Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. 2005. Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc. ISBN 0439353793

2.   PLOT SUMMARY

The Holocaust that occurred in Germany and Europe is one of the most horrifying human events of all time.  Susan Campbell Bartoletti has written a book that details how children were indoctrinated into the Nazi political party at a very young age.  The book shows how the average, every day child became enraptured with the passion that was exuded by the Nazis.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Susan Campbell Bartoletti assembles diaries, letters, interviews, and other oral histories to create a phenomenal text that shares both personal and historical facts.  This book is a significant contribution to the already published, historical accounts of the Nazi regime.  Bartoletti has written a credible account of the lives of children in Germany during World War II and the individual tales engage readers of all ages. 

The stories of the twelve profiled children are both heartwarming and heartbreaking.  The ability to share the human side of such tragedy is impressive; the flowing storylines will certainly peak the curiosity of readers and instigate further discussion and reading on the subject.

The book includes crisp photos on nearly every page, which captivate and further immerse the readers into the individual storylines.  While the font used is larger than would be expected, the language used throughout the book is appropriate, easy to read, and still addresses the complex subject matter.  The brief epilogue at the end of the book gives readers a better sense of the long-term consequences of living in Europe during the Nazi regime.

This book is an exemplary piece of non-fiction for late elementary age to middle school age children. 

4.  REVIEW EXCERPTS

Newbery Honor 2006

Carolyn W. Field Award Winner 2006

Parents Choice Award Gold Winner 2006

Orbis Pictus Honor 2006

Sibert Medal Honor 2006

Starred Review in School Library Journal: “The book is structured around 12 young individuals and their experiences, which clearly demonstrate how they were victims of leaders who took advantage of their innocence and enthusiasm for evil means.”

Starred Review in Booklist:  “The handsome book design, with black-and-white historical photos on every double-page spread, will draw in readers and help spark deep discussion, which will extend beyond the Holocaust curriculum.”

Starred Review in Kirkus Review: “Case studies of actual participants root the work in specifics, and clear prose, thorough documentation and an attractive format with well-chosen archival photographs make this nonfiction writing at its best.”

Starred Review in Publishers Weekly:  “…offers a unique and riveting perspective on WWII by focusing on the young people…”

Starred Review in Horn Book:  “…clarity and apt quotation (scrupulously sourced)…”

5.  CONNECTIONS

*Audio book version of the award winning text:

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell.  Hitler Youth: Growing Upon in Hitler’s Shadow.  ISBN 0-7393-3662-2

*More books on children during the holocaust:

Warren, Andrea.  Surviving Hitler: A Boy in the Nazi Death Camps.  ISBN 978-0060007676

Zullo, Allan.  Survivors: True Stories of Children in the Holocaust.  ISBN 978-0439669962

Polacco, Patricia.  The Butterfly.  ISBN 978-0142413067

What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page

What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jenkins, Steve. 2008. What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?. Boston, MA: Sandpiper. ISBN 978-0618997138

2.   PLOT SUMMARY

Young children love animals, and they love learning about animals.  Steve Jenkins shares animal facts that children of all ages will enjoy.  The book focuses on the functions of animal body parts.  In one section, the book intertwines eagles, chameleons, fish, horned lizards, and bush babies together as Jenkins describes the unique manner in which the animals utilize their eyes.  This continues throughout the book with various body parts and a wide variety of animals.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Steven Jenkins and his wife Robin Page have written and illustrated many children’s non-fiction books, but What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? is one of their most impressive accomplishments.  Their reputation is exceptional and the attention to factual detail is one of the key factors that sets this book apart from others in the same genre.

This informational book groups the body parts of animals together, instead of the animals themselves.  This approach allows children to learn about the functions of specific body parts, in addition to facts about the animals.  This layout engages the young reader and encourages cognitive comparisons between various animals.  The cut-paper illustrations are classic Jenkins and Page style and add a three-dimensional quality to every page.

The unique organization by animal body part allows more information to be included in the text, without overwhelming younger readers.  However, older readers are given expanded, more detailed, information about the animals and their body functions in a section in the rear of the book.  This section bridges the gap between an easy read book and creates a resource of solid, factual information for a more mature reader.

The book is a must-own for every home library targeted towards preschool and early school age children.

