Blog Partner Discussion #2: Caldecott book or book by an award winning artist
http://jamaicablogpartners.blogspot.com/
Please discuss:
1. Your personal response to the book
2. What genre you think it might be and why
( Read Check out descriptions of genres at:
http://www.edu.uleth.ca/currlab/handouts/genres.html
3. Evaluate its literary quality
4. Evaluate its illustrations
5. Discuss for whom the book is intended and the ways in which it might be used in the classroom
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The story Sam, Bang & Moonshine by Evaline Ness is a timeless, powerful child story which is clearly complimented by its illustrative use of darkness, hues and enough light to provide the necessary contrast. Although there is absence of colour,
ReplyDeleteIt’s that absence which gives it its mystique and hushed enthralling beauty. I was drawn to the cover which seems to provide a peek into the story which would follow. I wondered about the bold black cat with its face turned away from the reader. Why was he looking towards the sea? The fishing boats seemed to call out to me even though they were absent of human presence.
As the story unfolds the reader is forced to hush his or her voice to effectively capture the essence of the overwhelming flood of child fantasy which was irresistible to the lead character Samantha ( Sam). Were you held hostage by its captivating easy flow of words?
Mary, the book Sam, Bangs and Moonshine was a beautiful read for me as well. It is obviously an old book but the quality is exceptional – I can clearly see why it had to be a part of the Caldecott book club. It captivated me as well. I agree with you totally because I remember that when we first evaluated the cover and the title I too was thrown into the whole story – I got so much from it. As you said, there were the uses of the dark colours, the vertical lines, the sea, the cat that spoke to the mystery and suspense.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading we found that our predictions were not so off at all. Truly, Evaline Ness is a good writer and illustrator. I thought the language is so simple yet creative. I agree that the reading really requires a hushed voice for effcicacy so much that I ran with the rise and fall of the actions to see what would unfold next. The tone is so smooth and sympathetic provoking sympathy in me for all the characters for one reason or the other.What's your view on the literary quality of this 'gold star' book?
Iagree Linda.1966 seems a lifetime ago yet i was provoked by the plot which unfolded in a childlike scene where Sam is illustrated in a belly laying pose, chin in palms daydreaming of lands far away where her dead mother is immortalized in a mermaid, so fitting as she lives in a seaside town where fishing is implied through the pictures as the dominant activity. Also her father left to go fishing.The pictures provided more details to the plot as the reader saw her imaginations unfold.This is a typical child story as they used her imaginative abilities to show how children provide their own comfort even though adults misunderstands.Arent you just amazed by the use of lines?
ReplyDeleteYes, Mary, the writer/illustrator used the lines beautifully to tell a story all of their own. Obviously our story is a modern fantasy text with the writer and illustrator Evaline Ness drawing on her experiences with traditional literature. I agree that the imagination plays a major role throughout for the reader as well as the characters in the story. In the story, Sam (short for Samantha) is a dreamer, very imaginative, always pondering about something - a mermaid for a mother, a chariot as her seat – the rug, a lion and a kangaroo for her pets. The cat is central to the story as Sam constantly talks with him and gives us his reply. Ness personifies the action of the cats and his reactions are amusing to us the readers. When his friend Sam speaks – at one points he yawns, at another point he just sits curled at her feet, another point he stares back intensely at her as if to share some wisdom regarding the thoughts she was having. I find that for the reader especially if you are a child, you get caught up in the dreams. These ponderings speak so vociferously about the loneliness of the children. I felt Sam’s escape when I learnt she had lost her mother. Mary, girl, don’t you think this can be used in a lot of ways in our classes?
ReplyDeleteI can see a number of ways in which this book can be effectively used with my class Linda. At the grade eight level, my student are encouraged to employ figurative language in their writing to create imagery and Evaline Ness has done so expertly providing a link for all the major characters. Sam's vision is blocked by the curtain of rain that prevents her from seeing or seeking out the whereabouts of her cat, Bangs and Thomas. Her preoccupation with Moonshining (an expression which means lying for the father,imagination for us)`was the link to all the misfortunate lost of her friend Thomas. The rain hammereing on the roof is another metaphor. All these are good examples that can give my students model experience to their own writing. Students can become involved in short story writing that reflect how their actions can affect others that they love. The can also go beyond what they read and find out more information about a lighthouse.This coulsd include searching the internet for links to cyber tours of a lighthouse.Another aspect could also be a field trip to a lighthouse to give practical experience. This Sam , Bangs and Moonshine is truly a cultural experience for anyone who is not living by the seacoast. Good reading Linda.
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