Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman

I was surprised to see Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman in our class reserved section of controversial and banned books. A text book in one of my other classes had mentioned this title before, talking about what a great book it was for kids. (I cannot remember the exact parameters of this description, but I recognized the title right away from hearing about it in my other class's text.)

The story is one that seems somewhat common. A young girl wants to be the lead in her school play - Peter Pan. However, she is quickly told that she cannot be Peter Pan because she is a girl. Seems ordinary enough. However, another kid chimes in, saying Grace cannot be Peter Pan because she is black. Here's where the controversy comes in. But is this really a controversy? I have a feeling it is something that comes up quite often, especially in classrooms full of young children who tend to be very literal. With kids, often what you see is what you get. The Disney portrayal of Peter Pan is a white cartoon character. To them, this makes the whiteness binding. If the book ended here, I could begin to understand why it was controversial.

But it doesn't. In fact, the book goes on to talk about Grace's portrayal as Peter Pan in the play. She perseveres past the doubt. She knows she has the right to be Peter Pan as much as anyone else, and she reaches her goal. I could see this book being read in elementary classroom as an example of the power of believing in yourself. Despite what other people may say, you can overcome great obstacles if you believe. That is the message I get from the book. Sounds like a good one to me.

Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting

When I heard the title of this book, I thought it was going to be the story about the movie with the little girl and her father who teach geese how to fly south for the winter. I'm pretty glad it's not that, because I'm pretty sure that movie made me cry. But I was really surprised about what the story was actually about. It is told from the perspective of a young boy who is homeless. He has been living in the airport with his father for a while while they save up money for a place to live. The family knows other families in the same situation, traveling around different airline concourses in an attempt to remain unnoticed.

Again, I was confused about what is controversial about this story. I assume it is the homelessness. Is this a subject warranting silence from the school institution? There are undoubtedly students within the American school system who are homeless. Shouldn't this issue be addressed, then? I guess I just do not see how silence is helping the situation. I would hope schools could be open about issues their students are facing.

One thing that did bother me, though, about this book was the idea of invisibility. The boy and his father wanted nothing more than to be completely invisible within the airport. No one could know their names or that they were there. They had to be completely invisible in order to survive. This really made me uneasy. No one should have to go through life pretending they do not exist.

I have to admit, I am on the fence about this one - not about whether it should be allowed or not. I do not see a problem with it being in a school library. I just do not like it because of the invisibility factor. It upsets me to think that people live like that. Homelessness, though, is something that should be openly discussed in the school setting because it is an issue that resonates with a lot of kids.

The Misfits by James Howe

If I went to Paintbrush Falls Middle School, I'm pretty sure I would be a misfit, because these are the kids I would want to hang out with. Bobby was absolutely my favorite. His thoughts and though processes were so honest and genuine. He was who he was and, although this made him vulnerable, he did not deny himself. He was so strong and such a strong character - it was fun to get into his head to see what was really going on in there.

James Howe's use of sarcasm throughout the book was really fun, too. I was laughing out loud about some of the things that came out of the characters' mouths.

There was a lot of talk about the gay stereotypes used for Joe's character. My teacher said something that I could not get past. As a gay seventh grade student, there are not really a lot of choices as to how to act. Joe is really caught in a tough position. He realizes that being gay is not something that is openly accepted - in his town, in his school, and by his peers. He is lucky and has friends and family that are willing to support him no matter what. He shows them his identity and knows that, ultimately, they will still be there. Sure, he talks about RuPaul and Madonna. He could be a little bit deeper. But I think for a gay seventh grade boy, this is pretty believable.

I am still struggling to figure out how this is a controversial book. It does include homosexuality. However, homosexuals are not aliens. They are humans beings. Sure, they may lead a lifestyle you might not choose to endorse. This is not an excuse to pretend they do not exist. This book has such a good message about being truthful to yourself. It would be a shame to withhold it from the classroom because of a homosexual character. Honestly, it is hard for me to believe that things like this are still an issue in America in the 21st century.

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

I love love loved this book. (That sentence was inspired by Jack.) Right away I had such a deep connection to Jack. I remember when I was in middle school, my language arts teacher would collect our writing assignments in a large stack. The next day, she would kneel down beside my desk and ask if she could read mine out loud. "Only if you don't say who it's by," I would always say. I did not want anyone knowing it was me. Even today, I feel much more comfortable openly expressing myself when I know my name is not attached to it. So Jack and I hit it off right away. I knew where he was coming from.

