Bradby, Marie. More Than Anything Else. Illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet. Scholastic, 1995. More Than Anything Else is based on the childhood of Booker T. Washington, as told through his eyes at nine-years-old. He tells of leaving his cabin before dawn to work all day shoveling salt with his father and older brother. ?All day long we shovel it, but it refuses to grow smaller.? Despite the community poverty and hardship, there?s a sense of freedom now, different then life before. ?All people are free to go where they want and do what they can.? What Booker wants is to read. Finally, he finds someone to teach him his letters, and it?s as if he?s reborn. ?I have jumped into another world and I am saved.? More Than Anything Else is intended for ages four to eight. It is appropriate for these ages for two reasons; the importance of reading & education and an introduction to a famous African American leader. Early in the school system the importance of reading is not evident. Children know they are learning to read, but this can be taken for granted. More Than Anything Else offers a different viewpoint on education. It gives the readers a new perspective, through the eyes of another, on how reading and education wasn?t accessible to many.
It shows how a young boy set a goal and how he accomplished it. This book also introduces readers to Booker T. Washington, who led the way for African-Americans to get an education. More Than Anything Else tells us only a short part of Booker T. Washington?s life but gives enough information to gain insight about the kind of boy/man he was and why he became such an important leader as an adult. This book also gives the reader a perfect starting point in which to continue to learn and read about Booker T. Washington and other famous leaders. This picture book is clearly intended for children, however can be a learning experience for adults. The verse is short and clearly written. It contains vocabulary that would need some discussion but overall it can be solved easily through context clues. For example, ?We travel by lantern. My stomach rumbles, for we had no morning meal.? Rumbles are understood as something the stomach does when it has no food.
The Term Paper on Booker T. Washington (19th century) and Martin Luther King Jr. (20th century)
I. INTRODUCTION For decades, Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) was the major African-American spokesman in the eyes of white America. Born a slave in Virginia, Washington was educated at Hampton Institute, Norfolk, Virginia. He began to work at the Tuskegee Institute in 1881 and built it into a center of learning and industrial and agricultural training. A handsome man and a forceful speaker, ...
This story takes place in a West Virginia settlement after emancipation. Soentpiet portrays this by the landscape of rolling green meadows and tall green trees surrounding a bunch of homes all of the same build. In the middle are huge mountains of white with black men and children filling barrels for the white salt. In one illustration the salt mine is up against a body of water and a beautifully drawn ferry is coming into port. The main theme is More Than Anything Else is Booker?s need to learn to read is clearly developed in this story. The text of the book focuses on this theme – the ?hunger? to learn to read. Bradby writes sentences like the following to help the reader understand that the most important element in Booker?s life is to learn to read. ?My arms still ache from lifting the shovel, but I do not think about the pain there. I think about the hunger still in my head ? reading. I have seen people ? young and old ? do it. I am nine years old and I know, if I had the chance, I could do it, too.? It is sentences like these that define Booker and the entire theme of the picture book. Later in the story when Booker finds another that can teach him to read the final development and completeness of the character is stated like this: ?He tells me the song ? the sounds the marks make.
I jump up and down singing it. I shout and laugh like when I was baptized in the creek. I have jumped into another world and I am saved.? When Booker finally accomplishes his goal in life he equates it with being baptized and being saved. Bradby?s use of words and metaphors again is vital in signifying the importance of education and the true development of the story. The theme of More Than Anything Else is also developed through the looks on the faces of the men and children, specifically Booker. The illustrations portray a hard life through the faces of the individuals. Booker?s face is lit up but still solemn with dark and shadowy backgrounds. Booker?s image starts grave but as the story develops his face begins to show signs of hope. When he tells his mother of his need to learn to read, she presents him with his first book. The marks the change in Booker?s appearance for the remainder of the book. As Booker studies his book, his facial expression is thoughtful. Through the text we learn that Booker realized he cannot do this alone and seeks out one that can read. When he finally learns the alphabet, he entire being is lit up and glowing with happiness even though the remaining of the illustration is still dark and shadowy.
The Essay on Why People Should Read Books
It is a disappointment that people read books less often in these days of widespread technological reliance. Books were the primary source of intellectual entertainment just a hundred years ago, but with the invention of radio, television, cinematography, and the Internet and computer games, it seems that reading books is no longer a popular leisure activity. However, I believe that books are an ...
