Do Re Mi If You Can Read Music, Thank Guido d’Arezzo

Do Re Mi    If You Can Read Music, Thank Guido D’ Arezzo by Susan L. Roth is an informative and charming book of how musical notation came to be created in the 10^th century by an Italian monk from the tiny Tuscan town of Arezzo.  This picture book biography explains the how and the why of Guide D’ Arezzo’s invention.   The readers also learned of the struggles he had to go through to convince choirmasters and others that there was a benefit to written music. 

I never gave a thought to the system of written music or its inventor.  The position of notes, clefts and staffs seems so much bigger than one person could create.   After reading this book, I came to the conclusion that it would be important to let children know some things that always seem to have been in existence were actually invented by someone who saw the need for it and did something about it.  Luckily there was a music-loving monk named Guido d’Arezzo who insisted on creating a musical language despite the criticism.  Guido d’Arezzo gave us the gift of written musical sounds that is used each day.  Each time we hear music on the radio, in an elevator, on a commercial, on American Idol, during piano lessons, in music class or on your favorite CD, you should think of Guido D’Arezzo.  For that reason, as well as many others, I strongly believe that children should read or hear the biography of someone whose impact has touched us all. “Well-written biographies can be inspirational to children and are often preferred over the average school textbooks.” (Ellis 2007)

Susan Roth’s large font text, easy language and highly textured handmade paper collage illustrations are exciting and inspiring.  Each page ranges from close-ups to mini-frames to landscapes with many pages full of musical notes, clefts and staffs to fill in the empty spaces.  Her layered backgrounds that incorporate sheets of music, different textures and beautifully pattered mosaic floors are breathtaking.  I would love to have the time to try this type of art.  The Bibliography and the Author’s Note that concludes the story are very informational as well as the intriguing Forward at the beginning of the book.

The Biggest Frog in Australia by Susan L. Roth

I have just finished reading a cute book entitled, The Biggest Frog in Australia by Susan L. Roth.  The basic plot of this Australian folk tale consists of a huge frog that drinks up all the water.  Once all the water is gone, the earth is dry and the other animals are thirsty.  The kookaburra, wombat, koala and the kangaroo decide to fix that problem by making the biggest frog laugh so the water will spill out of his mouth.  All the attempts to get the big frog to laugh failed until pair of eels accidentally ties themselves up into knots.  The big frog finds this so funny that he laughs, and all the water comes rushing back out.

The illustrations are excellent as well.  The collages are made with papers collected from all over the world with a multitude of textures.  Mrs. Roth also states in her notes, in the back of the book, that real eucalyptus leaves fromCaliforniatrees were also embedded within the illustrations.  I also saw fuzzy white paper that formed the kookaburra’s feathers and the koala’s ears. I especially liked the marbleized paper she used for the water.  The bright red frog in the book was inspired by a frog Mrs. Roth saw at the Taronga Park Zoo inSydney, Aboriginal bark paintings, and contemporary, original prints by Australian artists.  The glossary at the end of the book was also useful to explain the meaning of Australian terms. 

Many lessons about water conservation could be taught from using this book.  The dedication page was cleverly written, “This ecologically sound book about recycled water is for Alex, with love”.  I could discuss the effects of a drought on land and the animals that live there.  This book could illustrate why animals and plants need water and how they use water.  I could discuss how causes and effects are related.  The teaching opportunities are endless.

Great Big Guinea Pigs by Susan L. Roth

Great Big Guinea Pigs by Susan L. Roth was simply adorable.  I had no idea that once upon a time, about 8 million years ago, guinea pigs weren’t sweet, cute or little.  I knew about the enormous dinosaurs that used to roam the earth, but was unaware about the prehistoric guinea pigs.  Hani Morgan states in her article that “Picture books have characteristics that are especially useful for teaching students at the early childhood level.”  I would like to add that picture books have characteristics that are especially useful for teaching adults as well.  My children have always wanted a guinea pig as a pet.  I am seriously thinking about buying them one along with this book. 

