Zeus: King of the Gods

O'Connor, George. Zeus: king of the gods. New York: First Second, 2010. ISBN: 1596434317.

Author / Illustrator Website: http://geooco.blogspot.com/

Olympians Series Website: http://olympiansrule.blogspot.com/

Awards: Nominated for Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards (CYBILS), 2010.

Media: Black Ink and Photoshop Color Tool after Scanning Ink Sketch

Use of Simile: (p. 4) “the three Cyclopes, enormous and powerful as storms,” (p. 15) “swift as the wind,” (p. 17) “as fluid as the sea,”

Use of Alliteration: (p. 31) “be beaten by brats,”

Use of Onomatopoeia: (p. 53) “Hiiiiiiissssss.” (p. 61) “BOOM!”

Special Notations: 2010 Copyright Date, Lesson Plan (available at http://picturebooksforbigkids.blogspot.com/2011/08/6th-grade-ancient-greece-lesson-plan.html), Graphic Novel (Non-Fiction), Personal Top Ten, Challenged Book Potential (see discussion after Personal Reaction)

Curricular Connection: History Social-Science Content Standards for California, Grade Six, Standard 6.4.4: Explain the significance of Greek mythology to the everyday life of people in the region and how Greek literature continues to permeate our literature and language today, drawing from Greek mythology and epics, such as Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, and from Aesop's Fables.

Annotation: Zeus, son of Kronos, takes on his powerful father to save his brothers and sisters. Zeus and his siblings battle the Titans and begin their rule of the Earth from the heights of Olympus in this comic style mythology lesson.

Personal Reaction: George O’Connor’s new series, the Olympians, debuts with volume 1, Zeus: King of the Gods. O’Connor brings classic comic book drawing style together with Greek mythology for a strong new entry in the graphic novel genre. I was surprised by the informed and powerful storytelling voice that accompanies O’Connor’s strong, fluid artwork. At times, the narration is almost poetic: “Wife and husband, Gaea and Ouranos, earth and sky, together, alone, in the nothing,” (p. 3). O’Connor offers a complete history of the Gods of Mount Olympians from the beginning with Gaea and Ouranos to Kronos and Rhea through the clash of the Titans which results in the dawn of a new age starring the Olympians Gods. While all of the facts about Zeus and his family’s history are included in this graphic novel, there is also humor. On pages 20-21, Zeus and Metis, the daughter of Oceanus, banter playfully as they plan Zeus’ overthrow of his father Kronos. “Because I’m so much smarter than you, of course,” (p. 21) says Metis as the two figure out how to save Zeus’ siblings. I enjoyed the contrast between O’Connor’s looming drawing of Kronos and on of the Gigantes with the light dialogue: “P-please don’t eat us. Thank you,” (p. 24). The artwork is big and does its share of storytelling; on page 24, O’Connor introduces Zeus’ brothers and sisters and uses color to highlight their areas of expertise. Poseidon is shown in a panel filled with blue and aqua, reelecting his water realm while “fair-haired Demeter,” is shown in a yellow field of corn. Mythology in a graphic novel format seems like a great match because the vivid illustrations work so well with the grand action of the Gods. Zeus slays Kampe the dragon to gain access to Tartoros to save the Cyclopes and enlist their help in fighting Kronos. Zeus also claims his birthright, the thunderbolt, from his grandmother, Gaea, and all of this activity is well-presented with bold lines and rich color, reminiscent of comics of years gone by. O’Connor wraps up this impressive first installment of the Olympians with a thorough appendix that includes discussion questions, biographies for the main characters, helpful notes on for Greek names and terms, as well as an author note about Greek mythology. Student readers will also appreciate the Olympian family tree at the beginning of the book and a strong list of additional reading material.

Challenged Book: While the United States has a long history of protecting personal freedom, Americans also have a long history of challenging and banning books at the cost of personal freedom. People challenge, ban and object to books everyday according to ALA statistics, typically with good intentions, too (ALA, 2008). In fact, these days it is mostly parents doing the challenging (ALA 2008). Reasons for challenging books often fall into three categories according to the American Library Association: a book contains sexually explicit material, the book contains offensive language or the book is unsuitable for a particular age group. One look at these three categories brings to mind one question for me: according to who? Who is to say what sexually explicit is? Who determines which words are offensive? Who says which books are suitable and how do we protect one age group without detriment to another age group? Book challenges and book banning are, by nature, biased. Reading is for everyone and in the words of librarian and philosopher, Ranganathan, “every book its reader.” Ranganathan’s third law of library science essentially says that every book out there is for someone (Cloonan & Dove, 2005). In other words, if one person or even a thousand people raise concerns about a book, so what . . . that book still has an audience and we need to make that book available to that audience. Every book can be deemed useful to someone, if that book isn’t pulled from the shelves. Every book has the potential to be offensive to someone and censorship is often personal and arbitrary. Personal and arbitrary feelings by an individual should not inform freedom and access to books.

