Mrs. Day's Summer Reading Blog

Image:

Evaluation:

The name Ruby Bridges may sound familiar to many American citizens, but they might not know who she was and the impact she left on our country. Through My Eyes is the autobiography and firsthand account of Ruby Bridges, the little girl who took a big step and helped change the American public school system. Ruby’s insights, albeit not always so unexpected, allow the reader to step into that crucial time in history when tensions were high and integration was finally becoming real. Not only did Ruby discuss the protestors and the danger she was in every day she went to William Frantz Elementary School, but she touched on the other brave children and their families who dared to integrate. She shared facts about her life, as related to the civil rights movement, from her birth all the way through to her adulthood and having a family of her own. Some of these facts were eye-opening, especially if the reader was not alive during that time.

The precise vocabulary used in this retelling allows the reader to feel what Ruby felt during certain times of her life. Ruby Bridges describes her distinctive school career and shares her thoughts and feelings about everything going on as if she were a child again. She even expresses some thoughts she remembers having during the time of the civil rights movement. One example of this is when she shares about how weird it was that she was the only girl in her class, implying that none of the other white classmates were being allowed by their parents to come to an integrated school. The language Ruby Bridges uses to convey her childhood feelings helps the reader empathize with her.The precise vocabulary

Along with insights and precise vocabulary, Bridges uses understatement to get her points across effectively. She doesn’t have to overstate or sensationalize anything because the story itself is riveting enough. The circumstances and events that actually happened in Ruby’s life speak for themselves. Children are fascinated by events that took place before their births, especially ones that have shaped our society as much as the events of Ruby’s life.

Response:

Even though this was an amazing look into the life of a civil rights icon, I felt it could have had a little more appeal to it, especially as a children’s book. The story itself is absolutely fascinating, but the writing could have used something else to pull in the reader. It took really searching for the elements of a well-written book to see the merit behind the writing. Ruby’s detailed narrative explained things that no one else could have known, but to me it still read slightly like a school textbook. There wasn’t anything about this book that changed my personal viewpoints. Thankfully, I was raised with an awareness and condemnation of racism and desegregation. Also thankfully, I never had to live through that. Reading Ruby’s story only widened by frame of reference and strengthened my perspective on that time period.

Conclusion:

The autobiography of Ruby Bridges is an insightful, well-written picture of a time that was so important in our nation’s history. Ruby’s childlike perspective of the events that occurred during the very beginning of integration can be a great way to help young children understand the significance of her first grade year at William Frantz Elementary School. This would be a great place to start a lesson during Black History Month or just to start a conversation on racism and its history in the United States.

Citation:

Bridges, R. (1999). Through my eyes. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

Image:

Evaluation:      

Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One recently regained some popularity when the movie adaptation came out in 2018. The book originally released in 2011, receiving immediate and widespread praise that eventually fell off. The movie did not do the book any justice unfortunately, missing out on some important themes. Cline’s unexpected insights throughout this novel play to a variety of different readers: gamers, techies, teachers, and geeks, especially those with knowledge of 1980s US pop culture. For example, the main character, Wade/Parzival, has a best friend inside the OASIS, the online gaming system, named Aech. Wade/Parzival has never met Aech in real life until they are on the run from the villains, IOI Sixers, outside of the game near the end of the book. Aech in the game is male and caucasian, like Wade, but outside the game SHE is African American and definitely not male. When Wade discovers this and the initial shock wears off, he realizes that Aech is still his best friend no matter what he/she looks like making friendship and looking beyond physical differences some major themes in the story.

The dialogue in Ready Player One is also very revealing of the characters. How Wade converses with the other characters is indicative of his humorous, courageous, and cunning character. His inner dialogue also reveals his very teeenagery tendencies. Then the dialogue shared by the online characters also sets up personalities and relationships that transfer into their real-world counterparts.

Finally, Cline’s precise vocabulary in this book also warrants praise. He describes the characters, physically and temperamentally, in such detail that the readers can instantly identify with and imagine each one. The descriptions of the OASIS worlds and the real world are also so well-written that the reader can easily envision everything the main character sees and does. Wade himself is written in such a way that most teenagers could identify with him, which is a huge selling point especially for young readers.