Through the last two pages the smile remains on Booker?s face and he begins to learn to recognize and spell his name. This look signifying that the hunger in Booker is being satiated by the knowledge he is gaining through learning to read. The illustrations and the text take us on this journey that they could not do without one another. The text gives us the voice and the pictures give the feelings. Chris K. Soentpiet uses watercolors for the illustrations in More Than Anything Else. The watercolors set the mood of the story. They help create an era of calmness that one usually finds in the routines of life. Soentpiet?s watercolor paintings show individual portraits lit up from the surrounding darkness. The illustrations create a sense of idealization. They do not focus on the backbreaking labor but on the child?s view of himself and his world. The illustrations show a child?s dreams of literacy and the freedom he will find when he learns to read. The depth of this desire is evident in the different facial expressions of Booker throughout the story. The illustrations show what the characters are feeling. It is obvious that when they are walking to the salt mines before dawn with their minds elsewhere.
The Essay on Book Cat Cats Story
How To Talk to Your Cat is a fabulous book. While it was meant for children, to explain their cat's behavior, I really learned a lot. The book is very attractive. The cover illustration is larger than life and somewhat childlike. It is bright yellow with a large cat smiling in the center. The cover would entice a child to open it up and take a look. The rest of the illustrations are similar. They ...
They do not talk, they dream. The feeling of Booker?s mother when she gives Booker his first book is obvious not by the words of the author but by her facial expression in the illustrations. The way Soentpiet portrays Booker?s mother when she hands him the book is all knowing. Again touching on the theme that reading is important even if she does not know how to herself. These feelings the illustrations create in the reader are real. In effort to even make the illustrations even larger and life like Soentpiet uses two pages for one illustration. The bind of each page is the middle of each painting. In this format, the reader is given not only the focus of the character but is also given much information about the background or the setting. Through the larger illustrations, the reader is given insight of the village Booker lived in. The reader is provided with insight of the enormity of the salt mounds and how hard the work is and yet the Booker?s focus remains on learning to read. Illustrations coupled with sentences like, ??shiny white crystals leave cuts on your hands, your arms, your legs, the soles of your feet.? creates a real sense of the type of life Booker was living. Knowing this about Booker the reader is left in awe that he dreams to learn to read instead of dwelling on his hardships. The illustrations provide depth to the story that is not possible in words alone. More Than Anything Else is a larger book but is a paperback. (Hardcover copies are available at bookstores.) The size of the book enlarges the overall feeling of the book. It helps to make the characters a little larger than life. The details are enhanced by the size of the pages and illustrations. The title page illustration is of a barrel with two shovels next to it and a brightly-lit lantern on top. This page definitely sets the story up (this may not be obvious however, until the story has been read at least once before).
The barrel and the shovels represent the hard work but the prominent feature in the picture is the lantern. The lantern may symbolize the light of the future, the brightness of Booker?s tomorrow when he learns to read and lead others by this light. The paper is heavy. It holds the colors of the illustrations well. They are easy to turn and do not stick together. The binding of this book seems weak, however the hardback is available, and that is much more durable. Momma, Where Are Your From? is another book written and illustrated by Bradby and Soentpiet. This book is very similar to More Than Anything Else in many ways. This story again revolves around the history of the African American culture. Soentpiet uses watercolors and the illustrations are equal in size and quality. This book brings in strong African American figures such as Duke Ellington and Count Basie. Soentpiet again uses light and dark to focus on the characters face and the love and dreams they have. Momma, Where Are You From? revolves around memories a mother has and uses them to tell as story. More Than Anything Else does this when remembering Booker T. Washington?s life. Bradby again uses creative language, but this time using it more like poetry.
The Review on Norse Mythology Book Gods Stories
name = Monica McKirdy email = publish = yes subject = MYTHOLOGY title = Norse Mythology papers = The book entitled "Norse Mythology" by Karl Mortensen, is the book I chose to read for my first book report for this semester. The book was translated from the Danish by A. Clinton Crowell. Karl Mortensen was a doctor of philosophy whom attended the University of Copenhagen. The first part of the book ...
