Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

www.barnesandnoble.com

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Anderson, Laurie Halse. 2008. Chains. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9781416905851

2. PLOT SUMMARY
The year is 1776, and Isabel and her little sister find themselves in a difficult situation. In the beginning of the story, Isabel, who is thirteen years old, and Ruth, her younger sister with special needs, are attending the funeral of Miss Finch who used to own both girls. Miss Finch had told the girls that upon her death, they would be set free as she had stated in her will. Unfortunately, a distant and unknown nephew decides to ignore his Aunt’s will and sells the girls as slaves to a family living out of state. Author Laurie Halse Anderson tells a heart wrenching story about Isabel’s struggle to take care of her little sister and her hope for their once promised freedom. As the Revolutionary War begins, Isabel strives to survive in a world full of pain, abuse, betrayal, and torture.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Ever mindful of the time period, Laurie Halse Anderson wrote a well crafted historical fiction novel. Written with Roman numerals, every chapter of Chains is dated so that the readers are aware of the amount of time passing. In addition, every chapter is preceded with an historical quote from a variety of historical documents or people. There are quotes taken from personal letters, newspapers, pamphlets, petitions, summons, journals, and other written documents. Some of those quotes were penned by George Washington, Phillis Wheatley, John Adams, Abigail Adams, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, and other historical figures. The story is told with a setting and dialog that is true to the time period. A great deal of research had been performed in the writing of this story as depicted in the questions and answers featured in the eleven page appendix.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
BOOKLIST: Starred Review – “Anderson explores elemental themes of power (“She can do anything. I can do nothing,” Isabel realizes about her sadistic owner), freedom, and the sources of human strength in this searing, fascinating story.”
KIRKUS: Starred Review - “Anderson brilliantly recreates New York City in the summer of 1776, viewed through the eyes of a remarkable heroine.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Well researched and affecting in its presentation, the story offers readers a fresh look at the conflict and struggle of a developing nation.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “this gripping novel offers readers a startlingly provocative view of the Revolutionary War”
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, 2009
Parents' Choice Award, 2008
Cybil Award, 2009
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2009

5. CONNECTIONS
• After reading Chains, read the companion novel:
Anderson, Laurie Halse. FORGE. ISBN 9781416961444
• Other historical fiction books written by Laurie Halse Anderson:
Anderson, Laurie Halse. FEVER 1793. ISBN 9780689848919
Anderson, Laurie Halse. ASHES. (To Be Released October 2011)
• Other historical fiction novels of the Revolutionary war:
Collier, James Lincoln. MY BROTHER SAM IS DEAD. ISBN: 0027229807
Myers, Anna. SPY! ISBN: 9780802797421

The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

Image Credit: www.borders.com

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 1995. The Midwife’s Apprentice. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395692296

2. PLOT SUMMARY
This story takes place in a small village in England during the fourteenth century. The main character is a female about twelve or thirteen years of age. She doesn’t have a name but will respond to “Brat.” She has been homeless since her earliest memories, and for that reason, she is accustomed to being dirty, hungry, and unloved. One morning Brat is awakened from her temporary sleeping spot upon a dung heap by a stern woman who resides in a cottage nearby. The woman, a Midwife named Jane, decides to hire Brat as a helper and thus, begins a new chapter in Brat’s life. Although the Midwife is far from friendly and the local boys tease Brat to no end, she slowly begins to enjoy a sense of continuity in her life. She works, has a home, gets to know the villagers, and slowly becomes one of them. Just as things become somewhat comfortable, Brat experiences a setback which causes her to run. Author Karen Cushman tells the poignant story of a young lady’s determination for acceptance and a sense of self.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Midwife’s Apprentice is a beautifully written piece of historical fiction. The descriptions of the characters, clothing, and scenery all consistently reflect the intended fourteenth century England. Readers will find clearly written sentences that are easy to understand but may also find themselves looking up terms like wimple, whiffler, and Walpurgis Night that are words typical of that time period. Also noteworthy are the interesting medicinal practices of the midwife. Jane would use leek and mallow juice to aid in the birthing process as well as crane’s blood and the roots and flowers of birthwort. Karen Cushman successfully writes an historical fiction novel that is entertaining and informative and at the same time interlaced with humor.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
BOOKLIST: “Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone.”
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE: “Cushman writes compellingly, deftly weaving the language of that period with its beliefs.”
KIRKUS: “a gripping story about a time, place, and society that 20th-century readers can hardly fathom.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “a truly delightful introduction to a world seldom seen in children's literature.”
John Newbery Medal, 1996 Winner
Parents' Choice Award, 1995

