Graphic Novel





BIBLIOGRAPHY
Holm, Jennifer L. 2007. BABYMOUSE: PUPPY LOVE. Ill. by Matthew Holm. New York, NY: Random House. ISBN- 978-0-375-93990-7.  

PLOT SUMMARY
Babymouse is back and this time she has a yearning for a pet but not just any pet a dog. After trying out many different types of small pets and losing them she finds a lost dog. Hilarity ensures as Babymouse tries to teach her new dog how to be a respectable dog.  

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Babymouse is a graphic novel series intended for young girls. The storyline is very lighthearted as well as the design of the book which consists of black, white and pink. Most children can relate to wanting a pet if they do not have one particularly a desire to own a dog. The antics of Babymouse are funny even more so because the readers can relate to the predicaments that Babymouse finds herself in. One such event is when Buddy the dog has chewed up all of her shoes and the only ones she has left are her slippers. The author includes the right amount of narrative to the story and for the most part does not seem like a narrative but as the reader interacting with the protagonist.     

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
“Young readers will happily fall in line.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Frolicsome and breathlessly paced.” – Booklist

“The whole package is fresh and funny and even philosophical when it comes to values that third-graders understand.” – San Francisco Chronicle

CONNECTIONS

Use a series like Babymouse as a way to introduce young readers to the genre of graphic novels/ comic books.

Babymouse: Puppy Love

Babymouse: Queen of the World

Michael Printz YA Award

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Zusak, Markus. 2005. THE BOOK THIEF. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN-978-0-375-84220-7.  

PLOT SUMMARY
 Death narrates the story of a girl named Liesel Memigner who grows up in Nazi Germany. Liesel’s mother places her with a foster family the Hubermanns. When Liesel steals her first book she is unable to read it but her foster father uses the book to teach her how to read. However it is a dangerous time for all who live in Germany but especially for a family hiding a Jewish man from the Nazis.   

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
THE BOOK THIEF is a fantasy novel only because Death is the narrator and he chronicles the life of a nine year old girl named Liesel. Without Death the book would be realistic fiction. The book was well written but it seems as though would be intended for high school age individuals if not adults. The writing is very high brow and I feel that a younger audience would not grasp most of the concepts. The book does address concepts that many children experience whole growing up particularly the harsher side of life the death of a loved one, becoming a foster child and coping with one’s feelings just as Liesel copes with her anger by destroying one of Ilsa’s books.  

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
 “One of the most highly anticipated young-adult books in years.” – The Wall Street Journal

“Exquisitely written….A tour de force to be not just read but inhabited.” – The Horn Book Magazine

Honors

Horn Book Fanfare

Kirkus Reviews Editor Choice Award

School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

Publishers Weekly Best Children Book of the Year

Booklist Children Editors' Choice

Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book

Michael L. Printz Honor Book

Book Sense Book of the Year

National Jewish Book Award

CONNECTIONS

Use THE BOOK THIEF as a way to introduce Nazi Germany and the Jewish genocide.

The Book Thief

I Am the Messenger

Newbery Award

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gaiman, Neil. 2008. THE GRAVETARD BOOK. Ill. by Dave McKean. New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN- 978-0-06-053092-1.  

PLOT SUMMARY
After the murder of his family Nobody Owens is rescued and raised by the ghosts in a graveyard. Nobody or Bod for short has many adventures in the graveyard from running away with ghouls to befriending a ghostly witch but Bod’s life is still in grave danger from the man Jack who killed his family.  

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
 The Graveyard Book is a fantasy book within the subgenre of ghost stories the book addresses some dark themes at the beginning of the novel. Nobody’s entire family is murdered and he himself would have also been doomed to this fate if the Owens had not interceded. There is terminology that is introduced in the book “You were given the Freedom of the Graveyard..”. The author does a good job of explaining what Freedom of the Graveyard means as well as many other terms used like fading and dreamwalking. The majority of the book occurs in a graveyard and most of the characters are ghosts or other creatures. Bod has hurtles in life to work through and evildoers the Jacks to overcome. It contains many elements that many people would find enjoyable in the fantasy genre.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
 “Wistful, witty, wise—and creepy. This needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child.”   — Kirkus Reviews

