Bell,
C. (2014). El Deafo. New York: Abrams.
Imagine if one day you lost your hearing. Would your
friends, teachers, or family treat you differently? Would you still be able to
participate in your normal activities? Would you want to wear an hearing aid?
Have you ever been through something and felt like you really couldn't
communicate to others what you are feeling? These are just a few of the
dilemmas Cece experiences as she loses her hearing and begins wearing hearing
aid devices to assist her in life. Fortunately her hearing disability does come
with some privileges, she transforms in to the superhero El Deafo to get
through tough situations and learns to live with her disability and some other
adolescent problems along the way.
*I would ask my students have their ever felt
different, like they didn't belong, or were misunderstood, but could not relate
their feelings. I think students with disabilities would naturally be drawn to
this book, but I would also push this book to students who I know love graphic
novels because of the vivid colors and images in the book.
Similar to you, Jack was less than enthusiastic when his teacher started having him write poetry. He starts out slow writing things that he really doesn't believe is poetry, but over time as he's introduced to great poets like Walter Dean Myers, Robert Frost, and Valerie Worth, he begins to understand poetry, use it as a outlet, and even writes Mr. Myers, requesting him to come to his school. Read this book and watch Jack's love for poetry unfold. You never know. You might end up liking poetry too!
*I would sell this book based on its simplicity. I would conduct a book talk and try to interest pet lovers, or any kid who has experienced death in any form. I would emphasize poetry as an outlet and show how Jack discovers poetry in a way that is natural for him. Using this book as an example that, not all poems are difficult to understand, and possibly show a sample to prove how easy of a read it is.
Selznick, B.
(2007). Wonderstruck. NY: Scholastic.
Don't be intimidated by this book's size! There are
two stories in this book. Ben's story, which is told through words, and Rose's
story, which is told through pictures. Both
children set out on an adventure to find something that they are missing
in life, but at the end their stories intertwine to unlock a treasure of
answers they've been looking for this entire time. Will Ben be reunited with
his father after his mother's fatal car accident? While Rose find her place in
the world as a young deaf girl? Start reading now to find out.
*I would sell this book to my kids by asking has anyone seen the move The Invention of Hugo Cabaret. In further detail, I would explain to them that this is the same author who wrote the book and continue talking about the author's unique style.
This is a book of poems by Jacqueline Woodson who tells the story of her
life as a young African-American girl during the Civil Rights Era. Throughout
Jacqueline's life, you might relate to many things she sees happening amongst
her family: the separation of her mother and father, feeling torn between
homes, a strict upbringing, friendship, being the new/different kid, sickness,
death, and incarceration in her family. Her story shines a different light on
events that happened during the Civil Rights Movement and the major difference
between the North and South during those times. Read Jacqueline's story as she
finds a name for herself despite her overcastting shadow of
her "brilliant" older sibling and the trails of her family. What
are your dreams? What is it like for a brown girl dreaming? Read this book
now, and you might have more in common
than you think.
*I would sell this book by talking about the issues that Jacqueline goes through to appeal to students who are not African-America but may be able to relate to some of her challenges. In particular students who may be from another country, city, or state and often feel torn between homes. I would also identify the historical significance for my students that are history buffs.
Compare/Contrast Between Books
Brown Girl Dreaming/Love That Dog
These are two books composed of poems, but yet one narrator is male and the
other female. Though they both involve a quest figuring out their love of
poetry, they are very different in their approach. Love That Dog tends to be
more simplistic and light-hearted, while Brown Girl Dreaming overall touches on
more serious topics in a reflective way from the narrator who also is the
actual author making this book a biography in a sense. I see Love That Dog as
an introduction to get kids to love poems while Brown Girl Dreaming may be a
more intermediate level for students who are beginning to explore or already
love poetry.
Comparison of Wonderstruck/El Deafo
The main characters in both stories are deaf, and
trying to figure out certain things in their lives. While both Cece and Ben are
not born death, we see the struggle of them adjusting to their new disability.
We view them learning how to lip read and sign. In contrast, the pictures in El
Deafo are full of color, and the drawings in Wonderstruck are shades of black,
white, and gray, as if they were drawn with a pencil, but the pictures are
still incredibly detailed and just as vivid.
Other Books By The Authors
Jacqueline Woodson
1. Locomotion
2. Come Softly
3. Pecan Pie Baby
This author writes about a variety of different things, and while Brown Girl Dreaming was more of a childhood biography, I do see a common similarity between many of the books I researched by her. Most of her books describe real life issues that teens face from interracial dating, a new baby being born into the family, death, etc. Her books do tend to be mostly African-Americans. She writes for a wide age group. Her collection of work includes picture books like Pecan Pie Baby for children, and young adult novels such as Come Softly.
Sharon Creech
1. Hate That Cat
2. A Fine, Fine School
3. Replay
Sharon Creech writes books in a lighthearted manner for kids. Hate That Cat is a sequel to Love That Dog, so the style is fairly similar as it is written in verse. Whereas, Replay is written in the form of a play. Creech also has written three pictures books. One is titled A Fine, Fine School which also has a lighthearted tone.
Brain Selznick
1. The Invention of Hugo Cabret
2. The Marvels
3. The Houdini Box
Selznick has a distinct style in his books. He uses pencil drawings in all three of these books to assist with the story. Most of his main characters are male, and it seems as though there is always some adventure or puzzle pieced mystery.
Cece Bell
1. Bee-Wigged
2. Itty Bitty
3. Food Friends
All of Bell's book included illustrations which she drew herself. There is also a commonality of how she draws the pictures. El Deafo, Bee-Wigged, and Itty Bitty all seem to be drawn using acrylics. Food Friends includes pictures, but they are more simplistic in comparison to the other books.
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