Funny Bones Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras
Tonathiu, Duncan. 2015. Funny Bones Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras. Ill. by Christopher Myers. Abrams Books for Young Readers. New York, NY. ISBN 978-1419716478
PLOT SUMMARY
Mexico celebrates many cultural holidays that have been passed down through generations.One of these holidays is El Dia de Los Muertos. During el Dia de los Muertos celebration people remember loved ones they have lost and they set up a special altar with bright orange flowers, pan de muerto, and decorations of calaveras which means “skull” in Spanish. One of the first people to draw these calaveras and use printmaking techniques was a young man by the name of Jose Guadalupe Posada who lived in Aguascalientes, Mexico in the 1870s. At a young age he became interested in art and his creativity allowed him to pursue a career in printmaking. He decided to make thousands of these skulls as a form of political satire and to entertain the community. Many of his lithographs and engravings were used as decoration for el Dia de Muertos.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The cultural relevance in this book is phenomenal. This book is about the life of Jose Guadalupe Posada and how his creativity in printmaking led him to become a prolific artist especially in the creation of the famous “calaveras” and “catrinas”. The story follows Jose at a young age and continues chronologically as he moves to Mexico City with his wife and son. The information in the story shows accuracy to the dates and the historical events happening in Mexico. There is a clear sequence of events from his childhood to his death. The book’s design, colors, and festive drawings depict the cultural values of Mexico. The actual prints designed by Posadas are shown throughout the pages of the book. Part of the book has a step by step guide into the process of lithography or engraving. The writing is clear, entertaining, and descriptive detailing the life of a young Mexican artist who was later appreciated by famous painters such as Diego Rivera and French- born American painter Jean Charlot. The book includes a glossary, a bibliography, art credits, and an index.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist -"Playful but informative, this picture book offers a fascinating introduction to the artist and his work.”
Publishers Weekly-"A wealth of biographical and contextual information... it’s a valuable introduction to Posada that will leave readers thinking about the process of creating art and the social impact it can have."
School Library Journal” -The beautifully expressive Day of the Dead-inspired illustrations on heavy -paper pages sport borders of bones, grinning skeletons, and Tonatiuh's signature figures shown in profile, influenced by the ancient Mexican art of his ancestors. Simple yet effective sentences accompany step-by-step images detailing the artistic processes that Posada learned as a printer's apprentice... A stunning work, with great possibilities for lesson plans or tie-ins with Day of the Dead.”
Awards:
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2015
A Robert F. Sibert Award Winner
A Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book
An ALA/ALSC Notable Children's Book
NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book (2016)
Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award for Works for Younger Readers (2016),
CONNECTIONS
- This book reminds us about the importance of cultural celebrations from different countries.
- This book inspires others to use and share your talents with others.
Other related books:
Soldier for Equality by Duncan Tonathiu
Diego Rivera His World and Ours by Duncan Tonathiu
Activity: Have students draw calaveras and make poems to celebrate el Dia de Los Muertos. Make an altar in the classroom and bring family pictures of people who have passed.
Watch videos of how to make a lithography. Pair up with the art teacher to create your own lithographies.
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What to Do About Alice? How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy!
Kerley, Barbara. 2007. What To Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy! Scholastic Press. Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York, NY .ISBN 978-0439922319
PLOT SUMMARY
This entertaining narrative biography is about the life of Alice Roosevelt. She was the daughter of Theodore Roosevelt who became president of the United States. Alice was a curious and vigorous child who enjoyed discovering new things and ideas. This was a time when girls were expected to be obedient and listen to their parents. However, Alice loved to explore and her father found it hard to keep her out of trouble. As her life continued, she traveled the world, married, and became an important advisor to her father while in office.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is about the life of Alice Roosevelt from the time she was a child to her adult life. However, it is written in a simple narrative format that engages the reader with its entertaining information. Across the pages there are certain words written in bold, all caps printed to grab the reader’s attention to the most important ideas or quotes stated by her father. . The pictures are vibrant showing Alice’s energy in her constant movement, scampering through hallways, chasing her siblings, or rolling down the hill in a bicycle. The pages show Alice’s emotions through her daily activities such as her excitement while reading books to her sadness when they advised her of going to school. The illustrator shows Alice in motion with dots connected through the page as she moves from one place to the next.
REVIEWS
Kirkus- “Theodore Roosevelt’s irrepressible oldest child receives an appropriately vivacious appreciation in this superb picture book. “From the time she was a little girl, Alice ate up the world.” Taking her thematic approach from Alice’s own self-description, Kerley’s precise text presents readers with a devilishly smart, strong-willed girl who was determined to live life on her own terms—and largely succeeded.”
Awards
Sibert Medal Nominee (2009),
Irma Black Award Nominee (2009)
CONNECTIONS
- This book will appeal to children who are curious and like to learn and do things differently than others.
- This book will give insights of how the children of U.S. Presidents lived while their father was in office.
Other related books:
Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors?: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell by Tanya Lee Stone
The House That Jane Built: A Story About Jane Addams by Tanya Lee Stone
Activity:
Discuss Alice Roosevelt’s actions and whether they would be considered rebellious or pioneering for her time. Make a venn diagram depicting the differences between women of that time and women from today, finding similarities and differences in their clothing, education, and ideals.
Write a diary entry from the point of view of Alice Roosevelt. Describing how she felt and what her dreams and ambitions were.