5. CONNECTIONS
• Other historical fiction novels written by Karen Cushman:
Cushman, Karen. RODZINA. ISBN 0739385739
Cushman, Karen. ALCHEMY AND MEGGY SWANN. ISBN 9780547231846
Cushman, Karen. MATILDA BONE. ISBN 0395881560
Cushman, Karen. THE BALLAD OF LUCY WHIPPLE. ISBN 0395728061
Cushman, Karen. CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY. ISBN 0395681863
• The Midwife’s Apprentice could be used to introduce a history unit focusing on the fourteenth century or as a follow up to it.

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

Image Credit: www.barnesandnoble.com

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Vanderpool, Clare. 2010. Moon Over Manifest. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 9780385738835

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Abilene Tucker, the main character in Moon Over Manifest, is well acquainted with a roaming lifestyle. Motherless since she was a toddler, twelve-year-old Abilene has been living with her father wandering from town to town as drifters tend to do, but now things are different. The story begins with Abilene jumping off a train headed for Manifest, Kansas by herself. Her father decided to send Abilene to live with an old friend of his, Shady Howard, in his old hometown for the summer or perhaps longer. Abilene tells her own story as she explores the tired town and tries to figure out why her father sent her to Manifest. She meets the residents, makes some friends, studies old newspaper clippings, and tries to unravel the mystery of how her father fits into this town. Her discovery of a hidden box containing various items adds to her curiosity and ignites her determination to learn more about her father and the history of this small town. This is an overall enjoyable novel to read.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
With her words, author Clare Vanderpool successfully paints an historical picture of any small Midwestern American town set in the 1930s. The story shifts periodically from 1936 to 1917-1918 and back to better tell the history of this fictional town. Abilene tells her part of the story, the 1936 portion, in a first-person point of view that is enjoyable and easy to understand. Intertwined throughout the story are historical references such as prohibition, influenza, prejudice, coal mining issues, and the Great Depression. Preceding the first chapter is a very helpful list of characters of 1918 and a list of characters of 1936. Readers have the opportunity to glance at these lists if needed throughout the book. Each chapter is dated to aid the readers. Clare Vanderpool wrote an author’s note in the back of the book that explains her research and choice of words. She also included a page entitled “Sources and Suggestions for Further Reading” in the back of the book that readers can explore if they choose to do so.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
John Newbery Medal, 2011
BOOKLIST: Starred Review – “With believable dialogue, vocabulary and imagery appropriate to time and place, and well-developed characters, this rich and rewarding first novel is “like sucking on a butterscotch. Smooth and sweet.”
KIRKUS: Starred Review – “The absolute necessity of story as a way to redemption and healing past wounds is at the heart of this beautiful debut, and readers will cherish every word up to the heartbreaking yet hopeful and deeply gratifying ending.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “This thoroughly enjoyable, unique page-turner is a definite winner.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: Starred Review - “Replete with historical details and surprises, Vanderpool's debut delights, while giving insight into family and community.”
Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2011
Booklist Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth, 2011
Kirkus Best Children's Books, 2010
Notable Children's Books, 2011
John Newbery Medal, 2011

5. CONNECTIONS
• This book could be used in conjunction with a study of the Great Depression.
• To learn more about this new author, see her website at http://www.clarevanderpool.com/home.html

