Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes

Bibliography

Barnes, D., & James, G. C. (2021). Crown: An ode to the fresh cut. Walker Books Ltd. ISBN 1572842245

Plot Summary

A visit to the barber shop for a “fresh cut” will leave you feeling like “a star. A brilliant, blazing star.” Barnes' words and James’ illustrations joyfully show the experience of a young black boy at the barber shop. 

Critical Analysis

This book written by Derrick Barnes is about black boy joy and confidence. It is told in beautifully written verse and accompanied by unbelievable illustrations. It’s hard to decide which part of the book is better: the words or the illustrations. Each element shows an experience that many black boys and men know, and is an opportunity for insiders to see themselves depicted, and outsiders to get a peek into an experience they might not know much about.

The book’s narrator is a young black boy who is describing what it’s like when he gets a “fresh cut” at the barber shop, how he starts as “a lump of clay, a blank canvas, a slab of marble” and becomes “a star. A brilliant, blazing star” who just might ace his geography test or catch the eye of a “cute girl across the way”. It shows his joy, his confidence, and his close relationship with his mother.

The illustrations by Gordon C. James depict diverse black characters with a variety of skin colors including “butterscotch” and a variety of hair textures throughout. The colorful, expressive illustrations support the excitement in the words. The main characters’ joyous expressions give life to the words, and make it hard not to smile along. 

Review Excerpts and Awards

Newbery Honor Book

Caldecott Honor Book

A Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book

A Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book

Ezra Jack Keats Book Award

From School Library Journal: “Rhythmic text describes the feeling of a young African American boy as he gets a “fresh cut” and how a trip to the barbershop changes the way he feels about the world and in turn how the world perceives him… While a trip to the barbershop is the main story line, the themes of confidence-building, self-esteem, and joy of young black boys are the important takeaways, and the illustrations jump off the page and invite readers to share in the experience. A super fun read-aloud, this title is a recommended purchase for all picture book collections.”

Connections

Check out this free reader’s theatre of the book https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yGmeWgeJ3USZ2FAzA2flhZkad68Z0TSS/view 

Have students research Madam C.J. Walker to support them as they continue to learn about black culture and history. 

The Crossover: Graphic Novel by Kwame Alexander

Bibliography

Alexander, K., & Anyabwile, D. (2020). The crossover: Graphic novel. Andersen Press. ISBN 1328575497

Plot Summary

Josh Bell is a 12 year old who loves basketball. More than that, he loves his family which includes his twin brother, mom, and former pro basketball player dad. In beautiful verse, now adapted to be a graphic novel illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile, Kwame Alexander shares the story of Josh and his family both on and off the court. 

Critical Analysis

This story of family, friendship, growing up, and loss is the well loved award winning work of Kwame Alexander that has been beautifully adapted into a graphic novel. The illustrations by Dawud Anayabwile are mostly gray-scale with pops of orange. They feature expertly drawn characters with a variety of hair textures, detailed expressions, and include well-known celebrities like LeBron James and Lil Wayne. The illustrations have cartoonish angles that complement the perspective of the poems. For example, in the first poem, in the section titled warm-up, the illustrations depict Josh Bell from below as he moves to the basket with “A FIERCE FINGER ROLL...STRAIGHT TO THE HOLE! SWOOSH!”. On that note, the graphic novel adaptation plays around with font size and style to express emotion in the same way that the original book does. This graphic novel forgos traditional panels for full page spreads and borderless sections with words placed throughout. At times, it made it difficult to follow the poems, but frequent graphic novel readers may not struggle in the same way. 

The story of the Bell family, an African American family, is one that adds to the collection of Black American stories, showing a story that is not focused on racial struggles, but instead health, growing up, and other universal issues. 

Review Excerpts and Awards

Awards for The Crossover by Kwame Alexander:

• 2015 Newbery Medal Award
  
• 2015 Coretta Scott King Honor Award
  
• 2015 YALSA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults
  
• 2015 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
  

From Kirkus Reviews: “This graphic-novel adaptation of Alexander’s 2015 Newbery Medal winner offers powerful visuals to an already-cherished narrative of teenage black boys navigating the game of life...Veteran comics illustrator Anyabwile brings an expansive range of black-boy emotional expressiveness to the page, accompanied by a striking attention to detail and pop-cultural reference. Just check the fresh barber lines on display or the true-to-life illustrations of beloved athletes and musicians such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, and more. Eschewing the traditional paneled look of the graphic-novel form creates a dynamic flow between the scenes.”

