Bibliography
Nye, Naomi Shihab. 1997. Habibi. New York: Simon & Schuster.
ISBN: 0-689-80149-1
Summary
Liyana Abboud and her family transplant from the United States to her father's birth place, a Palestinian village. Once there, they all endure changes in their lives and experience the world where there are struggles between Jews and Palestinians.
Critical Analysis
Gracefully written, Habibi is a story that opens eyes to topics that are hard for many to comprehend. Naomi Shihab Nye's writing style is one that captivates readers and enlightens with her poetically written words.
Nye's writing style makes, Habibi, a story with excellent literary qualities. Nye tells the story through Liyana, a fourteen year old girl, who contemplates about her world. At the beginning of each chapter, Nye presents a statement, question, or poem by Liyana to foreshadow the chapter, as well as present Liyana as a deep thinker and develop her character. Like many girls her age, Liyana has just experienced her first kiss and has "never imagined lips to be warm" (4). Nye also develops the familial bond intricately, but believably, so that many readers can relate. For example, Liyana is not excited about the move to a new country, however she does not disrespect her father by arguing about it. Also, when her father is jailed, Liyana stands up to the guards so that she can see him. When Liyana becomes interested in a boy, her mother quietly supports her, even though, in their new country, it is not acceptable for this to happen. Additionally, the relationship between her and her brother is strong and supportive. For example, when Liyana wants her family to meet, Omer, her Jewish boyfriend and her father is upset about how the family will react, Rafik exclaims, "Say he's MY FRIEND, not Liyana's." At other times, their relationship is also comical. When Liyana asks, Rafik is he is sick after he has vomited, he exclaims, "No dope-dope, that's how we say hello in my language. As the story progresses, the changes taking place in Liyana are developing. It becomes obvious Liyana is embracing change, and even making others begin to question the old ways. She says to her father, "What good is it to believe in peace and talk about peace if you want to live the same old ways?" (228).
Nye establishes the setting of the story vividly. The tone of the story is appropriate for people going through trials and tribulations of change. At the end of the story, when Sitti welcomes Omer, peace and acceptance of others becomes the obvious message.
Nye's ability to use superb literary qualities transfers to her use of cultural markers in the story. The entire story presents different markers, such as food, clothing, actions, language of the people. Early on, Poppy explains to Liyana and Rafik ice cream will be called "booza" after they move (7). They eat "baked lamb surrounded by rice and pine nuts" (51). They have plates of baba ghanouj and hummus (68) and baklava (69). Liyana discovers katayef, an Arabic dessert, too. All the examples are types of Middle Eastern food.
Another cultural marker is found in their clothing and features. When Liyana's family arrive they notice women wear long dresses made of thick fabrics and embroidered with multicolored threads (40)The women wear long, white scarves over their heads and some men wear kaffiyehs, (41) which are typical headwear for Middle Eastern men. Liyana and Rafik have inherited their father's olive skin (42). The men have brown faces (41). Liyana and Rafik discover their grandmother has tattoos.
More cultural markers are found in names of the characters. Nye carefully chooses appropriate names for her characters. Nye uses Kamal Abboud for father, Rafik for the brother. Some of the relatives' names are Fayed, Fowzi, Muna, Tayeb, Lena, Saba, Leila and Hamza. Some of Liyana and Rafik's friend's names are Bassam, Khaled, and Omer.
Other cultural markers are found in their actions. When the family greets other, they kiss twice, once on each cheek (39). When grandmother is emotionally moved, she trills loudly (39). Liyana discovers "everyone's favorite thing to do here [is] sit in a circle and talk talk talk" (50). When the big meal is served, everyone but Liyana's family eat communally (51). Later, Poppy's brother asks for Liyana's hand in marriage for his son. (56). Sitti carries a jug of water on her head, without using her hands (84). Nye even uses the fact that there is a division among the people in this part of the world as a cultural marker.
