Module 11, Owen and Mzee

 Owen & Mzee by Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff, and Dr. Paula Kahumbu is an informational picture book.

Summary

This story is the true account of how baby hippopotamus, Owen and 130-year-old giant tortoise Mzee formed an unimaginable bond.  The book was written by 6-year-old Isabella Hatkoff and her father, along with the help of the ecologist involved in Owen’s care, after Isabella had seen a photograph of the two.

Owen became lost from his hippopotamus pod after the 2004 tsunami washed him to a coral reef off the coast of Kenya.   After much struggle, local villagers and visitors were able to capture Owen and tow him to shore in Malindi, Kenya.  One rescuer, who went to great lengths to save the hippo, putting himself in danger, was Owen Sobien.  Owen the hippo was named after Owen the rescuer. 

When Owen was taken to the Haller Park animal sanctuary, he was deeply traumatized from his ordeal.  He immediately headed to the first creature the same color as his lost hippo pod, a cranky tortoise named Mzee.  Although at first, Mzee was not thrilled about Owen’s choice, he finally formed a connection with the hippo.  Mzee became a surrogate to the young hippo and their friendship endures today.

The book contains a section at the end to get more details about the two creatures and where they come from.  The large detailed photographs were taken by internationally recognized photo-journalist, Peter Greste.

Impression

This story offers not only information, but also inspiration.  Many facts are given about Kenya, the hippopotamus, the tortoise, and the event.  Also information about the 2004 tsunami is included.  However, this is also a beautiful story about an unlikely friendship.  Students of all ages will be able to connect with the relationship between two creatures who are very different. 

The story will spark conversations about friendship, loyalty, and how we can help someone who is struggling. 

Library Uses

Owen and Mzee could be used at the beginning of the year in a school library.  It could be used to talk about the power of friendship and how we can find friendship in unlikely places.  One quote from the book, “Our most important friends are sometimes those we least expected.” (p. 23) exemplifies opening your mind to new friendship opportunities.

This book could also be used with other books, such as “Boxes for Katje” in a discussion about how we can help each other after a natural disaster or war.  There are many books about natural disasters, but not as many about what we can do in the aftermath of a natural disaster or war.  I think students could then pick someway as a group that they would like to assist others and then design a project around that.

Professional Reviews

In 2005, this father-daughter team, with the ecologist and the photographer, chronicled the irresistible story of the baby hippopotamus, orphaned by the December 2004 tsunami, which imprinted on the more-than-a-century-old Aldabra tortoise in a nature preserve in Kenya. Owen and Mzee’s story continues, with unexpected communication and devotion between the animals and the unexpected difficulties (Owen acts much more like a tortoise than a hippo). The photographs continue to be quite wonderful, and it is hard not to agree with the astonishment in the text: These animals communicate, play, eat and live together, though they are utterly dissimilar in every way. Their story is recapitulated in this volume, so even if they don’t own the first, eager young readers can catch right up and be mesmerized, mystified and charmed. (natural history, maps, notes) (Picture book. 5-10)

--Kirkus, 2006

Remarkable" seems too tame a word for this memorable book about a friendship between two wild creatures. Its genesis lay in Greste's photo of a baby hippo snuggling with a giant tortoise, which appeared in newspapers the month after the cataclysmic 2004 tsunami. Craig Hatkoff and his then six-year-old daughter, moved by that image and by the accompanying article, decided to learn more about these animal companions—and to write their story. They do so succinctly and smoothly, ably aided by Kahumbu, manager of the Kenyan animal sanctuary, Haller Park, where the two creatures now live. Greste's crisp, closely focused photos will instantly endear the title characters to readers. When the tsunami struck Kenya, Owen was separated from his mother and the rest of their pod and became stranded on a coral reef. Several spreads chronicle the hippo's difficult rescue and transport to the sanctuary. Once set loose, he immediately scrambled toward Mzee (the Swahili term for "wise old man"), a 130-year-old Aldabra tortoise: "Owen crouched behind Mzee, the way baby hippos often hide behind their mothers for protection." The unadorned text allows the facts themselves to move readers, making clear how the improbable bond between the now inseparable mammal and reptile has helped resilient Owen recover from his traumatic ordeal. ("Most [wildlife experts] have never heard of a mammal... and a reptile... forming such a strong bond.") Priceless images document the pair swimming together or nuzzling, their rough skins complementing each other. In several of Greste's photos, the two creatures appear to have genuine smiles on their faces. Readers will have the same. Ages 4-8. (Feb.)

