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The Golden Compass by

Module 10- The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Pullman, Philip. (2008). The Golden Compass. Paw Prints.

342 Pages
Ages 12-16

Plot:

Lyra Belaqua is a wild and defiant young girl growing up in the care of the scholars at Jordan College at Oxford, when her uncle returns for one of his rare visits and her life suddenly changes. She's witness to a murder attempts on her uncle and then becomes entangled in a world of political and philosophical drama. Dust has been discovered - an elementary particle which does not seem to affect young children like Lyra. It is believed by some that this dust is the remnant of original sin but opposing viewpoints quickly develop. Children begin to be kidnapped for experimentation, Lyra's uncle is imprisoned by armored bears in the north and it's up to Lyra and a band of Gypsies to rescue them all. Without knowing it, Lyra is destined to alter the course of the future for all.

My Impressions:

As a fantasy book, this book depicts a thoroughly developed world of wonder and masterfully tells an intriguing tale. As a challenged book, I can see why some might see it as challenging to the foundations of Catholicism. I however do not think this is the main motivation behind the book. The book seems merely to want the reader to reexamine that which we think we know based on internal questioning rather than taking everything that is said for granted. Also, the book is set in a world much like our own at the turn of the century. It is set at a time when the church was losing much of its control over general political and social affairs, and not in today's world. Despite any challenge or debate that might erupt from its political agenda, the book is a fantastically imagined story of courage, integrity and choice. I really enjoyed the read and think I'm going to have to read the two sequels next.

Reviews:

From School Library Journal

"A self-styled author of "pop culture books on unauthorized subjects" tackles Pullman's trilogy. Beahm's compendium, aimed at introducing the "casual reader" to the books and forthcoming film version of The Golden Compass (Knopf, 1996), includes a chronology of Pullman's life and works; a lengthy excerpt from his autobiographical sketch in Something about the Author (Gale); a description of his major literary influences, Milton and Blake; and a useful list of key characters, places, and things in each of the three books. To these Beahm adds excerpts from reviews, information on relevant Oxford sites, and the transcription of a discussion with Pullman, the film's producer, and its visual-effects supervisor at the March 2007 Oxford Literary Festival. Brief comments from the film's cast and crew, bibliographies describing various editions of each title in the trilogy, as well as selected books about Pullman and his works round out the information presented. Sometimes repetitive and occasionally inaccurate, this guidebook reads more like a scrapbook compiled by an enthusiastic fan than a serious reference volume. The patchwork quality extends to the book design. Black-and-white photographs of Oxford sites face each section, while black-and-white images of book jackets are interspersed throughout the text, along with line drawings of objects important in the trilogy. An inset featuring glossy color photographs of Pullman's Oxford is also included. For larger collections."

Chang, M. A. (2007). Discovering The Golden Compass: A Guide to Philip Pullman's Dark Materials. School Library Journal, 53(10), 170.

Excerpt from Library Journal

"It takes a remarkable book to cross over from the juvenile to the adult division of a major publisher. Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass, an ambitious fantasy inspired by John Milton's Paradise Lost, is such a book."

Boehning, J. C. (1996). Philip Pullman's paradise. Library Journal, 121(3), 175.  

Library Suggestions:

This book represents a more recently and quite publicly challenged book and should definitely be represented by being including in such displays during banned book week. Such a display could be accompanied by forms that could be filled out based on reader's opinions either on the subject of banned books in general or their reactions to such books as The Golden Compass. 

 

Otto's Orange Day

Module 10- Otto's Orange Day by Frank Cammuso and Jay Lynch

Cammuso, F., & Lynch, J. (2008). Otto's orange day: A toon book. New York: Little Lit Library.

40 Pages
Ages 4-8

Plot:

Otto's favorite color is orange. All his favorite toys are orange. One day an orange package arrives for him from his aunt containing an orange lamp. Suddenly a giant genie appears and offers Otto, as the owner of the lamp, one wish. Of course Otto wishes that everything was orange. And so his wish is granted.

