Batchelder Award Winner
Prix Sorcieres Award
The Pull of the Ocean
Mourelvat, Jean-Claude. 2006. THE PULL OF THE OCEAN. New York: Delecorte. ISBN:9780385733489.
International Author
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Based on Perrault's folktale, Tom Thumb, this story chronicles the journey of seven brothers en route from a poverty stricken abusive home to the ocean. The tale centers around Yann Doutreleau, a ten year old dwarf who is mute, but communicates clearly with his older brothers, all twins. When Yann hears his father discussing a killing with the children's mother, he assumes they are referring to Yann and his brothers. He leads them, even though he is the youngest and mute, on a journey from the French countryside to the ocean. We learn of their story from various narrators, some who encounter the boys en route, and at times from the brothers themselves.
3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Some of the cultural markers that connect this story to the French culture are the setting, the storyline, and the language and names. The setting is the French countryside where the Doutreleau family live and where the boys travel en route to the ocean. At one point in the story the boys receive loaves of bread from a bakery. The storyline is based on a folktale by a the 17th century French writer, Charles Perrault. One of the characters in the book refers to the tale that every French child grew up with. The characters names are distinctly French: Yann, Remy, Jean Michel, to name a few.
The language is beautiful and poetic. The author's description of the main character Yann is an example of the poetry and sophistication of language: ""Sweet," "cute," "charming," "adorable": that's what you felt like saying about him, except that an old, knowing expression around his eyes and mouth kept you from doing so. He had none of the deformities that you find in dwarfs. Everything about him was harmonious, but everything was...small."
4.REVIEW EXCERPTS
Publishers Weekly: "Indeed, Mourlevat enchantingly blends the harshly real and the make-believe, with the latter tipping the balance as this effectively haunting, fluidly translated tale comes to a close."
School Library Journal: "Poverty and hardship echo throughout this modern "Tom Thumb" story, but it is ultimately the spirit of brotherhood that is the highlight of this tale. It is a memorable novel that readers will find engaging and intellectually satisfying."
5. CONNECTIONS
Students can explore the original Tom Thumb story and compare the common elements in both stories.
An excellent story that could be used to facilitate discussion of poverty, abuse, familial relationships and disabilities.
Similar books based on fairy tales to recommend:
- Beast. by Donna Jo Napoli
- Bound. by Donna Jo Napoli
- Spindle's End. by Robin Mckinley
- The Goose Girl. by Shannon Hale
Mem Fox Book
Where the Giant Sleeps
1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Fox, Mem. 2007. WHERE THE GIANT SLEEPS. Ill. by Vladimir Radunsky. Orando, Fla.: Harcourt. ISBN: 9780152057855.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
This is a sweet bedtime rhyme in the same vein of Goodnight Moon, but instead of cute little bunnies, this book features pirates, pixies, witches and goblins!
3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The "giant" in this story is the little boy's world which he views through a telescope and zeros in on a variety of magical creatures in their bedtime activities. His world, like Mem Fox's home, Australia, is a gigantic island filled with sleepy wonders. Radunsky's illustrations are dreamy with blurred outlines that set a tone of peaceful magic. In the final scenes, the wakeful elves are the only wide awake ones busy sewing "a quilt of moons and stars to wrap you in...tonight."
4.REVIEW EXCERPTS
Publisher's Weekly: "The paintings and multifaceted structure of the book inventively translate the puckish text, conjuring misty visions of magical realms."
5. CONNECTIONS
Children can be asked to write about, or illustrate their own bedtime routine or stories they remember being told at bedtime.
International AuthorThe Big Little Book of Happy Sadness
1.BIBLIOGRAPHY
Thompson, Colin. 2008. THE BIG LITTLE BOOK OF HAPPY SADNESS. La Jolla, CA: Kane/Miller. ISBN: 9781933605.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Little George's sad and lonely life brightens when he brings home Jeremy, the scruffy, three legged dog from the "end of the line" section of the animal shelter.
Little George's sad and lonely life brightens when he brings home Jeremy, the scruffy, three legged dog from the "end of the line" section of the animal shelter.
3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Colin Thompson's illustrations in this picture book begin with a page sparsely populated by a watercolor drawing of an old woman, a teacup and a skein of yarn. The colors are as drab as the text: "George lived alone with his grandmother and an empty place where his mother and father should have been." To further emphasize the theme of loneliness and isolation, the next page reads: "George's grandmother was a kind lady, but she was very old and the two of them spent most of their lives on different planets." At this point, many parents would be ready to throw this book down in disgust. Who wants to expose their sweet preschoolers to such grim realities. But as the story progresses, things pick up and the dark, serious illustrations slowly give way to bright tones and silliness. George has found a soul mate in little Jeremy. Not only that, George's grandmother comes out of her shell to fashion a new leg for the dog using papier mache, which promptly disintegrates, dough, which gets eaten, and finally a sturdy wooden leg which George carves for Jeremy!
The absence of cultural markers does not distract from this sad/happy tale. Any child who knows the pains of isolation and loneliness and the joys of a loving pet, can relate to this tale.
Colin Thompson's illustrations in this picture book begin with a page sparsely populated by a watercolor drawing of an old woman, a teacup and a skein of yarn. The colors are as drab as the text: "George lived alone with his grandmother and an empty place where his mother and father should have been." To further emphasize the theme of loneliness and isolation, the next page reads: "George's grandmother was a kind lady, but she was very old and the two of them spent most of their lives on different planets." At this point, many parents would be ready to throw this book down in disgust. Who wants to expose their sweet preschoolers to such grim realities. But as the story progresses, things pick up and the dark, serious illustrations slowly give way to bright tones and silliness. George has found a soul mate in little Jeremy. Not only that, George's grandmother comes out of her shell to fashion a new leg for the dog using papier mache, which promptly disintegrates, dough, which gets eaten, and finally a sturdy wooden leg which George carves for Jeremy!
The absence of cultural markers does not distract from this sad/happy tale. Any child who knows the pains of isolation and loneliness and the joys of a loving pet, can relate to this tale.
4.REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal: "The Big Little Book of Happy Sadness is aptly named and well worth reading."
School Library Journal: "The Big Little Book of Happy Sadness is aptly named and well worth reading."
5. CONNECTIONS
A good book to use for lessons on responsible pet care. This book could also be used to talk about friendship and the importance of being inclusive.
A good book to use for lessons on responsible pet care. This book could also be used to talk about friendship and the importance of being inclusive.
