Fish

Fish	Hodder Children’s Books
Written by L.S. Mathews	2003
Fiction	183 pages
Reading Level age 10

Summary

Tiger lives with his parents in a village taking care of the sick and hungry. There hasn’t been rain in a long time. Everything is drying up. His parents are worried about the fighting and how close it is getting. Many of the villagers and refugees start the journey to cross the border into a safer country. Tiger’s parents stay until there is no one else to help. Tiger was watching the pond from the last rain slowly shrink smaller. Suddenly, a fish jumps out of the water. He runs home to tell his father, only to find him packing things up. He is told they are leaving and to pack his clothes. He explains about the fish and runs back to the pond with a pot to try and save the fish. He is successful but gets covered with mud in the process. When he walks home, he finds a guide and his donkey at the house. The guide starts leading them to the border. After walking all day, Tiger’s feet are sore and aching. They make it to the border through a bad wind storm, only to find the soldiers won’t let them pass, even with the papers from their country. There is no other choice than to cross over the mountains. By the evening, Tiger’s feet are blistered and rubbed raw. He has to stay off them the next day. His father carries him. The path leads across a wide muddy river bed. The donkey leads them slowly across, with everyone testing the depth of the mud. They are almost across when Dad steps into a deep hole. With Tiger being on his back, he cannot move. In the process, Fish is dropped and slowly the pot is sinking into the mud. “Save the Fish!,” Tiger cries to his mother. She scoops the fish from the pot and slides him into a bottle. All safe on the other side, Tiger takes his fish back. They climb up the mountain, crossing on narrow paths. Once the donkey slipped, and in order to save her Dad cuts half their belongings off her back, to send them tumbling down the drop. Then they are accosted by three men with guns. The men attempt to take them hostage. Tiger escapes by hiding in the mud, holding his breath and hoping Fish is alright in his bottle. He crawls out and is found by his parents. They make their way down the mountain of shale. They are almost to the bottom when Tiger slips from exhaustion and tumbles down. Fish’s bottle was smashed and leaking. His mother pours Fish onto a warped cooking pan. Every step the water sloshed to the opposite corner swirling Fish back and forth. Feet cut by his fall and legs shaking, Tiger attempts to keep going. Black spots appear in his vision and he stumbles. Fish! Dad caught the tray and hold Fish and a small puddle of water. Tiger slips Fish into his mouth to keep him wet. Dad carries Tiger the rest of the way down. They reach the bottom only to find an officer around the corner. He explains he is supposed to keep refuges from entering the country. Dad shows the papers and is given water. Everyone takes a drink, Tiger too. He slides Fish into the bottle. They all ride to the medic center for fluids and food. The guide stays by Tiger’s bed and explains about love, you don’t have to see it to feel it. The next day, the guide is gone and Fish is left with the officer, who promises to set him free in a river that always flows. Tiger and his parents head to the airport to return home.

Reaction

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There was constant conflict and obstacles, but with enough dialogue and Tiger’s thoughts to carry the story line. The fish added suspense, Tiger had to take care of him and be responsible. I would have liked more details about the country they were in, but didn’t feel that it was necessary to understand the setting. It kept me interested and concerned for the characters.

Potential Problems

The book is based on a war they are fleeing and talks about maimed refugees the family takes care of in the village. Also, the three men end up fighting each other and one is shot and killed. This would not be appropriate for younger children.

Recommendations

I would recommend this book to those who have been through something like this. They would be able to relate and feel for the characters. I think it would be good for those who are away from their country.

Children Stories from Around the World

Children Stories from Around the World	Deseret Book Company
Compilation organized by The Friend magazine	1976
Nonfiction	80 pages
Reading Level

Summary of Plot

This is a book consisting of 23 stories from all different countries around the world from Africa to New Zealand to the Philippines. My favorite three were Just Like Papa, Masood and his Brave Shoes and The Happiness Tree. Masood and his Brave Shoes takes place in Iran. It describes a boy with lice and he has to go into Tehran to get treated. He is scared and nervous; he has never been outside his village. To help him want to go, his mother allows him to wear his father’s army shoes. He wears them to Tehran and feels braver for wearing them. He volunteers to go first for the treatment and even sits by the window and watches all the new and interesting scenery pass by on the way back to the village. He was able to face an experience that could have been terrifying but was able to face his fears and have confidence in it.

