MODULE 8: Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Genre:

Fantasy and Science Fiction

Book Summary:

Ten-year-old Abilene adores and dotes on her vain, porcelain rabbit, Edward Tulane. After falling into the ocean, Edward begins an adventure, passing through the lives of several new owners. Each stop brings a little more damage to Edward’s outer appearance but teaches him about love and the human spirit. The final stop brings him full circle and reunites Edward with an old and new friend.

APA Reference of Book:

DiCamillo, K., & Ibatoulline, B. (2006). The miraculous journey of Edward Tulane. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press.

Impressions:

This is a charming fantasy book that reads like a fairy tale or fable as Edward learns about unconditional love. Edward’s owner, Abilene loves him despite his narcissistic ways. Each of the people he meets along the journey give Edward a piece of his heart but after Sarah dies, Edward does not want to love anymore because it hurts sometimes.  However, in the toy shop, one of the dolls sums it up best when she tells Edward, “if you have no intention of loving or being loved, then the whole journey is pointless.” Edward learns that even if you get hurt, the journey is not worth it if there is no love. Just like the prodigal son, when Edwards is reunited with Abilene and her daughter Maggie, she accepts him with open arms and Edward finally feels at home. The ethereal illustrations add to the story bringing the characters to life.

Professional Review:

There's something about an inanimate rabbit that sets fabulists scurrying to the anxious task of sorting out whom and why we love and whether it's ever enough. Somewhere between The Velveteen Rabbit and The Big Ugly Monster and the Little Stone Rabbit (BCCB 9/04), we find Edward Tulane, a dandified specimen belonging to a girl for whom he has little use, other than as a valet to dress him in his finery. Her grandmother Pellegrina senses this and tells girl and toy a cautionary tale about the wretched fate of a beautiful princess who loved no one. Her words transmute into a curse for the unfortunate rabbit, who, after being lost overboard on a cruise, begins a long journey of misadventures. He is alternately beloved and treated with scorn, but in the course of his ignominious fate, he learns what it means to love. The plot is often contrived and the sentiment inclined toward the maudlin, yet there is more than a touch of Hans Christian Andersen in the sadistic treatment Edward must endure to ultimately learn his lesson; indeed, adults will love this moral, especially those who feel that their petted and pampered offspring are not forthcoming enough with the displays of gratitude and affection that warrant their indulgence. Children, on the other hand, may be swept along by the pathos of Edward's various ordeals, especially the final loss of the boy who steals him off a scarecrow's pole to take to his dying sister, and then, after her lingering death, takes him to the city only to lose him to a toymaker, nobly choosing to give a broken and ratty Edward up so that he might be restored to his former glory. The delicate sepia images that head each chapter and the full-color illustrations augment the emotional tenor of the book; each image manages to evoke a sense of longing that serves to involve the reader in Edward's transformation, thus rendering the newly humbled and loving rabbit's return to his former owner an affecting conclusion.

APA Reference of Professional Review:

Coats, K. (2006). The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (review). Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 59(8), 347-348. Johns Hopkins University Press.

Library Uses:

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is a modern fable warning about vanity and narcissism. Students could find other stories with similar messages or write their own fables warning of other human weaknesses.

Readalikes:

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo – This is a story about a mouse named Despereaux, Roscuro the rat, and Miggery Sow, an unlikely group of characters who eventually come together to save the Princess Pea.

The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo – Peter believes he has no family after being orphaned when his mother died giving birth to his sister, also presumed dead. After a fortune teller tells him that his sister is still alive and that an elephant will lead him to her, Peter finds that nothing is impossible.

Pax by Sara Pennypacker – Peter and Pax are inseparable until Peter’s father goes to war and Peter must go live with his grandfather and is forced to set Pax free. Unable to bear the separation, Peter goes in search of the fox.  Pax finds a group of foxes who teach him how to be a fox.