In the story, Nye forces the idea of change for peace, acceptace, and love through profound, thought-provoking comments. Nye's ability to present this story so poignantly, makes this story truly uplifting, and a rewarding read for everyone. Habibi is a definite story for every library. It is truly refreshing.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal reports, "Though the story begins at a leisurely pace, readers will be engaged by the characters, the romance, and the foreshadowed danger. Poetically imaged and leavened with humor, the story renders layered and complex history understandable through character and incident. Habibi succeeds in making the hope for peace compellingly personal and concrete...as long as individual citizens like Liyana's grandmother Sitti can say, "I never lost my peace inside."'
Kirkus Reviews states, "The sights, sounds, and smells of Jerusalem drift through the pages and readers glean a sense of current Palestinian-Israeli relations and the region's troubled history. In the process, some of the passages become quite ponderous while the human story- -Liyana's emotional adjustments in the later chapters and her American mother's reactions overall--fall away from the plot. However, Liyana's romance with an Israeli boy develops warmly, and readers are left with hope for change and peace as Liyana makes the city her very own."
Review Excerpts accessed from http://www.amazon.com/
Connections
Other works by Naomi Shihab Nye:
The Space Between Our Footsteps
What Have You Lost?
Nineteen Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East
A Maze Me: Poems for Girls
Never in a Hurry: Essays on People and Places
The Words Under the Words: Selected Poems
Sitti's Secrets
Friday, August 3, 2007
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Bibliography
Richardson, Justin and Peter Parnell. 2005. And Tango Makes Three. New York: Simon & Schuster.
ISBN: 0-689-878-45-1
Illustrator: Henry Cole
Summary
At the New York City Zoo, two male penguins become parents when they take turns sitting on an egg. The egg hatches and the three become a family.
Critical Analysis
A beautifully illustrated and poignantly written story, And Tango Makes Three is the perfect story about a family's love.
The story takes place in the New York City Zoo, where the illustrations support the realistic quality of the story. For example, the first page shows a few snapshots of New York City and the entrance of the zoo. Additionally, the illustrator has drawn a crowd of diverse people visiting the zoo. Also, the main characters, penguins Roy and Silo, are portrayed accurately where they are singing, bowing, walking and swimming together, like penguins do. Roy and Silo make a nest together and even sit on a rock like it is an egg. This also emphasizes Roy and Silo's quality of being normal penguins, that just happen to both be male. The uplifting tone, helps readers to accept the normalcy of Roy and Silo's love.
After Mr. Gramazy, their keeper, gives an egg to Roy and Silo, they begin taking care of the egg like other penguin couples. After Tango is born, Roy and Silo continue taking care of their baby by feeding her, teaching her to sing, and keeping her warm at night. This is a perfect example of parents taking care of their baby, even it the parents are of the same sex.
The children that visit the zoo, Mr. Gramazy, and even the other penguins accept Roy, Silo, and Tango, making a huge statement for children--accept one another even if they are different. A story that focuses on the devotion of a family, And Tango Makes Three, wonderfully and naturally, explains how love is more important than differences. In an arena where there this a lack of positive, homosexual literature, And Tango Makes Three, is the perfect, true story for all libraries.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal reports, "Done in soft watercolors, the illustrations set the tone for this uplifting story, and readers will find it hard to resist the penguins' comical expressions. The well-designed pages perfectly marry words and pictures, allowing readers to savor each illustration. An author's note provides more information about Roy, Silo, Tango, and other chinstrap penguins. This joyful story about the meaning of family is a must for any library" (2005).
Library Media Connection states, "Attractive watercolor illustrations complement the text and playfully show the penguin couple making a nest, trying to hatch a rock, and raising their family together. Overall this is a straightforward story without being overtly about homosexuality, but rather focusing on the familial relationship of Roy and Silo and acceptance of others' differences" (2006).