Response:

I saw the movie before reading (read: listening to) this book. I will say that movie did not impress me by any means. The book is always better than the movie, right? This is definitely the case for Ready Player One. The movie didn’t show much at all about the education aspect of this book. I absolutely adored the positivity the author played on getting an education in and outside of school. The public school system laid out in the online gaming system (the OASIS) is a teacher’s dream. If only we could achieve that in the real world. This book also played directly into my hands as I am a teacher with knowledge of games, technology, and 1980s US pop culture. Though my familiarity with games and technology is much less than others who may consider themselves gamers and techies, I still thoroughly enjoyed all the references in this book that I could catch. The thing about this book that did challenge my world view, however, was the condemnation of organized religion. Honestly though, I see this so much in our media now that it wasn’t too hard to tune out. For that reason right there, and several others including the narrator’s random rant on masturbation and sexuality, I would probably influence my own children to not read it until they were older. I see this as more of an adult novel, but I’m wondering if it was labeled young adult because of the gaming appeal and the fact that the protagonist is a teenager himself.

Conclusion:

Ready Player One is a delightfully insightful, well-written young adult novel by Ernest Cline. The unexpected insights, precise vocabulary, and revealing dialogue all add to the appeal of this story of a teenager winning a gaming contest and changing his life, and possibly the lives of others, forever. I would recommend this book to any gamer, geek, teacher, techie, or older teenager, especially in today’s technologically advanced world.

Citation:

Cline, E. (2011). Ready player one. New York, NY: Crown Publishing Group.

Image:

Evaluation:

The concept for This is How We Do It by Matt Lamothe is interesting in and of itself. Who wouldn’t be curious how people from different countries and vastly different cultures complete their normal everyday activities? Lamothe’s expected and unexpected insights in this picture book make it a charming piece of literature. From the title and description, we know that we are going to learn about the lives of children from all over the globe so that information is to be expected. That doesn’t stop the insight and understanding we gain from those seven stories. The unexpected wisdom comes from the end of the book when Lamothe implies that we all share the same night sky and therefore have something in common even when everything else about our lives is different. Then Lamothe shows the real kids and their real families which was delightfully unexpected.

The illustrations for This is How We Do It really reinforce the text and show what life looks like for each of the seven children and what they themselves look like. Every page, or two, has seven frames for each of the seven children and one frame to explain the theme for the page(s). The detailed drawings compare and contrast all seven cultures side by side. Then the last page of the actual story catches the reader by surprise with the whole scene a picture of the night sky that could be visible by all of these children and any children reading the book driving the point home that we are all on this earth together whether we have differences or not.

 The text is simple enough throughout the story that the illustrations really finish the job of defining each character. The reader sees into the daily life of each child. This is more telling than one might think. The “This is how I help,” and “This is what I do in the evening,” pages show the reader the work ethic and interests of each child. Actions speak louder than words so showing each child doing what they do tells the reader volumes without the overuse of words.

Response:

When I first saw the title of this book, I was immediately intrigued. During the school year, I usually work as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher and have for several years. With my job, I meet and work with many children who are from different cultures. The diversity has always been fascinating to me and I feel like it really helps open eyes to see similarities and differences amongst people from around the world. I love that this book is helping to fight xenophobia. Learning about something you might fear because you don’t know anything about it helps erase that fear. Tunnel, Jacobs, Young, and Bryan argue that “Literature can be one of the most powerful tools for combating the ignorance that breeds xenophobic and judgmental behaviors,” and I couldn’t agree more (2016, p. 202). Also, I just loved that the real pictures of the real children with their families at the end of the book and the explanation that not everyone in their countries is just like them and that they are not to be considered representatives of their cultures because everyone really is so different, even among the same cultures.

Conclusion:

Matt Lamothe’s informative picture book, This is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from around the World, is a literary success. The unexpected insights and detailed illustrations to back it up make it a wonderful read, especially for growing young minds. If I had known about this book earlier, it would have made it into my classroom library sooner and into the minds and hearts of the children I teach.

Citation:

Lamothe, M. (2017). This is how we do it: One day in the lives of seven kids from around the world. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC.