“An utterly captivating tale…this is a rich story with broad appeal and is highly recommended for teens of all ages. ”   — Booklist

Honors

Newbery Medal

Carnegie Medal

Hugo Award

Locus Award

Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book

Best Indie Young Adult Buzz Book

Audiobook of the Year

ALA Notable Children's Book

ALA Best Book for Young Adults

ALA Booklist Editors' Choice

Horn Book Fanfare

Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book

Time Magazine Top Ten Fiction

Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice

New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing

New York Public Library Stuff for the Teen Age

CONNECTIONS

Use THE GRAVEYARD BOOK to discuss mythology and ghost stories.

The Graveyard Book

The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish

Historical Fiction

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 1995. THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN-0395692296.  

PLOT SUMMARY
Alyce is a homeless girl with no one and no prospects when she is taken in by Jane, the midwife. Alyce becomes the midwife’s apprentice but, even though she now has a place to live and is learning a trade, things are far from perfect.          

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Right away readers are aware of the life for a homeless child who sleeps in the dung to keep warm. Cushman does not try to hide the reality of a child growing up alone in fourteenth century England. The dialect spoken is common for the setting of the story “By the bones of Saint Cuthbert….”. I am not sure that many children could relate to Alyce and the way she is treated especially in the beginning when she has no name except for insults. I feel that younger children would not be able to comprehend everything that Alyce has gone though in her short life. Cushman included an author’s note at the end of the book which provided readers with some historical background information on midwifes. I think the author’s note is helpful to readers because readers are able to connect the theme of the book with history.   

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
"has an almost unrivaled ability to build atmosphere, and her evocation of a medieval village, if not scholarly in its authenticity, is supremely colorful and pungent." - Publishers Weekly
"This novel is about a strong, young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home. ... Kids will be caught up in this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone." - Booklist

Honors

Newbery Medal
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Notable Book for Children
Booklist Editors' Choice
Horn Book Fanfare Selection
School Library Journal, Best Books of the Year
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
Hungry Mind Review Book of Distinction
Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts
Not Just For Children Anymore! Selection (CBC)
Parenting Magazine Reading Magic Awards
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Readers Choice Award Short List
Parents' Choice Gold Award
American Bookseller "Pick of the Lists"
New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
ABC Children's Booksellers Choice Award
NYPL Books for the Teen Age List

CONNECTIONS

After reading the book have your students act out a historical play set during medieval times. 

The Midwife's Apprentice

Catherine, Called Birdy

Historical novel

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Holm, Jennifer. 2010. TURTLE IN PARADISE. New York, NY: Random House. ISBN- 9780375836886.  

PLOT SUMMARY
Turtle is forced to go to Key West to live with relatives after her mother is hired as a housekeeper by an employer who dislikes children. Key West opens up a whole new world for Turtle especially when she discovers a treasure map.        

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
TURTLE IN PARADISE is set during the Great Depression in 1935. The author does a great job in describing characters and the general attitude for most people living during the depression. Turtle seems to be more mature and grown up than her own mother. I think the Holm’s does a good job in describing events from Turtle’s point of view. “Mama’s good at looking at the sunny side of life…I blame Hollywood.”  I think that many children feel as though they know everything and are smarter than even some adults. I think that many adults would enjoy reading the book in part due to all of the references to 1935 pop culture like orphan Annie and Shirley Temple. Holm’s included a author’s note at the end of the book she explains how the book was inspired by her great-grandmother. 

 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
“This richly detailed novel was inspired by Holm's great-grandmother's stories. Readers who enjoy melodic, humorous tales of the past won't want to miss it.” - School Library Journal
"Turtle is just the right mixture of knowingness and hope; the plot is a hilarious blend of family dramas seasoned with a dollop of adventure." - Booklist

Honors

2011 Newbery Honor Book

An ALA Notable Book

Booklist Editor's Choice

Chicago Library Best of the Best

Texas Bluebonnet List

A Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of 2010

Spring 2010 Junior Library Guild Selection

New York Times Bestseller

CONNECTIONS

Create your own treasure map and go on a quest around the school with your students to find the treasure.