When I read Zeus: King of the Gods, my first reaction was that this book would be fantastic for sixth graders studying mythology. My second reaction was concern that some parents might object to the book. I work as an elementary school librarian and I would never dream of censoring a library collection, but I do need to be prepared to address parental concerns and challenges to the collection. I’ve had parents object to Harry Potter books, Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks for reasons ranging from profanity to allegations of witchcraft. Zeus: King of the Gods includes the word “bastard,” and shows Zeus leaning over Metis, shirtless, asking for a kiss. There are also a number of visually intense illustrations featuring violence. O’Connor’s book has the potential to be challenged on the basis of being sexually explicit, containing offensive language and being unsuitable for certain age groups. Yet, Ranganathan and I both know that O’Connor’s book has its reader and needs to be on the shelf, available to that reader. If parents approach me with concerns about Zeus: King of the Gods, I can always rely on the ALA to support the inclusion of this book in the library’s collection. According to ALA and the “Free Access to Minors” document, “Librarians and governing bodies should maintain that parents—and only parents—have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children—and only their children—to library resources. Censorship by librarians of constitutionally protected speech, whether for protection or for any other reason, violates the First Amendment,” (ALA, 2008).” As a librarian, I am bound to not practice censorship and it’s actually up to every parent to make decisions about which books are and aren’t appropriate for their children. I would share with concerned parents both the reasons why I believe that Zeus: King of the Gods is an excellent book for sixth graders and why it will remain on the library shelves, library shelves that are browsed by readers who might be too young for the book (as determined by a parent). This book has to be available for “its reader,” and censorship is not the answer when it comes to helping children of any age select books.

References

About Banned & Challenged Books," American Library Association, July 29, 2008.

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/aboutbannedbooks/index.cfm

(Accessed July 31, 2011). Document ID: 501522

Cloonan, M., & Dove, J. (2005). Ranganathan online: Do digital libraries violate the third law?. Library Journal, 130(6), 58.

Calamity Jack

Hale, Shannon and Hale, Dean. Calamity Jack. Illustrated by Nathan Hale. New York: Bloomsbury, 2010. ISBN: 1599903733.

Authors Websites: http://www.squeetus.com/stage/main.html (Shannon Hale) http://www.dreadcrumbs.com/ (Dean Hale)

Illustrator Website: http://spacestationnathan.blogspot.com/

Media: Pen and ink, both color and sepia washes

Use of Alliteration: (p. 4) “Beanstalk Bonanza.” (p. 6) “Purloined Pig,” (p. 9) “Failed Flamingo Filching.”

Use of Onomatopoeia: (p. 87) “KRAK.” (p. 40) “WHAM.”

Use of Simile: (p. 85) “Jack, do you think I’m sweet like cake?”

Special Notations: 2010 Copyright Date, Graphic Novel (Fairy Tale retelling), Personal Top Ten

Annotation: Small time trickster and thief Jack of Jack and the Beanstalk fame plans a heist that is just too much for one fabulous graphic novel character. Jack calls in his friend Rapunzel and the two set out to save Jack’s hometown.