Image:

Evaluation:

Current events in the US are partially focused on LGBTQ equality even though the fight began many years ago. Harvey Milk’s story in the late 70s and early 80s was brought into the limelight again with the film that was recently produced about his time fighting for equality. Sanders’ and Salerno’s Pride tells Harvey Milk’s story in a beautifully illustrated picture book. From the first page, these illustrations establish the mood beautifully. The greens and yellows produce a tranquil effect showing how peacefully and happily Milk fought for his rights. Then, you reach the rainbow flag pages and the colors found there are so vibrant, with smiling and happy characters, that you can’t help but feel hope with them. The somberness of Milk and Moscone’s deaths is rendered through the darker hues as well. These wonderfully vivid color schemes depict the tone throughout the entire book.

Salerno’s illustrations also reinforce the text quite well. Harvey Milk is seen speaking to crowds in several scenes as well as the star of the show: the pride flag. The many different ways people displayed their pride flags are depicted beautifully throughout the book. The historic mile-long flag going down the streets of New York City leaves the reader in awe. Finally, the White House is all its rainbow glory brings us to the near present wrapping up the history of the rainbow flag.

The only thing amiss with this story beautiful story, is the text. The vocabulary wasn’t varied and the language had no musical qualities. There was no figurative language or understatement. The few and far between dialogue added nothing to the characters. There weren’t even any unexpected insights because LGBTQ equality is not unexpected at all and is still to this day a current event. The illustrations set the bar high for the story in the book and the words failed them. The information may be accurate and the timeline at the back of the book is very useful, but it couldn’t save the lack of passion and enthusiasm in the text.

Response:

I had a really hard time getting through this book. I chose it for the absolutely stunning illustrations, but couldn’t hold my focus on the words to save my life. I do love the message that the illustrations put forth about Milk’s peaceful campaigns, but I wished for a more interesting read instead of simply the facts. This book in no way challenges any viewpoints that I hold. I believe everyone deserves equal rights and Harvey Milk was a champion for them. I appreciated the way the story touched on his murder, but chose to focus on the mourners coming together in his memory rather than the hate for the individuals who perpetrated the act.

Conclusion:

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag is a beautifully illustrated portrayal of Harvey Milk’s work toward LBGTQ equality and the advent of the pride flag. The story writing could have been more interesting, but overall still a fine picture book. If you appreciate how far we as a country have come in the fight for equality, then this book is one to checkout.

Citation:

Sanders, R., & Salerno, S. (Illustrator). (2018). Pride: The story of harvey milk and the rainbow flag. New York, NY: Random House Children’s Books.

Image:

Evaluation:       

Much like The Giving Tree, Oge Mora’s Thank You, Omu centers around a mother figure who gives away everything she has because she cares for the people around her. Except unlike The Giving Tree, the recipients of Omu’s love recompense by bringing her the dinner that she so thoughtfully gave away. The unexpected insights in this book were delightful to encounter. Throughout the entire book, Omu gives and gives away all of her stew that she had been cooking for her own dinner. But, by the time dinner came around, there was none left for her. At that point, all of the people who took some of Omu’s stew came back to her home and brought food and thank you notes. Such a sweet ending brought a tear to my eye.

As well as authoring, Oge Mora illustrated Thank You, Omu with art directorial assistance from Sasha Illingworth and Angela Taldone. Her patchwork illustrations reinforce the text all the way through.  The scent of the thick red stew is seen on almost every page, showing the distance the scent traveled and who all was affected by it. All of the different characters come into play this way. The unique design of the illustrations sets it apart from other picture books.

The illustrations also somewhat establish the setting of the story. We can tell that Omu lives in an apartment in a big city based on the buildings and the various different types of characters that she encounters. Something else that Mora snuck into the illustrations is shown on Omu’s pot holders: maps of big cities. The two cities that are visible are Lancaster and Newark, suggesting that this story takes place in New York. The big cities in New York are the perfect setting for this tale of an accomplished cook just trying to make herself dinner.

Response:

I was surprised at how much I liked this book. I had never heard of it until I looked up the Coretta Scott King New Talent Award winner list. I read this book just after reviewing The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and I was overwhelmed with connections between the two. I personally enjoy the ending of the latter much more than the former. The response of all the people who took some of her stew was so considerate and thoughtful. It was such a happy ending and I am always a proponent of happy endings in picture books.

