Tag Archives: K-1

Leo: A Ghost Story

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Author: Marc Barnett

Illustrator: Christian Robinson

Publisher and Year: Chronical Books, 2015

Number of Pages: 42

Genre: Fiction/Fantasy

IMG_9671 [2578142]When an unwanted ghost boy, Leo, is “evicted” from his ghost home, he is forced to live on the streets. It isn’t until he meets a young, believing girl that he finally feels accepted and seen.

This book could work as a mirror for those who feel that they are “invisible.” Even though Leo is actually invisible because he is a ghost, some children may feel that they are just as invisible and unloved as Leo. It isn’t until Leo sees that he can use his ghostliness for good that he starts to gain power. When he realizes that he can scare the robber into captivity, Leo feels better about the way that he is.

Perceptually, the images depend on the text. Without the text, the images would not really make sense. The texts begins with letting the reader know that people cannot see Leo, but the reader can. This makes readers feel like they are in the story with Leo, or it at least builds a connection between the  reader and the text. Structurally, the images remain on the darker side because Leo is a ghost. Leo can also touch objects such as doorknobs and blankets, but people cannot touch feel his touch. The only person who can see and feel him is Jane, but just as people cannot see him, he cannot see the crown that Jane says she is wearing. This puts emphasis on the idea that the characters in this book can only see what they believe in. Ideologically, this book could teach readers that they should accept who they are, and if they can, find someone who accepts them for who they are as well.

The Little Red Fish

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Author/ Illustrator: Taeeun Yoo

Publisher and Year: The Penguin Group 2007

Number of Pages: 32

Genre: Fiction

 

Analysis

A boy named Jeje and his red fish visit a library and Jeje falls asleep and wakes up alone and must find his fish. Suddenly he opens his book and water starts pouring out. He must then jump through a book in order to save the little red fish before he loses him in the ocean.

This short story is full of magic and imagination. The power of the story rests in the mind of Jeje. After he falls asleep, he dreams about the alternate world and how he has to find his little red fish. He imagines that his fish dives into a book and Jeje must go after him, and after he opens the book, water gushes out of it and the library disappears.  This book is a door that can lead to teaching children that it is good to be creative and to use their imagination. Imagination is an important part of childhood. Without it, creativity and magic are never introduced.

Perceptual- Jeje was very excited to go inside the library for the first time. He explored all the rooms and then sat down to read some of the books.

Structural- The text always appears at the bottom of the page. It could symbolize reality while the pictures are above which could symbolize the fact that parts of the story that are Jeje’s imagination aren’t real. The pictures are in black and white, with the exception of the little red fish. In some of the pictures, if looked at closely, the reader can find shadows of where the little red fish is going.

Ideology- this book is all about imagination and how children need to be creative. It could also be an encourager of dreaming. When Jeje falls asleep, that’s when the magic comes alive and his creativity is shown through his adventure trying to find his little red fish.

 

 

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Waiting

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Author: Kevin Henkes

Illustrator: Kevin Henkes

Publisher/Year: Greenwillow Books, 2015

Pages: 29

Genre: Fiction

Analysis:

Waiting is the curious story of five toys who live on a window ledge. Four of the toys (the owl, puppy, bear, and pig) wait for something specific (e.g. moon, snow, wind, rain, respectively), but the rabbit simply enjoys looking out the window and waiting. Told and drawn from the perspective of the toys, Waiting explores their life, from sleeping and new ledge-mates to the wonderful and scary things they observe through the window.2016-05-27_11.38.16[1]

Waiting can be seen as a metaphor for life; readers can relate to one, some, or all of the toys and their experiences. Each toy is waiting for something different, but they nonetheless wait together as a sort of community. From this, children can see that every person has a unique source of happiness. For example, the pig waits for rain because she has an umbrella, while the bear waits for wind so his kite can fly. Children who have yet to discover their preferences and interests can relate to the rabbit, for he finds happiness in simply looking out the window, waiting for nothing in particular. Children can also see their lives portrayed in other experiences of the toys as well. The five toys are a dynamic community; the way some toys go away to return later on (after being played with) or the introduction of new toys to the ledge, resembles how people in our own lives come and go, sometimes returning and other times not. Waiting can indirectly function as a door because the original five toys model conviviality. Although the five toys were initially surprised when a cat with patches joins them on the ledge, they welcome the cat and patiently wait to see what it is waiting for (kittens/four nesting cats). At the end of the book, all ten animals happily wait together and intermingled.

