LS 5653-Culture 5- THE BOY OF THE THREE-YEAR NAP

BIBLOGRAPHY

Snyder, Dianne and Say, Allen. 1988. THE BOY OF THE THREE-YEAR NAP. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN: 0-395-44090-4.

PLOT SUMMARY

This story is set in a fishing village of Japan. The main character, Taro, a young boy who just eats and sleeps all day and is very lazy is the opposite of his mother who toils at making fine clothes for the wealthy to wear. Taro comes up with a plan after a wealthy merchant comes to the village. Taro gets his mother to sew him a priest’s outfit and ambushes the merchant into thinking he is a “ujigami” or spirit. Taro then demands that the merchant’s daughter marry Taro or she will become a clay pot. The merchant is very distressed over the situation and goes to Taro’s mother. She then begins to create a plan to have her home fixed up by the merchant since she is not able to provide for the daughter as she should properly. After the home is fixed the merchant asks Taro’s mother again for consent to the marriage and the mother arranges for Taro to work for the merchant to provide for the daughter. In the end Taro ends up doing a good job of working for his father-in-law and they all live happily.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The illustrations in the book really make you think that you are in the little village seeing the story unfold before your eyes. The rice paper screen doors, kimonos, other clothing, cooking pots, gardens, shrines, houses, even the custom of taking off ones shoes before entering the home is illustrated. This story takes place in the past before technology or motorized vehicles. The characters are drawn with black hair and almond shaped eyes. The men wear pants with a tunic style top and sometimes a robe. The ladies are in kimonos or long skirts with work shirt style tunics. The women have their hair in a bun style on top of their heads.
The story itself could have happened in any culture but the addition of the customs and other dialogue make the story authentic to the place and time. The culture in the book is Japanese. The mannerisms and voice of the characters tends to make you think of that culture. The only religious practice is the mentioning of the shrines and when Taro plays the trick on the merchant. Shrines are still popular in Japan today and many people visit them and pay money to get a “fortune”.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Caldecott Honor Book
Boston Globe-Horn book award
ALA Notable Children’s book

Publisher’s Weekly – “Say's art, with stylized Oriental touches, comically animates the sprightly tale, perfectly matching the abundant wit of Snyder's adaptation.”

Children’s Literature – “This humorous Japanese folktale follows a young man "as lazy as a rich man's cat." While he's snoozing, though, the quick-witted mother hatches a plan that gains him wife, job-and very limited nap time.”

School Library Journal –“The accuracy of the visualized Japanese landscape and architecture help considerably in casting this retold folktale into an Oriental mold.”

CONNECTIONS

This resource is one that would be another good choice to include in a study about folktales from other cultures.
Ed Young – LON PO PO. ISBN-9780399216190
Byrd Baylor – THE TABLE WHERE RICH PEOPLE SAT. ISBN-9780689820083
One could also include this story in a study about obeying your parents, being lazy, how to provide for yourself and consequences of your actions.

Book cover image by Barnes and Noble.

LS 5653-Culture 5-THE YEAR OF THE DOG

BIBLOGRAPHY

Lin, Grace. 2006. THE YEAR OF THE DOG. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN: 0-316-06000-3

PLOT SUMMARY

Pacy is a young girl living in the United States and has the culture of Taiwan or China from her parents. She has two sisters, Ki-Ki and Lissy. The story begins with a Chinese New Year celebration and goes through Pacy’s adventures at school and trying to understand how she fits into the world having two cultures, American and Taiwanese/Chinese. Pacy meets another girl at her school Melody who is just like her. Their mothers met at a grocery store and the girls become fast friends. Throughout the story are mini-stories about her parents and family in Taiwan/China. The family seems to have a good time together and there is lots of laughter in the book.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This story is set in modern times except for the “rememberings” of family member’s stories. Pacy does describe herself in the way she looks and comments that the other children in school do not look like her until she meets Melody. The cafeteria worker will almost not give Pacy her lunch confusing her with Melody. Pacy does identify with Chinese/Taiwanese culture, food and practices throughout the book. Pacy does explain to friends about her name. She uses a different name at school then at home because the teachers at school had difficulty pronouncing her name. The family celebrates Chinese New Year with a feast of authentic food and red envelopes with money. They also go to celebrate a birth in the family and the baby receives red envelopes with money for good luck. There are minimal illustrations in the book and they are black pencil drawings on the paper the text in printed on. So, in essence the background is a manila color. They do show the dark hair and facial features of almond shaped eyes.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

