Treasury of Greek Mythology

The Treasury of Greek Mythology by Donna Jo Napoli and illustrated by Christina Balit is a brightly colored and beautifully illustrated collection of the stories of the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology. Highlighting some of the most popular gods and goddesses, Napoli does a masterful job of retelling these myths with vocabulary and writing style that is both appropriate and interesting to young readers. I even found myself giggling a couple times. Napoli uses hip and childish phrases to help young people relate to the sometimes uncomfortable and provocative tales of Greek mythology.

I have studied Greek mythology in the past but had forgotten some of the tales and some were even new to me. Being an adult, I had lost awareness in regards to the cheeky nature of most of the stories. With gods and goddesses eating, drinking, and killing one another, this can be disturbing to children if not approached in the right way. However, Napoli does this successfully and as lightheartedly as possible.

My favorite goddess is Hera the goddess of marriage. I always find her tale to be both empowering and humorous. Though quiet and demur, she possesses the ultimate power to become Queen with Zeus and ultimately be an extremely powerful goddess in the world of Greek Mythology.

Balit's illustrations are absolutely stunning. Each god and goddess is depicted beautifully with vibrant colors and things that are special to their story. For example, Hera is shown with a peacock and Gaia, mother earth, is shown with the sun, trees, and other aspects of nature (shown below). The book also contains a map of Greece today, a time line, a list of the gods and goddesses in the book with basic facts, an index, and table of contents.

I love this collection of Greek mythology because it is age appropriate while still displaying the truth in these legends. The illustrations are so beautiful that even without the great text, I would still want to have this book to show children the beauty that lies within the history of Greece. I am so happy to now own this collection so that I can share it with my children one day.

Motivational activities:

*Have students choose a god or goddess out of Treasury of Greek Mythology and write a two page report on their choice. Have them include the origin of the god or goddess, what they are best known for, and which god and/or goddesses they are closely related to.

*For fun, watch Disney's Hercules. Afterwards, have children discuss the bits of Greek mythology they noticed in the movie. 

Reader response questions:

1. Who is the goddess of earth?

2. Pick a god or goddess and explain their place in the greek mythological tree.

3. Who was Poseidon and whom did he fall in love with deeply and why? 

Further reading:

*Greek Myths for Young Children by Heather Amery
*Atticus the Storyteller's 100 Greek Myths by Lucy Coats
*The D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Ingri D'Aulaire and Edgar Parin
*The Ancient Greek World by Tracy Barrett and Jennifer T. Roberts
*Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of the Illiad by Rosemary Sutcliff
*The Wanderings of Odysseus: The Story of The Odyssey by Rosemary Sutcliff

Korean Children's Favorite Stories

Korean Children's Favorite Stories by Kim So-un and illustrated by Jeong Kyoung-Sim is an excellent collection of folktales that are famous in Korean culture. These fun and imaginative stories have been passed down from generation to generation by oral tradition through Korean families. 

In tales like The Bad Tiger, an unruly tiger torments an old lady by eating all her radishes. She devises a plan to make the tiger stop. She tricks him into coming over for dinner and ultimately kills him. Somewhat harsh but also humorous, this teaches children to be good and not take things that aren't theirs. In The Great Flood, the son of a tree and a celestial being, Talltree survives a flood by riding his father (the tree) who has been uprooted. He rescues ants, mosquitoes, and a young boy the same age. As they grow, the boy he rescued tries to trick him out of marrying the women he wants to marry. But the ants and mosquitoes help him to win her, leaving the tricking boy with the short end of the stick.

Though in some cases lacking in fairy tales and wizardry, these Korean folktales teach lessons to children while entertaining them with lighthearted and somewhat ridiculous stories. These are much like our folktales that are popular in our society such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel, etc.  They even use similar patterns such as the theme of threes in stories such as The Three Little Girls and The Three Princesses.

"They reveal the inevitable foibles of people everywhere and expose the human-like qualities of animals and the animal-like qualities of humans." - Kim So-un

Each folktale is accompanied by whimsical watercolors which are calligraphy inspired Korean illustrations. Jeong Kyoung-Sim uses vivid colors and playful images to entertain young audiences. Though simplistic in ways, these images bring the stories to life in an authentic Korean fashion. As children learn about the cultural folktales of Korea, they too can be educated about the traditional Korean styles present in art. 