This book is really special to me not only because the story is the sweetest thing I have ever heard (seriously!), but also because my mom read it to me. Yep, my mom read me this book this last weekend when I was laying sick on the couch. I cannot remember the last time she read me a book. I'm sure it hasn't been since I was a little girl. But I would suggest it to all of you. Sit down with your mom and read a book. And, I would recommend it be this one. It is powerful and playful and funny and sad and heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once. My mom and I cried about Sky. We laughed at Jack's defeated remarks about poetry. It was a time we spent together that I really appreciate and will always remember.

And every time Jack said his dog was bark bark barking, my heart melted. I will most definitely have this book in my classroom when I am a teacher. More importantly, I will most definitely have this book on my shelf at home. Maybe even on my nightstand to keep it close.

Love love love.

long night moon by Cynthia Rylant

Quiet. This book is a very quiet book, one to read snuggled in bed, toes wiggling, hushed voices, nightlight on. The pages are dark, done in sharp blues and deep blacks. The light of the moon reflects off snowy banks and spring flowers. Though birds are flying and raccoons bantering playfully across the pages, I feel calm. Even the tiny clicking of the keys as my fingers graze the keyboard seems a disruption to these quiet nights.

This book is really not what I expected it to be. There are no characters save the moon who changes with each month. In January he is the Stormy Moon, October the Acorn Moon, and finally, the Long Night Moon of December. "This is the faithful moon." And isn't that true? December nights are the deepest, fullest blacks and blues. The Earth seems to hold its breath; the land is hushed, silenced by a blanket of downy snow.

My favorite moon, though, is June's Strawberry Moon. The soft cursive script glows slightly pink, and the light of the fireflies mimics that of the moon. The moon, too, hints soft pink, peeking out from behind the trunk of a large tree. The illustrations are breathtaking. It is definitely one you should pick up and see.

I Wonder Why by Lois Rock

If I ever need a book to introduce a science unit to elementary school kids, I will turn to this book. This is a book full of curiosity. It asks about clouds - why are they pink when the sun is yellow? It asks about rivers. Do they ever get tired and want to stop flowing? This book really makes the reader turn into himself to search for the answers. It made me question myself. What are my beliefs? Because the book offers no answers. There are only questions. The reader must find the answers in and of himself.

When I was reading this book, I imagined a group of kids from one neighborhood. Exhausted from running around all day in the hot, sticky summer heat, they finally slow down, collapsing on a bed of grass still smelling that freshly-cut smell. Their arms tucked behind their heads, they at first just lay there and simply be. The kids look into the sky and muse silently about the clouds drifting lazily by overhead. Each child sees his own image - a cat, a trumpet, shady tree drawn out in fluffy white, personal to only him. Finally the internal becomes external, one child sparking the timeless conversation about cloud shapes. "Do you see that one that looks like an umbrella?" "Umbrella! That's a kangaroo!"

This book is great because every question is open to interpretation. There is no prescription of what to see, no incorrect responses. You personalize the story as you see fit, just as the clouds whisp in marshmallowy shapes that only you can see.

A Lot of Otters by Barbara Helen Berger

This story was very short and sweet. Our library has it marked for preschoolers, probably due to the short sentences on each page. However, the story was one you have to think about.

Mother Moon is looking for her "moonlet" child. On the page, we see a baby boy in a cardboard box, holding a book. I thought the baby was reading the book. Confusion number one. When the baby drops the book into the sea, some silly sea otters pick it up, reading it to one another as they swim along on their backs. The story is about Mother Moon, who has lost her moonlet. When she cries, her tears appear as stars. The otters dive deep down to the bottom of the sea and collect shiny bright stars from the ocean floor. When they bring them up to the surface, Mother Moon notices them and finds her baby. The baby she was looking for is the baby in the cardboard box, floating in the sea.

The illustrations in this book are awesome. She uses numerous blue colors for the sea, adding in tiny white bubbles and waves when the otters swim in it. The stars literally shine on the page. They make the page bright and enchanting. This was a fun book for young kids. It is one I would read before nap time, because the words are quiet and the moon is out.