkled with collage images (whose sources range from old field guides to the Wall Street Journal). Children of all ages will joyfully swallow this book whole.”

Awards and Honors

• Caldecott Honor Book, 1998

• ALA Notable Children's Book, 1998

Connections

Gather several versions of the old lady books, such as:

• There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose! by Lucille Colandro

• There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover! by Lucille Colandro

After reading There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly aloud several times, have students retell the story. The story is a predictable one. Students should be able to retell then read or listen to additional versions to determine a pattern. Students can retell the story to each other or they can act it out in a center using props. I’ve made felt pieces in the past for students to recreate scenes from their favorite stories. 

Children could also create their own stories that follow a pattern like the above mentioned books.

 

Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig

Bibliography

Trivizas, E. (1997). The three little wolves and the big bad pig. Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Plot Summary

The three little wolves set out to make their way in the world. Their mother warns them about the Big Bad Pig. They set out to build a home for themselves but the Big Bad Pig continues to destroy their homes. Eventually, the three little wolves build a house of flowers. The Big Bad Pig’s heart becomes tender as he sniffs the flowers. With the Big Bad Pig’s change of heart, the little wolves welcome him to join them living in the home of flowers.

Critical Analysis

Trivizas’ version of the three little pigs explores the role reversal of characters. Trivizas paints the wolves as, “three cuddly little wolves with soft fur and fluffy tails.” This depiction is a far cry from the scary wolf in the traditional tale. We are forewarned about the big bad pig by the mother wolf and the little wolves’ actions. This builds anticipation until we meet the pig after the first house if built. The role reversal is strengthened by the Oxenbury’s illustrations of the characters. The pig appears angry, we can definitely see that he is “big and bad.” The illustrations of the homes include modern technology that will allow children to relate to the safety of the structures, one example is the video phone on the house made of metal armor. While Trivizas explores a reversal of roles with the main characters, the ending strays from the traditional tale. The theme of good vs evil is still evident but in this tale everyone ends up happily ever after. The pig’s heart becomes tender and the little wolves welcome him with open arms.

Review Excerpts

From Kirkus Reviews:

“Never mind the other incarnations of this tale—classic, fractured, rapped; this inversion

will have children giggling from the outset.”

From Publishers Weekly:

“Oxenbury's watercolors capture the story's broad humor and add a wealth of

supplementary details, with exquisite renderings of the wolves' comic temerity and

the pig's bellicose stances. Among the wittiest fractured fairy tales around.”

From Toppsta:

“The classic fight between pigs and wolves as you've never seen it before! A subversive

and hilarious take on the well-loved fairy tale.”

Awards and Honors

• School Library Journal Best Books of the Year

• ILA/CBC Children's Choices

• Bulletin Blue Ribbon

• Booklist Editors' Choice

• Volunteer State Book Award (TN)

Connections

Gather additional versions of books about the Three Little Pigs such as:

• The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! by John Scieszka

• The Three Pigs by David Wiesner

• The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz

Use the books for a lesson on folktales. Review the elements of folktales. Allow students to

compare and contrast the two versions of this folktale.