Monday, June 21, 2010
book by Yoshiko Uchida, #518
"The Magic Purse" by Yoshiko Uchida is the comforting re-telling of an old Japanese story. It is about a poor young man who secures a fortune for himself, quite by accident. While on a journey to a shrine, he meets a girl who begs him to deliver a letter to her parents in the evil Red Swamp. She explains that she is kept prisoner by the ruler of the swamp. In return for his altruistic help, she gives him a small red purse that has an infinite amount of gold inside.
I like the author's descriptions. For example, she writes about the evil Red Swamp, "Vapors of steam rose from whirlpools, and giant snakes and crocodiles slithered about in the muddy waters."
It is a simple and unadulterated story but rich with meaning and values. It teaches kids about kindness, helping someone in need and courage. It is about selfless sacrifice.
I like the author's descriptions. For example, she writes about the evil Red Swamp, "Vapors of steam rose from whirlpools, and giant snakes and crocodiles slithered about in the muddy waters."
It is a simple and unadulterated story but rich with meaning and values. It teaches kids about kindness, helping someone in need and courage. It is about selfless sacrifice.
Dr. Seuss book 2 of 2, The Lorax, #518
I really did not like this book. It amazes me to learn that "The Lorax" was the author's favorite book.
Here is what I disliked. First, part of the author's charm was in his ability to SUBTLY convey morals and meanings to kids through his books. "The Lorax" is hardly nuanced, hardly subtle. It practically screams environmentalism over capitalism! Whether you agree or disagree with the political overtones, the fact remains: this book has a loud, and not-so-subtle, political message directed at children. Second, the book has a kind of an ivory-towered, didactic, holier-than-thou tone. It just isn't likable. The book's didactic tone comes across as slightly irritating. Third, I felt that the author's writing was circuitous; he doesn't get to the point. I think that most kids would be confused by the plot and slightly suspicious of his uncharacteristic tangential ramblings.
I felt discontent after reading this book; perhaps it is because I am used to Dr. Seuss's subtle, fun style--rather than his overt, serious tone that this book conveys. In addition, I hated the title. I mean, "The Lorax" sounds like an old-fashioned children's medicine that you would find in your grandma's musty linen closet...like a bitter throat lozenge that she would slide down your throat when you are sick!
After finishing the book, I felt the same mild annoyance that I feel when I read that Irish rock star Bono has pontificated, on the international scene, about globalism or American politics. It is perfectly acceptable for private citizens, and that includes artists of all kinds, to speak their minds. However, I want Bono--who is an uneducated entertainer--to sing great Irish songs, and I want Dr. Seuss--a children's writer--to write whimsical children's books. Is that so wrong?
Here is what I disliked. First, part of the author's charm was in his ability to SUBTLY convey morals and meanings to kids through his books. "The Lorax" is hardly nuanced, hardly subtle. It practically screams environmentalism over capitalism! Whether you agree or disagree with the political overtones, the fact remains: this book has a loud, and not-so-subtle, political message directed at children. Second, the book has a kind of an ivory-towered, didactic, holier-than-thou tone. It just isn't likable. The book's didactic tone comes across as slightly irritating. Third, I felt that the author's writing was circuitous; he doesn't get to the point. I think that most kids would be confused by the plot and slightly suspicious of his uncharacteristic tangential ramblings.
I felt discontent after reading this book; perhaps it is because I am used to Dr. Seuss's subtle, fun style--rather than his overt, serious tone that this book conveys. In addition, I hated the title. I mean, "The Lorax" sounds like an old-fashioned children's medicine that you would find in your grandma's musty linen closet...like a bitter throat lozenge that she would slide down your throat when you are sick!
After finishing the book, I felt the same mild annoyance that I feel when I read that Irish rock star Bono has pontificated, on the international scene, about globalism or American politics. It is perfectly acceptable for private citizens, and that includes artists of all kinds, to speak their minds. However, I want Bono--who is an uneducated entertainer--to sing great Irish songs, and I want Dr. Seuss--a children's writer--to write whimsical children's books. Is that so wrong?
book to movie 3 of 3, The Tale of Despereaux, #518
"The Tale of Despereaux" by Kate DiCamillo was the recipient of the Newbery Medal. DiCamillo has a talent for creating whimsical characters. There is Despereaux Tilling, a mouse with giant ears who is a misfit among the other mice. There is a rat called Roscuro, who is a kind of a pirate-rat; he ends up in a dungeon, where he doesn't fit in with the other rats. In the dungeon, he craves light. There is the radiant Princess Pea, who is full of "longing"--according to Despereaux. And there is a homely servant girl named Miggery Sow who dreams of "living in the castle and being a princess." DiCamillo takes this disparate bunch and throws them together such that their lives intersect in a meaningful way.