From School Library Journal: “In this graphic novel/prose hybrid, characters are sympathetically drawn and distinct. The text is thoughtfully positioned and sized, moving the narrative quickly along and complementing the energetic artwork, which is rendered in grayscale with burnt orange accents.”

Connections

Since this book is a graphic novel adaptation, comparing the original and this book would be a great activity. As an extension, students could take another poem and depict it as a graphic novel or comic. Students can discuss how illustrations add to the meanings of individual poems, and discuss the choices made on how to illustrate poems.  

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson

Bibliography

Nelson, K., & Allen, D. (2019). Heart and soul: The story of America and African Americans. Findaway World, LLC. ISBN 0061730793

Plot Summary

In Heart and Soul, Kadir Nelson writes about the history of America through the eyes of African Americans, a people group often ignored in history. Their contributions to society, trials, and triumphs are told about and beautifully illustrated in this children’s book.  

Critical Analysis

In Heart and Soul: The story of America and African Americans, Kadir Nelson writes this non fiction account of American history through the eyes of a sage woman. The dialect and context suggests that the narrator is an older, African American woman who says things such as “chile, what is the world could they ever know about that” and “they didn’t pay him any mind”. This narrator is passing down the story of African Americans’ history in a way that sounds like it is an oral retelling.

The illustrations are beautiful, richly colored depictions that include both full page spreads on almost every single page and a few two page spreads. The illustrations show a variety of depictions of African Americans throughout history with diverse hair, skin tones, ages, occupations, and expressions. Spending time soaking in the illustrations and being moved by the experiences depicted is worthwhile all on its own. 

The content is educational and includes moments where the narrator defines terms that readers may not be familiar with such as “abolitionist”. The book's contents also include an index, a timeline, and a bibliography, so readers can access the information in the book better, and trust that it is factual information. This book is enjoyable to read as well as informative and is a great addition to a young readers’ collection, but adults can certainly learn from it too! 

Review Excerpts and Awards

2012 Coretta Scott King Author Award

2021 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor 

From Kirkus Reviews: “In an undertaking even more ambitious than the multiple-award-winning We Are the Ship (2008), Nelson tells the story of African-Americans and their often central place in American history...The narrator guides readers through major events in American history through the perspective of, first, enslaved people, then those legally free but hindered by discrimination and, finally, citizens able to fully participate in American life following the Civil Rights Movement. As with any work by this talented artist, the accompanying illustrations are bold and arresting. The dramatic oil paintings heighten the dignity of this story, whether they are of well-known historical figures, common folk or landscape. With such a long time period to cover, the careful choices Nelson makes of which stories to tell make this a successful effort.”

Connections

Use this a discussion guide on page 7 https://www.ala.org/rt/sites/ala.org.rt/files/content/cskbookawards/CSK%20Discussion%20Guide%202012%20FINAL.pdf 

Heart and Soul is written like an oral history. Have students interview a family member and write down the oral history of their family. Idea from https://www.theclassroombookshelf.com/2012/02/2012-coretta-scott-king-award-for-writing-honor-book-for-illustration-heart-and-soul/ 

Daniel and Ismail by Juan Pablo Iglesias

Bibliography

Iglesias, J. P., Peris, A., Stavans, I., Nowodworski, E., Press-Danieli, F., & Sayegh, R. (2019). Daniel and Ismail = Daniel Ve-ismaʼil = Dānyīl wa-Ismā'īl. Yonder, Restless Books for Young Readers. ISBN 1632061562

Plot Summary

Daniel and Ismail are very alike. They even have the same birthday! While some of their presents are different, they both received a soccer ball and share a love for playing. Together, they play with their soccer balls while wearing their new birthday items. When they accidentally take each other’s gifts home, their parents are upset. Neither quite understands their parents' hate for someone that seems so much like them. 

