A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck

This book was wonderful. I love historical fiction. Now I know that the book didn't focus on the Great Depression (with the exception of the end of the chapter entitled One Woman Crime Wave) but it was very prominent in the background of the story. Anyway I really connected with the main character Joey Dowdel, mostly due to his laid back mentality. He had plenty of questions during the book but he knew that in time they would be answered and for the most part thats how I try to approach life. I also appreciated the way the Grandma would not just over exaggerate things, but tell bold face lies for what seemed to just be her own personal amusement, but always had an alternate plan in mind that would some how help someone. I had a relative, my great grandfather, who was fairly similar, although I can't recall if any of his stories ever benefiting anyone but himself. He used to tell me that he once killed a grizzly bear with his pocket knife and made the bearskin rug, that lay on the middle of the floor, out of said bear. Later when he died both the rug and the knife were left to me, and upon further inspection I discovered that the rug had a "Made in China" stamp on the bottom. Anyway, there are plenty of examples of woppers just like the one my great grandfather used to tell me all throughout the book. Like the falsifying of Abraham Lincoln's personal items being found in her neighbor's house, or presenting a blue ribbon from her hat to a pilot to receive a free plane ride for her grandson. The book was a very smart, witty, and fun read. I would suggest it to just about anyone.

Saint George and the Dragon retold by Margaret Hodges and Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

I chose this book for my other Caldecott Award because I honestly just like stories about knights defeating dragons. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this story very well. As I understand it, the writer Margaret Hodges wanted to retell this story for new generations so that it would not be lost, and I appreciate that fact. Sorrowfully the story reads much in the same way a child makes up a story, "Well first there was this knight, then he ran into a dragon, and he fought the dragon, but the dragon won, so he had to fight the dragon again! And then everyone was saved! The end!" Okay, to be fair I am exaturating a little bit, but it literally felt like I was reading a very long run on sentence. On the other hand the watercolor illustrations were very nicely done and they were stylized to look like pictures that are in original books containing great stories of old. I just think, that if you are going to try and retell a story, don't just translate what happens, but give it a little more "flavor."

STINK: The Incredible Shrinking Kid! by Megan McDonald and Illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds

For my Monarch book, I chose STINK: The Incredible Shrinking Kid by Megan McDonald and Illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds. This realistic fiction book was very entertaining, especially the comic strips that are at the end of each chapter. The only complaint I would really have about the book is that it does not have a linear plot line. On the other hand it does contain three self contained stories within it about James Moody, whom everyone refers to as Stink. The reasoning behind the nickname of Stink was not made clear in this particular book, but I suspect that it might have already been explained in either one of the previous books in the series, or in one of Judy Moody books that the Stink series spun off of. Anyway, the first story is about Stink and how he is the shortest kid in his class and how he wants to grow taller, the second story is about how Stink gets to bring home his class pet (this was my favorite story), and the last story was about Presidents Day, and how Stink loves James Madison. The book was very sweet and I would suggest it to anyone not just the third grade reading level it is intended for.

GOLEM by David Wisniewski

I chose this book for my Caldecott Award Winner book, mostly because I have a friend who is in to Jewish folklore and he had once mentioned the story of the Golem. I first noticed its amazing and complex art work (big surprise coming from the art major). The entire book is illustrated by very intricately cut pieces of construction paper, and you certainly would not guess this at first glance. Well as I read through this book, I quickly realized that this was not just any children's book (and not just because of the artwork). It had complexity and depth that even some major novels fail to grasp. I was stunned. The book tells the tale of the Jewish oppression in Prague, that took place in 1580. Rumors were being spread that the Jews were using the blood of children to mix with their flour and water to make the Passover bread. Knowing of the coming violence this "Blood Lie" would bring, the chief rabbi, Judah Loew ben Bezalel, summoned forth the Golem, a creature that only the most righteous of men could create to protect the Jews. The rabbi named the Golem Joseph, and told him to protect the Jews, but although Joseph did as was asked of him he was more concerned with the gift of life. Like I said, the book was fantastic, and definitely a must read.