MODULE 7: Because of Winn Dixie

Genre:

Realistic Fiction

Book Summary:

India Opal Buloni and her father, The Preacher, move to a trailer park in Naomi, Florida. On a trip to the grocery store, Opal finds a smiling dog and brings him home. Named after the store where he was found, Winn Dixie and Opal form a bond that brings together a menagerie of people and creatures to form an unusual family. At first, Opal does not have any friends and spends her time at the library where she befriends Miss Franny Block who tells them stories of the Civil War and Naomi history.  She also meets and starts working for Otis, the pet store owner who plays guitar but has a checkered past. Winn-Dixie leads her to a house where the Dewberry boys tell her a witch lives. Instead, she finds Gloria Dump, a blind, recovering alcoholic who takes a special interest in Opal and Winn-Dixie. She also meets pinch-faced Amanda but learns about a family tragedy that made Amanda less than friendly. Rounding out the rag-tag group are five-year-old Sweetie Pie Thomas who desperately wants a dog but clings to Winn-Dixie instead, and the Dewberry boys who antagonize Opal from the beginning. Gloria and Opal decide to throw a party and invite all their friends. The party is a hit, but it begins to rain, causing Winn-Dixie, who is deathly afraid of storms, to run away. During the search for Winn-Dixie, Opal finally confronts her father about her mother, who left them both, as she comes to the realization that her mother may never come back.

APA Reference of Book:

DiCamillo, Kate. (2000). Because of Winn-Dixie. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press.

Impressions:

The characters, especially Winn-Dixie, who brings them all together, make this novel a true gem. Each one of them is like a puzzle piece that fit together to form this tight, close-knit circle of friends. Opal’s father loves her dearly but is honest with her about her mother, and this is the most realistic aspect of the novel. The small town of Naomi is the perfect backdrop to Opal’s carefree summer as she and Winn-Dixie explore the town and meet the quirky inhabitants. Gloria helps Opal realize that while people make mistakes, these mistakes do not define them or make them bad people. By confiding in Opal about her own past mistakes, Gloria drives this point home.

Professional Review:

"My name is India Opal Buloni, and last summer my daddy, the preacher, sent me to the store for a box of macaroni-and-cheese, some white rice, and two tomatoes and I came back with a dog." There you have it: main characters and conflict, all in the first sentence. But there's a lot more to this book. Opal has a singular voice with a simple, infallibly Southern inflection; her daddy is one of the nicest and quirkiest preachers to grace children's literature; and Winn-Dixie, named after the grocery store from which Opal rescued him, is an ugly dog with a smile that makes friends and also makes him sneeze, not to mention a pathological fear of thunderstorms. In addition, readers will meet an elderly librarian whose stories inject the small town Florida setting with a past; a "witchy" neighbor who has hung a tree with beer and whiskey bottles, each representing a mistake she's made in her life; a mentally challenged musician whose street-singing once led him to jail and who now plays for the residents of a pet store, including Gertrude the parrot, whose favorite word is "Dog!" The one person we don't meet is Opal's mother, who abandoned her family long ago. It is the pain of her absence that propels Opal into friendships with all the characters whom Winn-Dixie eventually brings together, lessening the loneliness of each. By turns funny and moving, vivid from trailer park to pet store, this will propel readers into a satisfying circle of companionship. BH

APA Reference of Professional Review:

Hearne, B. (2000). Because of Winn-Dixie. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 53(10), 354. 

Library Uses:

Teacher/Librarian can create a bottle tree where students can add acts of kindness or accomplishments. 

Readalikes:

Shiloh, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor – Marty finds an abused beagle he names Shiloh and hides the dog in the woods to keep him from the abusive owner. This is another great read about a dog who teaches valuable lessons to those who let him.

Pictures of Hollis Woods, by Patricia Reilly Giff – Named after the park where she was found abandoned, Hollis Woods finds solace when she is placed with Josie. But Josie is slipping, and rather than be forced into yet another foster home, Hollis retreats to her previous family’s cabin in the woods. Told between flashbacks of her time at the cabin with the Regan’s, Hollis’ tells of her journey to a family of her own.

Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls – Billy saves his money to buy two coon hounds who he names Old Dan and Little Ann. This story is about loyalty and friendship and the special relationship between a boy and his dogs.

MODULE 6: The Day the Crayons Quit

Genre:

Picture Books

Book Summary:

Duncan’s crayons have had enough! It’s time to strike and tell Duncan exactly how they feel. The crayons write letters and express their frustrations at the over- or underuse by Duncan and relay solutions to the situation. The end result is a harmonious use of color in Duncan’s masterpiece.

APA Reference of Book:

Daywalt, D., & Jeffers, O. (2013). The day the crayons quit. London: HarperCollins Children's Books.

Impressions:

Everything about this book is delightful. The crayons are wonderful little characters and the letters they write are clever and entertaining. From the overworked Red to embarrassed Peach, Daywalt gives each crayon the perfect personality and Jeffers’ illustrations bring them to life whether it is boring Beige or stubby, overused Blue. The letters are handwritten by the crayons and seem to pop off the page, adding authenticity to the book. It is fun to read out loud and get immersed in the characters.  

