The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

2004 Newbery Medal
1. Bibliography
DiCamillo, Kate. 2005. THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX. Read by Graeme Malcolm. Compact Disc. Unabridged. Listening Library, Inc. ISBN 1400099137.

2. Summary
From birth, Despereaux Tilling is unlike the other mice. He is born with his eyes open. He is terribly small. He does not enjoy the mouse pursuits of nibbling paper and scurrying. Instead of eating the pages of a book, he reads them. He just doesn't fit in. His life is inexorably changed when he meets the Princess Pea, the human with whom he falls in love. Exiled to the dungeon by his mouse community for speaking to humans, he is at the mercy of the rats who rule the dark domain. Or so the other mice think. Meanwhile, the rat Chiaroscuro becomes enchanted by a rare glimpse of light and sets out on his own fateful path. THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX is the story of an extraordinarily small mouse; Pea, the princess he loves; a devious rat who longs for the light beyond his dark dungeon; and Miggery Sow, a poor servant girl who wants nothing more than to be special. From different backgrounds, fate brings them together, and as their worlds collide in the King's castle, Despereaux must rise above his stature to save the Princess Pea.

3. Critical Analysis
In the language of fairy tales from long ago, Kate DiCamillo writes the story of a small hero in a modern fairy tale/animal fantasy. In a clear, consistent voice, the omniscient narrator tells a tale of heroic proportions. The characters are fleshed out through a balance between the narrator's direct comments and each character's own signature characteristics: Despereaux's reason, courage, and chivalric love for the princess; Chirascuro's devious determination; and Miggery Sow's vacuous, pathetic wonder at the world around her. "Gaw'," she intones every step of the way. Even the narrator, although he is not a part of the story he tells, is a well-drawn character who pauses his narration periodically to address the reader (listener in the audiobook) directly, sharing his thoughts and asking questions, much as a parent or teacher might when reading aloud to children. While the fascinating story echoes the feel of traditional fairy tales, DiCamillo presents an original, fresh plot and interesting characters that will engage readers of all ages. Children will identify with characters who each want something they're told they can't have and are willing to risk it all to achieve it.

Graeme Malcolm's audiobook reading of THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX is a masterpiece. DiCamillo's book alone is a great read, but Malcolm enriches it with the talent of a master storyteller. Not only does his English accent automatically add to the fairy tale feel, he adjusts his volume to create the right mood and employs believable accents for different characters(Despereaux's mother is French; the Threadkeeper is Scottish). For characters with no distinguishable accent, he changes his intonation, so that if there were no dialogue signal words, listeners could still follow which characters are speaking simply by the way Malcolm manipulates the sound of his voice. I was mesmerized by his storytelling. I felt like a child again, transported magically to another place.

The narrator's asides work well in audio format, as they become a think-aloud by which all listeners, but especially struggling listeners and readers, are given process time, a thinking model, and a helping hand with vocabulary and hard-to-grasp abstract ideas.

4. Review Excerpts
For the print format:
School Library Journal--"This expanded fairy tale is entertaining, heartening, and, above all, great fun."
The New York Times--"… a terrific, bravura performance."
Publisher's Weekly--"The omniscient narrator recalls Henry Fielding's Tom Jones, assuming a similarly irreverent yet compassionate tone and also addressing readers directly."
Children's Literature--"This is a tale made for reading aloud and family enjoyment."

5. Connections
This book is wonderful for illustrating an omniscient narrator and showing the think-aloud through asides to the reader/listener. Excerpts may be pulled out, critiqued, and mimicked by students.

*Other books by Kate DiCamillo
BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE. 2000. Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763607762.
THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE. 2006. Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763625892.
TIGER RISING. 2001. Ill. by Chris Sheban. Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763609110.

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

2005 Michael L. Printz YA Award
1. Bibliography
Rosoff, Meg. 2006. HOW I LIVE NOW. New York: Random House Children's Books. ISBN 0553376055.

