When I teach in classrooms, I see how little children reflect on their learning and their lives. In this fast-paced world, they don't have time and both hormones and the media urge them to push ahead without looking back. This creates an even greater need for books with inner conflict. We need examples of characters who turn inwards to better understand themselves and the world. A few recent books do exactly that!
Those who are trying to find their footing, whatever their age, will find reassurance in Marla Frazee's picture book, Walk On! A guide for babies of all ages (HBJ, $16.00, all ages). The book begins: "The first thing you've got to do is stand on your own two feet. It sounds easier than it is." Frazee follows the ungainly progress of a pudgy-bodied, nearly-bald, expressive baby who is trying to take its first steps. But is this book really about babies walking? It's not long before readers will begin to see her genius for metaphor. The steps she cites describe any new transition. Whether it's marriage, a new profession, or graduation, we all follow the same path we once took when we were babies and Frazee provides a gentle hints for each phase. She urges, for example, to be careful when looking for support. "Stay away from fragile stuff...You don't need something new to cry about." Readers will marvel at how few simple words carry such great wealth of wisdom.
Grace Lin writes and illustrates the book she wished for as a child, The Year of the Dog (Little Brown, $14.99, ages 7-10). She invents a protagonist, Pacy, who must have been much like she was. Pacy is confused about her identity. She has a Taiwanese name at home, but at elementary school where she's the only Asian-American, she uses her American name, Grace. Her mom is Taiwanese. Her Dad is Chinese. Is she Taiwanese- Chinese-American? And what will she be when she grows up?
Pacy knows The Year of the Dog will be lucky for her. It was the year in which she was born and her mom tells her "since dogs are honest and sincere, it's a good year to find yourself." Will she be a scientist? A writer? This readable short novel is even more approachable because of its amusing drawings and instructive family anecdotes. Knowing the character is based on the author's life makes it really interesting to check out how everything worked out on the author's website, www.gracelin.com.
Ann Turner turns her significant lyric talents to a free-verse novel, Hard Hit (Scholastic, $16.99, ages 9 and up). Quickly we are engaged by the hero, 10th grader, Mark Warren, who seems to have it all. He's the star pitcher for his baseball team, has his first girlfriend, lives in a close family, and even has a "golden dog". His comfortable, happy world collapses when one phone call makes his dad toss out words "like fly balls/ tumor-cancer-spread" and his mom's face look like his "beat-up glove." Turner has an amazing gift for finding words for the inexpressible and helping readers accompany Mark as he attempts to right his shaken world.
Frances Robinson is the protagonist of Ronald Kidd's historical novel, Monkey Town: The Summer of the Scopes Trial (Simon and Schuster, $15.95; ages 10-12). Frances dreams of capturing the love of her teacher, John T. Scopes, in the summer of 1925. Her father dreams of making people around the country realize the greatness of their small town, Dayton, Tennessee. Their dreams and views collide when Frances' father persuades Scopes to face arrest for teaching evolution, an act that promises publicity for the town. Almost immediately famous personages appear. Clarence Darrow speaks up for the science of evolution, William Jennings Bryan defends the Biblical view of creation religion, and Frances wonders what she believes. Her confusion increases when questioning journalis, H.L. Mencken leads Frances to further re-examine her reality. Suddenly the security of her family, religious beliefs and admiration for her father are threatened. The famous trial gains meaning when seen through the eyes of a fifteen-year-old who searches for the understanding and truth.
Periodically there appears a timeless children's book that transcends the boundaries of age and era-a book like The Velveteen Rabbit or The Little Prince. Kate DiCamillo's The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Candlewick, $18.99, ages 7 and up) is destined to become a classic. Realistic illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline give a sense of time, place and the essence of the characters. The hero is a three foot china rabbit with real rabbit fur ears and "an extraordinary wardrobe composed of handmade silk suits, custom shoes fashioned from the finest leather and ...a wide array of hats equipped with holes so that they could easily fit over Edward's large and expressive ears." Edward is the beloved toy of Abilene who tends carefully to his every physical and emotional need.
How does Edward respond the attention lavished on him by his adoring owner? The prideful rabbit cares little until he's tossed overboard on the Queen Mary. As Edward travels from the depths of a "skyless ocean" to the shifting layers of a garbage dump, he's cared for by humans who teach him much about the power of love. There's the caring of a fisherman's wife who no longer has children to fuss over, a tramp who teaches him about listening closely and the unselfish love of young Bryce who looks out for his dying sister. At book's end Edward is a changed rabbit and ready to return love.
DiCamillo's book is as much a literary miracle as Edward's transformation. She finds metaphorical situations to express the depths of the human heart and does so without being overly sentimental. Her words, written with seeming ease, are poetic and honest, but not overdrawn. She creates characters and ideas that will live forever, guiding those of all ages who have the courage to look inside, question who they are, or wonder what they will become.