Motivational Activities:

*Have students choose one of the folktales from the collection. Have them break into groups and reenact one of the stories as a play. This will help to make the stories more memorable for the students as well as further their appreciation for another culture's storytelling.

*These Korean folktales have many similar themes compared to more well-known folktales to students. Have student choose a korean folktale and a well-known folktale. Have students compare and contrast these two stories. 

Reader response questions:

1. How do you believe Korean folktales are similar to well-known American/English folktales?

2. How do you believe Korean folktales differ from well-known American/English folktales?

3. Name 3 lessons that you observed when reading the Korean folktales.

Further reading:

*The Green Frogs: A Korean Folktale by Yumi Heo

*What Will You Be, Sara Mee? by Kate Aver Avraham

*The Firekeeper's Son by Linda Sue Park

*Dear Juno (Picture Puffins) by Soyung Pak

*Land of Morning Calm: Korean Culture Then and Now by John Stickler

*South Korea (New True Books: Geography) by Tara Walters

Old Turtle

  Old Turtle by Douglas Wood and Cheng-Khee Chee, originally published in 1992 and reissued in 2007, is a children's fiction talking animal fable picture book illustrated with gorgeous watercolors. It is both spiritual and philosophical. All the animals and nature that God has created are arguing about God. They cannot agree on where God is, who God is, or what God is. They spend time going back and forth for awhile when the old turtle interrupts. He explains that God is all of these things and more. At this time, God creates man and the world is inhabited by humans that the old turtle describes as "reminders of all that God is." But the humans lose their way and start hurting each other as well as the earth. This saddens God and the animals. But the people find their way again by listening to each other and God. The last two lines of the book are touching and sentimental, Wood writes, "And Old Turtle Smiled. And so did God."

Though Wood incorporates God as a central theme, the book does not

have imply any specific religion or God. God is even referred to as "he" and "she."

Wood illuminates the world of animals and nature looking up to God with

charming dialogue between the creations as they all try to determine every

detail about their creator. Old Turtle is calm, quiet, and wise. Though he doesn't speak

often, when he does it is meaningful. I think Old Turtle is a great story for children because

the ability to listen can be an excellent virtue along with the desire to gain wisdom.

Cheng-Khee Chee is the breath of life to Old Turtle. His illustrations are brilliantly colored and exquisitely detailed. His use of watercolors is breathtaking, creating images that look as if at any moment they could come to life on the page. Each image is unique in color palette, creating a certain tone for the rises and falls in Wood story. As the humans begin to destroy each other and their environment, Chee uses Sepia tones to reflect the death and sadness that is being described. Chee's illustrations work in perfect harmony with Woods text making Old Turtle my favorite book so far in my Literature Collection Blog. 

Even in his darker images, there is

Chee still maintains a special quality that is both beautiful and serene. I like to think of these images as how Old Turtle sees the world through his eyes. Even in the saddest times, peace is still the objective. These beautiful illustrations with an essence of calm is also helpful for children to read without becoming too disturbed yet still understanding the sincerity of the situation.

Though it is simple with not much story line, Old Turtle comments on the world, 

human nature, and God in a touching and heartfelt manner.

Motivational Activities:

*Old Turtle is wise and slow to speak. He even possess God like qualities. Have students choose a spirit animal they believe best reflects their personality and explain why.

*Though Chee's watercolor is complex and skilled, have students experiment with watercolors themselves. Have them paint their own version of the Old Turtle with watercolors.

Reader response questions:

1. At the beginning of the story, what are the creatures on earth arguing about?

2. How does Old Turtle describe God?

3. What happens after humans come to earth?

Further reading by Douglas Wood:

*Old Turtle and the Broken Truth
*The Secret of Saying Thanks
*No One But You
*Where the Sunrise Begins
*A Quiet Place
*Grandad's Prayers of the Earth

Number the Stars

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry is a young adult historical fiction book that tells a story of a young girl in Denmark during the time of the Nazis. Not Jewish herself but surrounded by Jewish friends and neighbors, especially her close friend Ellen, her and her family are deeply affected by the Nazi's presence in their hometown of Copenhagen. Lowry captures the fear and anxiety that accompanied the invasion of Nazis in this tense drama.

