In the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the World

Source: Hamilton, V., & Moser, B. (1988). In the beginning: Creation stories from around the world. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Genre: Traditional

Age: 10+

 

In the beginning, the Raven created man... No, in the beginning, Divine Woman created Earth... or maybe it was a turtle, a feathered serpent,  or Zeus. Whomever we can thank for this awesome gift of life varies from country to county. These are considered myths by most, but there are many who believe in the validity of a few of these. These stories also show a great deal about the cultures who shared them. For example, there were a few Native American stories that were centered around the power and importance of the natural earth, which is something I would expect from Native Americans (I'm actually part Navajo, and believe in the power of the natural earth as well!). Also, of course, the Greek story focuses on Zeus and the battles of gods. Traditional literature is a great window of insight to various cultural mores.

I found this collection to be absolutely fascinating, and a great tool to use in the classroom to introduce folklore and myth. It begins with a powerful hook: "Time was, there were no people on earth. The first man still lay inside the pea pod." What a cool way to start off a story! I can imagine most young readers would see this and wonder what in the world some dude was doing in a pea pod. It turns out, a raven had been "growing" man, and when he broke free of the pod, the raven showed him what food was, taught him about the world around him, and made him a perfect "helper" or woman. (I loved that we were known as "helpers" in most of the stories...)

This is a collection of 25 stories, so I couldn't even begin to review every one; however, my absolute favorite has to be the one that includes the most conflict: "Death the Creator." The story begins with darkness, and the only beings were Sa (Death), his wife, his daughter, and God Alatangana. God felt that the world was too full of darkness, so he created plants and animals to make it better. Sa was so thankful for this that he frequently allowed God in his house. Eventually though, God fell for Sa's daughter and asked for her hand in marriage. Sa did not want to give up his daughters and continued to make excuses to prevent it from happening. They secretly married and ran off, and began having many children. Sa was so angry that the next time he spoke to God, he said, "I welcomed you into my home, and you repaid me by taking my daughter. Now you must give me one of your children on the earth whenever I call one to me." This dialogue pushed the plot forward, and kept me intrigued and wanting to read more. I enjoyed this story for many reasons; number one, it gave a its own little twist on how the earth was created, but it also tells the story of how Death calls God's children. There are many "hints" as to what will happen in the future, and the contrast of characters (and complexity) makes a story like this great to teach foreshadowing, character, and conflict. I plan to use this to aid teaching my first unit. 

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has interest in various cultures, and history. What a great collection!

City of Ember

Source:  DuPrau, J. (2003). The city of Ember. New York: Random House. 

Genre: Modern Fantasy

Age: 10+

This ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Book is definitely worth the read! In an effort to save the human race, scientists built an underground city meant to last for 200 years. Although the reader is never informed about what they're trying to escape, it can be inferred that scientists believe it will be safe again after that time frame. A time release box with instructions for escaping is left with the mayor. He/she is asked to never share this information with anyone except his/her successor. Unfortunately, the city of Ember ends up with a corrupt mayor and he does not share this information with anyone. The box ends up in a closet, and no one knows that there is a way of escaping.

Shortly after their time is up, supplies start dwindling- especially light bulbs. The generator and electricity are exceeding their years, and the underground town is prone to terrifying blackouts. Some start thinking that the "Builders" will come rescue them; others don't have any hope at all.  Lina, and her estranged friend Doon, are determined to find a way out after she discovers the cryptic, yet torn up old directions in her grandma's closet.

The most dramatic element of this novel is the integral setting, essential to the story's survival. It's exactly as one would imagine a small, underground town with little technology: cluttered, dank, some with hope, some lost, and homes that seem to be falling apart. Lina's apartment that she shares with her grandma and sister is no different as described on page 23: "There were things that had  belonged to Lina's parents, her grandparents, and even their grandparents-- old, broken, threadbare things that had been patched and repaired dozens of times. The people of Ember rarely threw anything away. They made best possible use of what they had." This is because they knew that they weren't going to get anything new. They simply didn't have the resources to create anything new.