2. Summary
Escaping her widowed father and his new bride, fifteen year-old Daisy goes to England to stay with her aunt and cousins, whom she has never met. She falls in love with their farm outside London and with her cousins, too--especially Edmond, with whom she develops a special bond. Not long after she arrives, though, terrorists bomb London. Unfortunately, Aunt Penn is away on business at the time and can't get back to the children, leaving them alone on the farm to fend for themselves. At first, the children are far removed from the war, enjoying their adult-free time with little difficulty. But soon, the war finds them as soldiers arrive at the farm and split the cousins up, sending the girls to a holding camp and the boys somewhere else. Daisy vows to find Edmond. She and her cousin Piper manage to break away and set off on a perilous cross-country trek to search for him. In the end, they are reunited, but the reunion is shockingly bittersweet.

3. Critical Analysis
Told in first person, conversational narration, HOW I LIVE NOW gives us an intensely personal look at events through Daisy's candid eyes. Contrary to realistic children's and young adult literature published prior to the 1960s, which usually does not portray negative aspects of society, more recent publications have addressed issues such as divorce, sexuality, homelessness, mental and physical illness, and violence. Rosoff adheres to the trend and addresses the less-than-perfect aspects of Daisy's life. Like so many of today's teenagers, Daisy is confronted with tough issues: her mother's death, her father's remarrying, a "wicked" stepmother--one who is pregnant, no less--and anorexia. She's vulnerable to romance, and like a typical teenager, is drawn to the forbidden; in this case, a questionable relationship with her cousin Edmond, which she calls "the world's most inappropriate case of sexual obsession."

Rosoff reveals Daisy's character through a strong, consistent voice, and while some readers may find the long sentences and unorthodox punctuation frustrating, they reflect Daisy's personality and state-of-mind. Over the course of the novel, Daisy transforms from a selfish adolescent into a young woman who faces conflict rather than running from it. She learns compassion, responsibility (to herself and others), and perseverance in the face of fear and adversity. The lessons she learns are embedded neatly in the story for readers to discover rather than overtly thrown in their faces.

HOW I LIVE NOW addresses the young adult theme of time suspended before entering the adult world. The period when the children are left alone on the farm unsupervised is their last hurrah of childhood before being thrust harshly into adulthood by the cruel hand of war.

4. Review Excerpts
Publisher's Weekly (starred)--"This riveting first novel paints a frighteningly realistic picture of a world war breaking out in the 21st century . . . Readers will emerge from the rubble much shaken, a little wiser, and with perhaps a greater sense of humanity."

The Horn Book (starred)--“A winning combination of acerbic commentary, innocence, and sober vision. . . . Hilarious, lyrical, and compassionate."

5. Connections

Older students (high school and up) might want to use this book as a stepping stone to discussing terrorism in today's world.

Younger students may focus on conflict and difficult decisions. They might make text-to-self connections about times they've felt isolated from their parents or were in a position when they had to be in charge during a difficult time.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

1994 Newbery Medal
1. Bibliography
Lowry, Lois. 1993. THE GIVER. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0395645662.

2. Summary
Jonas accepts the seemingly perfect society in which he lives. There is no pain, no war, no envy, no hatred, no inequality. At the Ceremony where all twelve-year olds are given their life assignments, Jonas is singled out to be the new Receiver of Memory, a mysterious and rare assignment. He begins studying with the previous Receiver, who is now the Giver, and learns from him that the Receiver holds the community's memories--memories of war and pain and pleasure, allowing everyone to escape into ignorant contentment. As the Giver transfers more memories to Jonas, Jonas comes to realize that his community is not what it seems to be, and in the end, he must decide how to deal with his disturbing, newfound knowledge.

3. Critical Analysis
This haunting fantasy/science fiction novel paints the picture of a diseased society ignorant of its own cancer. Once Jonas becomes the Receiver and experiences pleasure, color, and even intense pain, the utopia is revealed as a lie. Jonas "wakes up" to what the people have given up to have their perfect society: emotions, individuality, and choice. Reminiscent of Ayn Rand's ANTHEM, George Orwell's 1984, and Ray Bradbury's FARENHEIT 451, THE GIVER makes the archetypal dystopia and its themes accessible to younger readers through an adolescent protagonist with whom they can identify. The questioning of authority that is inherent in any dystopic novel will appeal to young adults who themselves are at a stage in life when rebellion against the establishment is common as they struggle to assert their independence.

