Ms. Nichols Reads

Orchards by Holly Thompson Bibliography Thompson, Holly. Orchards . Ember, 2012. ISBN 0385739788. Plot Summary The story begins with the narrator talking about a suicide that has shaken her world. As the story continues, the reader finds out more about Ruth’s death. Kana is speaking to Ruth through her poetic lines. As quickly as the story opens, we see the narrator being sent to Japan to live with relatives for a while. It is easy to see that Kana is angry about this move. Through hard work, Kana begins to make a life for herself in Japan. She grows comfortable with her family, and befriends her cousin. Just as quickly as Kana grows comfortable, her whole world shifts again. Kana recieves word that another classmate has committed suicide. Kana is confused and does not understand why she chose to end her life. As this news makes its way to Kana, her time in Japan has neared the end. When she arrives home, Kana reunites with friends and family alik...

Diamond Willow by Helen Frost Bibliography Frost, Helen. Diamond Willow . Square Fish, an Imprint of Macmillan/Farrar Straus Giroux, 2011. ISBN 9780312603830. Plot Summary Diamond Willow “Willow” is a 12 year old girl living in the harsh climate of rural Alaska. She enjoys taking trips with her sled and dogs. On a trip back home from visiting her grandparents, Willow is involved in an accident that blinds her lead dog, Roxy. Willow soon has to learn how to fight for what she believes to be right. She tries to save Roxy’s life by sneaking the dog, along with her best friend, Kaylie, to the grandparent’s home. A huge snowstorm hits and the girls struggle to survive throughout the night. As day breaks, Willow and Kaylie learn more about survival and family than they had intended when they set out on their initial trip.   Critical Analysis This was an excellent book! Poetry is not normally my favorite thing to read, however this book far su...

Shoe Bop! by Marilyn Singer Bibliography Singer, Marilyn, and Hiroe Nakata. Shoe Bop! Dutton Children's Books, 2008. ISBN 9780525479390. Plot Summary A little girl is devastated when her favorite pair of purple sneakers fall apart. Her mother takes her shopping for new shoes. The little girl is excited to see all the different types of shoes out there. Loafers, Mary Janes, Saddle shoes, etc. There are so many options to consider. And buying a new pair of shoes is a big deal. What should she go with? Not flip flops, they might make her trip. Not, “Toe shoes, snow shoes, swimming flippers.” “So sneakers it is!.”    Critical Analysis I loved this cute little story about a girl who goes shopping with her mom. If I had a daughter, this would be the perfect bedtime story to read with her, after a long day of shopping. The author, Marilyn Singer, takes the reader on a quest to find the perfect pair of shoes to replace the favorite purple sneakers. I ...

Jazz by Walter Dean Myers Bibliography Myers, Walter Dean. Jazz . Holiday House, 2008. ISBN 0823421732. Plot Summary A collection of fifteen poems, all centered around the title’s namesake, Jazz music. Walter Dean Myers takes the reader on a journey to discovering all that this music genre encompasses. Not only is jazz a type of music, but it is a life-style, stretching “From Mississippi to Harlem”. Myers mentions jazz great Louie Armstrong and discusses the many instruments used to create jazz music, such as piano, trumpet, bass, and drums.     Critical Analysis This has not been one of my favorite reads, but that is okay because not everyone is going to like everything, all the time. I think the reason I didn’t like this read, was simply because I couldn’t really relate to it. Afterall, that is what poetry is; taking the message from an author and relating it to your own, personal life. As far as Jazz is concerned, I don’t really kn...

Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky Bibliography Zelinsky, Paul O. Rapunzel . Puffin Books, 2002. ISBN 0142301930 Plot Summary While pregnant with her first child, a woman has the urge and longing to taste the repunzel growing in a garden that belonged to a sorceress. The husband snuck into the garden and retrieved as much repunzel as he could. As the wife devoured the repunzel, it made her craving even worse for the herb. The husband left again to retrieve some more repunzel, however this time he gets caught by the sorceress. She bargains with him that he may take all the repunzel he needs in exchange for his newborn baby.  As soon as the baby is born, the sorceress takes the baby away, names her Repunzel, and raises her. At twelve, Repunzel is locked away in a tower and stays that way for many years. Eventually a prince stumbles across Repunzel and tricks her into letting him into the tower. Struck by her beauty, the prince asks her to marry him, and Rep...

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback Bibliography Taback, Simms. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat . Viking, 2001.ISBN 97806708550 Plot Summary This book shows the many stages of a coat. Joseph starts the book off by having an overcoat that quickly becomes warn, so it gets turned into a jacket. The jacket wears out and becomes a vest. The vest turns into a scarf, which gets turned into a necktie, then a handkerchief, then a button. The story ends by Joseph losing the button and having nothing, but is able to create a story out of the whole experience. Critical Analysis The illustrations of this story are remarkable. A unique characteristic Taback included are the cutouts in the shape of the next item the coat will turn into.  There are Jewish emblems scattered throughout the entire story including a menorah on page 10, the words mazel tov framed on page 22, and on page 20 there is a book laying on the floor entitled Jewish Philosopher...