2006 Fall Publisher's Pick

• Starred Booklist Review

• 2006 ALA Children's Notable

• 2006 National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) GOLD Winner

• 2007-2008 Texas Bluebonnet Award Masterlist

• 2007 Nene Awards Recommended List (Hawaii's Book Award Chosen by Children Grades 4-6)•

2007 Cochecho Readers' Award List (sponsored by the Children's Librarians of Dover, New Hampshire)

• NYPL 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2006

• Kirkus Best Early Chapter Books 2006

•2006 Booklist Editors' Choice for Middle Readers

•Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice 2007•Boston Authors Club Recommended Book

•2007-2008 Great Lakes Great Books Award nominee

•2007-2008 North Carolina Children's Book Award nominee

•2007-2008 West Virginia Children's Book Award nominee

•2009 Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award (OR) nominee

•2009 Pacific Northwest Young Readers Choice Award (WA, OR, ID)nominee
(accessed from http://www.gracelin.com/content.php?page=book_yeardog&display=awards_reviews)

Publisher’s Weekly – “The book's inviting design suggests a journal, and features childlike spot illustrations and a typeface with a hand- lettered quality. Girls everywhere, but especially those in the Asian-American community, will find much to embrace here.”

Booklist – “Lin does a remarkable job capturing the soul and the spirit of books like those of Hayward or Maud Hart Lovelace, reimagining them through the lens of her own story, and transforming their special qualities into something new for today's young readers.”

5th grade student -“This is a good book. It gives an idea of how someone from another culture keeps their traditions and also makes new friends.”

CONNECTIONS

This story would be a good introduction to how we are all different and how we get along in America. It also introduces the custom of Chinese New Year. Presented properly this holiday is very interesting to students.

Marx, David F. CHINESE NEW YEAR. ISBN: 9780516273754

Gleasen, Carrie. CHINESE NEW YEAR. ISBN: 9780778742982

MacMillian, Dianne M. CHINESE NEW YEAR: ISBN: 9780766030381

Book cover image from Barnes and Noble.

LS 5653 - Culture 5 - SEESAW GIRL

BIBLOGRAPHY

Park, Linda Sue and Tseng, Jean and Tseng, Mou-sien. 1999. SEESAW GIRL. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0-395-91514-7

PLOT SUMMARY

Jade Blossom is a very spirited young girl in Korea in a time where well off women were not allowed outside the home. She longed to go on trips with her father, a counselor to the king, and her brother, Tiger Heart, to see beyond the walls of her home. Jade Blossom likes to create mischief within the household but her world is turned upside down when her Aunt, Willow, is married and moves out of the family home to live with her husband’s family. Jade Blossom even escapes the confines of her home to try and visit Willow who refuses to see her. Jade Blossom experiences many things on this adventure beyond the walls and is fueled by her desires to know more of the outside world.
There is an Author’s note at the end as well as a bibliography of references regarding the prisoner’s mentioned in story.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This story takes place in past before motorized transportation. There are very few illustrations in the book which are in grayscale. They show the people with a different eye shape and black hair. The women mostly have their hair high up on their heads. The females are wearing a kimono style clothing. The men have pants with a tunic style shirt. The housing is shown with rice paper doors, shoes being left outside, screens, and low furniture. The culture represented is Korean. Jade Blossom learns how to do embroidery on silk and longs to have educational lessons like her brother. She does not seem to like the rules imposed on her simply for being a girl. Jade Blossom also has difficulty accepting without questioning.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

School Library Journal Best Books, 2001
ALA Booklist Editors' Choice, 2001
New York Public Library, "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing", 2001
Parents' Choice Memorable New Title, Fall 2001
(accessed from http://www.lindasuepark.com/books/seesawgirl/seesawrev.html)
Children’s Literature – “In this historical look at Korea, readers are taken to the third century of the Choson Period (1300-1880), when upper class females were not allowed to leave the inner court of their family compound. Young Jade Blossom feels so confined by this and other confining traditions that she plays pranks on the boys, escapes to the outside world for a brief time, and even dabbles in the male art of painting.”

