Bees, Snails and Peacock Tails

1.  Bibliography
Franco, Betsy. 2008. Bees, Snails and Peacock Tails. Ill. by Steve Jenkins. New York: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. ISBN 9781416903864

 2.  Plot Summary
Betsy Franco creates a poem that engages the reader into considering shapes and patterns in nature.  First, Franco introduces the theme of the poem so readers are engaged and prepared for what is to come throughout the book.  She starts with bees and describes patterns on multiple animals and insects eventually ending with topshell snails.  The poem includes nature on land, in the air and in the sea.  

3.  Critical Analysis
The rhyming and cadence of this poem are extremely age appropriate and beneficial to the reader.  A child (or adult!) may not even recognize all that they have learned while they bounce through the shapes and patterns that Franco presents.  The words move around the pages while drawing attention to the geometry of nature.  Not only is the placement of the words important, the specific diction is spot on for this book.  The readers can stay engaged and learn information about the animal world without being daunted by difficult or overwhelming words.  The descriptions on each page are factual and teach readers more about nature.  

The collage illustrations by Steve Jenkins compliment the imagery that is created by Franco’s words.  Jenkins adds life to the motif of the poem through vivid artwork with bright colors and textures.  Nature comes alive through this art and allows the reader to be engaged in the consistent cadence.  Each animal, insect or sea creature is focused on and large enough for details - namely patterns and shapes to be shown.  For example, the ants are so large that a cookie in the illustration is comparable in size (larger than a fist).  

4.  Review Excerpt(s) and Awards
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY- **Starred Review**  “Whether addressing hexagonal beehive cells or a snail's spiral shell, brisk rhymes draw attention to nature's math, as in this description of moth wings' symmetry: Notice the colors/ and stunning 'eyes,'/ perfectly matched/ on either side.”

BOOKLIST - **Starred Review** “Verses tuck neatly into each subject's double-page spread or cleverly echo its shape, mimicking the spiral lines of a snail's shell or the rounded exterior of a puffer fish, and an appending section explains the scientific facts behind each poem.”

Nominated for Kentucky Bluegrass Book Award

5. Connections

• Provide children with paper and glue sticks and suggest that they create their own shapes in nature.  
• Other poems for children about nature:
• Red Sings from Treetops, Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow by Joyce Sidman

One of those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies

1.  Bibliography
Sones, Sonya.  2004.  One of those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780689858208

2.  Plot Summary

Ruby Milliken is struck with depression when her mother dies.  Her closest family member, Aunt Duffy, cannot keep Ruby with her and she is forced to move away from her boyfriend and best friend Lizzie in Massachusetts to California with her famous father.  Ruby thought that she understood everything about her father, Whip Logan, based on his lack of presence and what she learned in watching his blockbuster films.  After Ruby spends more time with Whip, she progressively dislikes him less.  Max, Whip’s assistant, grows very close with Ruby and helps her handle hardships and influences her to grow closer with her father.  As time goes on, Ruby learns more about why her father was not around for 15 years and finally feels comfortable with her father and life in California.  

 3.  Critical Analysis

A story of teenage angst that anyone would enjoy, Ruby Milliken tells her tale in verse and personal letters.  Young adult readers that are having a difficult time picking up a book would likely benefit from giving this book a try.  Most lines have one to five words making the story a quick read.  Sonya Sones uses these short lines to create a cadence in verse that flows smoothly and her diction reflects that of a teenage girl very accurately.  Ruby’s melodramatic descriptions and words display her emotions well with so few words.  The benefits of this novel go beyond entertainment, there are so many real-life problems that are addressed in this novel which could have great impact on the reader.  There are moments appropriate for laughing or crying and although Ruby is depressed about her situation she seems to make light of all of her problems.  

Sones uses bolded titles at the top of the first page of each verse that have strong meaning to the plot.  She also uses left alignment for all of the lines during the story unless they have significant affect.  This draws the attention of the reader to the words and emphasis that the author intended.  She uses word placement and font formatting to have an impact on the way that the story is interpreted.  For example, Ruby and Whip are in the middle of an earthquake and the lines are shifted around the page to emphasize the chaos of her feelings during the natural disaster.   Also, when the story is being told through letters the font changes to something more juvenile.  Sones did a fantastic job with font formatting and depicting Ruby’s story.  

