MODULE 4 - NON-FICTION
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Gorillas, aimed at the elementary reader, is written in a conversational adult-to-child manner. Seymour Simon presents a comprehensive overview of the gorilla species in a mere sixteen pages of text covering everything from the three subspecies, their habitats, anatomy and eating habits to their family makeup, social behaviors, child rearing practices, means of communication and defense mechanisms. Simon’s writing employs many comparisons between human and ape to help explain his subject. Full and half-page photographs of gorillas in the wild, most of them close-ups, accompany the text in each two-page spread. Simon ends with a conservationist’s plea that only humans can determine the fate of these gentle creatures. Pages are unnumbered, no source documentation or directional guides are provided.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Simon organizes Gorillas, an informational picture book, via a nonlinear text that addresses many significant aspects of the species’ existence. On any page, the reader can dive into any paragraph and glean interesting and important facts about gorillas. The text is kid-friendly; the informal conversational writing is concise and lively and draws the reader in. The numerous comparisons that Simon makes likening gorillas to humans serve as both a powerful connection between subject and reader as well as encouragement to find out more. However, Simon’s might be taking this device too far when he espouses, “If you gaze into the eyes of a gorilla and think how human it looks, you won’t be far wrong.” Danger for misinterpretation lies in such blanket declarations; obviously there are a number of very significant differences between humans and gorillas.
The fascinating wildlife photographs will grab animal-loving children’s attention from the get-go. The author’s description of the gorilla as a secretive animal is shouted from the title page photo! The overall book design is simplicity defined, mostly two-page spreads with either one full page or two half-page photographs with an accompanying page of relevant text. Plenty of white space surrounds each photo allowing the eye to rest and truly take in the amazing pictures. All of the pictures are close-up; it would have been nice to include some from a distance showing the communal life the gorillas live. Unfortunately, Simon did not include a map of Africa showing the few places on earth where these animals live naturally in the wild. As for accuracy of information, the reader is left to the credentials of this prolific author and that of subject-experts because the book contains no source documentation. Photo credits are listed on the last page. The straightforward text and captivating photographs make Seymour Simon’s Gorillas a valuable contributor to any children’s library’s informational collection.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
BOOKLIST – “The combination of the text and photographs creates a striking, powerful impression.”
HORN BOOK MAGAZINE – “Debunking the myths about “scary beasts” spawned by our entertainment industry, Gorillas presents a more accurate portrayal of these gentle creatures. / The constant comparisons to humans-while helping children understand concepts, and emphasizing that indeed “gorillas and humans share ninety-eight percent of their DNA” –do present the danger of misinterpretation. ”
KIRKUS REVIEWS – “His approach is wonderfully accessible, giving his young readers connections they can recognize.”
5. CONNECTIONS
Other noted books focused on gorillas:
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema pair up again, this time to chronicle Charles Dickens’ life and times in the illustrated biography Charles Dickens: The Man who had Great Expectations. Rooted in a vivid imagination, strong intellect and early childhood life experiences, Dickens matched nature and circumstance with determination and perseverance to create riveting stories and memorable characters that sky rocketed him to fame. Dickens overcame poverty and lack of advanced education to rise to international renown as a celebrated author. This biography focuses on the profound effect Dickens’ early life and the living and working conditions of most people in nineteenth century England had on his writing, how his characters were drawn from those life experiences and became very real to him and his readers. Stanley and Vennema portray Dickens as an outgoing, vivacious man with great sensitivity, who never forgot his humble beginnings and worked unceasingly to better the lives of the poor and downtrodden through his works of fiction. The reading public was so moved by such works as A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist and The Old Curiosity Shop that the authors credit Dickens with instigating reform.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Charles Dickens: The Man who had Great Expectations follows, more or less, a chronologic organization, focusing more in depth on his younger, formative years and taking a more collective approach to his adulthood. This method seems appropriate as it supports the authors’ position that Dickens’ unforgettable characters and plots evolved from a combination of imagination and his impoverished experiences as a youth. “In book after book he painted such horrifying pictures of the despairing poor that this period in history is often called Dickensian England. / No matter how successful Dickens became, he never forgot the ragged child he had once been and he never stopped working to ease the suffering of the poor.” The writing style is reader-friendly, sentence structure varies from simple to complex and the moderate pace keeps the reader’s attention. The vocabulary feels right for middle elementary grades with a few challenges along the way.