School Library Journal – “Her mother recognizes Jade's longings and shows her that it is possible to be content with her life. Like Jade's stand-up seesaw, Park's novel offers readers a brief but enticing glimpse at another time.”

Kirkus Reviews-“Park's afterword tells of a Dutch ship that ran aground in Korea near the time of the story, and what happened to the prisoners Jade's father defended. The evocative descriptions and Jade's intensity in creating new ways to learn will capture and hold readers.”

CONNECTIONS

The book could be used as a way to show how the Korean culture has changed throughout the years. It can also be used to compare and contrast how women were and are viewed in various cultures in the world.

Kristof, Nicholas D. and WuDunn, Sheryl. HALF THE SKY: TURNING OPPRESSION INTO OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN WORLDWIDE. ISBN: 9780307387097

Thomsen, Natasha. WOMEN’S RIGHTS. ISBN: 9780816068098

Alter, Judy. WOMEN’S RIGHTS.ISBN: 9781602791336

Book cover image from Barnes & Noble.

LS 5653 - Culture 4 - THE STORY OF THE MILKY WAY

BIBLOGRAPHY

Bruchac, Joseph and Ross, Gayle and Stroud, Virginia A. 1995. THE STORY OF THE MILKY WAY: A CHEROKEE TALE. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0-8037-1737-7.

PLOT SUMMARY

This story is a Cherokee folktale that has been passed down through the generations. It describes how most of the stars got into the sky. The story starts in the past when the Cherokee’s gathered large amounts of corn to sustain themselves through the winter. One morning an elderly couple discovers the lid of a basket knocked off and some of the corn meal had been taken. They are very upset and their grandson decides to wait in the forest that night and keep a vigil. What is sees startles him as it is an eerie light in the shape of a dog eating the cornmeal. He tells his family about the incident and they all go to the Beloved Woman, a leader in the tribe. She was wise and developed a plan. The entire town waited that night in the forest with their drums and rattles. When the spirit dog came to eat they made loud noises and chased him off. He leapt into the sky and everywhere the cornmeal landed became a star in the sky. The Cherokee call it” the place where the dog ran”. And that was the beginning of the Milky Way.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This story exhibits a concept that has been used for many years. The art of storytelling for the purpose of explanation. Many cultures have come up with stories to explain events that happened in nature or the world around them. The Native American culture has been known of treasuring Mother Earth and her blessings.
The clothing displayed in the illustrations is not what one would consider typical of Native American clothing. The people wore what looked like loomed cloth in many colors and patterns that had been cut and sewn together to make long dresses, pants, robes and turban looking hats for the men. Their hair was long on the women and short on the men with no braids. The text exhibited a storyline that I would consider a folktale passed along through time. It contained references to the wise woman and a spirit like dog. Their interactions along with the people of the village explain how so many stars got into the sky. The story was short and to the point without a lot of extra events that clouded the main purpose of the text.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Publisher’s Weekly – “With lyric simplicity this retelling of a Cherokee folktale posits an explanation for the origin of the Milky Way, at the same time stressing the merits of communal labor.”

Children’s Literature – “Great things can be accomplished when a community works together. This is the timeless message conveyed in this traditional Cherokee legend.”

School Library Journal – “Bruchac and Ross retell a Cherokee tale with simplicity and respect.”

Booklist – “Beautifully illustrated in Cherokee-Creek artist Stroud's signature style, this charming retelling of a traditional Cherokee legend will appeal to listeners young and old. Source notes and a brief history of the forced removal of the Cherokees, known as the Trail of Tears, are included.”

