Chandra, Deborah and Madeleine Comora (2003). George washington’s teeth. Farrar Straus Giroux. New York.
Summary:
George Washington’s Teeth is a rhyming story about all the trouble George Washington had with his teeth. While the entire story might not be true it adds a bit of humor to an otherwise very sad story. This witty tale starts out at the beginning of the Revolutionary War and chronicles every tooth he lost along the way. The authors tell of his embarrassment about smiling and how he came to discover the best way to fix his rotten problem.
Author: Deborah Chandra and Madeleine Comora
Illustrator: Brock Cole
Illustrations: The illustrations correlate directly with the text and some of them were taken from previously painted scenes of the war and George Washington. The illustrations appear to be watercolor and the colors are very muted, but the illustrations are also very whimsical.
Access Features: Important Events in George Washington’s Life Timeline
Grade Level: PreK-2
Book Design: Book is square with a portrait of George Washington surrounded by horses, flags, and soldiers on the cover. End pages are royal blue and pages with text are mostly white. The illustrations are spread throughout the pages and the text usually divides the illustrations.
Writing Style: The authors use a sing-song poem to tell the story of George Washington’s teeth. The second and fourth line in each stanza rhyme. The authors use very simple language in order to make the story easy to understand and fun to read.
Curriculum: Social Studies
Classroom Use: This would be fun way to break the monotony when studying about historical figures and presents a look at George Washington that most people don’t even know about. It would also be a good inquiry project about false teeth, how they are made, and the changes the process has gone through over the years.
Standards: Social Studies-Standard 3: People, Places, and Environments; Standard 8: Science, Technology, and Society
Awards: Notable Social Studies Trade Book 2004
Author Credibility: Authors thank the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, National Portrait Gallery, and the Papers of the George Washington Project. They seem to have done their research and while they may not have written a completely factual story, they have created a fun story that will leave people laughing.
Related Texts: How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightning by: Rosalyn Schanzer; Abe Lincoln’s Hat by: Martha Brenner; Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by: Doreen Rappaport; George Did It by: Suzanne Tripp Jurman; John, Paul, George, and Ben by: Lane Smith; Honest Abe by: Edith Kunhardt
Response:
I really enjoyed this book. I’ve read this before and presented it for a class. It’s a fun way to make the story of the Revolutionary War and the journey of George Washington. It’s also a memorable way to present the information in a way that children would understand and actually remember.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Pompeii: Lost and Found (bk 1) (40 pgs)
Osborne, Mary Pope (2006). Pompeii: lost and found. Random House. New York
Summary:
This book tells the fascinating story of the explosion of Mount Vesuvius that buried the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. With vivid description the author starts at the beginning of the day and moves throughout the entire explosion. Mary Pope Osborne takes the reader on the journey through the deaths of some 20,000 people that lived in Pompeii. Of those people, archaeologists have only unearthed 2,000 people as well as some petrified and fossilized tools and food usings by the people of Pompeii.
Author: Mary Pope Osborne
Illustrator: Bonnie Christenson
Illustrations: Frescoes created by using pure pigment mixed with water painted that onto wet plaster of Paris and allowed to dry which permanently bonds the pigment painting to the wall. This gives the illustrations the aged look.
Access Features: The Making of Frescoes, Answers to the Found Items, Acknowledgements
Grade Level: 2-5
Book Design: Book is tall either to represent the height of Mt. Vesuvius of the height of walls that are used to create frescoes. End pages are frescoes in order to make them flow with the rest of the book. Illustrations are directly related to the text and take up all of the two page spread.
Writing Style: The author uses technical language throughout the book but spends time explaining what she is talking about. It is written with the expectation that children will have some background knowledge of volcanoes, how they erupt, and what the eruptions may look like. She also seems to expect the readers to know what archaeologists do. This would be a good resource after things have been taught.
Curriculum: Science, Social Studies
Classroom Use: This would be a good story to read when talking about volcanoes and how they can change the lay out of land in one eruption and how they erupt. It is a really good example of one that does not necessarily emit hot lava. It would also be a good resource to use when talking about ancient Rome. Until recently not many people knew about Pompeii's existance and there are still many that don't know a lot about it.
Standards: Social Studies-Standard 1: Culture; Standard 2: Time, Continuity, and Change; Standard 8: Science, Technology, and Society; Science-Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, History and Nature of Science
Awards: Texas Bluebonnet Award
Author's Credibility: Author thanks the people at Saint Michael's College and the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica for their help with this book. The Scuola is a graphic arts school that helped with instruction on making the frescoes. Saint Michael's helped the author with her research before she began writing her book although she does not give the name of the staff that helped her. She has also written other books about ancient Rome and Pompeii.
