Reader Response Technologically Mediated Conversations:
A Critique of Modern Literature
Table of Contents
1. Biography: Man Fish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau (Biography), by Jennifer Berne, 2008
2. Informational (Multicultural Literature): Every Human Has Rights: A Photographic Declaration for Kids, National Geographic Publication with Forward By: Mary Robinson, 2009
3. Poetry: America at War, poems selected by: Lee Bennett Hopkins, 2008
4. Modern Fantasy: Library Lion (Fantasy), By: Michelle Knudsen and Kevin Hawkes, July 24, 2006
5. Historical Fiction (Multicultural Literature): Sitting Bull Remembers, By: Ann Turner, 2007
6. Free Choice # 1 (Multicultural Literature; Chapter Book): Project Mulberry Linda Sue Park, 2005
7. Free Choice # 2 (Multicultural Literature): Show Way, Jacqueline Woodson, 2005
8. Free Choice #3 (Historical Fiction) the All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll, Patricia McKissack, 2007
Saturday, October 17, 2009
the All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll (Historical Fiction Free Choice 3)
The Great Depression- Enter Blog Now
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sitting Bull Remembers (Historical Fiction)
Dear Lauren,
Since at first glance I new Sitting Bull was going to be a multicultural picture book because of the title Sitting Bull Remembers and cover illustration of a Native American man. I looked on the back flap to see if the author, Ann Turner was Native American and to read up about her. There was no picture of her and nothing in the blob about her led me to believe that she was Native American or should know a lot about Native Americans. I decided to research her online to see if she earned the right to write about Native Americans. I wanted to know if this account of Sitting Bull was going to be accurate. When I went to Ann Turners website as specified on the back cover of the book under "About Author" a sit unrelated to Ann Turner came up with links having nothing to do with Turner or her books. This site was not helpful at all in determining if she had a right to be righting about Native American culture. Being that I am not a Native American I have no way of knowing if this book portrays accurate information.
At first glance I also believed this was a biographical account of Sitting Bull. However, upon reading the author's note on the endpapers it is not a biography, but a historical fiction.
Using the website on Dr. Kurkjian's homepage called "Evaluating Literature" for historical fiction I felt as though the Book Sitting Bull Remembers meets all of the criteria. Ecspecially, the criteria for do the characters actions, thoughts, etc. match that of the time period. The book is meant to portray the 1800's when white settlers came to settle in the Souix Nation's territory in search of gold. While settling they built railroads and drove the buffallo away, which were a major food sourch of the Sioux Nation tribe. The author does a good job telling how Sitting Bull might really have felt when this was actually taking place. Would you agree with me?
The first thing I notice about Sitting Bull Remembers is the powerful imagery that is present on even the first few pages. On the second page of the picture book, is the line "Rivers sparkle like the eyes of a child." The book is full of similes, metaphors that bring up powerful images to the reader such as how sparkly the river is, just like that of a child's eyes. I liked how the author used a poetic narrative style to tell her story of Sitting Bull. The language and vocabulary she uses offers a nice touch to the story itself. The language chosen helps to tell what Sitting Bull may have felt like when he was taken off of his land by force because of "the white man" coming onto the Sioux Nations territory and eventually forcing them onto reservations.
I found it interesting that there were two sets of illustrations going on in the book. On the page where the narrator describes how he first got his name "Sitting Bull" the illustrations show a detailed picture of the narrator riding on his horse with his bow and shield. Then, above that image is a less detailed image that looks like a child drew it. I think the illustrator, Wendell Minor uses the less detailed, child drawing image to show the narrator thinking back to the past. What did you make of the two sets of illustrations on some of the pages? Why do you think the illustrator did this?