4.  REVIEW EXCERPTS

Caldecott Honor Book 2004

ALA Notable Book 2004

Garden State Book Award for Children’s Nonfiction 2006

South Carolina Picture Book Award Nominee 2005-2006

Charlotte Zolotow Commendation

Starred Review in Booklist: “Jenkins' handsome paper-cut collages are both lovely and anatomically informative, and their white background helps emphasize the particular feature, be it the bush baby's lustrous, liquid-brown eyes or the skunk's fuzzy tail. This is a striking, thoughtfully created book with intriguing facts made more memorable through dynamic art.”

Starred Review in School Library Journal: “…yet another eye-opening book.”

Starred Review in Kirkus Reviews: “…this array of wide eyes and open mouths will definitely have viewers responding with wide eyes and open mouths of their own.”

5.  CONNECTIONS

*Other books about animal facts:

Simon, Seymour.  New Questions and Answers About Dinosaurs.  ISBN 0-688-08196-7

Page, Robin.  Time to Eat. ISBN 978-0547250328

Branzel, Sylvia. Animal Grossology: The Science of Creatures Gross and Disgusting.

           ISBN 978-0843110111

*Other books by Steve Jenkins:

The Beetle Book.  ISBN 978-0547680842

What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You?.  ISBN 0-395-82514-8

Actual Size. ISBN 978-0547512914

Our Eleanor, A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's Remarkable Life by Candace Fleming

Our Eleanor, A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt’s Remarkable Life

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Fleming, Candace. 2005. Our Eleanor, A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt’s Remarkable Life. New York, NY: Atheneum Books For Young Readers. ISBN 978-0-689-86544-2

2.   PLOT SUMMARY

Winston Churchill said that Eleanor Roosevelt is “a woman who does not know her place.” The book, Our Eleanor, demonstrates that Eleanor Roosevelt was fully aware that her place was anywhere that she wanted to be.  This scrapbook-style biography begins with a family tree and a copy of Eleanor’s birth record, and continues through to Eleanor’s death.  This biography addresses Eleanor’s personal life and her contributions to politics and social programs.  No stone in Eleanor’s life is left unturned in this comprehensive collection.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Candace Fleming creates a stunning scrapbook of Eleanor Roosevelt’s life. In a time that students are barraged with tidbits of information from Facebook and other social media websites, the layout of this exceptional book will appeal to readers with limited attention spans and those who desire information delivered in small doses.  This style engages younger readers, while at the same time, includes enough information to draw in older readers.

Nearly every page of Our Eleanor contains photographs. The photographs included in the individual stories augment the information that Fleming is sharing with her readers.  The section that explains Eleanor’s refusal to be followed by Secret Service is accompanied by a photograph of her doing target practice with a pistol.  The photograph tells as much of the story, if not more, than the article. 

The author, Candace Fleming, has a stellar reputation in the realm of historical biographies.  An extensive section in the back of the book is dedicated to picture credits and other source notes.  If a reader desired to obtain more information on a particular section, the citations and sources are available to continue that research.  There are several allusions to Eleanor’s sexual orientation in the book.  As there has been much speculation of this subject, the approach to this topic was speculative, and was somewhat detracting to the rest of the text, which was factually based.

Overall, this is a biography that should be included in every home library.

4.  REVIEW EXCERPTS

ALA Amelia Bloomer Project

ALA Best Books For Young Adults

ALA Notable Children's Books

CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book

CCBC Choices (Cooperative Children's Book Council)

IRA Teachers' Choices

Jefferson Cup Honor Book

KSRC Senior High School Titles - Top Pick

NYPL 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award

Pennsylvania School Librarian Association "Top Ten (Or So)" Young Adult Books

Publishers Weekly Best Books

School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

Starred Review in School Library Journal: “Fleming is honest, respectful, and astute throughout, addressing both successes and controversies with balance…”

Booklist:  “Fleming's jigsaw-puzzle approach is probably best suited for use in conjunction with more traditional narratives.”

Kirkus Review: “Though lacking the coherence of a traditional narrative, it will appeal to readers who only want to dip in and read what looks interesting.”

5.  CONNECTIONS

*Other books on American political figures

Freedman, Russell.  Lincoln: A Photobiography.  ISBN 978-0899193809

Fritz, Jean.  Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt!. ISBN 978-0698116092

*More books on Eleanor Roosevelt:

Freedman, Russell.  Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery.  ISBN 978-0395845202

Thompson, Gare.  Who Was Eleanor Roosevelt.  ISBN 978-0448435091

MacLeod, Elizabeth.  Eleanor Roosevelt:  An Inspiring Life.  ISBN 978-1553378112