Reading with Little Miss Muffet: March 2015

New Book Behaviors

• Finishing sentences. Little Miss Muffet has a few favorite words in her vocabulary now, and when we read to her, my husband and I will occasionally pause and prompt her to fill in a missing word by pointing to its picture. Sometimes she gets distracted by something more interesting and leaves us hanging, but most of the time, she happily says the right word, then laughs to show how pleased she is to participate.
• Interacting with lift-the-flap books. Lots of Little Miss Muffet's lift-the-flap books are simple hide-and-seek stories which pose yes or no questions, such as "Is Mommy behind the chair?" In the past couple of weeks, Miss Muffet has started shaking her head and saying "No," as she lifts each flap. (She doesn't quite know what to do yet when the answer is not no, but we'll get there!) 

Three Current Favorites 

Miss Muffet's basket was overflowing with way too many books this past month, so it was hard to tell which ones were her true favorites. Only three really stand out as memorable, as they are the ones she consistently brings to me and demands to hear.

• Richard Scarry's Best Word Book EverWe've only owned this book for a few days, but it is an endless source of entertainment. We got the original 1963 edition from a used book store, and Miss Muffet can't get enough of pointing out the objects she knows and asking to know the names of unfamiliar ones. So far, we've spent a lot of time naming zoo animals, kitchen gadgets, clothing, and vehicles, and there are still entire pages we haven't even touched.
• Little Lions by Jim Arnosky Another used book, this one was a story time favorite when I was working. It's a very simple story about two baby mountain lions cuddling and playing with their mother on a ledge. The illustrations are all pretty similar, but Miss Muffet gets the biggest kick out of pointing to the cubs and to the butterflies that fly above them in some of the illustrations.
• Bugs by Andrews McMeel PublishingThis board book came from the library, and it is the book which first prompted Miss Muffet to pretend to fly like a butterfly, a motion which she now also does with her little stuffed butterfly. Having this book in the house for three weeks was a nice change of pace from identifying and making the sounds of farm animals, and it was a great way to introduce insect vocabulary into Little Miss Muffet's repertoire. 

One Tip from Mom 

• Don't just read board books. Many parents feel that they have to limit their babies and toddlers to board books because otherwise, their kids will destroy books and rack up library fines. I have not found this to be the case. Miss Muffet has only ripped one library book so far, and it was a book that was already severely tattered and missing pages - she basically just continued a tear that was well underway. I regularly check out picture books for her, and she flips through picture books on her own almost every day. I don't leave her alone with them for long periods, because boredom does tend to lead to destruction, but she will sit quite nicely beside me on the couch and flip through book after book without leaving behind even a smudge. Some kids might be more prone to ruining books than others, but my advice is to give them the opportunity to treat books properly before deciding they can't be trusted to do so. 

Reading Through History: Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman (1994)

The year 1290 is Catherine's fourteenth year, and the year in which she has promised her brother Edward she will write an account of her days. Her diary, which marks time according to Saints' feast days, tells of her contentious relationship with her father, her worries for her mother's health, her observations as friends and relatives marry and bear children, and her disgust for Shaggy Beard, the man to whom her father wishes to marry her off.

There is one thing that bothers me about this book, which is that it shows a young girl self-aware enough to flout the feminine conventions of her day. While Catherine's antics are funny and give the story a definite sense of "girl power" they come across as inauthentic because they are so unlikely. During this time period, a woman in Catherine's position - the daughter of a powerful man with a fierce temper - would likely do as she was told because there was no other option. She would not have role models to show her that anything happening in her life was unfair or wrong, and she would likely not have the luxury of talking back to adult authority figures. Maybe that wouldn't make as interesting a story, but it bothers me that the author seems to be incorporating contemporary values into a society that could not even begin to comprehend them.

That said, this book does include a lot of secondary details about the time period that are utterly realistic. Simple things like tooth decay and childbirth are handled in ways that to contemporary Americans seem bizarre and terrifying. The idea that Catherine's father would have a vein opened under his tongue to let out the "bad humors" supposedly causing his toothache made me wince, not just because it would be so terribly painful, but because advances in science have shown how ridiculous an approach this would be. I almost couldn't even read the sections talking about what happens to Catherine's mother after her baby is born. It makes me thankful to live in a time where babies can be born in hospitals, and infections can be treated with drugs.