Book reviews about More Than Anything Else include comments such as: ?An evocative text and dramatic watercolors provide a stirring, fictionalized account of the early life of Booker T. Washington.? (from Booklist) ?Soentpiet?s beautiful watercolor painting show individual portraits lit up front surrounding darkness. The story will hold kids and make them want to find out more about the person and the history.? (from Horn Book) ?Bradby?s text is eloquent, presenting phrases and spinning images that capture the intense feelings in the story?All of the images, underscored by dramatic use of shadow and light, work with the words to create a moving and inspirational story.? (from School Library Review) I agree with all of the reviews. This book is truly remarkable in its message and the way in which it is presented. The book will make a contribution to society and will be a lasting book. Bauer, Marion Dane. If You Were Born a Kitten. Simon & Schuster, 1997. This book describes how various baby animals come into the world and what happens when a human baby is born. This is the first book for the illustrator using dry pastels on dark gray paper.
The size of the book helps to create great detail in the pictures of the animals and their babies. The illustrator makes the animals life-like. The author chooses a variety of animals that a child may or may not be previously exposed to. I appreciate that in this book. My family and I enjoyed learning about the ways some animals were born. We particularly enjoyed learning that the father sea horse is the parent the delivers the young. The detailed, real life illustrations coupled with the excellent content makes this a favorite in our home. Brown, Margaret Wise. Goodnight Moon. Illustrated by Clement Hurd. Harper This book defines the perfect bedtime ritual. The illustrations vary from colorful to black and white. Each colorful picture contains many smaller detailed items that make it fun to read or just to look at and discuss the pictures and all that one can see. The size and hard cover of the book accommodates easy bedtime reading. The text of the story in rhyming verses, which make it a joy to read and to listen to. The pictures along with the text also make a connection to favorite nursery rhymes, drawing on prior knowledge or building the literary heritage in children without the knowledge of nursery rhymes.
The Review on Book Report on Animal Farm 2
Many authors write about topics that they know and about historical events that are going on while they write their story. In the book Animal Farm by George Orwell this is definitely true. Orwell modeled many of his characters after Russian leaders. He ingeniously depicts the troubles of Russia in a book about farm animals. The story begins with a prize winning boar named Old Major, he gathers all ...
This is book was a favorite for my son at a very early age, and has since been read thousands of times. In fact, the book (sad to say) is completely falling apart, but I cannot bare to give it up. Grimes, Nikki. Meet Danitra Brown. Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Scholastic, 1984. A Coretta Scott King honor book, Meet Danitra Brown is about a little girl who tells all about her friend Danitra. She says that Danitra is the ?greatest, most splendiferous girl in town.? This story tells a story of true friendship through the eyes of a 10 year-old. The entire book is set up to look like a poem and it rhymes. Each page has a title for the poem. The illustrations illuminate the children?s face in detail while the background of each page is blurry. Each page tells its own story while being a part of the whole. Children can relate to the feelings of the Zuri Jackson as she tells her experiences and how Danitra Brown has always been there and knows the right things to say. The experiences Zuri and Danitra have are common to all children.
James, Susan. Cock-a-doodle-Moo. Illustrated by John Ceballos. Kindermusik This book is intended for preschool, early literacy aged children. It used on word descriptions for the illustrations. The illustrations are of one item on a background of vibrant colors. For example, a common page in this book is of a picture of a pig on a light blue background. The page reads ?pig? with ?oink, oink, oink? next to it head. This book is a concept book about recognizing common items around a farm. It could also be used for colors, sounds of animals, and even a little counting. I like this book because (1) it is extremely durable for such a young age, (2) it is an easy read for children first experiencing books and reading and (3) it is a fun way to build confidence in a more experienced reader to practice with. Maris, Ron. I wish I could fly. Scholastic, 1986. I wish I could fly is another early reader book. This story is about a turtle wishing he could be like the other animals he meets in the forest. He recognizes the uniqueness of each animal he meets and wants to be just like them. It isn?t until the end of the story that he realizes has his own uniqueness that makes him special too.
The Term Paper on Vikings Lucent Books Inc C 1999 Page Viking Made One
Who Were the Vikings? The word Viking in the Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language says that the word Viking means the following. "Viking 1. any of the Scandinavian pirates who plunder the coasts of Europe from the 8 th to 10 th centuries. 2. a sea-roving bandit: pirate. 3.a Scandinavian. 4. U. S. Aerospace. One of a series of space probes that obtained scientific ...
