Seesaw Girl (Linda Sue Park)

Title:  Seasaw Girl

Author:  Linda Sue Park

Illustrator:  Jean and Mou-sein Tseng

Target Ages:   8-12

Genre:  Realistic Historical Fiction

Publisher Summary:

Jade Blossom never ventures beyond the walls of her family’s Inner Court.  In seventeenth-century Korea, a girl of good family does not leave home.  Until she marries, she is expected to spend her time learning to sew, to embroider, to do laundry, to manage a kitchen—so that when she makes her wedding journey to her husband’s Inner Court, she will be a good wife.

Jade accepts her destiny, and yet she is endlessly curious.  She eagerly questions her older brother about the adventures that only boys can have: trips to the market and to the ancestral grave sites in the mountains, reading and painting, conversations with their father about business and politics.  Sometimes the things Tiger Heart describes are more vivid in her mind than her everyday surroundings.  If only she could see them for herself.

Jade Blossom’s daring attempt to enlarge her world succeeds in surprising ways, revealing the truth of her father’s words:  “The path of wisdom lies not in certainty, but in trying to understand.”

Memorable Lines: 

“I have learned to make it enough” (51).

“Right behavior, good form, wisdom, faith, and love.  They are small words, but they hold all that is good about men” (61).

Evaluation: 

Seesaw Girl is a middle grade novella.  Short chapters and occasional black and white pictures make it ideal for youngsters getting comfortable reading longer books. 

Jade, the protagonist, lives in a world foreign to most children in the West, so the story is an opportunity to expand young readers’ understanding of other cultures and eras.  There are many possibilities to discuss how her life, culture, and future are different than the typical middle grader. 

During a conversation Jade has with her father, he says (in relation to the Dutch sailors who are shipwrecked there), “And though we have many differences, there are things about their laws that are in harmony with ours.”  This quote is a perfect springboard for discussing similarities, though maybe not as obvious, and building connections between cultures.     

Young readers will connect with Jade because she is passionate, curious, and even a bit mischievous.  She has to do chores and to follow her family’s rules.  Similar to many her age, she must deal with a close friend moving away as well as the uncertainty of change and growing up. 

Jade matures as the novella progresses.  For instance, her actions inadvertently cause a servant to lose his job.  Jade goes before her father to take responsibility for her actions and respectfully appeals on the servant’s behalf.  From her mother, she learns the importance of being content in her circumstances and taking pride in her role.  These timeless lessons resonate with readers of all ages. 

Historical Connections:

Korea’s policy of isolation

The Sperwer (Sparrow) shipwreck
Choson period in Korea

Visit Always in the Middle for more Marvelous Middle Grade recommendations.  

Fairy Tale Friday: Cinderella

In preparation for Fairy Tale Friday, I have been reading versions of Cinderella from various cultures.  I am making careful notes in my study.  I was hoping to complete it in time for this week's post, but I don’t want to rush it. The post will have to wait one more week.   Instead, I am sharing two of my favorite picture book retellings of Cinderella.  If you have a fairy tale post this week, add a link in the comments. 

Cinderella (illustrated by K.Y. Craft):

The text is adapted from The Arthur Rackham Fairy Book (1923) and Andrew Lang’s The Blue Fairy Book (1889).  The story follows the familiar plot line:  Father remarries and dies shortly after.  The stepmother and her two daughters treat Cinderella like a slave while they live lavishly.  Like the movie Ever After though, Cinderella actually meets the prince prior to the ball.  He sees her in the woods and becomes enamored with her beauty.  She is helping an injured bird, but quickly (and ashamedly) excuses herself and runs off.   After the step –sisters leave for the ball, the bird Cinderella helped turns into a beautiful fairy.  Like the Disney movie, the fairy turns a pumpkin, mice, rats, and lizards into the servants, horses, and coachmen.  There are two nights of dancing before Cinderella loses her glass slipper.  The prince scourers the kingdom until he finds her.  After they marry, they are renowned as “the fairest and kindest rulers the people had ever known.”  With only a few changes, this version follows the most commonly known one in America:  Disney’s.  The breath-taking illustrations in Craft's picture book make it stand out!  Craft states, “The illustrations for this story depict an imaginary setting around the time of Voltaire, who lived in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century France.”  Most of the layouts have a full-paged framed picture on one side and the text on the other.  To highlight pivotal plot details, occasion two-page spreads are used.  I am a huge fan of Craft's soft coloring and intricate details which give the pictures a magical-essence.   Her style beautifully compliments fairy tale retellings.   If you (or a little one in your home) are a fan of Cinderella tale, you MUST check this one out!