Personal Reaction: Jack became a favorite character for me when I read the opening line to this sequel to Rapunzel’s Revenge, “I think of myself as a criminal mastermind . . . with an unfortunate amount of bad luck,” (p. 4). Readers get plenty of insight into Jack’s accurate self-assessment. For example, later in the story, several comic panels showing Jack being hurled through the air are labeled, “Yep. My best plan ever. I’m a genius,” (p. 129). The At the beginning of Calamity Jack, readers learn about Jack’s early years which were filled with schemes, stunts and capers that didn’t always go as planned. Jack’s momma is not a fan of his schemes and so Jack commits to reforming himself . . . after one final scheme big enough to help his momma save her bakery business. Jack makes plans to rob a rich man named Blunderboar. Readers will recognize Jack from the well-known fairytale when he steals a bean from an unusually attired passerby to grow a “ladder,” to gain access to a rooftop. Fans of Rapunzel will be glad to see her step in to help Jack when he finds himself in over his head in this fantastic adventure. The Hales have created another wonderful graphic novel retelling of a familiar fairytale that stands on its own or as a sequel to Rapunzel’s Revenge. Fans of the Hales’ new series will enjoy becoming better acquainted with Jack. Jack is that smart aleck kid that other kids love to watch and Calamity Jack showcases Jack’s appeal and foibles in this comic style story about catching the bad guys. Nathan Hale’s illustrations manage to blend action, pixies, giant green beans and an urban set in a way that is visually entertaining, but not overly busy. I particularly enjoyed Hale’s renderings of maps, city plans, a maze (p. 95) and a warning note to “straw-brained IDIOTS” signed “Lovingly yours, Stig,” (p. 103).

Lives of the Pirates: Swashbucklers, Scoundrels (Neighbors Beware!)

Krull, Kathleen. Lives of the pirates: swashbucklers, scoundrels (neighbors beware!). Illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt. Boston: Harcourt Children's Books, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-15-205908-8.

Author Website: http://www.kathleenkrull.com/

Illustrator Website: http://www.kathrynhewitt.com/

Media: Watercolor

Special Notations: 2010 Copyright Date, Non-Fiction

Annotation: Kathleen Krull and Kathryn Hewitt have teamed up again to bring readers a funny, but factual book full of information about history’s most notorious pirates.

Personal Reaction: Krull’s witty writing and Hewitt’s drawings of pirates with oversized heads immediately caught my attention when I picked up Lives of the Pirates: Swashbucklers, Scoundrels (Neighbors Beware!). This picture book for older readers is a captivating read and includes the tales of familiar names such as Captain Kidd, Blackbeard and Black Bart, as well as a number of lesser know pirates. I was surprised to learn that there were a number of female pirates including Alvilda whose “father, king of the Goths, arranged an excellent marriage for her to Prince Alf of Denmark.” Per Krull, “Apparently Alvilda was unenthusiastic. She ran away and became a pirate instead,” (p.15). Krull entitles Alvilda’s entry, “A Case of Cold Feet?” (p. 15). Krull also clears up the rumor that Long John Silver was a real pirate, labeling his entry, “Not a Real Pirate,” (p. 93). Long John Silver was a fictional pirate invented by writer Robert Louis Stevenson. A list of additional pirate books is provided at the back of the book. Hewitt starts the book with a double-page map showing the waters terrorized by each pirate included in this collection. This captivating picture book is a wonderful read for older readers for pleasure; it will appeal to those with or without a specific interest in pirates and is an excellent example of why kids shouldn’t abandon picture books – at any age! I have also read Krull and Hewitt’s Lives of Extraordinary Women: Rulers, Rebels (and What the Neighbors Thought). In my opinion, books by this talented author / illustrator team would be great gift books or enticing books to leave laying on a coffee table. I personally keep a stack of books such as these on a table next to a couch in the library where I work and will soon be adding Lives of Pirates to my stack.

The Prison-Ship Adventure of James Forten, Revolutionary War Captive

Figley, Marty Rhodes and Tourville, Amanda Doering. The prison-ship adventure of James Forten, Revolutionary War captive. Illustrated by Ted Hammond and Richard Carbajal. Minneapolis: Graphic Universe, 2011. ISBN: 978-0761370758.

Author Website: http://martyrhodesfigley.com/

Illustrator Website: http://www.tedhammond.com/

Media: Pen and Colored Ink

Use of Onomatopoeia: (p. 4) “BOOM!”, (p. 16-17) “Crack, Crack”

Special Notations: 2011 Copyright Date

Curricular Connection: 5th Grade History/ Social Studies, California State Board of Education Standards, 5.6: Students understand the course and consequences of the American Revolution: 7. Understand how the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence changed the way people viewed slavery.

Annotation: Swept away by the magnitude of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, young James Forten signs on to fight the British. Forten is captured by the British and fears he will be enslaved.

