Book Review

Apple Pie 4th of July by Janet Wong

Janet S. Wong(1962-) was born in Los Angeles. She graduated from UCLA with her B.A in history and then Yale Law School. She worked at Universal Studios Hollywood as a lawyer. However, she changed her career from a lawyer to a writer for children's literature. Janet has achieved many successes as a result of her career change, and she and her books have received many awards and honors. She has a Korean-American mother and a Chinese-American father, and these three different cultures are shown on her books. "Apple Pie 4th of July" also shows a different cultural aspect from America in the point of view of young girl. A girl who was born in America could not understand her parents who prepare to sell Chinese food even on 4th of July. She feels dissatisfaction about her parents since she thinks her parents do not understand the America Holiday. She wants to enjoy the America Holiday like other Americans but she is disappointed with the differences of her parents from others. The clear and colorful illustration describes well her feelings through her facial expressions. The girl full of discontent says, "Chow mein? Chinese food on the Fourth of July? No one wants Chinese food on the Fourth of July." Many children who have a different culture from the major culture where they live sometimes might feel shame or uncomfortable about their own culture. The parents and teachers need to let children whose culture is either the majority or minority know the variety of cultures in the world. In not only various countries, but also different homes in the same country, their own cultures exist. When children read this book, they can think about the diversity of cultures, and the parents and teachers need to guide children to have the correct concept about cultures.

Wong, J. S. (2002). Apple Pie 4th of July. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt, Inc.

http://www.amazon.com/review/product/0152057080/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=&showViewpoints=1&colid=&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

Digital Literacy Narrative

Video Book Talk 2: Dumpster Diver by Janet Wong and Illustrated by David Robert

Reading Journal: Ruby Lu, Brave and true

Reading Journal: Ruby Lu, Brave and true by Lenore Look, Illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf

Ruby is a lovely, smart, cheerful, and brave girl, and above all, she really loves her baby brother. Her family is Chinese American, and she lives nearby her grandparents. In this story, there are two main events: Driving the real car by herself with her young brother in the backseat, and arguing and then making up with a California girl, Cristina. When I read the driving part, I was really shocked. I have seen on the news that a four year old boy drove his parents’ car to the video shop. I believe that many young children hope they can drive the car. The more they have driving experience through the computer game or toy, the more they could have confidence about driving. Thus, the parents and teachers need to let children know how different real driving is from a game and how real driving is dangerous.
This book shows various aspects of young girl’s daily life such as her family’s culture, relationship with sibling, friends, and parents, using different language, and so forth.

Craft Lesson 3

Title: Connecting the story to my experience (Comprehension and Writing)

Resource: Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore Look, Illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf

According to TEKS: (9) Reading/comprehension. The student uses a variety of strategies to comprehend selections read aloud. The student is expected to: (A) use prior knowledge to anticipate meaning and make sense of texts (K-3); (C) retell or act out the order of important events in stories (K-3). (15) Writing/composition. The student composes original texts. The student is expected to: (C) write to record ideas and reflections (K-3)

Discussion: There are many writing topics to choose from. However, it is not easy to find the topic that I want to write about. As one of good writing topics, I think that a book review or reflection can be a good topic for writing. After students read a book, if they need to write about what they read, they would read the book as a writer, as well as a reader. If they read a book as a writer, they would try harder to comprehend the text during their reading. In addition, when they write about what they read, they would have time to rethink and find what they missed during their reading. I think a book review or reflection is very helpful for students improve their comprehension and writing.

How to teach (2nd – 3rd grade): As homework, students would read two or three chapters of this book per day. Before they start to read, the teacher will let them know that when they finish reading this book, they are going to have time to write about this book. The teacher also would hand out a chart to the students. Whenever the students finish reading one chapter, they would write the main event of the chapter on the chart. After they finish reading the whole chapter, children would have time to share their chart. Then, the teacher would hand out several questions related to comprehension of this book for children. Children would write down the answers and hand them in to be graded by the teacher. The teacher would analyze what students hand in, and if there are specific parts that children do not comprehend well, the teacher would have time to discuss that part of the story in more detail. In addition, the teacher would give two main discussion topics to the students: Trouble with Christina and Ruby’s driving. Through this discussion, the students have time to think about friends and the danger of driving. Also, they can present their experiences related to these topics. After that, the teacher would let children write the reflection about this book or their discussion. Children also can choose their writing topic among their main event chart.