--Publishers Weekly, 2006

References

Children's Book Review: Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Isabella Hatkoff, Author, Craig M. Hatkoff, Author, Paula Kahumbu, Author , photos by Peter Greste. Scholastic $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-439-82973-1. (2013, February 2). Retrieved April 29, 2015, from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-439-82973-1

Hatkoff, I., & Hatkoff, C. (2007). Owen & Mzee: The language of friendship. New York: Scholastic Press.

OWEN & MZEE by Isabella Hatkoff , Craig Hatkoff , Paula Kahumbu , Peter Greste | Kirkus. (2006, December 15). Retrieved April 29, 2015, from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/isabella-hatkoff/owen-mzee/

Module 10, Boxes For Katje

 Boxes For Katje, by Candace Flemming is a historical fiction picture book.

Summary

After World War II Europe was suffering badly.  The Children’s Aid Society, along with other relief organizations sponsored care packages to families in war-stricken areas.  One of those packages came from the author’s mother and was sent to a girl in Holland named Katje.

In the story, Katje receives a small box from the United States.  She rejoices over wool socks and soap and generously shares her chocolate with her mother and mailman.  Katje sends a letter thanking Rosie for her gifts and explains how difficult times are in Holland.  Rosie and her mother respond by enlisting the help of friends and neighbors to send more needed supplies.  This continues until Rosie’s whole community is sending aid packages to Katje’s community.

In the end, Katje’s community sends a beautiful thank you gift to their new American friends.

Impression

This is a story about friendship, love and kindness.  And, it is even better, because it is based on a real event.  Picture books like this not only teach us about events that have happened in the past and how people have responded, but they also teach us how to be generous global human beings.  This is also a story about WWII, yet it tells the story of the aftermath in a way that helps the reader understand the ravages of the war, without it being overtly described.  Through Katje’s stories of her neighbors, we learn the scope of the devastation.

In historical fiction picture books like this we get a great story and then learn how it really happened.  Great stories of real events bring me joy!

Library Uses

Boxes For Katje can be used in the library in units focusing on WWII, kindness, friendship, or even Holland.  It can be used as a starting point for enlisting aid to children in another country, perhaps in the aftermath of an earthquake, hurricane or war.  Students can then bring donations that will be sent to help others.

Professional Reviews

Katje and her family struggle to make due with substitutions for essentials like soap and sugar in Holland, post-WWII. One day, Postman Kleinhoonte unexpectedly delivers a small box from America addressed to Katje; it contains a bar of soap, a pair of wool socks, and some chocolate. A letter from Rosie is also in the box expressing her wish that “these gifts brighten your day.” A pen-pal exchange begins with Katje’s thank-you letter and gradually develops into an American small-town effort to donate basics to their European counterpart over the course of a year. Katje’s neighbors reciprocate with a box of tulip bulbs after conditions improve in the war-torn country. Fleming reveals Katje’s character of leadership, resolve, and gratitude through her written communiqués and Rosie’s initiative and inspiration through her active promotion of the charitable effort. Dressen-McQueen captures the flavor and essence of Fleming’s 1945 family experience through her detailed mixed-media paintings delineating fabric patterns, hairdos, emotions, and the general lifestyle of both communities. As heartwarming and uplifting as a bouquet of tulips.(Picture book. 4-7)

