Books to Movies Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

I have to begin this by saying I am an avid Harry Potter fan. I have read every book in the series at least 5 times. I have lengthy discussions with other Potter maniacs about the fate of young Harry Potter as well as the supporting characters. I am anticipating as well as dreading the final book. I hope to have all my questions answered but am saddened knowing this is the last book. My children are big fans also. We have almost every book on CD and listen to them as we do our travel baseball in the summer. We are currently listening to the 6th book (The Half Blood Prince) hoping to finish by the time Deathly Hallows debut's.
Now that you know about my fetish I will talk about the movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I went to see this movie with some students and Potter maniac teachers from my school. We prepared for this for weeks. All of we teachers had been pleased so far with the previous movies turned to books so we felt we would probably love the new movie. We couldn't have been more wrong. I was so disappointed in this movie. I realize there is so much material to cover but what was left out was unbelievable. We felt if you didn't know the story you would be lost by the happenings. I have since found that people who did not know the story were sadly none the wiser and actually enjoyed the movie. Personally I would have been willing to sit for hours if the movie did the book justice. I would have even gone in for two movies about the book. I think about other long books made to movies and know that some fell short of covering the material. Actually the only long book to movie that did not disappoint me was The Godfather.

Books to Movies Holes

Holes by Louis Sachar is a wonderful turning of a book to a movie. Sachar introduces you to wonderful characters in this humorous story of crime and punishment and redemption. Like most books that are made in to movies I did not see the movie until I had read the book. Typically the movie disappoints me but this movie did not. My youngest son was reading the book also and kept wanting to see the movie before he finished the book. I strongly encouraged him to finish the book to develop his own pictures of the characters which he reluctantly did. As we were watching the movie and we see the warden for the first time he cried out "that's exactly what I thought she would look like!". I was thrilled. I felt the casting director did an excellent job casting the roles. I was very impressed with the young Stanley Yelnats. I loved the book and the movie the same which for me is saying quite a lot! This is another book to movie I would recommend to young and old alike.

Books to Movies Charlotte's Web

When I was a little girl, back in the dark ages, one of the first books I can remember reading was Charlotte's Web by E. B. White. I was lucky to be a good reader at an early age so I read this book when I was quite young. The story of animals talking was particularly appealing to me as I am an avid animal lover. I remember when the animated version of this book came out and it did not disappoint me as it was true to the book and the characters were portrayed exactly as I thought they would be. The recent release of the movie of Charlotte's Web also is a delight. I love movies that show what animal life is about. I can't imagine how hard it is to get animals to "look" like they are acting but felt this was accomplished in this film.
Charlotte's Web is a beautiful story of friendship and devotion both of the animals and the humans that love them. I even love the swarmy character of Templeton who in the end turns out to be not such a bad rat. I would recommend this movie to young and old alike.

Newbery Award Book Crispin

Crispin The Cross of Lead by Avi is the second Newbery book I chose to read. The book opens with the burial of a young boy's mother being buried in a paupers grave. The setting is fourteenth-century England. Asta's son, as the boy knows himself, is confronted almost immediately by stewart of the manor John Aycliffe who demands that Asta's son bring their ox to him for the burial tax. Asta's son is so distraught over this because the ox is the only way he has to make money. Fully distressed by this news he runs deep into the forest where he inadvertently hears John Aycliffe and another well dressed stranger talking about an upcoming event that will bring consequences to Aycliffe as well as the stranger. Aycliffe sees Asta's son and begins to chase him with the intent to kill him. Asta's son escapes but events unfold the next day where he becomes a wolfs head meaning to be killed on site. He goes to the local priest for help where the priest reveals that his real name is Crispin. He also discovers his mother could read and write and his father, whom he thought dead, was alive. The priest tells Crispin he must leave the village and go to a larger city. Crispin barely gets away from the village and as he leaves he finds the dead body of the priest. Crispin meets up with a juggler named Bear. Their journey through the English countryside is puzzling and terrifying. In the end of the book Crispin must become a strong independent person to save himself and Bear.
I loved this book as much for the time period as the adventure. Avi has created a wonderful character in Crispin and I look forward to other books on this interesting boy.