Conclusion:

Thank You, Omu was a delightfully insightful and uniquely illustrated book. The message of giving and making sure to give back is wonderful for children to see and hear. The illustrations brought a quirkiness that you might expect from a big city with the different medias used by the author/illustrator. I enjoyed it, and I do believe it deserves more attention.

Citation:

Mora, O. (2018). Thank you, omu. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Image:

Evaluation:

 The title character in Andrea Beaty’s Ada Twist, Scientist is a precocious young lady who cannot stop asking questions about the world around her. While her questioning and testing may land her in some trouble, her parents realize in the end that they have a scientist-in-the-making and there is nothing left that they can do but help her answer her questions. Beaty’s use of musical language in the story provides a cadence that increases the appeal of little Ada’s actions and questions. The book reads very similarly to a Dr Seuss book with an AABB rhyme scheme. Children love hearing this type of rhyme read aloud. They’ve been hearing rhymes and songs since the nursery so it’s familiar and fun.

David Roberts’ illustrations in the book provide interesting asides to the story. Ada’s many questions that are not always stated in the text, but can be seen in the pictures as her family tries to help her answer them. The best page to find numerous asides is when her family gives in and picks up books to find answers for her. The books on the floor and in the family’s hands have authors such as Beaty and Roberts, the author and illustrator of this book. They also have a book about another female scientist named Ada: Ada Lovelace. There’s another book about a cat, which we know from earlier that the cat is a source of questions for Ada. This page is quite a treasure trove if you spend some time searching.

The illustrations in the book also establish the setting. This was not apparent on the first page, but the next when the parents are introduced. Their clothing dates this little Ada back to the 1960s or 1970s. Ada’s mother sports large 70s era glasses and eventually Ada herself dons a short polka dotted dress and knee high socks that are very 70s. The where of the setting is a little harder to discern, but there is a part of the book when Ada goes outside. The reader can see palm trees and the head of a Sphinx on top of a building. Do they live in Las Vegas? Florida? The text never reveals the setting, but the illustrations give us just enough to leave us guessing.

Response:

When I saw the title of this book, I was immediately drawn to it. I enjoy hearing about intelligent women in science and it’s even better when we can use literature to convince young women that they can be scientists too. While I personally am not a scientist type, I know there are a lot of girls out there who are discouraged from trying to make it in the male-dominated science world. This book simply strengthens my viewpoint that women can and need to be involved in science.

Conclusion:

Ada Twist, Scientist is the book little girls everywhere need to hear and see. Beaty’s musical language keeps the familiarity for children by rhyming perfectly.  Roberts’ illustrations subtly reveal that this book takes place decades ago and offers little gems of related information. Honestly, this book deserves more attention for what it can do for our women in science.

Citation:

Beaty, A., & Roberts, D. (Illustrator). (2016). Ada twist, scientist. New York, NY: Abrams Books for Young Readers.

Image:

Evaluation:

Wittenstein’s The Boo-Boos that Changed the World is a Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee and it is easy to see why. This adorable piece of historical fiction tells the tale of how the Band-Aid was invented. The author uses a line drawn in the sand several times to draw the reader in to find out what happens in the rest of the story. The first time it is used is on the very first page when the author seemingly cuts the story short by writing “The End,” as the last sentence. The readers know that this is obviously not the end and so they want to keep reading to find out what happens next. Wittenstein does this several times throughout the story actually, and it’s quite entertaining.

Hsu’s illustrations help to establish the setting of the story. The first page does tell us that it takes place sometime after the main characters’ marriage in 1917. However, the illustrations do something that just stating the year cannot: it shows what life looked like in the 1910s. This aids in the reader’s conceptual understanding of when Band-Aids were invented. Young children having this book read to them may not have any idea how long ago was 1917, but the antique style of clothes and cars seen in the illustrations can put it in perspective for them.

The illustrations also reinforce the text by coupling with chunks of the text. As they explain how Josephine gets her many “boo-boos,” the pictures next to the text depict her accidents. Similarly later on, the Boy Scouts to whom Earle wants to send free Band-Aids as part of a marketing scheme are shown accumulating all of their “boo-boos.”  These pictures coupled with a short amount of text provide the information in a more interesting way.