Reading Journal: Stuart Goes To School

Stuart Goes To School by Sara Pennypacker, Illustrated by Martin Matje

Though this book, I could better understand my son’s first day of starting a new grade and also be reminded of my own schooldays. The main character in this book, Stuart, is so cute. When his mother prepared his new clothes for his first day of second grade, he was worried with several funny imaginations. By mistake, he wears only his underwear with his feather cape. The picture of this scene made me laugh so much. Besides, there are several fun scenes in this story and every page’s illustration brings more fun to the story. I think every student might be nervous like Stuart on their first day of school, and the author has a good grip on children’s situations and thoughts. I also believe that when students read this book, they could know they are not only one who is worried before the first day of school.

Reading Journal: What Do you Do With a Tail Like This?

What Do you Do With a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page

This book shows several animals’ characteristics categorized by body part. On the first page, this book shows only body parts and makes children guess which animal it is. The next page reveals the animals’ identity and explains the special features of the body parts from the previous page. From this book, I also learned several interesting facts about animals which I had not known before. The use of collage makes this book more attractive and lifelike in expressing animals’ characteristics. Most children might love this book because this book would enhance children’s curiosity related to animals. Also, this book provides more information in a glossary, and I believe this can compensate children’s remaining curiosity.

Video Book Talk 1: Into the forest by Anthony Browne

Craft Lesson 2

Title: Make a song and draw a picture

Resource: Take Me out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs by Alan Katz, Illustrated by David Cartrow.

According to TEKS: “(10) Reading/variety of texts. The student reads widely for different purposes in varied sources. The student is expected to: (A) read fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, including classic and contemporary works, for pleasure and/or information, (12) Reading/comprehension. The student uses a variety of strategies to comprehend selections read aloud and selections read independently. (13) Reading/literary response. The student responds to various texts. (C) respond through talk, movement, music, art, drama, and writing to a variety of stories and poems in ways that reflect understanding and interpretation.”

Discussion: Not only children but also adults enjoy reading a funny story. If children are interested in reading, they can get more benefits from their reading. The book which I select for my craft lesson, “Take Me Out of the Bathtub,” is really funny. In addition, each song is actually set to the tune of well-known children’s songs, such as “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” or “Yankee Doodle.” This book shows a different aspect from other regular children’s books. For children’s language education, educators often use songs because using songs help students memorize easily and make them have more interest. For example, the alphabet song which is based on the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” is recognized worldwide, and I believe most children in the world begin to start learn their English alphabet with this tune. Thus, I believe that this book can provide fun to children in their reading.

How to teach (1st – 2nd grade): The teacher would not read all of the songs to children at one time. The teacher would show a couple of songs per week using a PowerPoint presentation. When the teacher shows the words of the song, she does not let them know which tune goes with the song. After they read the song as a whole group, the teacher would let them know the tune that goes with the song. Then, children would sing the tune with the words of the new song. After singing, children would have time to discuss: If they like this song or not, why and which part they like or dislike, and so on. Then, children would have time to make their own new songs by using the tunes of short and well-known children’s song, such as “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” When they write their songs, each group would decide the title of their song and draw some pictures based on their song. Then, each group will sing their new song in front of their classmate and teacher. The classroom teacher would invite other teachers, show children’s work to them without names, and they would award first, second, and third place.

Reading Journal: Take Me Out of the Bathtub

Take Me Out of the Bathtub by Alan Katz, Illustrated by David Catrow

I cannot help laughing at this silly picture on the cover page. Not only the first page but also each page is fun to see. Overall the pictures of this book are exaggerated, and this kind of exaggeration expresses the important characteristics of what the author wants to say. I greatly enjoyed “I Have a Baby-sitter Here with Me.” When I read the last paragraph of this song—“Wait till my parents come home, what a fit / Bet they’ll never ask her back to si-it. / Oh no, what am I saying? I’d miss her / She’s ….my sister!”— I laughed out insanely.
Actually, I do not know many American children’s songs. I tried to sing these silly songs but I only knew a couple of the tunes. Then, I also shared this book with my sons, and my first son sang all of these silly songs with laughter. I and my two sons much enjoyed this book.

Reading Journal: He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands by Kadir Nelson

This book is introduced as following: “What began as a spiritual has developed into one of America’s best-known songs, sung at churches, schools, and campgrounds the country over.” I did not know this was a spiritual. When I played the piano with given notes in the back of this book, I realized that I had heard this song before. This book consists of beautiful pictures which match every few sentences. I especially like a picture in which a boy is smiling in the rain because his smile looks so peaceful and naïve. In addition, one family in this book shows me real happiness through their facial expressions. When a father and a son face each other, their profiles and eyes show unlimited love. During reading, I felt very comfortable and had a peaceful emotion. I began to love Kadir Nelson’s pictures because they have a living feeling. In other words, his pictures show not only the situation of the story sentences but also the feelings of the characters.