CONNECTIONS

Joseph Bruchac has written over seventy books for children and adults including fiction, poetry and folktales. This would be an excellent addition for an author study. Another choice would be to include this work with other folktales from different cultures.
Nelson Mandela –NELSON MANDELA’S FAVORITE AFRICAN FOLKTALES. ISBN-9780393329902
Jane Yolen- FAVORITE FOLKTALES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. ISBN-9780394751887
Peninnah Schram –THE HUNGRY CLOTHES AND OTHER JEWISH FOLKTALES. ISBN-9781402726514

Book cover image from Barnes and Noble website.

LS 5653 - Culture 4 - JINGLE DANCER

BIBLOGRAPHY

Smith, Cynthia Leitich and Van Wright, Corneluis and Hu, Ying-gwa. 2000. JINGLE DANCER. NewYork: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN: 0-688-16241-X.

PLOT SUMMARY

This story is about Jenna who happens to be of the Muscogee Nation and also of Ojibway descent. Jenna is a young girl of Native American descent and has dreams of dancing the jingle dance at the powwow. Jenna watches video of her Grandma Wolfe dancing to learn the steps and her Grandma agrees to let her dance with the girls at the next powwow but there is no time to make jingles for her dress. Jenna is sad that her dress will not “sing” when she dances because it will be missing jingles. Jenna goes to see three female family members and friends and asks them for a row of jingles for her dress. Her Great-aunt Sis gives her a row and tells her that her legs don’t work well anymore. Mrs. Scott gives her a row of jingles since she will be selling fry bread and Indian tacos at the powwow. Cousin Elizabeth gives her a row of jingles since she will be working of a big law case and won’t make it to the powwow. Jenna decides to ask her Grandma Wolf for the last row of jingles for her dress. Grandma agrees and they work on her dress together to get ready for the powwow. Jenna is very proud to dance the bounce-steps in her jingle dress at the powwow and she remembers all those ladies who lent their jingles.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

There is an author’s note at the end of the book giving more detailed information about the jingle dress and dance. Also, a glossary of a four words follows the author’s note and gives more explanation as to their meaning in Native American culture.
The illustrations depict what I would term a typical American home and lifestyle. There are only a few items in the pictures that would discern a culture: Jenna’s dream, eagle feathers, the video on the tv, a dress hanging on a door, a bag of jingles, Mrs. Scott’s jewelry, her cousin’s dreamcatcher, Jenna’s moccasins for the dance, a braided basket on a table and the powwow itself. The character’s appearance is dark hair and tan skin tones.
As Jenna is on her search for jingles her Great-aunt Sis tells her a Muscogee Creek Story about Bat. This story helps Jenna realize that she must try hard even though she is small to make a difference with her jingle dance. Jenna shows great pride in her heritage and wants to continue the tradition of the jingle dancer. Many times young people either except their heritage or try to deny their culture and choose a new route. Jenna embraces the dance and its meaning and finds a way to borrow jingles so her dress will “sing” like Grandma Wolf’s dress. She meticously practices the steps so she will know them at the time of the powwow.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies and a Selector's Choice for 2001
2001 2 x 2 Reading List of twenty books recommended for children ages two through second
grade by the Texas Library Association
One of five finalists for the children's/YA division of the Oklahoma Book Award
Runner-up for the Storyteller Award from the Western Writers Association
Named a CCBC Choice for 2001
Debuts That Deliver (Book Magazine)
Editor's Choice, Library Talk
featured in GREAT BOOKS ABOUT THINGS KIDS LOVE by Kathleen Odean
2002 Read Across Texas Bibliography (Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Children’s Literature – “Jenna dreams of having a dress with jingles for the upcoming powwow, but as her grandmother notes, there aren't any extras and there isn't enough time to make them.”

School Library Journal – “This picture book will not only satisfy a need for materials on Native American customs, but will also be a welcome addition to stories about traditions passed down by the women of a culture.”

Kirkus Reviews – “The author is deliberately showing us, it would seem, that all Native Americans are not poor or live on rundown reservations. A useful portrayal of an important cultural event in a Creek girl's year.”