Lowry skillfully manipulates language to reflect the numb sterility of the community. Homes are "dwellings," families are "units," and even Jonas's seven year-old sister refers to boys as "males." The stuffed elephant that she cradles as she sleeps is her "comfort object" and was ritualistically bestowed upon her. The rituals, and there are many, are given capitalized, formal names (the Naming, where the number assigned to each newchild is replaced by a name; the Ceremony of Twelves; Release).

With a well-constructed, easy-to-follow plot, Lowry builds up a so-called perfect society, then tears it down with Jonas's horrified shock upon witnessing a Release. She gives him a believable way out of the community he can no longer endure and offers a hopeful ending. THE GIVER explores some of the deepest needs (love, memory, free will) and fears (disillusionment, mind control, isolation) of humanity, especially young adults, and challenges them to examine important political and social issues.

4. Review Excerpts
Publisher's Weekly--"Lowry is once again in top form... unwinding a tale fit for the most adventurous readers."

Children's Literature--"This is a stunning, provocative science fiction story that will inspire discussion."

ALAN Review--"Just as Lowry's Number the Stars (which received the 1990 Newbery Medal) portrays the Danish people's triumph over Nazi persecution, The Giver engages the reader in an equally inspiring victory over totalitarian inhumanity."

School Library Journal--"This tightly plotted story and its believable characters will stay with readers for a long time."

Kirkus Reviews--"Wrought with admirable skill--the emptiness and menace underlying this Utopia emerge step by inexorable step: a richly provocative novel."

5. Connections
*Other books that illustrate the utopian/dystopian archetype

Bradbury, Ray. 1953. FARENHEIT 451. Del Rey. ISBN 0345342968.
Huxley, Aldous. 1932. BRAVE NEW WORLD. Harper Collins. ISBN 0060929871.
Orwell, George. 1949. 1984. Harcourt Brace. ISBN 0452262933.
Rand, Ayn. 1937 (England) 1949 (U.S.). ANTHEM. ISBN 0451191137.

Along with THE GIVER, these titles can be used in a multi-title book unit about utopias/dystopias. Students can find similarities and motifs across the titles to discover the archtypal elements. Preview the novels for content, however. I have used ANTHEM and ANIMAL FARM with 8th grade gifted and talented students. Just keep in mind that all these novels are adult fiction.

Students may also make connections to current events. These novels should spark discussion.

*Companion Books to THE GIVER (all by Lois Lowry)

GATHERING BLUE. 2000. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618055819.
MESSENGER. 2004. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618404414.

*Other books by Lois Lowry:
GOSSAMER. 2006. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618685502.
NUMBER THE STARS. 1989. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0395510600. Newbery Medal Winner.
THE SILENT BOY. 2003. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0440419808.

*For younger readers
The ANASTASIA KRUPNIK series. Yearling.

Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman

Newbery Honor Book
1. Bibliography
Cushman, Karen. 1995. CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY. New York: Harper Collins Children's Books. ISBN 0064405842.

2. Summary
Thirteen year-old Catherine's father wants to marry her off to the highest bidder, but this medieval English teenager will have none of it. High-spirited and independent, Catherine rebels against the submissive, domestic role she is expected to take as a gentlewoman.

3. Critical Analysis
Catherine complains in her first diary entry, “I am commanded to write an account of my days: I am bit by fleas and plagued by family. That is all there is to say.” Karen Cushman provides a brilliant introduction to Catherine, whose older brother, she reveals in a subsequent entry, commands her to keep a journal in the hopes it will cause her to be “less childish and more learned.” Although she resents the assignment, she sticks with it, if for no other reason than it keeps her from the “foolish boredom of spinning.”