Diane Stanley’s art sets this biography apart; vibrant illustrations, done in full-color gouache, alternate with black and white sketches and effectively parallel the text on each two-page spread. The combination of art forms gives the book a strong sense of time and place. The reader is transported back to nineteenth century England via the architect, personal fashion, home décor and street scenes depicted. The sketches give the reader the necessary sense of long ago. As proof of accuracy, a simple bibliography and a listing of Dickens’ works cited are provided in the end pages with entries suitable for children noted. Quotes, seemingly from Dickens himself are sporadically used in the text; however no documentation specifically sourcing them is noted. Stanley and Vennema, once again, succeed in fully engaging and entertaining their readers through their magic formula of combining masterful illustration with personal insight into their subject, in this case, the legendary Charles Dickens.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
HORN BOOK GUIDE – “His blazing personality and driving ambition are apparent in the illustrations, which foster the feeling for the period.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS – “While linking the biographical facts to the fiction, they focus on the life itself; it makes a lively, entertaining story for children…Stanley uses an elegantly muted palette and delicately stylized figures, bringing decorative period patterns to her beautifully structured compositions; full-color art draws readers into the appealing scenes, while b&w text-page vignettes recall Victorian engravings.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY – “Stanley and Vennema point out how these [working as a young child in a blacking factory] and other experiences provided the settings, plots and characters for the author’s oeuvre. Such insights make this biography especially rich.”
5. CONNECTIONS
Other illustrated biographies by the team of Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema:
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Jim Murphy’s 1999 Orbis Pictus winner, Across America on an Emigrant Train, chronicles the 1879 transatlantic and transcontinental journey from Edinburgh, Scotland to Monterey, California of twenty-nine year old Robert Louis Stevenson. Embroiled in a scandalous love affair with an older married American woman, the young writer “rushes” to join his Fanny after receiving word of her serious illness. Stevenson, yet an unrecognized author and newly estranged from his family, departs Scotland as many other hopeful emigrants, underfinanced. Traveling in the nineteenth century proves arduous for everyone, but ever so much more for the poor emigrant. Through Stevenson’s journal entries, Murphy weaves a credible narrative of the twenty-four day journey with frequent tangents detailing the building of the transcontinental railroad and its effect on the territory it crossed. These digressions from the travelogue contain discussions concerning: the decimation of the buffalo, the disruption and destruction of Native American life, the emigration of railroad workers, the creation and demise of railroad camp towns, construction accidents, the development of the Pullman car and advances in railroad installation. Murphy includes period accurate railway maps on the front and end pages, a source bibliography, table of contents and a detailed photo and text index.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jim Murphy organizes this informational book in a general chronological manner following Stevenson’s cross-continent journey. Tangential to the main flow of the narrative are many specific asides that detail the history of U.S. emigration and the transcontinental railroad. The genius of this work lies in the connections between the personal recollections of a world-renowned writer and the historical significance of connecting the two coasts of the United States. The intense compassion that Stevenson feels for his fellow emigrants coupled with his own experiences and his inherent disdain for prejudice allows his journal to serve as one written both a keen observer and active participant. “The United States was a land noted for freedom, and yet he [Stevenson] saw all around him people who were targets of prejudice –Native Americans, Chinese, blacks, and many of his fellow emigrants.” The personal saga of Robert and Fanny serves as the hook to pull the readers in and the fascinating historical details keep them engaged. The vocabulary and sentence structure are age appropriate for the late elementary through middle school student. At times, the historical vignettes seem forced rather than natural, but on the whole the book’s transitions and writing style adequately fit their purpose.