Power is distributed evenly in Waiting. The family of five, and later ten, animals are drawn and described to be equals. They welcome each other and coexist. It can, however, be assumed that power rests with the child owner of the toys who, although not pictured or mentioned, is responsible for removing, replacing, and breaking some toys on the shelf. Without the supposed presence of their owner, the toys would not be waiting for wonderful things to happen. Culture does not really figure into Henkes’ Waiting. Without seeing the toys’ owner, the set of toys could belong to a child of any race, gender, or even social class.

The text in Waiting communicates how each animal’s life and happiness on the ledge is defined by waiting for something. Besides the occasional new animal or visitor, all the animals truly have is themselves and the window for entertainment; their lives, like the text itself, is rather plain until what they are waiting for arrives. As much of the text is vague and told from the perspective of toys, the illustrations both mirror and add to the text. Images add a curious and playful feeling. The changing expressions (e.g. surprise, questioning, peace, joy, and fright) and body language of the toys in response to new can tell the story by itself. The fact that the animals are waiting by a window is both symbolic and a little ironic; windows are said to represent thresholds, progress, and growth, yet by spending most of their days waiting, the animals really are not moving forward, and their happiness is not always assured. The animals are often shown peering up and through the window to emphasize how the happenings outside of their window offer a picturesque, dream-like quality (i.e. fluffy white snow, rainbows). Finally, by having the animals’ backs to the reader in the illustrations, readers are invited to peer through the window as well. Waiting embodies themes of the inclusion and acceptance of others, and shows patience to be a virtue.

The Dog Who Belonged to No One

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Author: Amy Hest

Illustrator: Amy Bates

Publisher/Year: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2008

Pages: 29

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Analysis:

The Dog Who Belonged to No One tells the parallel stories of two lonely characters: “a small dog with crooked ears” (p. 1) and a “wisp of a girl named Lisa” (p. 4). The dog is quiet, friendly, and helpful, but no one ever notices him; Lisa spends long Sundays delivering breads and cakes and has to think up stories to ward off the loneliness. On one stormy morning, Lisa and the dog get caught in the rain and after both taking shelter in Lisa’s warm home, they become inseparable friends.

The Dog Who Belonged to No One speaks to readers, like Lisa and the dog, who feel unnoticed, underappreciated, and in need of a good friend. For readers who have never struggled to make friends, The Dog Who Belonged to No One provides a window into the lives of the lonely, and the hopelessness they find themselves in. Phrases like the “dog could not outrun the night” help readers to see that loneliness can feel like an inescapable trap or a bottomless pit (p. 13). Readers will likely empathize with the dog and Lisa as they read how much of their happiness is derived from wishful dreams (e.g. the dog dreams of a softly lit yard and porch). Finally, Lisa and her family set a good example for readers by graciously and happily welcoming into their lives a dog who needed exactly what they had: a warm home, and tender love. Hest calls upon readers to open their eyes and open their hearts to those in need.

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Power rests symbolically in the hands of fate, the force that brought Lisa and the dog together. The main characters who suffer from too much solitude are depicted as rather powerless. The dog, for example, can try as hard as he wants to help others (e.g. fetching the boys’ baseballs), but still his efforts go unnoticed, causing him to feel even more sad. Lily is jealous of the girls who can stand outside with their dolls and talk, and the sight of them makes her feel alone. While the illustrations mirror the text, they do not fully align with my understanding of culture. Minorities, and the disabled, ugly, or poor—not white girls of hardworking families and well-behaved dogs—are characters I feel typically face loneliness or a lack of belonging. However, using Lisa and the dog as she did could be Hest’s way of saying that anyone can feel alone and in need of a friend.