While at first Otto finds this wonderful, he soon realizes the danger of traffic lights being all orange and that orange spinach is not as fun as he had imagined. He has to change the world back- but how? Otto only had one wish. Otto calls his aunt who ingeniously buys the lamp back from Otto for a nickel and commands the genie to make the world not all orange. Unfortunately the tricky genie then makes the whole world blue. But after Otto buys him a pizza, since he hasn't eaten in 880 years, he decides he can't eat a blue pizza and restores the world to its multi-color form. Otto realizes he likes all the colors, even if does still like orange the best.

My Impressions:

The narrative of this story was very straightforward in terms of its development and delivery. The artwork was bold and captivating. I enjoyed the book's theme of  valuing the differences around us and that these differences are only enhanced by the variety around us, not diminished. Appreciating these unique differences and individual preferences is an important lessen that is artfully told. I think this a great introductory book to the genre of graphicnovels and would be very much enjoyed by  today's young readers.

Reviews:

From Booklist

"Written by ‘60s underground comic guru Lynch and Eisner-nominated Cammuso, who also did the artwork, this book in the new TOON imprint gives emerging readers a high-quality comic that is both loads of fun and easy to read. It’s a simple, archetypal story: Otto, a little orange-loving cat, wishes “everythingwas orange,” but when a genie grants his wish, he realizes that he should have been more careful what he wished for: orange lamb chops . . . “Blaach!!!” This is a textbook example of how to use page composition, expanding panel size, color, and stylized fi gures to make sequential art fresh, energetic, and lively. With the particular pedigree of the book’s creators, however, one can’t help but miss avantgarde subversiveness that made Little Lit books (e.g., Strange Stories for Strange Kids, 2001) for older children so thrilling and unique. Even without that element, though, this book is sure to engage a new generation in the art form; kids will want to read it once, then return to it again and again."

Karp, J. (2008). Otto's Orange Day. Booklist, 104(14), 66.

From School Library Journal

"Gr 1-3. Two veteran cartoonists collaborate to create a comic-strip-style book for beginning readers. Otto, an orange cat, receives a mysterious lamp from his aunt. While dusting it off, he releases the genie that resides within and is offered a wish as a reward. Otto declares that he would like everything in the world to be orange, his favorite color; however, after his wish is granted, the results-including a bad-tasting orange lamb chop and an orange-only traffic light that causes car accidents-soon cause him to have second thoughts. With the help of Aunt Sally Lee, Otto outsmarts the genie and sets things right. Each page features one to four panels, and the bulk of the story is told through dialogue balloons. The cartoons are lively and colorful. Clear chapter divisions, a clean graphic design, and large-size print make this title more appropriate for early readers than most comic-book offerings. Still, true beginners may have trouble with some of the vocabulary and struggle to follow the narrative flow. Offer this to book readers with a bit of experience under their belts and an interest in comics and cartoons. "

Fleishhacker, J. (2008). Otto's Orange Day. School Library Journal, 54(5), 153.

Library Suggestions:

This book would be good as part of a lesson on being careful what you wish for. Instructors could even incorporate an activity involving coloring a picture using only shades of orange and then one with all the colors.

This book would also be great as part of a collection of graphic novels for young readers as this is a good introductory book to the genre by two talented artists and writers.

12 Impossible Things Before Breakfast by Jane Yolen

Module 9- Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast by Jane Yolen

Yolen, J. (1997). Twelve impossible things before breakfast: Stories. San Diego: Harcourt Brace.

192 Pages
Ages 9-12

Plot:

This book includes 12 fantastic tales of imagination and suspense. They range from a return of Alice to Wonderland where she slays the Jabberwockie with laughter, a world in which Central Park is turned into a transformative place for people to become either predatory or prey animals and explore their natural instincts, and a moby-dick link sea battle with a brutal man-eating monster of the deep.