Across America on an Emigrant Train has a linear design, yet is not unsuited to casual perusal. The book’s many illustrations include primarily maps, sketches, and black and white photographs that encourage the audience to delve into the text. These visual elements nicely complement and advance the narrative. The use of white space is effective and pleasing to the eye. Comprehensive captions fully explain each individual photo and are sourced to their origin. Directional devices, an index and table of contents, aid in information retrieval. The author’s credentials, first hand accounts from Stevenson’s journal, the many sourced photographs and accompanying information, and the detailed bibliography all serve to validate Murphy’s historical claims. For an enlightening and informative trip across nineteenth century America, nothing is more enjoyable than joining Robert Louis Stevenson on the adventure of a lifetime on an emigrant train!
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
HORN BOOK GUIDE –“Skillfully interwoven into the narrative is a general history of the growth of the transcontinental railroad.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL – “ Into these journal entries, Murphy has woven meticulously researched, absorbing accounts of the building of the railroad and its effect on the territory it crossed…/Abundant, carefully selected period photographs, engravings, and lithographs are every bit as intriguing as the text.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS – “A fascinating, imaginatively structured account that brings the experience vividly to life in all its detail: history at its best.”
5. CONNECTIONS
Middle school - After sharing this work and perhaps Tracks Across America by Leonard Everett Fischer during a unit on American emigration or westward expansion, assign students a journal writing activity. Have them plan a cross-country train trip using maps and setting logical time expectations. Have them pick an identity complete with a brief personal history and state goals for their cross-continental travel. Incorporating their newfound knowledge about early train travel, encourage them to write daily entries into their travelogue. Aging the journals using coffee grounds and tea stains will add fun and interest to the project.
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Simon, Seymour. 2000. Gorillas. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN
- 0060230363.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Gorillas, aimed at the elementary reader, is written in a conversational adult-to-child manner. Seymour Simon presents a comprehensive overview of the gorilla species in a mere sixteen pages of text covering everything from the three subspecies, their habitats, anatomy and eating habits to their family makeup, social behaviors, child rearing practices, means of communication and defense mechanisms. Simon’s writing employs many comparisons between human and ape to help explain his subject. Full and half-page photographs of gorillas in the wild, most of them close-ups, accompany the text in each two-page spread. Simon ends with a conservationist’s plea that only humans can determine the fate of these gentle creatures. Pages are unnumbered, no source documentation or directional guides are provided.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Simon organizes Gorillas, an informational picture book, via a nonlinear text that addresses many significant aspects of the species’ existence. On any page, the reader can dive into any paragraph and glean interesting and important facts about gorillas. The text is kid-friendly; the informal conversational writing is concise and lively and draws the reader in. The numerous comparisons that Simon makes likening gorillas to humans serve as both a powerful connection between subject and reader as well as encouragement to find out more. However, Simon’s might be taking this device too far when he espouses, “If you gaze into the eyes of a gorilla and think how human it looks, you won’t be far wrong.” Danger for misinterpretation lies in such blanket declarations; obviously there are a number of very significant differences between humans and gorillas.
The fascinating wildlife photographs will grab animal-loving children’s attention from the get-go. The author’s description of the gorilla as a secretive animal is shouted from the title page photo! The overall book design is simplicity defined, mostly two-page spreads with either one full page or two half-page photographs with an accompanying page of relevant text. Plenty of white space surrounds each photo allowing the eye to rest and truly take in the amazing pictures. All of the pictures are close-up; it would have been nice to include some from a distance showing the communal life the gorillas live. Unfortunately, Simon did not include a map of Africa showing the few places on earth where these animals live naturally in the wild. As for accuracy of information, the reader is left to the credentials of this prolific author and that of subject-experts because the book contains no source documentation. Photo credits are listed on the last page. The straightforward text and captivating photographs make Seymour Simon’s Gorillas a valuable contributor to any children’s library’s informational collection.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
BOOKLIST – “The combination of the text and photographs creates a striking, powerful impression.”
HORN BOOK MAGAZINE – “Debunking the myths about “scary beasts” spawned by our entertainment industry, Gorillas presents a more accurate portrayal of these gentle creatures. / The constant comparisons to humans-while helping children understand concepts, and emphasizing that indeed “gorillas and humans share ninety-eight percent of their DNA” –do present the danger of misinterpretation. ”
KIRKUS REVIEWS – “His approach is wonderfully accessible, giving his young readers connections they can recognize.”
