A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis

Bibliography

Peña, Matt de la. 2011. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-0803731677

Brief plot summary

On the eve of World War II, Joe Louis, African-American son of a sharecropper father, fought German Max Schmeling, a representative of Hitler’s Master Race.  This was a time when all things German were viewed as a threat to America and when Jim Crow Laws were in effect and America was still segregated. However, this boxing match allowed Americans to put aside prejudice and brought together Black and White Americans in support of Joe Louis as a hero representing America’s war with Germany.  A brief biography of Joe Louis is told within the story.

Critical analysis

This biographical picture book successfully engages the reader as it recounts an emotional, historic event through its brief, poetic, text and spectacular illustrations. Through the use of flashback, highlights of Joe Louis’s life are traced from his quiet boyhood in Jim Crow America to his rise as an outstanding boxer and a national hero. Themes explored in the book include identity and nationality, humility, failure, and realizing personal dreams through hard work.

The realistic illustrations were painted with oils on wood and transport the reader into the boxing ring and into the arena. The illustrations utilize their emotional power to expand on the content of the text. The close-up portraits are powerful.

Young readers may lack the background knowledge and historical context to grasp the importance of this fight in American history. Also, in the story, since Max Schmeling represents the threat of Germany and he was not himself a member of the Nazi Party, his portrayal seems stereotyped. However, both these issues can easily be addressed in the classroom or through additional research and reading.

Review excerpts

“…this was a struggle of good against evil, with Louis just about the only man willing to take on Hitler. De la Peña’s succinct text and Nelson’s intensely beautiful paintings don’t require much more time than Louis needed for Schmeling. But some 70 years later, the story is no less stirring.” – The New York Times Book Review

"Spare, evocative verse melds with the eloquent illustrations to create palpable energy around the fight and Louis's struggle to the top." --Publishers Weekly (starred)

"Spectacularly illustrated and smoothly cadenced." --Booklist (starred)

"Stunning art and dramatic storytelling." --School Library Journal (starred)

"de la Peña's tersely poetic narration is riveting, and Nelson's oil paintings draw viewers directly into the ring." --BCCB (starred)

Awards / Best Books

New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books, 2011
Booklist Editor's Choice Best Books of 2011
Booklist Top 10 Biographies for Youth of 2011

Booklist Top 10 Sports Books for Youth of 2011

School Library Journal Best Books of 2011

Classroom Connections

In the middle or upper grade classroom:

Students can pair this book with newspaper articles about the earlier fighting match between Louis and Schmeling and do a compare/contrast activity of the two events.

Students can research to learn more about Max Schmeling and then follow-up with a discussion on propaganda.

Students can identify the major themes of the book, identity and nationalism, and discuss how Joe Louis and his big fight address them.

Students reading Watsons Go to Birmingham can do a “step back” to see how Joe Louis served as an inspiration for Kenny’s father.

Related Books:

·      Curtis, Christopher Paul. Watsons Go to Birmingham. ISBN: 978-0385321754

·      Jordan, Deloris Rosalyn M. Jordan, and Kadir Nelson, Ill. Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream. ISBN: 978-0689833717

·      Michaelson, Richard and Eric Velasquez. Twice as Good. ISBN: 978-1585364664

·      Nelson, Kadir. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. ISBN: 978-0786808328 

·      Peña, Matt de la. Ball Don’t Lie. ISBN: 978-0385734257

·      Pinkney, Andrea. Bird in a Box. ISBN: 978-0316074025

·      Sharenow, Robert. The Berlin Boxing Club. ISBN: 978-0061579684

·      Smith, Jr., Charles R. Stars in the Shadows: The Negro League All-Star Game of 1934. ISBN: 978-0689866388.

Invention of Hugo Cabret

Bibliography

Selznick, Brian. 2007. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 978-0439813785

Plot Summary

After his father dies in an accidental fire in 1931, 11 year-old Hugo, goes to live with his alcoholic uncle who lives in a Paris train station and maintains the clocks there. When his uncle disappears Hugo is left completely alone and he begins stealing food to survive and maintaining the clocks in the train station so that no one will notice his situation. When not maintaining the station clocks, Hugo is working to rebuild an automaton with the hopes that it will reveal a secret message from his father that will answer all of his questions and save his life. When caught stealing wind-up toys from a toymaker’s booth located in the train station, Hugo becomes intertwined with the lives of the toymaker and his goddaughter.

Critical Analysis

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a fast-paced adventure book loaded with action and mystery. It is very unique in that it seamlessly blends historical fiction, picture book, graphic novel, flip book, and movie elements. The story depends as much on the pictures as it does on the words.  While the words convey narration and conversation, the pictures convey action. The book opens with a cinematic series of illustrations that immediately draws the reader into Hugo’s world and maintains the reader’s curiosity and interest through the last page.

The illustrations are black and white pencil drawings that are amazingly detailed and textured. Photographic and cinematic in style, the illustrations are very lifelike and draw the reader into the action and emotion of the story.  Close-ups of characters allow the reader to see into them.  The design of the book successfully conveys the feel of silent film through the use of black-edged window-boxing throughout and the text pages recall title cards from silent film with their white filigree borders.

