Natascha Review It! (LIS 721)

  Marshall III, Joseph. In The Footsteps of Crazy Horse. Amulet Books, 2015. ISBN: 978-1419707858   In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph Marshall III, one encounters a narrative that seamlessly intertwines historical and contemporary perspectives. Through the journey of Jimmy McClean, a young Lakota boy, the story connects past issues to present realities, making historical events relevant to today’s readers. Marshall III examines the 'why' of these events, particularly the life and legacy of Crazy Horse, offering rich opportunities for adult discussions about cultural heritage, identity, and resilience. The plot reflects the pace of life in both historical and contemporary periods, with historical episodes portrayed with an authentic sense of urgency and significance. Jimmy’s contemporary journey mirrors the challenges faced by Native Americans during Crazy Horse's era, making the narrative both engaging and relevant. The settings in In the Footsteps of Crazy Hor...

  Bell, Cece. Smell My Foot! Candlewick Press, 2019. ISBN: 978-0-7636-7936-1  Cece Bell’s Smell My Foot combines text and illustrations to create an engaging and humorous story for young readers. The illustrations complement the dialogue and action, providing context and emotion that the text might not fully capture. Bright colors and clear, exaggerated facial expressions vividly convey the emotions and actions of the characters. The funny, exaggerated scenes will likely make children laugh, adding to their enjoyment of the book. The dialogue is simple and direct, making it accessible to young readers. The plot revolves around humorous interactions and is engaging and comprehensible for the target age group. This book is the first of two books in a series featuring the characters Chick and Brain and offers opportunities for continued reading and character engagement.  Siegel, Siena Cherson. To Dance: A Ballerina’s Graphic Novel . Illustrated by Mark Siegel. Antheneum ...

Willems, Mo. We Are Growing! Hyperion Books for Children, 2016. ISBN: 978-1484726358  Mo Willems's book We Are Growing! is classified as level one. The text is large and clear, making it easy for early readers to follow. It is also simple and often consists of short, manageable phrases. The sentences are generally short, aiding in comprehension for beginning readers, while the language is simple and accessible. The text is broken up into color-coded dialogue bubbles to show the conversation between the blades of grass, making it easier for the reader to follow along. This book uses a lot of repetition and humor, which helps engage young readers and reinforces learning.  Pizzoli, Greg. The Book Hog. Disney-Hyperion, 2019. ISBN: 978-1-368-03689-4  Greg Pizzoli’s The Book Hog is categorized as level two. The text features a wider range of vocabulary while remaining accessible. Some words are multisyllabic, introducing readers to more complex language. The text is pr...

Thimmesh, Catherine. Camp Panda: Helping Cubs Return to the Wild . Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018. ISBN: 978-0-544-81891-0   Catherine Thimmesh is an established author known for her engaging non-fiction books for children and young adults, particularly those focusing on science and nature topics. She has won the prestigious Sibert Medal for informational books. Though not a scientist herself, Thimmesh is recognized for her ability to translate complex scientific topics into accessible and captivating narratives for young readers. In Camp Panda: Returning Cubs to the Wild , Thimmesh presents the subject of giant panda conservation through a blend of meticulous research and storytelling. Her approach makes scientific topics both interesting and understandable.   The book is particularly well-suited for upper-middle school readers, focusing on the process and challenges of reintroducing captive-born pandas into the wild, ensuring that the information engages without overwhelmi...

Grimm, J., Grimm, W., Segal, Lore.  The Juniper Tree, and Other Tales From Grimm . Translator Randall Jarrell. Doubleday Canada, Ltd., 1973.  ISBN: 978-0374180577 The Juniper Tree and Other Tales from Grimm is a collection of Grimm’s fairy tales translated by Lore Segal to maintain the original tone and themes of the stories. Segal preserves the dark tone of the original narratives while making them more accessible to readers. At the beginning of the book, there is a "note on the translations" that explains some of the translations included in the book. He thanks Paul Stern for assisting with the German translations, allowing Segal to keep the stories as authentic as possible. Segal stays true to the storytelling style by writing the translations in a narrative format. While reading the text, you can almost feel as if someone is telling the story to you, which makes the stories engaging for both children and adults. The format is suitable for reading the stories aloud ...

Ada, Alma Flor, and F. Isabel Campoy. Yes! We Are Latinos. Charlesbridge, 2013. ISBN 978-1-58089-383-1  “Yes! We Are Latinos” celebrates and illuminates the diverse experiences of Latino individuals in the United States. This is seen in the introduction, where Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy expresses their intention to give voice to a wide range of Latino identities and experiences. This collection offers a diverse portrayal of Latino life and is aimed at young readers and those interested in Latino culture. The poems are presented in an accessible manner and can be used in educational settings to encourage discussions about cultural identity, diversity, and the immigrant experience. They may resonate with young Latinos, reflecting their experiences while providing non-Latino readers insights into different cultural perspectives. The poems and narratives are written by various authors and encompass many poetic forms, providing a diverse and engaging reading experience. The book...