FLORA & ULYSSES:THE ILLUMINATED ADVENTURES

Bibliography

DiCamillo, Kate. 2013. Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures. Ill. By K.G. Campbell. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763660406

 Plot Summary

Ten-year-old Flora Belle Buckman is a natural born cynic and feels alone after parents get divorced.  She saves a squirrel named Ulysses from a vacuum, by trying to give it CPR.  A miracle occurred, the Ulysses not only revives, it becomes a superhero.  After reading to Ulysses, Flora realizes he has a great love for words, and takes him under her wing to help reveal his super powers. Ulysses discovers it can save people from an aggressive cat and has a great desire to find food. 

Critical Analysis

This comic book features black and white illustrations that appeal to readers in grades 4 and up. Theme of this story is that of loneliness, love, forgiveness and friendship.  The author makes Flora, the main character, relatable.  She is not feeling hopeful, and is being neglected by her writer recently divorced mother named Phyllis.  The setting is apparent and makes the reader visualize it's in an everyday home life with the first of many incredible occurrences, “It sounded as if a jet plane had landed in the Tickhams’ backyard.  Flora’s neighbor is all over the yard with an out-of- control vacuum, “this malfeasance must be stopped,” said Flora in a deep and superheroic voice.  “Poof. Fwump.”  “Holy Bagumba”, this style of writing keeps the reader laughing out loud and interested.  

The story includes Ulysses, a squirrel, who becomes Flora’s right hand companion and who helps her find hope.  There’s her father, Mr. Buckman, who is shown to be a great father; funny, quiet, sad, and who loves his daughter.   The story shows how flora protects Ulysses, from villains and how she feels that her mother is the enemy.  The theme "Good vs Evil" is evident here when her mother tries to convince others to kill Ulysses, but ends up that she kidnaps him to do it herself.  It is filled with adorable and amusing poetry and entertaining adventures. In the end, readers from every culture identify with Flora's character when she realizes that her mother does love her and not the shepherdess lamp.  The real-life events in the story make you believe in something bigger than yourself.   

Review Excerpts

• 2014 John Newbery Medal Award Winner 

• “Kate DiCamillo is a master storyteller.” —Booklist (starred review) 

• “Original, touching, and oh-so-funny.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) 

• “Amusing glimpses at the world.” —School Library Journal (starred review) 

• “There’s real emotion at the heart of this story.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Connections

Librarian JoAnn Jonas has great discussion questions on this website: http://www.floraandulysses.com/media/fu_discussionguide.pdf

Book Rags.com offers a study guide, chapter summaries, quotes,  quiz and more to sharpen your knowledge of Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures. 

Read other books by Kate DiCamillo:

 

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread ISBN 0763680893

The Magician's Elephant ASIN: B019L4NMAK

BABYMOUSE #11: DRAGONSLAYER

Bibliography 

Holm Jennifer and Mathew. 2009.  Babymouse # 11: Dragonslayer. New York, NY: Random House. ISBN 0375857125

Plot Summary

Although Babymouse is great at reading, she is struggling with her math.  She must join her school’s math club, the Fighting Fractions, to keep from failing.  Together they end up winning the Golden Slide Rule.

Critical Analysis

This is a fiction, comic ad graphic novel perfect book for 1^st - 5^th grade.  The reader can relate to the the main character, Babymouse, who is a mouse with curly whiskers that she hates, she is also a student in an elementary, and loves reading.  Babymouse places herself in the stories form her books, like The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and Harry Potter to keep from thinking about math class, the subject she is failing.  The setting is evident and relatable as it centers the life of a struggling student (mouse) in school.  Babymouse copes with her problems in imaginary adventures and then tackles the problems in real life.   

The story creates dramatic tension with the fun and hilarious illustrations portraying herself as the hero, perfect for reluctant readers. The fantasy elements start with the cover image; Babymouse wearing an armor suit, holding a sword, and a fears dragon, they continue throughout the book. As her vivid imagination takes charge, the readers picture her slaying the math dragon.  

  

The authors include math signs in her classroom such as “Mathletes Exercise Their Brain,” and “Divide and Conquer” relaying positive messages.   As Babymouse overcomes that challenging math obstacle, readers connect with the theme of facing and overcoming fears with the help of friends.  Like students in the real world, she is encouraged by her teacher, “When you believe in something…it’s worth fighting for” (p. 52).  In the end, readers realize that math isn’t so bad after all. 

Review Excerpts

• WINNER 2010 - Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices
• The Chicago Sun-Times: "Move over, Superman, here comes Babymouse!
• Starred Review, The Horn Book: "Nobody puts Babymouse in the corner!
• Booklist: "Cute, smart, sassy Babymouse is fun and funny, and this book, like its predecessors, will draw reluctant readers as well as Babymouse fans."
• The Bulletin: "An almost absurdly likeable heroine." 

Connections

The Babymouse series includes 18 books.

Look at Using Graphic Novels in Education: Babymouse http://cbldf.org/2014/11/using-graphic-novels-in-education-babymouse/

Another novel series you might want to read and pair with Babymouse is Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney — a series about a boy and his struggles in middle school.

TURTLE IN PARADISE

Bibliography:

Holm, Jennifer L. 2010. TURTLE IN PARADISE. New York, NY: Random House Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780375836886

Plot Summary:

In 1935 eleven-year-old Turtle is sent to Key West to live with relatives she’s never met because her mother has found a job as a housekeeper that doesn’t allow children. Turtle must adjust to life with cousins, family, and new acquaintances. Her not so friendly cousins have unusual names; Beans, Pork Chop, and Kermit are all part of the Diaper Gang, who cart around fussy babies in a little wagon for a few hours until they fall asleep. Since no one has any extra money, the boys work for candy!
Everyone she meets is feeling the hurt of the Great Depression in one way or another. Turtle finds a treasure map that leads her to find a black treasure box full of gold coins, but they’re quickly stolen from her mother’s boyfriend.