--Kirkus, 2003

Inspired by actual events, Fleming's (Ben Franklin's Almanac, reviewed below) engaging story of post-WWII Holland serves as a potent—and merry—lesson in generosity. The residents of war-ravaged Olst "patched and repatched their worn-thin clothing, and they went without soap or milk, sugar or new shoes." Through the Children's Aid Society, an American child, Rosie, sends a box of provisions to Katje, a windfall the girl gladly shares with the postman and her mother. Her thank-you note inspires a larger package, which she aportions to her neighbors, and so on, until sleds of provisions from Rosie's town arrive for all the residents of Olst. Fleming deftly dramatizes the story with lively conversations among the townspeople and letters between the two girls. In an outstanding debut, Dressen-McQueen immerses readers in post-war Holland, crafting an entirely credible world of cobblestone streets, Dutch architecture and vintage clothing. Primitive in its flattened perspectives, these earth-toned illustrations (which progressively brighten as the situation does) resonate with joy and fellowship. The girls' letters and small, painted "snapshots" of Rosie's world drop into full-bleed panoramas of Katje's town. That is, until the story's end, when the residents of Olst return a gift to Rosie, whose jubilant receipt of the package fills the spread. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)

--Publishers Weekly, 2003

References

BOXES FOR KATJE by Candace Fleming , Stacey Dressen-McQueen | Kirkus. (2003, September 1). Retrieved April 26, 2015, from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/candace-fleming/boxes-for-katje/

Children's Book Review: BOXES FOR KATJE by Candace Fleming, Author, Stacey Dressen-McQueen, Illustrator , illus. by Stacey Dressen-McQueen. FSG/Kroupa $16 (40p) ISBN 978-0-374-30922-0. (2003, August 18). Retrieved April 26, 2015, from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-374-30922-0

Fleming, C., & McQueen, S. (2003). Boxes for Katje. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Module 9, The Humming Room by Ellen Potter

The Humming Room, by Ellen Potter is a fiction mystery novel for students 9-12 years old.

Summary

Twelve year old Roo Fanshaw has learned to cope with her troubling life by staying hidden and dreaming of a garden escape.  These coping skills eventually allow her to provide a sanctuary to an even more troubled cousin.

Roo is orphaned when her father and step mother are brutally murdered in a supposed drug deal gone wrong.  Soon she is whisked off by a previously unknown wealthy uncle’s assistant.  Roo finds herself on an island living in a mansion that was once a children’s tuberculosis sanatorium.  She is instructed not to enter the east wing of the mansion, but how can she resist the mysterious cries and hums seemingly coming from the walls?

Roo struggles to fit into the life she has been offered.  She feels called to the outdoors, but is stuck inside with an elderly tutor.  She ditches the tutor,  finds a secret hiding spot,  and finally  finds some relief.  However, when the tutor is found unable to properly contain Roo, she is let go.  Roo risks going back to the foster home, yet finds unlikely salvation.

Although a recluse, Roo meets a mystical misfit and a tormented cousin.  She discovers and nurtures a space that in the course of time holds the power to mend many troubled souls.

Impression

According to the author, this book was inspired by The Secret Garden.  Since, unbelievably, I have never read or seen the movie of The Secret Garden, this has no bearing on my impressions.  I had high hopes for the book, based upon previous reviews I  have read, and the fact that it is a popular book in a local school library.  Unfortunately I was disappointed overall. 

What I admired about the book…  The author did an amazing job of developing the main character and the setting.  The windows into Roo’s thoughts and the details of her history make Roo a realistic and deep character.  The reader is sympathetic to Roo’s idiosyncrasies and you find yourself rooting for her.  The island and garden setting is described in such detail that you feel as though you are there, and you wish you really were there.   Because of the character and setting you can't help but feel engaged in the book.