Both the book and the movie have the essential ingredients of a classic fairy tale, but with a twist. It is a mouse--not a prince--who falls for the princess and vows to "honor her" and ultimately rescues her. There is a rat that is not a bad rat, though he does a very bad thing and then makes amends for it. This story takes the basic fairy tale premise and adds some variation on the classic genre.
Both the book and the movie have subtle meanings and messages for children. One theme is forgiveness. Another involves the idea of marching to the beat of one's own drum. Both the rat and the mouse are misfits, and the two humans--Princess Pea and the servant Miggery--are sad. DiCamillo offers a hopeful message to kids who feel out of place, who harbor secret dreams.
I like DiCamillo's writing style in that she addresses the reader. She starts one chapter with, "Reader, you did not forget about our small mouse, did you?" The movie tries to incorporate this narrative effect as well. Also, the author divides the book into four sections: the first tells about the mouse, the second tells about the rat, the third tells of the servant girl and the last melds all the characters together and tells how their lives intertwine.
I liked the book better than the movie but the movie did a decent job in telling the story. Overall, it is an enchanting story. There is just the right mix of entertainment value--for the kids--and substance--for the adults.
Both the book and the movie have the essential ingredients of a classic fairy tale, but with a twist. It is a mouse--not a prince--who falls for the princess and vows to "honor her" and ultimately rescues her. There is a rat that is not a bad rat, though he does a very bad thing and then makes amends for it. This story takes the basic fairy tale premise and adds some variation on the classic genre.
Both the book and the movie have subtle meanings and messages for children. One theme is forgiveness. Another involves the idea of marching to the beat of one's own drum. Both the rat and the mouse are misfits, and the two humans--Princess Pea and the servant Miggery--are sad. DiCamillo offers a hopeful message to kids who feel out of place, who harbor secret dreams.
I like DiCamillo's writing style in that she addresses the reader. She starts one chapter with, "Reader, you did not forget about our small mouse, did you?" The movie tries to incorporate this narrative effect as well. Also, the author divides the book into four sections: the first tells about the mouse, the second tells about the rat, the third tells of the servant girl and the last melds all the characters together and tells how their lives intertwine.
I liked the book better than the movie but the movie did a decent job in telling the story. Overall, it is an enchanting story. There is just the right mix of entertainment value--for the kids--and substance--for the adults.
Monday, June 14, 2010
book to movie, 2 of 3, #518
"Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" by Judi Barrett is a best-selling children's book; her plot is simple: it is about a grandfather who tells his two grandkids a fanciful bedtime story about a place called Chewandswallow, a tiny town whose weather provided the residents with food thrice a day. It rained orange juice and eggs one day. Another day's fair was a gusty wind of hotdogs! Everything was great; people didn't have to buy food. Then something went wrong. The food stopped coming out right, the broccoli was overcooked and there were violent storms of bread. So the residents sailed to a new town. End of story...and Grandpa tucks the kids in goodnight.
The movie, having to fill a lot more time, has a more involved plot-but sticks to the basic premise of the book. The movie's protagonist is a dreamer, a sort of would-be scientist. His father owns a fishing supply store and does not understand his son's dreams to pursue science and inventions. To date, the son's inventions have been a bust. Then one day, his weather/food machine actually works! All is well until the greedy and overzealous mayor, who is a limelight seeker, convinces the boy to overwork the machine. Naturally, that causes disaster. And the plot thickens. There is a love interest and plenty of double-entendres for the adults. Entertaining movie for the kids and adults.
Obviously, the movie had a more sophisticated plot than the book since the book is a fairly short and simple picture book. Hollywood had to add plot elements to keep movie-goers' attention for 90-plus minutes. However, I wasn't disappointed with the movie.
The movie, having to fill a lot more time, has a more involved plot-but sticks to the basic premise of the book. The movie's protagonist is a dreamer, a sort of would-be scientist. His father owns a fishing supply store and does not understand his son's dreams to pursue science and inventions. To date, the son's inventions have been a bust. Then one day, his weather/food machine actually works! All is well until the greedy and overzealous mayor, who is a limelight seeker, convinces the boy to overwork the machine. Naturally, that causes disaster. And the plot thickens. There is a love interest and plenty of double-entendres for the adults. Entertaining movie for the kids and adults.