Critical Analysis

Although the book does not directly say, Daniel and Ismail are a Jewish and Palestinian boys in Chile. Readers can know this because each child has received a gift that represents their respective cultures; Daniel a tallit, a Jewish ritual object, and Ismail a keffiyeh, a head covering. However, without the support of background knowledge, future research, or explanation by someone else, this will not be apparent to the reader. 

 

The illustrations of the boys show them to be almost identical except for their aforementioned gifts, hinting at the message that although these boys are enemies according to many in their communities, they are not all that different. The adults that express anger when they realize each boy is wearing the other’s gifts when they return home from playing soccer together, can only be seen partially. Each page is full of color too. It appears as though the illustrations are from the perspective of the child much like the story itself. The book reads from right to left, which is explained to the reader, and includes translations in Arabic, Hebrew, and English. 

The story’s theme might be lost on children who lack the awareness of the significance of each boys’ culture in the place that they live, and the book does not provide any extra elements that provide readers with explanations of the history of conflict of these two cultures. However, if combined with some background knowledge from an adult, children will enjoy this book about how, though we have our differences, we all share our humanity. 

Review Excerpts and Awards

“Young children, who are the audience for this book, may well take these encounters at face value—as merely games of soccer. Adults will approach the story from their own vantage points, well knowing the endemic imbalance of power behind the scenes. Given the complexities this picture book tries to contain, it’s too bad there is no guide for caregivers to help them navigate a discussion of this issue with children. Well-meaning but simplistic.” (Kirkus Reviews, 2019). 

“Chil­dren may need expla­na­tions of a real­i­ty not pre­vi­ous­ly intro­duced in the book. Anoth­er focus of dis­cus­sion may be the par­al­lel use of a tal­lit, which is a Jew­ish rit­u­al object, with a kef­fiyah, a tra­di­tion­al head cov­er­ing which has acquired the mean­ing of nation­al aspi­ra­tions for Pales­tini­ans. The objects are clear­ly meant to be a kind of short­hand for Jew­ish and Pales­tin­ian iden­ti­ty but, at the same time, they are real things. In par­tic­u­lar, Jew­ish chil­dren who are at all famil­iar with the pur­pose of a tal­lit might ques­tion why Daniel receives it as a birth­day gift and why he brings it outdoors.” (Jewish Book Council, 2019). 

Connections

Have students complete a “find someone who” activity including items like “someone with the same hobby as you” or “someone who has the same number of siblings as you”. When they finish, have a discussion about what commonalities they found and what they were surprised by. Remind them that even though people are different from us in some ways, they are often like us in many ways too!

Koala Lou by Mem Fox

 

Bibliography

Fox, M. (2019). Koala Lou. Penguin Books Australia. 

Plot Summary

When she is an “only Koala”, Koala Lou knows she is loved by her mother. When her mother becomes busy with her growing family, Koala Lou is sad. In order to earn the doting attention she once had, she plans to win the “Bush Olympics”. 

Critical Analysis

The story is set in the Australian bush, hence the “Bush Olympics”. The cast of characters include Koala Lou, as well as Emus, frogs, owls, and other creatures. Koala Lou is dealing with the arrival of new siblings, and the change in being her mother’s main focus is hard for her. Her hope is that winning the Bush Olympics will lead to her mom saying “Koala Lou, I love you!” In the end, Koala Lou doesn’t win, but this leads to her mother comforting her and saying, “Koala Lou, I DO love you!” sending the message that love doesn’t have to be earned. The book’s illustrations are detailed images of the different animals found in the bush. They are beautifully colorful and zany, sometimes including animals in sneakers and hats. This book is a fun read, and introduce readers to some of the animals in Australia as well as expresses a universal message that it doesn’t take success to be loved. 

Review Excerpts and Awards

“This satisfying reworking of a familiar and ever-important theme is appealingly illustrated--bright colors, soft-edged sculptural forms, precise detail, dozens of expressive animals.” (Kirkus Reviews, 1989). 