Hest uses long sentences, repetition, and parallel wording (between the stories of Lisa and the dog) to dramatize the loneliness felt by Lisa and the dog and gain the reader’s sympathy. The text emphasizes how the dog and Lisa are perfectly good people and animals who do not deserve their loneliness. Bates’ illustrations add to the text by also appearing to readers’ emotions. Lisa and the dog, for example, are often drawn with their eyes gazing downward and a blank, somber expression; only after they have found each other do they make eye contact. In the final scene, the dog and Lisa are welcomed from the rain with an open porch, symbolic of their new beginning and friendship together, and personal growth (they no longer have to be alone). Love and acceptance are themes prevalent in The Dog Who Belonged to no One. Unfortunately, fate and coincidence are shown to be problem-fixers in Hest’s book. This is not always realistic, for some situations can only be improved by human initiative and purposeful action.

Grandpa Green

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Author: Lane Smith

Illustrator: Lane Smith

Publisher/Year: Roaring Book Press, 2011

Pages: 34

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Analysis:

In Grandpa Green, a little boy gives a history of his great-grandfather as he wanders among the artfully shaped trees and hedges of his garden. The boy’s history exposes his great-grandfather as a humble farm boy, a soldier, a husband, and most of all, an artist whose memories lie in his garden creations. The book ends with the boy trimming a topiary tree in the shape (memory) of his great-grandfather.

In a touching and whimsical way, young readers who feel a great sense of pride and respect towards a role model, friend, or family member, can relate to the little boy’s fascination with his great-grandfather and his desire to bond in the garden. Grandpa Green acts as a window by exposing young readers to the experiences of a different generation, one where children got chicken pox, did not have cell phones, and had to serve in the war as young adults. Grandpa Green also introduces readers to the process of aging, but not as they have experienced it thus far in their lives; for boy’s great-grandfather, aging involves forgetfulness and handing down his memories and legacy through garden creations. Finally, the boy’s honorable behavior allows Grandpa Green to act as a door for readers. Instead of mocking or judging his great-grandfather in his old age, the young boy shows great curiosity and respect for him. The boy both interacts with his great-grandfather’s memories (in the form of shaped trees) and helps him to not forget things like his hat.

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Power is distributed evenly in Grandpa Green. Although the great-grandfather is old and growing forgetful, Smith celebrates the power of older generations to pass down memories and family history. The boy as well has power—the power to keep his great-grandfather’s art and spirit alive by learning how to trim trees and shrubs. Although concepts of family history and aging are universal (or race-less), Grandpa Green focuses on those themes within the setting of a white, American family. Some readers might get the message that gardens as spectacular and elaborate as the great-grandfather’s are typical of white people, and senior citizens especially. Grandpa Green only explores one way family history can be shared, even though it is different across cultures.

The text communicates the identity transformation of the great-grandfather as he ages and grows from a farmer to a lover, soldier, husband, and artist. The text, while limited, also provides context to the illustrations. Sif’s illustrations add a whimsical feeling to the story and symbolize how imagination and artful skill can preserve things (i.e. memories) otherwise forgotten. On each page, trees and bushes are shaped to mimic each event in the great grandfather’s life (e.g. trees shaped like a plane and parachuting soldier to represent war). The boy is drawn very lightly and is almost invisible; the purpose of Grandpa Green is to celebrate the great-grandfather, not the boy. Also, the way the young boy plays with his great-grandfather’s garden creations in the illustrations symbolizes how history is lived through the memories of loved ones. Themes present in Grandpa Green include respect for elders and the use of art as a means of story-telling and sharing of culture.

Oliver

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Author: Birgita Sif

Illustrator: Birgita Sif

Publisher/Year: Candlewick Press, 2012

Pages: 29

Genre: Realistic Fiction

 Analysis:

“Oliver felt a bit different,” Sif writes (p. 2); a young, bespectacled boy dressed all in green, Oliver enjoys his solitude and imaginative play with his stuffed animal friends. Alone, Oliver can go on any imaginative adventure he pleases, but he soon discovers that his friends cannot actually listen to him play piano. Then, one day, a run-away tennis ball leads Oliver to someone new and different too: Olivia.

Introverted, imaginative, and solitude-loving readers can personally identify with Oliver’s need to freely exist in his own world. Many of these same readers can also relate to Oliver’s desire for human companions that can listen and respond, but his hesitancy, as an introvert, to reach out on his own. Oliver speaks to “all those who have ever felt a bit different,” as Sif writes in her dedication. For more extroverted and social readers, Oliver provides a window into the world of an often overlooked group: introverts. Sif portrays introverts like Oliver with both respect and a critical eye; she celebrates their contentedness with being alone but also highlights how complete solitude can even be too lonely for the introvert. For introverted readers, Oliver models how one can step out of their comfort zone and take a leap of faith into new things. Oliver encourages introverted readers to seek companionship in their human peers, and not solely with their toys.