Personal Reaction: Young James Forten is in Philadelphia the day that the Declaration of Independence is signed. Forten, the grandson of slaves, is overwhelmed with loyalty for his new country and signs up to help win the War for Independence against Great Britain. James is captured and taken prisoner on a British ship. Through James’ eyes, readers see how prisoners are mistreated, starved, traded for other prisoners and enslaved. James fears enslavement will be his fate until a chance meeting with a British ship captain’s son and a game of marbles changes his luck. This book is one of about a dozen in the History’s Kid Heroes series and is an appealing way for students to learn about history. Fifth graders studying the American Revolution may identify with this first person tale based on a real person. The graphic novel format is fresh and engaging for today’s students and would be an accessible supplement to the classroom textbook. The narrative is brief, but packed with allusions to slavery, the Declaration of Independence and the concept of freedom. The author provides a bibliography of recommended reading at the back of the book.

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword

Deutsch, Barry. Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword. Colored by Jake Richmond. New York: Amulet Books, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-8109-8422-6

Author / Illustrator website: http://www.amptoons.com/

Media: The author/illustrator created the black-and-white drawings on a computer using Photoshop and a Cintiq tablet (described as a type of interactive pen-on-screen tool). The colorist used Photoshop to digitally add color to the drawings.

Awards/Recognitions: The Sydney Taylor Book Award, 2011.

Use of Allusion: (p.21) “No, but I once read a book about a pig and a spider,” alludes to the book Charlotte’s Web.

Use of Symbolism: (Throughout the book) Mirka’s mother is smiling from a picture watching over Mirka. (p. 78) Mirka is encased in a loaf of khale symbolizing the happiness and safety she feels when smelling the bread bake

Use of Onomatopoeia: (p. 61) “Gasp”, “Hork!”

Special Notations: Graphic Novel (fiction)

Annotation: Eleven-year-old Mirka Hirschberg lives with her large Orthodox Jewish family in a tight-knit community. She dreams of fighting dragons and longs to escape her hum-drum life and chores.

Personal Reaction: This graphic novel caused a rush of nostalgia for me. Mirka reminded me of Henny in Sydney Taylor's All of a Kind Family, another series about a Jewish family. Henny would have been right there with Mirka arguing with her stepmother! Mirka is a graphic novel character with a lot of depth, heart and imperfections that I was immediately taken with. I enjoy comic style graphic novels, but am delighted to see a graphic novel like Hereville that incorporates humor and lot more into this maturing genre. Mirka is an eleven year old Orthodox Jewish girl from a large family. She is struggling to find out who she is, whether or not she is a hero and what she believes in, all in the wake of her mother’s death. Readers watch Mirka interact with her siblings and stepsibling, schoolmates and her faith. Humor is generously sprinkled throughout the book such as on page 77, “Pre-ripping the toilet paper! (So no one has to rip it on Shabbos, which would be work.)” reads the narrative box over a drawing of Mirka’s stepsister Rachel. The details about Judaism are fascinating, but Mirka’s story has wide appeal for all adolescents.

Cat Burglar Black

Sala, Richard. Cat burglar black. New York: First Second, 2009. ISBN: 978-1-59643-144-7.

Author and Illustrator Website: http://www.richardsala.com/

Awards: A Junior Library Guild Selection

Media: Pen and colored ink

Use of Alliteration: (p. 36) “consummate cat burglar.” (p. 36) “astonishing abilities.”

Use of Onomatopoeia: (p. 4-5) “Rawk!” (p. 20) “CREAK.” (p. 25) “CRASH!”

Use of Symbolism: The main character, K. Westree has prematurely silver hair (she is a teenager), which symbolizes that she is wise beyond her age. K. has grown up as an orphan and has had to grow up faster than most children.

Use of Allusion: (p. 53) “a trail of breadcrumbs,” is a literary allusion to the story of Hansel and Gretel.

Special Notations: 2010 Copyright, Graphic Novel (Fiction)

Annotation: Orphaned teenager Katherine Westree is pulled into a creepy, criminal plot after she arrives at Bellsong Academy searching for her long lost aunt. Gothic styled illustrations add an air of camp to this mystery.