As she chronicles her daily routines, worries, disappointments, and pleasures, Catherine develops from a sullen, rebellious teenager into a young lady with new insights, while at the same time giving an inadvertent, closest-thing-to-time-travel experience to modern readers. Cushman seamlessly blends authentic details about the food, hygiene, medical practices, daily circumstances, customs, and beliefs of the times into the story. She follows her narrative with historical notes about medieval England and a list of recommended books for young readers who want to know more about the period.

4. Review Excerpts
School Library Journal--"Superb historical fiction."
Kirkus Reviews-- "The period has rarely been presented for young people with such authenticity; the exotic details will intrigue readers while they relate more closely to Birdy's yen for independence and her sensibilities toward the downtrodden."

5. Connections

*Nonfiction books about medieval England/Europe:

By Joseph and Frances Gies:
DAILY LIFE IN MEDIEVAL TIMES. ISBN 0760759138.
LIFE IN A MEDIEVAL CITY. ISBN 0060908807.
LIFE IN A MEDIEVAL VILLAGE. ISBN 0060920467.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY IN THE MIDDLE AGES. ISBN 0060914688.
WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE AGES. ISBN 0060923040.

Cosman, Madeleine Pelner. FABULOUS FEASTS: MEDIEVAL COOKERY AND CEREMONY. ISBN 080760898X.
Newman, Paul B. DAILY LIFE IN THE MIDDLE AGES. ISBN 0786408979.

*Historical fiction set in medieval England/Europe:
de Angeli, Marguerite. THE DOOR IN THE WALL. ISBN 0440402832. (Newbery Award)
Cushman, Karen. THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE. ISBN 006440630X. (Newbery Award)
Konigsberg, E. L. A PROUD TASTE FOR SCARLET AND MINIVER. ISBN 068984624X .

*Other books by Karen Cushman:
THE BALLAD OF LUCY WHIPPLE. ISBN 0064406849. (American Gold Rush)
THE LOUD SILENCE OF FRANCINE GREEN. ISBN 0618504559. (1949 Los Angeles)
MATILDA BONE. ISBN 0440418224. (Medieval England)
THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE. ISBN 006440630X. (Newbery Award)

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck

2001 Newbery Medal
1. Bibliography
Peck, Richard. 2000. A YEAR DOWN YONDER. New York: Dial. ISBN 0803725183.

2. Summary
Amid the backdrop of the Great Depression, fifteen year-old Mary Alice must leave her home in Chicago to spend a year with her grandmother in a small, rural Illinois town while her parents get back on their feet. The prospect of living with Grandma Dowdel is less than exciting for Mary Alice, who remembers her grandmother from summer visits as a hard-knuckled, rifle-toting, no-nonsense kind of woman. To make matters even worse, her new schoolmates see her as the “rich girl from Chicago” and are reluctant to accept her, even though her clothes are just as few and just as worn as theirs. Over the course of the year, and through a series of community events, such as the local turkey shoot and the annual school Christmas pageant, Mary Alice begins to see a different side, often humorous, of Grandma Dowdel and the town.

3. Critical Analysis

Richard Peck has a talent for characterization. Through Grandma Dowdel's short-on-words-but-long-on-wisdom dialogue and her hilarious antics, he paints a picture of an outwardly gruff but inwardly benevolent old woman with a sense of humor, a sense of justice, and the spunk to carry it out. From her proactive plan to foil the Halloween pranks of the local boys (booby-trapping her privy to keep them from upturning it) to putting the snooty DAR ladies in their places, Grandma Dowdel comes to life under Peck's pen to earn her way into Mary Alice's, and the reader's, heart.

Peck captures the spirit of the time and the spirit of the people who lived it without overwhelming the reader with a history lesson. Just the right amount of historical detail puts this story in context.

4. Review Excerpts
Publisher's Weekly--"...hilarious and poignant..."

School Library Journal--"Peck has created a delightful, insightful tale that resounds with a storyteller's wit, humor, and vivid description. Mary Alice's memories capture the atmosphere, attitudes, and lifestyle of the times while shedding light on human strengths and weaknesses."