Review excerpts accessed from Follett's Titlewave site at http://www.titlewave.com/
Connections
Other stories with homosexual themes:
The House You Pass on the Way by Jacqueline Woodson
Emma and Meesha My Boy: A Two Mom Story by Kaitlyn Taylor Considine
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
No Big Deal by Ellen Jaffe-Gill
Molly's Family by Nancy Garden
Richardson, Justin and Peter Parnell. 2005. And Tango Makes Three. New York: Simon & Schuster.
ISBN: 0-689-878-45-1
Illustrator: Henry Cole
Summary
At the New York City Zoo, two male penguins become parents when they take turns sitting on an egg. The egg hatches and the three become a family.
Critical Analysis
A beautifully illustrated and poignantly written story, And Tango Makes Three is the perfect story about a family's love.
The story takes place in the New York City Zoo, where the illustrations support the realistic quality of the story. For example, the first page shows a few snapshots of New York City and the entrance of the zoo. Additionally, the illustrator has drawn a crowd of diverse people visiting the zoo. Also, the main characters, penguins Roy and Silo, are portrayed accurately where they are singing, bowing, walking and swimming together, like penguins do. Roy and Silo make a nest together and even sit on a rock like it is an egg. This also emphasizes Roy and Silo's quality of being normal penguins, that just happen to both be male. The uplifting tone, helps readers to accept the normalcy of Roy and Silo's love.
After Mr. Gramazy, their keeper, gives an egg to Roy and Silo, they begin taking care of the egg like other penguin couples. After Tango is born, Roy and Silo continue taking care of their baby by feeding her, teaching her to sing, and keeping her warm at night. This is a perfect example of parents taking care of their baby, even it the parents are of the same sex.
The children that visit the zoo, Mr. Gramazy, and even the other penguins accept Roy, Silo, and Tango, making a huge statement for children--accept one another even if they are different. A story that focuses on the devotion of a family, And Tango Makes Three, wonderfully and naturally, explains how love is more important than differences. In an arena where there this a lack of positive, homosexual literature, And Tango Makes Three, is the perfect, true story for all libraries.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal reports, "Done in soft watercolors, the illustrations set the tone for this uplifting story, and readers will find it hard to resist the penguins' comical expressions. The well-designed pages perfectly marry words and pictures, allowing readers to savor each illustration. An author's note provides more information about Roy, Silo, Tango, and other chinstrap penguins. This joyful story about the meaning of family is a must for any library" (2005).
Library Media Connection states, "Attractive watercolor illustrations complement the text and playfully show the penguin couple making a nest, trying to hatch a rock, and raising their family together. Overall this is a straightforward story without being overtly about homosexuality, but rather focusing on the familial relationship of Roy and Silo and acceptance of others' differences" (2006).
Review excerpts accessed from Follett's Titlewave site at http://www.titlewave.com/
Connections
Other stories with homosexual themes:
The House You Pass on the Way by Jacqueline Woodson
Emma and Meesha My Boy: A Two Mom Story by Kaitlyn Taylor Considine
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
No Big Deal by Ellen Jaffe-Gill
Molly's Family by Nancy Garden
Moses Goes to a Concert by Isaac Millman
Bibliography
Millman, Isaac. 1998. Moses Goes to a Concert. New York: Frances Foster Books.
ISBN: 0-374-35067-1
Summary
Moses and his classmates, all whom are deaf, attend a concert on a field trip from school. They feel the music through the balloons their teacher has brought from them. Then they are invited to meet the percussionist, who is also deaf.
Critical Analysis
Isaac Millman writes a fictional, yet informative, story about a Moses, a young boy that happens to be deaf. In the illustrations, Millman portrays his characters as a variety of ethnicities that reflect everyday life. The characters all attend a school for the deaf. The story takes place mainly at a concert, which is a perfect catalyst for discussion about the topic of deafness. The tone is upbeat making being deaf a fact of life for some, rather than a hardship of life.