Response:

I first heard part of this book when I walked into the library at my school to ask the librarian something. She was reading Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees books to the students and I stop to listen when I heard the first “The End.” I thought it was cute that the story kept stopping and then coming back to tell more. This text does not clash with my world view in any way, nor has it changed my viewpoints on anything. Historical fiction is a fun genre in my opinion and as long as it’s fairly accurate then I see nothing wrong with it. In fact, I applaud the author’s note, timeline of events, and list of resources that children can visit if they want to learn more on the subject.

Conclusion:

The Boo-Boos that Changed the World: A True Story about an Accidental Invention (Really!) might have a really long title, but the informative illustrations and catchy lines drawn in the sand make this an interesting read aloud. I recommend the read aloud as there is plenty of room for inflection and multiple points where you can stop and discuss the time period or some of the words used. As far as historical fiction goes, it’s entertaining and seemingly accurate with its references so it gets high marks in my book.

Citation:

Wittenstein, B., & Hsu, C. (Illustrator). (2018). The boo-boos that changed the world: A true story about an accidental invention. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.

Image:

Evaluation:

The first book of the highly successful Harry Potter series is what drew everyone into the franchise. This is the book that is responsible for beginning Rowling’s magical legacy. Rowling begins by drawing a line in the sand and hooking everyone into the story. In the beginning, the Dursleys are described as “the last people you’d expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious,” which we come to find out is not exactly true. The way in which Rowling writes these beginning statements about the Dursleys normality hints that there is more to the story and allows the reader to make predictions that will most likely come true. This is effective because most people enjoy discovering that they were right about someone.

The precise vocabulary in The Sorcerer’s Stone is what keeps the readers going after the initial hook of the line in the sand. Rowling’s wording is rich with uncommon descriptions and sensory details that put the reader right in the book with the characters. She also manipulates the language in all of her books with the inventive names for the people, places, and spells. Hogwarts, Voldemort, Quidditch, and wingardium leviosa are all examples of the original, vocabulary she wrote for this book that carried into the entire series.

Along with the precise vocabulary is the entertaining and character defining dialogue. Certain characters in The Sorcerer’s Stone have speech patterns specific to their individual personality that are maintained throughout the book. These speech patterns reveal character traits that otherwise would not have been perceived by the reader. Rowling shows us how the characters react through their dialogue and their actions, which is the perfect blend for a well-written book.

Response:

Harry Potter was something that was not allowed in my house as a child, so I ended up reading the first five books at my best friend’s house without my mother’s knowledge. She has since changed her mind, if only slightly, about the books allowing me to flaunt my attachment to the Harry Potter universe. Defying my parents and reading the so-called “evil” witchcraft books actually helped me to understand something about life especially when it comes to reading. Books can be read just for fun. There’s no need to take everything so seriously and limit yourself because “that’s not what [you] believe in.” I thoroughly enjoyed the entire Harry Potter series. Did I turn evil? Did I lose my faith? No! It’s a fictional story! A good one at that.

Conclusion:

 J. K. Rowling skillfully employed the use of drawing a line in the sand, precise vocabulary, and masterful dialogue in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Each of these literary pieces fit together to make a fascinating and entertaining read for any age.

Citation:

Rowling, J. K. (1997). Harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

Image:

Evaluation:

Befitting this book, I had first heard of Pinkalicious from a pink-loving kindergarten teacher. This teacher loved pink probably to the extent that the narrator loves pink, which is a lot. The illustrator, Victoria Kann, establishes a light-hearted and fun mood throughout the book using bright colors and varied backgrounds. There are very few pages which actually have a blank, white background; most are a color and a pattern. This playfulness with the illustrations creates a playful and cheery atmosphere in the story. It pairs well with the whimsical storyline.

The illustrations also reinforce the text, following the narrator through her adventure with turning the color pink. The different scenes for the narrator’s different situations each have their own theme. The bath scene is covered in bubbles, the doctor scene is very sterile looking with the background, but also covered in all the pink foods the narrator is no longer allowed to eat. Then, the green food eating scene is all green and absolutely covered in green foods ranging from limes to artichoke to peas. These scenes show the world from the narrator’s eyes and follow her throughout her experience with color.