The problem I found was that unfortunately the plot was not well developed.  When evaluating this novel as a mystery, I found myself waiting for something to happen.  The mystery itself was not enough to keep the reader satisfied.  While waiting for the mystery to unfold, the resolution came abruptly and was inadequate.  There were several issues that remained unaddressed

Despite my criticism, I do see a place for the story.  The setting, the character of Roo, and her relationship with the natural environment of plants and animals would make a beautiful animated movie.   Furthermore, middle school readers will find a character who exhibits strength in the face of adversity.

Library Uses

The Humming Room is a mystery with a garden theme.  After reading this book, readers could create a poster of their own perfect, tranquil, and soul refreshing secret garden.  Readers could further be engaged in a discussion about where they find their refuge from the sometimes harsh realities of life. 

Since the book is inspired by The Secret Garden, another activity would be to compare/contrast the two books.

Professional Reviews

References A young orphan finds herself in a remote mansion that hides many secrets.

Roo’s childhood has been traumatic; she is ill-fed, ill-clothed and too small for her age. She spends much of her time hiding in cavelike spaces, with her ear to the ground listening intensely to the movements within the Earth. When her drug-dealing parents are killed, she is sent to live with an uncle on an isolated island—Cough Rock—in the St. Lawrence River in upstate New York. The local inhabitants are earthy and superstitious and seem to hark back to an earlier time. Her uncle stays away for months at a time. A newly discovered cousin screams and cries and rarely leaves his room. There is also a mysterious, long-neglected garden that calls to her. The characters and events are nearly exact counterparts to those found in the classic The Secret Garden. Potter intentionally evokes the earlier work, capturing its bittersweet emotions and fey qualities. But it is not a clone in modern dress. The author has created a fresh tale with a strong-willed heroine. Though Jack is no Dickon, Roo might be more likable than Mary Lennox.          

An homage to a cherished classic that can work as a companion piece or stand alone as a solid, modern tale for young readers in the 21st century. (Fiction. 9-12)

--Kirkus, 2011

In a resonant novel inspired by The Secret Garden, Potter (The Kneebone Boy) pays graceful tribute to the spirit of that classic. The author borrows plot elements effectively, yet her strong characterizations, fluid dialogue, and evocative descriptions give the novel a vibrant life of its own. After Roo’s drug dealer father is killed, the 12-year-old girl goes to live with her aloof, widowed uncle in a rambling former tuberculosis sanitarium on the island of Cough Rock in the St. Lawrence River. Roo is a loner who hides to avoid others and often puts her ear to the soil, listening to the sounds of life underground. Other noises—mysterious humming and crying—lead Roo to twin discoveries: Emmett, a cousin she didn’t know existed, and a domed, dried-up garden in a remote part of the house. Potter lavishes attention on the gothic island setting and Roo’s uncle’s estate; it’s a thrilling ghost story, but one that, like the story it’s drawn from, has love and rebirth at its heart. Ages 9–12. Agent: Alice Tasman, Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. (Feb.)

--Publisher’s Weekly, 2012

References

Children's Book Review: The Humming Room by Ellen Potter. Feiwel and Friends, $16.99 (192p) ISBN 978-0-312-64438-3. (2012, January 2). Retrieved April 24, 2015, from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-312-64438-3

THE HUMMING ROOM by Ellen Potter | Kirkus. (2011, December 15). Retrieved April 24, 2015, from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ellen-potter/humming-room/

Potter, E. (2012). The humming room. New York: Feiwel and Friends.

Module 8 Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Among the Hidden is a fiction dystopian novel for upper elementary and middle school students.

Summary

 Luke lives his life in the shadows.  He is forced to live his life in hiding.  He is the illegal third child of a farm family.  The government has set strict population laws to deal with famine caused by overpopulation.  His family is terrified of him being found by the population police. 

His existence used to be somewhat more bearable when he could go outside.  However, the government has developed property next to his family’s farm, and the trees that once protected him are now gone.  Now he cannot go outside at all, cannot even sit at the kitchen table.