5. CONNECTIONS
Other noted books focused on gorillas:
- Burgel, Paul. 1992. Gorillas. Minneapolis: Carolrhonda Books. ISBN
- 0876147589.
- Lewin, Ted. 1999. Gorilla Walk. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books.
- ISBN 0688165109.
- Matthews, Tom. 1998. Light shining through the mist: A photobiography of
- Dian Fossey. Washington D.C.: National Geographic Society. ISBN 0792273001
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Stanley, Diane and Peter Vennema. 1993. Charles Dickens: The man who
- had great expectations. Ill. by Diane Stanley. New York: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688091113.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema pair up again, this time to chronicle Charles Dickens’ life and times in the illustrated biography Charles Dickens: The Man who had Great Expectations. Rooted in a vivid imagination, strong intellect and early childhood life experiences, Dickens matched nature and circumstance with determination and perseverance to create riveting stories and memorable characters that sky rocketed him to fame. Dickens overcame poverty and lack of advanced education to rise to international renown as a celebrated author. This biography focuses on the profound effect Dickens’ early life and the living and working conditions of most people in nineteenth century England had on his writing, how his characters were drawn from those life experiences and became very real to him and his readers. Stanley and Vennema portray Dickens as an outgoing, vivacious man with great sensitivity, who never forgot his humble beginnings and worked unceasingly to better the lives of the poor and downtrodden through his works of fiction. The reading public was so moved by such works as A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist and The Old Curiosity Shop that the authors credit Dickens with instigating reform.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Charles Dickens: The Man who had Great Expectations follows, more or less, a chronologic organization, focusing more in depth on his younger, formative years and taking a more collective approach to his adulthood. This method seems appropriate as it supports the authors’ position that Dickens’ unforgettable characters and plots evolved from a combination of imagination and his impoverished experiences as a youth. “In book after book he painted such horrifying pictures of the despairing poor that this period in history is often called Dickensian England. / No matter how successful Dickens became, he never forgot the ragged child he had once been and he never stopped working to ease the suffering of the poor.” The writing style is reader-friendly, sentence structure varies from simple to complex and the moderate pace keeps the reader’s attention. The vocabulary feels right for middle elementary grades with a few challenges along the way.
Diane Stanley’s art sets this biography apart; vibrant illustrations, done in full-color gouache, alternate with black and white sketches and effectively parallel the text on each two-page spread. The combination of art forms gives the book a strong sense of time and place. The reader is transported back to nineteenth century England via the architect, personal fashion, home décor and street scenes depicted. The sketches give the reader the necessary sense of long ago. As proof of accuracy, a simple bibliography and a listing of Dickens’ works cited are provided in the end pages with entries suitable for children noted. Quotes, seemingly from Dickens himself are sporadically used in the text; however no documentation specifically sourcing them is noted. Stanley and Vennema, once again, succeed in fully engaging and entertaining their readers through their magic formula of combining masterful illustration with personal insight into their subject, in this case, the legendary Charles Dickens.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
HORN BOOK GUIDE – “His blazing personality and driving ambition are apparent in the illustrations, which foster the feeling for the period.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS – “While linking the biographical facts to the fiction, they focus on the life itself; it makes a lively, entertaining story for children…Stanley uses an elegantly muted palette and delicately stylized figures, bringing decorative period patterns to her beautifully structured compositions; full-color art draws readers into the appealing scenes, while b&w text-page vignettes recall Victorian engravings.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY – “Stanley and Vennema point out how these [working as a young child in a blacking factory] and other experiences provided the settings, plots and characters for the author’s oeuvre. Such insights make this biography especially rich.”
5. CONNECTIONS
Other illustrated biographies by the team of Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema:
- Stanley, Diane and Peter Vennema. 1992. Bard of Avon: The story of
- William Shakespeare. New York: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688091091.
- Stanley, Diane and Peter Vennema. 1994. Cleopatra. New York: Morrow
- Junior Books. ISBN 0688104142.
