But I'll Be Back Again- Cynthia Rylant

But I'll Be Back Again is an honest and forthright autobiography in which Cynthia Rylant divulges the experiences that inspired her as an author. Rylant's childhood was consumed by adversity but she was fortunate to have had extended family to depend on during difficult times. Rylant lived with her grandparents when Rylant's mother decided to pursue nursing school. Rylant's father abandoned the family entirely and he was consumed by alcoholism. Rylant explained the impact her parents leaving had on her self-concept as a child. Rylant captured the sentiment that is probably felt by most children who suffer feelings of unworthiness as a result of parental abandonment, divorce, etc. Rylant's outlet for expressing these experiences was through writing. Rylant's books are retrospective and they speak to the powerful effect of family and community.

Although Rylant suffered hardships as a result of her mother and father, Rylant was able to find her voice and purpose through writing. This did not happen instantaneously, however. Through Rylant's accounts, we learn of the many experiences, events, and developmental/social hurdles Rylant had to tackle before she came upon the realization that she had a gift for writing. We learn how highly she regarded the time she spent with her grandparents during a time when she felt unwanted by her mother and father. This childhood memory was the source of inspiration for her Caldecott award winning book When I Was Young in the Mountains.

We also are provided with candid details of Rylant's experiences with boys when she became older. Eventually, Rylant lived with her mother in Beaver, West Virginia. According to Rylant's descriptions, she had many relations with boys her age and this caused tension between her and her mother. Her mother ultimately wanted to protect her, but Rylant described these times as events that helped shape her.

Many of the accounts of growing up that Rylant discusses are shared by countless others. However, the impact of her parents' abandonment and her rural upbringing with extended family are the elements of her life that Rylant incorporates throughout many of her books. Like many children of her time, Rylant idolized the Beatles and imagined being swept off her feet by Paul McCartney. I was surprised, however, about Rylant's fascination with Bobby Kennedy. Rylant revealed that the deaths of Lennon and Kennedy profoundly impacted her growing up. Rylant experienced a great sense of loss not only in her personal life, but she also shared in the grief of a nation.

Rylant's autobiography elucidated the sources for her inspiration as an author. So many of her experiences are brought forth in her children's books. I can't wait to go back and re-read Rylant's books to make deeper connections between her fictional stories and real life experiences.

Time for Kids: Presidents of the United States - Informational Book

Did you know that during his presidency, Ulysees S. Grant was pulled over for speeding in his horse-drawn carriage? Or, did you know that James Monroe was the very first president not to wear a wig during public appearances? These facts, among many other interesting trivia about United States presidents are revealed in the book, Presidents of the United States, published by Time Life for Kids. As a child, I was always fascinated by our past presidents. I remember taking the time to memorize the order in which each president served our country. I wouldn't consider myself a history buff, but the lives of presidents always interested me. These men served as an anchor that enabled me to make sense of the sequence of events that took place throughout our nation's brief history.

Although I devoted time to learning about the presidents, I always had difficulty remembering what many have labeled "the forgettable presidents." Admittedly, The life of Millard Fillmore didn't really pique my interests until I just read that his wife was a teacher who was responsible for having the first library installed in the White House. Time Life For Kids is an appealing book because it blends interesting facts that will capture the reader's attention with valuable, succinct information that puts into perspective the historical context that affected each presidency. Every president left a mark that impacted the course of events that shaped our country's history.

I have noticed that as a classroom teacher, when I teach students about the lives of past presidents, the students are always fascinated by the humorous trivia that make great leaders such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln seem more "human". Children look to these figures almost as superheros because adults teach them as iconic symbols of our country. My students loved to hear about Lincoln's naughty children making a mess of the White House. My children also loved learning about George Washington's battle with tooth decay. It was a revelation when they noticed that he never smiled in any of his portraits. Books such as George Washington's Teeth , although silly, captivated the students and got them interested in learning about the lives of the presidents. The publishers of Time for Kids incorporated facts that would keep their target audience invested.

Other key features that make this book a valuable reference for children are the timelines that are included at the bottom of each double page spread as well as the photographs and accompanying captions that offer visuals of the time period in which each president served. I found it interesting how the timelines on each page spanned two presidencies. However, presidents Washington, Lincoln, F.D.R, Truman, Clinton, and W. Bush were given an entire double page spread. I understand the reasoning for this because most of these presidents served during times of war. Clinton and George W. are our most recent presidents which explains why they as well were allotted more space than other presidents.

Another valuable feature of the book is the section devoted to the nation's First Ladies. I thought, however, that the book could have gone into more depth about some of these women's accomplishments and contributions. Finally, the book offers a "President's At a Glance" page as well as a detailed map of the White House with accompanying historical facts. This would be a great classroom resource!

Long Night Moon by Cynthia Rylant

Long Night Moon, by Cynthia Rylant is an ethereal and beautifully rendered book that entranced me both visually and lyrically. The poetic traditions of Native Americans and their unity with nature are revealed through Rylant's poetic verse and Siegel's charcoal illustrations. The poetry and illustrations work together to characterize the unique quality of the twelve full moons. Month by month, Rylant describes characteristics of the moon through her use of figurative language. Her use of similies, metaphors, and alliteration are some of the literary devices Rylant uses to provide rhythmic and fluid descriptions of the moon at night.

