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[CCBC-Net] More 2005 favorites
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From: Steven Engelfried <sengelfried>
Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 11:04:47 -0800 (PST)
I just finished a book that I have to add to my 2005 favorites: "Whittington" by Alan Armstrong. It's a wonderful story made up of barnyard episodes, neatly intertwined (by a storytelling cat) with Dick Whittington's adventures in the 1300's(?). There's also a parallel story of a boy from the farm who's struggling with reading. And it all fits together as sort of a testament to the power of storytelling. The boy gains inspiration from Whittington's exploits, but in bits and pieces, clinging to certain key moments that resonate with him. The tales told also impact the animals on the farm in various ways. The storytelling is just right...funny, insightful, and very engaging. He uses short and simple sentences with inventive word choices and imagery that bring you right into the setting. He develops full dimensional characters (animal and human), mostly through dialogue and through the characters' acts. Even the author's notes at the end (a feature I usually don't value much)
are just right, as he shares the research he did and you realize how much knowledge (history, herbs, animal behavior, teaching methods...) was required, along with the great storytelling, to create this fascinating fictional world.
- Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library
12375 SW 5th Street
Beaverton, OR 97005
503-526-2599
sengelfried at ci.beaverton.or.us
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Received on Sun 18 Dec 2005 01:04:47 PM CST
Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 11:04:47 -0800 (PST)
I just finished a book that I have to add to my 2005 favorites: "Whittington" by Alan Armstrong. It's a wonderful story made up of barnyard episodes, neatly intertwined (by a storytelling cat) with Dick Whittington's adventures in the 1300's(?). There's also a parallel story of a boy from the farm who's struggling with reading. And it all fits together as sort of a testament to the power of storytelling. The boy gains inspiration from Whittington's exploits, but in bits and pieces, clinging to certain key moments that resonate with him. The tales told also impact the animals on the farm in various ways. The storytelling is just right...funny, insightful, and very engaging. He uses short and simple sentences with inventive word choices and imagery that bring you right into the setting. He develops full dimensional characters (animal and human), mostly through dialogue and through the characters' acts. Even the author's notes at the end (a feature I usually don't value much)
are just right, as he shares the research he did and you realize how much knowledge (history, herbs, animal behavior, teaching methods...) was required, along with the great storytelling, to create this fascinating fictional world.
- Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library
12375 SW 5th Street
Beaverton, OR 97005
503-526-2599
sengelfried at ci.beaverton.or.us
__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Received on Sun 18 Dec 2005 01:04:47 PM CST