This book successfully explores the themes of survival, life-purpose, self-discovery, dream, and loss.  All of these themes are central to coming of age. The focus on the theme of loss may make this book more appropriate for ages thirteen and up. It is a book that should appeal to boys, but girls will also enjoy the mystery and suspense and find Isabella an easy character with whom to connect. At 525 pages it may frighten off some readers. However, once they see the number of pages taken by illustrations and read the first chapter, even a reluctant reader should be drawn into the story.

Review Excerpts

“With characteristic intelligence, exquisite images, and a breathtaking design, Selznick shatters conventions related to the art of bookmaking in this magical mystery set in 1930s Paris.” – School Library Journal, starred review

“The interplay between the illustrations … and text is complete genius, especially in the way Selznick moves from one to the other, depending on whether words or images are the better choice for the moment.” – Horn Book, starred review

"...this ambitious, intelligent piece of bookmaking demands and deserves attention..." — Booklist, boxed review

"... a uniquely inventive story.... elegantly designed to resemble the flickering experience of silent film melodramas." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Hugo Cabret sits at the nexus of magic and storytelling and film, and ... Brian Selznick shows us a little magic of his own." — The New York Times Book Review

Awards / Best Books

Randolph Caldecott Medal, 2008
National Book Award Finalist, 2007
#1 New York Times Bestseller
New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2007
Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2007
Kirkus Best Book of 2007
New York Public Library Best Book for Reading and Sharing
American Library Association Notable Children's Book, 2008
American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, 2008
Quill Award Winner, 2007

Connections

Related Books

·      Carman, Patrick. Floors. ISBN: 978-0545255196

·      Fleischman, Sid. Sir Charlie: Chaplin, the Funniest Man in the World. ISBN: 978-0061896408

·      Joyce, William. The Man In the Moon. ISBN: 978-1442430419

·      Moriarty, Chris and Mark Edward Geyer, Ill. The Inquisitor’s Apprentice. ISBN: 978-0547581354

·      Selznick, Brian. The Robot King. ISBN: 978-0060244934

·      Selznick, Brian. The Houdini Box. ISBN: 978-0689844515

·      Selznick, Brian. A Boy of a Thousand Faces. ISBN: 978-0064410809

·      Selznick, Brian. Wonderstruck. ISBN: 978-0545027892

·      Verne, Jules. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. ISBN: 0448413078

·      Verne, Jules. Journey to the Center of the Earth. ISBN: 978-1402743375

Make Way for Ducklings

Bibliography

McCloskey, Robert. 1941. Make Way for Ducklings. New York: Viking Press. ISBN: 978-0670451494

Plot Summary

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are searching for a new home that will be safe from foxes and turtles so that they can raise a family of ducklings. In search of their home they briefly visit Boston’s Public Garden, but deciding that it is far too busy and hazardous to make it their home. They settle in along the nearby Charles River, build a nest, and hatch a family of ducklings. The story continues as Mrs. Mallard travels with the ducklings through busy and dangerous streets of Boston on the way back to the Public Garden.

Critical Analysis

This 1942 Caldecott Medal winner is still a favorite with children today. Young readers will love Mrs. Mallard’s proud, loving protection of her ducklings and the protection that they receive from the police in the story. The plot develops with page-turning pacing and has been well-crafted and thought out, doubling the reader back into Boston and the Public Garden at its conclusion.

The illustrations for the story were created in charcoal and then lithographed on zinc plates. Through the illustrations we are given a bird’s eye view of Boston and surrounding area. The ducks in the pictures look very realistic, while the people look more cartoon-like. In 2002 Robert McCloskey was named a “Living Treasure” by the Library of Congress.

Review Excerpts

"Robert McCloskey's unusual and stunning pictures have long been a delight for their fun as well as their spirit of place." — The Horn Book

"… one of the merriest picture books ever" – The New York Times

Awards / Best Books

Caldecott Medal, 1942

Connections

Have students draw pictures of objects and characters from the story and then they can place them on a map of Boston. You may want to make a large-scale, simplified map of just the streets that are mentioned in the story. Students can practice retelling the story and retracing the ducks' routes. Students can practice retelling the story and retracing the ducks' routes.

This story takes place in a city and your students will be able to find urban characteristics throughout the book. Make a chart which includes the characteristics of and differences between a city, a suburban area, and a rural area. Students can then compare and contrast the buildings, open spaces, transportation, population sizes, etc.

Give children a blank piece of paper and ask them to draw a new home for the ducklings. It should include all aspects of shelter that the ducks would need to survive, such as being safe from enemies, easy access to food, a dry and comfortable area, etc. After children have had a chance to share their ideas with each other, follow up by learning about habitats and wildlife adaptation.

Related Books:

·      Hiranandani, Veera, adapter and Shane L. Johnson, illustrator. Olivia and Her Ducklings. ISBN: 978-1442413825

·      McCloskey, Robert. Blueberries for Sal. ISBN: 978-0670175918

·      Potter, Beatrix. The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck. ISBN: 978-0723267782

·      Tafuri, Nancy. Have You Seen My Duckling? ISBN: 978-0688027971

·      Willems, Mo. The Pidgeon Finds a Hot Dog!  ISBN: 978-0786818693