Coretta Scott King Award

I had a hard time choosing a book to read for this award as I have read many and loved them all. I did however choose The People Could Fly The Picture Book by Virginia Hamilton.
This is a story of how certain Africian's could fly. When they were taken from their native Africia and enslaved they shed their wings because it was too crowded on the ships. The folks were so full of misery and sickness and those who could fly kept their power although they had shed their wings. Being a slave was brutal. The overseerer would point out those slaves who moved too slow and the one called the driver would crack his whip to slice-open cut of pain. One slave woman, Sarah, had a her babe on her back while she worked. She could not comfort her baby which would cry and make the overseerer mad. The driver was told to whip her. The old man slave known as Toby came to comfort her. Sarah said she could not last and Toby spoke magic words over her and she rose like a free bird and flew away. This happens several more times with other slaves until finally Toby himself flew away to what was called Free-dom. This story is passed down from slave to slave.
I thought this was a sad story. I read the author's note where she alluded to the fact that the Free-dom was probably a runaway slave. I considered this and while I know that it is probably true my first impression when reading this is the slaves were flown to heaven, in essence they died. The author's perspective is a happier one in the fact that the slaves went to freedom but I also felt that the death of the slave was an ending to the torture and in effect another more permanent freedom.
One of my favorite Coretta Scott King books is Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold. I found it interesting that in that book a character also flies.

Laurence Yep

I chose to read the book Ribbons by Yep. I have a connection with this book as my mother was a dancer and she also was my dance teacher for a time. The story is about a young Asian American girl named Robin. She has a passion for ballet dancing but has to quit because of financial concerns in the family. To make matters worse her maternal grandmother moves in the house and Robin's parents seem to be at odds with each other. The grandmother becomes very upset when she sees Robin's feet where her toes are beginning to turn under and the grandmother throws a fit. She demands that Robin give her the toe shoes and expresses her disapproval with Robin dancing. The mother agrees and tells Robin she can not dance any more until she is seen by a doctor. Robin begins a hateful campaign against her grandmother until she accidentally discovers the secret why her grandmother is so concerned for Robin's feet. Of course in this book there is a happy ending and two generations become acquainted with each other and form a respect for what the other has had to go through.
This is the only book by Laurence Yep that I have read. I am most familiar with his My America series books. While I was in the elementary school these were the books my students would check out the most. I love reading about different cultures and Yep did not disappoint. I think it is so important for young adults to learn about customs of other ethnic groups.

Jerry Pinkney

Jerry Pinkney's illustrations are simply fabulous! He has received the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, and the King Honors award for his brilliance as an illustrator. He has teamed with Julius Lester, Patricia McKissack, Virginia Hamilton and Gloria Pinkney to name a few notable authors.
I read Black Cowboy Wild Horses which was written by Julius Lester and illustrated by Mr. Pinkney. He used pencil, gouache and watercolor on paper to achieve the beautiful illustrations. In one picture the author tells of the cowboy laying flat across the back of his stallion and would not been noticed by anyone watching. I had to study the picture for several minutes before I was able to make out the cowboy on the horses back. It was really cool. I also love the illustrations in Goin' Someplace Special with Patricia McKissack and John Henry with Julius Lester.
I hold a special place in my heart for Mr. Pinkney as he grew up a special needs child. He has dyslexia and I've read where it was through art that he was able to excel as he was a slow reader (even today he states he still reads slow). Having a special needs child myself I am always uplifted to see someone overcome their handicap and succeed in this world. I have always been in awe of someone with artistic talent as I can barely draw stick people!

Julius Lester

The book I chose to read by Julius Lester for this blog is Black Cowboy Wild Horses A True Story. I have know of Mr. Lester's work for many years but never took the time to find out what kind of human being he is. While reading Black Cowboy Wild Horses I had a sense of Tom Lemmons as being spiritual or a horse whisper. I found that I felt this cowboy was almost not human but in essence a part of nature. I was surprised at some of the brutalised happenings, especially the colt stricken by a rattlesnake. I understand how this impacts the story making it possible for Tom to maneuver his horse Warrier to prominence. The scene where Warrier becomes dominate over the heard is interesting as this happens in nature.
I also have read John Henry by Lester. I was introduced to this book in my teachings and learning of the Caldecott books. I agree with another student that said the song "Big Bad John" comes to mind when reading this book.
When I researched Julius Lester I was intrigued about the individual and his life journey. He appears to be a spiritual person whose pilgrimage brought him to the realization that he is a Jew. As always I am grateful for the awareness that ethnic writers bring to my life.