Related Texts: The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 by: Laurence Yep; Bodies from the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii by: James M. Deem; Ancient Rome and Pompeii by: Mary Pope Osborne
Response:
This book was very interesting and I think the illustrations really made the text come alive. Osborne uses very simple language but also expects the reader to have the background knowledge needed to understand some of the technical terms. She tells the dramatic story so well that the reader can almost see the scene of havoc as it is happening.
Summary:
This book tells the fascinating story of the explosion of Mount Vesuvius that buried the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. With vivid description the author starts at the beginning of the day and moves throughout the entire explosion. Mary Pope Osborne takes the reader on the journey through the deaths of some 20,000 people that lived in Pompeii. Of those people, archaeologists have only unearthed 2,000 people as well as some petrified and fossilized tools and food usings by the people of Pompeii.
Author: Mary Pope Osborne
Illustrator: Bonnie Christenson
Illustrations: Frescoes created by using pure pigment mixed with water painted that onto wet plaster of Paris and allowed to dry which permanently bonds the pigment painting to the wall. This gives the illustrations the aged look.
Access Features: The Making of Frescoes, Answers to the Found Items, Acknowledgements
Grade Level: 2-5
Book Design: Book is tall either to represent the height of Mt. Vesuvius of the height of walls that are used to create frescoes. End pages are frescoes in order to make them flow with the rest of the book. Illustrations are directly related to the text and take up all of the two page spread.
Writing Style: The author uses technical language throughout the book but spends time explaining what she is talking about. It is written with the expectation that children will have some background knowledge of volcanoes, how they erupt, and what the eruptions may look like. She also seems to expect the readers to know what archaeologists do. This would be a good resource after things have been taught.
Curriculum: Science, Social Studies
Classroom Use: This would be a good story to read when talking about volcanoes and how they can change the lay out of land in one eruption and how they erupt. It is a really good example of one that does not necessarily emit hot lava. It would also be a good resource to use when talking about ancient Rome. Until recently not many people knew about Pompeii's existance and there are still many that don't know a lot about it.
Standards: Social Studies-Standard 1: Culture; Standard 2: Time, Continuity, and Change; Standard 8: Science, Technology, and Society; Science-Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, History and Nature of Science
Awards: Texas Bluebonnet Award
Author's Credibility: Author thanks the people at Saint Michael's College and the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica for their help with this book. The Scuola is a graphic arts school that helped with instruction on making the frescoes. Saint Michael's helped the author with her research before she began writing her book although she does not give the name of the staff that helped her. She has also written other books about ancient Rome and Pompeii.
Related Texts: The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 by: Laurence Yep; Bodies from the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii by: James M. Deem; Ancient Rome and Pompeii by: Mary Pope Osborne
Response:
This book was very interesting and I think the illustrations really made the text come alive. Osborne uses very simple language but also expects the reader to have the background knowledge needed to understand some of the technical terms. She tells the dramatic story so well that the reader can almost see the scene of havoc as it is happening.
How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightning (bk1) (40 pgs)
Schanzer, Rosalyn (2003). How Ben Franklin stole the lightning. HarperCollins. New York.
Summary:
This is a funny little story about the inventions of Ben Franklin and the many discoveries he made that make all of our lives a little easier. Schanzer uses humor to describe certain situations during Ben Franklin's life time and then gives examples of how Franklin managed to make those situations better. She begins with Ben Franklin's life as a child and then moves chronologically through all of his inventions. Schanzer manages to make learning about Ben Franklin and all his contributions to modern life very fun and interesting.
Author: Rosalyn Schanzer
Illustrator: Rosalyn Schanzer
Illustrations: Schanzer used colored dyes and sepia pen line on Strathmore Bristol Board. Blotter paper was used on damp dye to add texture. These illustrations are also very whimsical and colorful that follows the story line with pictures of his inventions and how they benefitted society.
Access Features: Author's Note, Acknowledgments
Grade Level: 1-4
Book Design: This book is tall and slender with big storm clouds on the cover. Ben Franklin is standing on top of the title of the book holding a lightning bolt. End pages are copies of some of Franklin's original drawings from experiments and formulas. Illustrations take up most of a two page spread and follow the story line with pictures of lots of his inventions. The initial caps on the first word of every page are Caslon Antique, a version of the typeface Franklin brought to American in the 1740's.
