The Van Gogh Cafe

By: Cynthia Rylant

This story struck me as an odd one and one I did not enjoy from Cynthia Rylant. Though the text is simple, there are deeper meanings within each chapter. Sometimes, I felt like I didn't understand what those "deeper meanings" were or should be. This didn't make me feel very confident since I am an adult reading a children's book. :-)

One element I did enjoy was the quaint coziness of the cafe. This reminds me of a local dive my whole family ventures to about once or twice a week. We know all the waiters and waitresses, even the owners. Everyone is friendly and the waiters know our exact order-if we decide to order our "regular." It's very comforting and relaxing to be able to go in a public place and feel this comfortable and at home. This is how the cafe makes me feel.

After reading this story, I was left with some questions. So, maybe some of my colleagues can help me out. Again, I almost feel a little ridiculous that I, a competent English-major, cannot see behind the simple text and figure out if there are issues more pertinent. What's the overall message, if any? Is there a deeper meaning to the story other than the cafe being magical? What does all this magic mean?

As you can see, I'm left with questions. Despite the questions I have, I did not enjoy the story. This has been my very least favorite from Cynthia Rylant. Currently, I'm reading Missing May and am thoroughly enjoying that one.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret - Realistic Fiction

By: Judy Blume

This story is hilarious (from an adult's point of view!) I read this book as a preteen and couldn't remember what exactly the story was about. All I remember is that I absolutely loved it. The story is about a girl, Margaret, who seems to be struggling with common preteen issues-puberty, friends, awkwardness, boys, moving, parents. I can see why many preteen girls could relate to this story. Whenever I read about something I was personally going through, it made me feel good to know I was not alone. Even if I was reading a fiction story and the characters were not real, I felt like I could relate and it made me not to feel so self-conscious and awkward.

I can totally see why Judy Blume is viewed as pushing the limits. She talks about issues like menstruating and what it feels like and stuffing bras. Though I don't feel these things are over-the-top, some parents may and it's completely okay for them to not want their kids to read about these issues. Many parents like to expose and discuss topics like these with their children themselves.

In Judy Blume's defense, even if she is writing about periods and bras, she writes in a way so young girls can feel okay about what's happening to their bodies. I remember this as being the most awkward time in my life and it helped me emotionally to read these stories where I could laugh and feel okay.

This book was not written as a comedy, per se, though there are funny parts. As an adult, it is so funny to take a walk down memory lane and relive having secret club meetings with your girlfriends and trying on bras for the first time. Ugh, maybe I'm getting too personal. I was reading this book and thought, wow, this is so me and my friends in middle school when we thought we were so cool and knew it all! See how relateable the text is!

By: Kate DiCamillo

Illustrated by: Timothy Basil Ering

This story was an interesting one. I enjoyed reading the story, though I thought it was a little odd. It's not a book I would normally pick up from the library or bookstore. Overall, I did enjoy the story and cannot wait to read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane!

What I thought was very interesting and different was the reader was spoken to directly. I thought this was engaging and really pulled the reader into the text. Whenever the text asked the reader what he thought about something, I found myself "answering" the question in my head.

I also really liked the mouse, Despereaux. It was so sweet that he liked a human and was willing to risk being shunned by his own family and community. Who hasn't dated someone a family member or friend didn't like? That's a hard situation and poor little Despereaux took a big risk.

I felt really sorry for Miggery Sow. It was sad to hear of being told by her dad that she was traded for such worthless items. Of course, cigarettes, a hen, and a red tablecloth must have been worth something for a father to trade his own daughter. Her mother died when she was six, she got traded to another man by her own father, and then endured abuse by her new "family." She really earned my pity.

I'm not sure if this is a story I would read aloud to my Kindergarten students. The story can be very dark at times with tail-cutting and the prisoner in the dungeon. Though I loved the story myself, I would probably find another story more suitable to read aloud to my class.

Dear Mr. Henshaw - Realistic Fiction

By: Beverly Cleary

Illustrated: Paul O. Zelinsky

This story by Beverly Cleary is an interesting one. The book is written in letter form. Leigh is infatuated with his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw's, stories. While dealing with divorce, a new school and home, Leigh writes to Mr. Henshaw very often as sort of an outlet. There are adult themes in the story. I honestly couldn't relate to Leigh on many things. His parents are divorced. Mine aren't. Leigh and his mom have moved to a new city. I've lived in the same city my whole life. Leigh had to go to a new school. I never had to change schools. Despite the differences between myself and Leigh, there are many kids who can relate to him.

