A Light in the Attic

A Light in the Attic is the second poetry book by Shel Silverstein in his series of three. This book is also written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein. This poetry much is much like the first - it contains tons of silly, wacky, crazy, outrageous and enjoyable poems that are all equally enjoyed by children and adults alike!

Silverstein's drawings are particularly captivating. They never contain any color - they are just simple line drawings - yet they allow reader's imaginations to expand! The picture perfectly fits the poem but it simple enough for the reader to form their own visuals in their mind. Additionally, these simple drawings have become Silverstein's signature style - he is known for his poetry-writing style, but also for his simplistic, black and white line drawings.

One of my favorite poems from A Light in the Attic is, "Something Missing". This poem is rather short and reads,

I remember I put on my socks,
I remember I put on my shoes.
I remember I put on my tie
That was painted
In beautiful purples and blues.
I remember I put on my coat,
to look perfectly grand at the dance,
Yet I feel there is something
I may have forgot -
What is it? What is it? ...

This poem is fun because it allows the reader to come up with what the man is missing and what words rhymes! "My Pants!!" His poems really read with such a nice rhythm and rhyme and that makes them enjoyable to read because they just slip off of your tongue.

Another favorite poem of mine is, "Standing is Stupid".

Standing is stupid,
Crawling's a curse
Skipping is silly,
Walking is worse.
Hopping is hopeless,
Jumping's a chore,
Sitting is senseless,
Leaning's a bore.
Running's ridiculous,
Jogging's insane -
Guess I'll go upstairs and
Lie down again.

This poem is so fun because it depicts the feeling of laziness and it rhymes through out. Some parents could find it slightly controversial because of the usage of the word, "stupid" and because they may think it promotes laziness, but I think the poem is poking fun at laziness and saying how you can't be THAT lazy to not want to move in ANY way at all!

Shel Silverstein's poetry books are a gas to read and very memorable! They will be cherished in my home and classroom for a lifetime.

Falling Up

Falling Up was written and illustrated by one of my favorite poets (and the poet i selected for my A/P/I study) Shel Silverstein. This book was the first of Slverstein's three large books of poetry. There is a large selections of poems in this book - all of which are creative, hilarious and entertaining for both children and adults alike. There are poems about "Complainin' Jack", "Wastebasket Brother", "Morgan's Curse", "Danny O'Dare" and "Long-Leg Lou and Short-Leg Sue". The poems are very imaginative - I never know where Silverstein gets his ideas from!!

There are so many poems in this book, that I will touch on a few of my favorites. One of my favorite shorter Poems from Falling Up is called, "Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda". It reads:

All the Woulda- Coulda-Shouldas
Layin' in the sun,
Talkin' bout the things
They woulda-coulda-shoulda done...
But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All ran away and hid
From one little did.

This Poem is so simple. It takes a funny twist on a phrase, "woulda-coulda-shoulda" and makes it into a story that is funny and clever. The last line is my favorite - it's so creative! A little did is what scared the "Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas" and that shares an important message with readers - don't just think about doing something...just do it!

I also like the poem, "People Zoo". This poem cleverly switches the roles around and discusses how animals roam free and go visit people zoo's where all of the human-beings are locked up inside! Here is my favorite line,

Now I'm here in a cage that is small as can be
(You can't let while people just run around free),
And I'm fed bread and tea at a quarter to three,
And the animals all come and gander at me.

Silverstein's writing flows together so nicely and maintains a fluid rhythm that allows it to be read at a comfortable, enjoyable pace. Silverstein often takes well-known things or activities and switches them around to make the readers take a different perspective on things! No matter what, Silverstein's poetry and simple black and white line drawings to accompany each poem are a success. Kids love his books and adults do as well!

My Reflection Statement

Reading and Responding to Children's Literature has been a very interesting class so far. I really enjoy how we incorporate technology into the classroom. I had never made a blog prior to this class and have really enjoyed the process. Additionally, a blog will last forever. I can utilize this growing resource in my own classroom in the future. This blog will serve as a resource for books that I may choose to read to my students. I will remember which books I enjoyed and why and which books I would rather keep out of my classroom - I can look at my own book reviews to make my decisions. Additionally, some of my blog posts I have set up are organized by specific units I could use in my classroom - i.e. series books, controversial books, poetry, graphic novels, etc.

