“We fear it, yet most of us fear more than anything that it may take someone other than ourselves. For the greatest fear of death is always that it will pass us by. And leave us there alone.”
A Man Called Ove is the debut novel of Fredrik Backman that was translated into English in 2013. It is the darkly comedic story of a grumpy old man with a rigorous schedule and unflinching principles who gropes with grief, self-reflection, and life. Continue reading
© Judi & Ron Barrett
Module 2: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi and Ron Barrett
Summary
One night, after a pancake incident in the kitchen, two children listen to a tall-tale bedtime story told by their grandfather. The story is about the town of Chewandswallow. This town is noteworthy because it doesn’t rain or snow or storm there with water or wind, it rains juice, snows peas, and storms hamburgers. The people of the town use the weather as their primary food source. The grandfather tells of once instance where the weather got so out of control, the people of Chewandswallow had to evacuate the town – the pancakes were so large they covered the school, the meatballs so heavy they broke holes in the roofs, and the tomato sauce so thick it created a tornado. The children are delighted at this story and imagine the snow in their backyards as mashed potatoes and the sun as a pat of butter.
Impression
Though this is an older book, this is the first time I had read it and I thought it was adorable. I have seen the film which keeps the basics the same but is very different from the book. The illustrations go from black and white in “the real world” to colorful and exiting in the town of Chewandswallow. In the style of Richard Scarry, the illustrations of the town are packed full of things to look at – different foods, people reacting to different things, the town signs, the background areas. The images would be ideal for a young audience who can inspect each illustration; the story itself may go over the heads of a younger audience as part of the humor comes from having watched and understood the weather forecast portion of the news.
Reviews
“Don’t look for hidden depths here; the story lives on the surface, and as slapstick it works just fine.”
– Peter Lewis
“A savory story to share over and over again.”
– Genevieve Gallagher
Library Use
I think this book would be ideal for teaching kids about weather systems for older children and the food pyramid for younger children. It could easily segue into learning about how weather, inclement and calm, affects peoples daily lives. It could be used to discuss the different types of food show in the book for young readers.
References
Barrett, J. & Barrett, R (Illustrator). (1978). Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. New York: Antheneum Books For Young Readers.
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs [image]. (2011). Retrieved from http://miranda-sofroniou.blogspot.com/2011/02/cloudy-with-chance-of-meatballs.html
Gallagher, G. (2006). Review of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. School Library Journal 52(7), 45. Retrieved from ProQuest.
Lewis, P. (n.d.). Review of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. Retrieved from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/cloudy-with-a-chance-of-meatballs
© Moonbot Studios 2014
Module 1: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce, Illustrated by William Joyce & Joe Bluhm
Summary
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is a book about the wonders of opening up your imagination through the stories contained in books. The story begins with Mr. Lessmore writing down his own experiences in a book. As a storm approaches, he is blown away along with his book and everything written inside it. Mr. Lessmore is saddened by the loss of his book and wanders aimlessly until he is approached by a young woman who is being carried upward by flying books on strings. The young woman sees Mr. Lessmore’s woe and sends her favorite flying book to him. The book beckons him to a library filled with more flying books. Mr. Lessmore decides to live in the library while caring for all of the books. He resumes writing in his own book and soon has filled many pages. He also starts lending the flying library books to the local towns people. After a great deal of time has passed, Mr. Lessmore has finally completed his book. He is whisked away by the flying books – just like the woman he saw years ago – and regains his youth. After he is gone, a young girl is beckoned into the library, finds Mr. Lessmore’s completed book and begins to read.
Impression
I absolutely love this book. I may be biased because I intend to go into the field of library sciences but I think this is a fantastic book. The story is beautifully written to incorporate the tales of woe and wonder that can be found inside books. Mr. Lessmore’s imaginative story is vibrant and compelling. The illustrations within this book are great aids to the story telling as well. Joyce uses black and white drawings to truly convey the sadness of Mr. Lessmore and the change to rich, lively colors to enhance the whimsical transformation in the towns people when they first experience a book. My favorite illustrations in the book are that of Mr. Lessmore traipsing through the pages of the books as he reads. Reading this story causes emotions to stir up inside me; this book almost always makes me cry. I feel similarly about the short film.
Reviews
“(3) In this affectionate love letter, a lady propelled by “flying books” tosses one to Morris Lessmore, which leads him to an enticing library. Years pass as he takes care of the animated volumes; finally the aged Morris flies away on the wings of books, his place taken by a girl. The multimedia illustrations are rendered in Joyce’s Hopperesque style and luminescent colors.” (Rating system – 3 = Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.)
– Joanna Long
“..The artwork is beautifully matched with the text but is worthy of standing on its own to tell this extraordinary tale. Book lovers of all ages will want to have a copy of this picture book in their collections, it is sure to become a classic.”
– Amy Merrill
Library Use
I think this book would be great to get children excited about reading. Specifically I believe it would be beneficial for a story time to kickoff a school reading or a summer reading program. It may also be a good book to read before a writing workshop to get kids excited about writing their own stories and feeling more comfortable sharing them with other students.
References
Heller, N. (2012, August 23). Hanging on Every Word: The Fantastic Flying Book of Mr. Morris Lessmore. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com
Joyce, W., & Bluhm, P. (Illustrator). (2012) The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. New York: Antheneum Books for Young Readers.
Long, J. R. (2012). Joyce, William: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. The Horn Book Guide 23(2), 30. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center.
Merrill, A. (2012). The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. [A Review of the book The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, by W. Joyce]. Library Media Connection 31(3), 60. Retrieved from Ebsco Host.
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