Module 1

June 6-12, 2011

Book 1: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein 

Bibliograpy: Silverstein, S. (1964). The giving tree. New York: Harper & Row.

Summary:
This is a story about a boy and a tree. When the boy is little, he enjoys the tree and the tree enjoys the little boy playing - climbing, playing in the leaves. As the boy grows, he begins to spend less time with the tree. Each time the boy visits the tree the tree provides something for the boy/man. The boy needs money - the tree provides apples to sell. The boy needs a house - the tree provides branches to build. The boy needs a boat - the tree provides his trunk to carve a boat. The boy finally needs a rest, as an old man - the tree provides a stump for him to rest. This simple book demonstrates relationships as they grow in this easy to understand story.

My Impression:
This book is easy to read with simple pictures that tell a story of a child and a tree and the bond that they share as they age together until the boy is an old man. The simple text and and pencil drawings make the words powerful of this story about unconditional love. It makes me think of a child / parent relationship, where the parent provides for the needs of the child, sometimes to the point that the parent feels like they have nothing left to give. I have not read this book since I was a child and it left me a little touched, so I took a moment to tell my son that I love him and I would always be there for him. This is a small little book with a powerful point.

Reviews:

 

1. Canadian Review of Materials

This popular classic of modern children's literature was first published in 1963 and has been embraced both by children and adults. It has just been released with a CD narration of the story by Shel Silverstein. This parable teaches lessons on love and acceptance, is simply told. It is illustrated with black and white line drawings and a straightforward text describing how a little boy comes to visit the "giving tree" every day. The tree gives the boy everything from its apples to a place to swing and slide. As the boy grows up, he demands more and more from the tree until finally the tree seems to have nothing left to give. At the end, the boy is an old man and returns to the tree and finds that the tree provides him with one more thing.

The book's theme of love and the cycle of life will resonate with adults and will provide many discussion points when shared with children. Highly Recommended. - Lorraine Douglas, Canadian Review of Materials

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2. Horn Book

This book about a boy and a generous tree, who gives him all she has, has long been cherished as a tale of unconditional, selfless love, and likewise condemned as a story of complete codependency. Its controversial themes now live on in a new format, with the same short text per page and evocative line drawings now made larger for easier sharing with a group. Horn Book (Fall 2003)

Suggestion for Use:

This book would be great in discussion the give and takes to any relationship and also about unconditional love - from a friend or parent.

Citations:

 

Douglas, L. (2004). [Review of the book The Giving Tree by S. Silverstein]. CM: Canadian Review of Materials, 10(21), N.PAG. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2104/ehost/detail?sid=5839463e-1cfd-4182-b0e7-71404461a7bd%40sessionmgr114&vid=658&hid=10&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=lih&AN=13855172

Horn Book. (2003). [Review of the book The Giving Tree by S. Silverstein]. Retrieved from Titlewave http://www.flr.follett.com/search?SID=94d9d1ed3c2fe75301d62d89347ead2d

Book 2: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Bibliography: Burnett, F. (2010). The secret garden. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Summary:

Mary was sent to Yorkshire, England after her parents are killed in India. She is use to having servants do everything for her and is not very happy when she learns that she will have to do many things herself. Martha cares for Mary and teaches her to be nicer to people - rather than treat them like slaves. Mary comes across Collin one evening as she follows the sound of crying. Collin is the son of her uncle that took her in. She was not aware that he had a son, and that she had a cousin. Collin is a sickly child who is mean and filled with anger since he is awaiting his death at any time. Collin's mother died tight after he was born and he was shut away because his father was too filled with grief to see him. He had been told at a very young age that he would die and he believed it, so he stayed in bed and became sickly. He also believes that he will have a growth on his back that will make him hunched, which he fears at every moment that he has a growth that has begun. Mary gets him up and moving and introduces him to Dickon, who is her friend and also the little brother of Martha, her caregiver. Mary teaches Collin a few things about being nice to the staff, things she herself learned earlier from Martha. Dickon and Mary take Collin out to the secret garden, which is the garden that his mother loved and cared for when she was alive. Since her death it has been restricted and hasn't been cared for in years. The three work in the garden and begin to see that things are growing and beginning new life with the spring season. Collin begins to gain more strength and begins to get out of his wheel chair and walking around. When Collin is finally able to walk and run and do the things a normal boy of his age would do, his father returns from being on a long trip. His father is amazed that he is up and running and that he has found the garden and is actually working on bringing it back to its beauty.