Reaction

I really enjoyed reading all the different stories of children in other cultures. It was interesting to compare them to my childhood and see details that were similar. I thought it was well written and think it was beneficial to study.

Potential Problems

The book had some stories that were written with prejudice, especially the story from the American Indian perspective. Also, there was one about war, though not as prevalent. It compared a residing army soldier to the boy’s father, who had went away to fight.

Recommendations

I would recommend this book to those who are interested in or come from a different culture. Also, to those who feel apart from others, it would help to learn children elsewhere might be struggling as they are. It would also be a good way to introduce a cultural unit_.

The UnValentine

The UnValentine	Shadow Mountain
Written by Sam Beeson, Illustrated by Jesse Draper	2007
Picture Book	32 pages
Reading Level

Summary

Lily does not believe in love. She dislikes Valentines and all that has to do with it. She sits as recess and rants her fuming thoughts into her journal. She wrote her frustrations and vehemence in verse. She did not believe in the mushy, gushy feelings of love. Until, she finds a crumpled paper on her desk. It was written in verse describing a dislike for cupids, asking if she liked black roses and signed by Ray. She fell in love as he looked at her and she stared back. Her loathing for Valentine ’s Day was gone. Ray and Lily are seen walking together holding hands, united in their view of the world.

Reaction

I liked the paintings in this book. I liked how they are framed and were more like portraits than an illustration of the entire scene. The focus was on the emotion and expressions on their faces. I thought that the story line was great and enjoyed that it was written in verse. I liked the ending and the alluding to the fact that there is someone out there for everyone to love.

Potential Problems

This might be read and seen as permission to have a bad attitude about love and viewed sentimental feelings. Even though it has a happy ending, there were some pretty strong negative emotions described at the beginning of the book.

Recommendations

I would recommend this around Valentines to those who don’t see the point of candy hearts and cheesy sayings that show your affection or appreciation.

The Dinosaur's New Clothes

The Dinosaur’s New Clothes	The Blue Sky Press
Written and illustrated by Diane Goode	1999
Picture Book	40 pages
Caldecott Honor Artist	Reading Level

Summary

This is a retelling of the Emperor’s clothes except the characters are dinosaurs. Also the setting is in Versailles, France; the great palace of rulers. There is a T-Rex Emperor that loves new clothes. Two raptors travel through the city proclaiming to have the most spectacular magical cloth. It was designed so only the smartest or best for their position to see. The Emperor, of course, had to have an outfit. They measured him and set up their loom. They were heard clacking though the night. The only problem was that there wasn’t any thread upon the loom. The Emperor sends three different advisors to check on the progress of his new clothes. Each time the advisor could not see what the tailors were describing, afraid to admit they could not see and therefore either stupid or unfit for their position. So they report to the Emperor the magnificence of the cloth and news spread across the city. Soon it was time for the Emperor to be fitted for the clothes. Dismayed, he cannot see anything! He lavishes praise on the tailors and the amazing cloth. The tailors took the cloth of the loom, snipped and sewed. Finally, it was finished. They help the Emperor into his suit. Everyone pretends to admire the clothes on the Emperor. He parades through the town, with praises of his garments from everyone. They did not want to seem stupid for not being able to see what everyone else must be seeing. All was going well, until a young child proclaims from the crowd, “The Emperor has nothing on!” The tailors had swindled the Emperor and made everyone afraid of other’s opinions.

Reaction

I enjoyed the book. It had colorful pictures and intricate detail to everything. I liked adding the dinosaurs and new setting into a traditional story that wasn’t that descriptive to the surrounding and characters. I liked that the clothes were drawn in the time period of the eighteenth century when the main focus was on the dress and extravagance of it.

Potential Problems

I could not find any problem except for the vocabulary. The setting is a palace, so there are titles that the child is unfamiliar with.

Recommendations

I would recommend this to children who like reading about dinosaurs or those who are extremely conscious and shy about their opinion and other’s judgment of their comments.