Another thing I really loved about this book was all the information about religious practices. As a practicing Catholic, I love to see the Church represented respectfully in fiction, and it can be difficult to find books that are both well-informed on the subject and well-written. This book is both (which is especially pleasing to see given the poor treatment of religion in another of the author's books, The Loud Silence of Francine Green.) I enjoyed Catherine's description of the Saint for each day, and I liked the details about going to Mass and observing Lent.

Catherine, Called Birdy is a good choice for kids who have a hard time contextualizing history lessons, as it humanizes this time period and keeps a fairly light-hearted tone despite many dark moments. While it would  not be a sufficient study on the Middle Ages all on its own, the story makes a nice jumping-off point for teaching about day-to-day medieval living.

Reading Through History: The Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean (2001)

After his father dies in a kite riding accident, the last thing twelve-year-old Haoyou wants to do is take to the skies. When other plans for supporting his family are thwarted by his evil uncle, however, it becomes clear that his only means of escaping poverty is to join the circus as a kite rider. As he travels with the Jade Circus in service of the Great Miao, he wows audiences with his performances, and looks forward to one day showing off his skills for Kublai Khan, the Mongol conqueror.

This exciting, well-plotted coming-of-age tale is a thrilling read with many wonderful lessons. It illustrates the enmity between the Chinese and Mongol cultures, the role of the circus within society, and Kublai Khan's specific rules regarding punishment and forgiveness. Haoyou becomes slowly aware of some harsh truths about his family, which leads him to understand the benefits of questioning some forms of authority, and to realize the value of thinking for oneself. The heroic feats Haoyou is able to accomplish with his kite also show the power of always striving to do the right thing, no matter the consequences to oneself. There is much to learn from this book, which can be used to spark any number of interesting conversations.

Unlike many other historical fiction novels where nothing much happens, this book is truly action-packed. Though there are plenty of moments where Haoyou waxes philosophical about the state of his life, there is also a constant stream of excitement, including scenes involving theft, injury, and death. Haoyou is accompanied through much of the book by his cousin, Mipeng, who is believed to be a medium, even though she knows she can't truly speak to the gods, and she also has her share in the excitement, which is sure to please female readers of this otherwise largely male-dominated story.

I gasped out loud several times while reading this book, as the plot took unexpected twists and turns. McCaughrean really knows how to keep a reader interested, as every time I felt that Haoyou was the least bit secure, she would place another obstacle in his path and change his trajectory. Escaping from one situation often leads him into a worse one, and I had no choice but to keep reading to find out how he eventually finds a reasonably happy resolution. The short chapters also contribute to the quick pace of the story.

The Kite Rider is most appropriate for young readers in grades 6 to 8, and will appeal especially to readers interested in adventure and family stories. For another kite-themed novel (this one about contemporary Japanese characters), try Flying the Dragon.

Book Review: The Secret Language by Ursula Nordstrom (1960)

As the children's books editor for Harper & Row for over 30 years, Ursula Nordstrom was a key figure in the careers of many children's literature greats, including Maurice Sendak, E.B. White, Margaret Wise Brown, and Charlotte Zolotow. Despite her role in publishing well-known books, she only published one children's book herself - The Secret Language. I have been wanting to read this book since I read Dear Genius, the published collection of Nordstrom's correspondence, and I was so pleased to stumble upon a paperback copy at a used book sale. I am pleased to share The Secret Language as today's Old School Sunday title.

When Vicky starts boarding school, she feels very much like an awkward outsider. Certainly none of the other girls step forward to welcome her, and being away from her mother for the first time is very difficult. When she meets Martha, however, she finds a kindred spirit. Both girls are content to be unusual, and soon they are sharing everything: a dorm room, their own outdoor hut, and a secret made-up secret language all their own. Though neither girl ever truly learns to love boarding school, they come to care enough for each other that they might just willingly come back next year anyway.