Her masterful style enhances the exact feelings of the characters as they experience one close call after another. With moments of light hearted sentiment, Number the Stars is quite intense for young readers without being overly traumatic or violent. The severity and danger of each situation is apparent without gruesome details. Every moment the reader discovers every turn of events with Annemarie as her life changes drastically. Only ten years old, over the course of the story Annemarie overcomes the loss of her sister, the danger of her best friend and her family and the possibility of being penalized for helping other Jews escape. If caught, she would be considered an accomplice, even at her age.

Within the first couple pages, Lowry does a flawless job introducing the German Nazi army and their descriptions. As they interact with the female children characters of the book as they run through the streets, you can feel the hatred and cruelty in the soldiers souls immediately. Lowry's language is poetically descriptive while simultaneously bringing horror to the reader's imagination. While reading every interaction with Nazi soldiers, I could feel my chest tense up and my breath become shallow. It is a page turner and borderline thriller.

Though the only true misfortunes that happen in the story occur outside of Annemarie's direct interactions with the characters, hearing about them is still painful. By the end, we learn that Annemarie's older sister Lise was killed by German Nazis. This death has already transpired when the story begins but the audience is led to believe that she died in an accident - what Annemarie believes to be true. During the story, Lise's living fiance' Peter is also killed by Nazis. Never even knowing much about Lise, Annemarie's memories are enough to make the reader attach to her, which is exceptional considering she is not a living character in the book. This is evidence of Lowry's exceptional writing.

Every bit of Lowry's text is appropriate for the time period and illuminates the story so effortlessly. Once the very young Annemarie experiences terror and learns the truth about the world in which she currently lives, she finds courage and pride. At the end of the book, she goes to her deceased older sister Lise's trunk where she kept personal things. In this trunk, Annemarie finds a necklace that has a pendant with the symbol of the star of David. She decides to wear it until Ellen and the Rosens return and in honor of the Resistance which is what her sister stood for, what Peter stood for, and what she now stands for.

Number the Stars is heart wrenching and inspirational. It possesses multi-cultural history regarding the Jews and also contains historical accuracies. The fictional aspects are great tools to assist young readers in understanding the time while still being able to cope with the atrocities that took place. 

Motivational Activities:

*Have students do further research about the Nazi invasion of Denmark. Then, have students make a list of the facts present in the book that are historically accurate.

*To understand the discrimination the Jews experienced, share with students the amount of Jews placed in concentration camps and how many deaths took place.

Reader Response Questions:

1. During the story, who is the current king of Denmark?

2. When Annemarie is stopped on her mission, what item is in the box that she carries?

3. Explain the importance of Annemarie's quest and delivery.

Further reading by Lois Lowry:

*The Giver

*Autumn Street

*Rabble Starkey

*Anastasia, Absolutely

A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle is a Newberry Award winning science fiction fantasy series chapter book. It is considered children's literature but engages audiences of all ages. The story is about a teenage girl, Margaret (better known as Meg), who is suffering from the loss of her father. She has not been told where he has gone but her mother keeps saying he will return soon. The reader only discovers things as Meg does, continuing the mystery throughout the quest she embarks on with her little brother, new friend Calvin, the three W's - who are each women but turn out to be something even more.

L'Engle does a fabulous job capturing the drama, mystery, and excitement that awaits on every page. As the reader, you want to know what happens next. With just enough information, L'Engle keeps you hooked and guessing until the very end. The story centers around growing up, family, and the battle of good and evil. Though Meg is awkward and troubled, she becomes brave and learns just how valuable she truly is in life by the end.

With the playful banter between the three W's - Mrs. Which, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Who, L'Engle creates memorable and likable characters. Their manner of speaking is charming as well as unique to their individual personalities. Within the first few pages, Meg and her brother Charles are old friends to the reader. The language is also appropriate for the time period and location, giving the book a timelessness. Her imagery is brilliant. I was able to taste the food and see the places they explore.

A quest tale with heart, A Wrinkle in Time keeps young audiences entertained with teleportation, mystery, magical creatures, different dimensions, and self discovery. Packed with meaningful quotes, L'Engle's sentiment is far from lacking. With the combination of great story telling, interesting plot line and beautiful writing, A Wrinkle in Time is a must read for young audiences that want to excel in their reading skills. L'Engle's style of writing is easy to comprehend but can be challenging to newer readers.

