Week Seven: John Lennon: All I Want is the Truth

John Lennon: All I Want is the Truth

by Elizabeth Partridge

Summary

    John Lennon: All I Want is the Truth is a chronological biography that cover John Lennon's life from birth in 1940 to his death in 1980. Partridge includes many photographs to support her text. She depicts Lennon's difficult childhood, his introduction to rock n' roll, his music career, the years with the Beatles, his life with Yoko Ono, and his legacy.

APA Reference

Partridge, E. (2005). John lennon: All I want is the truth. New York, NY: Viking. 

My Impressions

    One thing I really appreciated about Partridge biography was her use of pictures. There are many photographs of John Lennon I had never seen before, and the author used the pictures well to support her text. She also included what I might call "secondary" photographs. They were not of John Lennon, but enhanced her text and helped build a strong visual narrative. Some examples of this are photographs from 60s protests, the room where Lennon and McCartney wrote their first songs, the girls going crazy, and Yoko Ono's art. Partridge was thorough in her coverage of Lennon's life and what possibly made him the man we recognize as John Lennon.  

Review 

    Elizabeth Partridge manages to "cut through the mythology and misinformation" about John Lennon and works to reveal "the complexities of his personality," according to the School Library Journal. The author does not "shy away from sordid details" and creates "an unflinchingly honest portrait" of the legendary John Lennon. 

Gustin, G. (2005). Book of the week: John Lennon: All I want is the truth by Elizabeth Partridge [review of the book John Lennon: All I want is the truth]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6257766.html

Library Use

    John Lennon: All I Want is the Truth would be an excellent addition to a display of Beatles music, biographies of the other members, and informational titles about the 1960s. 

Week Seven: An Egg is Quiet

An Egg is Quiet

by Dianna Aston

illustrated by Sylvia Long

Summary

    An Egg is Quiet is an informational book with descriptions of various types of eggs. The author and illustrator show how eggs from different species are different colors, shapes, textures and sizes. The author also provides characteristics of eggs; describing that eggs can be clever because their shells are camouflaged and that eggs can be fossilized. The illustrator shows the reader how organisms grow within the egg. 

APA References

Aston, D. (2006). An egg is quiet. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. 

My Impressions

   An Egg is Quiet, to me, seems to be just that- quiet. The illustrations are not flashy or overdone and the text is simple and straightforward. It has the right amount of science/informational writing so that young children should not feel overwhelmed. I found the illustrations elegant, yet they are still realistic. I think this can remind us that nature is a beautiful and can viewed as an art form. The important thing I think this book accomplishes is showing children that eggs come in all shapes and colors and belong to different kinds of organisms. 

Review

    Patricia Manning of the School Library Journal attributes Dianna Aston's work as "simple" and "readable" with description that are "on the mark." Gillian Engberg of Booklist describes An Egg is Quiet as "beautifully illustrated" and compares it to a "naturalist's diary." The excellent collaboration between Aston and Long results in a book that will "inspire kids to marvel at animals' variety and beauty," Booklist predicts.  

Engberg, G. (2006). An egg is quiet [review of the book An Egg is Quiet]. Booklist. Available from http://www.booklistonline.com/An-Egg-Is-Quiet-Dianna-Aston/pid=1614282

Manning, P. (2006). Preschool to Grade 4 [review of the book An Egg is Quiet]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6340872.html

Library Use

     An Egg is Quiet, could be used in with an activity to encourage nature observation. Children could make a "field journal" out of cardboard and paper and sketch their observations of things in nature, birds, leaves, flowers, eggs, nests, or bugs.