- Stanley, Diane and Peter Vennema. 2001. Good Queen Bess: The story of
- Elizabeth I of England. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060296186.
- Stanley, Diane and Peter Vennema. 1988. Shaka: King of the Zulus. New
- York: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688073433.
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Murphy, Jim. 1993. Across America on an emigrant train. New York:
- Clarion Books. ISBN 0395633907.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Jim Murphy’s 1999 Orbis Pictus winner, Across America on an Emigrant Train, chronicles the 1879 transatlantic and transcontinental journey from Edinburgh, Scotland to Monterey, California of twenty-nine year old Robert Louis Stevenson. Embroiled in a scandalous love affair with an older married American woman, the young writer “rushes” to join his Fanny after receiving word of her serious illness. Stevenson, yet an unrecognized author and newly estranged from his family, departs Scotland as many other hopeful emigrants, underfinanced. Traveling in the nineteenth century proves arduous for everyone, but ever so much more for the poor emigrant. Through Stevenson’s journal entries, Murphy weaves a credible narrative of the twenty-four day journey with frequent tangents detailing the building of the transcontinental railroad and its effect on the territory it crossed. These digressions from the travelogue contain discussions concerning: the decimation of the buffalo, the disruption and destruction of Native American life, the emigration of railroad workers, the creation and demise of railroad camp towns, construction accidents, the development of the Pullman car and advances in railroad installation. Murphy includes period accurate railway maps on the front and end pages, a source bibliography, table of contents and a detailed photo and text index.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jim Murphy organizes this informational book in a general chronological manner following Stevenson’s cross-continent journey. Tangential to the main flow of the narrative are many specific asides that detail the history of U.S. emigration and the transcontinental railroad. The genius of this work lies in the connections between the personal recollections of a world-renowned writer and the historical significance of connecting the two coasts of the United States. The intense compassion that Stevenson feels for his fellow emigrants coupled with his own experiences and his inherent disdain for prejudice allows his journal to serve as one written both a keen observer and active participant. “The United States was a land noted for freedom, and yet he [Stevenson] saw all around him people who were targets of prejudice –Native Americans, Chinese, blacks, and many of his fellow emigrants.” The personal saga of Robert and Fanny serves as the hook to pull the readers in and the fascinating historical details keep them engaged. The vocabulary and sentence structure are age appropriate for the late elementary through middle school student. At times, the historical vignettes seem forced rather than natural, but on the whole the book’s transitions and writing style adequately fit their purpose.
Across America on an Emigrant Train has a linear design, yet is not unsuited to casual perusal. The book’s many illustrations include primarily maps, sketches, and black and white photographs that encourage the audience to delve into the text. These visual elements nicely complement and advance the narrative. The use of white space is effective and pleasing to the eye. Comprehensive captions fully explain each individual photo and are sourced to their origin. Directional devices, an index and table of contents, aid in information retrieval. The author’s credentials, first hand accounts from Stevenson’s journal, the many sourced photographs and accompanying information, and the detailed bibliography all serve to validate Murphy’s historical claims. For an enlightening and informative trip across nineteenth century America, nothing is more enjoyable than joining Robert Louis Stevenson on the adventure of a lifetime on an emigrant train!
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
HORN BOOK GUIDE –“Skillfully interwoven into the narrative is a general history of the growth of the transcontinental railroad.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL – “ Into these journal entries, Murphy has woven meticulously researched, absorbing accounts of the building of the railroad and its effect on the territory it crossed…/Abundant, carefully selected period photographs, engravings, and lithographs are every bit as intriguing as the text.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS – “A fascinating, imaginatively structured account that brings the experience vividly to life in all its detail: history at its best.”
5. CONNECTIONS
Middle school - After sharing this work and perhaps Tracks Across America by Leonard Everett Fischer during a unit on American emigration or westward expansion, assign students a journal writing activity. Have them plan a cross-country train trip using maps and setting logical time expectations. Have them pick an identity complete with a brief personal history and state goals for their cross-continental travel. Incorporating their newfound knowledge about early train travel, encourage them to write daily entries into their travelogue. Aging the journals using coffee grounds and tea stains will add fun and interest to the project.
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