During a bedtime story, one little guinea pig learns all about his very big ancestors and how they have evolved into the small, cute pets children adore today.  The mother guinea pig explains to her child that they were once as big as buffalo and weighed a ton.  They once lived inVenezuelain the swamp and ate grass.  They once loved to swim, but had to watch out for the hungry alligators.  The mother guinea pig believes that when their food began to disappear, they become smaller and quicker.  Some of these animals stayed wild, but some became the cute and fuzzy guinea pigs that we know today.  I especially loved how the younger guinea pig interjected during the story to ask questions and add exciting comments.  And like always, the young guinea pig kept asking if the story he was hearing was really true.  To be honest, I was wondering the same thing until I saw the bibliography at the end of the book.  Susan Roth did a great job stating the facts in the dialogue without distracting from the lively story.

The story alone is funny and the illustrations are again completed in a beautiful collage format with richly textured paper.  Mrs. Roth used papers such as canvas, cellophane and contact paper.  I loved the first full view of the great big guinea pig.  This page required me to turn the book vertically.  The white background clearly shows the differences between the mother-child scenes from the richly colored images from 8 million years ago.  Her guinea pigs looked adorable in the present time and ferocious in the past. 

This picture book would be great to introduce a new pet as well as discuss our own ancestors.  How great would it be to have students interview a grandparent or great grandparent about their ancestors?  With all this new information the child has learned could prompt them into writing a book.  I think I will record an interview with my parents this summer about my ancestors and write a book myself to share with my future students.

Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah by Susan L. Roth

Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah by Susan L. Roth is a cute picture book about the well known holiday song.  Roth uses mice to describe the gathering of family and friends during this Jewish holiday.   The mice light the menorah, dance the hora, eat latkes, play with dreidels and gather around the piano to celebrate in the holiday cheer. 

Susan Roth used lots of cut cloth and paper collages to create a detailed, colorful and textured appearance.  Mrs. Roth states in the back of this book that all papers used in this book’s illustrations came from every basket in her studio.  I would do anything to visit her studio and scrapbook with her.  Through her creative illustrations, children of all religions will be able to identify with the mice as they dance and play throughout the book.

As I read this book to my 5 year old daughter, she quickly got introduced to the terms menorah, hora, latkes and dreidel.  The pictures gave her a clear understanding of these new words.  Each December, we drive through Tanglewood to see the Christmas lights.  After reading this book, she quickly reminded me that she has seen a large menorah at Tanglewood and now she knows what it is and what it means.   Together we spent time talking about a holiday that she has never celebrated.  “Teaching students to have multiple perspectives at a young age is likely to reduce problems involving prejudice or discriminate and is an important component of early childhood education” (Hani Morgan).  I plan on having this same discussion with this same picture book with my future kindergarteners next December.

I personally don’t know much about Hanukkah and have never read a book about it.  I am sure Jewish families will appreciate this book and use it as a keepsake.  I am personally excited to use this book with my kindergarteners next December.

Some Multicultural Books for Lets Hold Hands Project

The number of Hispanic students in our public schools is increasing.  From just 2001 to 2008, the percentage of Hispanics in public schools grew from 17% to 21% (Time Magazine, May 2011).  I teach in a school with a high minority rate.   Almost a third of my class is Hispanic.  Half of those couldn’t speak much English when school began.  I could see the fear in their little eyes at the start of school.  It was heart breaking.  The more I tried to comfort them, the more scared they became of my English language.  The other children in the class didn’t understand their fear.  They didn’t understand why these children wouldn’t speak to them.  After many discussions of the different cultures and languages, things got better.   Together we try to learn Spanish.  It makes my Hispanics more comfortable and helps my English-speaking students to understand the difference.  I want my students to see the struggles that some of these families go through as they try to adjust to a new country.  That is why I have chosen a Spanish-speaking county for my Let’s Hold Hands Project.