Cinderella (by Amy Ehrlich, illustrated by Susan Jeffers):

Ehrlich uses the Charles Perrault version which has many similarities to the accounts Craft utilized.  Interestingly, in this one the father does not die, but rather, he is ruled by his new wife entirely. As a result, Cinderella does not ever complain to him.  There is no pre-ball meeting between her and the prince.  Her godmother, a fairy, visits her after everyone has left for the ball. She uses magic to transform objects into all that Cinderella needs for a memorable arrival at the palace.  While at the ball, Cinderella shows her good-nature by sharing a special treat with her sisters.  At the end, the two sisters beg for forgiveness.  Not only does she forgive them, but she also gives them a place in the palace.  I adore Jeffers' illustrations which use fine-lines and delicate colors.  Like Craft, she uses the eighteenth-century attire and setting as her inspiration.  Her life-like expressions and details spill over to make two-page spreads that envelop and energize the narrative, making this book a must-read!

What is your favorite version of Cinderella?  Please share in the comments, which enters you in the Fairy Tale Friday July Giveaway.  

Early Reader: Pip's Trip (by Janet Morgan Stoeke)

Summary of Pip’s Trip (by Janet Morgan Stoeke):

On Loopy Coop Farm, there live three curious hens—Midge, Dot, and Pip.  The farm pick-up truck is a source of fascination and wonder to them.  They want to know where it goes.  Noticing the back of the truck is big enough for them all to fit inside, they each urge the other to get in first.  Midge is afraid of the loud noise.  Pip assures her that it is quiet now.  Midge is not so sure she wants to see the wide world after all, so Pip boldly gets in the truck bed.  Midge delays.  She insists on asking Rooster Sam first, so she struts off with Dot.   Pip hides under a blanket when the truck gets loud.  Pip's "outing" is surprising fun!  

Evaluation:                                             

Stoeke has created a delightful early reader that effectively utilizes a small group of high frequency words.  The story is broken into short sections, allowing beginning readers to tackle the book in small spurts if needed.  The vivid illustrations allow for young readers to discuss their relationship to the text, how they add to the characterization and fill in parts  of the narrative the text leaves out. The characters are amusing and endearing.  Pip's “journey” teaches her (and the others) about courage, contentment, and friendship.  This book is the sequel to The Loopy Coop Hens, which, unfortunately, I was unable to acquire.  Both are deemed by critics as just the thing for new readers.   Based on my experience with Pip’s Trip, I whole-heartedly agree.  

Picture Book: Perfect Square (Michael Hall)

Summary of Perfect Square (by Michael Hall): 

“A perfect square is transformed in this adventure story that will transport you far beyond the four equal sides of this square book” (from end paper of book).  

The perfect square is perfectly happy.  Each day of the week, something unexpected happens which prompts the square to change.  For instance, on Monday it is cut into pieces and poked full of holes.  As a result, it makes itself into a babbling fountain.  On Tuesday it is torn into scraps, but it does not get discouraged.  It makes itself into a garden.  The square embraces the changes that happen to it—like being shredded, shattered, snipped, or crumpled—to becomes more resourceful and creative.  When on Sunday nothing new happens to it, the square initially feels confined and rigid.   In this satisfying ending, the square finds a way to continue to embrace the world around it and to be content in any circumstance. 

Evaluation:

Like his earlier critically acclaimed My Heart is Like a Zoo, author Michael Hall takes a simple concept and makes it something brilliant.  I love the minimal illustrations that depict what has happened to the square and then what it becomes.   In each incident it is difficult to imagine how the square can transform into something amazing, but it never ceases to delight.  Each development has one dominate color to signify a new stage, but for young listeners it is an opportunity to practice identifying colors and for older readers you may discuss why each color was chosen.  Also, the straightforward text and narrative makes this a book that people of all ages can enjoy and appreciate.  A young child will be enchanted by the colors and pictures created with basic shapes.  Older readers will find pleasure in the square's journey.  Despite all manner of circumstance, it never gets discouraged.  Instead, it “thinks outside the box” to make something beautiful out of a seemingly unfortunate situations.  The square’s resilience and contentment are remarkable.   I highly recommend Perfect Square to all ages.  

Teaching Opportunities:

• Art—Give each child a square and basic paper tools; allow them to make their own creative pictures using only the square, the tools, and minimal pen marks OR prompt them to mimic the art work in the book (see Fun & Engaging Activities for Toddlers blog post for an example)  
• Math—Identify the shapes on each page (where relevant) and count how many there are of each
• Colors—Identify the colors together (younger); brainstorm the feelings associated with each color and how they may related to the narrative (older)
• Calender—Recite the days of the week (younger); teach how the days of the week are used as a narrative framework for the action and to signify the passing of time (older)
• Writing —Write a story using the days of the week as the framework (from Karen at Layers of Learning)
• Language Arts—Allow children to summarize the story (younger); discuss how this story uses symbolism (the square going through changes) to illustrate the abstract (how circumstances impact people)--draw parallels between what happens to the square and the lives of people or characters in other books (older)
• Predicting Skills —As each new change occurs to the square, allow the listener(s) to guess what he might become 
• Character Development—Discuss the character qualities of the square (resilience, determination, creativity) and how it helped him to be content and fulfilled in all circumstances

This post is linked up at Hope is a Word for Read Aloud Thursday.  Check out other great read alouds HERE.  

This post is up at Enchanted Homeschooling for Enchanted Thursday.  Check out other great reads and activities for home HERE.