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[…] The Worst Best Friend […]

Thanks for posting about this book. I find the illustrations so beautiful. I researched a bit about her and she does amazing work. Her website is so alive, everything moves.. very cute :o)

I also listened to the podcast about you guys last night. It was great getting to take a glimpse behind the scenes. I think what you do is inspirational. Really out of love and passion for books! How awesome is that?! Your kids must be very happy with such cool parents who keep children’s books everywhere around the house :o)

I agree, just looking at Polly Dunbar’s breezy, by turns humourous and touching illustrations makes me feel great.

I’m so glad you are inspired by JOMB. Thanks for telling us. Our girls do love JustOneMoreBook and everything it is to our family.

[…] McFig & McFly: A Tale of Jealousy, Revenge, and Death {with a Happy Ending} […]

How enjoyable…
I’ll be looking for these books for my boys soon!!!
Congratulations!!!

I think my son would like this book. Thanks for the recommendation.

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It’s always so nice hearing your voices discussing children’s literature. :o) This book seems really interesting. I never would have imagined a book on pirates being thought-provoking!

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I’m so glad you reviewed this here. I really loved this when I read it for the Cybils. It was a real rollercoaster of a read. I’m hoping to pair this with Teammates by Peter Golenbock when I teach issues of tolerance this fall.

Thank you so much! I needed to hear this! How can I expect my own kids to fit this perfect mold of my former self which never existed? We do tend to idealize our generation and everything gets compared to this idealized and embellished time that never truly existed. We do not have to present ourselves as perfect beings to our own kids. They need to know that growing up is a bumpy path, and that we have been there too.

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William and I love this book. Sometimes we read along with this amazing version by Camryn Manheim. If you haven’t been to the Bookpals site, you should check it out.
Bookpals Storyline Online

In addition to Enemy Pie, there are many great books read aloud.

This is a very powerful book, in the sense that it shows the meaning and importance of words. It worked out great for Max that his older brothers didn’t want to share anything with him, because in the end Max shared with them. He showed his older siblings the importance of pictures with words as well as the importance of words in general. Also I believe it is great to spark a young child interest with words because that means the more they are interested in words the more the child will read.

I cannot wait to bring this book to my classroom as I am always looking for ways to excite my students about literacy. I love the idea of collecting words and then using them to make creative stories. I also liked the idea of Max laying out the words and as he rearranged them the meaning of the sentence would change. I could actually see this book as a precursor to getting kids to collect their own words. It sounds like the book used fun and exciting ideas to get at some of the fundamentals of language. What a great book to motivate children about reading and writing.

I too have often had a hard time bringing the excitement and love that I have for words and reading into the classroom. What a great book to introduce my students to. I currently teach fourth graders and although I don’t really think that this book would be appropriate, I think the preschool age students would love a book like this. How incredible that the little brother involved his big brothers in this process as well. I agree that this would be a great introduction into writing for the younger age. I haven’t read the book yet and now I am motivated to go out and find it so that I can continue to share the love that I have for reading with my own daughter.