VOYA-- "...never loses its charming sense of humor even though the vignettes ultimately deal with important issues such as class, gossip, and friendship."

5. Connections

*History teachers can use this book or parts of it as an introduction/comapanion to studies of the Great Depression.

*Other books by Richard Peck:
DON'T LOOK AND IT WON'T HURT. 1999. Henry Holt. ISBN 0805063161.
FATHER FIGURE. 1996. Puffin. ISBN 014037969X.
A LONG WAY FROM CHICAGO. 1999. Penguin Putnam. ISBN 0141303522.
REMEMBERING THE GOOD TIMES. 1986. Laurel Leaf. ISBN 0440973392.
THOSE SUMMER GIRLS I NEVER MET. 1989. Dell. ISBN 0440204577.

Related books:
Horvath, Polly. 2001. EVERYTHING ON A WAFFLE. A folksy tale about small town life as seen through the eyes of eleven-year-old Primrose Squarp.

Brown, Elizabeth Ferguson. 2000. A COAL COUNTRY CHRISTMAS. A girl describes the warm memories and hard way of life that she recalls when she and her mother go to spend Christmas at her grandmother's house in Pennsylvania's coal country.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor

1977 Newbery Award

1. Bibliography
Taylor, Mildred. 1991. ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY. New York: Penguin Young Readers Group. ISBN 014034893X.

2. Summary
Nine year-old Mississippi resident Cassie Logan discovers that life is not what she thought it was. Protected by her family, she is unaware that racial issues even exist until her consciousness is raised when she starts school in the fall of 1933 only to discover that the "new" schoolbooks she and her classmates have received are the worn, used books of white school children of years past.

This shock is followed by a series of disturbing events, including the appearance of mysterious night riders who haunt Cassie's neighbors (and her, she fears), the burning of a black man in the community, and the personal taunts of Lillian Jean Simms, a white girl near Cassie's age. With the support of her close, loving family, including her grandmother, Big Ma, and her Uncle Hammer, Cassie survives the year and learns some valuable lessons about hatred, love, dignity, family, and the importance of her family's land.

3. Critical Analysis
Mildred Taylor expertly draws her characters, from the solid, comfortable Big Ma to the utterly detestable Wallaces. The reader experiences the violence and injustice of racial prejudice through Cassie's eyes and feels the frustration of it with her. The power of this novel lies with its authentic view of black culture as portrayed through an insider's perspective.

Taylor juxtaposes the brutality of racism with the dignity and aplomb of Cassie's family, ultimately addressing a difficult issue with amazing sensitivity. ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY is a must-read for ages 12-112.

4. Review Excerpts
Booklist (starred review)--"Entirely through its own internal development, the novel shows the rich inner rewards of black pride, love, and independence."

5. Connections

*ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY is one of several books by Mildred Taylor that revolve around the Logan family.

LET THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN. 1981. Dial. ISBN 0803747489. In this sequel to ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY, the four Logan children growing up in rural Mississippi during the Depression experience racial antagonisms and hard times, but learn from their parents the pride and self-respect they need to survive.

THE FRIENDSHIP. 1987. Dial. ISBN: 0803704178. The Logan children witness a confrontation between an elderly black man and a white storekeeper in rural Mississippi in the 1930s.

MISSISSIPPI BRIDGE. 1990. Dial. ISBN 0553159925. During a heavy rainstorm in 1930s rural Mississippi, a ten-year-old white boy sees a bus driver order all the black passengers off a crowded bus to make room for late-arriving white passengers and then set off across the raging Rosa Lee River.

THE ROAD TO MEMPHIS. 1990. Dial. ISBN 0140360778. In 1941 a black youth, sadistically teased by two white boys in rural Mississippi, severely injures one of them with a tire iron and enlists Cassie's help in trying to flee the state.