Millman accurately explains and depicts being deaf throughout his story. There is an author's note at the beginning of the story explaining that people who are deaf communicate using sign language. Also, on most pages of the story there are sign-language diagrams explaining the hand movements for sign-language communication. Another example of accuracy is when he defines deafness by stating, Moses "can't hear the sounds he is making because he is deaf..." Instead of hearing, Moses feels vibrations through his hands and feet. Also, when the characters dialog in the story, Millman uses the appropriate term "signs" rather than "says" or "said." Words like says or said implies words being spoken. At the concert the children use balloons to experience the concert by feeling the vibrations. Additionally, the percussionist, who is also deaf feels the vibrations through her shoeless feet.
Millman's story is of good quality merit, portraying deafness accurately and informatively. However, it is a story that focuses on the disability and the disability is introduced before the character is. These are the only two cultural diverse weaknesses in the story. Millman does an excellent job of showing Moses' deafness as a difference rather than disabling trait. This is a perfect story to share with students when discussing differences. All children, with or without deafness, will be introduced to a Millman's ultimate message in this story: "When you set your mind to it, you can be become anything you want want..."
Review Excerpts
Kirkus Review reports, "The power of Millman's book comes from the simple fact that he levels the playing field; of course deaf children go to concerts, but conveying how they enjoy music removes yet one more barrier between those who can hear and those who cannot" (1998).
Millman, Isaac. 1998. Moses Goes to a Concert. New York: Frances Foster Books.
ISBN: 0-374-35067-1
Summary
Moses and his classmates, all whom are deaf, attend a concert on a field trip from school. They feel the music through the balloons their teacher has brought from them. Then they are invited to meet the percussionist, who is also deaf.
Critical Analysis
Isaac Millman writes a fictional, yet informative, story about a Moses, a young boy that happens to be deaf. In the illustrations, Millman portrays his characters as a variety of ethnicities that reflect everyday life. The characters all attend a school for the deaf. The story takes place mainly at a concert, which is a perfect catalyst for discussion about the topic of deafness. The tone is upbeat making being deaf a fact of life for some, rather than a hardship of life.
Millman accurately explains and depicts being deaf throughout his story. There is an author's note at the beginning of the story explaining that people who are deaf communicate using sign language. Also, on most pages of the story there are sign-language diagrams explaining the hand movements for sign-language communication. Another example of accuracy is when he defines deafness by stating, Moses "can't hear the sounds he is making because he is deaf..." Instead of hearing, Moses feels vibrations through his hands and feet. Also, when the characters dialog in the story, Millman uses the appropriate term "signs" rather than "says" or "said." Words like says or said implies words being spoken. At the concert the children use balloons to experience the concert by feeling the vibrations. Additionally, the percussionist, who is also deaf feels the vibrations through her shoeless feet.
Millman's story is of good quality merit, portraying deafness accurately and informatively. However, it is a story that focuses on the disability and the disability is introduced before the character is. These are the only two cultural diverse weaknesses in the story. Millman does an excellent job of showing Moses' deafness as a difference rather than disabling trait. This is a perfect story to share with students when discussing differences. All children, with or without deafness, will be introduced to a Millman's ultimate message in this story: "When you set your mind to it, you can be become anything you want want..."
Review Excerpts
Kirkus Review reports, "The power of Millman's book comes from the simple fact that he levels the playing field; of course deaf children go to concerts, but conveying how they enjoy music removes yet one more barrier between those who can hear and those who cannot" (1998).
Booklist announces, "With clear line-and-watercolor pictures, the precise hand shapes, movements, and facial expressions of ASL are a natural part of the story. . . . Deaf children will welcome this joyful story that talks, without condescension, about the fun they have. Hearing kids, too, will want to learn some of the sign language. . . " (1998).
Reveiw excerpts accessed through Follett's Titlewave site at http://www.titlewave.com/.
Connections
Other Stories by Isaac Millman:
Moses Goes to School
Moses Goes to the Circus
Moses Sees a Play
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