War Horse

One of the Academy Award nominees for Best Picture is the Stephen Spielberg film, War Horse.  While War Horse might be considered a “dark horse” nomination, after seeing the movie a few weeks ago I can understand its being elevated to Best Picture status.  Some people have called War Horse a tearjerker.  I call it a “heart-tugger.”   This story of a beautiful thoroughbred which was sold into the British Cavalry during World War I and the English boy who loved him is a story with which audiences empathize and engage. 

The movie works on many different levels.  The most obvious is the depiction of love and loyalty between a boy and his horse.  Secondly, it is a powerful message about peace.  War Horse also demonstrates how technological developments, which occurred quickly during the four years of war, changed the role of the cavalry, and more broadly, how wars are fought. 

War Horse is based on the children’s novel, War Horse, by  Michael Morpurgo, Children’s Laureate of Britain from 2003 to 2005.  Morpurgo is well-known in this country for The Wreck of the Zanzibar and Why the Whales Came.  His well-received memoir Singing for Mrs. Pettigrew was published in the United States in 2009.  War Horse was written for middle-grade audiences.  The explicitly violent scenes in the movie, such as the execution two deserters, some of the war scenes, and some of the cruelty to the horses, are only suggested in the book.  Consequently, the recommended audience for the movie is somewhat older than for the book.  Parents should consider the maturity and individual sensibilities of the child before allowing them to see War Horse.

War Horse has evolved through several different incarnations.  The book first was adapted into a stage play using life size puppets for the horses and with most of the war scenes projected through a gauze curtain, in combination with a cast of live actors.  It was staged in London then on the New York Broadway stage.  I have not seen the stage play, but from a description by a friend who saw the play in New York I speculate that the movie largely was based on the stage script.  A major difference is that the book is told from the perspective of the horse, much in the style of Black Beauty.  Telling the story from the third person opens up the possibilities considerably.   However, the movie is true to its source material in tone and message.  Don’t miss War Horse, the novel, or War Horse, the movie--Wilma Snyder. 

(War Horse by Michael Morpurgo; Scholastic, 2007; First published in Great Britain in 1982)

(Singing for Mrs. Pettigrew by Michael Morpurgo, illustrated by Peter Bailey; Candlewick, 2009)  

     

Happy Birthday to my wonderful Mom!

I know all of you out in the Kidlit blogosphere are excited about the ALA children's book award announcements Monday, but January 23 is an important day for another reason too--it's my mom's 75th birthday!!  As you Open Book readers know, Mom and I collaborate on this blog.  What I wanted to tell you today is that I totally owe my interest in children's literature to my mom, and I'm so grateful.  All through my childhood my mother read to me, shared books with me (well, she still does that), and encouraged my interest in books and reading.  She has never lost her enthusiasm for children's literature.  Throughout her careers as a classroom teacher, college professor, and now newspaper columnist, she has brought together books and people, always willing to tell someone about that great new book she just read.  To all the parents, teachers, librarians, grandparents, etc., keep reading with the kids in your lives!  They are listening, and you may never realize all the wonderful things they are learning.  I'm so glad my mom introduced me to the Ingalls and March families, Peter Rabbit and friends,  Dr. Seuss, Babar, Madeline, the Borrowers, and so many others.  Those books and those memories are a priceless treasure.  Thanks Mom, and happy birthday!--Lucinda Whitehurst

The Flying Beaver Brothers

If you know any young graphic novel readers, you will want to look for a new series called The Flying Beaver Brothers.  The first and second books in the series were released on January 10, 2012.  Ace and Bub live on Beaver Island.  In the first adventure The Evil Penguin Plan, the brothers are figuring out how to win the Beaver Island Surfing Competition when they are interrupted by a group of penguins with impressive technical skills.  The penguins have built a machine designed to freeze the island so they can construct a polar resort.  In The Fishy Business, Ace and Bub investigate the questionable business practices of the Fish Stix Environmental Manufacturing Company.  The words and pictures deliver plenty of humor and action, and the clever story lines will please both children and adults--Lucinda Whitehurst.  (Written and illustrated by Maxwell Eaton III; Random House Children's Books, 2012)

