August 2001

Archives of Featured Materials

August/September 2001

Picture Books

Rafe Martin's THE STORYTELLING PRINCESS, illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Root (Putnam, 2001), has the "feel" of a folktale, but it is an original story. A bookish, well-read prince is told by his father that it is time for him to marry a princess who has been chosen for him by the King and Queen. The prince says that he will not marry anyone until someone can tell him a story for which he doesn't know the ending. Meanwhile, in another land, a princess is told that she will be joining her parents, against her will, on the royal ship to cross the ocean and marry a prince of their choosing. The princess is washed overboard during a storm and is finally washed ashore, along with a trunk. She finds a sailor suit within, puts it on and disguises herself as a sailor. When she reaches the city, she sees the posting from the Palace about a reward being given to anyone who can tell the prince a story for which he doesn't know the ending. She spends a week telling the prince, little by little, the story of what is her adventure, but he doesn't know that-the ending he doesn't know will be that they will get married. The ending that neither of them know, until her parents arrive in the City, is that they are the prince and princess selected by their parents for each other. Martin is a gifted storyteller who uses storytelling language and phrases enrich a clever tale. Root's watercolor and pencil illustrations incorporate period details and depict the characters as very real, not at all glamorous. The contrast between the prince, sitting in his reading chair surrounded by books and cats, and the energetic princess, leaping from towers and swimming for miles in a storm.

Kathy Mallat's TROUBLE ON THE TRACKS (Walker, 2001) is laugh out loud funny. What looks like a typical train ride is interrupted when the train becomes derailed. While close observers may not be surprised at what is really going on in this picture book, other readers will chuckle when they realize the author/illustrator has taken them for a ride. A close second reading will reveal numerous clues. The stylized illustrations, done with markers and colored pencils and spread across two pages, will work well with groups of children.

Fiction

LADY LOLLIPOP by Dick King-Smith (Candlewick, c2000, 2001), is a story about a very spoiled Princess Penelope and a very special pig. Penelope's parents are appalled when she insists that she wants a pet pig for her birthday, one that would live in the palace with her. She selects the thinnest pig in the country and also insists that its owner, a young boy named Johnny Skinner, be kept on as the pig trainer. But Johnny-and Lollipop-end up training Penelope as well. Jill Barton's drawings appear on nearly every page of this 122 page book, and add to the warmth and humor of the story. A good book for transitional readers to read alone, this would also be a good read-aloud to 2nd and 3rd graders.

Non-Fiction

Susan Goldman Rubin's THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD: TEN BUILDING PEOPLE LOVE TO HATE (Holiday House, 2001) is a fascinating history of ten now (mostly) beloved buildings that were highly controversial when they were built, and some still raise eyebrows. Among the buildings are the Eiffel Tower, the Washington Monument, and the Guggenheim Museum. Each chapter features documentary photographs and the book ends with websites useful for learning about architecture as well as for learning more about the ten buildings. For ages 10 up.

Curriculum Guide

BEAUTY, BRAINS, AND BRAWN: THE CONSTRUCTION OF GENDER IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE (Heinemann, 2001) edited by Susan Lehr is a collection of essays exploring roles of males and females in children's literature. Included are articles concerning Harry Potter, gender issues for preschoolers, folklore, historical fiction, and challenging stereotypes. In the Author Profiles, award-winning authors and illustrators discuss their work and the characters they create.

ADAPTING EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULA FOR CHILDREN IN INCLUSIVE SETTINGS (Merril, 2000) emphasizes context, that is, the child's family, in services provided to children with special needs. The authors discuss the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) which expands the Individual Education Plan (IEP). A second emphasis is providing services in regular program settings with attention paid to the kinds of adaptations that need to occur to ensure success. Information is also included on identification and assessment and intervention strategies in the areas of cognitive, motor, social, and emotional development.

Non-Print

ORDINARY AMERICANS: THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT (Close-up, 2000) shares the personal accounts of four very different women and their experiences during these turbulent times. Viewers see and hear firsthand what it was like to be part of a peaceful deomonstration, a conflict with police, and a rally with Malcolm X. Includes a teacher's guide containing tips on leading class discussion and student activities.

Return to Archives of Featured Materials

College of Education | University of Iowa
Copyright © 2001, The University of Iowa. All rights reserved.


