Culture 1: International Literature Book Review

 

Culture 1:  International Literature Book Review

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Fox, Mem. 2009. HELLO BABY! New York, NY: Beach Lane Books. ISBN 9781416985136.

B. PLOT SUMMARY
A human baby has an opportunity to explore a habitat where other living babies dwell.  The human baby observes unique features and mannerisms of the other babies.  Ultimately, the baby discovers a treasure.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
The general environment is the cultural marker in this book.  The illustrator Steve Jenkins does an amazing job of capturing the detail of each animal baby.  The colors are vibrant and beautiful.  The animals appear to live in the same African savanna habitat. The author Mem Fox grew up in Africa and captures the uniqueness of the babies who live here quite well.

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Charlotte Zolotow Award Nominee for Highly Commended Title

Kirkus: “This picture book brims with fascinating animals, brilliant words and engaging artwork; it begs for cozy nightly readings.”

E. CONNECTIONS
Readers can explore websites and other stories about animal babies in different habitats.

Other books by this author include:
Fox, Mem. TEN LITTLE FINGERS AND TEN LITTLE TOES. ISBN 9780152060572
Fox, Mem. WHERE IS THE GREEN SHEEP? ISBN 9780152049072
Fox, Mem. BABY BEDTIME. ISBN 0670075191

 

 

 

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Svingen, Arne. 2016. THE BALLAD OF A BROKEN NOSE. New York, NY: Margaret K. McEldeberry Books. ISBN 9781481415422.

B. PLOT SUMMARY
Bart is a thirteen-year-old boy who lives in poverty.  He does not know his father and his mother is a morbidly obese alcoholic.  He is picked on at school and takes boxing lessons to help.  Bart is befriended by a classmate who discovers his hidden talent and encourages him to share it with the world.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
The story takes place in modern day Norway.  The main character Bart lives in a low-income housing project where he is surrounded by drug abuse and alcoholism.  The author writes from Bart’s point of view and describes the surroundings slowly.  He allows descriptions to unfold as the story progresses.  The environment is described as a low-income area that could be in any urban area in the world.  There are references to Norwegian areas. There are several American references throughout the story that may be in the book solely to engage American readers. 

Bart’s home life is unstable.  The only stability Bart appears to have in his life is his grandma.  This again could be the story of children who live anywhere.  Children who live in poverty, addicted single parent households see themselves represented here. 

Bart gets a “stolen” bike for his birthday and attempts to teach himself how to ride it.   An adult friend of his who is a drug addict attempts to help.  Ultimately Bart is successful riding the bike with the friend’s help.  Public transportation and walking happen often in the story.  Cars are not common here, but I am not sure if this is cultural or due to poverty. 

Dialect of language described in the story in terms of pronunciation of names appear to be authentic.  The author is from Norway, however the story focuses more on the circumstances of the life of the character rather than the cultural markers. 

 

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
 Batchelder Award Honor Book

USBBY Outstanding International Book List

ALSC Notable Books Commended

Norwegian Ministry of Culture’s Best Young Adult Literature Prize

Booklist: “An absorbing, well-paced story with a heartening conclusion.”

Publishers Weekly:  “Svingen shows a boy hanging onto optimism in the face of adversity and asserting his identity when he’s long relied on obscuring himself in the background.”

E. CONNECTIONS
Young readers can explore resources on drug abuse, alcoholism and obesity through websites and national organizations.

Books by other Norwegian authors available in English translation include:
Gaarder, Jostein. THE ORANGE GIRL. ISBN 0753819929
Kaurin, Marianne. ALMOST AUTUMN. ISBN 0545889650
Harstad, Johan. 172 HOURS ON THE MOON. ISBN 1907411518

 

 

 

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Isabella, Jude. 2015. THE RED BICYCLE: THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF ONE ORDINARY BICYCLE. Tonawanda, NY: Kids Can Press Ltd. ISBN 9781771380232.

B. PLOT SUMMARY
Leo saves up to purchase a red bicycle.  “Big Red” is a treasure to Leo.  He goes everywhere on it.  When he out grows Big Red, Leo finds a special place where Big Red will be appreciated and needed.  Big Red takes a journey to a new continent where he becomes the treasure of others.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
This book is an examination of what happens when a bicycle is donated to an organization that ships them to countries where people cannot afford to buy them but they desperately need them.  The author explains the journey the bike takes from somewhere in North America to Africa.   The geographical journey over land and sea is mapped out in words and pictures. 