We also were given the opportunity to set up glogs, which I had never even heard of before. I loved making my glog - it was so much more interactive than writing a paper. The glog allowed me to show off my creative side - it reminded me of an art project - I was able to coordinate colors, choose backgrounds, select fonts and colors, select my layout, etc. I was also excited to choose my own poet/illustrator - Shel Silverstein. Silverstein has been one of my favorite poets since I was young. I own many of his books and love his poetry. The blogs are fun, but the glog was the most fun!

Sometimes it's strange that we only meet once a week - it seems like we go so long without meeting. But it's also nice because we always have books to read, blog posts and other assignments to do so we really need a week to get that work done. I like how this class is providing me with activities, materials, knowledge and technological resources to last me well into my career as a teacher. A lot of what we are doing is very valuable for my future profession.

Glogster

The Misfits

The Misfits is written by James Howe. This book documents four friends during their 7th grade year - Bobby, Addie, Skeezie and Joe. These four friends all consider themselves "misfits" - they have been called every name in the book and form their pack based on their differences. Hoping to bring an end to name-calling in their middle school "the gang of five", as they refer to themselves, start a new third political party just in time for their school elections. There are the usual parties - the Democrats and the Republicans - and now there is the Freedom Party (later to be called "The No-Name Party"). These kids fight hard during their run for the win to make positive changes in their school. Meanwhile, all four kids face their fair share of difficulties in their life and we're particularly brought into the narrator's life - Bobby. Bobby has always been called names like, "Fatso", "Lardo" and "Fluff", etc. due to his weight. However, his weight gain was due to the death of his mother in elementary school. Bobby is awkward and shy, yet highly intellectual and well-spoken. The other members of "the gang of five" face taunts about their style, their height, their brains and their sexuality. At the end of the book, Bobby gives a terrific election speech for "The No-Name Party" and his school loves it. However, "The No-Name Party" ends up losing the election by a hair. But the school remains changed forever - valuing The No-Name Party's motives to end the vicious cycle of name-calling. And Bobby's crush, Kelsey, asks him to the school dance.

I never read this book as a middle-school-aged student myself, but I can see from reading it now it's importance and value in the classroom. This book would be interesting to read for students in middle school because of the format - there was a lot of conversation, play-like format which was easy and fun to read as the conversation bounced back and forth between the main characters. This book would also initiate a great conversation between the teacher and her students. It's important to discuss hurtful names in school because those names are tossed around all the time and do more damage than students dishing them out may know. I certainly remember all of the names I was called in Middle School - "Skinny Mini", "Lanky", "Prude", etc. And all of those names really stung and have stuck with me forever. I would like to talk about the pain name-calling can cause in my classroom and discuss why name-calling is not allowed in school or anywhere.

I do not find this book controversial in the slightest. Joe, the character who is gay, is fairly flamboyant but the boy who he has a crush on and ends up dating is the opposite, creating a realistic balance. Additionally the inappropriate names are appropriate because they're the reality of middle school. Name-calling happens all the time and the damage can sometimes be irreversible. This book effectively discusses these names and makes it clear why they are inappropriate.

I also think the book is very relatable - many students will be able to identify with one of the four main characters. I even related with Addie myself as an adult. This book was not as enjoyable for me to read as The Giver was, but I certainly can see why it would be a popular choice among middle school students and this book would be welcome in my classroom and a great read-aloud.

Mommy Laid An Egg OR Where Do Babies Come from?

This controversial picture book is again written and illustrated by Babette Cole. She has written many controversial children's books which go out of the box and out of many people's comfort zones. This book is about two children whose parents attempt to answer the age-old question - Where do babies come from? They answer their children with all sorts of silly made up ways - that babies are squeezed out of toothpaste tubes, carried to parents by dinosaurs, grown from a seed in a pot, found underneath rocks, etc.! But their children are too wise and already know where babies actually come from. So they draw some illustrations and help explain to their mom and dad where babies really come from. They draw the bodies, explain sperm and eggs, discuss positions of how babies can be made, talk about pregnancy and finally birth. These kids are too smart for their own good and make their parents blush due to their accurate knowledge.