The Apothecary and Little Women and Me

Unlike my daughter, Lucinda,  science fiction and fantasy is not my favorite genre.  In order for books of this genre to capture my attention and imagination, they must have a little something extra.  I look for interesting characters, plots which have just enough realism to make me believe in the fantasy, symbolism which makes the story work of multiple levels, and skillful writing which has enough suspense to keep me turning the pages.  Some of my favorites are the Narnia books, the Harry Potter books, everything by Madeleine L’Engle, Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, and Peter Rabbit.  I took The Apothecary by Maile Meloy, illustrations by Ian Schoenherr (Putnam/Penguin,  2011) with me on vacation and couldn’t put it down.

It is 1952 and fourteen-year-old Janie Scott has moved with her family from Los Angeles to London.  One of her first acquaintances is Benjamin Burrows, the son of the local apothecary.  When the apothecary disappears, Janie and Benjamin are drawn into a dangerous journey to find Mr. Burrows and prevent an impending nuclear disaster.  The historical setting of Cold War era London, supporting characters which leap off the page, and a breathtaking rescue operation – all seasoned with a touch of magic – make a wonderful reading experience for ages 10 and up.

Lucinda says that Christmas always makes her think of Little Women.  For all of you Alcott fans, I suggest Little Women and Me by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (Bloomsbury, 2011).  When Emily March is given the school assignment of describing one thing she’d change about a classic novel, her choice is Little Women.  Just like most readers, Emily has always wanted Jo, rather than Amy, to end up with Laurie, and she really did not want Beth to die.  As she gets into her assignment, Emily is transported into the 1860s world of the Concord March family.  She thinks she might be able to actually alter the events of the story, but discovers things are not always as they seem.  The reader is treated to a time travel fantasy and is also able to revisit an old favorite--Wilma Snyder.  

Lucinda Whitehurst and Wilma Snyder wish all of our readers a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and wonderful New Year!  Please join us in 2012!

Gifts from the Gods

Lise Lunge-Larsen is a professional storyteller and folklorist.  She earned a master’s degree in applied linguistics and wrote her thesis on  using storytelling to teach the English language.  She combines her academic training, her interest in folklore, and her skill in storytelling to create Gifts from the Gods, a fascinating presentation on the derivation of English words which draw their spelling and meaning from Greek and Roman mythology. 

Limiting her scope to words that have their origin in character names, Lunge-Larsen has more than enough material for this illustrated informational book designed for middle grades.  If she had broadened her search to include objects and places, she would have found many more examples.  The Greeks and the Romans sometimes had different names for the gods and goddesses and both came into the English language.  Lunge-Larsen has chosen those whose stories so captured the imaginations that their meanings have endured for centuries.

Lunge-Larsen provides this interesting example:  “The Greek goddess of cleanliness and good health, Hygeia, has given us the word hygiene, which we use to describe good, healthful behaviors.  The Romans called this goddess Salus, and her name, too, survives in English.  As they greeted one another, the Romans called out, ‘Salus!’ meaning ‘How is your health?’  Today we call a greeting a salute, and thus remember the goddess of good health without even realizing it.”

The word fortune means destiny, good or bad luck, or wealth and riches.  Fortuna was the goddess of luck.  She sometimes appeared carrying a “horn of plenty,” meaning that she would bless those she visited with abundance and riches.  A never-ending supply of the most delicious food and drink dripped from this magical horn.  The Romans called the horn of plenty a cornucopia.  Both terms have come into our modern language carrying the very same meaning, a cone-shaped basket overflowing with delectable foods.

Why is a point of weakness called an Achilles heel?  Why do we think of grace as seemingly effortless beauty?  Put this amazing book into the hands of those children who are fascinated by words.  This book is a treasure for any age--Wilma Snyder.  Illustrated by Gareth Hinds; Houghton Mifflin, 2011.