The book had a very calming tone throughout. This book reminds me of another Rylant book titled In November. Both books eloquently describe nature by providing language that makes the setting of these books almost tangible. Both books incorporate language and illustrations that add a formal tone to these naturalistic descriptions. Rylant has a deep respect for nature and her ability to describe natural occurences is impressive and insightful.

Because of Rylant's love of nature, she probably feels a deep respect for Native American culture. Because these people are so attuned to nature, Rylant sets the stage for Long Night Moon by revealing how Native Americans gave each moon a special name. The names of each moon are embedded in her descriptions on subsequent pages. Each name is illuminated to accentuate the uniqueness of each moon. Each name closely resembles the characteristics of the seasons.

The illustrations are mesmerizing and alluring. The moon illuminates each illustraton, thus providing a light source on each page. This light source also provides shadows that closely resemble what the Earth looks like during a full moon. Images of animals, people, and natural settings are made visible by the radiant light of the full moons. What would normally be invisible at night is revealed by the magical light of the moon. These scenes and descriptions make me want to take a long walk at night to take in the quietness and solitude.

This would be another wonderful read-aloud for students. Discussion could arise that would enable children to tie their knowledge of the phases of the moon and seasonal changes to make connections with the text. Long Night Moon is an enjoyable and calming book that pays tribute to nature's beauty and splendor.

Waiting to Waltz by Cynthia Rylant

This collection of poems by Cynthia Rylant reveal her childhood experiences in Beaver, West Virginia. Prior to reading this book, I was curious as to whether or not this book would resemble the reminiscent nature of Rylant's famous book When I Was Young in the Mountains. After reading Waiting to Waltz, I did notice similarities between the two books but I felt that When I Was Young in the Mountains provided us with much more positive memories of Rylant's childhood. I believe that Waiting to Waltz is a more personal and candid account of Rylant's past. While there were some positive memories included in the collection, the majority of the poems spoke to the tragedies and disappointments Rylant experienced growing up.

One of the poems that saddened me was Little Short Legs. Rylant confesses that as a child, she didn't know that an "adult could make such a mistake" in response to her mother accidentally running over a neighborhood dog. Another tragic poem titled "The Brain Surgeon" describes one of the many "drunks" who sat near Beaver Creek. Rylant came to find out that one particular man was an out of town brain surgeon who lost his wife in a local hotel. Because of this loss, he decided to never leave Beaver. While Rylant's poems commentated on the people of Beaver, she also included poems about her own personal experiences. In her poem Spelling Bee, Rylant communicates the anticipation and nervousness she felt as a young girl competing in a local spelling bee. Rylant unveils the moment when she lost the competition. I felt her disappointment as I read this poem.

The drawings provided by Stephen Gammel enhance the tone of the story. The sketches are simple, yet revealing, much like the town in which Rylant grew up. Gammel's depictions of people throughout the illustrations convey their body language and posture to deepen our understanding of their emotions. However, facial features are not often revealed. The black and white illustrations gave me the impression that Beaver is a quiet town that often has overcast/cloudy weather. The homes and buildings look as if they were built during the late 1800's or early 1900's and I was able to connect these images to the small town that my mother grew up in within the Virginia Piedmont region. These illustrations provided a powerful image of this remote, rural town.

Rylant's collections provide evidence of her ability to eloquently capture the feelings, sentiments, and conditions of her surroundings. She is obviously very observant and astute in regards to the human condition. She made me feel as though I more deeply understood the essence of her hometown.

Joyful Noise by Paul Fleischman

Paul Fleischman imaginatively engages the reader through his use of varying perspectives in his collection of poems titled Joyful Noise. As with other Paul Fleischman books such as Bull Run and Seedfolks, Fleischman interconnects characters by revealing their personal accounts and points of view. Joyful Noise is a collection of poems that pay homage to the insect world. Some poems are told from a third person perspective while others are written in first person. I never thought that I could empathize with a digger wasp until I read Fleischman's poem! This poem reveals the wasp's point of view. The wasp describes the arduous task of preparing for her offspring, despite the fact that she will die before they are born. Fleischman captures this insect's resolve. Who would have known that it was possible to reveal a wasp's internal struggles?

As I read the poems, I immediately noticed their rhythmic quality. Fleischman's poems are intended to be read by two people and the interchangeable voices create a musical tone as they are read aloud. Fleischman's word choices also add to the rhythm of each poem. He incorporates alliteration and other literary devices to enhance the rhythmic tone. As I read these poems silently, I could hear the two voices as I read. I was able to identify and read the poems with proper rhythm and timing. This can be attributed to Fleischman's skillful orchestration of incorporating both voices (readers). This added to the flow of each poem and kept me engaged throughout. Fleischman's literary techniques kept me invested in his insect poems, when I may not have been otherwise.