From his attic room Luke catches glimpses of the outside world through a small vent.  He watches every day.  Eventually he makes a discovery.  He is sure there is another shadow child in a nearby house.  He is so lonely and musters the courage to sneak over to the house.  Inside he finds Jen.

Through Jen Luke learns of a whole network of shadow children and of their plan to expose themselves and force government recognition of them.  Luke is skeptical and afraid.  He is forced into a position where he could lose everything, including his life, or gain a new one.  He has to choose.

Impression

Overall I find dystopian novels to be depressing.  I usually have a difficult time getting through them because everything seems so hopeless.  While the story line in the novel is depressing, I was surprised to find that I could not put the book down.  I could not wait to see what was going to happen next.  I was genuinely surprised to be this intrigued by an elementary/middle school novel.  I wanted to run right out and get the next book.

Haddix does a good job of developing Luke’s character.  Through this she is able to build empathy.  The reader can feel Luke’s dilemma and knows there is no good choice.  It is unclear who to trust.  Given that a one child quota was enacted in China with strict penalties for subsequent births, the events of this novel do not seem that far-fetched. 

Library Uses

Among the Hidden could be used as a discussion starter in exploring different kinds of governments.  In the book, the government is totalitarian.  The book can be used to discuss the similarities and differences between totalitarian and democratic governments.  The school librarian could work in collaboration with a Social Studies teacher to explore novels that represent various forms of government. 

Professional Reviews

Haddix (Running Out of Time) chillingly imagines a dystopia in this futuristic novel. Born into a totalitarian state that brutally enforces a two-children-only policy, 12-year-old Luke Garner, an ""illegal"" third child, has spent his entire life hiding from anyone outside his immediate family. His troubles multiply when the government makes his dirt-poor parents sell the woods surrounding their farm in order to build a housing development for ""Barons"" (the privileged elite), and it therefore becomes too dangerous for Luke to go outside. Next, the Garners are hit with a crippling tax bill and ordered to sell their hogs, so Mom has to get a factory job. Luke spends every day alone, hidden in his attic room, until he meets Jen, a ""shadow child"" secreted in the Baron house next door. She turns his whole world upside-down, introducing him to her secret Internet chat room and giving him literature analyzing the government's repressive policies. After Jen's foolhardy rally of shadow children ends in bloodshed, Luke is faced with a decision that will irrevocably determine his fate. The plot development is sometimes implausible and the characterizations are a bit brittle, but the unsettling, thought-provoking premise should suffice to keep readers hooked. Ages 8-12. (Sept.)

--Publishers Weekly, 1998

In a chilling and intelligent novel, Haddix (Leaving Fishers, 1997, etc.) envisions a near future where a totalitarian US limits families to only two children. Luke, 12, the third boy in his farming family, has been hidden since birth, mostly in the attic, safe for the time being from the Population Police, who eradicate such “shadow children.” Although he is protected, Luke is unhappy in his radical isolation, rereading a few books for entertainment and eating in a stairwell so he won’t be seen through the windows. When Luke spies a child’s face in the window of a newly constructed home, he realizes that he’s found a comrade. Risking discovery, Luke sneaks over to the house and meets Jen, a spirited girl devoted to bringing the shadow children’s plight center-stage, through a march on the White House. Luke is afraid to join her and later learns from Jen’s father, a mole within the Population Police, that Jen and her compatriots were shot and killed, and that their murder was covered up. Jen’s father also gets a fake identity card and a new life for Luke, who finally believes himself capable of acting to change the world. Haddix offers much for discussion here, by presenting a world not too different from America right now. The seizing of farmlands, untenable food regulations, and other scenarios that have come to fruition in these pages will give readers a new appreciation for their own world after a visit to Luke’s. (Fiction. 9-13)

--Kirkus, 1998

References

AMONG THE HIDDEN by Margaret Peterson Haddix | Kirkus. (1998, July 15). Retrieved April 19, 2015, from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/margaret-peterson-haddix/among-the-hidden/

Book Reviews, Bestselling Books & Publishing Business News | Publishers Weekly. (1998, August 31). Retrieved April 19, 2015, from http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/search/index.html?q=among the hidden&submit.x=14&submit.y=16&submit=submit.