Personal Reaction: This gothic and campy graphic novel manages to channel Scooby Doo, The Molly Moon series by Georgia Byng, Archie comics, Batgirl and A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket all at once and it works. It really works; I was transported back to watching Saturday morning cartoons as I read about the blatantly silly and creepy criminals plotting to take advantage of K. (Katherine) Westree. Like Molly Moon and many literary orphans before her, K. has grown up quickly and had to fend for herself. This silver-haired teen has lived life, a life filled with forced criminal activity, and she is excited to have been contacted by a long-lost blood relative. Unfortunately, a group of laugh out loud, old-fashioned treasure-hunting criminals has located K.’s aunt first. Sala shows his wit as one of the criminals explains to K. that her aunt is “sick:” “Well, its – um- complicated. She – uh-has a severe case of inflamed-um-thyroidical glandulitis-and-uh-Well, as I said, it’s complicated! Ha ha!” (p. 22). Sala’s pen and ink comic style drawings are filled with details that move the story along and flesh out the characters: three other teenaged girls who live at Bellsong Academy greet K. wearing school uniforms when she arrives. Two girls wear their shirts neatly buttoned and tucked into the uniform skirt, whereas Dory’s shirt hangs freely with the top button undone (p. 14). Dory is also barefoot as further evidence of her free-spirited, nonconformist ways. Cat Burglar Black is a fun read with a retro vibe that might allow today’s teens to escape contemporary pressures in favor of an old-fashioned, scary, mystery.

Sherlock Holmes and a Scandal in Bohemia

Shaw, Murray, M. J. Cosson, and Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes and a scandal in Bohemia. Illustrated by Sophie Rohrbach. Minneapolis: Graphic Universe, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-7613-6185-5

Author Website: None

Illustrator Website: http://sophie.rohrbach.free.fr/

Media: Pen and Colored Ink.

Use of Alliteration: (p. 31) “blood flowing freely from his face.”

Use of Onomatopoeia: (p. 31) “Bang! Whack! Thump!” (p. 33) “Zwoosh!”

Use of Simile: (p. 22) “She has a voice like a songbird.” (p. 23) “Drive like the devil to the church.”

Special Notations: 2011 Copyright Date, Graphic Novel (Fiction), Personal Top 10.

Annotation: In this graphic novel adaptation of a classic Sherlock Holmes and Watson tale, Holmes is hired by Count Von Kramm to prevent a scandal about the famous royal family of Bohemia from leaking.

Personal Reaction: This graphic novel adaptation is a brilliant and fresh retelling of a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Rohrbach’s sepia and gray-toned illustrations portray Holmes as a relaxed sleuth who delights in going undercover. Rohrbach uses obvious gestures and body language in her drawings to lightly move the story along. Holmes is shown holding his chin to convey deep thinking (p. 13); this illustration works well with the dialogue, “I deduced as much.” On another page, Holmes is depicted wearing a smoking jacket as he relaxes and enjoys his client’s background story (p. 17). This Sherlock Holmes is relaxed and playful. A date and time stamp on the illustrations helps set the mood and let the reader know how Holmes is faring in terms of meeting his client’s deadline. Shaw and Cosson’s writing is done with a light voice and is nicely paced; the story and illustrations flow just the way a good mystery should. Watson provides periodic narration in the form of case memos that he types up and the story ends with a satisfactory twist. On pages 46 and 47, the authors provide an explanation of the mystery in detail, ideas for additional reading and the address for a website about the original Sherlock Holmes.

Ghosts

Malam, John. Ghosts. Irvine, CA: QEB Pub, 2010. ISBN: 978-1-59566-750-2.

Author / Illustrator Website: http://www.johnmalam.co.uk/index.htm

Media: Pencil, Pen and Colored Ink with Photographs

Use of Allusion: (p. 30) “The Friendly Ghost,” “A Christmas Carol,”

Use of Onomatopoeia: (p. 21) “The line is crackly,”

Use of Alliteration: (p. 22) “House of Horrors.”

Special Notations: Non-fiction, 2010 Copyright Date

Annotation: Ghosts contains over a dozen brief chapters about the meaning of the term ghost, famous reputedly haunted houses, poltergeists and how to hunt for ghosts. Book includes a timeline, glossary and index.