THE WELL: DAVID'S STORY. 1995. Dial. ISBN 0803718020. Prequel to ROLL OF THUNDER, the story of Cassie's father, David. In Mississippi in the early 1900s ten-year-old David Logan's family generously shares their well water with both white and black neighbors in an atmosphere of potential racial violence.

THE LAND. 2001. Penguin Putnam. ISBN 0803719507. Prequel to ROLL OF THUNDER, the story of Cassie Logan's grandfather. After the Civil War Paul, the son of a white father and a black mother, finds himself caught between the two worlds of colored folks and white folks as he pursues his dream of owning land of his own.

*Other books about racial prejudice:
Blume, Judy. 1975. IGGIE'S HOUSE. Bantam Doubleday Dell. ISBN 0440440629.
When an African American family with three children moves into the white neighborhood, eleven-year-old Winnie learns the difference between being a good neighbor and being a good friend.

Clements, Andrew and McDavid Henderson. 2002. JACKET. Simon and Schuster Children's. ISBN 0689825951.
An incident at school forces sixth grader Phil Morelli, a white boy, to become aware of racial discrimination and segregation, and to seriously consider if he himself is prejudiced.

Curtis, Christopher Paul. 1995. THE WATSON'S GO TO BIRMINGHAM. Random House Children's Books. ISBN 0385321759.
The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963.

*Any/All of these books can be used to begin a discussion of prejudice.

An American Plague by Jim Murphy

NCTE Orbis Pictus Award
2004 Robert J. Sibert Informational Book Award
2004 Newbery Honor Book Award

1. Bibliography
Murphy, Jim. 2003. AN AMERICAN PLAGUE: THE TRUE AND TERRIFYING STORY OF THE YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC OF 1793. New York: Clarion Books.

2. Summary
In 1793, a killer holds Philadelphia hostage. It is yellow fever. In the heat and the humidity of late summer, the fever flourishes, but no one knows what is causing it or how to stop it. While half the residents flee and those who stay die by the dozens daily, the city flounders.

3. Critical Analysis
Based on numerous primary sources, Murphy's account is well-researched and well-written. Without sacrificing accuracy, he recreates the horror of 1793 Philadelphia through narrative rich with imagery that transports readers back in time: "Dead fish and gooey vegetable matter were exposed and rotted, while swarms of insects droned in the heavy, humid air." First-hand accounts blend perfectly with Murphy's text to emphasize the humanity of the victims and make them real for readers, rather than just a list of names.

In addition to the compelling text, AN AMERICAN PLAGUE is full of pictures that help readers imagine what the city was like back then, including contemporary portraits of key people, facsimiles of newspaper articles of the time, engravings of Philadelphia prior to the fever, and a map of 1793 Philadelphia. Murphy provides an extensive bibliography in the back, arranged by subject, to facilitate readers' researching further the aspects they want to know more about, and an index for finding information quickly.

4. Review Excerpts

The Washington Post--"Nobody does juvenile nonfiction better than Murphy."

Kirkus Reviews -- "A mesmerizing, macabre account that will make readers happy they live in the 21st century. Powerful, evocative prose carries the compelling subject matter. Stellar."

School Library Journal -- "Murphy chronicles this frightening time with solid research and a flair for weaving facts into fascinating stories."

5. Connections
*Fiction
Anderson, Laurie Halse. 2002. FEVER, 1793. ISBN 0689848919. Historical novel based on the actual yellow fever epidemic of 1793.

*Other historical nonfiction by Jim Murphy:
Murphy, Jim. 2000. BLIZZARD: THE STORM THAT CHANGED AMERICA. ISBN 0590673092. The blizzard that hit the northeast in 1888.
_____. 1995. THE GREAT FIRE. ISBN 0590472674. The fire that almost destroyed Chicago in 1871.

Leonardo da Vinci by Diane Stanley

1. Bibliography
Stanley, Diane. 1996. LEONARDO DA VINCI. New York: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688104371.