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Power is not distributed between characters but embodied in fate—the happy coincidence that Oliver’s run-away tennis ball led him to new beginnings with a girl that is different just like him. Oliver contains a very limited view of culture, beyond that of introverts. Every character is white and able-bodied. It is possible, therefore, that Oliver could send a rather unintended message that there is only hope of new beginnings for white introverted children.

The repetition of how Oliver was “a bit different,” “but it didn’t matter,” communicates an important transformation that Oliver, and many of us, undergo in our lives. At first, Oliver believed that enjoying being different meant solitude; later, he discovers that he could befriend Olivia because they are both different and could be so together. All other text elaborates on this realization of Oliver’s and his ensuing leap of faith. Sif uses color symbolically in her illustrations. Oliver, his toys, and Olivia are all drawn with colors far more vibrant (i.e. red and green) than the dim and subdued grays, blues, and golds of the real world they live in. This color contrast symbolizes how Oliver and Olivia are different, yet perfect companions. The contrast also compares the freedom and contentedness Oliver and Olivia feel in their imagined world to the isolation they feel around others. Sif’s illustration of Oliver running to the right and through the open gate to Olivia’s yard shows Oliver’s growing acceptance that his toys might not be good enough companions for him. Overall, Oliver supports individualism and the idea that people should not have to change who they are to be friends. Although Oliver celebrates the power of human companionship, it rather idealistically shows that a perfect someone exists for everyone and fate (vs. human initiative) will bring soulmates together.

The Five of Us

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Author: Quentin Blake

Illustrator: Quentin Blake

Publisher/Year: Tate Publishing, 2014

Pages: 27

Genre: Fiction

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Five friends are each fantastic in their own way: Angie has exceptional vision, Ollie has spectacular hearing, Simona and Mario have amazing strength, and Eric discovers the power of his voice. During a trip to the countryside, their bus driver becomes ill and faints, forcing the five friends to wander aimlessly in search of help. After Angie spots people on a cliff across the river, quiet little Eric proves to be just as amazing as his friends by using his incredibly loud voice to call for help.

The Five of Us presents a diverse group of characters that many readers can personally identify with; Angie is African American, Ollie wears glasses, Mario uses a wheelchair, Simona is overweight and Hispanic, and Ollie is shy and introverted. Each character and their personal differences are represented in a way that affirms and respects readers who also share those qualities. The five friends are unique in that their special abilities are ones that readers would least expect, though they are still possible (e.g. an overweight girl and handicapped boy having super strength; a shy boy having a loud voice). As such, Blake’s book validates readers who feel doubted or overlooked because of how they look or act. The Five of Us functions as a window by introducing readers to the feelings and experiences of individuals, such as Eric, who take a little more time in realizing their uniqueness. Eric is last to discover his amazing potential, but readers can see that without Eric’s help, the Fantastic Five would not have been rescued by the helicopter. Eric slowly but surely worked up the courage to give a loud cry for help.  Finally, The Five of Us acts as a door by encouraging readers to focus on the assets of their peers rather than their inabilities and flaws. Readers are also asked to be more empathetic and understanding towards individuals, like Eric, who develop slower.

Power is equally distributed between the five friends for each has an important power that allows for their eventual rescue. For the five friends, rescue depended on combining their individual powers for the greater good. Although the Fantastic Five represents cultural diversity in and of itself, all other characters in the story are illustrated as white, normal-looking, and able-bodied people.