What is most refreshing about this book is its honesty about the girls' unhappiness at school. Nordstrom does not try to sugarcoat the boarding school experience, or even redeem it through the events of the story. Instead, she focuses on the unique friendship that makes school tolerable for both girls and explores the psychology behind the two girls' admiration for each other. Rather than indulging all the dramatic plot lines that come to mind when contemporary writers discuss female friendship, she delves deeply into these two specific characters and simply follows their feelings where they lead, focusing on the small moments and shared confidences that build up their connection to each other.

Apparently, Ursula Nordstrom wrote a sequel to this book, which she shared over the telephone with Charlotte Zolotow, but then subsequently burned before she died. While I suppose I understand the desire to remove all evidence of a piece of writing she didn't feel was up to her standards, I am so disappointed that we don't have anymore of her wonderful books to read all these years later. While The Secret Language is not as memorable as some of the more well known award winning books of the time period, it does highlight Nordstrom's respect for the emotions of children and her desire to provide them with relevant and well-written pieces of literature. The Secret Language embodies all the sound advice she gave to the authors for whom she served as editor.

Reading Through History: A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park (2001)

A Single Shard is set in Korea, in the 12th Century. Tree-ear, a young boy, and Crane-man, an older man with a deformed foot, are unusual in their small village of Ch'ulp'o in that they are homeless and make their dwelling beneath a bridge. Though they are not related by blood (Tree-ear does not know anything about his parents), they are family to each other, as they work each day to earn enough to eat in whatever way they can. Though he is poor and therefore unlikely to be apprenticed, Tree-ear's true passion is for pottery, and when he has spare time, he sneaks off to admire the work of Potter Min, a meticulous artist with a sad life story. When Tree-ear breaks something belonging to Min, the potter becomes furious, to the point that Tree-ear offers to work for him to repay his debt. Though the work is mainly drudgery, Tree-ear holds out hope that he will one day be allowed near the wheel himself. 

A Single Shard has much in common with The Golden Goblet. Though the settings are very different, the main character in each story struggles to overcome unfortunate circumstances in order to pursue an art form he truly loves. Between the two, A Single Shard seems more accessible for a broader, and perhaps also slightly younger audience. Though there is hardship and sadness in A Single Shard, there is not the violence and abuse that appears in The Golden Goblet, making it a less distressing story for elementary readers. A Single Shard is also partly a road story, which will appeal to young readers' (and especially boys') sense of adventure. (Though the "road" portion of the book could have been longer. It begins more than halfway through the story, which is a long time to wait if you're hoping for action.) 

The characters in A Single Shard, though few, are quite well-developed. The central friendship between Tree-ear and Crane-man provides an emotional core to the story that shapes the reader's feelings for Tree-ear and hope for his success. The slow reveal of information surrounding the tragedy that has struck Min's life is also very effective, and it enables the reader to feel Tree-ear's growing sense of affection for the potter and his wife. The kindness of the potter's wife, too, is notable, and she, of all the characters, makes an excellent role model for showing true charity to other human beings without asking for anything in return. 

Interestingly, this is yet another historical fiction novel in which a character has a disability, the third I have read recently where the affliction is a deformed limb, and the second where the injury is to the foot. In Thieves of Ostia, Lupus is mute because his tongue has been cut from his mouth. In The Last Girls of Pompeii, Julia's parents want to send her away because of a withered arm. In Shadow Spinner, Marjan has a crippled foot that limits her ability to marry or find work. While I wonder how prevalent these conditions actually were during the time periods represented by these books, I do think it is interesting that the authors chose to include them, and to portray the ways these characters were ostracized and stigmatized for being different. For elementary and middle school kids, these characters present opportunities to consider the injustices imposed by different societies and to think about how our current culture's treatment of the disabled is the same or different. 

