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[CCBC-Net] Project Mulberry
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From: Vlasta Blaha <vkb66>
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 11:52:01 -0600
I certainly appreciated reading your very thorough description of Whittington by Alan Armstrong. I will be looking forward to reading this book, especially the author notes you mentioned as I am grateful for insights into the research and creative process involved.
Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park, (Clarion) is a book that remains in my mind long after reading it this year. I have also had the opportunity to read it aloud for a fifth grade class, and they enjoyed and appreciated the story. I found it to be a good basis for discussion of prejudice and history. I think it could also be used as a basis for discussing the creative process of book writing since Ms. Park has written short chapters between each chapter of the story in which the author and the main character, Julia, discuss the writing process for this book.
This book has become a favorite of mine because it deals with some difficult issues such as prejudice and coming to terms with your own ethnic background and identity. These issues are included comfortably within the story about Julia and Patrick's friendship and their families' lives in Illinois. Julia is Korean-American and at first does not want to become involved in a silkworm raising project suggested by her mother. Her thought process and her many attempts to keep Patrick from pursuing this project seemed very realistic to me. I also appreciated the strong boy/girl friendship portrayed and the lively family dynamics from both children's families. While seeking a source of mulberry leaves for their silkworm project, Julia and Patrick learn about tolerance, patience, prejudice, and multi-generational friendship.
The between chapter dialogues between Ms. Park and Julia add an interesting dimension to Julia's spunky character. These dialogues also provide for insight into and discussion of an author's role in story and character creation. Good read-aloud for upper elementary grades.
(also interesting multi-cultural perspectives)
Vlasta Karol Blaha vkb66 at verizon.net Colby, Wisconsin
"The flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today."
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 11:04:47 -0800 (PST)
> From: Steven Engelfried <sengelfried at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [CCBC-Net] More 2005 favorites
> To: CCBC-NET <ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu>
> Message-ID: <20051218190447.49694.qmail at web52612.mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> 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 val
> ue 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 Tue 20 Dec 2005 11:52:01 AM CST
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 11:52:01 -0600
I certainly appreciated reading your very thorough description of Whittington by Alan Armstrong. I will be looking forward to reading this book, especially the author notes you mentioned as I am grateful for insights into the research and creative process involved.
Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park, (Clarion) is a book that remains in my mind long after reading it this year. I have also had the opportunity to read it aloud for a fifth grade class, and they enjoyed and appreciated the story. I found it to be a good basis for discussion of prejudice and history. I think it could also be used as a basis for discussing the creative process of book writing since Ms. Park has written short chapters between each chapter of the story in which the author and the main character, Julia, discuss the writing process for this book.
This book has become a favorite of mine because it deals with some difficult issues such as prejudice and coming to terms with your own ethnic background and identity. These issues are included comfortably within the story about Julia and Patrick's friendship and their families' lives in Illinois. Julia is Korean-American and at first does not want to become involved in a silkworm raising project suggested by her mother. Her thought process and her many attempts to keep Patrick from pursuing this project seemed very realistic to me. I also appreciated the strong boy/girl friendship portrayed and the lively family dynamics from both children's families. While seeking a source of mulberry leaves for their silkworm project, Julia and Patrick learn about tolerance, patience, prejudice, and multi-generational friendship.
The between chapter dialogues between Ms. Park and Julia add an interesting dimension to Julia's spunky character. These dialogues also provide for insight into and discussion of an author's role in story and character creation. Good read-aloud for upper elementary grades.
(also interesting multi-cultural perspectives)
Vlasta Karol Blaha vkb66 at verizon.net Colby, Wisconsin
"The flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today."
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 11:04:47 -0800 (PST)
> From: Steven Engelfried <sengelfried at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [CCBC-Net] More 2005 favorites
> To: CCBC-NET <ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu>
> Message-ID: <20051218190447.49694.qmail at web52612.mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> 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 val
> ue 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 Tue 20 Dec 2005 11:52:01 AM CST
