Typhani’s Comments (group member since Jan 15, 2010)

Typhani’s comments from the LLED, Spring 2010 group.

Nomination for Jayme: "Rosa" by Nikki Giovanni. This book is about Rosa Parks as a person and even includes a personal look at her life and hobbies. I chose this book because it shows and explains her famous refusal of not giving up her seat on the bus and teaches children about the time of segregation and one person who was so essential to the civil rights movement. The illustrations are fabulous and children will be interested in reading the book.

Nomination for Brooke: "The White Swan Express" by Jean Davies Okimoto. This book tells the story of four baby girls from a Chinese orphanage and the families who adopt them. There is an array of parents that include two married couples, a lesbian couple and a single mother. Though I chose this book because of the international adoption aspect, it also teaches children that love binds people together and that love exists in many shapes, forms, and sizes!!

Nomination for Heidi: "Ballerino Nate" by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. This book is about a boy named Nate who decides he wants to dance. His older brother tells him that boys cant be ballerinas. Nate loves his dance class, but he wonders why he is the only boy. His troubles disappear when he attends a professional performance and meets one of the male dancers. He explains that he calls himself a dancer, but you could also call a male dancer a ballerino. I chose this book because it shows how boys can do female activities (and vice versa) and that it is okay to do so. It shows children that no matter what they want to do in life, it is possible if they stay determined. It also teaches children not to let anybody get them down!!

Nomination for Mallori: "Arnie and the New Kid" by Nancy Carlson. This book is about a new boy named Philip. He is different because he uses a wheelchair. The other students do not know how to include him. Arnie torments Philip, but then, after an accident of his own, realizes how hard it is to be handicapped. After realizing that they have a lot in common, they end up becoming friends. I chose this book because it is a purposeful story about a common situation and about accepting others even if they are different.

Nomination for Stephanie: "I Had a Friend named Peter" by Janice Cohn. This book deals with a character whose classmate, Peter, gets hit by a car while chasing a ball and dies. It talks about the feelings and questions the child has and how to overcome their loss. Her teachers and parents reassure her that her recent quarrel with Peter isn't the reason why he died. I chose this book because it is a tender story that teaches children how to cope with loss.

Nomination for Mike: "A Weekend with Wendell" by Kevin Henkes. This book is about a boy named Wendell who spends the weekend at Sophie's house. As the two kids play, Sophie doesn't get to play anything nearly as fun as Wendell. For instance, while playing house, Wendell was the mother, the father, AND the children. Sophie was the dog. Sophie is bullied the whole weekend and cannot wait until Wendell leaves. He shines his flashlight in Sophie's eyes when she tries to sleep, and gave her a new hairdo with shaving cream. I chose this book because Sophie ended up being the "underdog who rises" because she won a day of Wendell being quiet and having her way for a change.

Nomination for Kristin: "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak. This story is about a boy named Max, who thinks no one understands him. To get away from his troubled mind, he runs away and goes to a land of “Wild Things”. As Max’s imagination unfolds, his bedroom is transformed into an entirely new world. When he sails to the land of the Wild Things, they quickly make him their ruler. The wild things enjoy each other and seem to get along with Max, until ultimately, he leaves to go home. This book is great because it allows children to go on the adventure with the character. If they are going through a hard time in their life, this book will help them "get away" for awhile.

Nomination for Andrew: "Lon Po Po" by Ed Young. Lon Po Po is the Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood. It’s the story of three young children whose mother goes off to visit their grandmother, Po Po. That night, a wolf comes to the door, pretending to be their grandmother. The eldest child, Shang, asks why "she" comes so late and why her voice is so low, and the wolf finds excuses. When the two youngest children let the wolf in, he immediately blows out the candles so that the children cannot see him. He pretends to be sleepy, so they all go to bed. The children feel his tail, and he says it is hemp strings to weave them a basket. Finally, Shang lights the candle, and even though the wolf immediately blows it out, she sees his face. She gets her brother and sister out of the house by saying that they are going to pick gingko nuts for their grandmother, because they will make her live forever. The children climb to the top of the tree, and Shang tells her siblings that the "Po Po" in the house is really a wolf. They devise a plan to trick the wolf, and successfully kill it before their mother gets home. I chose this book because it shows how a villain, the wolf, tries to manipulate little kids and take advantage of their vulnerability!

Nomination for Stephanie: Saying Goodbye to Lulu by Corinne Demas

My award, which will be called the “Beauty of Non-Traditional Parents Award,” will be given to the author who best portrays the idea of how non-traditional parents affect children and society. The book should be a picture book and for ages 5-12. The book should be about how a character lives with people who aren’t necessarily in a normal living situation, characters of the same sex who raise a family, or a child who learns how to accept their parents for who they are even if they are the same sex. Fletcher states in his chapter about realism that, “novels about social issues showed the character- usually the protagonist, or central character-encountering a kind of problem engendered by society, like discrimination because of race, gender, or social position” (15). I chose my topic because I am very passionate about non-traditional parents being wonderful and deserving to have a chance at raising a family. Discrimination is obviously still evident in society and always will be. People need to be aware that it is okay to be different. Just because two parents aren’t in a heterosexual relationship, that doesn’t mean they won’t be good parents. I want to choose a book that shows that despite what society thinks, these parents can be the best in the world. Parts of the book can include how the characters deal with the situations, how they overcome it, and how other people view it. Nominations should be posted by Monday, March 22, 2010.

Nomination for Andrew: Lon Po Po by Ed Young

My award, which will be called the “Beauty of Non-Traditional Parents Award,” will be given to the author who best portrays the idea of how non-traditional parents affect children and society. The book should be a picture book and for ages 5-12. The book should be about how a character lives with people who aren’t necessarily in a normal living situation, characters of the same sex who raise a family, or a child who learns how to accept their parents for who they are even if they are the same sex. Fletcher states in his chapter about realism that, “novels about social issues showed the character- usually the protagonist, or central character-encountering a kind of problem engendered by society, like discrimination because of race, gender, or social position” (15). I chose my topic because I am very passionate about non-traditional parents being wonderful and deserving to have a chance at raising a family. Discrimination is obviously still evident in society and always will be. People need to be aware that it is okay to be different. Just because two parents aren’t in a heterosexual relationship, that doesn’t mean they won’t be good parents. I want to choose a book that shows that despite what society thinks, these parents can be the best in the world. Parts of the book can include how the characters deal with the situations, how they overcome it, and how other people view it. Nominations should be posted by Monday, March 22, 2010.

Nomination for Andrew: Lon Po Po by Ed Young

Nomination for Kristin: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Nomination for Mallori: Arnie and the New Kid

Nomination for Mike: A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes

Nomination for Heidi: The Paper Bag Princess by Robert M. Munsch

Nomination for Jayme: Rosa by Nikki Giovanni

Nomination for Stephanie: Saying Goodbye to Lulu by Corinne Demas

Non-traditional parents