This book is interesting. I am torn on how I feel about it. The subject of where babies come from and how they are made is a question all children ask and wonder about. Many parents fail to discuss this issue with their kids because it's an uncomfortable subject. This book was funny and was creative to have the kids explain to their parents through illustrations where babies come from, but there were aspects of the book that I found to be too controversial for a school setting. The page of positions was really unnecessary. The previous page had already shown how the man's penis can fit into the woman's vagina, but the positions were just too much. And they were all made to look so silly with children's toys involved (ie. a skateboard, balloons, etc.) that I found them to be inappropriate. Kids deserve to hear the facts and learn about sex so they're not confused and so they do not lead themselves to other false conclusions, but they also do not need to know sexual positions.

I'm not sure if I would read this book to my class. It's silly and fun so it could work to explain this to them, especially if they asked me because a book would be a terrific way to answer such a questions, but the positions really bothered me. Additionally, the picture at the beginning made the parents look like terrible parents. The kids were lying on a couch watching tv with junk food all around them. The house was a mess and there were animals everywhere. I did love the illustrations regardless - they're so fun and creative!

The Un-Wedding

This controversial children's book is written and illustrated by Babette Cole. This book is about two children - Demetrius and Paula Ogglebutt whose parents disagree on EVERYTHING. Their Dad and Mum hate living together, fight all the time, and never, ever get along. Demetrius and Paula are afraid that their parents bad marriage is all their fault. At school they hold a meeting to see if other children feel the same way about their own parents and they discover that most kids at school feel the same way. So, Demetrius and Paula go to their minister and ask if he can un-marry, or divorce, their parents. Their parents are thrilled by this and decide to un-marry each other at an un-wedding and it is a huge celebration with family and friends. Their parents are much happier, calmer people and they decide to live next door to one another with a huge underground tunnel connecting the two homes. Demetrius and Paula are so happy their their parents are happier - plus they get two of everything, which they can't complain about!

I really enjoyed this book. I think it is a terrific way to introduce divorce in the classroom. The story makes it clear that the children are unhappy when their parents are too, and it clearly shows how a divorce can actually bring happiness and peace to a family. The divorce rate is so high now that I know many of my students will come from divorced families. Many will likely have strong feelings about their parents divorce and many still may have step siblings and half siblings too. Even students whose parents are not divorced should read this book to better understand their friends and classmates situations. There were very funny parts of the story too, making the subject lighter and less controversial and sad.

I loved the illustrations! They were very cartoonish, but so fun and colorful with simple lines and strange details - they were very magical and had an element of fairy tale to them. I would recommend this book to every teacher and advise that it be read in the classroom - it would open doors of conversation.

Hair in Funny Places - A Book About Puberty

This controversial children's book is written and illustrated by Babette Cole. This book is all about puberty and hormones. It begins with a little girl who is asking her wise teddy bear when she will finally become a grown-up. The teddy bear begins to tell her all about growing up using her mother and father as examples. The Teddy Bear tells her about Mr. and Mrs. Hormone and explains what they do when their inside a boy and girl's body. He describes body changes, hair growth, voice change, sexual feelings, acne, periods, ejaculation, etc. The story ends with the little girl being born from her mother and father and the bear worrying that when the little girl grows up that she will not want him anymore. But the little girl reassures the bear that she will always love him because he is so wise.

I thought this book did a good job with explaining puberty. However, puberty happens so much earlier in boys than it does in girls so it might be difficult to read to a classroom of children. The book suggests reading to children seven years old and older, but I almost feel that seven is a little young. Maybe discussing sex and puberty is what I feel may be controversial in a classroom. Part of me feels that it is parents jobs to explain this aspect of life to their children, but I also know that there are many parents who do not ever discuss such things with their kids. I think I would read this to my class in 5th grade if I were asked to teach sex ed. I do know that there would be some parents who would feel very uncomfortable with their young children being read to about puberty, private parts and sex. So, if I were to read books of this nature in my classroom, maybe I should write a note to parents asking them for their permission and if they were not okay, they could have the option to pull their child out?