Craft Lesson 1

Title: Let’s talk about culture.

According to TEKS: In part of listening/speaking/culture, “The student listens and speaks to gain knowledge of his/her own culture, the culture of others, and the common elements of cultures. The student is expected to: (A) connect experiences and ideas with those of others through speaking and listening (K-3); and (B) compare language and oral traditions (family stories) that reflect customs, regions, and cultures (K-3).”

Resource: La Mariposa by Francisco Jiménez, Illustrated by Simón Silva

Discussion: It is really important for even young students to understand their own culture and other cultures. If students do not have opportunities to think about other cultures, they can have stereotypes about those cultures. There are plenty of trade books related to various cultures. This kind of book helps children to have a chance to know other cultures, providing appropriate pictures. Foreign language also reflects one of the aspects of different culture. Somebody who uses a foreign language also has a different culture from me. La Mariposa shows how a boy who cannot speak English spends his time in an English speaking school. There are people who have different cultures from each other in America. The more students have time to think about and learn about other cultures, the better they can understand them.

How to teach (2nd – 3rd grade): Before a teacher reads this book aloud, the teacher would show the cover page of the book to the students and ask them the meaning of the title, “La Mariposa.” The student who knows the meaning of the word might answer that it means a butterfly. The teacher would write two words, la mariposa and a butterfly, on the blackboard. Then, the teacher would write down some words from other languages, which she prepared before the class, that also mean a butterfly. The teacher would ask the students if they know how to say a butterfly in any other languages, and then explain briefly that there are many other languages and cultures in the world. After that she would begin to read the book aloud. After reading aloud, the teacher would ask the students the following: Why did Francisco imagine flying to his father during the class? How did Francisco feel in his school? If you were his classmate, how could you help him? and so forth. The students would also have time to talk about their experiences related to other languages and cultures. As homework, they will make posters introducing the family stories that show their own cultures. And, they would have time to present their posters and discuss their presentations, such as whose poster is impressive or interesting.

Reading Journal: Henry’s Freedom Box

Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Before I read this book, my eight-year-old son read it first. When I asked how it was, he said that this book is interesting and sad. Also he said it was a really unfair thing that there were slaves. Even to a small child’s eye, this story is sad and slavery is unjust. I do not have much information related to slavery in the U.S., and through this story, I could understand more about it. When I read this book, I felt as if I were watching a movie. It is really impressive and sad when Henry’s mother said to Henry that “Do you see those leaves blowing in the wind? They are torn from the trees like slave children are torn from their families.” I am able to feel a little bit how all slave families suffered from the sorrow of parting like Henry’s family did. I am even sad whenever I say goodbye to my family to come back to Lubbock after every summer vacation in Korea. Thus, Henry’s sadness must have been indescribable when he separated from his lovely family. From the past even until now, many people of many countries have struggled to find their freedom like Henry did. Through this story, I am able to realize again how important my freedom and family are.

Reading Journal: La Mariposa

La Mariposa by by Francisco Jiménez, Simón Silva, and Simon Silva

This book is story about one Spanish speaking boy who cannot understand English. As an international student here, I understand his situation well. People communicate with each other through language, and if one cannot use language proficiently, problems of misunderstanding can happen as Francisco experiences. This young boy must have a hard time at his school, so he usually spends his time imagining going to his father because he cannot understand what the teacher says during class. In addition, he has trouble with his classmate, Curtis, because of a jacket that has been given to Francisco by the principal. If he could communicate in English, he would not have that kind of trouble. Finally, these boys are reconciled with each other through butterfly drawing. I love this story because it provides several different aspects of one bilingual boy’s school life. Through this story, children might have a chance to think about other cultures and languages which are different from theirs.

Reading Journal: Goodnight Pillow Fight

Goodnight Pillow Fight by Sally Cook, Illustrated by Laura Cornell

My husband and I say to our two sons go to bed at 9:00 pm every night, but it is not easy to make them sleep at that time. They usually make various excuses not to go to bed. Even though they lay down in the bed, they make noise, giggle, and talk. When I read this book, I really sympathize with this book. This book describes a silly situation like mine. On the first page, I see several families who live in an urban apartment, and all of these parents try to make their children go to sleep with several ways. In spite of parents’ efforts, children make their parents exhausted. They keep asking their parents for something to do and argue with each other. Finally, the parents fall asleep before their children do. Their goodnight pillow fight is over, and calm and deep night comes again. Although all of the parents in this book have had a hard time before they sleep, I am able to see exhausted parents still love their children so much.