Blake uses text to celebrate each friend’s individuality. The five friends are all described as “amazing” for the unique abilities they possess (p. 2-3). The text also shows the completeness of Eric’s self-discovery. For most of the story, Eric is nervous and in an effort to prepare himself to speak, all he can muster is “Erm…erm…” (p. 7, 11, 14), until he at last belches out a “HELP” so loud that the exclamation takes up half of the page (p. 20).  Blake’s illustrations are also symbolic. As the five friends explore the countryside and look for help, Eric is always drawn lagging behind (on the left in their procession) and also a bit smaller and shorter in size than his friends. Such a portrayal conveys Eric’s perceived weakness in light of his friends who have already showcased their talents. This also allows Eric to both literally and figuratively move forward (to front of group) and provide his unique contribution: a loud cry for help. The text and illustrations, both show how Eric is not to be underestimated. The main ideology presented in The Five of Us is individualism, and how it can be maintained while working as a team and is discovered by humans at different rates. Blake warns against judging people at first glance.

 

The Day the Crayons Quit

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Author: Drew Daywalt

Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers

Publisher/Year: Philomel Books, 2013

Pages: 32

Genre: Fiction

Analysis:

In The Day the Crayons Quit, Duncan receives a stack of letters written by his twelve crayons: red, purple, beige, gray, white, black, green, yellow, orange, blue, pink, and peach. In their own letter, each crayon describes his or her unique woes, including being used too much or too little, being a “girl” color, or only being used for outlines. Duncan’s responds by using all twelve colors in his next drawing, scoring him As for creativity and coloring.

The Day the Crayons Quit acts as both a mirror and a door. Although indirectly, each crayon’s woe is not too far related to the real life struggles of young readers. The red, gray, and blue crayons describe how they often work harder than other crayons because there are so many (large) things of their color. Readers who have ever felt used, overworked, or underappreciated can personally identify with these three crayons. Likewise, just as Beige is tired of being incorrectly labeled “’light brown’” or “’dark tan,’” elementary aged students have surely dealt with threats to their individuality. Finally, Pink complains of never being used because of her association as “girl” color; this woe can speak to both girls and boys who have felt swayed to act in a certain way because of their gender. Woes a reader cannot personally identify with can help expand their world view, maybe even alerting them to the troubles their peers are experiencing. For very young readers, Daywalt’s book provides a basic understanding of the colors used to draw certain things. Duncan’s response also functions as an appropriate model of behavior, for he not only addresses the complaints of each crayon but uses their unique ability to create an interesting illustration.

Power rests with Duncan for only he can attend to the woes he unknowingly wreaked upon his crayons. Through each crayon’s letter, Daywalt creatively and humorously explores the concept of power struggles.

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Exclamations, purposeful capitalization and underlining, and humor captivate the intense desire of each crayon to have their concerns met. The signature and closing of each letter communicates very briefly the situation each crayon wants recognized and fixed (e.g. “Your very stubby friend” (p. 22)) and type that mimics a child’s handwriting helps give each crayon personality. Jeffers’ illustrations mirror the text but more symbolically and literally show the emotions felt by each crayon. For example, as Beige complains of being used only for wheat he is drawn with a sorrow expression and weak posture like that of a lonely stalk of wheat. White complains of meaning nothing without a black outline, and is thus illustrated by Jeffers without a black outline, causing White to be nearly invisible and easily overlooked by readers, myself included. The illustrations also contrast the current and ideal worlds perceived by each crayon. The placement of the majority of crayons lower on the page signifies their low spirits and power so long as Duncan does not respond as they please. Many themes in The Day the Crayons Quit deal with social justice concerns, such as challenging gender norms, oppression, and the democratic right to free speech and expression (i.e. striking). The theme of teamwork without the loss of individuality is also explored, as exemplified by Duncan equally addressing the unique needs and wants of each crayon.

 

Last Stop on Market Street

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Author: Matt de la Peña

Illustrator: Christian Robinson

Publisher/Year: Penguin Group, 2015

Pages: 28

Genre: Realistic Fiction

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Analysis:

On one particularly rainy Sunday, CJ is far from excited about riding across town with his grandma to the soup kitchen where they volunteer; he questions Nana as to why they must wait for the bus, why they do not have a car like his friends do, and why they cannot just go home after church. Nana helps CJ’s imagination grow by encouraging him to look for the beauty along their journey—from the magic of music and city life, to the spirited characters of the soup kitchen.