I think this book very clearly describes the process with less than detailed pictures, but it is still controversial and I can see why. The illustrations are whimsical and fun and make the whole topic less uncomfortable. I think this book would make for a great read-aloud at home for parents and their children - it would get conversation flowing. Though, it still doesn't cover the topic of how babies are born...

and tango makes three

This controversial children's book is written by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell and is illustrated by Henry Cole. This book is a true story that follows two male penguins - Silo and Roy. These two penguins, who live in the Central Park Zoo, found one another and fell in love becoming a couple. All of the other penguin couples were male and female. Only Roy and Silo were two males who were a couple. Saddened that they could not have a chick of their own like the other penguin couples, one of the zookeepers decides to give them an egg which had been born, but not cared for, by another female penguin. Roy and Silo know just what to do and they keep their egg safe and warm. One day, the egg hatches and a baby chick is born! Roy and Silo take care of their baby that is named Tango, because "it takes two to make a tango". This penguin family lives peacefully with the other penguins and still remain a family today.

This book would be a fantastic way to open up discussion about what it means to be gay and how that makes a family. This book would be great for young children (4 - 8 years old) because the main characters are penguins, not people, and sometimes it's easier to discuss such a controversial topic if the two involved in the relationship are not humans. Many children may grasp that if animals sometimes "marry" someone of the same sex, then maybe it isn't so weird for people to do the same thing. Many children may know someone close to them who is gay and they may find comfort being able to discuss this in their classroom. I want my classroom to be a safe learning environment and I hope students feel that way by not hiding their feelings and feeling capable of expressing their thoughts and opinions without being judged by their teacher or peers.

The illustrations in this book are great. They're colorful and detailed and keep the reader engaged. Your eye is drawn to the images and they really complete the story. The drawings are not entirely realistic but enough so that readers know which animals and situations they are viewing. I also liked the last page where more details regarding the true story are shared. This book is a simple story with great illustrations that would open up a conversation worth having in a classroom. I do not find this book controversial, but rather realistic.

Uncle What-Is-It is Coming To Visit!!

This controversial children's book was written and illustrated by Michael Willhoite. This book follows a brother and a sister - Igor and Tiffany, who find out that their Uncle Brett is coming to visit. Their mother informs them that he is gay and due to burning brussel sprouts she dashes out of the room before she can explain to the children what "gay" means. Igor and Tiffany have only met their Uncle Brett when they were babies, so they don't know who or what to expect. They go outside to find someone to explain what being "gay" means. They come across two teenagers who give them very judgemental, biased views of gay people. One boy says being gay means wishing to be a woman and dressing like one. The other boy explains that being gay means wearing leather and chains. Igor and Tiffany go to bed that evening, having nightmares of what their Uncle may act or look like. However, when Uncle Brett arrives the next morning, he looks entirely normal! Igor and Tiffany discover that being gay just means that men are attracted to other men, not women. They also learn to love their Uncle who likes to play catch, who can wiggle his ears, play piano and make yummy desserts. And, they learn that Uncle Brett HATES brussel sprouts, too!

This book is a great way to introduce the concept of gay to children. The book discusses various stereotypes that are placed on gay people and mentions that these can be true, but generally gay people are just like me and you. It's a wonderful message that would bring about positive conversations among students. Additionally, I'm sure many students will feel more accepted in the classroom if they feel that they may be gay or if they have parents, friends, family, etc, who are gay. This book will make their situation feel more normal and will explain honestly what being gay means to students who have no clue or mistaken assumptions.

Willhoite has written other controversial children's picture books. His most recognized (and most controversial) is Daddy's Roommate - a book about a boy with a gay father. Daddy's Roommate was featured in a New York Times editorial and was read aloud on Nightline. Many have tried to ban it across the country due to it's subject matter. Uncle What-Is-It is Coming to Visit!! is based on a similar issue - however, this book addressed transexuals, as well. I do not see this book as controversial due to homosexuality being largely prevalent in today's society and due to it's positive and informative message. I would certainly read this book to my students, eager for a conversation to follow.