Writing Style: This is a very whimsical book. The language is witty and light hearted making it a fun and easy read. The author uses simple language to help explain all the complex inventions Ben Franklin came up with and makes it interesting for children to read.
Curriculum: Social Studies
Classroom Use: This book would be wonderful to use when doing a unit on historical figures. I think it would alson be a great tool to use in a science classroom when talking about electricity.
Awards: Notable Social Studies Trade Book 2004
Standards: Social Studies-Standard 2: Time, Continuity, and Change; Standard 8: Science, Technology and Society
Author Credibility: The books Schanzer used for content in this book are well known writings about Ben Franklin. They include: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin by the Yale University Press, Benjamin Franklins autobiography, Poor Richard's Almanack, and Benjamin Franklin: Scientist and Statesman by I. Bernard Cohen. All of these books are known for their accurate accounts of aspects of Benjamin Franklin's life.
Related Texts: Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books by: Kay Winters; Who Was Ben Franklin by: Dennis Brindell Fradin; First to Fly by: Peter Busby; River Boy: Story of Mark Twain by: William Anderson; What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin by: Jean Fritz; Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by: Carole Boston Weatherford
Response:
I had so much fun reading this book. It's so easy to just get caught up in the way the author presents this book that you don't realize you're learning. I think students of all ages would love this book but it really is written for the younger grades. While I was reading this book I could really sense the author's passion and respect for Franklin. Her voice was just so exciting and the tone was very upbeat and happy. This is one of my favorite books so far.
Summary:
This is a funny little story about the inventions of Ben Franklin and the many discoveries he made that make all of our lives a little easier. Schanzer uses humor to describe certain situations during Ben Franklin's life time and then gives examples of how Franklin managed to make those situations better. She begins with Ben Franklin's life as a child and then moves chronologically through all of his inventions. Schanzer manages to make learning about Ben Franklin and all his contributions to modern life very fun and interesting.
Author: Rosalyn Schanzer
Illustrator: Rosalyn Schanzer
Illustrations: Schanzer used colored dyes and sepia pen line on Strathmore Bristol Board. Blotter paper was used on damp dye to add texture. These illustrations are also very whimsical and colorful that follows the story line with pictures of his inventions and how they benefitted society.
Access Features: Author's Note, Acknowledgments
Grade Level: 1-4
Book Design: This book is tall and slender with big storm clouds on the cover. Ben Franklin is standing on top of the title of the book holding a lightning bolt. End pages are copies of some of Franklin's original drawings from experiments and formulas. Illustrations take up most of a two page spread and follow the story line with pictures of lots of his inventions. The initial caps on the first word of every page are Caslon Antique, a version of the typeface Franklin brought to American in the 1740's.
Writing Style: This is a very whimsical book. The language is witty and light hearted making it a fun and easy read. The author uses simple language to help explain all the complex inventions Ben Franklin came up with and makes it interesting for children to read.
Curriculum: Social Studies
Classroom Use: This book would be wonderful to use when doing a unit on historical figures. I think it would alson be a great tool to use in a science classroom when talking about electricity.
Awards: Notable Social Studies Trade Book 2004
Standards: Social Studies-Standard 2: Time, Continuity, and Change; Standard 8: Science, Technology and Society
Author Credibility: The books Schanzer used for content in this book are well known writings about Ben Franklin. They include: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin by the Yale University Press, Benjamin Franklins autobiography, Poor Richard's Almanack, and Benjamin Franklin: Scientist and Statesman by I. Bernard Cohen. All of these books are known for their accurate accounts of aspects of Benjamin Franklin's life.
Related Texts: Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books by: Kay Winters; Who Was Ben Franklin by: Dennis Brindell Fradin; First to Fly by: Peter Busby; River Boy: Story of Mark Twain by: William Anderson; What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin by: Jean Fritz; Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by: Carole Boston Weatherford
Response:
I had so much fun reading this book. It's so easy to just get caught up in the way the author presents this book that you don't realize you're learning. I think students of all ages would love this book but it really is written for the younger grades. While I was reading this book I could really sense the author's passion and respect for Franklin. Her voice was just so exciting and the tone was very upbeat and happy. This is one of my favorite books so far.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
America's Mountains (bk 1) (48 pgs)
Staub, Frank (2003). America's mountains. Mondo. New York.