4.  Review Excerpt(s) and Awards

Award Nominations: Grand Canyon Reader Award, Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award, SCASL Book Award, Garden State Teen Book Award.

Award Winner: ALA Best Book for Young Adults,  ALA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers, Iowa Teen Award.

VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES - “Ruby's grieving for her mother is heartbreaking, but also humorous and never overwrought. Without being preachy, Sones addresses stereotyping, variations of friendship, betrayal by loved ones, and parent-child relationships.”

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.”

5. Connections

• Invite readers to read What my mother doesn’t know and What my girlfriend doesn’t know by Sonya Sones -- these stories share some similar free verse which readers may enjoy.
• Ask middle school readers to discuss their thoughts on the verse novel after reading it independently.  
• present questions such as: 
• Did you like this novel?
• Can you relate to any of Ruby’s feelings?
• What do you think the author wanted you to get from reading this novel?

Red Sings from Treetops

1.  Bibliography
Sidman, Joyce. 2009. Red Sings from Treetops.  Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN 9780547014944.

2.  Plot Summary

Red Sings from Treetops is a story about the seasons told through colors.  We flow whimsically through the seasons and their colors following a crowned figure and a crowned white dog.  Sidman begins with Spring describing the sounds, scents, smells and feelings of reds, greens, yellows and more colors.  She continues on with Summer, Fall and Winter.  Each season is described from a variety of points in the day including morning, afternoon and evening.  This story is illustrated with animals and scenes that one may see in each of the seasons.  With every sight, smell, sound and feeling that Sidman describes, Zagarenski compliments with beautiful mixed media artwork.  

3.  Critical Analysis

The words that are colors described in a season are emphasized by the font being written in that color.  The best part about this poem is that color metaphors that may not typically be considered common in each season are emphasized.  For example, Sidman describes Spring in “White / can be quiet, too: / delicate petals filled with light / smell / white”.  Sidman did not stick to the basic colors one would mention in a season but used deep and thoughtful descriptions such as the color of pink cheeks and the smell of white petals.  The beginning of each season is emphasized with a heading titled in capital letters of the name of the season.  This starts each season definitely so that the reader follows where they are in the poem.  The placement of each word is important and reflects the importance of the word itself - some words have right alignment, some have left alignment and some are justified.  This word placement changes the rhythm of the poem and the way the reader interprets it.  

The illustrations are beautiful and unique.  In a setting that is very exciting and detailed, the colors of emphasis in each section of the poem stand out on every page.  Eccentric artwork and illustrations are on every page.  The crowned figure always wears an outfit with abstract and different designs.  Sometimes, the figure and the dog are even traveling on wheels.  There are hidden letters, numbers and words on each page.  For example, the page for Spring describing green has the crowned figure standing on a large wheel that has the word “circle” written repeatedly around the rim.  This book could be read and re-read to find details in the artwork that may be missed during the first read.  

4.  Review Excerpt(s) and Awards

Nominated for a Caldecott Medal

Won Minnesota Book Award

Won American Library Association Notable Books for Children Award

BOOKLIST - *Starred Review* “Throughout, the mixed-media illustrations, including collage and paintings on wood, provide much to look at. And as the title implies, the colors that surprise on every page do sing.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - “Some of Zagarenski's mixed-media paintings are full of light and others are darker and slightly haunting, but the rich colors come to life on the page. The words and pictures depend upon one another and blend well to conjure up quirky, magical imagery.”

5.  Connections

• While reading Red Sings from Treetops aloud, invite the listeners to find examples of the colors of the seasons on each page.  
• Read one of Joyce Sidman’s poetry books every week including Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow, Eureka!, and The World According to Dog.
• Go outside during each season and find the colors in sight, smell, touch and feeling in real life.  Discuss your findings as a group.