The Dreamer by Pam Muñoz Ryan
My rating: 0 of 5 stars
Enchanting way to consider poetry: through the experiences of a Pablo Neruda as a young boy.
Pam Munoz Ryan again brings imagination and heart to a book with strong themes.
Peter Sis' art is a perfect accompaniment; his works for this book create an impact despite within the limits of a black-and-white color spectrum.
View all my reviews
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Friday, July 8, 2016
Review: The Table Where Rich People Sit
The Table Where Rich People Sit by Byrd Baylor
My rating: 0 of 5 stars
When reading books, the number that I normally seek out first is the copyright date. For an adult with some understanding of history, this number is a always valid and unbiased reference point.
Many numbers assigned to books, however, are evaluative and biased. My hackles are up just now because I found that on scholastic.com, the publisher of Byrd Baylor's The Table Where Rich People Sit assigned “Interest Level” Grades 3 – 5.
How can any of Byrd Baylor’s provocative texts accompanied by Peter Parnall’s evocative illustrations be limited to grades 3-5?
Doesn’t everyone appreciate a message well-told in straightforward language?
It’s fine to use numbers for generalized shorthand evaluation, but please never rely on them solely.
One person’s number opinion is another’s outrage.
Today, in culmination of a speech class I taught, two middle school boys in a joint presentation delivered Baylor’s "The Table Where Rich People Sit" with great interest and understanding.
Read this book yourself and share it with people of any age who may may enjoy it.
View all my reviews
My rating: 0 of 5 stars
When reading books, the number that I normally seek out first is the copyright date. For an adult with some understanding of history, this number is a always valid and unbiased reference point.
Many numbers assigned to books, however, are evaluative and biased. My hackles are up just now because I found that on scholastic.com, the publisher of Byrd Baylor's The Table Where Rich People Sit assigned “Interest Level” Grades 3 – 5.
How can any of Byrd Baylor’s provocative texts accompanied by Peter Parnall’s evocative illustrations be limited to grades 3-5?
Doesn’t everyone appreciate a message well-told in straightforward language?
It’s fine to use numbers for generalized shorthand evaluation, but please never rely on them solely.
One person’s number opinion is another’s outrage.
Today, in culmination of a speech class I taught, two middle school boys in a joint presentation delivered Baylor’s "The Table Where Rich People Sit" with great interest and understanding.
Read this book yourself and share it with people of any age who may may enjoy it.
View all my reviews
Friday, July 1, 2016
Review: I See the Rhythm
I See the Rhythm by Toyomi Igus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Dense with beauty and pain and joy... I want to continue reading this gorgeous-in-word-and-image book slowly. Today I stopped at "Birth of the Blues", only the third era illuminated in this heartfelt ode to African American music. I want to let all those visual and word and heart images settle within me.
More to follow...
View all my reviews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Dense with beauty and pain and joy... I want to continue reading this gorgeous-in-word-and-image book slowly. Today I stopped at "Birth of the Blues", only the third era illuminated in this heartfelt ode to African American music. I want to let all those visual and word and heart images settle within me.
More to follow...
View all my reviews
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