Professional Review:

“One day in class, Duncan went to take out his crayons and found a stack of letters with his name on them.” What follows is a hilarious epistolary tale wherein each crayon, in childlike printing on lined paper, shares something with Duncan. Some feel overworked (“Gray crayon here. You’re KILLING ME! I know you love Elephants. And I know that elephants are gray . . . but that’s a LOT of space to color in all by myself”), some feel underappreciated (writes Beige Crayon, “The only things I get are turkey dinners (if I’m lucky) and wheat, and let’s be honest—when was the last time you saw a kid excited about coloring wheat?”). Some crayons are caught up in disputes (Orange Crayon and Yellow Crayon both insist they are the true color of the sun, as evidenced by pages from coloring books that Duncan completed), while others have entirely unique issues (“It’s me, peach crayon . Why did you peel off my paper wrapping?? Now I’m NAKED and too embarrassed to leave the crayon box”). Each spread includes a reproduction of the actual letter (written in crayon, of course) on the verso, facing an appropriate composition such as a childlike crayon drawing or a colored-in page from a coloring book. The crayons themselves, with deceptively simple line and dot faces, are rich in emotion and character, and it’s entertaining to consider each crayon’s representation in light of the voice in its letter. While potential lessons in inference, point of view, and persuasive writing abound in the crayons’ letters, this is guaranteed to see just as much use for being just plain fun. Move over, Click, Clack, Moo (BCCB 9/00); we’ve got a new contender for most successful picture-book strike. HM

APA Reference of Professional Review:

Morrison, H. (2013). The day the crayons quit. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 67(1), 13-14.

Library Uses:

The Day the Crayons Quit is a great mentor text for teaching letter writing skills and would be a perfect read-aloud or reader’s theater. It could also be used as a read-aloud to exemplify tone.

Readalikes:

Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson – Using only a purple crayon, Harold brings his world to life. Even though Duncan uses his whole box of colors, both books are proof that we are only limited by the limits of our imagination.

Little Red Writing, by Melissa Sweet – School supplies come to life in Little Red Writing to help Little Red tell her story. Verbs, adjectives, conjunctions, and adverbs all come to life as Little Red goes on a journey, facing the Wolf 3000 pencil sharpener and writing an exciting story along the way.

Exclamation Mark, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal – Why fit in when you were born to stand out? Exclamation mark wants to fit in but no matter what he does, he always stands out. With the help of his friend, Question Mark, Exclamation Mark learns that standing out is not so bad after all.

MODULE 5: Esperanza Rising

Genre:

Other Award Winners/ Pura Belpre’ Award Winner

Book Summary:

Esperanza leads a charmed life on her family’s ranch in Mexico. Her father adores her. Her beautiful mother loves her more than anything. Then, her father is killed, and everything changes. Her uncles pressure her mother to sell the ranch and marry one of them. Her mother refuses and the uncles burn the ranch. Instead of giving in to the marriage proposal,  they run to California with the help of their beloved housekeeper and her son Miguel. Esperanza and her mother are thrust into the world of migrant workers in the 1930s. It is a hard life and Esperanza struggles to find her place in the camp and later as a field worker. The hardships of being a migrant worker are too much for her mother who falls ill, forcing Esperanza to grow up and take control of the situation. With harsh working conditions and fear of strikes threatening her well-being, Esperanza finds her own strength and love in the most surprising places. 

APA Reference of Book:

Ryan, P. (2000). Esperanza Rising. New York: Scholastic.

Impressions:
Esperanza is a full-bodied character who grows and matures before the reader's eyes. Starting as a pampered girl on her family's ranch, she turns into a strong, beautiful young woman in the migrant worker camp in California. This book not only presents this strong, female lead, but sheds light on a history that many may not fully understand. While Esperanza and her family were treated better than most camps, the pay was very little and the work was long and hard. Other camps were not so lucky and moved some, like Miguel's friend Marta, to organize protests and strikes. These hardships, coupled with the animosity toward the Mexican workers, mostly from those Americans trying to escape the depression by moving West, makes a tumultuous background for Esperanza's journey. Although many students study this historical period, they may not know that the United States government actually sent U.S. citizens to Mexico in an attempt to relieve the tension that was brewing around the Mexican migrant workers. The maturing relationship between Esperanza and Miguel provide the perfect distraction from the harshness of their surroundings.  Drawing from her family's first-hand experiences, Ryan's characters, details, and historical accuracy, make Esperanza Rising a must-read and sure-to-be classic. 

