Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Grandfather's Story Cloth

Grandfather's Story Cloth

Chersheng and his family live in an American city.  His family are Hmong and they emigrated to the United States after the Vietnam War.  His grandfather is showing symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.  Chersheng's mother presents him with a story cloth stitched by his grandfather, and Chersheng creates his own art project to help is grandfather remember his life and family in America.  Written by Linda Gerdner and Sarah Langford, illustrated by Minnesotan, Stuart Loughridge (his first children's book); this bilingual story can be a resource for cultural units.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Why the Owl Has Big Ears

Why the Owl Has Big Ears
No one is supposed to watch Rawens as he creates the plants and animals.  Yet, for the impatient lump of clay sitting in a tree; patience is running short, and it asks Rawens to "make me now".  This book tells the Iroquois story of how the rabbit and owl were created, and teaches a lesson about patience and listening.  Written and illustrated by the Minnesota team of Mike Preble and Shawn McCann, this is one to add to your folklore collection.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

The Peace Bell

The Peace Bell
Although fictionalized, this picture book tells the story of the Peace Bell that is now located in Isumi City, Japan (formerly known as Ohara). 

During World War II, many Japanese temple bells were donated to the war effort, to be melted down into materials needed for the war.  This bell was discovered intact in a shipyard after the war, by crewmen from the USS Duluth. They presented the bell to Duluth, Minnesota, where it was displayed in City Hall until 1954, when it was returned to the city of Ohara, and renamed the American-Japanese Friendship Peace Bell.  In 1991, Ohara presented Duluth with a replica of the bell, and the two cities became sister cities. 

Written by Margi Preus, illustrated by Hideko Takahashi, this might be a resource for elementary social studies classes.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night

Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night
In her latest book, Minnesota poet Joyce Sidman, features nocturnal animals and other sights and sounds of the woods at night.  Beautifully illustrated with linoleum cut designs by Duluth artist, Rick Allen, this is very comparable to Song of the Water Boatman, which won a Caldecott honor.  This will be an excellent classroom resource for elementary science classes.