The first book I plan on using in my Let’s Hold Hands Project is entitled The Rainbow Tulip by Pat Mora and Elizabeth Sayles.  This book explores being different and accepting oneself as well as introducing children to immigrant families inAmerica.  This book celebrates diversity in a beautiful way.  The main character’s family calls her Estelita.  Her teacher and friends at school call her Stella.  Many Hispanic students in my class have parents that call them by a different name at home from than what they are called at school.  This beautifully written book is full of delightful paintings, framed in white, that are full of dark colors at the beginning and move to more vivid colors at the end.  At first, the child is ashamed of her quiet, non-English speaking, old-fashioned mother.  Although her parents keep a piece ofMexico at home, Estelita/Stella comes to love and appreciate her dual heritage. 

Another book I plan on using in my Let’s Hold Hands Project is entitled If The Shoe Fits by Gary Soto and Terry widener.  The Hispanic characters in this book have big hearts and little pocketbooks.  Rigo, the youngest in a large family, was ashamed to wear old, torn and ragged hand-me-downs.  His parents bought him a brand new pair of shoes that he quickly outgrew.  In the meantime, Rigo forms a close relationship with his uncle and passes the shoes down to him.  Rigo learned to appreciate his belongings more even if they were old.  This great multicultural book’s diversity and moral reminds children to be grateful for what they have.  It has many Spanish words embedded within the text that is great to introduce a new culture.  I can’t wait for the discussions with my class on how Rigo is similar to them as well as different.

I also plan to use Little Mama Forgets by Robin Cruise and Stacey Dressen-McQueen.  The universal themes of this book are love and family.  Lucy spends her days with her mother, brother and grandmother.  She shares a special bond with Little Mama that begins with a tickle and ends with a goodnight kiss.  In between, their day is filled with dancing, skipping, cooking, eating, and stories ofMexico.  Little Mama may forget many things throughout the day but always remembers the love and affection she has for her family.  The author uses some repetitive text and Spanish words throughout the story.  The story is bittersweet, but Lucy’s continues to look on the bright side.  The illustrator, Stacey Dressen-McQueen, uses a Mexican folk-style of bold colors.  The illustrations give you a sense of the Hispanic culture of a happy household.

Home at Last by Susan Middleton Elya and Felipe Davalos is another book I plan to use with this project.  This book is awesome!  This small picture book incorporates:  immigration, adjusting to a new home, learning a new language, mother-daughter relationships, homesickness, overcoming obstacles and self-confidence.  When this Hispanic family moves to theUnited States fromMexico, they have to make many adjustments.  Ana, the young girl, quickly learns to fit in at school and also learns to speak English.  This transitions isn’t so easy for Ana’s mother.  Finally her mother realizes that that she must too adapt to this new country.  I also believe that this book has the best illustrations than the other four.

Manana, Iguana by Ann Whitford Paul and Ethan Long is a funny book.  It reminds me of The Little Red Hen from south-of-the-border sprinkled with Spanish words.  Iguana’s lazy friends thinks it’s a great idea to throw a fiesta but doesn’t want to participate in all the preparations.  The characters of this story are Spanish words.  For example the rabbit is Conejo, the turtle isTortuga and the snake is Culebra.  How smart is that?  As Iguana takes charge and insists upon greeting and entertaining her guests alone since she receive absolutely no help from the other characters, they began to relalize their faults.  It was very helpful to have a glossary of Spanish terms and their pronunciations in the back ot the book.  It helped give things an authentic feel.  This was more of a fun story.

I am excited to start this project next Fall.  “Reading these books with my students will help to foster an awareness, understanding and appreciation of people who seem at first glance different from the reader.  We can see that when a family is important it doesn’t matter the color of the skin or the people that makes up a family.  (Chapter 15)

As I read many books this summer, I am certain that I will find additional multi-cultural books that relate to this Lets Hold Hands Project.

Questions for Susan L. Roth

I have become a huge fan of your work.  I have recently started collecting your books in order to enjoy them with my son, daughter and kindergarteners.  Thank you for being such a great inspiration to us all.

