Bud, Not Buddy (11)

Book cover.

Curtis, C.P. (1999). Bud, not Buddy. New York: Dell Laurel-Leaf.

Imagine all you have fitting into a single suitcase held together by a piece of twine. That all you have is a blanket, some rocks, a few old paper flyers, and not much else. That you pack it all up to go on a Great Depression era journey to find out who you are. And imagine you're only 10 when you do it.

Bud, Not Buddy tells the title character's journey from orphan to sojourner to determine who his father is. Since his father had never been in his life, Bud was left alone at the age of 6 after his mother died unexpectedly. Unsatisfied with life as an orphan and a mistreated foster child, Bud embarks to find out more about his father, all the while adding humor to the story with his ongoing insights on life as told through his guidebook Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar out of Yourself. The rules he lists demonstrate the life journey he's endured as well as the insights he's had into his surroundings, as seen in "Rules and Things #16: If a Grown-up Ever Starts a Sentence by Saying "Haven't You Heard," Get Ready, 'Cause What's About to Come Out of Their Mouth is Gonna Drop You Headfirst into a Boiling Tragedy." 

Grab a copy of the Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award winning Bud, Not Buddy and see what other guidelines he has to make your own life funner*.

*Please note that it is supposed to say funner, as used by Bud in the book! :) 

Blubber (10): Booktalk

Blume, J. (1974). Blubber. New York: Dell Yearling Books. 

Book cover.

What's the one thing you like least about yourself? What if others noticed it too, but didn't just see it--they made fun of you for it as well?

In Blubber, by award-winning children's author Judy Blume, main character Jill Brenner stands by as an overweight girl in her class--Linda--bears the brunt of bullying because of her physical appearance. The torment begins when Linda presents a class report on whales and the antagonist of the story, Wendy, tags her with the nickname Blubber. The bullying continues in the form of negative names, teasing, and even physical aggression, at one point Wendy forcing Linda to say, "My name will always be Blubber." Soon, however, the tables turn unexpectedly towards Jill, showing that bullying can be aimed at anyone and for most any reason. 

How will each of the characters handle it? How would you handle it?

The Always Prayer Shawl (2)

Book cover. 

Oberman, S. (1994). The always prayer shawl. Honesdale: Boyds Mills Press.

The Always Prayer Shawl by Sheldon Oberman presents an immediate focus on things that change versus things that remain the same. The story focuses on the main character, Adam, a boy who is born and raised in Russia, but, because of the conflict of war and famine, must immigrate with his family to the United States. Prior to leaving Russia, Adam spends time talking with and learning from his grandfather, who teaches him that circumstances may change, but some things--such as what the prayer shawl he gives Adam represents, or the fact that Adam will always be Adam--never change. The events of the plot thus make the story one that is realistic fiction and to some degree historical fiction (some events occur in the past, while some are closer to present time).

The illustrations transition from black and white
to color to mark Adam's transition from childhood to adulthood.

The illustrations of the picture book are significant to the story line. For approximately the first half of the book, that presenting Adam's childhood, the book has only black and white illustrations. However, when the story transitions to Adam's adult life, the illustrations become color. All of the artwork is realistic, detailed, and completed in the medium of paint.

The story is strongly focused on Jewish culture and traditions, including that of family, heritage, and prayer. Thus, with a focus on change, it is easy to detect a theme of conditions changing, but faith remaining constant. Even though readers of different faiths may read the book, they could easily relate to the contrasts it draws between what Adam experiences as a child and what his grandson experiences ("I got eggs from a chicken, not from a store. I chopped wood for heat. I did not turn a dial."), a conversation that occurs between generations of all cultural and religious backgrounds.

The story proved easy to read, with some patterned, repetitive sentence structures that were easily understandable and provided rhythm. The author also used repetition throughout the book, in such lines as, "So he sewed on a new one," and, "Some things change. Some things don't." 

Despite cultural differences, I found the story very relatable and relevant. It has no doubt been widely well-received, as indicated by the abundance of awards it has received, including the Sydney Taylor Book Award and the National Jewish Book Award. It was also featured on the ALA Booklist's Best Books Of The Year list and as a Reading Rainbow Book.

When I Was Young in the Mountains (1)

Rylant, C. (1982). When I was young in the mountains. New York: E.P. Dutton.

Cynthia Rylant.

As a native of Kentucky, I thoroughly enjoyed the story Cythania Rylant presents in her Caldecott Honor picture book When I was Young in the Mountains, a realistic fiction picture book based largely on Rylant's own childhood experiences (Rylant was raised in West Virginia). The book strongly expresses aspects of primitive mountain life, as depicted through first person point of view with such allusions as those to coal mining, baptisms, and johnny-houses. As indicated in the title, the setting of the mountains of the eastern US is absolutely integral to Rylant's story.

Book cover.

Although the book featured no evident central conflict, numerous small problems were mentioned in a form of episodic plot, almost as a collection of isolated memories. For instance, the first person narrator discussed such problematic instances as finding snakes in the yard, stomach problems after eating too much, and being cold after taking a bath--all problems that were quickly remedied, often on the same or following page. Typically, such problems were of the man vs. nature variety.

The characters were likewise simplistic, mostly flat, with even the main character--a young, nameless girl--remaining stable and without any majors changes or developments. However, those events that were described by the character revealed what was most important to her--her experiences with her family (which included her grandparents and brother) in the mountains during her youth. Discussion of such simplistic events reveal a potential theme of valuing one's background, particularly the people who are part of it.

Part of the expression of the character's memories is presented through numerous instances of imagery. In addition to the abundance of visual imagery (e.g., the character's grandfather would come home daily from the local coal mines covered in black dust), appeals to the other senses exist. For instance, the main character recalls shivering in front of the stove after a bath; visiting shopkeepers who "always smelled of sweet milk";  listening "to cows at dusk" and waking "to cowbells outside our windows"; and hearing "a bobwhite whistl[ing] in the forest. Bob-bob-bobwhite!". The author also makes use of repetition throughout the story with the repeated use of the line, "When I was young in the mountains...", and, at the end, "I never wanted...".

The main character with her
grandmother visiting the "johnny-house".

The presentation of the character's mountain experience is further enhanced by simple sentence structure that often includes dialect (johnny-house, swimming hole). The illustrations lend to the experience as they are drawn with colored pencils in a realistic manner with a folk/primitive feel depicted through soft, muted colors. Oftentimes, the illustrations help to convey the text's meaning, particularly with such words as johnny-house. 

With a peaceful, serene tone regarding the memories of the author's childhood depicted fictitiously, it is no surprise that When I was Young in the Mountains was a success as Rylant's first publication.