Babushka's Doll

Wow it has been a while since I have posted a review. Although it may not really matter if no one is reading these anyway. However, I will continue to send my opinion out into cyberspace with this review.

This review is about a book by one of my favorite children's authors Patricia Polacco. She has brought us such books as Thank you, Mr. Falker and The Keeping Quilt. Ms. Polacco often writes about her life growing up in an immigrant family. Her family was Eastern European so many of the stories discuss their culture and traditions. For example, one of her books Rechenka's Eggs talks about Ukrainian egg painting.

Anyway, the book that I will discuss here is called Babushka's Doll. Now first I should tell you that babushka means grandmother. So this story is about a doll that a grandmother gives her granddaughter to play with. However, if i left it there I would be doing this book a disservice. Many of Ms. Polacco's books have messages, or moral lessons within the stories and this one is now different. The girl in this story, Natasha, is constantly asking and ordering her grandmother to do things. For instance, her grandmother is washing and then hanging the laundry and Natasha keeps coming tell her grandmother to push her on the swings. In a way, Natasha is very selfish in the beginning of the story. While eating lunch Natasha notices a doll in her grandmother's house that her grandmother has only every played with once. Her grandmother allows her to play with the doll and then her grandmother leaves to buy groceries. It is at this moment that the story changes. I will not give to much away but Natasha quickly learns what her grandmother was feeling.

This book is great to teach children about patience, manners, and how not to be selfish. However, although this is a picture book children under the age of 9 may become a little frightened. The illustrations are not scary in fact Ms. Polacco is the illustrator; and she draws all her books similarly. The story itself about a magical doll maybe be what is a little frightening. I love this book though; and it is one of my favorite by the author.

If you are interested in any other books by her either to read or for a class author study, the list below are my recommendations:

1. Thank you, Mr. Falker (This is great to read to kids who have problems reading. It is about how Patrica learned to read.)

2. The Lemonade Club (This is a touching book about two best friends and how they deal when one of them is diagnosed with cancer. Based on a real story)

3. Pink and Say ( A story about a white boy and black boy during the Civil War and how they learn to read together.)

4. The Butterfly (A story based on her aunt's life during World War II.)

5. My Rotten Red-Headed Brother (This is a story about Patrica and her brother growing up and how they tried to out-do one another.

A Mouse Called Wolf

I have not written a review in a while because I was trying to decide which book would be a good choice. I have decided to discuss with you Dick King-Smith's book A Mouse Called Wolf. This book is ideal for kids ages 9-11. However, I think even adults would enjoy it. Although the title may sound odd to you; it is very accurate. The story is about a mouse named Wolfgang Amadeus Mouse, Wolf for short. Wolf discovers that he has the amazing ability to be able to sing the music he hears being played by the human that lives around him. Although he can not speak "human" he is able to mimic the sounds no matter how complex the piece of music is. He learns to love music and the human as well. His mother however is not so excited about the music; she cares more about the food that Wolf brings home that the human gives to him as a way of showing gratitude.

This story is a great way for children to understand differences. The human, Mrs. Honeybee, and Wolf are not able to communicate by talking instead they communicate through their love of music. Wolf understands when his friend is sick and can not play the same. In fact, at one point in the story his friend becomes injured and cannot call for help. Wolf finds her upstairs and begins to sing loudly (for a mouse), which ends up helping people to find the woman and get her to the hospital. It is a moving book; and I will admit it provided me with a new appreciation for music. It is true that different types of music can bring many types of people together, why not a human and a mouse.
I found this story compelling and yet simplistic, which allows the children to grasp the point of the book as well. It is nice to read a book that puts you in the prospective of another creature. This story is written by a third person point of view that follows Wolf. You really can see how even something as simple as climbing up stairs could be difficult for a small mouse. It was a nice change of pace.