The most striking parts of this book are the illustrations by Boris Kulikov. So much happens on each page, I want to examine a few illustrations to point out how this book is different from most children’s books as well as why it’s a good read. My students, DC Public Schools first graders, enjoyed the sibling rivalry aspect of this book, but I had to compare and contrast for them to get into the pictures. As it is said, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” It seems to be the other way around if you read the text of this book–the words that Max finds propel Max forward, bringing him up to the same level as his more accomplished brothers (proletariats and youngest siblings of the world, unite!) Max’s desire to “collect something” leads him to words. Maybe it’s also because words seem like a silly thing to collect, but I’m probably reading into it (but isn’t that the point!).
So, Max has his words, and, for once, he is not focusing on his brothers. Look at the pictures where Max is asking his brothers for a stamp or a coin–Max is on the side, with no background whatsoever. The artist does this great David Lynch corner of the room view that foreshortens everyone, giving them gigantic heads and teeny-tiny feet.
Max’s discovery of words, before he manipulates them, shows him in control, with the words gathering at his feet like so much confetti. Now Max is ready to write. The key difference between Max’s words and his brothers stamps / coins is that “[w]hen Benjamin put his stamps together, he just had a bunch of stamps. When Karl put his coins together, he had just a pile of money. But when Max put his words together, he had a thought.” The book doesn’t tell us this, but the actual physical words Max finds don’t make the thought, it’s Max’s manipulation of the words, of course, that gives life to them. In the same way, Max’s resentment of his brothers leads him to something productive, collecting words, and eventually writing a story.
Kulikov does something grand when Max begins to write his story with his brothers’ help. He shows the unfolding action of the story as a picture on the floor, with Max and his brothers contemplating what to do next as they slide words around. Off to the side you can see window-frame shapes in relief, sort of the negative space you would have if you had an invisible window. This has to be what the creative process is like for some authors, maybe the author of this story, Kate Banks.
Despite everything beautiful about the pictures and message in this book, one criticism remains. Why is the focus on the words? Max should be taking some credit for the story he writes with his brothers. Kids should learn to take pride in their art, in the fruits of their labor.
When I write (I promise I’m done after this!) I picture myself at my chair or piano bench, with all possible sentences / chords floating around my head, some bigger than others (ideas that make sense) but some so attractive I can’t resist once in a while. It’s up to me to pull them out of the air and put them on paper in such a way that it will be meaningful to me and, hopefully, someone else. If I pick lots of good ideas in a row the story or melody gains momentum, and then it feels like it writes itself, like this comment.
Thanks for indulging me.
What is the process you go through when you write?

I’ve been thinking a lot about competition, and how it affects children. As an educator, I am frequently being told that competition is bad and should be eliminated from the classroom. I am reminded of bacteria. We all know bacteria can make us sick. We love products that kill as much of it as possible. But the fact is we can’t possibly kill all of it, nor should we. Much as we hate getting sick, we need bacteria to maintain a healthy balance in our bodies and in the surrounding environment. Competition may lead to anxiety. It may cause children who feel unable to compete to shut down. It may cause children accustomed to winning to get bored. But when the carrot is dangled just right, I have found competition to be an excellent driving force in my life. We couldn’t eliminate it if we wanted to, and maybe we shouldn’t want to so much. What I love about this story is the lesson that when faced with a competitive situation, a child can come out on top by finding what is special about himself; what interests him. Moreover, by bringing his own offerings to the table, Max was able to change the atmosphere from one of competition to one of sharing. It’s a great example to kids of what it means to rise above.

I think this book sounds like an excellent addition to my classroom library. While I appreciate the story because it creates a love of words, I can use this book to help my students create their own dictionaries. So many children are vocabulary deficient these days and while there is a significant amount of time is spent teaching vocabulary, there would be no comparison if the students took ownership of increasing their own vocabulary, just as the boys do in the book. It helps make learning and reading new words exciting and tangible. Additionally, the book is inspirational for kids because it shows a child being proactive and independent. Finding a hobby that matches his personality is stimulating and rewarding for him and should be for all children.

This sounds like a very inspiring and engaging chapter book! I am delighted that the author depicts such colorful and diverse characters. My students will love and will gain much from being able to see people like themselves working together to navigate the world, cooperatively working towards a goal, and confidently making tough choices. Through our critical literacy focus we will explore thoroughly the issue of considering options and choosing a nonviolent approach. Children need to see examples of and learn how to weigh their options for how to react in challenging situations. Mention of Ghandi and MLK will also provide a valuable link for discussion about peaceful action.

Kristin,

Thanks for listening and for sharing your thoughts.

Do let us know what you think of the book, once you get your hands on a copy. We’d love to hear your perspective and the perspective of your students.