My Impressions:

 I found each of the stories in this collection to be very unique. No two were similar in plot, though each had at its center a teenager who faced with the impossible, finds the strength and courage to believe and overcome. Each story is told through rich language and imaginative characterization. My favorite was the re-envisioning of Alice's return to Wonderland in Tough Alice. I think Yolen does a great job in it of maintaining the feel of Carrol's well-known classic and yet giving it enough new life to make it a great story on its own.

Reviews:

From Booklist

"Gr. 6-9. Although 9 of the 12 fantasy stories in this collection have been published before, it is truly nice, as Yolen herself says, to have them together "under one roof." Yolen consistently writes fresh, off-the-wall stories that even children who don't normally read fantasy will enjoy. Some of the tales have elements of horror "Mama Gone" concerns a boy whose deceased mother is a vampire; "The Baby-Sitter" is about a girl who must follow a ritualistic pattern of movements to placate the mysterious "them" who lurk behind closed doors. Some are sweetly tragic, such as "Bolundeers," in which a father saves his son from monsters. Others are twists on old stories: in "Lost Girls," a Peter Pan takeoff, a new Wendy raises the consciousness of other lost girls and foments rebellion in Neverland. Yolen's introduction and her final comments on the origins of each story add to the fun and provide wonderful insights into the writing process."

Chris, S. (1997). Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast: Stories by Jane Yolen. Booklist, 94(5), 463.

From School Library Journal

"Gr 5-7--This solid collection of short stories is a good introduction to various types of fantasy. Three of the 12 pieces are new and the rest have been published in other compilations. There is something here for everyone tales that are scary, gross, or fanciful. Some of the selections are reworkings of parts of children's classics, such as Alice in Wonderland (Alice learns how to be tough with the Jabberwock) and Peter Pan (Captain Hook is singing a new tune now that he is married to a modern-day feminist). "The Bridge's Complaint" puts a different spin on "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" by relating events from the bridge's point of view. The tales are set in different times--some in the past, some in the present, and some in the near or distant future. "Wilding" is a chilling futuristic look at New York City's Central Park, based on the gang violence that occurred there in the late 1980s. There's a story of a frightening sea monster, one about a fairy, and another about aliens; all will chill and delight the imagination."

Golodetz, V. (1997). Grades 5 & up: Fiction. School Library Journal, 43(12), 132. 

Library Suggestions:

I think this story would make a great display item for story a collection of short story books. As each story is linked by an imaginative thread and yet vastly different from the last, these stories are sure to be a hit with young adult readers. This is especially true for those more reluctant readers who struggle to make it through full novels.  

The Wonder Book

Module 9- The Wonder Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Rosenthal, A. K. (2010). The wonder book. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

80 Pages
Ages 4-8

Plot:

This book provides a fun, silly and clever look at ordinary aspects of daily life, looked out at in a new and interesting way. The book includes fun lists, for example, of things you can and can't run with, includes interactive selections which ask the reader to create their own verse, and a look at some creative palindromes ("Was it Eliot's toilet I saw?").

My Impressions:

I found this book to be a witty and clever look at ordinary life events. I enjoyed the way it really explored not only the wonder of these events, but the English language in general. The plays on words, puns, and silly palindromes all explored the power words can have. The illustrations by Paul Schmid have the same fun and silly feel and really enhance the text. I think my favorite selection would be "Fruitful Love," which played on the words of fruits to tell a cute story: "Honeydew you love me?", "You know I do", "Then let's run off and get married", "Oh, darling, we've talked about this. We cantaloupe!" I think children will really like the variety of this book, as it offers not only various formats and subjects, but also selection lengths. There are no two selections alike.


Reviews:

From The Horn Book Guide

"K-3 Illustrated by Paul Schmid. Two things are certain about this uneven assemblage of silly and sometimes subversive poems, palindromes, puns, lists, and random observations. One, kids will like it. Two, ditties like "Tinkle / Tinkle / In the sea / Don't look under / While I pee ..." will draw comparisons to Shel Silverstein's work. Expressive black line drawings are a perfect, punchy counterpart to Rosenthal's verbal humor and horseplay."