Summary:
Frank Staub uses this book to point out all the different types of mountains and the ways they are formed. In this short chapter book, Staub describes the stages of mountain life and the levels at which the various climates occur. He also discusses the plant and wildlife that exist at the different altitudes. Staub adds a few graphic representations and sidebars throughout the book for extra information to aide in the understanding of America's mountains.
Author: Frank Staub
Illustrator: Frank Staub
Illustrations: Photographs of different mountain ranges in America and the different phenomenons that occur at the different altitudes.
Access Features: Table of Contents, Glossary, Index, Introduction
Grade Level: 3-5
Book Design: This book is tall and wide to represent a mountain and has a stretch of a mountain range on the cover. End pages are light blue to represent the color of the sky at the top of the mountains. Each chapter ends with a small leaf print that signifies the end of that chapter.
Writing Style: I think Staub does a wonderful job of using all the technical terms and defining them. He also puts the pronunciation for each of those terms right after them. This seems to stress the importance of knowing the term, what it means, and how to pronounce it correctly. It's a great way for children to practice sound combinations as well. Most of the books uses easily understood language to describe the more simplistic aspects of mountains.
Curriculum: Science, Social Studies
Classroom Use: This book would be a wonderful resource to use to aide in comprehension of the processes in which mountains are formed and the many different habitats that exist within one mountain range.
Standards: Science-Physical Science, Earth Science; Social Studies-Standard 8: Science, Technology, and Society
Awards: Notable Social Studies Trade Book 2004
Author Credibility: Staub thanks his consultant on the project who is a professor of Geoscience at the University of Nevada. This man is probably an expert on the subject and the author does not make not of any other sources used.
Related Texts: Wonders of the World-Grand Canyon by: P.M. Boekhoff and Stuart A. Kallen; Earth and You: A Closer View: Nature's Features by: J. Patrick Lewis and Christoper Canyon
Response:
This book was very interesting and easy to read. I really enjoyed all the pronunciation keys available throughout the book as well as the definitions of terms right with the word. It is a book that would be easy to read to a class and the class could use it to start a discussion with. I would be really interested to see how a class would respond to the sidebars and the information printed there. It is definitely one of those books that you look at and don't think you'll enjoy and it end up proving you wrong.
Summary:
Frank Staub uses this book to point out all the different types of mountains and the ways they are formed. In this short chapter book, Staub describes the stages of mountain life and the levels at which the various climates occur. He also discusses the plant and wildlife that exist at the different altitudes. Staub adds a few graphic representations and sidebars throughout the book for extra information to aide in the understanding of America's mountains.
Author: Frank Staub
Illustrator: Frank Staub
Illustrations: Photographs of different mountain ranges in America and the different phenomenons that occur at the different altitudes.
Access Features: Table of Contents, Glossary, Index, Introduction
Grade Level: 3-5
Book Design: This book is tall and wide to represent a mountain and has a stretch of a mountain range on the cover. End pages are light blue to represent the color of the sky at the top of the mountains. Each chapter ends with a small leaf print that signifies the end of that chapter.
Writing Style: I think Staub does a wonderful job of using all the technical terms and defining them. He also puts the pronunciation for each of those terms right after them. This seems to stress the importance of knowing the term, what it means, and how to pronounce it correctly. It's a great way for children to practice sound combinations as well. Most of the books uses easily understood language to describe the more simplistic aspects of mountains.
Curriculum: Science, Social Studies
Classroom Use: This book would be a wonderful resource to use to aide in comprehension of the processes in which mountains are formed and the many different habitats that exist within one mountain range.
Standards: Science-Physical Science, Earth Science; Social Studies-Standard 8: Science, Technology, and Society
Awards: Notable Social Studies Trade Book 2004
Author Credibility: Staub thanks his consultant on the project who is a professor of Geoscience at the University of Nevada. This man is probably an expert on the subject and the author does not make not of any other sources used.
Related Texts: Wonders of the World-Grand Canyon by: P.M. Boekhoff and Stuart A. Kallen; Earth and You: A Closer View: Nature's Features by: J. Patrick Lewis and Christoper Canyon
Response:
This book was very interesting and easy to read. I really enjoyed all the pronunciation keys available throughout the book as well as the definitions of terms right with the word. It is a book that would be easy to read to a class and the class could use it to start a discussion with. I would be really interested to see how a class would respond to the sidebars and the information printed there. It is definitely one of those books that you look at and don't think you'll enjoy and it end up proving you wrong.