Meg, Charles, and Calvin are faced with many exciting characters - from a Medium to the Man with Red Eyes. With a happy ending, good prevails and Meg realizes that love is the greatest power of all. The powers of evil do not possess love like she, her family, and friends do. This gives them the conquering force to escape from IT, the dark power that exists.

A Wrinkle in Time also contains religious themes as well as scriptural references. It is also made known that the Murry family are religious and believe in the Christian Bible. I find this an interesting pairing with the science fiction genre. With descriptions and explanations of math, dimensional travel and scientific equations, I believe the primary genre of this book to be science fiction with bits of fantasy thrown in for a light-heartedness children can more easily understand. I think it is an excellent bridge for children to use to escalate their reading level. It is a tale both strong and sentimental.

Motivational activities:

*Losing a parent or loved one can be difficult in life. Have children write a story about a loss they've experienced like Meg experiences in A Wrinkle in Time by incorporating elements of fiction in their personal story. Reflecting on an upsetting situation in their life and turning into fiction can be therapeutic while also developing writing skills.

*Have students identify both a genre and a theme present in the story. Then have them discuss with other students how they came to this conclusion.

Reader Response questions:

1. Charles is different than his sister but similar to Calvin. Explain the way in which Charles differs from the other human characters in the book and how he is similar. 

2. Choose your favorite of the three W's and explain your decision. 

3. Name one of the central themes of A Winkle in Time and use examples from the text to prove your answer.

4. What is the ultimate power Meg possesses in order to defeat IT?

Further reading from Madeleine L'Engle, sequels:

*A Wind in the Door

*A Swiftly Tilting Planet

*Many Waters

Poetry for Young People: Robert Frost

 Poetry for Young People: Robert Frost edited by Gary D. Schmidt and illustrated by Henri Sorensen is a collection of poems by the great american poet Robert Frost. The poems are divided into the season: Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring. Each season contains beautiful poems accompanied by beautiful artwork by Sorensen.

Below each poem, Schmidt includes a brief explanation to help young readers fully understand the meaning. These descriptions are in italicized text to help the reader identify visually that this is separate from Frost's poetry. Schmidt's inserts are excellent for young readers as they explore the world of poetry. Serving as a guide throughout the book, audiences can decide if they want to read Schmidt's addition before the poem or after. If before, it will help make it a little simpler to understand upon one's first read. However, it also can make for a fun challenge by first reading the poem then looking to the insert and seeing if one understood the poem as it was intended. Though that is the beauty of poetry, it can be interpreted in different ways depending on the readers perception.

At times in his poetry, Frost brings together

two images that you would never expect to see together. In

this poem he is out for a walk in the woods and comes upon 

"a barkless specter." Watch for the clues that Frost gives

as to what this specter might be, and why it is so unusual to

come upon it in the middle of the woods.

- Description from Schmidt on Summer poem: An Encounter

Frost's poetry is world famous and remains present in today's culture due to the exceptional quality in his work. His content speaks to the reader as it relates to nature and furthermore, relates to life. Even though most of his poetry was written from the inspiration of specific environments, the reader can visualize the given environment and/or experience from their own experience. His poetic imagery also enhances the meaning in his text, bringing it to life for audiences. 

A Time To Talk

When a friend calls to me from the road,

And slows his horse to a meaning walk,

I don't stand still and look around

On all the hills I haven't hoed,

And shout from where I am, "What is it?"

No, not as there is a time to talk.

I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,

Blade-end up and five feet tall,

And plod: I go up to the stone wall

For a friendly visit.

In A Time To Talk, Frost writes about a friend who is passing by while he is working in the field. As a describes his friend coming back with his horse, one can picture the road that goes by his farm as he works on his crops. He mentions "the hills" he hasn't hoed. With just minor detail, the scenery is vivid to the audience without losing the intent behind the poem. He writes about the importance of taking time to talk with his friend even though there is work to be done.

Each poem is accompanied with gorgeous watercolor illustrations by Sorensen. They match the poems perfectly, taking the imagery of Frost's words and making them visible to the human eye. Even the tone of each painting fits the season in which it is categorized. I love the way this book is divided by seasons. I believe it to be a great vehicle to introduce children to poetry in a simple yet meaningful way. Weather is something one becomes familiar with at a young age. And though nature has become less a part of many people's lives with growing popularity of technology, it is still a common ground for which many can relate and understand. 

