Module #7: Ivy + Bean

Module #7:  Ivy + Bean

Book Summary:

Ivy + Bean is a realistic fiction book by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall.  This book is aimed at older elementary school girls.  Bean is the youngest of two siblings and her day is spent playing pranks on her older sister. When one of Bean’s joke goes a little too far, she has no other option but to plan her disappearance.  Little does Bean know that the new and odd neighbor girl will come to her aid with the use of her magic.  These two set off on a magical adventure, from dressing up Ivy to look like a proper witch, to running through a gauntlet of backyards to get to the magic ingredient in Ivy’s dance spell - worms!  Although their spell is successful, it does come with punishment for misbehaving. Bean and Ivy learn a lesson and, at the same time, become friends.

APA Reference of Book:

Barrows, A. & Blackall, S. (2006). Ivy + Bean. San Francisco, Calif: Chronicle Books.

Impressions:

This book brought back childhood memories of summer and playing with the neighbors. It is the story of two little girls, one more of a tom-boy while the other one is more girly, that find their differences to be one of the reason they like each other.  Ivy is an only child, while Bean is the youngest sister who finds her older sibling unbearably boring.  This book was funny - I kept picturing the girls getting yelled at by the neighbors as they trampled through flowers and backyards. And what is playtime without the use of imagination and magic? This book was delightful and fun.

Professional Review:

In the tradition of Betsy and Tacy, Ginnie and Geneva, come two new friends, Ivy and Bean. Ivy has just moved in across the street from Bean, who wants no part of her. She thinks Ivy looks dull, always with her nose in a book. Bean, on the other hand, is a spark plug; she's full of tricks, especially ones that can be played on her older sister, Nancy. But the day Bean pulls a trick that goes wrong and Ivy comes to her rescue, a friendship is born. The deliciousness here is in the details, with both girls drawn distinctly and with flair. Ivy, who at first seems to be a dud, has aspirations to being a witch, which is dangerously intriguing; Bean's spunky way of talking and acting (there's a classic moment when she wiggles her butt at Nancy) will make readers giggle. Even with all the text's strong points, what takes the book to a higher level is Blackall's artwork, which captures the girls' spirit. A chapter from the second book in the series, to be published in this fall, will whet readers' appetites for more Ivy and Bean. Category: Books for the Young--Fiction. 2006, Chronicle, $14.95. Gr. 1-3. Starred Review (PUBLISHER: Chronicle Books (San Francisco Calif.:), PUBLISHED: c2006.)

Cooper, I. (2006). Ivy and Bean. Booklist, 102(15), 42.

Library Uses:

This is a good to book to encourage young girls to begin reading longer chapter books. The print is large and the book contains comical illustrations of Ivy and Bean. 

Module #6: No, David!

Module #6:  No, David!

Book Summary:

This is the story of a very rumbustious little boy named David. David is always getting himself into one kind of mischief or another, while mom is constantly shouting “No” at him.  David tracks in dirty footprints, tries to knock over the fishbowl, and runs around the neighborhood naked, yet at the end of the story, mom does not punish David, but simply loves and hugs him.

  APA Reference of Book:

Shannon, D. (1998). No, David! New York, NY: Blue Sky.

Impressions:

I have mixed feeling about this book. I did not like the art work, as I found it rather fighting - David almost looks as if he has fangs for teeth! David is constantly doing destructive things, but in the end mom loves him unconditionally.  Is the book a cautionary tale for kids to not be bad or a tale for parents, urging them to be grateful they don’t have children like David? I do like that David Shannon uses a whole page spread for each David’s mischievous endeavors, though.

 Professional Review:

David is an energetic little boy who manages to get in all sorts of trouble, so it is little wonder that all he ever hears his mother say is, “No, David!” Shannon effectively uses facial expressions to portray David’s lively personality. When reaching for the cookie jar, David is pictured with his tongue sticking out. When caught tracking mud on the floor, his eyes and mouth are round to feign innocence. Equally revealing are David’s actions, which are shown through the illustrations. We see David banging on a pan, jumping on his bed, and running naked down the street.  Shannon also communicates David’s feelings through artwork. When Mom sends her mischievous child to his room, David’s downturned mouth and clenched fists show how angry he is. Then, when he is sent to the corner for breaking a vase, we see a tear rolling down David’s cheek. In the end, though, Mom calls, “Davey,” and reassures him that, yes, she loves him.

Prior, L. l., & Willson, A. W. (2013). No, David!. Journal Of Children's Literature, 39(1), 58.

Library Uses: This book could be used to teach manners and mindfulness to younger children during storytimes.

Module #5: This One Summer

Module #5:  This One Summer

Book Summary:

This is the story of two young girls who during their summer vacation begin to discover the complexities of adulthood. Although they are still in their early teens and still little girls in their innocence, this summer will be their introduction to sex, boys, drugs, alcohol, pregnancy, family roles, family conflict, and depression. At the end of their summer vacation, they have experienced something different from their childhood vacations, and they expect that next summer will also bring more change.  

APA Reference of Book:

Tamaki, M. & Tamaki, J. (2014) This one summer. New York, NY: First Seconds.

Impressions:

This graphic novel was the winner of the 2014 Michael Printz Award Honor Book and the 2014 Caldecott Honor Book.  The first thing that captures your attention in this graphic novel is its use of indigo blue ink for the drawings instead of black.  The characters are true-to-life young girls, Rose and Windy, discovering the pains of growing up: witnessing family arguments, different family structures, and boys. I enjoyed reading this graphic novel and I would have enjoyed it even if it had just been a regular young adult novel. It reminds me of that time in my life when I was getting too old for kiddy stuff, but dragging my feet into adolescence, knowing there is no turning back once you get there.

Professional Review:

TAMAKI, Mariko. This One Summer. illus. by Jillian Tamaki. 320p. First Second. May 2014. Tr $21.99. ISBN 9781626720947; pap. $17.99. ISBN 9781596437746.

Gr 8 Up—Every summer, Rose and her parents vacation at a lakeside cottage. The rest of the world fades away as Rose reunites with her friend Windy and delves into leisurely games of MASH, swimming, and the joy of digging giant holes in the sand—but this summer is different. Rose is on the cusp of adolescence; she's not ready to leave childhood behind but is fascinated by the drama of the local teens who are only a few years older, yet a universe apart in terms of experience. They drink, they smoke, they swear. As Rose and Windy dip their toes into the mysterious waters of teen life by experimenting with new vocabulary ("sluts!") and renting horror movies, her parents struggle with their own tensions that seem incomprehensible to Rose. Layers of story unfurl gradually as the narrative falls into the dreamlike rhythm of summer. Slice-of-life scenes are gracefully juxtaposed with a complex exploration of the fragile family dynamic after loss and Rose's ambivalence toward growing up. The mood throughout is thoughtful, quiet, almost meditative. The muted tones of the monochromatic blue-on-white illustrations are perfectly suited to the contemplative timbre, and the writing and images deserve multiple reads to absorb their subtleties. This captivating graphic novel presents a fully realized picture of a particular time in a young girl's life, an in-between summer filled with yearning and a sense of ephemerality. The story resolves with imperfect hope and will linger in readers' mind through changing seasons.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

Tran, A. (2014). This One Summer. School Library Journal, 60(5), 144.

Library Uses: This is a great book for teens and adults. Reluctant readers will enjoy reading and looking at the illustrations.