Rad American Women A-Z Rebels, Trailblazers, & Visionaries |
There is an entire website dedicated to this publication that may be of interest to readers, educators, and librarians alike. Also, there is an upcoming publication by the same author. Rad Women Worldwide expands its scope from just the United States of American to the entire world. Readers may also enjoy the following nonfiction titles about women who have made difference in the world.
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Works Cited
- Owens, Patricia Ann. "Rad American Women A-Z Review." School Library Journal 61.2 (2015): 128-129. Library & Information Science Source. Web.
- Schatz, Kate, and Miriam Klein Stahl. Rad American Women A-Z. San Francisco: City Lights, 2015. eIndiana Digital Consortium. eBook.
- Tracey, Julia Park. "Kate Schatz Grabs Headlines with Feminist Childrens' Book." Oakland Magazine. N.d. Web.
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Ivan: The Remarkable True
Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla
Written by Katherine Applegate & Illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Katherine Applegate, a popular children's author, was moved by a story she read in the news about a gorilla confined to a cage in a shopping mall. Moved by Ivan's story, Applegate went on to write two children's books. One is a purely nonfictional account of Ivan's story, while the other is a fictional account from the perspective of Ivan, the gorilla, himself.
Within Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla, Katherine Applegate tells the story of Ivan, the gorilla using illustrations and brief text (Cox, 70).
Within Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla, Katherine Applegate tells the story of Ivan, the gorilla using illustrations and brief text (Cox, 70).
Book Trailer
Ivan was born in central Africa to a family of silver-back gorillas.
He was wild and free.
However, this would not always be the case.
After being captured and shipped to the United States, Ivan lived for 27 years in a cage at the B&I Circus Store.
Until he was moved to Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo.
He was wild and free.
However, this would not always be the case.
After being captured and shipped to the United States, Ivan lived for 27 years in a cage at the B&I Circus Store.
Until he was moved to Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo.
In Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla, Applegate teamed up with illustrator G. Brian Karas. From start to finish, his illustrations consist of soft, pastel colors that add to the overall tone of the story. According to Gepson,
Karas feelingly depicts Ivan's gentle and loving personality conveying how this gentle gorilla won the hearts of thousands of people—and readers.
Following the illustrated story, Applegate includes additional information about Ivan at the end of the book that may be of interest to young readers. Along with real photographs of Ivan, Applegate also includes one of his own paintings.
Why should this book be a part of a library's collection?
With its awards and buzz, Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla would be a welcomed addition to any library's collection of children's nonfiction books.
Also, this book has received awards and has made its way onto different book lists since its publication, including:
Who would be interested in this book? With its narrative and illustrations, children with a growing interest in gorillas and animals may enjoy this true account of Ivan's story. Also, fans of the author and her books may also be interested in this book.
Also, this book has received awards and has made its way onto different book lists since its publication, including:
- Amazon.com Best Books of the Year 2014, Nonfiction Children’s Books
- 2015 Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book
Who would be interested in this book? With its narrative and illustrations, children with a growing interest in gorillas and animals may enjoy this true account of Ivan's story. Also, fans of the author and her books may also be interested in this book.
The One & Only Ivan
I first learned about Ivan's story when I read The One and Only Ivan for the Materials for Youth course at the beginning of the summer.
Within this Newbery Medal winner, Applegate crafts a compelling narrative that allows readers of all ages to truly step into the perspective of Ivan.As the story focuses on Ivan, it is only fitting that Applegate wrote the entire book from Ivan’s point of view. Both the fiction and nonfiction versions of Ivan's story emphasize an extremely important message. According to Miller, Applegate "encourages readers of all ages to consider animal rights and humanity’s role in caring for wild creatures. Like the best animal characters, Ivan teaches us how to be better people” (49). |
For readers who enjoyed Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla, I highly recommend The One and Only Ivan as well.
Additional Resources & Read-A-Likes
There are additional resources to go along with the book on the author's website, including a discussion guide for educators, a book trailer (featured above), and a video of Applegate reading the book.
There are many interesting nonfiction books about gorillas currently available for young readers, including the following books. Mountain Gorillas features beautiful photography of gorillas by Gene Eckhart, while Amazing Gorillas! presents young readers with easy to read facts. Within Untamed, young readers learn about Jane Goodall, a scientist who became famous for studying and interacting with other species, including gorillas.
There are many interesting nonfiction books about gorillas currently available for young readers, including the following books. Mountain Gorillas features beautiful photography of gorillas by Gene Eckhart, while Amazing Gorillas! presents young readers with easy to read facts. Within Untamed, young readers learn about Jane Goodall, a scientist who became famous for studying and interacting with other species, including gorillas.
Mountain Gorillas: Biology, Conservation, & Coexistence | Amazing Gorillas! |
Works Cited
- Applegate, Katherine, and G. Brian Karas. Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla. New York: Clarion, 2014. Print.