Caldecott Award Book Rapunzel

The 1998 Caldecott award book Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky is wonderful. When I was a little girl my one of my favorite fairy tales was Rapunzel. Being older than dirt, I didn't have the quality of picture books that are available today. The illustrations drawn from the Italian Renaissance art are superb. The fairy tale preserved for us by the Grimm brothers is one of grief and happiness. I guess that is typical of most fairy tales in general. When I went to college for the first time I got a degree in Psychology and Public Relations. For one of my psychology classes I wrote a paper on the connection between what fairy tales we like are often how we look at life. My dad for example always liked Jack and the Beanstock. He was raised by a very controlling, critical mother. Later in life my dad always said he felt like Jack, he could do no right by his mother's standards. Also like Jack he "hopped on the beanstalk" of life and found many treasures away from home. I always loved Rapunzel and thought it would be cool to have such long beautiful hair. My favorite fairy tale would have to be The Emperor's New Clothes. My mom said that is very appropriate for me because I never was able to keep my honest comments to myself!

Caldecott Honor Book Sector 7

Clouds have fascinated me for as long as I can remember. Thanks for David Wiesner I now know how and where clouds are manufactured. In this wordless picture book,we are transported from the top of the Empire State Building by a friendly cloud to Sector 7 where we learn how clouds come to life. This imaginative look into how clouds come to be in wonderful. I have lay on the ground many a day looking to the sky full of various shapes inspired by clouds. The watercolor illustrations are marvelous in detail. One of the best things about Sector 7 is that the reading audience has the opportunity to create their own dialogue. Picture books are wonderful in the sense you get a chance to look in to the imagination of the illustrator. We as an American public are truly blessed that there are so many illustrators with gifted imaginations!

Caldecott Award Book Tuesday

I have had so much fun with this book. Tuesday by David Wiesner is a great basically wordless picture book. We as readers are taken on a journey with frogs flying on lily pads. The frogs fly through the night in to the homes of unsuspecting people. In one picture a late night eater has the look of astonishment as the frogs zoom past his open kitchen window. My favorite illustration is the one where the frogs are surfing T.V. channels while an elderly woman dozes in her chair. The next day as authorities are bewildered by their findings we see a shadow of pigs flying out of the barn yard.
I love the imagination of David Wiesner and the elementary children with whom I have shared this book loved it also. This is a good book to use for having children make up their own words for the story. When I shared this book during my classes we as a class would make up the story on the fly. It is great to see the imagination of children at work.

The Cat in the Hat

I am not now or was I as a child a fan of The Cat in the Hat. I realize this book helped a multitude of children become readers it just was not something I cared for. I do think it is clever and I know the character of the cat is appealing to children because of his disregard of rules. I watched part of the movie based on the book but found that it too was not for me. I did not buy this book for my children but to my amazement my oldest son, who is autistic, loves this book. He has a reading level of about a 1st grader and this is a book he can easily read. So there you have the proof (in my opinion) that this is a great book for teaching reading.
My favorite book by Dr. Seuss isThe Lorax, which so happens to be what Dr. Seuss considered to be his best work. Our Professor asked was this book didactic? Yes absolutely! I used this book every year for our Dr. Seuss birthday celebration at the elementary school where I used to work. We would read this and then as a school we would go outside and plant a tree in Dr. Seuss's honor. I am a staunch environmentalist and think every politician should be required to read The Lorax.

Yoshiko Uchida

I am ashamed to admit but the book The Bracelet is the only book I have read by Yoshiko Uchida. This book gives a glimps into what hysteria can do.
Emi a Japanese-American in 1942 is forced to leave her home and go to live in an internment camp. The family is already separated as her father has been taken to a prisoner of war camp. As Emi walks through her home trying to remember how things were her best friend Laurie Madison comes to the door with a gift for Emi. Laurie has brought her a bracelet, a thin gold chain with a dangling heart. Emi swears she will never take it off and the friends hug goodbye. Emi and her family are taken to Tanforan racetrack where their new home is nothing more than a horse stall. Emi realizes she has lost her bracelet and is worried she will now forget her friend. She soon learns that you don't need anything tangible to remember those you love. They are forever in your heart.
I thought this was a sweet story even though it reminds us what injustices were inflicted on the Japanese Americans during WWII. I am also reminded of injustices against Native Americans, Jewish Americans and African American. I have tried to raise my children to realize we are all God's creations and the beauty of our differences make the world a better more interesting place.
Even though I have not read any other books by this author, here are some other titles:
The Magic Purse (1994)
Journey To Topaz (1971)
A Jar of Dreams (1981)
Journey Home (1978)