The dialogue in this book really completes the story. With illustrations as vivid as this book has, the text needed to be able to contend. The narrator’s character shines through in the dialogue. Her words to her parents show her youth and excitement. The words of the mother and the doctor are both age-old adages. The mother repeats a rhyme about getting what you get and not throwing a fit, and the doctor’s advice contributes to a theme in the book about becoming what you eat. All of this adds to the whimsical nature of the story.

Response:

I am delightfully surprised by this book. I put off reading it for so long, but now I’m glad that I have. Pinkalicious reminds me of my childhood and every time my parents told me I’d turn into whatever was my current food fad. “You are what you eat,” they would say. It’s a silly tradition, but parents, and adults in general, love to make kids believe things that are not true, knowing that they will eventually realize the truth. As a teacher, I have seen the joy that comes with a child believing some outrageous untruth and running to tell all of their friends. The book has not challenged any viewpoints of mine, but strengthened my appreciation of the silliness found in this book.

Conclusion:

The vibrant illustrations in Pinkalicious help tell the story by reinforcing the text and establishing a light-hearted mood throughout the book. The dialogue in the text aids in defining the narrator and reinforcing the theme. Overall, this book is cute, silly and perfect for little kids (or teachers) who are in love with the color pink.

Citation:

Kann, V., & Kann, E. (2006). Pinkalicious. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.

Image:

Evaluation:

Shel Silverstein’s work is teacher gold, in my opinion. I routinely use his poetry to teach third, fourth, and fifth graders how to appreciate poetry, instead of just analyzing it. It’s funny and light hearted enough for kids to enjoy. While The Giving Tree isn’t necessarily funny or light-hearted, it is still one of his greatest creations. The dialogue in this book evokes such emotion and introspection throughout the entire book. The title-character is aptly named as she continues to happily give all that she has to a boy who only ever seems to use her and then run away. By the end of the book, she’s already given so much of her that all that is left is a stump. Still, she apologizes to the boy over and over and tells him how she wishes she could give him something. An old man now, all he requests is a quiet place to sit which she can still offer. They sit together and the tree is happy. This ending gets me every time.

The illustrations in this book, also by Silverstein, show the development of the boy and the tree’s physical appearance. He begins as a young boy playing in the tall tree’s lush leaves and branches and page by page grows into a teenager who wants things from her. After he receives what he wants from the tree, her apples, he disappears for a while again and comes back a man this time. This happens a couple times, each time the boy takes more from the tree until the last time when she is but a stump and he is a very old man simply looking for a place to rest. When he rests, he finally looks as happy as he was when he was a little boy in the tree’s branches and she straightens up to be the tallest, proudest stump she can be. Without the illustrations, the reader would not know how much time had passed between the boy’s visits to the tree. The great amounts of time in between his requests and the sheer amount he takes from her really add to the selflessness of the tree’s character.

The illustrations also define the boy and the tree’s characters. The boy constantly looks unhappy, except for in two scenes: when he receives the branches to build his house and when he finally sits to rest on the stump in the end. He never seems to be happy and that is only shown in the illustrations of his face. The tree, however, remains the same unwavering and giving tree. Every time the boy returns, she ends up giving a piece of herself for him to take away. This pattern continues until the end of the book, when the boy is out of life and the tree is out of things to give and they both sit happily together.

Response:

This book speaks to my soul with each reading. I always end up thinking about myself and how selflessly I give to the ones I love. The tree puts me to shame every time, or so I used to think. Shel Silverstein’s work was always in my house growing up; I can’t even remember how old I was when I first heard this story, but I know my view of the story has changed over time. When I was younger, I would believe that I should be giving as much as the tree all the time to the ones I love. That was what I saw as selfless love. Now that I am grown and have lived and experienced the world a little more, I think that the tree gave too much of herself. While I don’t agree with expecting something in return every time you give, I think that giving until you have nothing left can also be a dangerous thing.

Conclusion:

Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree packs an emotional punch with dialogue that will bring a tear to your eye and illustrations that show the dangers of giving as selflessly as the title-character. This story evokes some serious soul-searching and is a wonderful, albeit short, read.

Citation:

Silverstein, S. ( 1964). The giving tree. Mexico: Evil Eye Music, Inc.