“...Koala Lou comes up short and takes second prize. But that doesn't mean that her mother cares for her any less, and the book closes by reassuring readers that winning isn't a prerequisite to being loved. The colored pencil illustrations express that message

gently and fancifully with an eclectic cast of Australian creatures.” (School Library Journal, 2004). 

Connections

Have students choose one of the animals in the book to research. They can work individually or in partners to create a presentation over what they learned about the animal and Australia. 

The Lily Pond by Annika Thor

Bibliography

Thor, A., & Schecnk, L. (2012). Lily pond. Dell Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0385740409

Plot Summary

Set in Sweden during Hitler’s reign in Germany, young Stephie, a refugee who left Nazi ruled Vienna for a better life, is leaving the Island she has lived at with her foster parents for school in Goterberg. While she looks forward to school and living in the room next to her crush Sven, she also grapples with her uncomfortable feelings of debt to those around her, confusion about the political state of the place she lives, and fear for what her parents' fate is back in Vienna. This historical fiction book gives readers a peek into the complexities of life for child refugees in Sweden as well as the experiences of a young girl who is becoming a woman. 

Critical Analysis

In The Lily Pond, Stephie is a Jewish-born, christian convert, refugee child from Vienna during Hitler’s reign. As was common practice during the time of Hitler’s reign, children like Stephie and her younger sister were allowed to migrate to Switzerland. However, this meant that their parents must stay behind and face the harsh reality of being a Jew at that time. Separated from their parents, the two children are being raised by their foster parents, the girls’ aunt and uncle. Stephie struggles with her two childhoods, and her two identities, the Jewish born daughter of her parents, and the now Christian refugee in her foster family’s acquaintances' home who is becoming a woman. 

Born to parents who included a doctor father, Stephie is treated differently with her new identity as a refugee. In one scene, Stephie is asked to serve dinner with the servant’s to the family she resides with and their guests after Stephie expects to be invited as a guest. She spends the majority of her meals eating in the servant’s quarters and is rarely asked to join the rest of the family for meals. There is mention of women having “housewifely skills”, and female characters in the story are either exemplifying these gender roles, or fighting against them. 

Stephie faces antisemitism as well. For example, one of her teachers calls Stephie’s parents “an alien element in Germany”. Throughout these experiences, Stephie is supported by allies in her friend from school May, and her crush Sven. Sven, the son of the foster family’s friends with whom Stephie lives with during boarding school, has hopes of a more equitable society while his parents believe things in Sweden should continue on as is without Sweden meddling in the affairs of the Germans. 

This story is an enjoyable read with messages of friendship and withstanding life’s hardships, and will help readers have a better understanding of the different experiences of refugees.    

Review Excerpts and Awards

Mildred L. Batchelder Award, Honor, 2012

Junior Library Guild Selections, 2012

Notable Children's Books, 2012

“Stephie’s story of adjustment to a new school and of a first crush is both specific and universal, and fans of the series will want to stick by Stephie as her own future brightens even as her parents’ becomes ever more perilous.” (Horn Book Magazine, 2012)

“A compelling look at World War II–era Sweden, this distinguished Holocaust story will resonate.” (Booklist, 2011)

“Stephie’s sto­ry is eas­i­er to di­gest than oth­er Holo­caust fic­tion set in con­cen­tra­tion camps or ghet­tos, and it will help read­ers bet­ter under­stand the effects of the immi­gra­tion policies of Allied coun­tries like Swe­den that refused to grant visas to adul­t re­fugees. A smooth, straightforward translation from Swedish, ful­ly devel­oped char­ac­ters and a ten­der, absorbing story make this a high­ly rec­om­mend­ed addi­tion to mid­dle-grade fiction collections.” (Jewish Book Council, 2012)

Connections

Readers should also check out the first book in the Faraway Island series, A Faraway Island ISBN 9780375844959

Throughout the story, Stephie writes letters to her parents as their only way of communicating with each other for years. Have students write a letter to a relative or friend who lives in another town, state, or country. 

Teachingbooks.net is great for info about the author as well as how to properly pronounce the author’s name (https://www.teachingbooks.net/pronounce.cgi?aid=12178)