Jeff Kinney's Cabin Fever tour stop in Richmond, Virginia

Brenda and Lucinda in our official Cabin Fever tour shirts.

Last week I unexpectedly became a roadie for a day during Jeff Kinney's Cabin Fever book launch tour!  The Diary of a Wimpy Kid author asked his publisher Amulet/Abrams to send his tour to independent bookstores.  My St. Christopher's colleague, Brenda Snead, and I offered to help our friends at bbgb Tales for Kids.  We thought we might be handing out hot chocolate or directing traffic.  Imagine our surprise when we found ourselves up close and personal on the Jeff Kinney autograph line!  From my vantage point of one foot away from Kinney, I had a chance to witness the power of his books.  

3000 people attended the Richmond Cabin Fever event!  Some of the fans waited two, three, even four hours to meet their hero, but since I was their last stop, I only saw their smiles of anticipation.  My favorite was the 9 or 10 year boy who proclaimed, "This is the MOST exciting night of my life!"  A woman who attended middle school with Jeff came through, yearbook in hand.  The publishers' representatives gleefully took pictures of the middle school-aged Kinney, no doubt to abuse him with later.  A teacher brought an entire busload of students and patiently photographed each happy child with Jeff.  Parents rushed to shake Jeff's hand.  Several thanked him for getting their children interested in reading. Jeff Kinney's brother stopped by. Children brought Kinney stories and drawings.  They proudly displayed Wimpy Kid shirts and toys.  One girl handed over a slice of cheese in a plastic bag, spreading the dreaded cheese touch!   Kinney happily greeted every fan.  "Thank you--that means so much to me,"  he said several times, but I think he truly did appreciate each gesture of devotion.  As my own students came through the line, they were surprised to see me so close to the famous visitor.  One asked, "Mrs. Whitehurst, why didn't you tell us you knew Jeff Kinney?!"  

Surveying all the hoopla, one mother said, "You'd think it was Aerosmith or something!"  Her bewildered child gave us a puzzled look (thinking "who's Aerosmith?" I'm sure) but I was on her same wavelength.  I may never go on the road with a rock band, but briefly being on tour with Jeff Kinney has to come close!--Lucinda Whitehurst

One of my students with his sister, me, and Jeff Kinney

Balloons Over Broadway

 On Thanksgiving morning, many of us will be watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  For more than eighty years, the giant balloons have wobbled and swayed down Broadway.  Has it occurred to you to wonder how the tradition of the balloons began and who invented those balloons anyway?  I have enjoyed a most delightful picture book about that very subject – Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet.

From the time he was a little boy, Tony Sarg loved to figure out how to make things move.  As young as six years old, Tony was inventing gadgets which would help him do his chores.  When Tony grew up, his only job aspiration was to become a puppeteer.  He soon became famous for his marionettes, so he moved to New York City and began performing on Broadway.

R. H. Macy’s Department Store was located on Herald Square.  Tony was hired to decorate Macy’s holiday windows with moving puppets.  The mechanical puppets drew excited lookers and shoppers to the department store.  Many of  the Macy’s employees were immigrants who missed the street celebrations of their native countries.  They influenced their employer to plan a parade and Tony was drafted to help with the planning.  The first Macy’s parade wound its way from Harlem to Herald Square on Thanksgiving Day, 1924.  It was such a success they decided to have a parade every Thanksgiving Day.

The story of how Tony Sarg adapted stick puppets to the huge balloons we see today is told beautifully in Balloons Over Broadway.  Every child who reads this book will look at the parade with new eyes and with greater enjoyment.  Caldecott Honor artist Melissa Sweet has created a picture  book which will delight all ages.  An interesting tidbit I learned is that Bil Baird, the creator of the “Lonely Goatherd” marionette show which was featured in the movie The Sound of Music was an apprentice of Tony Sarg.  In turn, one of Baird’s apprentices was Jim Henson, who invented the Muppets--Wilma Snyder.  (Houghton Mifflin, 2011)