Children's Lit Review Blog 2018

Title: The Upside Down Boy

Author: Juan Felipe Herrera

Illustrator: Elizabeth Gomez

Publisher and Year: Children’s Book Press, 2000

Number of pages: 30

Tags/Themes: Spanish, Language, Listening, Family, Agriculture, Picture Book, Emotion, 2-3, 4-5, Diversity, Bilingual, Olivia Ruff

Genre: Memoir and Bilingual

Descriptive Annotation: This is a memoir by the author, Juan Felipe Herrera of the time when his family moved into the city and he started school. He was unsure about the ways of school, but he found comfort in music through singing. He proudly displays his talents to his family at home, and he grows in confidence with the support of the teacher and his family. The story is told in both English and Spanish.  The language used is somewhat flowery, similar to language used in poetry.

Classroom Application: This book would be good to use in an ELL or ESL classroom. It is helpful to have the second language in the book. The language used in somewhat advanced, and students who know both English and Spanish would enjoy this book more. This book is a memoir, so this could be incorporated into an English lesson on memoirs as well.

Linguistic and Cultural Diversity Analysis: This book is a memoir, so this would be another opportunity for students to learn about a different literary form. The language in the book is beautiful and poetic, making it different from other children’s stories. The book challenges students to think about the aspects of a change in lifestyle for Spanish speaking students as they become accustomed to schools where English is mainly spoken. Quotations: “That year we were living in the mountains by Lake Wolfer, a glassy world full of sky colors” (2) and “If I learn the English words will my voice reach the ceiling, weave through it like grape vines?” (9).

Title: Carlos and the Cornfield

Author: Jan Romero Stevens

Illustrator: Jeanne Arnold

Publisher and Year: Northland Publishing, 1995

Number of pages: 30

Tags/Themes: Spanish, Language, Listening, Family, Agriculture, Picture Book, Emotion, 2-3, 4-5, Diversity, Bilingual, Olivia Ruff

Genre: Fiction and Bilingual

Descriptive Annotation: This book has the story written in both English and Spanish. The story is about a little boy who helps his dad plant corn. He does not listen to the instructions his father gave him, and he hastily buys a new pocket knife. After a few weeks, he notices that the corn is not growing properly in the last few rows, so he goes out and buys corn seed and replants the rows with the money from his resold pocketknife. He ends up planting the wrong type of corn and his dad gives him the pocket knife. The story uses some Spanish within the dialogue, and the people have Spanish names.

Classroom Application: This book would be good to use in an ELL or ESL classroom. It is helpful to have the second language in the book. This shows Spanish culture, and it introduces students to Spanish. The students would learn the importance of fully listening to directions as well.

Linguistic and Cultural Diversity Analysis: Due to the fact that the book is bilingual, it offers a unique opportunity for students to become interested in learning another language. The book uses several important cultural things such as the importance of corn. Students could become interested in corn because of this book, and a fun addition to the book is that the last page has a recipe for cornmeal pancakes. Quotations: “Mijo, my son, I have a big job for you. Now that the ground is ready, I want you to plant the seed” (6) and “Carlos could hardly believe his good fortune. With five dollars he would have enough money to buy the red pocketknife in Senor Lopez’s store” (10).