Another important part of this integral setting are the blackouts. The people of Ember know that there is a shortage of light bulbs and the electricity is questionable, so everyone fears that each blackout will be the last and they will be left in darkness forever. The setting of this story is underground, so of course a blackout could mean never-ending darkness. Every time the lights go out, it could be their last.

Finally, the setting is integral to the story because the main conflict of the story is figuring out how to escape it. The city which has given them protection for so many years, and has given them the only home they know, is becoming a danger to everyone.

This is the first of the Ember series, and I plan on reading the rest. What a creative, yet realistic fantasy novel!

If You Decide to Go to the Moon

Book Talk 


McNulty, F., & Kellogg, S. (2007). If you decide to go to the moon. New York: Scholastic.


What's the longest journey you've ever taken? Have you ever traveled 240,000 miles? If you're averaging 3, 750 miles per hour, it will only take you two and a half days.... then you'll be on the moon!

 If you're curious about going, or you're planning a trip, this is the book for you! Do you know what kind of food you should take? How about how to sleep without floating away, or what the Sea of Tranquility is? This book tells you, from beginning to end, what you should do and what to expect if you ever want to travel outta this world! 

 This juvenile picture book is non-fiction and a must-read for anyone who is interested in learning more about space travel and the moon. 


To hear this book talk, click on the link below.
https://soundcloud.com/krystalynn-kuehn/if-you-decide-to-go-to-the

The Middle Passage

Feelings, T. (1995). The middle passage: White ships/black cargo. New York: Dial Books.

Genre: Non-Fiction, Picture Book 

      Age: 13+

Summary: This picture tells the heart-breaking true story of Africans being stolen away from their homes and taken against their will to America. Although this story is wordless, it has a lot to say. It begins with the Africans' lives before white men attacked them, and pushes forward through time in a series of captivating and moving drawings. 

Reflection: 

This image is probably one of the most striking of the story. The lines of the drawing seem to be driving the boat forward, moving toward what white men felt was progress. However, when you look at the Africans' faces, it is obvious that they are in great distress. They are being stolen from all they know, treated worse than animals, and torn from their families... but the boat keeps pushing them forward regardless of their screams. 

This is one of the most mature drawings included in this wordless story. I felt the choice of black and white coloring was appropriate. The main focus of this story is a struggle between black and white, so what a perfect choice to make that the focus of our visual attention as well. The contrast seems quite vivid in this drawing; I believe this was an intentional message that shows that stark difference of needs between the two cultures. This image is also one of the reasons I felt that 13+ would be more age appropriate. This is not only due to the naked female body, but also how the female body seems to have been terrorized. 

 I think this drawing is a perfect example of lines in an image and the meaning behind them. The artist, Feelings, very clearly demonstrates an absolute frustration and sense of unrest. Even the captive man's shoulder blades are uneven; he's body is disjointed with his head in one direction and his shoulders in another. This gives the reader a feeling of submission, as if he and his people have given in and lost hope. 

Finally, this drawing of men, women, and children in wretched conditions demonstrates a need for change. How could a human being do this to another human being? What would compel a race to have such hatred for another race? How could anyone have such a superiority complex over another? 

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in history, civil rights, government/politics, or culture. This book would be a great addition to a Social Studies or English Language Arts classroom as an aid in discussion, or even as a central focus in a unit. As an ELA teacher, I could imagine myself using this as a tool for journals. Students who are mature enough to grasp such horror would certainly be moved by such an important piece of our country's history. 

Introduction

Hi! My name is Krystalynn Kuehn-Wilson. I am a sixth grade teacher, and I'm getting ready to begin my sixth year of teaching in a middle school. Before teaching in a middle school, I taught two years of preschool. I have been working with kids since I was 16, and there is no place I'd rather be! I am married to my best friend, and we have a sweet little 15 month old girl.  We will be bringing Wilson number two into the world this Christmas. We are pretty excited!