Personal Reaction: The subject of this book is pure fun and will appeal to many curious students in grades five, six and seven. Author John Malam takes a subject that has fascinated people for centuries and updates it with a graphic novel / yearbook style that makes factual information pop off the page. I appreciated the style of this book and believe that students are more likely to read non-fiction works with this type of visual appeal. Blending high-interest subjects with fresh graphics and short chapter lengths encourages reading and will especially appeal to reluctant readers. “The Most Haunted House in England,” (p. 10) is a good example of the appeal of this book. This chapter draws readers in from the start: “Borley Rectory was doomed from the day it was built in 1863, on the site of an old monastery where a nun was said to have been buried alive.” Accompanying illustrations show a man finding part of a skull and a map of England marking the haunted house’s location, as well as a factual sidebar about the history of haunted castle stories. This would be a good book for teaching students how to use a glossary, timeline, index or table of contents because the subject matter would certainly keep students’ attention. Additional books in the Monster Mania series and the “You Wouldn’t Want to be . . . ” history series, also by John Malam, are equally appealing non-fiction purchases.

Mirror

Baker, Jeannie. Mirror. Sommerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press, 2010. ISBN: 0763648485.

Author / Illustrator Website: http://www.jeanniebaker.com/

Media: Mixed, Paint and Paper Collage

Awards: Horn Book Fanfare Award, 2010

Special Notations: 2010 Copyright Date

Annotation: Mirror simultaneously tells the story of the daily life of two boys and their respective families. Baker shares the similarities and differences in the boys’ lives through vivid illustrations, nearly devoid of text.

Personal Reaction: Baker’s Mirror is an invitation into the lives of two boys, one living in Morocco, the other in Sydney. As much as Mirror is a picture book, it is an experience in observation. As I turned the pages of the Sydney boy’s life from right to left and the pages of the Moroccan boy’s life from left to right, I was able to compare and contrast the two lives. Nothing out of the ordinary happens on these pages; the reader is simply a witness to daily life. I was struck by the author’s ability to tell a story in nearly all pictures so profoundly. Mirror is about recognizing that we are all humans, all living somewhere on this Earth, going about our daily lives. This book would be enjoyable for ages 4 and up, but best appreciated by older readers. The boys’ stories are a wonderful starting point for discussions about different countries, cultures, lifestyles and languages. Older readers may notice that the parallel stories open outwardly, inviting a side by side comparison of landscapes, clothing, daily activities, families and material goods. Mirror is a captivating book that invites readers to experience and consider the lives around them.

Grandma's Gift

Velasquez, Eric. Grandma's gift. New York: Walker, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-8027-2082-5

Author Website: http://www.ericvelasquez.com/

Media: Oil Paint, Realistic in Style

Award: Pura Belpre Award for Illustrations, 2011

Use of Simile: (p. 8) “Christmastime in El Barrio was always like magic.”

Use of Onomatopoeia: (p. 8) “stalls rumbled and shook whenever a train passed overhead.”

Special Notations: 2010 Copyright Date

Curricular Connection: Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards for California, Grades 5 and 6, 1.0: Artistic Perception, 3.0: Historical and Cultural Context, 4.0: Aesthetic Valuing.

Annotation: Velasquez shares a childhood memory of spending his Christmas vacation with his grandmother in El Barrio. During the week together, young Velasquez and his grandmother visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and make pasteles, a traditional Puerto Rican dish.

Personal Reaction: This story reminded me of the challenges of assimilating to a new country. For an immigrant, everyday life is more difficult than it is for the natives. Immigrants face language barriers, cultural differences and may be homesick for their native traditions and food. Velasquez introduced readers to his grandmother and her Puerto Rican heritage in Grandma’s Records; in Grandma’s Gift, Velasquez shares his grandmother’s Christmas tradition of making pasteles, a meat pastry wrapped in banana leaves. Velasquez writes a portion of the story’s dialogue in Spanish with English translations, giving readers a taste of life in El Barrio as Velasquez and his grandmother shop for the ingredients for pasteles: “Se ve bueno. Dame cuatro libras,” Grandma said (p. 14). Readers also get a taste of Puerto Rican culture on the pages where Velasquez writes step by step instructions for wrapping the pasteles. Velasquez’s illustrations for these pages are close up, tight shots showing only Grandma’s hands and the food. This part of the story truly provides readers with a glimpse into Puerto Rican cooking and holiday traditions. More Puerto Rican culture is shared during a visit to the Metropolitan Museum where Grandma recognizes fellow countryman Juan de Parega in a Diego Velazquez painting. A brief art history lesson and information about composer Rafael Hernandez at the back of the book further emphasize Puerto Rican contributions to the arts and we come to understand not only the author’s connection to his heritage, but to appreciate another culture. Grandma’s gift is a set of art supplies that turn out to be quite the perfect gift for the young future illustrator.