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Action Jackson
Greenberg, Jan and Sandra Jordan. 2007. Action Jackson. Squarefish. New York, NY. Ill by Robert Andrew Parker ISBN 978-0312367510
PLOT SUMMARY
Action Jackson in a book that depicts the life of famous American artist and painter Jackson Pollock. Pollock would paint in his barn and create fascinating and unique works of art. He would use motion and movement as he painted on the floor. He would use regular house paint and often use his hands besides brushes. Some days he would take leisure walks to the beach, plant vegetable gardens at home, or cook dinner with his wife. His painting November 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist) is among his most recognized paintings. Pollock died in a car accident in 1956.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Action Jackson is a short biography about the life of Jackson Pollock. It includes glimpses of Jackson Pollock’s day by day routine, as well as his time creating his action packed paintings in his barn behind his home. The drawings show how much motion was created in his works, and how he would be inspired to move around his paintings as he added shapes, colors, and different objects. The book begins with Pollock as an adult, but at the end the author gives a detailed explanation about his life as a young boy, his first art pieces, his marriage, and his death.The book contains a bibliography and a detailed list of notes and references. It also has a picture of Pollock’s famous November 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist) art piece. The illustrator makes a wonderful use of colors and uses sensory description to show Pollock’s style of painting. The illustrator’s use of watercolors and uneven, somewhat unpolished drawings appear similar to Pollock’s abstract paintings.
REVIEWS
Booklist Starred Review:“'Action Jackson' was Jackson Pollock's nickname, and this slim, picture-book biography describes how this "athlete with a paintbrush" made one of his most famous works: the "drip painting" titled Lavender Mist. Using spare, lyrical words, the authors layer the exciting story with deep observations about what art is, how it is made, and why Pollock was so extraordinary-
Publishers Weekly Starred Review-“Nicknamed "Action Jackson '' for his kinetic style, abstract artist Jackson Pollock takes the spotlight in this outstanding picture book biography. Collaborators Greenberg and Jordan frame their account around a significant period in Pollack's life in 1950, when he created Number 1, 1950 (also called Lavender Mist), one of his most famous paintings. Readers follow Pollack into his barn studio, watch over his shoulder as he lays the canvas on the floor and begins to work all the while learning about his early life and influence”
Awards:
Sibert Honor Book
New York Times Best Book of the Year
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year.
CONNECTIONS
- This book will appeal to those who like to learn about artists and painters.
- This book will appeal to those who are creative and artistic.
Other related books:
Alvin Ailey by Andrea Davis Pinkney
When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson by Pam Munoz Ryan
Activity:
Have students use different types of colors, paints,and watercolors to create works of arts. Play jazz music during class and give each student a white paper. Have them create works of art.
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Quest for the Tree Kangaroo - An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea
Montgomery, Sy and Nic Bishop.2006.Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston, MA. ISBN 978-0547248929
PLOT SUMMARY
Quest for the Tree Kangaroo : An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea describes the life of the Matschie’s tree kangaroos who live on trees in the cloud forests of New Guinea, a place that still remains unexplored in some regions. A scientist, an author, and a photographer, among a valuable team, embark on a journey throughout the forest in search of the tree kangaroo. The cute animal is described as having soft golden fur, a rounded face, a long thick tail, and a pink nose. This animal looks between the cross of a monkey and a bear and is considered one of the rarest animals of the planet. Since their habitat has been slowly destroyed and the animal has been hunted down, it makes it harder to find them. The scientist, Lisa Dabek, is determined to help these animals survive and decides to put trackers to follow the ones they capture before they are released back into the wilderness. Other rare and beautiful animals and plants are described and photographed in the expedition.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This is a detailed book about the animals Lisa Dabek, a creative scientist, and her team have seen in her expedition to New Guinea. Several other scientists, a veterinarian and even a zookeeper accompany Lisa in this journey. Each person present in this trip is described with background information of how they started their animal research. The author even gives a meticulous list of the items taken during their visit. The photographer, Nic Bishop, takes the most extraordinary photographs of the team, the surrounding areas, the villagers, and the animals they encounter. Each picture is given a caption. The book is a day to day recount of the team's visit; it is like a diary. A page in the book is dedicated to ways we can all follow to protect animals around the world. The author adds websites to learn more about animals and gives a glossary to translate words from Tok Pisin to English. An acknowledgment page and index is also included. Both the author and the photographer write a personal note about this exciting expedition.
REVIEW
Horn Book- “Montgomery's friendliness and curiosity set the tone...Bishop's photography is, as always, outstanding...Dabek's advice to young naturalists...[is a] useful addition.”
Booklist, ALA, Starred Review- “Another beautifully illustrated entry in the Scientists in the field series... Montgomery gives a chronological, sometimes moment-by-moment account of the challenging climb into the remote cloud forest...[giving] an unusually strong, visceral sense of the work and cooperation fieldwork entails and the scope and uniqueness of this particular mission...As usual, Bishop's color photographs are exemplary and extend the excitement in close-ups of creatures and of the team at work.”
Awards:
Sibert Honor Book
CONNECTIONS
- For those who like to learn about unique animals around the world.
- For those interested in conservation efforts to save animals.
Other related books:
The Tarantula Scientist by Sy Montgomery
Chameleon, Chameleon by Joy Cowley
The Tapir Scientist by Sy Montgomery
Activity:
Pair students and do research on the different animals photographed in the book. Make a brochure describing the animal, the place they live, what they eat, and how long they live for. Include pictures on the brochure.
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