Carolyn L., S. e. (n.d). Rosenthal, Amy Krouse: The Wonder Book. The Horn Book Guide, 21(2), 435.

From School Library Journal

"K-Gr 3--Here is a joyous, totally original potpourri of stories, poems, lists, palindromes, visual jokes, and random observations about the universal delights and conundrums of childhood. Set squarely in the world of the 21st-century child, with references to tae kwon do, 50 TV channels, and chocolate-chip pancakes, these varied musings nonetheless speak to everyone's inner child, young or old, mentioning table manners, dinosaurs, bratty children, whining, the tooth fairy, and moms and dads who can't relate. Simple, evocative, and childlike black-and-white line drawings, in concert with judicious and varied use of white space, perfectly capture the happy/sad/serious/silly moods of the selections. A book that can be opened on any page, it includes a handy, tongue-in-cheek index of key words and images to guide readers to subjects of interest. Make room on the poetry shelf between Prelutsky and Silverstein: fans of such well-loved titles as The New Kid on the Block (1984) and A Light in the Attic (1981,both HarperCollins) will flock to this winning volume of sheer fun."

Finn, K. (2010). The Wonder Book. School Library Journal, 56(3), 143. 

Library Suggestions:

This book would be a good to do as an interactive read-aloud book to introduce children to verse and poetry. It shows the wide range of verse options within the genre and how fun the subject can be. 

The Face on the Milk Carton

Module 8- The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney

Cooney, C. B. (1990). The face on the milk carton. New York: Bantam Books.

192 Pages
Ages 12-16

Plot:

Janie Johnson is your typical high school girl. She thinks too typical even and begins to imagine herself as someone more exciting and exotic: Jayyne Jonstone. However, when she discovers her 3 three year old self upon a missing persons report on the side of her milk carton, she no longer knows who she is at all. Its reported that she was kidnapped from a New Jersey shopping center at the age of three, but with her perfect parents she has no other reason to suspect she is anyone other than good old Janie. However, she begins to find small and unnerving discrepancies such as a lack of a birth certificate, the distinctive polka-dot dress from the milk carton photograph in the attack, and flashbacks of another life. Soon she is sure her parents are not really her parents and is forced to confront them. They tell her that they are actually her grandparents and that their daughter was lost to a cult and that to protect Janie they had to change their names and create this new story and life. When some facts still dont add up, Janie realizes that she was still taken from her real family by her grandparent's daughter and makes the toughest decision of her life; she calls her real mother.

My Impressions:

I picked this book because I remembered it and its sister novels being popular when I was younger, but I'd never got around to reading any of them. I was surprised by this book. First of all, I remember it being popular when I was in about fourth grade and I found the content of the book a bit heavy and sexually charged for this demographic. However, for a slightly older reader, I found the book to be a very suitable mystery read. I enjoyed the fully fleshed characters and the story was nicely paced without lulls. It not only shares a very intriguing mystery, but it also raises some difficult questions for the reader about how they would handle such a life-changing situation. I found it to be a great read and would recommend it for young adults looking for a good mystery read.

Reviews:

From Publishers Weekly

"THE FACE ON THE MILK CARTON The picture of a missing child printed on a milk carton attracts the attention of 15-year old Jane Johnson. A glimpse of the girl's polka-dot dress causes memories to surface, and Jane begins to review her past and question her true identity. It is nearly impossible for Jane to perceive her loving parents as kidnappers; the task of gathering evidence and drawing conclusions proves less difficult than confronting the undeniable truth. As the novel ends, Jane has found the courage to contact her real parents, but Cooney cleverly leaves the events that follow to readers' imaginations. Although the book's plot is based largely on coincidences, Cooney's skilled writing makes even the most unlikely events seem plausible. The roller-coaster ride Jane experiences with her emotions is both absorbing and convincing. Strong characterizations and suspenseful, impeccably-paced action add to this novel's appeal. Ages 12-up."