Professional Review:

Esperanza's life as the cherished only daughter of a rich Mexican rancher changes abruptly when her father is killed and her land-hungry uncles begin to pressure her widowed mother. They flee to the U.S., accompanied by their loyal housekeeper, Hortensia, and her son, Miguel. California in 1930 has little to offer penniless Mexican immigrants but hard agricultural labor, and the four settle in a work camp. Esperanza's pragmatic mother turns to field work while Esperanza struggles with an unpleasant learning curve, realizing that she at thirteen lacks the most basic practical skills that her eight-year-old campmate Isabel takes for granted. Things get worse: strikes loom, pressing the workers to take sides; Esperanza's mother falls ill, forcing Esperanza to become la patrons of the family; and Esperanza's dear friend Miguel disappears with the money she's saved. Based on Ryan's grandmother's experiences, this is an unusual story that steers clear of some romantic pitfalls. Though the piquant riches-to-rags element will draw readers, there's no authorial condescension towards Esperanza's campesino fellow workers, and Esperanza's gradual shedding of her own prejudices towards them is perceptively delineated. The discussion of the strike isn't one-sided, though the book does support Esperanza's decision to keep working, and there's some edifying information about the heterogeneousness of the Latino population in the workforce and their forced repatriation and even migration (some U.S. citizens were sent to Mexico as well). Wide-eyed but thoughtful Esperanza makes an attractive agent for these discussions, and her inevitable pairing with Miguel (who took her saved money in order to bring her beloved grandmother from Mexico to join the family) provides both a touch of romance and an illustration of what Esperanza has gained by coming north.

APA Reference of Professional Review:

Stevenson, D. (2000). Esperanza rising. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 54(4), 160.

Library Uses:
This could be used as part of a diverse books display, highlighting books of different cultures and ethnicities, or as an extension of study of the depression era. 

Readalikes:
Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare - Just like Esperanza, fiercely independent Katherine Tyler is forced from her home and into a new world with the Puritan family she has never met. She rejects the rigidity of the Puritan society but along the way finds a balance and, eventually, the love she longs for, in both her family and with the one who holds her heart.


Before We Were Free, by Julia Alvarez - In 1960 Dominican Republic, 12-year-old Anita de la Torre begins a journey to freedom.Alvarez creates another strong, female character, like Esperanza, who must leave her home to escape danger and who finds freedom and her inner-strength along the way.
Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir, by Margarita Engle - Engle's poetic memoir, tells of the "Two countries. / Two families. / Two sets of words." that split her heart. Her American father and Cuban mother bring her back to Cuba in the summers until the Revolution begins. Now she worries about her Cuban family and faces discrimination because of her Cuban heritage. 

MODULE 4: Bud, Not Buddy

Book Cover Image:

Genre:

Newberry Winner

Book Summary:

10-year-old orphan, Bud Caldwell, lives in Flint, Michigan and bounces between foster families. He clings to his memory of his mother through a blanket, a rock, a poster of Herman Calloway, who Bud is convinced is his father. After a brush with his new foster family’s son, Bud runs away with his friend Bugs. When Bugs hops a train leaving Bud behind, Bud starts to walk to Grand Rapids when he meets Lefty Lewis. Lefty gives him a ride and lets Bud stay with him, but eventually Bud leaves in search of Herman.  He finally meets up with the band and discovers that Herman is not his father, but his grandfather.

APA Reference of Book:

Curtis, C. P. (2001.) Bud, Not Buddy. New York, N.Y.: Delacorte Books.

Impressions:

Bud is a lovable character who oozes with charm and charisma. Readers will enjoy Bud’s personality and appreciate the many people who helped him find his way. The situations he gets himself into are all stepping stones leading him to his grandfather and what turns out to be the family he’s been searching for since his mother died. These situations also serve to inform the reader about the history of African-Americans during the Depression and are the perfect backdrop to spark conversations about this time in American history. 