Throughout the story, I felt very sorry for Leigh because of the distance between him and his dad. He longs for his dad to stop by and even call him. When he does, Leigh isn't even called by his name. His dad calls him, "Kid." Leigh is hurt and always has his dad on his mind.

Leigh's only friend in school is the custodian, Mr. Fridley. Leigh describes Mr. Fridley as, "He is so nice, sort of baggy and comfortable." I thought of my favorite pair of jeans or sweats I wear at home. I thought that description was interesting.

Leigh does have many hardships for a boy his age, but he has some happy times as well. When they do come along, I'm happy that finally something goes right for him.

This was a great story. It definitely pulls at the heartstrings and if you have parents who are not divorced and don't really know what it's like to have both parents living separate, it's a real eye-opener.

Mr. Griggs' Work

By: Cynthia Rylant

Illustrated: Julie Downing

I found this story to be very inspiring and motivating. Mr. Griggs seems to be a very sweet and hardworking man. He's a postal worker who absolutely loves his job. I didn't know it was possible to be this happy and still call it work. (haha) :-) It doesn't seem that Mr. Griggs actually delivers the mail. He works in the post office helping customers. In the story, even when he's home washing dishes, he wears his work apron. Everything seems to remind him of his job. I love what I do, but I need a break sometimes. :-)

What is inspiring about this story is how happy he is with his job. My goal in life is to be happy (a goal I've happily reached) and continue to stay happy. In my experience, some people have looked down on teachers, like we're professional babysitters or something. We, teachers, know this is not true. No matter if you're a doctor or garbage collector, the most important lesson in life is to be happy. If you're happy with your job, it helps to fulfill your whole life. This is definitely a feel-good story.

Night in the Country

By: Cynthia Rylant

Illustrated: Mary Szilagyi

This story is spooky-not scary, but spooky. I'm writing this alone at home thinking about what may be lurking outside my front door. Of course, I live in a city-not the country. The story is exactly what the title says: a night in the country. The tone of the story is very quiet, serene even. I can actually imagine myself going to sleep in a bed, in a house, in the country. The weather is warm. It's summer. The windows are open and I'm lying in my bed listening to the sounds the author is describing. It's very peaceful and again spooky. You're not scared, but you know that far off in the distance, there are creatures around. At one point in the story, the author instructs the reader to "listen." Then, the next page, "pump!" An apple falls from the tree and if you're really engaged in the text, you can "hear" the apple falling.

The illustrations are wonderful. They are very clear, but dark at the same time to go along with the nighttime theme. This would be a great story to read aloud to students and have them close their eyes as you read each page. Then, have students describe what they see, hear, and feel. Then, you can reread the story and let them look at the pictures. This provides a great opportunity for students to focus on imagery.

The Relatives Came

By: Cynthia Rylant

Illustrated: Stephen Gammell

This is another story with family as a theme. This book has such a heart-warming feel to it. It reminds me of summer and winter. It reminds me of winter because my family gets together for the holidays and there's always this magic in the air. This story also reminds me of summer because it is light and airy. I can tell the characters are country, or from the country. They're from Virginia and there's definitely some country places in VA. I love the pages when the relatives arrive. Everyone's hugging and kids are running around outside in their socks. The family looks so happy. They eat together, play together, and visit.

One observation I had was about the text. We mentioned this before in class when we talked about another book. Rylant will write a paragraph and the text consists of only one sentence. I, maybe like some others, would see this and say, Those are run-on sentences. It seems to work in this text. On one page, as the relatives were pulling up in front of the house where they were visiting, it stated, "So they drank up all their pop and ate up all their crackers and traveled up all those miles until finally they pulled into our yard." I imagine a child ecstatically and excitedly telling this story to a friend or a teacher. Don't we "speak" in run-on sentences?

I will enjoy rereading this story and also reading it to my class. Spring break is looming and this provides a great time for relatives to come and visit. My students will really be able to relate.