Bodies from the Ice by James M. Deem

Image Credit: www.barnesandnoble.com

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Deem, James. 2008. Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN 9780618800452

2. PLOT SUMMARY
What did people look like hundreds or thousands of years ago? What did they eat, and what did they do? Scientists have given us some answers to some of those questions. James Deem, author of Bodies from the Ice, describes how some of the best answers have recently been revealed from deep within the ice. Rapidly melting glaciers are uncovering frozen bodies that have been trapped within thick glaciers for centuries and even millenniums. Readers will meet Otzi, the oldest mummified body, and frozen children that were sacrificed by their own community. Additional bodies, tools, clothing, coins, figurines, and other artifacts that have finally surfaced from this frozen world are also featured, and the history behind them are covered within the book. James Deem explains why and how some items have been so well preserved and others have not. He describes the types of glaciers and the conditions of them as well as the effect they have had upon items within them. Other fascinating frozen discoveries are revealed throughout the pages of this very fascinating book.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Beginning with the most captivating story, James Deem hooks his audience in the first chapter of this book with the incredible account of how a husband and wife stumbled across a frozen human body while walking in the Alps in 1991. Later, they learned that the mummified body was more than 5,300 years old. Written for older children or teens in a clear direct voice, the second chapter covers a more extensive study of glaciers and the role they play in the discovery of other items found in glaciers all around the globe. The subsequent four chapters reveal more frozen bodies and the history relating to those people. Each page features one or more images that consist of real photographs, paintings, lithographs, and maps. All images are accompanied by informative captions and are well documented in the back of the book. Most illustrations are in color, but some are black and white. James Deem, a retired college professor, takes care to present only facts as shown in his expansive bibliography which includes museums, professors of glaciology, anthropologists, authors of similar books or periodicals, and more educational sources. James Deem encourages his readers to continue studying glaciers and the history trapped within them by providing a list of nineteen glaciers to visit in twelve different countries, and he includes a list of fourteen suggested websites to visit. Look closely. There are even water droplets in the front and back pages of the book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Deem superbly weaves diverse geographical settings, time periods, and climate issues into a readable work that reveals the increasing interdisciplinary dimensions of the sciences.”
BOOKLIST: “Heavily illustrated with historical memorabilia as well as photos of bodies, scenery, artifacts, and rather simplistic maps, this offers a lot to look at and learn about.”
Starred review in KIRKUS: "An intriguing read, complementing the author's highly commended Bodies from the Bog (1998) and Bodies from the Ash (2005), with a bonus environmental message."
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal, 2009 Honor Book

5. CONNECTIONS
• Challenge your students to explore one or more of the websites listed on page 54 and write a short paper on what they have learned.
• After previewing some of the articles or books in the bibliography on pages 55 and 56,
pick one to read to your class.
• In addition to this book, share other books by this author:
Deem, James. BODIES FROM THE BOG. ISBN 9780395857847
Deem, James. BODIES FROM THE ASH. ISBN 9780618473083

Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming

Image Credit: www.barnesandnoble.com

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Fleming, Candace. 2011. Amelia Lost: the Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 9780375841989