Andrea

This book sounds very informative. It seems as if it may relate to some inner city children, and just how their lives may play out. For children to get into the characters of the book really helps the critical literacy aspect of how children view themselves in the characters eyes, this is great. Also,the history dealing with the great leaders in the past, helps children to understand that certain people struggled to make a statement about mankind. To also show children that it was not always this way, and you don’t have to accept it. But you must go about it in a certain manner. Working cooperatively together to produce one common goal.

I found this review to be interesting and mysterious. It definitely makes me want to go out and immediately find out what all the chatter is about! The hosts seem quite taken with the book as they describe imagery, color, and magic. From their description, I believe this book is definitely one that the kids in my classroom will want to read and “get into.” Often, books that are touted to celebrate diversity are simply window dressing without developed characters. Many times these books feel stereotypical and void of real thought. It’s almost like the characters in these books have been painted brown, but the story has not. It is refreshing to hear that there are books that provide real imagery, depth, and insight with developed and complex characters. Children are definitely capable of handling the realness of this approach. My fourth grade class and I will definitely be checking this out!

I was thrilled to find such an engaging review of a book for upper elementary students. As a fifth grade teacher and as the coordinator of our school’s Peer Mediator program I love finding books that address issues of peace and conflict resolution. Soul Force and Spice Cake appears to not only address these issues, using children around the age of my students, but to do it in a funny, sad, suspensful way - key elements of a book to draw in 10 and 11 year old readers. I really liked the comment about how the book uses humor and how silly some of the scenarios are. Silliness and the ability to laugh out loud are so important to older children; we sometimes forget how necessary it is for the “tweens” to be children. The characters sound dynamic, as does the process they all go through as they grow and experience and search for the answers. The review makes the characters and the story elements vibrant, descibing the book full of “color, texture, smell, magic and music.” What more do you need to create a wildly successful read for upper elementary students? I can’t wait to read this book myself and then read it to my students.

Due to a mistake on my part, 14 people did not get The Ring Bear episode this morning. My apologies. I have corrected the problem.

Mark

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Here’s a thought. I haven’t read this one yet, but its possible from what I heard on the show that the authors were using hyperbole to show that people generally come to accept people who stick to who they are. It may have been illustrated in an exaggerated way, but its an important message, especially when the subject of the story has spent the entire story fending off nay-sayers.

I think its important that children learn that there are positive effects at the end. Yes, its important that they learn to stand up for who they are and what they believe, but its just as important to know that by doing so, you can affect change in the world around you. If Suki had come through the entire story without a positive ending, then it would have taught the readers about the importance of being who you are, but might also have left the impression that by doing so, you put yourself in a position outside of the ability to have friends and relationships.

My two cents. Talk to you soon!

Chris
http://www.answers-for-freelancers.com/

Chris,

Thanks for extending the conversation!! Woohoo! This is just what we’ve been hoping for!

I think I see what you mean about ending with Suki being happy but also outside the group. I just didn’t think that the class gathering around Suki and applauding was necessary. Quiet acceptance, appreciation would have worked well for me but perhaps it would have been more difficult to get across in a picture book and might have been too subtle for its young readers. 

Thanks for weighing in. I hope you’ll share your 2cents again soon.

Maybe your comments will even entice some others to offer their thoughts ($1 for each comment this month goes to Raise-a-Reader….)
Andrea

My 5yo daughter loved the book. Her grandma bought it for her birthday this fall because I had brought back a child’s kimono for her on my last trip to Tokyo. She had volunteered (from the audience) to participate in a Japanese circle dance this summer at the Chicago area Japanese Festival. It made it very easy for her to “put herself into the story”. She’s a bit of a ham, so the idea of everyone applauding is right up her alley.

Her first comment when we read the book? “Daddy, Suki forgot her umbrella at school!”

Donald,

That’s a great story. It’s as though Suki’s Kimono was written for your daughter.

Until you mentioned it, I’d never noticed that Suki didn’t have her umbrella on her way home. What attention to detail.

Thanks for listening and for adding to the conversation,
Andrea