William's Midsummer Dreams

William's Midsummer Dreams

Zilpha Keatley Snyder

Children's Fiction Book

In Snyder's William's Midsummer Dreams, companion to William S. and the Great Escape, William and his three siblings Jancy, Trixie, and Buddy have just escaped their abusive Baggett family to their aunt Fiona's house and legally become Hardisons. In this book, William begins a new life as an 8th grader at Gold Beach High, battling with his scrawniness and awkwardness, and continuing his love of Shakespeare and acting by keeping in contact with his drama teacher at his old school, Miss Scott. With the help of Miss Scott, he is able to go to a Shakespeare Festival at Mannsville College that summer, where he successfully scores and performs the role of Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream and gains multiple life experiences. After the final show, William is confronted by two of his ex-siblings, who demand money from him. When he refuses, they knock him unconscious, but luckily they are scared away by Sargeant Blanding, a new friend of William's, and Blanding returns William to the safety of his new family.

When I began this book, one of the ones that I picked out from Mrs. Johnson's free collection, I was immediately surprised to see how easily it could be compared to Hollis Woods. Both feature runaway characters who are somewhat orphaned and possess an artistic skill that helps them find release in some way. For Hollis it's drawing, and for William it's acting, particularly Shakespeare. Although the emotional depth associated with this book may be difficult for most elementary--middle schoolers who have never experienced anything similar to escaping an abusive family, I think a lot of young readers will be able to relate to the battle against awkwardness and to make friends that William is struggling with at this point in his life.

Zilpha Keatley Snyder's language is very descriptive and rich: she places a lot of emphasis on the senses and often describes flashbacks that challenge the reader's ability. Snyder weaves theatrical references into everyday matters often throughout the book. For instance, when William goes to the Shakespeare Festival in Mannsville, she describes how he "fools" everyone that he encounters the first day into believing that he is confident and belongs there, when he really is overly self-conscious and it is revealed that he has major self-confidence issues. Instead of naturally becoming more comfortable at the festival with time, he has to create a character who is cool and experienced and nonchalant, and forces himself to act it out until he realizes that he actually does have every right to be there and possesses a lot of talent. As part of her incorporation of Shakespeare and acting into daily life, Snyder also changes the font for any proper nouns related to Shakespeare: from the play's title A Midsummer Night's Dream to his collection The Complete Words of William Shakespeare, to William's middle initial "S."

Something unique that I especially enjoyed and thought set this book apart was William's devotion to his siblings. I know for me, personally, growing up, I was so caught up in my school friends and dance friends and trying to fit in that the time I spent with my little brother often fell to the wayside. But the reality is that I will probably know my brother longer and keep in touch with him more often than any of my friends from growing up, and that time with him should be treasured too. I absolutely love that William puts his siblings first and would do anything for them, and how they prove that they would go out on a limb to protect him too, even if they are younger, smaller, and weaker.

Pictures of Hollis Woods

Pictures of Hollis Woods

Patricia Reilly Giff

Pictures of Hollis Woods may be one of the most intriguing and obscure children's books I have ever written. Although this is a chapter book with little to no illustrations, I believe the front cover makes a striking impression on readers and has them wondering what on earth this book could be about from the get-go. The image of the bottom half of a little girl baffled me before I opened the book: could this be a horror story, like something similar to the Blair Witch Project? Is this a fun children's book, or is it supposed to be eerie and creepy like some might interpret the front cover to be? What exactly do "pictures" and "hollis woods" refer to, anyway?

We soon learn that there are actually several interpretations of the title that arise in the book, which is a factor that I think really makes it multi-dimensional. "Pictures" here can mean actual artwork done by the little girl named "Hollis," or they can mean snapshots of her life throughout this book as a wandering foster care child trying to find the meaning of family. "Hollis Woods" is the name the little girl takes on as a young, abandoned child, but "Hollis woods" also refers to an actual forest after which she believes she was named. Just this simple analysis of the title reveals that this book contains some complex themes for an elementary schooler.