Turtle in Paradise

Our Only May Amelia

Scott O’Dell Award Winning Book

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Erdrich, Louise. 2006. THE GAME OF SILENCE. New York, NY: HarperCollins. ISBN-13 978-0064410298.  

PLOT SUMMARY
Omakayas or Little Frog is a 9 year old girl who lives with her family and tribe, the Ojibwe, on an island on Lake Superior. Change is coming to Omakayas’ life, white people want Omakayas’ tribe to leave their homes and move farther west.   

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
THE GAME OF SILENCE is the second book within the Little Frog series. The events of the book occur on an island called the Golden Breasted Woodpecker which is located on Lake Superior in 1847. The author does a good job in relating Omakayas feelings to the readers. Omakayas still misses her baby brother who died two years ago and the emotions she feels for her brother are evident in a scene when she carries a baby for his mother “she would….give him all the love she….could no longer give her little brother Neewo.” Older children who understand death and who have lost someone in their own lives would relate to Omakayas. I think that students will be interested to learn about the Ojibwe tribe and the native language that is used within the book. There are black and white illustrations included within the book. The illustrations provide the reader with small details like the dolls made from corn husks and reeds that Omakayas and her cousins play with. The author note at the end of the book explains more about the Ojibwe language. The author admits that the Ojibwe words used within the book is based on phonetic spelling rather than the actual spelling of the words.         

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
“As Erdrich said in the Booklist Story Behind the Story, "Little House on the Lake" [BKL Ap 1 99], about The Birchbark House, her research into her ancestors revealed the horrifying history and also a culture rich, funny, and warm. In this heartrending novel the sense of what was lost is overwhelming.” - Booklist

“Although the story is set on an island in Lake Superior in 1850, readers will identify with the everyday activities of the Ojibwa, from snowball fights to fishing excursions, providing a parallel to their own lives while encouraging an appreciation for one that is very different. The action is somewhat slow, but Erdrich's captivating tale of four seasons portrays a deep appreciation of our environment, our history, and our Native American sisters and brothers.” – School Library Journal

Honors

Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

Kirkus Editor’s Choice

Horn Book Fanfare

ALA Notable Children’s Book

ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice

New York Times Notable

CONNECTIONS

Use this book to start a lesson on Native Americans and the history of different local tribes.

The Game of Silence

The Birchbark House

Biography

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Freedman, Russell. 2010. LAFAYETTE AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. New York, NY: Holiday House. ISBN- 9780823421824.  

PLOT SUMMARY
Follow the life of one of the leading men of the American Revolution, Gilbert de Lafayette, a French nobleman who played a pivotal role in the war. Lafayette was a young man of nineteen when he defied his king in order to join the American Revolution.       

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
LAFAYETTE AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION is a biography which covers Lafayette’s life from birth to death while focusing on his contribution to the American Revolution. The book is organized in sequential order with the exception of the first chapter which first introduced Lafayette’s plans to join the American Revolution. The author uses multiple quotes throughout the book from Lafayette and other’s comments about him. The author provides source notes which documents the quotes he chose to use. The book is age appropriate for the intended audience. Boys would especially enjoy reading about Lafayette’s life. Included in the book is: portraits of figures discussed in the book, illustrations, letters, and Lafayette’s signature all of which enhance the design of the book. The author integrated a time line at the end of the book which allows researchers to quickly look at a year to discover the important events that occurred. In addition to the source notes the author provides a work cited of all of the materials used to research for the book.     

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
"In this solidly researched and smoothly written biography, Freedman creates a vivid portrait of Lafayette . . . Handsomely designed with a spacious format and good use of color."—Booklist
"Freedman [writes] with an acute eye for fascinating detail and significant facts. An interesting and useful commentary on selected sources rounds out another superb volume by a master of his craft."—Kirkus Reviews

Honors

A 2011 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

CONNECTIONS

Allow students to listen to some ballads written during the American Revolution then have the students write a ballad of their own based on an important figure from the American Revolution.

Lafayette and the American Revolution

Lincoln: A Photobiography