CONNECTIONS

This text would be a good starting point for a study of Native American Cultures.
Boraas, T. THE CREEK: FARMERS OF THE SOUTHWEST. ISBN: 9780736815666
WILLIAM AUGUSTUS BOWLES : DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE CREEK NATION.
ISBN: 9780820335582

One would have to be careful as to the age of the audience and what materials are used. There are many events in the Native American culture that would be inappropriate for younger students.

Book cover image by Barnes and Noble website.

LS 5653 - Culture 4 - CLOUD CHAMBER

BIBLOGRAPHY

Dorris, Michael. 1997. CLOUD CHAMBER. Thorndike, Maine: Thorndike Press. ISBN: 078620981

PLOT SUMMARY

This is the story of Rose Mannion and her descendents. The story starts in Ireland and ends up in the United States across Kentucky, California and finally to Montana. Rose loves a man who is an English sympathizer and ends up hung for his actions. Rose makes a table from the tree and carries it to America along with Martin McGarry who seems to be caught up in the whole mess of trouble. Rose and Martin have two sons, Andrew and Robert. Each man had different ends but Rose outlived all the men in her life. Robert married, Bridie, and had two daughters, Edna and Marcella. Marcella had an affair with an African American, Earl, and became with child. Edna helped them run away to California where Elgin was born. Earl joins the military service and is killed overseas. Marcella and Elgin return to Kentucky and by the time Elgin is out of high school he has enlisted in the service. In a strange twist of events he finds his way to where his father was killed and discovers that his father had been living in the small town up until three years ago when he died. Elgin decides not to tell his mother of the events and returns to the states where he has a romance with Christine, an Indian from Montana, and has a daughter, Rayona. In the end Rayona takes on the name of Rose, the matriarch of the family and the reason for some many things in the past.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

As this culture we are studying was Native American I expected more of that culture to show through instead of Ireland and Kentucky. The chapters and numbered and named for a character or main event in the story. The only part of the story where Native Americans are mentioned is near the ending when Rayona takes on her new name and her father, mother and Aunt come to Montana for the occasion. This happens in modern times and there are mentions of the reservation and these living conditions they are faced with on a daily basis.
The story itself was sometimes difficult to follow with the twists and turns of the characters and even jumping backward in time. The story did not have any illustrations to support the text and one had to use the descriptions the author provided to visualize the story. This was not was I expecting by the title of the book and the culture we are analyzing.
The story does show how a family developed, tolerated each other, loved each other, kept secrets and through all of the events in their lives spanning five generations had a type of enduring quality that one could connect with their own family. I particularly enjoyed the part when Edna and Marcella go back to Ireland to spread Rose’s ashes by the tree that took her only love. It makes you wonder what you would do for a family members last wishes.
When you read Dorris’ biography online you will note that his characters take on some of the characteristics in his own life.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Publisher’s Weekly – “Dorris brings the strands of his narrative together in a deft conclusion-a naming ceremony, in which Rayona takes Rose's name, and in which we see the youngest member tenderly managing three disparate generations and loving them all in her own intrepid way. Thus Dorris provides a moving and persuasive image of a reconciliation for which America still yearns.”

Library Journal – “Altogether, this is a fine book whose literary excellence is matched by its accessibility to general readers and young adults. Highly recommended.”

The Washington Post - Alice McDermott – “The book's distinction is its vivid, intelligent portrayal of our perpetual, universal and most inextinguishable longing for both transcendence and—here's the rub—communion in love.”

Chicago Tribune - Sandra Scofield – “A thoroughly absorbing novel remarkable for its lyricism, compassion, humor and thumping good story, all characteristics one has come to expect of the author's work. To my mind, Cloud Chamber is his best yet.

CONNECTIONS

This book is suitable for older students due to the content of the text. You could pair this book with others that explore several generations of a family in one resource. Being a work of fiction you could try and find those points which are historical.

Book cover image from Barnes and Noble.

LS 5653 - Culture 3 - TOO MANY TAMALES

BIBLOGRAPHY

Soto, Gary and Martinez, Ed. 1993. TOO MANY TAMALES. New York: G.P. Putman’s Sons. ISBN: 0-399-22146-8.