2. PLOT SUMMARY
This factual account of Amelia Earhart’s life is an eye-opener like no other biography written about her. Author Candace Fleming carefully and painstakingly sifted through vast quantities of documents and other sources of information to uncover only the truth about Amelia Earhart’s life and those final days of her existence. Fleming begins the book with an account of events that took place early on July 2, 1937, the day Amelia Earhart was due to land and complete her objective of flying all the way around the world along the equator. Then Fleming goes back in time to relate the story of Amelia Earhart’s birth and childhood. Afterwards, the story shifts back to July 2, 1937 and the developments of that particular day. Candace Fleming continues to tell Amelia’s life story in this manner or pattern of shifting between the final days of her life and the ones leading to it. Her last days of life beginning on July 2, 1937 and the search for her on the following days are written on gray pages. Amelia’s life before that date is written on white pages. The result is a story that is so compelling readers will be reluctant to put the book down.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This biography consists of 18 parts in addition to the bibliography, index, notes, picture credits, and the navigating history. A table of contents clearly documents these sections. The 18 sections are half on gray paper and half on white to distinguish between the events before and after July 2, 1937. The text is well written and easy to understand. Most of the illustrations are black and white actual photographs that have captions written with them. It’s a pleasure to really see Amelia as a baby, child, and adult. The book also contains pictures of newspaper articles, cartoons, magazine articles, flyers, report card, Amelia’s pilot’s license, marriage license, pages from her logbook, telegrams, postage stamp, personal letter, and maps. Candace Fleming also incorporates educational boxes or sidebars to further educate readers. For example, on page one she includes a website that readers can log onto and see on video how difficult it was for Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan to find Howland Island from the air. She included explanations for flight call letters, bloomers, Morse code, and other useful details and trivia that readers will find beneficial. Fleming’s bibliography is well documented, and in her own words, she describes how time intensive it was to weed out myths and share only facts from a vast amount of archival and research material. Amelia Lost was well worth the time spent because it is an excellent piece of work.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
KIRKUS Book Review Stars, 2011- “A stunning look at an equally stunning lady.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Book Review Stars, 2011- “Fleming has made a phenomenal woman accessible to a new generation of readers; she unapologetically shows Earhart as a real person and dispels the mythology surrounding her.”
BOOKLIST: “this is a book most libraries will want both for its fascinating story and as an illustration of how research can alter historical perspective.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “This honest depiction of Earhart's professional and personal life forms a complete portrait of a complex woman, making her final doomed flight (and a reproduction of a teenager's notebook transcription of what may have been Earhart's last radio transmission) all the more affecting.”

5. CONNECTIONS
• Other junior biographies on Amelia Earhart to explore:
Leavitt, Amie Jane. AMELIA EARHART. ISBN 9781584155768
Feinstein, Stephen. READ ABOUT AMELIA EARHART. ISBN 0766025829
Shore, Nancy. AMELIA EARHART. ISBN 1555466516
• Using the Morse code chart on page 17 of AMELIA LOST, invite the children to write a secret message.

Strange Mysteries from Around the World by Seymour Simon

Image Credit: www.barnesandnoble.com

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Simon, Seymour. 1997. Strange Mysteries from Around the World. New York: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688146368

2. PLOT SUMMARY
This interesting book contains nine mysteries that all occurred many years ago, and although they have been scrutinized by professionals, their causes still cannot be determined. In chapter one, the first mystery involves a meteorological phenomenon that has been repeated in various places. There have been documented reports of raining frogs, small fish, and snakes at different geographical locations. The second chapter states that a huge explosion took place in Siberia in 1908 that was way before “the first atomic bomb”. Other mysteries in the remaining chapters include the ability to walk on fire, the hidden treasure on Oak Island, a ghost ship, and a crystal skull that has special powers. There is a story about repeated powerful “booms” that residents of South Carolina, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, and Connecticut all heard and felt. Reports of those booms were also heard and felt in Europe, Iceland, Canada, and Asia. The two remaining mysteries include photographing a “life force” and strange lights in the night sky. Readers will be fascinated by these mysteries and the theories that have not yet produced real explanations.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Seymour Simon, author of more than 250 science books for children, writes a well organized and easy to comprehend book about nine scientific mysteries. There are nine chapters listed in the table of contents. Each chapter covers a different mystery. The illustrations are black and white photographs or prints that complement the story on that page. Most of the pictures have captions, and those that do not have captions are easy to identify. There is not a bibliography listed in the book, but credit is given to sources such as magazines within the text itself. Photograph and art credit is given at the beginning of the book. Seymour Simon writes a clear and concise book of “strange mysteries” that will appeal to children and adults.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
BOOKLIST: “It's just right for kids who like true-life mysteries.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The mysteries it describes are as intriguing now as they were when they first became mysteries."