Caldecott and Newbery Awards

The description of the two awards are as follows:

Caldecott- The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal.htm

Newbery-The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children
http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/newberymedal/newberymedal.htm

The question that was asked by my professor is: Is one of these awards better than the other?
My answer would be a definite no. They are both noteworthy in honoring their category. I also feel what a monumental task it must be for people on the respective committee's to have to make such a choice given all that is created each year. There have been some choices I do not necessarily agree with. I find it interesting that this years Newbery award The Higher Power of Lucky, came under some criticism for the use of the word "scrotum". I personally felt this was not a book suitable for the elementary level and in some cases maybe not even the middle school. I do struggle with this thought as I believe it is a form of censorship which I am vehemently against. With that in mind I do wonder if we should maybe consider an award that specifically targets age levels. Just a thought!

Caldecott Award Book Smokey Night

The story in Smokey Night by Eve Bunting is one of hope. In our world today there seems to be so much division amongst us. I have never lived in a big city but have definitely seen the ravages of poverty and ignorance. The community where I work is very similar to an inner city. Both the elementary school were I started my teaching and the middle school I now call home are Title I schools. I see the prejudice and poverty these students come from on their faces. It is a sad situation.
Smokey night addresses these same issues. A young boy, his cat Jasmine and his mother are forced to leave their apartment due to fire from the riots in the streets below. The building houses many ethnic people who up to this point have keep to themselves. This exodus brings the people together who realize that we are all the same.
Eve Bunting uses two different mediums for her illustrations. She used acrylics on Arches watercolor paper. The backgrounds are a collage photograph. She uses a lot of texture in her backgrounds to include things relevant to the story.
This is another of my favorites when teaching the Caldecott award books.

Caldecott Award Book Golem

Many moons ago I when I went back to college to get a degree in Special Education (because I was sure I could get a job!) I had to have an elective so I chose Children's Literature. My boys were babies then and I thought this would give me some ideas for good books to read to them. I was more than blessed to have Mildred Gwaltney as my professor for this class. Ms. Gwaltney passed away shortly after I took her class but the love of children's literature lives on in me and I'm sure anyone also who had the honor of having her for a teacher. It was that class that made me decide that I was destined to become a librarian. I learned from her the passion of the love of illustrations. I,as my autistic son says, worked on my tail in that class and was ecstatic with the B I received as a letter grade and A I know I have from Ms. Gwaltney's extensive knowledge of illustration.
Having said the above I will talk about the book Golem by David Wisniewski. This 1996 Caldecott award book is truly fantastic. I have shown this book to all my elementary school children as we study the Caldecott books and it has never ceased to amaze the students. The illustrations are photography of cut-paper illustrations. The detail is magnificent. The story I admit is a little above young children's minds but the pictures captivate their imagination. As I have shared this book with adults they too are amazed at the detail in the illustrations.

Newberry Honor Book pictures of hollis woods

I have read many of Patricia Reilly Giff's books but none have hit more deeply than this one. Hollis Woods was named after the location of the New York city street where she was left as a baby. Hollis has grown to have a tough veneer because of all the her placements in "appropriate" homes. She has mastered the art of detachment though in her heart she really wants to belong. Hollis continually runs from the homes because basically the supposed trusted people are indifferent to her. She is a budding artist and continually draws her life both in her mind and on paper. She is placed with the Regan family who have a summer cabin on the Delaware River. The old man, Izzy his wife and Steven the son slowly become what Hollis believes will be a true family until an accident makes Hollis decide she needs to leave.

She is next placed with a movie star beautiful woman named Josie. Here a magnificant journey begins for Hollis as she learns not only possessed the gift of art, she also possessed the gift of love. More adventure happens when Hollis that lead Hollis to run away again but this time she takes Josie with her. She runs to the only place she ever felt was her real home which is the cabin by the Delware river.



I don't want to say what happens in the end as it would truly ruin the excitement of the book. I felt this was an endearing story that I actually cried when I finished the book! I work in a school where so many of our students are exactly like Hollis. I identified with her from the first glimspe of her personality. It breaks my heart to see these cast off children that people in our society have created. I would highly recommend this book!