These poems provide a wonderful opportunity to engage students in read-alouds such as Reader's Theater. I can envision having students work in pairs to present a Reader's Theater of each poem. This collection of poems also provides a valuable content area resource. This collection could be integrated in a Science unit on insects. I believe that students would be motivated by reading these poems aloud while learning interesting facts about a day in the life of an insect.

I Had Seen Castles by Cynthia Rylant

I Had Seen Castles provides an honest and highly personalized account of a young man coming to terms with his role as a soldier during the most notable and catastropic event of the 20th century. This fictional memoir which takes place during World War II reveals the emotions, hardships and suffering that John Dante endured as a result of the war. Rylant captures the mindset and resolve of a nation that had been attacked and forced into an international conflict. Gone were the days of the United States being isolationists. It was the dawn of a new age in which America had to assert dominance over the world through militaristic force. John, like thousands of other young men during this time period, felt an unwavering need to support his country. Rylant revealed the emotions that consumed many young men during this time. John was fearful of enlisting, yet he was eager to join the fight to prove his bravery and allegiance to his country. The love of John's life, Ginny was opposed to the war and urged John to be a CO. John's initial outrage toward Ginny for suggesting this put a rift in their relationship, but they were able to reconcile their differences. I enjoyed Ginny's character because she represented a small minority of people who were opposed to the war. We often associate objectors of war with Vietnam but these people did exist during World War II.

I also was moved by Rylant's depiction of the patriotism that united the country during this time. However, I was surprised by the brutal honesty of John's accounts about his mother when she went to work in the ammunitions factory. He was disgusted by her because she wore men's clothing and upheld a job that traditionally was regarded as man's work. However, John also understood his mother's motivations for taking the job. She rationalized that the more ammunitions she produced, the stronger the chance would be that America would win the war, thus expediting the safe return of her son. Rylant revealed the feelings of desperation and helplessness felt by those who had loved ones fighting overseas.

Rylant revealed the impact of the war on both the homefront and also provided accounts of the war itself. Through John's perspective, we are able to experience the apprehensions he felt prior to the war and then we experienced his struggle to survive during the several years that he fought. One passage that powerfully conveyed John's first experience with war was when he stated, " Then mortar shells began to land in that meadow, and the sheep were hit, and lay bloody, half-alive, their bowels spilling upon the meadow flowers, and we were all in it. We were all in the Second World War." This gruesome description set the stage for the horrific conditions that John would face. Instead of seeing animals dismembered, he would witness comrades dying on the battlefields in a similar manner.

The retrospective accounts of the war provided by John as an older man are reminiscent of many other memoirs and stories about World War II. I immediately made a connection to the movie Saving Private Ryan and the powerful scene at the end of the movie in which Ryan visits the graves of all the soldiers who lost their lives during the war. Despite the many years that separate these veterans from their time on the battlefield, there probably isn't a day that goes by that they don't think about what they experienced as a result of fighting in the war. This book also had me making connections to the events of 911. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and the reactions of the country documented by Rylant resembled the emotions felt by the country directly after the 911 attack. Rylant portrayed this historical time period with honesty and reverance for those who sacrificed as a result of the war.

Bull Run by Paul Fleischman

As I began reading Fleischman's book Bull Run, which chronicles the events leading up to this battle during the initial stages of the Civil War, I wondered if the flow of the plot would be interrupted by the frequent changes of perspective. Initially, I had some difficulty connecting with the characters and their affiliations with the war. As I continued reading, however, I was pleased by the fact that the characters were revisited throughout the text. I also found myself becoming more invested in the story as the battle became imminent. The first person accounts provide the reader with a balanced perspective about how the war impacted all citizens to include soldiers, slaves, women and children. This book personalizes the impact of war and dispels many myths that people have regarding the Civil War.

We learn that those slaves who fought for the North endured mistreatment. We also learn how unprepared the soldiers were coming into the battle of Bull Run. Both sides miscalculated their enemy and had to fight in conditions in which there was a complete breakdown in communication. Fleischman effectively conveyed the chaos and confusion that took hold of the commanding officers and their soldiers. We also were provided a glimpse of the bravery and heroism that many people possessed. Men, women and children who were either directly or indirectly involved in the war acquired the ability to survive and support what they believed in, despite the consequences. Others, however, revealed the atrocities of war. For example, Dr. William Rye states, " Man is the deadliest of God's creatures... How intently the men studied the art of killing... and yet, how shocked we are that men bleed and die..."

I was most taken by the accounts of Lily Maloy. I empathized with her character the most because of the abuse she endured at home. Her father was portrayed as a heartless man who asserted his authority by making his family fearful of him. Lily's older brother Patrick decided to fight in the war, despite the threats given to him by his father. After reading Lily's first account, I wanted to follow her story. I was saddened by the despair she suffered when she found out that her brother died in battle. Her persective ended the book and I was moved by her feelings toward the Battle of Bull Run. She expressed, " I felt great hatred for the stream called Bull Run. I thought back to walking through the wheat when it had been shorter, weeks before." She continued, " How I yearned to be that girl again, back before Patrick had been killed!" This final passage speaks to the life altering effects of war. Fleischman weaved disparate characters together in this book. Bull Run could serve as an excellent supplementary text when teaching the Civil War.