PLOT SUMMARY

This is a story about Maria and how she helps her family make tamales for a Christmas meal. In helping with the tamales Maria puts on her Mother’s special ring. Later, after all the tamales have been cooked Maria remembers the ring and convinces her cousins to help her eat all of the tamales to find the ring. They eat all the tamales only to discover – no ring! Maria goes to her mother head hung low and just as she gets ready to recount the events she sees the ring on her mother’s finger! Maria tells her mother about the tamales and the whole family goes to the kitchen to make some more tamales. Maria’s cousins are not very happy with the thought of eating any more tamales!

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Soto shows a combination of Hispanic and American influences in the story. The food and how it is prepared is authentic even with a few Spanish words here and there. The illustrations show a cross over with the American culture. The clothing of the characters is not typically Hispanic or Spanish. The men are wearing sweaters and even a tie. The ladies are in dresses or skirts that do not show the flair for colorfulness that one would think of for the Hispanic culture of the past. The illustrations are portraying a more modern family. The story itself is heartwarming as Maria does not want to disappoint her mother and lose the ring and shows how across the cultures cousins can persuade each other to help out in a crisis. None of the adults seem bothered by the situation it is only the children who ate “too many tamales” that are groaning in the background, except for Maria who is happily kneading the masa once more to make more tamales to replace the ones eaten.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Publisher’s Weekly –“Soto allows the celebrants a Hispanic identity without making it the main focus of the text.”

Children’s Literature –“ Everyone can identify with Maria's panic and the too-full tummies, but this also inspires children to share the way their own family celebrates holidays.”

Booklist starred review- “More than the usual feel-good holiday celebration of ethnic pride, this warm picture book about a Latina child at Christmas is rooted in cultural tradition and in the physicalness of happy family life, with echoes of universal fairy tale. It's also a very funny story, full of delicious surprise.”

CONNECTIONS

This story has been used in classrooms a lot. There have even been study guides written to go along with the story. This is an excellent book to teach honesty, helping out your family and even Christmas traditions.
Website – Teacher Vision - http://www.teachervision.fen.com/lesson-plan/reading-comprehension/48613.html

Website – Scholastic discussion guide - http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=36802

Santiago, Esmeralda. LAS CHRISTMAS: FAVORITE LATINO AUTHORS SHARE THEIR MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS ISBN: 9780375701559

Book cover image is from the Barnes and Noble website.

LS 5653 - Culture 3 - THIS BIG SKY

BIBLOGRAPHY

Mora, Pat and Jenkins, Steve. 1998. THIS BIG SKY. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 0-590-37120-7

PLOT SUMMARY

The book is a collection of poems written by Pat Mora. The titles of the poems allude to topics such as the sky, lizards, snakes, mountains, suspense, people, raccoons, holidays, night, deserts, birds, and dusk.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book of poetry contains poems about items that you might encounter in the southwest region of the United States and possibly Mexico. There is a sprinkling of Spanish words in a few of the poems which lends itself to authenticity. The poem topics deal with animals, people, or items that one would find in the Hispanic culture or demographic area especially the southwest. There is a glossary at the back of the book to translate those words along with the pronunciation guide. There is not a set format for the poems as some of them are longer than others and then some are spaced out differently than regular text. All of the poems do not necessarily have rhyming parts at the ends of the lines. When you read the poems you can imagine the sounds or sights Mora is trying to guide you to in the reading. The poems are short no more than page at the longest. The illustrator, Jenkins, does a good job at placing just enough visionary detail as to not detract from the poem but just add some detail for the poem.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Book Publishers of Texas Award for Best Book for Children or Young People, Texas Institute of Letters, 1998
1999, Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
"One Hundred Books for Reading and Sharing, 1998," The New York Public Library Finalist, PEN Center USA West 1999 Literary Award in Children’s Literature
Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review -"Mora celebrates America's vast, otherworldly Southwest in 14 poems that will delight readers with their playfully evocative images. Jenkins offers cut-paper art in tones that reflect the sun-baked region."

Children’s Literature - “These spare and dramatic poems transport readers to the American Southwest-where the sky often does seem big.”