- Applegate, Katherine. The One and Only Ivan. New York: Harper, 2012. Print.
- Cox, Marge. "Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla." Library Media Connection 33.4 (2015): 70. Library & Information Science Source. Web. 31 Aug. 2016.
- Gepson, Lolly. "Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla." Booklist 110.19/20 (2014): 73. Library & Information Science Source. Web. 31 Aug. 2016.
- Miller, Donalyn, et al. "Beautifully Alive in Story and Language: 2013 Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts." Journal of Children's Literature 39.2 (2013): 38-49. ProQuest. Web.
The Imitation Game: Alan Turing Decoded
Written by Jim Ottaviani & Illustrated by Leland Purvis
Summary
Who was Alan Turing?
Alan Turing was a brilliant computer scientist and mathematician, known for his tremendous contributions in cracking German Naval Enigma Codes during World War II (Lavington, 7).
Within The Imitation Game: Alan Turing Decoded, Ottaviani takes readers through Turing's life from his early days as a young boy to his untimely death in 1954 at the age of forty-two. According to Hunter,
Within The Imitation Game: Alan Turing Decoded, Ottaviani takes readers through Turing's life from his early days as a young boy to his untimely death in 1954 at the age of forty-two. According to Hunter,
this moving, sensitive account artfully balances conveying both the life and the pioneering discoveries of a fascinating, vitally important scientist.
Ottaviani begins this graphic novel in the style of an interview style. The narrator is interviewing Turing's mother as an elderly lady, presumably years after Turing's passing.
At the beginning, the reader learns about what Turing was like as a young boy. For example, as a boy, Alan enjoyed running and chess so much that he combined the two into his own game of sorts.
At the beginning, the reader learns about what Turing was like as a young boy. For example, as a boy, Alan enjoyed running and chess so much that he combined the two into his own game of sorts.
As a student, Turing excelled in mathematics and science. However, he failed to apply himself in other subjects (Ottaviani). The following page details a rather serious meeting between Alan, his parents, and the headmaster of his school.
My Thoughts
Prior to reading this graphic novel, I did not know a whole lot about Alan Turing. I had heard about the film, but that was pretty much it. Although a lot of the theoretical and mathematical lingo went over my head, I enjoyed learning more about Alan Turing’s life and achievements. I particularly enjoyed the comic book style illustrations as shown above.
Within a review in Paste Magazine, Hillary Brown discusses the symbiotic nature of Ottaviani's writing and Purvis's illustrations. Brown states that:
Within a review in Paste Magazine, Hillary Brown discusses the symbiotic nature of Ottaviani's writing and Purvis's illustrations. Brown states that:
What makes this book worth reading is his grasp of how comics work, and what devices he can use from the medium’s sphere to communicate both facts and emotions.
Why should this book be a part of a library's collection?
The Imitation Game: Alan Turing Decoded would serve as a valuable addition to any library’s collection of nonfiction graphic novels. This graphic novel would appeal to a broader audience, including both teens and adults.
The author's credibility is also an important factor to consider. Prior to his career in writing, Jim Ottaviani earned his B.S. from the University of Illinois and an M.S. in nuclear engineering from the University of Michigan. Ottaviani's experience and knowledge in the field gives him an advantage when it comes to writing nonfiction on science.
The author's credibility is also an important factor to consider. Prior to his career in writing, Jim Ottaviani earned his B.S. from the University of Illinois and an M.S. in nuclear engineering from the University of Michigan. Ottaviani's experience and knowledge in the field gives him an advantage when it comes to writing nonfiction on science.
Fun Fact...
Ottaviani currently works as a librarian at the University of Michigan. Here is a link to his bio on the university's website.
Additional Resources & Read-A-Likes
In 2014, The Imitation Game film starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley premiered in theaters across the country and the world. It would go on to receive many Academy Award nominations, including:
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Readers who are particularly fascinated in code breaking may enjoy the following two books about codebreaking and ciphers.
Readers who enjoyed reading The Imitation Game may be interested in other nonfiction graphic novels written by Jim Ottoviani, including Primates and Feynam.
Works Cited
- Brown, Hillary. "The Imitation Game: Alan Turing Decoded by Jim Ottaviani & Leland Purvis Review." Paste Magazine. 22 Mar. 2016. Web.
- Furino, Giaco. "Crack Alan Turing's Code in a New Graphic Novel." The Creators Project. 15 Mar. 2016. Web.
- Hunter, Sarah. "The Imitation Game: Alan Turing Decoded." Booklist 112.14 (2016): 39. Library & Information Science Source. Web.
- Lavington, Simon, ed. Alan Turing and his Contemporaries : Building the World's First Computers. Swindon, GB: BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, 2012. ProQuest ebrary. Web.
Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina & New Orleans
Written & Illustrated by Don Brown
Within Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina & New Orleans, Don Brown tells the story of Hurricane Katrina and its devastating aftermath. With vivid illustrations and a compelling narrative, this graphic novel has received much acclaim and has made its way onto many book lists, including the following:
August 29, 2005...
New Orleans, Louisiana...
Hurricane Katrina, a category 5 storm, breached the levees intended to protect the city.
While many people were able to evacuate, not everyone made it out of the city before the storm arrived.
- Kirkus' Best of 2015 list
- School Library Journal Best of 2015
- Booklist Editor's Choice 2015
- YALSA 2016 Great Graphic Novels for Teens list
- And more...
August 29, 2005...
New Orleans, Louisiana...
Hurricane Katrina, a category 5 storm, breached the levees intended to protect the city.
While many people were able to evacuate, not everyone made it out of the city before the storm arrived.
The city flooded...
Destroying city buildings, homes, and schools...
Leaving many people stranded on rooftops...
While others tried to swim to safety...
Not everyone survived.
Destroying city buildings, homes, and schools...
Leaving many people stranded on rooftops...
While others tried to swim to safety...
Not everyone survived.
From the rescue to clean up and recovery, Brown details the complete aftermath of Hurricane Katrina throughout the rest of the book.
My Thoughts
While reading Drowned City, I was captivated by the style and tone of Brown's illustrations. With muted tones and rich shades, these illustrations serve as a grim, realistic portrayal (and reminder) of what took place nearly eleven years ago.
For example, let's discuss the images shown above. On page 8, Brown paints the tropical storm at sea as it grows and makes its way towards shore. On the next page, people are seen packing up their belongings and evacuating the city. In these illustrations, Brown uses deep shades of blue to portray the enormity of the ocean and the growing storm, while using softer and lighter blues to show the calm before the storm. Personally, I appreciate the stark contrast between these two pages.
Within Drowned City, Brown does not sugarcoat the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He paints a rather realistic portrayal of events.
The hurricane...
The destruction...
The casualties.
For example, the illustrations above show the tremendous amounts of flooding that took place during and after the storm. Many people struggled to swim to safety. The page reads:
For example, let's discuss the images shown above. On page 8, Brown paints the tropical storm at sea as it grows and makes its way towards shore. On the next page, people are seen packing up their belongings and evacuating the city. In these illustrations, Brown uses deep shades of blue to portray the enormity of the ocean and the growing storm, while using softer and lighter blues to show the calm before the storm. Personally, I appreciate the stark contrast between these two pages.
Within Drowned City, Brown does not sugarcoat the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He paints a rather realistic portrayal of events.
The hurricane...
The destruction...
The casualties.
For example, the illustrations above show the tremendous amounts of flooding that took place during and after the storm. Many people struggled to swim to safety. The page reads:
People fight the flood. Some succeed. Others do not.
The text offers the readers important facts and information. Brown's prose need not be long or elaborate. It is, however, his illustrations that speak volumes.
So, why should Drowned City be a part of a library's collection? As an award winning piece of nonfiction, this book would be a great addition to any library's collection of nonfiction for youth. Middle grade and teen readers, who are particularly interested in graphic novels, would especially enjoy reading Drowned City.
Within a review in School Library Journal, Amanda MacGregor states that:
So, why should Drowned City be a part of a library's collection? As an award winning piece of nonfiction, this book would be a great addition to any library's collection of nonfiction for youth. Middle grade and teen readers, who are particularly interested in graphic novels, would especially enjoy reading Drowned City.
Within a review in School Library Journal, Amanda MacGregor states that:
This astonishingly powerful look at one of America's worst disasters is a masterful blend of story and art and a required purchase for all libraries.
Additional Resources & Read-A-Likes
- The Indianapolis Public Library's Kid's Blog has an entire post dedicated to the subject of Hurricane Katrina, featuring both website and book recommendations for children. It just so happens that Drowned City is one of the books featured on this list.
- Brightly, a website dedicated to bookworms and parents of young readers, features an article titled "Remembering Hurricane Katrina: 15 Moving Books for Kids of All Ages." This comprehensive list includes picture books, middle grade books, and books for teens.
- Following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, the Association for Library Service to Children also compiled a list of nonfiction and fiction books for children, parents, and educators. This list may prove especially helpful for those directly affected by natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina or the current flooding in Louisiana.
- Young readers who enjoyed Drowned City may also be interested in other books by the same author. Another popular nonfiction graphic novel, also by Don Brown, is The Great American Dust Bowl. Within this book, Brown details the severe dust storms that swept the country in the 1930s.
Works Cited
- Brown, Don. Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina & New Orleans. New York: HMH, 2015. Print.
- MacGregor, Amanda. "Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina & New Orleans By Don Brown - SLJ Review." School Library Journal. 14 Aug. 2015. Web.
Dawn Stump
My name is Dawn, and I am a graduate student at Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis in pursuit of a master's degree in library science. To learn more about me, click HERE.
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