Included as a preface in my copy of this book is Linda Sue Park's Newbery Medal acceptance speech. In it, she explains the inspiration for the book - a real piece of pottery from this time period which is decorated with cranes. For kids who feel that historical fiction is too far removed from real life, or who have a hard time connecting to books set in the distant past, having this connection to a real object might help them engage more with a story they would otherwise ignore. I also think that writing the backstory for a real object - historical or not - is a great exercise and a perfect writing assignment to accompany a literature study of this book. 

A Single Shard is a powerful, emotional, and exciting read about a time period and setting not often represented in children's fiction. It makes an excellent complement to a study on Korean history, especially thanks to the historical details given in the author's note, but it works just as well as a novel to read for enjoyment. 

Reading Through History: Blue Willow by Doris Gates (1940)

Janey Larkin's migrant family doesn't have much. They live in a shack that belongs to someone else, and they move from place to place as opportunities for work arise and disappear. Janey has never attended a real school, and she doesn't have any friends. What she does have, though, is a blue willow plate. The last remaining reminder of her late biological mother, the plate represents for Janey a sense of normalcy and stability. Someday, her stepmother promises, they will have a proper home in which to display the plate. Janey thinks she may have found that perfect place, but does she dare believe that this time her family might stay?

Published in 1940 and set in the 1930s, Blue Willow is a story about the difficulties faced by many people during the years of the Great Depression. Through the character of Janey, young readers are given a very personal glimpse into the experience of a poor migrant family which helps drive home the hardships real people were up against during that time. Janey's desires to be normal, to fit in, and to feel secure and stable are relevant to every child, regardless of time period, a fact which helps the story continue to hold up 65 years later.

The writing in this book is not difficult to read, but it is filled with evocative images that bring the story to life. Particularly memorable are the moment where Janey first discovers the home of the man who owns her family's shack, and the visit to the fair, where Janey encounters her very first library. This is one of the only children's books I've read where a child's love for the library feels authentic. Janey's poverty makes her truly appreciate the notion of free access to books in a way that can't be read as anything but sincere.

At the start, this book seems like just another depressing historical fiction story, but it turns out to be something much different, and the ending does not take any of the tragic turns I might have expected when I first started reading. The way everything comes together might feel a little too easy to a jaded adult reader, but for a child, the hope presented by the story's resolution will be very pleasing and comforting.

Reading Through History: Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher (1998)

Shadow Spinner, is set in Ancient Persia. Marjan has a crippled foot, so though she is a wonderful storyteller, her future is uncertain due to the stigma attached to her disability. Therefore it is a surprise when she is summoned by the sultan's wife, Shahrazad, to assist her in finding more tales to tell her husband, who keeps her alive only to hear her stories each night. What follows is a heart-pounding adventure where Marjan puts her own safety at risk to help the storyteller she so admires.

This book is completely engrossing. I have heard different versions of the story of the 1001 Nights, but this one really sticks with me. Shahrazad is portrayed as a tough, but real person, whose intelligence is both a blessing and a curse in her society. In all the times I've heard about this character, it never occurred to me how nerve-wracking it would be if she suddenly ran out of stories or accidentally repeated one. The thought that she would hire someone to help her never crossed my mind, and I love that the author chooses a girl who would be an unlikely hero, and that Marjan rises so bravely and completely to the challenge.

In addition to being a really exciting story, this book also has a gimmick that helps it keep the attention of teen readers. Each chapter opens with a small life lesson from Marjan which foreshadows or summarizes what she will learn in the episode to follow. These little snippets read like contemporary advice columns in magazines, which teens will easily recognize and feel comfortable with. The ancient Persian setting is also really well-described, and because Marjan must sneak in and out of the palace to run her errand for Shahrazad, the reader is given insight into life among royalty and life out in the city, as well as an understanding of the role of storytelling and oral tradition in this society. In a world where we can Google everything we've ever forgotten, the task of memorizing a story to pass it on to someone else sounds completely daunting!

This is an excellent book for middle school and high school students, and will perfectly complement any lesson on Persian history or the Arabian Nights. It desperately needs a more engaging cover because the hardcover edition looks like an outdated adult novel, and the paperback is not much better, but readers who look past appearances will find Shadow Spinner to be one of the most exciting historical fiction novels available.