Poetry for Young People: Robert Frost is an excellent collection that is beneficial for children to study and enjoy. By reading poetry that speaks on subjects children have thorough knowledge about helps to enrich their understanding of prose and verse. 

Motivational Activities:

*By using the italicized descriptions underneath each poem, have students first explain what chosen poems are about then read the captions to see if they thought the same. Discuss how their thoughts are similar and/or different.

*Have students choose 4 poems (one from each season). Have them breakdown each of their choices by describing what about each poem is reminiscent of the season it is categorized. 

Reader Response questions:

1. When reading the brief history given about Frost at the front of the book, what was his dream job?

2. What place inspired a great deal of Frost's poetry?

3. Name 3 poetry techniques Frost uses in his work.

Further reading:

*Poetry for Young People: Edgar Allan Poe by Brod Bagert and Carolynn Cobleigh
*Poetry for Young People: Emily Dickinson by Frances Schoonmaker Bolin and Chi Chung
*Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
*Birches by Robert Frost and Ed Young
*A Prayer in Spring by Robert Frost and Grandma Moses

Cleopatra Rules!

Cleopatra Rules! by Vicky Alvear Shecter is a biography about the famous Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. It uses current teen vocabulary to relate to audiences about ancient history regarding Cleopatra, Caesar, Mark Antony, Octavian, and other great rulers from Egyptian and Roman times. This fun yet informational text spans over Cleopatra's life from childhood to her tragic death. Using photographs, artistic depictions, and works from the actual time, the images help to give readers an idea of what life looked like during Cleopatra's existence.

Cleopatra Rules! is an excellent children friendly biography, connecting with young audiences. It differs in the usual form of biographies, straying from using text that resembles the time period. Shecter does succeed immensely when portraying Cleopatra authentically and accurately. She tells about the ups and downs of Cleopatra's life, not leaving out the gory and unpleasant arts. They are told in way that, I believe, is understood by children without being overtly violent or grotesque. I even learned a thing or two about the Queen and Egyptian history.

This book is full of content while still being hip and engaging to the reader. Even the cover is appealing to young audiences, referring to Cleopatra has the "original teen queen." While including photos from Hollywood films of famous actresses who have portrayed Cleopatra in the past, I would imagine that it is appealing and attractive to specifically teenage females. I also find that learning about Cleopatra's history in an accurate manner can be good for young women. She is described by Shecter has powerful, strong, and resilient with massive amounts of charisma.

Shecter also addresses the topics of Cleopatra's romantic relationships, affairs, and legendary beauty. She explains that no one knows for sure if she was as beautiful as it has been said but that it wasn't really important. She was a fierce leader with the brains and gumption to back it up. This also is a good message for young audiences, especially female.

Biographies are crucial for children readers because knowing one's past is what takes one into the future. Discovering the truth about legends and heroic figures gives children hope, inspiration, and drive to live their lives to the fullest. Stories do not always end in happily ever after but there is good that can come from negative experience.

Motivational activities:

*After reading about Cleopatra, show the class a couple chosen scenes from a few Hollywood films that depict Cleopatra. Then, have students discuss what they believe to have been accurate and inaccurate. Have them present their answers to the class.

*Cleopatra was a strong leader in her time. Have students make a list of some of Cleopatra's strongest attributes. Then have them list some of what they believe to be their strongest attributes. Have them explain how these traits may be useful to them in their daily lives. 

Reader Response Questions:

1. How many times did Cleopatra marry and how many children did she have?

2. Name one of Cleopatra's triumphs as a ruler. Describe this victory and explain how it happened.

3. Cleopatra suffered a tragic death. Describe how she died. 

Further reading:

*I Am #10: Cleopatra by Grace Norwich
*You Wouldn't Want To Be Cleopatra!: An Egyptian Ruler You'd Rather Not Be by Jim Pipe
*Who Was Leonardo da Vinci? by Roberta Edwards and True Kelley
*Queen Eleanor: Independent Spirit of the Medieval World by Polly Schoyer Brooks
*Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen by Susan Blackaby