Critical Analysis:

This historical fiction book is educational, relatable and funny appropriate for grades 3 and up.
It is written in 1st person, Turtle being the narrator. The book feels somewhat like a diary because it talks about daily adventures and is full of relatable dialogue.  Turtle in Paradise is a believable story with events true to its time.  The author, Jennifer Holms was inspired by her ancestors, and includes the story of her great-grandmother, who immigrated from the Bahamas to Key West in the late 19th century.

Turtle describes the setting as having miserable heat, scorpions, and local traditions like nicknames and sponging. “The place looks like a broken chair that's been left out in the sun to rot. The houses are small and narrow, lined up close together, and most of them haven't been painted in a long time. There's trash piled everywhere. It's so hot and humid it hurts to breathe.”

The characters talk and act exactly their age like four-year-old Buddy who never wants to wear pants. The details about the Depression and how it affected families show the dramatic tension and emotional moments.  Holms writes about severe poverty during the Great Depression, how it affected the people, family ties, and where favors and work are traded for food instead of money. Mentioning Sherly Temple and references to 30’s comics are true to the novels era.

Background information on Key West, photos of Shirley Temple and a reproduction of a Little Orphan Annie comic, add to the accuracy and are written to inform the reader. She also includes resources and websites that she used. In the end of the book she includes pictures of her own family living in Key West during the Depression. Holms also states that the characters were based on real people. Turtle finds happiness where she least expects it and learns that everyone's got dreams.

Review Excerpts:

• School Library Journal, April 2010: "This richly detailed novel was inspired by Holm’s great-grandmother’s stories. Readers who enjoy melodic, humorous tales of the past won’t want to miss it." 
• Newbery Honor Book 
• ALA-ALSC Children’s Notable Book 
• Nominee for a Cybil Award.

Connections: 

A fun writing exercise would be to have students pretend to be Turtle writing letters home to tell her mother about what is going on in her life, what she thinks about life in Key West, and what she is looking forward to when they reunite again.

Other topics to discuss:

Key West
The Great Depression
Hurricanes

Other Newbery Honor books by Jennifer L. Holm:


Our Only May Amelia ISBN 0062034316

Penny from Heaven ISBN 9780375836879

ALL THE WAY HOME

 Bibliography:

Giff, Patricia Reilly. 2009. ALL THE WAY HOME. New York, NY: Random House Children’s Books. ISBN 0385322097

Plot Summary:

In 1941, a nurse named Loretta adopts Mariel, an 11-year-old girl, who was stricken with Polio and lost her mother due to the breakout, while working in Windy Hill Hospital.   They move to Brooklyn, New York near Ebbets Field, where the Dodgers play baseball.  When a fire destroys Bricks, an 11-year-old boy, apple orchard his parents leave him with Loretta who is a family friend. Brick runs away to Windy Hill to help his former neighbors harvest their crop and Mariel soon follows. Once there Brick helps the neighbor pick his apple crop so his farm wont be lost also, and Mariel spends time finding out the truth about her mother and her past. 

Critical Analysis:

This historical fiction novel is a great read for 3^rd grade and up.  The author Patricia Reilly Giff wrote this book because it reminded her of her own childhood and her feelings.  “All the Way Home was written because the specter of polio loomed over us each summer,” mentions Giff.   The time period is true to the WWII era, with Mariel’s polio being the main focus and tied in with that of President Roosevelt’s and the Dodgers winning the pennant, which give the reader a feeling of being scared and in the post-depression time. 

The description of how girls dressed and behaved gives the reader a glimps of 1941; pressed and starched party dress and neatly groomed hair with a bow.

The dialogue easy flowing and pulling you into the conversation,

A sense of belonging come across as the universal theme because both Brick and Mariel are dealing with separation and loss, and true friendship and family love also come through.  After reading this story, the reader realizes that everyone has problems.   Things aren’t as bad as they seemed when Mariel finally finds out she had a mother, “I had a mother who loved me, and her name was Mary.  And that is my name, too.” 

Review Excerpts:

• Maine Student Book Award

• Kentucky Bluegrass Award

• SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: Giff's writing is filled with wonderful details that appeal to all of the senses. Readers experience the treacherous fire just as realistically as they cheer when Mariel catches a fly ball. A compelling story of two unforgettable youngsters, their strength, and their friendship.  Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools.

• BOOKLIST review: Giff delivers a memorable picture of 1940s America, painted with colorful, telling details; believable dialogue; and crisp, flowing language. In her tightly woven, inspirational story, every character counts…. Ellen Mandel

• “For those who ever wondered how their grandparents lived—before television, Little League, and Jonas Salk—this agreeably sentimental book paints a realistic picture.—Horn Book Magazine

• “Readers will be swept away.” – Kirkus Reviews

Connections:

Other books dealing with separation and loss, friendship, family, and belonging include:

 Lily’s Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff ISBN 0440414539

Journey by Patricia MacLachlan ISBN 0440408091

 Topics for discussion may include:

• The Great Depression
• Polio
• Dodgers-Baseball

Students could spend time researching polio, its effects on the body as well as President Franklin Roosevelt and his life with the disease.