1. One of my favorite books you have written is Listen To The Wind.  Have you ever visited the Korphe School in Pakistan?

      2.    What are you working on now?

      3.    Do you have a favorite author/illustrator or favorite picture book?

Listen To The Wind by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth

Listen to the Wind by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth is an incredible children’s picture book that tells the inspirational true story of Greg Mortenson and his tireless efforts to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.  Dr. Greg got lost in the mountains of Pakistan after turning back from a failed attempt to climb a mountain.  He stumbled into Korphe, a poor village, where the townspeople nursed him back to health.  As he was recuperating, Dr. Greg was shocked to learn the village’s children had no school building.  They had lessons taught outside just three days a week.  Kids learned to write using sticks in the dirt.  To repay the village’s kindness, Dr. Greg promised to return, and help build a school.  One year later he came back and helped build not just one but 55 schools in the impoverished region.  What a great book to share with the children on how to “read the word and the world” and seeing how one can serve the common good (Freire & Macedo, 1987, p.32).

I wondered about the subheading:  The story of Dr. Greg & Three Cups of Tea.  I read that comes from the village chief, Haji Ali who spoke, “With the first cup of tea you are a stranger, with the second you become a friend, and with the third you join our family.”  What a wise man he must have been.

Not only was the story fabulous and well written, the illustrations by Susan Roth were brilliantly made.  Here again, she used a variety of materials to create the colorful collages on each page.  She noted in the back of the book that she was inspired by actual artifacts from the region that was sent to her by the school librarian.  In Korphe nothing ever goes to waste.  Also in the back of the photo-filled scrapbook pages, showed the completed school and Korphe villagers.  I was amazed by the bridge they built in order to get the supplies across the river to construct the new school.

I plan to read this story tomorrow to my kindergarteners.  I hope this story helps my kids feel closer to children in other parts of the world, as if they had actually shared that third cup of tea.  I might even serve tea.  As stated in my professional readings, “The purpose of teaching critical inquiry practices is to help young students become critically competent and caring citizens”.  Shouldn’t that be every teacher’s goal?

Happy Birthday Mr. Kang by Susan L. Roth

Wow, this class has definitely inspired me to look at children’s literature differently.  Happy Birthday Mr. Kang by Susan L. Roth is a unique book that celebrates diversity, teaches readers of a different culture, and encourages freedom and choice.  From my readings I learned that “international books can help children gain an appreciation and understanding of global societies.”

Roth’s “cutout font” and illustrated collages were present in this book about Mr. Kang’s 70^th birthday in New York City’s Chinatown.   There with his friends, family and grandson Sam, he makes three wishes:  To read The New York Times every morning, to paint a poem each day, and to have his own caged hua mei bird, which will go with him every Sunday to Sara Delano Roosevelt Park. 

As I was reading this book, I was once again taken back by the beautiful collages, story and poems.  The empty space was full of photographs, Chinese menus, alters, NYT newsprint, and the park.  I would have honestly never paid any attention to the backgrounds before this class.  I was missing out.  I have the urge to reread many books to focus on the illustrations.  It is amazing that Roth doesn’t allow ink, pencil or paint near her illustrations.  She mainly uses the method of cutting, tearing and photographs. 

As Mr. Kang is enjoying his newly retired lifestyle following his 3 wishes daily, he is happy and relaxed.  We read that Sam, Mr. Kang’s grandson, comes to visit for the weekend.  As they walk to the park early Sunday morning with warm cake and the hua mei bird, they see 27 other caged birds there waiting to sing.  Sam wonders, like I did, whether it is right to keep the bird caged.  Sam made a good point that his grandpa was caged to his work before retirement.  With mixed emotions between Mr. Kang’s family and friends, he lets his beloved bird free. 

This is where I think the power of choice came into the story.  Life shouldn’t be lived behind bars.  We as well as animals should have the choice to live as we feel.  Mr. Kang wanted his bird to have the choice to be free as he did.  In the end, the bird chose to remain free with Mr. Kang.