This book contains real life illustrations of common forest animals and has excellent detail in their appearance. The author plays with words when describing the action the turtle takes to try and mimic the other animals. For example, when the turtle tries to imitate the rabbit, instead of the turtle hopping, the author uses ?flop and plop?. Each animal the turtle tries to imitate, the author creates a whole new set of words. The words are fun to read and pretend. When we read this book we love to copy the turtle and then act like the original forest animals. This is a fun interactive book. Nic Leodhas, Susan. Always Room for one more. Illustrated by Nonny Hogrogian. Henry Holt and Company, 1965. This story is one about a man that takes everyone and anyone into his home saying ?there?s room galore, there?s always room for one more.? The content of this book does not impress me as much as the illustrations. I thought the title was interesting so I picked this book up for my son. The book is rather small and the reading is lengthy, it is clearly meant for older children. However, the illustrations started conversations with my 3 year-old son that I would have never imagined. The illustrations in this book are black lines only. The figures are a little fuzzy and some seem unfinished. My son asked me why the man had no feet in one illustration. This caught me by surprise as to how well he adjusted to the different style of illustration. The other striking conversation we had was about some red sponge painting marks all along the bottom of a few of the illustrations at the end of the story. When the man invites too many people in his house, his house falls apart. Then the red appears. My son asked me if everyone was bleeding from the fall. This amazed me because it gave me insight as to what children can think about books and how different it was from my understanding of the red color (I thought they were flowers.)
Shannon, David. The Amazing Christmas Extravaganza. Blue Sky Press, 1995. Much to the dismay of his neighbors and family Mr. Merriweather?s Christmas display grows from a simple string of white lights to an outrageous spectacle. Mr. Merriweather gets the neighbor competition bug. The book is a hard cover with a heavy bind. The pages are like strong satin. The pages glow with color and detail. The illustrations alone tell a story almost any adult can relate to when caught competing with neighbors. Children could relate to experiences they witness around their home. (My neighborhood is certainly the brightest at midnight around Christmas.) The pictures have more detail than the author could express on an entire page. In this light, the author?s words are clear to the point. It is a great book to get anyone in the Christmas spirit. It is even fun to read if one is feeling a little down about something because it carrying the spirit with it in the book, anytime of the year. Trapani, Iza. The Itsy Bitsy Spider. Harcourt Brace, 1993. This book provides readers with the next three verses to a favorite nursery rhyme. It provides the visual images of the old favorite. In this book the itsy bitsy spiders encounters many experiences that eventually lead him to finding the perfect place to build the web and enjoy his creation.
The prior experiences with this nursery rhyme and the acting it out experiences makes it a favorite among children. It offers more to the child in context then just the first verse does, as well as providing pictures of the actions making it real to the reader. It lets the reader know that there is a reason the spider is crawling up the waterspout, etc. Also it would be fun to create actions for the rest of the verses. The illustrations are larger than life but still proportional in nature. The spider is definitely smaller than the cat but is much larger than one you may see in real life. The size of the illustrations offers greater detail in each page. Wojciechowski, Susan. The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. Illustrated by P.J. Lynch. Candlewick Press, 1995. This has to be my favorite book of all times. I love Christmas books but this one has a message above and beyond. Jonathan Toomey ?seldom smiled and never laughed? he complained the church bells rang too loud and too often.? Jonathan was a young man a he lost his wife and baby to a sickness. He picked up and moved to a new town ? ?until his tears stopped? ? and settled in a small house to do his woodcarvings.
Over a period of time meets a young boy who wants to learn how to carve wood. The story of Jonathan?s heartache becomes clear through the conversations with the young boy and his widowed mother. The illustrations are incredible, so detailed and real. When reading this book it is almost like you are sitting across the table from the characters. It is amazing to see the sadness in Jonathan?s eyes turn to happiness. (Which is something only the illustrations could do.) The story very moving and reminds the reader of human kindness. This book contains many messages and the illustrations make the messages even more vivid. I would recommend this book to young and old. It tells a great story. Yaccarino, Dan. An octopus followed me home. Penguin Putnam, 1997. This book is about a little girl who has many unusual pets that have ?followed? her home. The characters in this book are only her and her father. The father has to tell her that she cannot have anymore pets in the house because she has so many already. (I wonder ~ is it the father in the story because they are the traditional disciplinarian?) This time an octopus has followed her home (on a leash).
This is a fantasy book with a comical approach. An example of the comical approach to keeping pets is that the penguins are in the freezer and the alligator is under father?s bed. My son calls this book ?silly? because he knows that those animals cannot be where they are in the story. However, he loves this book and always laughs at the illustrations on every page when we read it. The illustrations are colorful and bubbly but not very detailed. The text aligns with this to create a balance in the book. This is a favorite book to read by myself at our house because the illustrations are so easy to follow and interpret.