The Last Stop on Market Street can speak to young readers, such as CJ, who feel uncomfortable living a lifestyle different from that of their peers, and needed a push from someone they love to appreciate what they have and are working for. Young readers who live with and/or spend most of their time with a grandparent or other non-parent caregiver can also relate to CJ’s experiences with Nana. Likewise, The Last Stop on Market Street functions as a window. As a narrative of a young boy living modestly in the city, Matt de la Peña’s book introduces readers to a day in the life of someone who may be less advantaged (i.e. financially) than they are. White readers of the middle class are given a chance to empathize with CJ as he realizes the cultural differences that divide he and his friends (e.g. CJ must wait in all weather for the public bus, and has to volunteer after church instead of going home to relax). Finally, The Last Stop on Market Street acts as a door through Nana’s example of respect and optimism. Specifically, Nana models for CJ how to be a “better witness for what’s beautiful” by not being narrow-minded (p. 22). For example, when CJ questions why the blind man cannot see, Nana invites CJ to consider understanding the world through one’s ears.

Symbolic power—the ability to see the beauty in even the most imperfect and overlooked aspects of life—is imparted on CJ through his Nana’s wise advice and model behavior. Both the text and illustrations accurately and respectfully represent African American culture. Many, but certainly not all, African American parents are absent in their children’s lives due to divorce or multiple jobs, as can be inferred by the intimacy between CJ and Nana. The language used by CJ and Nana is not always grammatically correct (e.g. “gotta;” “Boy” to refer to CJ) and resembles slang. Although CJ and Nana are stereotypically living and working in an urban environment, Peña and Robinson celebrate the spirit and diversity of such a place. Contrary to what one might expect, Robinson’s soup kitchen is a place where men and women of all colors work and eat.

Text, in the form of out-loud wonderings, questions, and wishes, is used to communicate CJ’s initial resentment and discontentment with his lifestyle. Nana’s wisdom and her helpful advice for CJ are also communicated through words. Illustrations in The Last Stop on Market Street embrace the theme of human diversity. Many characters are illustrated with a distinctive look (e.g. tattooed man; pregnant woman), and represent a wide range of ability (e.g. blind; physically handicapped) and race (black, white, and all colors in between). In this way, Robinson’s illustrations challenge various stereotypes, such as how soup kitchens and public transportation are not just for people of color. Late in the book, hawks flying towards the right of the page, and the use of brighter, more optimistic colors to illustrate the neighborhood slum symbolize the return of CJ’s pride for their work at the soup kitchen, and respect for the community he lives in. The Last Stop on Market Street preaches the value of humility, or the idea that having less allows a person to see more beauty in the world. Another, perhaps unintended theme is orthopraxy, explored by how CJ and Nana go to church but also do good works (volunteer work).

Time To Go

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IMG_4269Author(s): Beverly and David Fiday

Illustrator/Photographer: Thomas B. Allen

Publisher and Year: Gulliver Books and Harcourt Brace Jovanovich in 1990

Number of Pages: 29

Genre: Realistic fiction

Analysis:

This is a story about the day a young boy is moving out of the farm house he has lived in his whole life, and he is going around the farm remembering what everything used to be like. He talks about how the henhouse use to have chicks and now it is empty, and he talks about how he used to ride on the tractor with his father but it now sits still. In the end, the young boy promises that he will one day move back to the farm, but for the time being he has to go.

This book can act as a window for students to learn about the harsh realities of poverty, who may have never lost something due to economic hardships. For some children, this book may give them hope for better days to come, if they too have lost something due to their family’s financial state. This story is also portraying the hardships that farm owners and families have recently been experiencing due to industrialization and the poor economy. The illustrations in this book are a little blurry and have a dark color scheme, which symbolizes the disappointed and gloomy mood of the story. On each page, the illustrator uses the left side of the page as a depiction of the current, bleak, and run-down conditions of the farm and the right side shows how lively and beautiful the farm once was. The main character is a white male, but is often drawn with his back to the reader and if facing front, he has little to no details on his face, which could be the illustrator’s way of trying to make the main character seem like a relatable character. However, if this is the case, then the illustrator is reiterating that the white male is the norm for society.

When first reading and looking through the book, it seems like a sad story about a child moving but there are deeper messages that the reader can take away from this such as accepting a large change or loss. Overall, this story does a great job of explaining loss and poverty to younger kids. I also believe the message of hope and optimism is also apparent, especially at the end of the book, which shows children that they should never give up hope.

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