I feel that both the plot and the layout of the book itself are very unique and different. I like how the author intersperses the past with the present: Hollis's "pictures" of her life with the Regan family before the accident, and the chapters on her present day "Time with Josie." It's an interesting format that really challenges the minds and imaginations of young readers as they read. Each section is filled with rich language, especially for independent elementary readers. I especially love how she describes places, such as the houses that Josie has lived in, and people, upon first impressions. For example, when the "mustard woman" from the agency takes Hollis to live with Josie, a stark painting is set to describe our first look at Josie: "I did blink then, of course I did. Anyone getting a first look at Josie Cahill would do the same. It wasn't just that she was movie-star beautiful, or that she was wearing a blue dress made of filmy stuff that floated around her, and rings on eight fingers. It was this: She had a knife in one hand. She held it in front of her so it caught the glint of the late-afternoon sunshine and became a silvery light itself" (7). With words like these, Giff does a wonderful job of capturing the eerie seriousness of the situation, but also in a childish way through Hollis's perspective.

I really love how the author relates the child's life so much to art: I think that Hollis's pictures and Josie's wood-carving really convey the heart-wrenching themes contained in this book and help make them more relatable to children. Though I do not have a personal connection with being homeless or working through the foster care system, I do have experience with my grandfather's alzheimers, which I feel is a topic that a lot of children reading this book may not fully understand. However, I think that Giff captures the emotions beautifully, as she displays Hollis's desperation and worry versus Beatrice's light-heartedness and hope for the best attitude. Even though Hollis feels like her world is crumbling and she has been forced to take on the role of cartaker, Beatrice easily agrees to come home to live with Josie at the smallest request: "Don't worry. I'll move right in with Josie...I'm already sick of painting the desert. I need some snow in my life." I believe Giff does a perfect job of introducing children to these issues through literature in a meaningful and productive way, and not with the intention to scare them, but rather as a growing experience.

Poetry! My Dog May Be a Genius

My Dog May Be a Genius

by Jack Prelutsky

illustrated by James Stevenson

When we were given this assignment, of course my first thought of which author’s poems I wanted to read was my childhood favorite, Shel Silverstein. I grabbed A Light in the Attic off the shelf at the library, and was about to check it out, when I was distracted by this one instead: My Dog Might Be a Genius, by Jack Prelutsky. I knew that I had seen random other Prelutsky poems growing up, but I was intrigued by the fun red cover and the big gold sticker reading “Children’s Poet Laureate” on the front. I thought I would delve into something new, and I haven’t looked back since! Prelutsky claims that in school he “developed a healthy dislike for poetry due to a teacher who ‘left me with the impression that poetry was the literary equivalent of liver. I was told it was good for me, but I wasn’t convinced.’” This collection makes it very clear that Prelutsky has since turned poetry around for children and made it fun, enticing, and even addicting to the point where you can’t put down the book!

Upon opening My Dog May Be a Genius, you are captivated by the first poem (appropriately, “My Dog May Be a Genius”). The rhythm and flow of the poem is whimsical and playful, and you soon learn that all of his poems in this book are like that! They are bouncy and so much fun to read (especially out loud!). Actually, the third poem, “The Underwater Marching Band,” just naturally caused a tune to form in my head to which the entire poem could be sung! Not even a tune I’d heard before, but a completely new one that surfaced in my brain on its own.

Stevenson’s black and white illustrations seem very freehand, childlike, and carefree. Using pen and ink, he draws the figures, then inks them in without being afraid to color outside the lines a little bit, which I highly appreciate in an adult artist!

The first few poems seem pretty normal and believable content-wise, but then appears the “Zeenaleens” and a “Blue-bean-bonking bupple,” and we know there must be many fantastical elements incorporated here! I love how Prelutsky stretches the imaginations of children, but also includes relatable experiences too, all while using such succulent language: my favorite line so far is “famous frozen feud,” which has such a rich alliteration that I adore!

Also, you absolutely MUST check out his website! It’s outrageous and great for kids!

http://www.jackprelutsky.com/flash/index.html