Keeper of the Doves

Keeper of the Doves

By Betsy Byars

2002

 I was so impressed with The Pinballs written by Betsy Byars that when I came across this book a the Library titled Keeper of Doves, I was excited to read it. 

The book begins with a baby, minutes old, awaiting her fate. Of course, she realizes that she couldn’t possibly remember, but the story had been told to her so many times that she assumed it as her own memory.  The child, a baby girl, was born to a man who desperately wanted a son but had 4 daughters already.  In disappointment and disgust, he named her Amen!, later nicknamed Amie. The family took in a stranger who had saved her fathers life, Mr. Tominski (Mr. Tom).  Mr. Tom is mysterious, speaks in German and is the Keeper of the Doves.  The girls make fun of him and fear his mysterious ways, but Amie sees gentleness. 

I really didn’t like this book.  It seemed to drag on, it was full of judgment and I really felt so sorry for Mr. Tom.  I did like that young Amie was an aspiring poet and that her father was supportive of that, and I thought it cleaver that the author had 26 short chapters beginning with each letter of the alphabet.

The Pinballs

The Pinballs

By Betsy Byars

This is an endearing story about three kids in foster care for various reasons.  Carlie is there because of an abusive step father that her mother just could not part with, so she sent Carly away. Harvey’s mother ran away and his father drank the memory of her away and blamed Harvey for much of it.  The state took Harvey away from him when in a drunken rage, he backed over Harvey’s’ legs.  Little Thomas J. had been orphaned as a toddler and taken in by two old sisters who simply grew too old to take care of him.  The Masons were unable to have children of their own so they began fostering children.  The bond that developed between hard nosed Carly, quiet and damaged Harvey and curious and proper Thomas J. was touching.

This book, although controversial, should be one offered as a classroom read aloud.  It looks deeply into friendship, trust and a child’s ability to move forward.  It’s topics of abuse and abandonment may be what keeps teachers from sharing this book with their students

Martin’s Big Words- The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, JR.

Written by Doreen Rappaport

Illustrated by Bryan Collier

2001 Picture Book, Award Winner

AWARDS; Caldecott Honor, Coretta Scott King Award,  Best Illustrated Children’s Book 2001 The New York Times Book Review

A chronological story of little Martin and his exposure and struggles with injustice, leads to Dr. King and the ways he used love instead of hate, and hope to break the chains of segregation.  The illustrations are captivating, event the end pages with windows of stained-glass are symbolic of Dr. Kings life.

I loved the use of water colors and cut paper collage, like things that ordinarily would not be used together, but work very nicely together if given a chance….like people. 

I chose this beautiful picture book as a tool for students to “see” and “hear” and “read” about a pivotal time in American History.   However, the book will offer understanding and hope, and unconditional love for us as well.  There is a timeline in the back of the book as well, so the important dates of Dr. King can be followed. 

The Great Kapok Tree

The Great Kapok Tree

By Lynne Cherry

1990 Picture Book

Incredible illustrations tell the story of a man walking into a tropical rain forest to cut down a tree.  What he didn’t’ realize was that the tree was home to many, many creatures. As he sat down against the tree to rest, he fell asleep.  While asleep the animals of the forest came to his ear to whisper all of the reasons he should leave the tree alone as the Great Kapok Tree was their home.  As the man awoke he was startled by sight of the boa, the butterflies, the monkeys, the toucan, the tree frogs, the jaguar, the porcupines, the anteater, the sloth and the young boy from the village all advocating for the Great Kapok Tree. 

I used this story in a reader theatre for my 3^rd graders.  It was so wonderful.  I had just finished my unit on Human Effects on the Environment and their homeroom teacher had just moved into a Rain Forest Unit. The story blended both together very well, prior knowledge and building background.  I loved it!!

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

Written by Wendy Mass

2006 Realistic Fiction

“THE MEANING OF LIFE: FOR JEREMY FINK TO OPEN ON HIS 13^TH BIRTHDAY” …. Those lines revealed on page 13 of the book sets the entire story up.  A five year old newspaper, dated on week after Jeremy’s father died in a somewhat expected automobile crash, wrapped around a beautifully crafted wood box with four separate, intricate key holes accompanied by a letter written to Jeremy’s mother, from his fathers college buddy Harold!!  WOW!!  If you think that is confusing, wait until you get into the story.  Back to the box, as Harold explains, the four keys have been misplaced and this begins the search for the keys…..and much more significant, the meaning of life.  Jeremy’s best friend Lizzy loves adventure and vows to help him.  The duo of Lizzy and Jeremy decide that Larry the Locksmith and his son Larry Junior are of little help in unlocking the secrets held within the box, so they turn to the streets of New York!

There they find an array of people who have a specific hand in their adventure……..that is all I can tell you right now.  His father, dead 5 years, had a plan and in the end Jeremy discovered that love was stronger than death!! 

I have never read Wendy Mass, but I will again.  It was a longgggg book to have read this week with so much going on, but it would be an incredible read aloud because of all of the life questions it poses to its readers!  I loved it!! 

Witches

Witches

Written Roald Dahl

Illustrated by Quentin Blake

Roald Dahl is a book I could remember reading to my oldest sons years ago, but I could remember them being a little frightened by it.  I read the book one afternoon again and while it may not be appropriate for younger children, I do think that 10 to 12 year old kids would find it funny and suspenseful. 

The story takes place in England and the main characters are a young boy and his Grandmamma.  The grandmother has had an encounter with a witch when she was a young girl, so she sets out to warn her grandsons about the many ways of the witches:  bald, blue spit, larger nose holes, no toes, always wears gloves.  They are usually dressed nicely and one can hardly tell if they are looking at a witch or not, in fact, your sweet teacher could be a witch!!  Throughout the story the young boy gets turned into a mouse as part of a diabolical plan concocted by The Grand High Witch herself!!  Luckily the plan backfires and the boy and his Grandmamma are able to turn the tables and begin wiping our witches all over the world!! 

A fun read along…..and the author sets the stage as a perfect read-aloud for a classroom teacher of elementary students!  However, one must note that the American Library Association listed Witches as number 22 on the ‘100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1900-1999.’

Martin's Big Words

Martin’s Big Words- The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, JR.
Written by Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
2001 Picture Book, Award Winner

AWARDS; Caldecott Honor, Coretta Scott King Award,  Best Illustrated Children’s Book 2001 The New York Times Book Review

A chronological story of little Martin and his exposure and struggles with injustice, leads to Dr. King and the ways he used love instead of hate, and hope to break the chains of segregation.  The illustrations are captivating, event the end pages with windows of stained-glass are symbolic of Dr. Kings life.
I loved the use of water colors and cut paper collage, like things that ordinarily would not be used together, but work very nicely together if given a chance….like people. 
I chose this beautiful picture book as a tool for students to “see” and “hear” and “read” about a pivotal time in American History.   However, the book will offer understanding and hope, and unconditional love for us as well.  There is a timeline in the back of the book as well, so the important dates of Dr. King can be followed.