Sod Houses on the Great Plains

Glen Rounds. Holiday House 1995, Hardcover, 1 pages, $97.33

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Glen Rounds summarizes, simply and clearly, how the sod house on the Great Plains came to be. With succint and vivid detail, he describes the introduction of sod as a building material, and gives the reader a feel for how it might have felt to live in such a building. This book is illustrated in his whimsical, somewhat abstract style which is sometimes reminiscent of cave drawings. This makes an excellent (and unromantic) complement to Dandelions and could be a precursor to On the Banks of Plum Creek. It is unfortunately out of print, but is available in public libraries and on the used book market.

Curious George Takes a Job

H. A. Rey. HMH Books 1974, Paperback, 48 pages, $0.01

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This is another of the Reys’ gleeful books of monkey business.  In this one, George escapes from the zoo, wanders into a restaurant and gets caught eating the pasta, takes a job as a window-washer (and gets distracted painting a jungle-scape in someone’s apartment), and takes a fall from the fire escape, landing himself in the hospital, where the man with the yellow hat comes to rescue him.

The book is characterized by the excellent writing of the classic Curious George series, with fast-moving action and a lovable, mischievous character all children love to vicariously enjoy.  It’s appropriate for preschool through elementary school ages.

A Day’s Work

Ronald Himler (Illustrator). Sandpiper 1997, Paperback, 32 pages, $3.11

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

On Saturday morning, young Francisco waits with his abuelo (grandfather) with other day laborers, hoping for a day’s work.  In order to persuade a potential employer to choose them, Francisco claims his grandfather is a gardener, even though he is actually a carpenter.  It is only at the end of the day that the lie is found out.  Then Abuelo shows Francisco the value of integrity, admonishing, “We do not lie for work,” and taking steps to make restitution.

Bunting’s understated text, written from the child’s perspective, expresses the raw desperation that the most poverty-stricken people experience daily, helping the reader understand why Francisco would tell such a lie.  But his grandfather’s personal honor proves that, regardless of circumstances, even the lowest labor carries dignity and worth when it is carried out with self-respect.

This is a serious story, and even illustrated with Himler’s wonderful paintings it retains a somber mood that might not draw readers in as easily as more lighthearted books.  But it provides a vital, sympathetic glimpse into the world of immigrant day laborers while demonstrating the moral importance of honesty.  It’s a beautifully moving book which will help cultivate compassion for others.

Richard Scarry’s What Do People Do All Day

Richard Scarry. Random House Books for Young Readers 1968, Hardcover, 64 pages, $7.46

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Richard Scarry had a tremendous gift for telling stories that, while simple in plot, are rich in visual detail so that, having been read aloud once, they provide hours of entertainment for prereaders to enjoy at their leisure. His lively, fill-up-the-page artwork and classic sense of humor have endeared him to children for over fifty years.

In this book, Scarry introduces individual citizens of Busytown, then tells short stories about specific projects they are involved in: building a house, mailing a letter, putting out a fire, visiting the hospital, riding a train, growing a crop, lumberjacking and processing wood, building a road, taking an ocean voyage, and making bread.  By interweaving these individual stories, he shows how greater social process work together in industrial society.  Each story demonstrates the value of work, both for the individuals who perform it and those who enjoy its effects.  It’s a wonderfully orienting book, helping even very young children understand the interworkings of their society.

This abridged edition is easy to find, but disappointingly, the unabridged version (which includes a stay-at-home mom, policeman, water treatment processes, and electric plant) has become a collector’s item.

Building a House (Mulberry Books)

Byron Barton (Illustrator). Greenwillow Books 1990, Paperback, 32 pages, $3.44

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Byron Barton’s deceptively simple cartoon-like drawings and streamlined text may seem unimpressive at first glance.  But this author has a distinctive gift for distilling essential components of any event or theme into a page-turningly smooth story that the youngest child can follow.  In this volume, he describes and illustrates the step-by-step construction of a family home, beginning with “a green hill” with land surveyors pictured, and ending with a family moving into the home.  It’s an excellent early lesson in architecture for any child, but particularly those young children who show an interest in how objects in their environment work.

Ginger Pye (Young Classic)

Eleanor Estes. Sandpiper 2000, Paperback, 320 pages, $0.55

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Jerry and Rachel Pye make a companionable team, from their cheerful “Boombernickles” word game and outdoor explorations, to their acquisition of their family’s new puppy, Ginger.  But when the puppy disappears on Thanksgiving Day, the heartbroken children work together to solve the mystery of who could have stolen him.

Ginger Pye combines a warmly written, empathetic, and often funny portrayal of a loving family with an engaging mystery to be solved, and concludes with a quite satisfying resolution.  The story abounds in engaging portraits of interesting characters in the Pye’s small-town community, but Estes’ character development of Jerry and Rachel is where her writing really shines.  She perceptively captures the way children think about their world, and anchors these ordinary (but quite likable) children in a believable 1950’s American town.  This is a very enjoyable story.

The Trumpet of the Swan (full color)

Fred Marcellino (Illustrator). HarperCollins 2001, Paperback, 272 pages, $4.95

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Louis, a trumpeter swan, was hatched without a voice and so is unable to win a mate, even though with the help of his human friend Sam, he has learned to read and write.  Out of paternal love, Louis’ father breaks into a music store and steals a trumpet for Louis to use in courtship of the beautiful Serena.  But Louis is too honorable to simply accept the stolen instrument — he learns to play it, then hires out his musical ability until he can pay back the store owner.  Throughout his adventures are woven adventure, romance, absurdity, and White’s perceptive view of human nature.