School Library Journal – “This gem is both a lovely poetry book and an evocative look at a magical place.”

Kirkus Reviews –“Some of the poems have an ear-pleasing music that lifts the words from the page and sets them dancing.”

CONNECTIONS

This is an excellent book to introduce young students to poetry with a Latino background. Pat Mora also has several other poetry and story books that could be used in an author study.
ABUELOS -ISBN-13: 9780888997166
AGUA, AGUA, AGUA -ISBN-13: 9780673362926
THE BAKERY LADY -ISBN-13: 9781558853430
A BIRTHDAY BASKET FOR TIA -ISBN-13: 9780689813283
BOOK FIESTA! -ISBN-13: 9780061288777
CONFETTI -ISBN-13: 9781880000250
DELICIOUS HULLABALOO-ISBN-13: 9781558852464
THE DESERT IS MY MOTHER-ISBN-13: 9781558851580
LISTEN TO THE DESERT-ISBN-13: 9780618111442
MARIA PAINTS THE HILLS-ISBN-13: 9780890134016

Book cover image is from Barnes and Noble website.

LS 5653 - Culture 3- PAINT THE WIND

BIBLOGRAPHY

Ryan, Pam Munoz. 2007. PAINT THE WIND. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN -13:9780439873628.

PLOT SUMMARY

This is a very moving story of a little girl named Maya. Maya has lived with her very strict Grandmother in California after her parents are killed in an accident six years ago. Her father was a businessman in California and her mother was a free spirit from the mountains. In a strange twist of events her Grandmother passes away and Maya is sent to live with her Mother’s family which the Grandmother kept away from Maya. Maya begins to understand her passion for horses and how her life is intertwined with a horse named, Artemisia. Maya makes an adult decision to help Artemisia and gets separated from her family by an earthquake and flood. Artemisia comes to Maya’s rescue and helps her get back to camp where her family is waiting. Maya understands the freedom her mother felt being with the horses and does not try and keep Artemisia captive and lets her go free on the range.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Pam Munoz Ryan does an excellent job of meshing the elements of the story together. This was a book that I did not want to put down but keep on reading. They way she describes the people and the environment you can “see” the mountains and the camp and even the staunch Grandmother’s house. The descriptions are what I would expect of the Hispanic culture as far as the clothing and hairstyles for a modern story set in the United States. This story does not present the culture of Hispanic’s in their native land. The characters in the story have been “Americanized” in a matter of speaking. There were no illustrations in the text. I enjoyed seeing the character of Maya unfold as she discovers information about her parents from her mother’s side of the family. Her paternal grandmother had cut her mother out of every photograph in every album in the house. Maya only had one photo she kept hidden of her mother along with some toy horses of her mother’s. Through the dialogue with the other characters Maya learns why her grandmother would have done such things as keep her away from her family. Maya grows and learns a lot in the pages of this story.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Publisher’s Weekly – “When her imperious grandmother dies suddenly, 11-year-old Maya, an orphan, is sent to Wyoming to live with her mother's family-strangers to her, thanks to her grandmother's high-handed notions.”

VOYA –“Told through the eyes of Maya, a young girl kept in recluse-like conditions by her grandmother since her parents' death, and by Artemisia, a wild horse on the Western ranges, the chapters move from walk through gallop, which girl and horse must both learn to do.”

Children’s Literature –“The story will enthrall young horse lovers while also pleasing fans of Ryan's previous work featuring strong female protagonists who solve their own problems in a unique way.”

School Library Journal – “Against enormous odds, Maya makes it to safety with the help of Artemisia, and through these experiences her connection to her family and to the natural world are secured.”

CONNECTIONS

This story would be a good addition to a unit about families, wild horses, life in the mountains and coming of age.
Here are a few resources that would go well with the story.
Ginger Kathrens's Cloud: Wild Stallion of the Rockies (BowTie, 2001) ISBN: 9781889540702
TOUCHING WILD HORSES, DVD
CABALLO:WILD HORSES OF NORTH AMERICA, DVD
One could also research the wild mustang relocation centers.

Book cover image is from the Barnes and Noble website.