Haddix, M. (1998). Among the hidden. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Module 7, Close to Famous by Joan Bauer

Close to Famous is a realistic fiction novel for middle school students.

Summary

 Twelve year old Foster and her mother are on the run from her mother’s abusive Elvis impersonator boyfriend.  With the help of a kind couple, they land in the small town of Culpepper, West Virginia.  As they unpack their belongings, Foster realizes she does not have her pillow case of memorabilia from her father, who was a soldier killed in Iraq. 

It becomes clear that Foster has a secret, she can barely read.  She got through sixth grade “by the skin of her teeth”.  However, she copes with her disability by baking the best cupcakes, muffins, and pastries anyone has ever tasted.  In fact, she has big dreams of becoming a TV cooking show host.  She pretends she is her idol, Sonny Kroll, when life becomes too stressful.

Foster becomes friends with Macon, who has his own big dreams of making documentary films.  Macon, works for Miss Charleena, a washed out movie star who is hiding out in her hometown of Culpepper.  Miss Charleena recognizes Foster’s reading disability and proposes to teach Foster how to read in exchange for cooking lessons. 

In the end, Foster uses her cooking ability to con a con and ultimately learns an important lesson about perseverance.

Impression

Foster is an endearing character.  She is so frustrated with her reading problems and tries to hide her disability or run away from the difficult work of overcoming the problem.  She becomes authentic because she struggles and becomes discouraged.  The author does not let her off the hook easily, and young readers will be able to connect with this.

The problems in this story are very real.  This is a middle school novel and speaks, although lightly, of some heavy issues.  The solutions are borderline realistic, but most important, they are what we want to believe could happen.  Foster experiences some bullying, but also a lot of kindness.  The theme of the novel is to never give up, keep trying, even when it doesn't seem possible.  All of the characters in the novel have their own issues they are facing so the theme is pretty consistent throughout. 

The best part of this novel is that it is hopeful. Reading novels like this can be helpful for students who are facing various problems.  Sometimes if we just recognize the people that are there to help us, accept their help, and move forward life is better. 

Library Uses

Close to Famous would be a good novel for librarians to keep in their back pockets for school counselors who may be looking for novels about abuse, loss of a parent, or school problems.  Since the character is so nonthreatening and the mood of the novel, despite some heavy issues, is light, this novel could be used in conjunction with individual or group counseling.  A librarian could also suggest the novel to students whom they know of who are experiencing personal problems. 

Professional Reviews

When a domestic relationship turns abusive, 12-year-old Foster McKee and her mother flee Memphis, stowing whatever they can carry in their Chevy, including Foster’s treasured baking supplies and a few fresh-baked muffins for the road. Upon stumbling into the small town of Culpepper, W.Va., Foster’s baking talents win the hearts of the townspeople, among whom number such quirky and colorful personalities as Angry Wayne, Perseverance Wilson and Miss Charleena, a retired—but still very dramatic—Hollywood star. Woven throughout her baking adventures is Foster’s dream to be the Food Network’s first kid host of a cooking show, and silly scenes of Foster hamming it up for an imaginary camera punctuate the text. Amid this agreeable foolishness, heavy issues of domestic violence, mental illness, illiteracy and the pain of the recent economic downturn make themselves felt. Bauer expertly balances these grim realities with Foster’s ebullient personality and spunk, which could convince anyone that she will be able “make the world a better place one cupcake at a time.” (Fiction. 10-14)

--Kirkus, 2011

References

Bauer, J. (2011). Close to famous. New York: Viking.

CLOSE TO FAMOUS by Joan Bauer | Kirkus. (2011, February 3). Retrieved April 17, 2015, from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/joan-bauer/close-famous/