				Picture Books
				Rafe Martin's THE STORYTELLING PRINCESS, illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Root (Putnam, 2001), has the "feel" of a folktale, but it is an original story. A bookish, well-read prince is told by his father that it is time for him to marry a princess who has been chosen for him by the King and Queen. The prince says that he will not marry anyone until someone can tell him a story for which he doesn't know the ending. Meanwhile, in another land, a princess is told that she will be joining her parents, against her will, on the royal ship to cross the ocean and marry a prince of their choosing. The princess is washed overboard during a storm and is finally washed ashore, along with a trunk. She finds a sailor suit within, puts it on and disguises herself as a sailor. When she reaches the city, she sees the posting from the Palace about a reward being given to anyone who can tell the prince a story for which he doesn't know the ending. She spends a week telling the prince, little by little, the story of what is her adventure, but he doesn't know that-the ending he doesn't know will be that they will get married. The ending that neither of them know, until her parents arrive in the City, is that they are the prince and princess selected by their parents for each other. Martin is a gifted storyteller who uses storytelling language and phrases enrich a clever tale. Root's watercolor and pencil illustrations incorporate period details and depict the characters as very real, not at all glamorous. The contrast between the prince, sitting in his reading chair surrounded by books and cats, and the energetic princess, leaping from towers and swimming for miles in a storm. Kathy Mallat's TROUBLE ON THE TRACKS (Walker, 2001) is laugh out loud funny. What looks like a typical train ride is interrupted when the train becomes derailed. While close observers may not be surprised at what is really going on in this picture book, other readers will chuckle when they realize the author/illustrator has taken them for a ride. A close second reading will reveal numerous clues. The stylized illustrations, done with markers and colored pencils and spread across two pages, will work well with groups of children.
				Fiction
				LADY LOLLIPOP by Dick King-Smith (Candlewick, c2000, 2001), is a story about a very spoiled Princess Penelope and a very special pig. Penelope's parents are appalled when she insists that she wants a pet pig for her birthday, one that would live in the palace with her. She selects the thinnest pig in the country and also insists that its owner, a young boy named Johnny Skinner, be kept on as the pig trainer. But Johnny-and Lollipop-end up training Penelope as well. Jill Barton's drawings appear on nearly every page of this 122 page book, and add to the warmth and humor of the story. A good book for transitional readers to read alone, this would also be a good read-aloud to 2nd and 3rd graders.
				Non-Fiction
				Susan Goldman Rubin's THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD: TEN BUILDING PEOPLE LOVE TO HATE (Holiday House, 2001) is a fascinating history of ten now (mostly) beloved buildings that were highly controversial when they were built, and some still raise eyebrows. Among the buildings are the Eiffel Tower, the Washington Monument, and the Guggenheim Museum. Each chapter features documentary photographs and the book ends with websites useful for learning about architecture as well as for learning more about the ten buildings. For ages 10 up.
				Curriculum Guide
				BEAUTY, BRAINS, AND BRAWN: THE CONSTRUCTION OF GENDER IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE (Heinemann, 2001) edited by Susan Lehr is a collection of essays exploring roles of males and females in children's literature. Included are articles concerning Harry Potter, gender issues for preschoolers, folklore, historical fiction, and challenging stereotypes. In the Author Profiles, award-winning authors and illustrators discuss their work and the characters they create. ADAPTING EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULA FOR CHILDREN IN INCLUSIVE SETTINGS (Merril, 2000) emphasizes context, that is, the child's family, in services provided to children with special needs. The authors discuss the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) which expands the Individual Education Plan (IEP). A second emphasis is providing services in regular program settings with attention paid to the kinds of adaptations that need to occur to ensure success. Information is also included on identification and assessment and intervention strategies in the areas of cognitive, motor, social, and emotional development.
				Non-Print
				ORDINARY AMERICANS: THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT (Close-up, 2000) shares the personal accounts of four very different women and their experiences during these turbulent times. Viewers see and hear firsthand what it was like to be part of a peaceful deomonstration, a conflict with police, and a rally with Malcolm X. Includes a teacher's guide containing tips on leading class discussion and student activities. Return to Archives of Featured Materials

College of Education \| University of Iowa Copyright © 2001, The University of Iowa. All rights reserved.