The illustrator Simone Shin captures the diversity of the people and surroundings in North America and Africa very well.  Shin distinctly illustrates North American and African people so that there is no mistaking them for each other.  The North American city is depicted with cars, trucks, and buildings while the African city the bike is delivered to is depicted with huts, trees, dirt roads and animals.  The illustrator has done a great job creating both cultural surroundings. 

The author explains what the bicycle is used for in each culture.  Leo, the first owner used the bicycle for his own personal needs while the next owners in Africa used the bicycle for more than that.  Isabella points out that each culture saw the bicycle as necessary but necessary in different ways.  The bicycle held different roles for its respective owners.

 

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
 CCBC Choices

Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize 

Hackmatack Children's Choice Award

USBBY Outstanding International Book List

Booklist: “A fine addition to the CitizenKid series.”

School Library Journal: “A strong option for social studies curricula, this noteworthy title will encourage kids to think globally.”

E. CONNECTIONS
Students can research other countries where bicycles are utilized heavily and explore what they are used for.  Compare bicycle usage between urban and rural communities.

Books about bicycles:
Gibbons, Gail. BICYCLE BOOK. ISBN 9780823414086
Thompson, Laurie Ann. EMMANUEL’S DREAM: THE STORY OF EMMANUEL OFOSU YEBOAH. ISBN 9780449817445
A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Thor, Annika. 2011. THE Lily Pond. New York, NY: Random House Children’s Books. ISBN 9780385740395.

B. PLOT SUMMARY
A historical fiction novel set in Sweden during World War II.  Thirteen-year-old Stephie Steiner attends school in Gothenburg away from her foster family and biological sister so that she can further her education.  Stephie is a Jewish refugee who was sent to Sweden along with her sister to flee Nazi-occupied Vienna.  Stephie juggles adjusting to her new environment with worrying about her parents safety back home in Vienna and missing all her loved ones.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
Annika Thor is Jewish and was raised in Sweden.  I think she captured many aspects of what it is like to be Jewish living in Sweden at that time in history.  The main character Stephie was a refugee, she was learning the language and was seen as a charity case.  Alice is a Jewish classmate of Stephie’s who was born and raised in Sweden, her family is rich and looked upon as privileged.  Alice was very afraid that people grouped her with Stephie and other Jewish refugees just because they are all Jewish.  Alice sees herself as better than Stephie, therefore deserving.  Alice does not see that Stephie belongs or even deserves to be at the school.  Alice does not accept Stephie’s friendship even though Stephie tries on multiple occasions to befriend her.

The author addresses differences in skin and hair color between the Swedish and the Jews. The dialogue in the story examines how some teenage girls are obsessed with appearance and standards of beauty.  It also addresses religion and morals as well.

There is a clear distinction between the minority and the majority.  There are those in the majority who help the minority such as the Soderberg family who take Stephie in so that she can attend school on the mainland, and Stephie’s Biology teacher who assists Stephie when she gets in trouble and is falsely accused.  The story paints a picture that the majority is not all bad, but then suggests that there is a limit to their good deeds because Sweden, although not participating in the war, only takes in children refugees hence Stephie and her sister being separated from their biological parents.

Transportation in the country appears to be largely by public transportation, walking and biking.  The author describes what it is like to travel by each of these methods. The main character, Stephie appears to travel mostly by foot.

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
 Batchelder Award Nominee

Junior Library Guild Selection

ALSC Notable Children’s Book

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

Horn Book: “Stephie’s story of adjustment to a new school and of a first crush is both specific and universal”

E. CONNECTIONS
Readers could get world maps and try to come up with a path for Stephie’s parent’s journey from Germany through Spain and Cuba to the United States. 

Students could research what life was like during the war on the island Stephie lived on or the mainland city she went to Grammar School at. 

This book is book 2 in the series, the others include:
Thor, Annika. A FARAWAY ISLAND. ISBN 9780375893704
Thor, Annika. DEEP SEA. ISBN 9780385371346