5. CONNECTIONS
• Other books of nonfiction mysteries for children include:
Walker, Kathryn. MYSTERIES OF THE ANCIENTS. ISBN 9780778741473
Wexler, Jerome. EVERDAY MYSTERIES OF THE MIND. ISBN 9780525453635
Walker, Kathryn. MYSTERIES OF THE MIND. ISBN 9780778741497

One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies by Sonya Sones

Image Credit: www.borders.com

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sones, Sonya. 2004. One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689858205

2. PLOT SUMMARY
As stated in the title, this novel is “one of those hideous books where the mother dies,” and that leaves fifteen year old Ruby all alone. Ruby Milliken, the main character in this story, describes her thoughts and feelings as her world is turned upside down when her single mother passes away. Having no siblings, Ruby moves across the country by herself to live with a father that she has never known. Her father turns out to be an incredibly famous movie star living in a very affluent neighborhood. The unraveling of Ruby’s transition to this new life is revealed through the many poems.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Written in a free verse poetic style, this story is told from a first-person point of view. Each page is filled with short, easy to read lines containing common modern terminology that would appeal to a teenage audience. Ruby mentions Eminem, Queen Latifah, Ashton Kutcher, and Leonardo DiCaprio. She also makes reference to recent literary works such as Charlotte’s Web, The Lord of the Rings, and “He-who-shall-not-be-mentioned”. Most teens will recognize these famous names and titles, and they’ll recognize the intended sarcasm throughout the book. Metaphors and personification are present from the first verse. An airplane is a “gigantic silver bullet with wings” and a “monstrous steel pterodactyl”. Sonya Sones makes clever use of different fonts that help the reader distinguish between Ruby’s thoughts, Ruby’s emails, her friend’s emails, and snail mail. Author Sonya Sones successfully incorporates a gamut of emotions into the verses. The main character experiences sorrow, anger, guilt, loneliness, betrayal, humor, and eventually happiness. This verse novel may appeal to those readers who are reluctant to read a long chapter book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
KIRKUS: “a story worthy of Hollywood,”
BOOKLIST: “A satisfying, moving novel that will be a winner for both eager and reluctant readers.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Readers will accept some melodrama because, even with a few contrivances, Ruby's voice conveys genuine emotions.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Despite several predictable particulars of plot, Ruby's story is gripping, enjoyable, and memorable.”

5. CONNECTIONS
• This book could be used in conjunction with other works by Sonya Sones:
Sones, Sonya. WHAT MY GIRLFRIEND DOESN’T KNOW. ISBN 9780689876028
Sones, Sonya. WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW. ISBN 9780689841149
• Other poetry books that address death:
Herrick, Steven. BY THE RIVER. ISBN 9780932425727
Yeomans, Ellen. RUBBER HOUSES. ISBN 031610647X

Messing Around on the Monkey Bars by Betsy Franco

Image Credit: www.amazon.com

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Franco, Betsy. 2009. Messing Around on the Monkey Bars. Ill. by Jessie Hartland. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763631741

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Betsy Franco’s poems in this book are all poems that pertain to school. Whether taking place within the school walls or outside on the school playground, young readers will easily recognize the individual topics. Betsy Franco writes about pencils, new kids, monkey bars, lunch money, the teacher, homework, and other popular school topics. Children’s poetry is meant to be read aloud, and in this case, it is even better if two people or two groups read it aloud. In addition, Betsy Franco suggests more “adventurous ways” of sharing some of the poems, and those ideas can be found in the back of the book.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The individual poems are crafted in such a way that they invite and encourage the readers and the audience to be actively involved in the telling of the stories. Author Betsy Franco incorporates different fonts to indicate lines which are spoken by certain voices or certain groups. Rhyming is prevalent throughout the pages, and rhythm is most definitely apparent. Betsy Franco also employs sound effects like “snort, squeal, tap, snicker, eek, whirr, thud, bounce,” and so many other noises. Personification is used in the poem entitled “Back in the Room for the Afternoon” as Glue, Door, Pack, Clay, and Calculator speak to the students.