My Impression:

I had not read this book until this assignment. I really enjoyed it and it made my heart happy at the end. To see how Mary changed from being a spoiled little brat, even though where she came from, it was expected. Her relationship with Martha was fun to follow and the humor in the experiences that Mary had after she first came to the house made me chuckle. Dickon and his animals were fun and his opening Mary's eyes to so many things made him a great character to the story. Collin, wow, he was pretty much a basket case, but then it was bred into him from infancy that he was a frail child and he would probably not live long. He was so scared, like anyone would be, but Mary changed all that for him. It was exciting to see the changes in Collin after he started spending time with Mary and to see Her use the lines on Collin that Martha had used on her was hysterical. Collin proved to himself at the end that he would meet his dad on his feet, I'm sure he never thought that he would actually "run" into him. I really enjoyed this book and I found myself still thinking about it days later.

Reviews:

1. School Library Journal

First published in 1911, Burnett's tale of burgeoning self-awareness, new found friendship, and the healing effects of nature is presented in an elegant, oversize volume and handsomely illustrated with Moore's detailed ink and watercolor paintings. Cleanly laid-out text pages are balanced by artwork ranging from delicate spot images to full-page renderings. The outdoor scenes are beautifully depicted, presenting realistic images of animals and flowers, with the hues gradually warming in sync with the store's progression from winter's browns and beiges to the lush colors of spring. The young protagonists - lonely Mary Lennox; her sickly and spoiled cousin, Collin; and likable local lad Dickon - bound to life in the evocative paintings, which reflect the wonders of transformations in both nature and in a child's heart. All in all, a lovely interpretation.- Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal

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2. Library Media Connection

This new edition of Burnett's well-loved classic illustrated in ink and watercolor will stand up well against Tasha Tudor's 1930 version, and is much more engaging than some more recent editions. The story of Mary Lennox, Dickon, and Collin needs no retelling, but the size of the book, about one foot tall, and the new illustrations should be considered if newer versions of the story are needed. The illustrator, who lives in England, has captured the Victorian era in detail, the Yorkshire landscape, and the changes in the garden over time. The children, too, are more lifelike contrasting nicely with the sweetness of Tudor's illustrations and line drawings. The cover, with its embossed gold lettered title is a wraparound scene inviting the reader to enter into the garden along with Mary as she hears the robin's winter song. There are nice details in the other drawings, particularly the flowers, even if some of the animals appear a bit too Beatrix Potterish for me. Perhaps Moore will undertake Burnett's other works and give them an English feel. Recommended. - Leslie Greaves Radloff, Teacher/ Librarian, St. Anthony Park Elementary School,St. Paul, Minnesota

Suggestion for Use:

This book would be good when discussing the power of words and how if one hears them enough they can start to believe them. Another way to use this book would be to discuss the power of friendship. The importance of helping others be the best they can and showing love and support along the way. This would also be excellent to demonstrate how people can handle change. A move from another country, a shift in the things you have always believed, a change in attitude towards people.

Citations: 

Fleishhacker, J. (2008). [Review of the book The Secret Garden by F. Burnett]. School Library Journal, 54(6), 135. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2104/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=5839463e-1cfd-4182-b0e7-71404461a7bd%40sessionmgr114&vid=602&hid=125

Radloff, L. (2008). [Review of the book The Secret Garden by F. Burnett]. Library Media Connection, 27(2), 69. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2104/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=5839463e-1cfd-4182-b0e7-71404461a7bd%40sessionmgr114&vid=616&hid=13