Obviously, the movie had a more sophisticated plot than the book since the book is a fairly short and simple picture book. Hollywood had to add plot elements to keep movie-goers' attention for 90-plus minutes. However, I wasn't disappointed with the movie.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
book by Julius Lester, 1 of 1, #518
"The Hungry Ghosts" by Julius Lester is a creative story about a boy named Malcom David, who hears ghosts outside his bedroom window at night. With a curious bone, he sneaks out of his house the next night and into the cemetery. There he sees the ghosts and learns that they are hungry. He tries to help them in their quest for food. Turns out, they were not people ghosts; they were actually fruit ghosts!
I like Lester's writing. I like his verbs and the fact that he uses adverbs sparingly. For instance, I saw powerful verbs like "rippled", "rolled", "sparkled", "flattened" and "swelled".
This is a fun book for kids. I like that it has no social agenda, no subtle political bone to pick. It's just sheer fun. Books like this encapsulate childhood at its best.
Lester's whimsical writing stimulates a young child's imagination. For instance, when describing the ghosts' departure toward the end of the book, he writes, "The shaft of light shrank and rolled itself into a ball. The disc flattened and rose into the air and began spinning around and around. The sparkling lights danced toward Malcolm David. They covered him, and he sparkled like he was covered in diamonds." Now how's that for a dramatic exit?
Excellent story. I can't imagine how any young child wouldn't be completely enthralled by this.
I like Lester's writing. I like his verbs and the fact that he uses adverbs sparingly. For instance, I saw powerful verbs like "rippled", "rolled", "sparkled", "flattened" and "swelled".
This is a fun book for kids. I like that it has no social agenda, no subtle political bone to pick. It's just sheer fun. Books like this encapsulate childhood at its best.
Lester's whimsical writing stimulates a young child's imagination. For instance, when describing the ghosts' departure toward the end of the book, he writes, "The shaft of light shrank and rolled itself into a ball. The disc flattened and rose into the air and began spinning around and around. The sparkling lights danced toward Malcolm David. They covered him, and he sparkled like he was covered in diamonds." Now how's that for a dramatic exit?
Excellent story. I can't imagine how any young child wouldn't be completely enthralled by this.
book illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, 1 of 1, #518
The book "John Henry" by Julius Lester and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney is a Caldecott Honor book. Apparently, this project was not their first collaboration; Pinkney and Lester completed a four-volume collection of "The Tales of Uncle Remus".
Pinkney, a three-time Caldecott Honor artist, did gorgeous watercolors for "John Henry". The watercolors use achromatic neutrals: like gray, black and brown--which makes the occasional use of a vivid color, like red, stand out even more. For example, the cover shows the protagonist, John Henry, sitting down. He wears dark clothing, the background is a combination of dark greens and grays; his tools are gray. However, he wears a red scarf around his neck. The red in contrast with the potpourri of muted neutral dark tones seems more vivid. I noticed this technique throughout the book, where most everything is cast in neutral tones and then one or two images are painted with an attention-grabbing color like turquoise, red or orange.
The book is based on ballad about an African-American folk hero named John Henry; scholars doubt his authenticity. The Big Bend Tunnel, built in the 1870s, in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia is the site of the folk ballad. John Henry, the folk hero, was a hard working man who--according to the story--almost single-handedly built the tunnel. As a result of his hard work, he died.
The crux of the story can be summed up in a quote from the book; one character said about John Henry, "Dying ain't important. Everybody does that. What matters is how well you do your living." It's a good story for kids since it introduces them to the idea of folklore. Good moral, decent story, vivid watercolors.
Pinkney, a three-time Caldecott Honor artist, did gorgeous watercolors for "John Henry". The watercolors use achromatic neutrals: like gray, black and brown--which makes the occasional use of a vivid color, like red, stand out even more. For example, the cover shows the protagonist, John Henry, sitting down. He wears dark clothing, the background is a combination of dark greens and grays; his tools are gray. However, he wears a red scarf around his neck. The red in contrast with the potpourri of muted neutral dark tones seems more vivid. I noticed this technique throughout the book, where most everything is cast in neutral tones and then one or two images are painted with an attention-grabbing color like turquoise, red or orange.
The book is based on ballad about an African-American folk hero named John Henry; scholars doubt his authenticity. The Big Bend Tunnel, built in the 1870s, in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia is the site of the folk ballad. John Henry, the folk hero, was a hard working man who--according to the story--almost single-handedly built the tunnel. As a result of his hard work, he died.
The crux of the story can be summed up in a quote from the book; one character said about John Henry, "Dying ain't important. Everybody does that. What matters is how well you do your living." It's a good story for kids since it introduces them to the idea of folklore. Good moral, decent story, vivid watercolors.
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