Professional Review:

Bud Caldwell, age ten, has been living in a Flint, Michigan orphanage since his mother died when he was six years old. Sent to an abusive foster home, Bud runs away, intending to seek the man he believes to be his father, Herman E. Calloway, leader of a noted African-American jazz band. On the road Bud gets a ride with Lefty Lewis, a good-natured, good-hearted man who drives him to Grand Rapids, the location of Calloway's band, where Bud finally finds the place he belongs. The story of Bud's search is set against the background of the Great Depression, and Curtis evokes an atmosphere of need and despair held together by strands of hope and generosity. Individual scenes have tremendous emotional impact: Bud, too late to get a place in line for breakfast at the mission, is temporarily adopted by a family already in line; a confrontation in a freight yard between residents of a Flint Hooverville and Pinkerton detectives gives a sense of the determination of men desperate to feed their families; Bud's encounter with Lefty Lewis on a dark road in the middle of the night circumspectly indicates the dangers of being Negro in a racist community. While the circumstances surrounding Bud's return to his family may gently chafe against credulity, Curtis' characterizations are so strong they make coincidence acceptable. The resourceful Bud is a hero readers will take immediately to heart, and the people he encounters on his journey have a specificity that raises them above plot devices and makes them individually memorable. JMD

APA Reference of Professional Review:

Del Negro, J.,M. (1999). Bud, not buddy. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 53(3), 89. Retrieved from https://libproxy.library.unt.edu/login?url=https://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2165/docview/223700425?accountid=7113

Library Uses:

This could be used in conjunction with Black History Month or research on the Depression. Students could research some of the events and situations that are described in the story. It could also serve as a focus point for a Black History display featuring important events in African-American history.

Readalikes:

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor – This is another poignant story about an African-American family during the Depression told from 9-year-old Cassie’s point of view.

Esperanza Rising, by Pam Munoz Ryan – From wealthy farm girl to field worker, Esparanza’s story of the plight of migrant workers in California during the Depression is a historical eye-opener about one of the most difficult times in American history.

The Watsons go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis – Curtis’ story follows the Watsons on their journey to Alabama when one of the most heinous events of the Civil Rights Movement takes place. 

MODULE 3: The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Book Cover Image:

Genre:

Picture book/Graphic Novel

Book Summary:

Orphaned Hugo hides in the walls of the Paris train station, where he lived with his uncle before his disappearance, repairing clocks and rebuilding the automaton that Hugo and his father found years before.  Fates collide when Hugo is caught stealing a toy mouse from one of the station’s shopkeepers and meets the man’s goddaughter, Isabelle. The shopkeeper forces Hugo to work for him in exchange for the return of Hugo’s notebook which contains notes and drawings of his father’s attempt to repair the automaton. Hugo befriends Isabelle but steals her necklace, the key to the automaton, and the two bring the machine to life. The mechanical man draws a picture and signs the name of Georges Melies, the shopkeeper and Isabelle’s godfather, who is also a well-known, French filmmaker. Hugo’s friend, Etienne, a film student, helps them piece together the life of Georges, who nearly went mad after his career waned, and together they assemble a tribute to the film pioneer.

APA Reference of Book:

Selznick, B. (2007.) The invention of Hugo Cabret. New York, NY: Scholastic.

Impressions:

Inspired by the life of French filmmaker Georges Melies, The Invention of Hugo Cabret reads like a cinematic masterpiece. Pushing the boundaries between picture book, biography, graphic novel, children’s story, and cinema, Selznick creates a magical story from the moment the reader steps into the first page. At first glance, it is a bit intimidating with over 500 pages, especially compared to other Caldecott winners. However, it does not take long to appreciate the beauty and importance of the illustrations which at times come alive like a flipbook animation.  Hugo’s determination and perseverance are inspiring, and his quest to reassemble the automaton leads him to assemble an eclectic family to take care of him.

Professional Review:

In a book that blurs the genres between picturebooks and graphic novels, Selznick tells the story of an orphan named Hugo who lives in a train station in Paris and is determined to fix a mechanical man called an automaton that his father was working on before dying in a fire. Hugo meets a mysterious man in the train station who turns out to be a celebrated filmmaker named George Méliès. The style of this book is unique in that there are many sequenced pages of charcoal sketches that make readers feel as if they are actually watching a film unfold. Some pages offer close-ups of small details in the way that a camera would. This book is a masterpiece and hopefully will lead others to experiment with hybrid texts. At the end of the book, Selznick includes a listing of all the films that were referenced throughout the book. 

APA Reference of Professional Review:

McNair, J. C. (2009). The invention of Hugo Cabret. Language Arts, 86(4), 322. 

Library Uses:

This book would be a great inspiration for a Makerspace or STEM project kickoff.

