Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin

This week I'm supposed to blog about a picture book. Picture books? I LOVE picture books! If I wasn't still paying for my undergraduate education and balancing all of my other bills... I'd spend all (well, most) of my money on picture books. My collection is growing, and I can't wait to share my collection with my children someday.

So when asked to blog about a picture book, I of course chose one of my many favorites. I wish I could say I've know about this book since it was published, because I really would've enjoyed it as a child. I've only learned about the book recently, and immediately purchased it. I've been playing the violin since I was four years old, so almost any book featuring my favorite instrument is a definite keeper.

I couldn't have been more excited once I read this book. It's an incredible book on so many levels. As a music educator, it is a wonderful teaching tool. The instruments used in the book are described accurately, from the end pin on the cello to the double-reeding oboe. In addition, the rhyming words in the story describe groups of musical instruments, from solo to chamber group! If I haven't convinced you to read this book yet, wait... there's more!

The text written by Lloyd Moss, in addition to being accurate and meaningful, is written in rhyming couplets. These lines flow together beautifully, and have an obvious rhythm to them. If I got really ambitious I could probably write some music (or at least a great percussion beat) to go along with this book! "And soaring high and moving in, With ZIN! ZIN! ZIN! a VIOLIN, Stroking strings that come alive; Now QUINTET. Let's count them: FIVE."

No review of this book would be complete without mentioning that it is a Caldecott Honor Book for the illustrations by Marjorie Priceman. Her beautiful, colorful, swirly illustrations capture realistic looking instruments and the musicians who play them.

So enjoy a trip to the symphony with Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin!

First Come the Zebra

When browsing the children's picture book section at the library, I was drawn to the illustration on the front cover featuring a herd of zebra. As I flipped through the pages, I noticed beautiful illustrations featuring animals of Africa. After reading the story, I think this book is a fine piece of multicultural children's literature.

First Come the Zebra by Lynne Barasch begins by describing the great migration in Kenya. First come the zebra, then the wildebeest, then the gazelle. The animals share the land and each animal eats what it needs. Then we meet Abaani, a young Maasai boy. He is cattle herder. On his walk, he encounters a Kikuyu boy named Haki. The boys realize that they are from tribes that often disagree. However, when a baby wanders away into danger, the boys help each other to save the day. Eventually, the boys become friends. The boys agree to share their goods with each other, and hope that one day their families will do the same.

At the end of the story, the author includes a map of Africa and Kenya, as well as an information page. The author shares that her family visited Kenya, inspiring this book. She explains the conflicts between the Maasai and Kikuyu (with pronunciation guides) and how the youth of the country have become hope for the future. In addition, there is information about mancala, an ancient game played by the boys in the story. Indeed, authors write what they know.

I particularly like how the author uses the analogy of the grazing animals sharing the land in this story. The goal for the boys is for both of their tribes to live on and use the land in harmony. This book teaches a valuable lesson while giving reader's a taste of Kenya. First Come the Zebra would find use in a classroom unit on Africa, or animals of Africa. The illustrations of the terrain and animals are beautifully done, and would serve as great supplemental material for such a unit.

Miniature Literature. No, not tiny books. The intended audience of the books I will write about is miniature... children. Although I'd argue that I sometimes enjoy picture books more than the children I read them to. Please enjoy my blog about children's literature! Happy reading! =)