2. Summary
Born the illegitimate son of a leading citizen of Vinci and a peasant girl in 1452, Leonardo da Vinci grows up under the tutelage of his Uncle Francesco, who encourages his fascination with nature. Deprived of a formal education because of his illegitimate status, Leonardo becomes the apprentice of a noted Florentine artist and is eventually accepted into the painters' guild. From there, he serves under the patronage of several influential leaders of the time as his artwork gains acclaim. But painting is not his only talent. Over his lifetime, he delves into sculpture, mechanical innovations, and anatomy research (through dissection of human corpses). He is THE Renaissance man.

3. Critical analysis
Beautifully illustrated and well-written, Diane Stanley's LEONARDO DA VINCI paints the Renaissance artist, engineer, and scientist as a brilliant yet fallible human. Her conversational tone and informative, narrative style are sure to keep children's interest. Drawing on various sources (noted in the bibliography), including Leonardo's own writings, she clearly distinguishes between fact and fiction, certainty and surmise: "There is a story that...," "It is said that...," "In fact...." A pronunciation guide in the front of the books helps young readers with the Italian words and names.

Stanley's full-page illustrations complement Leonardo's story. Prepared using watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil, they portray Leonardo in his various endeavors through the very tones prevalent in Leonardo's artwork. She seamlessly blends minatures of Leonardo's most famous pieces using photo collage, allowing readers to see Leonardo creating his masterpieces. At the top of each text page is a different image from Leonardo's notebook. The gold knotted border, adapted from a design by Leonardo, captures the mood of the era.

Stanley has produced an intelligent, captivating account of Leonardo da Vinci's life.

4. Review Excerpts
Publishers Weekly--"A virtuosic work."
School Library Journal--"...gives readers a fascinating portrait of the Italian genius. "
New York Times Book Review--"... is a first class production in every way."
ALA Booklist--"This is the best of the many children's books on Leonardo."

5. Connections

Marshall, Norman V. 1981. LEONARDO DA VINCI. Ill. by Aldo Pipamonti. ISBN 0382240073.
McLanathan, Richard. 1990. LEONARDO DA VINCI. ISBN 0810912562.
Muhlberger, Richard. 1994. WHAT MAKES A LEONARDO A LEONARDO? ISBN 0670857440.

Other biographies by Diane Stanley:

BARD OF AVON: THE STORY OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. 1998. ISBN 0688162940.
CLEOPATRA. 1997. ISBN 0688154808.
CHARLES DICKENS: THE MAN WHO HAD GREAT EXPECTATIONS. 1993. ISBN
0688091105.

GOOD QUEEN BESS: THE STORY OF ELIZABETH I OF ENGLAND. 2001. ISBN 0688179614.
JOAN OF ARC. 2002. ISBN 0064437485.
MICHAELANGELO. 2003. ISBN 0060521139.
PETER THE GREAT. 1999. ISBN 0060521139.

Cats by Seymour Simon

1. Bibliography
Simon, Seymour. 2004. CATS. New York: Harper Childrens. ISBN 0060289406.

2. Summary
CATS provides basic information about cats including history, physiology, kittenhood, types of cats, and pet care.

3. Critical Analysis
Detailed photographs, many of them close-up and full page, show cats in a variety of colors and fur lengths, and in a variety of situations: acrobatic play, nursing kittens, and sleeping, for instance. The extraordinary clarity of the photographs makes the pictured cats practically jump off the page. Even individual fur hairs stand out, inviting the reader to touch their fuzziness.

Simon's writing is engaging. He gives just the right amount of detail about cats to be informative and appropriate to the target audience. Varied sentence structures and length keep the large-font, double-spaced text flowing, and with three or four short paragraphs to a page, there is plenty of white space to keep the text visually friendly.

4. Review Excerpts
School Library Journal--"Readers will thoroughly enjoy every word and every photograph..."

5. Connections

Simon, Seymour. 1994. BIG CATS. ISBN 006446119X. Discusses the big cats--lions, tigers, leopards, etc. Students can compare and contrast the big cats with domestic house cats.

Simon, Seymour. 2004. DOGS. ISBN 0060289422. DOGS is the companion book to CATS. Together, they make a great set about the world's most common house pets.