I did not like how on the page where the narrator describes being "caught like a bear in a trap without claws (they took my weapons)..." the author uses parenthesis to clarify what she means by "without claws." I think that hear she is dumbing down the text. Without the parenthesis a great discussion could have arose in class where we asked our students to think about what the author might have meant be "like a bear in a trap without claws." I felt like the author thought she needed to include the parentheses in order for her reader to get what she meant. However, this ruins the chance for the reader to think for him/herself. Do you agree with me? Explain why or why not.
I think this picture book does a nice job of showing another side to history other than a "white only version." Children should see that the Native Americans were fighting to defend their homes and land to protect their people because it was trying to be taken away from them out of greed by "the white man."
Sincerely,
Heather
Since at first glance I new Sitting Bull was going to be a multicultural picture book because of the title Sitting Bull Remembers and cover illustration of a Native American man. I looked on the back flap to see if the author, Ann Turner was Native American and to read up about her. There was no picture of her and nothing in the blob about her led me to believe that she was Native American or should know a lot about Native Americans. I decided to research her online to see if she earned the right to write about Native Americans. I wanted to know if this account of Sitting Bull was going to be accurate. When I went to Ann Turners website as specified on the back cover of the book under "About Author" a sit unrelated to Ann Turner came up with links having nothing to do with Turner or her books. This site was not helpful at all in determining if she had a right to be righting about Native American culture. Being that I am not a Native American I have no way of knowing if this book portrays accurate information.
At first glance I also believed this was a biographical account of Sitting Bull. However, upon reading the author's note on the endpapers it is not a biography, but a historical fiction.
Using the website on Dr. Kurkjian's homepage called "Evaluating Literature" for historical fiction I felt as though the Book Sitting Bull Remembers meets all of the criteria. Ecspecially, the criteria for do the characters actions, thoughts, etc. match that of the time period. The book is meant to portray the 1800's when white settlers came to settle in the Souix Nation's territory in search of gold. While settling they built railroads and drove the buffallo away, which were a major food sourch of the Sioux Nation tribe. The author does a good job telling how Sitting Bull might really have felt when this was actually taking place. Would you agree with me?
The first thing I notice about Sitting Bull Remembers is the powerful imagery that is present on even the first few pages. On the second page of the picture book, is the line "Rivers sparkle like the eyes of a child." The book is full of similes, metaphors that bring up powerful images to the reader such as how sparkly the river is, just like that of a child's eyes. I liked how the author used a poetic narrative style to tell her story of Sitting Bull. The language and vocabulary she uses offers a nice touch to the story itself. The language chosen helps to tell what Sitting Bull may have felt like when he was taken off of his land by force because of "the white man" coming onto the Sioux Nations territory and eventually forcing them onto reservations.
I found it interesting that there were two sets of illustrations going on in the book. On the page where the narrator describes how he first got his name "Sitting Bull" the illustrations show a detailed picture of the narrator riding on his horse with his bow and shield. Then, above that image is a less detailed image that looks like a child drew it. I think the illustrator, Wendell Minor uses the less detailed, child drawing image to show the narrator thinking back to the past. What did you make of the two sets of illustrations on some of the pages? Why do you think the illustrator did this?
I did not like how on the page where the narrator describes being "caught like a bear in a trap without claws (they took my weapons)..." the author uses parenthesis to clarify what she means by "without claws." I think that hear she is dumbing down the text. Without the parenthesis a great discussion could have arose in class where we asked our students to think about what the author might have meant be "like a bear in a trap without claws." I felt like the author thought she needed to include the parentheses in order for her reader to get what she meant. However, this ruins the chance for the reader to think for him/herself. Do you agree with me? Explain why or why not.
I think this picture book does a nice job of showing another side to history other than a "white only version." Children should see that the Native Americans were fighting to defend their homes and land to protect their people because it was trying to be taken away from them out of greed by "the white man."
Sincerely,
Heather
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
First blog
Hello Lauren,
Welcome to our first blog. We will read Sitting Bull first and blog by next Tuesdays class.
Heather
Welcome to our first blog. We will read Sitting Bull first and blog by next Tuesdays class.
Heather
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