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- Library Lion (Fantasy)
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- Man Fish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau (Biography)
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October
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Lauren,
ReplyDeleteI thought that Manfish would be a wonderful introduction into a biography writing lesson for our students. The biography picturebook told of Jacques Cousteau's love of the ocean and photgraphy and how combined he brought films of the underwater world to life for all to see.
However, I have to criticize the author, Jennifer Burne (her first children's picture book was Manfish) for having condescension in her book. I felt as though Burne was underestimating the reader's ability to understand certain terminology. For example, on the page where Jacques names his new invention to go underwater and be able to breath "aqua lungs" Burne insists on following the name of Jacques new invention with an explanation to her readers saying, "because aqua means water, and our lungs are part of our body that holds the air we breathe." The name of the new contraption certainly did not need an explanation by anymeans. This condescention almost makes me not want to share this book with my students. However, I will give Burnes the benefit of the doubt and assume she is just a new author, who will gain writing experience as time goes on. What did you think about this Lauren? Did it make you as mad as it made me?
I did like the authors use of figurative language found on several occasions. One of my favorite examples was a metaphor on the very first page with writing where the author writes, "silvery beads of breath from a man deep, deep down in a strange and shimmering ocean land." I felt as though this page contained the best writing of the entire book. This page read with poetic rythym and cadance that none of the other pages of text quite captured. I also enjoyed how on this page the illustrator chose to have the words start out bigger and get smaller and smaller. The words also took off across the page in a swirling motion like waves on the ocean, which was fitting for the setting of the picture book. Also, I took the swirling words to mean that the mysteries of the ocean would take Jacques on many adventures and lead him to great things. I was wondering, who do you think plans and arranges the words on the page? Is it the author or illustrator whom I can give credit to for the placement of the swirling words on this first page of writing? The rest of the writing throughout the book is written regular style from left to right. I think the book should have continued to play with the arrangement of the words as they did on the first page. I also enjoyed the simlile on the fold out flap, which opened up to a three page spread of illustration and text written sideways so that you had to turn the book to read it. This was an interseting layout because it allowed the reader to feel as though they were deep under the ocean with Jacques looking down on the illustrations of sea life below. The simlie that I enjoyed on this page was, "And flute fish-with heads like horses and bodies the shape of tubes- sticking out of rocky openings like pencils in cups." What did you think of some of the authors language?
Sincerely,
Heather
Hi Heather,
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be a little bit personally offended by the author's condescension ;)! I think you're right, but when I was reading this story aloud to my parents, I actually stopped reading and gave my own little explanation about what "aqua" meant. Then, I continued reading and found that the author had already included the definition. Maybe Jennifer Burne included the definition for students who might be reading the book on their own and not make the connection that "aqua" meant water.
I also loved the author's use of figurative language, and actually had noted one of the same quotes that you mentioned above: "silvery beads of breath from a man deep, deep down in a strange and shimmering ocean land." This line impressed me from the start. I also liked how she played with the text so that the letters seemed to float through the water. The 5th graders loved how the page flapped down, so that you could see several feet of text and pictures. I have to say that my 5th graders were engaged with the text from start to finish, and they made excellent predictions throughout the read aloud. For example, they picked up on clues, like Cousteau's love of photography and being underwater to predict that he would photograph the underwater creatures.
Great book, really motivated my boy readers!
-Lauren :)
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteYou read this book to your parents? As in your mom and dad? Or your students' parents?? (haha). Okay, so if it wasn't bad enough that you've been suckering poor Chole into our class assignment read alouds you now have read them to your mom and dad as well. (I'm just kidding... I'm actually laughing as I'm writing this right now, just in case you couldn't pick up on my tone through the blog!)
Anyways, back on topic Heather.... (now I'm talking to myself....) I think that is great that your boy readers really enjoyed this book. After attending the Ralph Fletcher conference for NERA last year his workshop was geared at trying to find books that our boys might enjoy. By the way, I have a great book series to suggest. Might I suggest "Scary Stories?" My boys seemed to really like them and administration was all for it. You might want to give those books a go! Let me know what you think.(hehe) Are you laughing yet? Anyways, I know that finding topics that interest our boy readers is very important so I'm glad they enjoyed Manfish. Speaking of Ralph Fletcher earlier in my blog. I was driving home from Pomfret, CT after my mom's birthday celebration and saw his name on a sign on someones front lawn running for some spot in office. Does he live in CT? Oh sorry, off topic again, I'm a little distracted in this blog today. Can you tell?
Anyways, back on topic again Heather...
Yes, I did take the condescention a little personally. By the way did you really explain "aqua" to your parents. In our Children's Literature book that we are reading in class on page 27 (for all of us that have the 4th edition, you excluded.. you'll have to look this definition up in your book's index)it says that condescention is considered "weak writing" one example was given when an author of a book for fourth graders called the esophagus a "food tube" because she though the reader wouldn't understand the term so she tried to overexplain. I think Burne's did do this. I think fifth graders and parents ecspecially are more than capable of understanding what the "lungs" and even "aqua" are.
I hope you enjoyed this blog today!
Heather
Hi Heather,
ReplyDeleteWow, you are on fire! OK, just to be clear, it was to my students, not my parents that I read Man Fish. Yikes! Must have been tired... sort of like when I called Chloe Puggles. At least I am keeping you amused ;)!
OK, it was my turn to do a little research. I checked out book reviews on Man Fish, and I found that most were impressed by the fantastic figurative language Turner chose. One of the reviews mentioned Cousteau's concern for the environment. This is actually a great message to send to students and could actually lend itself quite nicely to a study on "living green". We have read the book Hoot to our 5th graders in the past, another book that deals with environmental concerns, and I recently found another novel in our book cabinet with along the same theme. As you know, I have been recycling plastic bottles in my classroom for years, and am generally an advocate for "living green". This could be a great thematic study that could cross many genres!
Another review commented on the illustrations, and I was again in awe of just how truly AMAZING the illustrations were!!! Did you notice on the page where Cousteau is snorkeling and his body is curved in a c-shape, the fish are curved in the exact same way? This repetition of shapes creates a feeling of peace, which supports the text in that Cousteau felt most AT peace when he was underwater.
Loved this book and would definitely use it with my 5th graders again, even WITH a little bit of condescension ;)!
-Lauren :)