Readalikes:

Wonderstruck, by Brian Selznick

The Houdini Box, by Brian Selznick

The Marvels, by Brian Selznick

It’s difficult to compare Selznick to another author but his other titles are similar cinematic experiences and format. 

MODULE 2: The Story of Ferdinand

Book Cover Image:

Genre:

Classic Picture Books

Book Summary:

Ferdinand is not interested in playing with the other bulls; he just wants to sit under the shade tree and smell the flowers. His mother worries about him, but Ferdinand grows big and strong like the other bulls. When the men come to pick a bull for the bullfights in Madrid, Ferdinand goes to his shade tree, sure that they will find another bull for the event. However, Ferdinand unknowingly sits on a bee that sends him in to a bucking frenzy, dazzling the men who pick him for the bullfights. At the fights, everyone expects Ferdinand the Fierce, but he prefers to sit and smell the flowers in the ladies’ hair, so the men take him home.

APA Reference of Book:

Leaf, Munro. (1936.) The Story of Ferdinand. New York, NY: Gossett & Dunlap.

Impressions:

The Story of Ferdinand is a delightful read about the courage to follow your heart and be yourself. It also teaches readers that first impressions are not always accurate. The red book cover is fitting for a story about a bull, and the black and white illustrations are perfectly detailed and a sharp contrast to the cover. Ferdinand is a lovable character who is not afraid to be himself, even when faced with peer-pressure to join the other bulls in their typical bull activities. This is something that many readers can relate to and Ferdinand encourages them to follow their instincts even when you find yourself in the middle of a bullfight. Though she worries, Ferdinand’s mother is supportive of his choices. Her actions are a great reminder to parents to accept their children no matter what and encourage their differences and interests. Although written in 1936, this is a poignant story for anyone who does not fit societal norms.

Professional Review:

With new war fronts popping up on a seemingly daily basis, it may be an opportune moment to revisit the story of Ferdinand, the peaceable bull. Today marks the 75th anniversary of “The Story of Ferdinand,” written by Munro Leaf, a prolific writer for children, and illustrated by Robert Lawson, the only person ever to win both the Caldecott and Newbery medals.

“Once upon a time in Spain there was a little bull and his name was Ferdinand,” the book, which was illustrated with simple black-and-white ink drawings, opens. Deep in corrida des toros country, Ferdinand stood out from all the other bulls: “He liked to sit just quietly and smell the flowers.”

First published in 1936, “Ferdinand” was released shortly before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War and was widely viewed as pacifist propaganda, leading to bans in many countries. It became an international hit anyway, translated into more than 60 languages and selling millions of copies worldwide. When Sandra Bullock read the book aloud to her sons in “The Blind Side,” sales in the U.S., always steady, spiked dramatically. Last year, the actor Seth Rogan gave a live reading, set to music, in Los Angeles.

“Ferdinand” actually has a long cinematic history. In 1938, Walt Disney created a short animated cartoon of the story, which went on to win – deservedly – an Oscar for Best Animated Short Subject (Cartoons). And just last month, Fox Animation Studios acquired the rights to the book, with plans to adapt it into a full-length CGI film. Carlos Saldanha, the director of the “Ice Age” franchise, is attached to direct.

It’s not a stretch to think of Ferdinand as more than just a symbol of peace, but as an icon for the outsider and the bullied. “He was gentle and kind/ And his moo was refined/Which the rest of the bulls all resented,” goes the song “Ferdinand the Bull,” sung by “America’s sweethearts,” The Lennon Sisters, and later covered by Michael Feinstein, the acclaimed songwriter and singer, on his children’s album, “Pure Imagination.” “He knew how to tango/And dance the fandango/But he never learned how to fight.”

APA Reference of Professional Review:

Paul, P. (2011). Ferdinand the bull turns 75. Retrieved from https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/ferdinand-the-bull-turns-75/

Library Uses:

The Story of Ferdinand perfectly illustrates the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” and can be used in conjunction with a diversity unit or lesson on stereotypes.

Readalikes:

Giraffes Can’t Dance, by Giles Andreae – This is another book about a character who does not conform to the expectations within his peer group.

Duck! Rabbit! By Amy Krouse Rosenthal – Perhaps even more than The Story of Ferdinand, this story illustrates how things are not always as they appear at first glance, and when given another chance we may see things much differently.

The Monster at the End of This Book, by Jon Stone – “Lovable, furry old Grover” is a perfect example of self-acceptance as does not realize he is the monster. However, by the end of the book he accepts this fact, something the reader has known all along.