The Voice That Challenged a Nation (LDG)
The end of this book was very uplifting. Russell Freedman brought everything together and had a way with his words that made everything seem alright in the end. The end of Marian's life seemed to be the easiest for her because she didn't have as much trouble getting to play in most venues. I'm sure it was still hard on her when she played in the South. My favorite part in this section of the reading was her nephew expressing his anger about the fact that he was able to do so much and come and go as he pleased when she battled for so long for the right to sing wherever she wanted. I admire Marian for her ability to forgive the DAR for not allowing her to sing in Constitution Hall. The fact that she could even go in the doors of that place after all the society had done to her was just amazing to me.
Of Numbers and Stars: The Story of Hypatia (bk 1) (32 pgs)
Love, D. Anne (2006). Of numbers and stars: the story of Hypatia. Holiday House. New York.
Summary:
Hypatia was born in the fourth century, a time when only boys were allowed to be educated. Hypatia's father was a mathematician and taught her how to read and write, grammar, arithmetic, geometry, and astrology. She became an authority on all of the subjects her father taught her and even had men sitting at her feet to hear her teach. She became an icon for women of the time and the future.
Author: D. Anne Love
Illustrator: Pam Paparone
Illustrations: Illustrations are acrylic paintings that tell the story and go along with the author's writings. They usually take up most of the two page spread with very little writing on each page.
Access Features: Author's Not, More About Math, Bibliography
Grade Level: PreK-3
Book Design: The cover is an illustration of Hypatia with mathematic formulas in the background. The end pages are blue either to represent the sky or reflect the blue of the ocean on the cover. Book is tall and rectangular and there are many ancient looking symbols throughout the book and on the cover. Font is Celestia Antiqua to reflect the ancient times discussed in the book.
Writing Style: The writing is very age appropriate. The language is simple yet eloquent letting the reader know the author is fascinated with this person. The language is very easy to understand even though she uses some technical terms in the book.
Curriculum: Social Studies
Classroom Use: I would use this book to talk about influential women in history.
Standards: Social Studies-Standard 1: Culture; Standard 8: Science, Technology, and Society
Awards: Notable Social Studies Trade Book 2007
Author Credibility: Love notes that there is not a lot of firsthand information available about Hypatia but does list some books that she used as sources. One is a textbook while the others are either about Hypatia or the town of Alexandria. Love also thanks a professor with the Mathematics Department at Monash University who did extensive research on Hypatia and shared his information with the author.
Related Texts: Black Stars: African American Women Scientist and Inventors -Otha Richard Sullivan and Jim Haskins
Response:
I really enjoyed reading this book. I had never heard of Hyaptia before so it was refreshing to read about a woman who made such a difference in that time period. It's great to see women from ancient eras finally getting the recognition they deserve.
Summary:
Hypatia was born in the fourth century, a time when only boys were allowed to be educated. Hypatia's father was a mathematician and taught her how to read and write, grammar, arithmetic, geometry, and astrology. She became an authority on all of the subjects her father taught her and even had men sitting at her feet to hear her teach. She became an icon for women of the time and the future.
Author: D. Anne Love
Illustrator: Pam Paparone
Illustrations: Illustrations are acrylic paintings that tell the story and go along with the author's writings. They usually take up most of the two page spread with very little writing on each page.
Access Features: Author's Not, More About Math, Bibliography
Grade Level: PreK-3
Book Design: The cover is an illustration of Hypatia with mathematic formulas in the background. The end pages are blue either to represent the sky or reflect the blue of the ocean on the cover. Book is tall and rectangular and there are many ancient looking symbols throughout the book and on the cover. Font is Celestia Antiqua to reflect the ancient times discussed in the book.
Writing Style: The writing is very age appropriate. The language is simple yet eloquent letting the reader know the author is fascinated with this person. The language is very easy to understand even though she uses some technical terms in the book.
Curriculum: Social Studies
Classroom Use: I would use this book to talk about influential women in history.
Standards: Social Studies-Standard 1: Culture; Standard 8: Science, Technology, and Society
Awards: Notable Social Studies Trade Book 2007
Author Credibility: Love notes that there is not a lot of firsthand information available about Hypatia but does list some books that she used as sources. One is a textbook while the others are either about Hypatia or the town of Alexandria. Love also thanks a professor with the Mathematics Department at Monash University who did extensive research on Hypatia and shared his information with the author.