Dear Primo A Letter to My Cousin by Duncan Tonatiuh

Dear Primo A Letter to My Cousin written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh received the Pura Belpre (Illustrator) Award for 2011.  I read this book for the first time the other night.  I loved it.  From my readings I learned that “Well-written multicultural children’s books may serve to help our new generations see people living in far-flung parts of the globe or even in their own city as equal and valuable citizens.” I immediately gave this book to our school translator the next morning.  I asked her to read it herself and then invited her to read it aloud to my class.  My students were mesmerized as she had so much discussion to add to this book.  I have a class of 24 students with 10 of them being Hispanic.  My English speaking students had many questions about this different culture that I couldn’t answer.  Who better to lead this discussion than our very own Mrs. Sarabia.  I could visually see my Hispanic children’s eyes sparkle as they were able to comfortably add to the discussions with valuable comments and perfect answers to hard questions.  It was amazing.  I plan on using this book in my Holding Hands Project.  Together I hope we learn that our lives may appear different, but we actually have more in common than they think.

Charlie and his cousin Carlitos live in different countries.  They do not let the distance prevent each other from corresponding via letters.  Charlie shares how he enjoys playing basketball, stopping for a slice of pizza on the way home from school, and helping his mom to shop at the local supermarket.  Carlitos in turn writes about his routines of biking to school, playing futbol with his friends, and helping his family to sell produce and buy food they need at the outdoor market.  Carlitos writes his letters in English with a few Spanish words included.  Thanks to the letters, the cousins realize that although they live in different countries, they still have lots in common. 

The hand drawn illustrations inspired by Mexican cultures with its parallel storylines provide us with some of the cultural and socioeconomic differences that children with similar interest may experience in different countries.  The author’s note about his own background of migration fromMexicoto theUnited Stateshelped some of my students place the story into a more personal context of understanding.  “Certainly, children of minority cultural groups need books that bolster self-esteem and pride in their heritage (Nieto, 2000).

I love how Tonatiuh allows readers who don’t speak Spanish to understand the Spanish words through visual images of the Spanish words.  I want to use this book to teach my students, son and daughter about embracing the differences without judging.  Teaching children at an early age “about the positive differences and similarities between people will not singularly ensure a more gentle and tolerant society, but might act as a prerequisite to one” (Sobol, 1990, p.30).

Hard Hat Area by Susan L. Roth

Hard Hat Area by Susan L. Roth was a fascinating book about a real girl named Kristen Doyle who works as an ironworker’s apprentice on New York City’s tallest buildings.  This unique story allowed me to take a vivid tour with Kristen around the construction site.  My students and I learned the different jobs of an ironworker, the tools the workers used and how to use them.  Most importantly the students were able to see how they worked collaboratively together as a team. 

This book was illustrated with a unique combination of paper collages and photomontages that brought that workplace in NYC to life.  I read on the copyright page that the photomontage background papers were created from photos that Susan L. Roth took as she climbed on top of this work site and on a 16^th floor terrace near Central Park.  These pictures of the NYC skyline gave perfect detail to the negative space on the pages.  I spent a lot of time looking at the backgrounds trying to recognize buildings.  Kristen’s jeans, along with the other ironworker’s, were cut from a pair of Roth’s old jeans.  This added great texture to each page.  I constantly had the urge to touch each page as it looked so real.  The shirts were made from the insides of envelopes.  Some of the papers came fromJapan and Roth’s large stock of scrap papers and materials. 

Each page spread explains specialized vocabulary for readers who are especially interested in construction or who have a general curiosity of how these great big buildings are erected.  The combination of dialogue with informational labels kept me and my students amused and inspired to learn and read more. 

I have really fallen in love with the collages on each page.  I have decided to use this method of illustration with my kindergarteners.  We have 15 more days of school.  I have already planned an Art Day next week.  I have decided to gather as much materials as possible for the children to create their own collage.  I have a sneaky suspension that many of the children will want to also write about their college as they have noted Susan L Roth does.