The Trumpet of the Swan is an exceptionally creative work, reminiscent in different ways of Make Way for Ducklings, Charlotte’s Web, and Homer Price, but unique unto itself.  The reader will finish the book not only having had a good time, but appreciating the value of love and music, work and family, as well as knowing a little more about the habits of trumpeter swans.  It’s an outstanding choice for a read-aloud.

Saturdays and Teacakes

Chris Soentpiet (Illustrator). Peachtree 2004, Hardcover, 32 pages, $8.49

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This story, told in the voice of a nine- or ten-year-old boy, tells of his weekly trip to his grandmother’s home, where she waits for him on her front porch with a cup of coffee.  They enjoy a simple breakfast, he cuts her grass, and together they bake teacakes for him to eat.  The rituals of time spent together, chores performed lovingly, and shared food sustain their relationship in a sweet and beautiful way.

The story is rich in tactile sensations and concrete details, grounding the narrator in his world through physical experience: the bump of his bicycle tire over the hose at the Phillips 66 crossing reminds him to look both ways lest someone tell his mother.  The sight of flour and sugar sifting through Mammaw’s fingers and the smell of teacakes on the hot cookie sheet are almost tangible to the reader.  Combine the excellent writing with Soentpiet’s splendid watercolors depicting an impeccable 1950’s home, and you have a visual and verbal feast.

The book ends with a personal tribute from the author, letting us know the story is autobiographical.  Included in the back cover is a web link to a recipe for the teacakes.  While the mood is somewhat idyllic, the story portrays a timeless relational scene where two family members care for one another in a stable, loving relationship.  I especially appreciate the way the boy models cheerful manual work in service of someone else.  A wonderful read.

Dandelions

Greg Shed (Illustrator). Sandpiper 2001, Paperback, 32 pages, $3.67

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Zoe, traveling with her family to Nebraska, knows her mother has doubts about moving to an unsettled territory, but her father is unable to provide for them back in Illinois where they lived with her grandparents.  When they arrive at their staked-out territory and commence to digging a well and building their sod house, Mama’s doubts continue to weigh on her and she pines for her old home.  On Mama’s birthday Papa takes Zoe to town for supplies and a small gift.  As they leave the town, Zoe spies a clump of dandelions to be her gift.  They carefully transplant them to the sod roof, but when morning comes the flowers are wilted and sad.  Zoe pleads, “They’ll bloom, Mama — they’re strong, just like us.”  Mama is quiet, and Zoe knows that somehow the conversation is about more than the flowers.  Mama tells her she must be patient, it’s hard for flowers to be transplanted, and the story ends with a visual scene of a little sod house on an open prairie, roof covered in yellow blooms.

This beautiful story captures the courage of Americans who risked everything to settle in unknown lands.  It features a strong female protagonist who supports her father’s leadership and shows genuine love toward her mother and sister.  In a book of this length much is necessarily left out — you will have to read On the Banks of Plum Creek or Sod Houses on the Great Plains to learn how a soddie is built — but Bunting’s spare text gives just enough detail to evoke the feelings these settlers must have experienced, leaving the reader with the desire to learn more about this piece of American history.

The complex emotional themes of hope, loneliness and fear, with the symbolism of transplanted flowers to stand for Mama’s loneliness, may require explanation for younger readers.  This book is probably best suited for ages 5-8.

Misty of Chincoteague

Wesley Dennis (Illustrator). Aladdin 2006, Paperback, 176 pages, $2.60

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Paul and Maureen, two siblings living on Chincoteague Island, are rambling together one day when they spot a wild mare.  Transfixed by her beauty, they set about earning money to buy her after the wild pony roundup & auction for which the island is known.

The story of this venture is full of action and suspense (will they succeed or not?) in the context of a secure family home.  The two children live with loving grandparents — no mention is made of their parents, and the children express no anguish over their absence. The brother and sister are polite to grownups and genuinely loving toward one another.

One appealing aspect of the story is the differentiated gender roles the kids take on as they mature: while working as equal partners toward their shared goal, they divide responsibilities according to their natural abilities.  Paul manfully goes off to physically labor at building a pony pen, while Maureen stays home to do his chores for him.  A few times Paul is the first to become aware of danger, and he protectively shields or warns his sister.  It is he who goes away to Assateague Island with the men to capture the mare (a coming-of-age moment), while Maureen awaits the outcome at home.

But Maureen’s stay-at-home choices are clearly an expression of self-sacrificing love toward her brother, rather than resignation to a disappointing fate.  When the two debate over who will ride in a horse race, Paul draws the longer straw, and Maureen graciously accepts this outcome, showing real selflessness and grace.  It takes strength of character to prefer another’s interests above your own (Philippians 2:3-4), and Maureen is a quiet example of this kind of practical love.  And when in the end the pony is brought home, the two of them share equally in her care and ownership.

This story provides a view of a close friendship between siblings, an interesting and challenging goal for both protagonists, healthy family relationships, and respect for authority.  It is romantic, refreshing, and inspiring, full of beauty and life.