Related Texts: Black Stars: African American Women Scientist and Inventors -Otha Richard Sullivan and Jim Haskins
Response:
I really enjoyed reading this book. I had never heard of Hyaptia before so it was refreshing to read about a woman who made such a difference in that time period. It's great to see women from ancient eras finally getting the recognition they deserve.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
How Sweet It Is (and was): the History of Candy (bk 1) (32 pgs)
Swain, Ruth Freeman. How sweet it is (and was): the history of candy. Holiday House. New York, 2003.
Summary:
How Sweet It Is is an amazing little book about the history of candy making and how the idea for candy even started. It starts out in the late 14th century and goes to the present to give an interesting look at what was once considered candy and the changes that have cause it to evolve into the sweets we eat today.
Author: Ruth Freeman Swain
Illustrator: John O'Brien
Illustrations: Illustrations appear to be little sugar granules that have been painted. The illustrations are whimsical and hilarious. I couldn't find any information about the medium that the author uses but it appears to be watercolor that has been manipulated to look like sugar.
Access Features: Additional Information, Acknowledgements, Candy Time Line, Recipes
Grade Level: PreK-3
Book Design: The cover of the book has a box of candy spilling it's contets out almost like an invitation to open the book and come in. The end pages are bright red with a candy wrapper appearance. The illustrations take up the entire two page spreads and the writing is over the illustrations. The illustrations present candy in whimsical situations that are open to interpretation but sometimes coincide with the writing.
Writing Style: Freeman uses very simple language to tell the history of candy and explains the more technical terms that she must use during the book. However, she continues to use the technical term after she explains it in order to make it memorable to the reader. The type face looks hand written and almost child-like.
Curriculum: Social Studies
Classroom Use: This book would be a fun way to talk about manufacturing and industrialization.
Standards: Social Studies-Standard 7: Production, Distribution, and Consumption; Standard 8: Science, Technology, and Society
Awards: Notable Social Studies Trade Book 2004
Credibility: Freeman gives a list of the sources she used to write this book and also lists the people that helped her gather information, including the National Confectioners Association, Candy USA Organization, and the Mars and Hershey Foods Companies.
Related Texts: Sweets: A History of Candy-Tim Richardson; Chocolate: The Sweet History-Beth Kimmerle
Response:
Reading this book was so much fun. There were a lot of things about candy that I had no idea about. It would be a great way to lighten the mood when talking about an otherwise boring subject and take a look at how candy benefitted from industrialization. Freeman presents such a candid look at the history surrounding how candy came to be and the journey it has made to the present.
Summary:
How Sweet It Is is an amazing little book about the history of candy making and how the idea for candy even started. It starts out in the late 14th century and goes to the present to give an interesting look at what was once considered candy and the changes that have cause it to evolve into the sweets we eat today.
Author: Ruth Freeman Swain
Illustrator: John O'Brien
Illustrations: Illustrations appear to be little sugar granules that have been painted. The illustrations are whimsical and hilarious. I couldn't find any information about the medium that the author uses but it appears to be watercolor that has been manipulated to look like sugar.
Access Features: Additional Information, Acknowledgements, Candy Time Line, Recipes
Grade Level: PreK-3
Book Design: The cover of the book has a box of candy spilling it's contets out almost like an invitation to open the book and come in. The end pages are bright red with a candy wrapper appearance. The illustrations take up the entire two page spreads and the writing is over the illustrations. The illustrations present candy in whimsical situations that are open to interpretation but sometimes coincide with the writing.
Writing Style: Freeman uses very simple language to tell the history of candy and explains the more technical terms that she must use during the book. However, she continues to use the technical term after she explains it in order to make it memorable to the reader. The type face looks hand written and almost child-like.
Curriculum: Social Studies
Classroom Use: This book would be a fun way to talk about manufacturing and industrialization.
Standards: Social Studies-Standard 7: Production, Distribution, and Consumption; Standard 8: Science, Technology, and Society
Awards: Notable Social Studies Trade Book 2004
Credibility: Freeman gives a list of the sources she used to write this book and also lists the people that helped her gather information, including the National Confectioners Association, Candy USA Organization, and the Mars and Hershey Foods Companies.
Related Texts: Sweets: A History of Candy-Tim Richardson; Chocolate: The Sweet History-Beth Kimmerle
Response:
Reading this book was so much fun. There were a lot of things about candy that I had no idea about. It would be a great way to lighten the mood when talking about an otherwise boring subject and take a look at how candy benefitted from industrialization. Freeman presents such a candid look at the history surrounding how candy came to be and the journey it has made to the present.
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