The illustrator, Jessie Hartland, paints bold colors throughout the book. Her pictures resemble childlike drawings which compliment the “school” theme. She accurately emphasizes the physical characteristics as they appear. In the poem “Jenny’s Pencil”, for example, the illustrated pencils are much larger in comparison to the size of the students. The combination of Franco’s words and Hartland’s illustrations results in an overall fun book that needs to be shared.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL – “An enjoyable romp through playgrounds and cafeterias, this book will please class poets, performers, and clowns alike.”
KIRKUS – “Hartland's energetic gouache illustrations adopt a nave style that matches the playful spirit of the text while serving as a splendid complement to its evocation of children's voices. This book gets high marks.”
THE HORN BOOK – “The clear and interactive presentation elevates the solid content, and Hartland's whimsical paintings (featuring a multi-ethnic cast of kids) add to the playful tone.”

5. CONNECTIONS
• This book or portions of it could be used in a “school” themed library story-time for elementary students.
• Other poetry books by Betsy Franco could be paired with MESSING AROUND ON THE MONKEY BARS:
Franco, Betsy. A DAZZLING DISPLAY OF DOGS. ISBN 9781582463438
Franco, Betsy. A CURIOUS COLLECTION OF CATS: CONCRETE POEMS. ISBN 9781582462486
• Use this book with other poetry books about school.
Crawley, Dave. READING, WRITING, AND ‘RITHMETIC: POEMS. ISBN 9781590785652
Horton, Joan. I BROUGHT MY RAT FOR SHOW-AND-TELL: AND OTHER FUNNY SCHOOL POEMS. ISBN 0448434903
Dakos, Kalli. PUT YOUR EYES UP HERE, AND OTHER SCHOOL POEMS. ISBN 0689811179

Technically, It's Not My Fault by John Grandits

Image Credit: borders.com.au

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Grandits, John. 2004. Technically, It’s Not My Fault. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 061842833X

2. PLOT SUMMARY
This compilation of concrete poems written by John Grandits is a visual pleasure to thumb through and an entertaining work to read. Robert, the eleven year old narrator, describes different events in his daily life through the various hilarious poems. “My Stupid Day,” “Sleepover Conversation,” and “It’s Not Fair” are just a few of the fun poem titles. Robert writes about his sister, his bus rides, skateboarding, mowing the lawn, pizza, pets, baseball, and more subjects that most children will recognize.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Through the use of assorted fonts, different colors of ink, and simple illustrations, John Grandits creates a free verse poetry book that is pure fun to peruse. Each page is unique. The text takes on a life of its own since the printed words form pictures and patterns that reflect or define each poem. Children in upper elementary school and middle school will delight in turning the book around as they unravel the words in many of these humorous poems. In his poem called “The Lay-Up”, for example, the words are printed in a zigzag fashion that resembles a bouncing basketball. Then a shot is made so the words go up to form a hoop and then spiral around and around the rim until the ball unfortunately bounces out so the words fall down, and no points are scored. Another poem entitled “The Thank-You Letter” includes interesting footnotes that only the readers can see.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL – “Grandits combines technical brilliance and goofy good humor to provide an accessible, fun-filled collection of poems”
KIRKUS – “An exuberant celebration of wordplay that's certain to broaden kids' understanding and appreciation of the possibilities of poetry.”
BOOKLIST – “Grandits stretches the definition of concrete poetry in this collection, which uses inventive shapes and typefaces to hilarious effect.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY – “A technically (and imaginatively) inspired typeface experiment.”

5. CONNECTIONS
• This book could be used as an example of one type of poetry in a general study of poetry.
• It could also be used along with other concrete poetry books:
Grandits, John. BLUE LIPSTICK: CONCRETE POEMS. ISBN 9780618568604
Janeczko, Paul B. A POKE IN THE I. ISBN 0763606618
Franco, Betsy. A CURIOUS COLLECTION OF CATS: CONCRETE POEMS. ISBN 9781582462486