Diane, R. k. (1990). The Face on the Milk Carton. Publishers Weekly, 237(2), 62. 

Library Suggestions:

I would promote this item as part of a collection of young adult mysteries. There is a reason this book has remained a popular read and a part of library collections for many years, and that is because it is a good book for a wide category of readers, offering both an engaging mystery as well as an examination of personal identity. 

Where's the Big Bad Wolf by Eileen Christelow

 Module 8- Where's the Big Bad Wolf? by Eileen Christelow

Christelow, E. (2002). Where's the big bad wolf?. New York: Clarion Books.

32 Pages
Ages 4-8

Plot:

In this re-imagination of the classic Three Little Pigs story, police detective Doggedly is out to catch the Big Bad Wolf in the act. Because despite the repeated arrests and warnings, the Big Bad Wolf just can't seem to give up his mischievous antics. But one night, things start to get weird. Doggedly arrives on the scene of a blown down straw house built by three little pigs. He's sure it's got Big Bad Wolf written all over it, but he's nowhere to be found. Instead there's a strange new sheep, Esmerelda, who's just moved into town and been helping the piggies build their house. Doggedly tracks down the wolf only to find him sick in bed, and has to dismiss him as a suspect. But again the next night a house of sticks is blown over and once again while Doggedly is sure the Big Bad Wolf is involved, he again only finds Esmerelda at the sight and the Big Bad Wolf is now so sick he's in the hospital. Finally, when the piggies build a house of brick to withstand the repeated attacks, the culprit finds themselves unable to blow the house down. Fleeing the scene though is Esmerelda. So following her, Doggedly arrives at the hospital to find Big Bad Wolf climbing through the window and throwing off his disguise. This time Doggedly really locks him up.

My Impressions:

I really think children will get a kick out of this book as they can spot the apparent deception that Detective Doggedly is missing. As children are usually already familiar with the story, this added twist allows for a new level of engagement with the story. I did think the story was unnecessarily wordy at times though and I would've liked the artwork to be a bit more engaging, making some of the action more obvious or perhaps even more subtle, where the reader really has to take a closer look.

Reviews:

From Book Links

K-Gr. 4. Detective Doggedly constantly catches the Big Bad Wolf in the act of committing crimes against the pigs in town. Now the Wolf is disguising himself as other animals, and Detective Doggedly must try to see through his guise. Readers can draw conclusions about the wolf in sheep's clothing from the text and illustrations and also compare this title with more traditional versions of the story of the three little pigs."

Where's the Big Bad Wolf? (2004). Book Links, 13(5), 41.

From Kirkus Reviews

"Three little pigs get some real bad advice from a wolf in a real goofy sheep disguise in this comical whodunit. The three little pigs are having their homes blown dowry--and escaping by the hair of their chinny-chin-chins--and Detective Doggedly believes it might be the work of the shiftless, no-account neighborhood wolf, the infamous BBW. But the only character found at the crime scenes is a newcomer to town: Esmeralda the sheep. Sure, kids will note, Esmeralda their foot, for her disguise is pretty transparent. She has also been giving the pigs construction ideas: straw is good, twigs are good, and cardboard's not bad. Two cows suggest a brick house, which foils the wolf and ends in his unveiling and incarceration. Short-term incarceration, that is, as he's soon back, this time tricked out as a horse, with more self-serving recommendations: "Pick peas after midnight, when everybody is asleep. They'll taste sweeter." So what if there are a few inexplicables here--How did the wolf con his way into that hospital bed?--this is good clownish fun, and the rough-and-tumble art keeps the farce bubbling. (Picture book. 4-7)"

WHERE'S THE BIG BAD WOLF? (2002). Kirkus Reviews, 70(14), 1028. 

Library Suggestions:

This book would be great as a read-aloud story time book for a small group of kids so that the accompanying images could easily be seen by all. This way the children can spot the obvious deception that Doggedly is missing and be able to really interact with the story.