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Rating: 
Summary: Great literature kids relate to!
Review: I'm a speech-language specialist who is very picky about which books I use in therapy sessions. Polacco's books draw kids into the very identifiable characters. We spent 3 weeks on the story, reading it, retelling it and drawing a story map about it. Great around Halloween! Highly recommended for grades 2-5.
Rating:
Summary: Great literature kids relate to!
Review: I'm a speech-language specialist who is very picky about which books I use in therapy sessions. Polacco's books draw kids into the very identifiable characters. We spent 3 weeks on the story, reading it, retelling it and drawing a story map about it. Great around Halloween! Highly recommended for grades 2-5.
Rating:
Summary: Swamp Thang
Review: This is a magical ghost story/young romance /comedy by one of the very best children's book writers, Patricia Polacco. Here she creates a wonderfully drawn `folk tale' about a group of kids and their almost encounter with the ghost of Quicksand Bottoms. Polacco is at the top of her narrative and artistic game. On pages 3-4, for example, Polacco foreshortens the perspective, in a manner that evokes Grandma Moses, to show the dozens of towns `folk" making Halloween preparations. (Patricia Polacco is also Dr. Patricia Polacco, with a doctorate in art history). On the very next two-page illustration, Polacco returns to her familiar loveable loopy style. She is a master at conveying emotion and character just through splashes of color accenting expressive broad faces. The story is both leisurely and suspenseful, as the Halloween contests and pre-adolescent William's attempts to show Hester a thing or two (i.e., woo her) play against the looming presence of the legendary ghost. William can't seem to get anything right, and he gets "mad as the dickens." Polacco uses colloquialisms to good effect, especially with names: There's Hester Bledden, the object of his affection, as well as Mr. Stillwater, Lula Mae Cobb, Eulaylee Tester, Boof and Bertie Schiffer, all portrayed without condescension. Williams' big opportunity arrives that night "as an eerie blue light came up out of the swamp." Polacco's drawing of the swamp gas--or is it?) give us some spectacular blue tones and evanescent effects. The exciting, well-plotted denouement gives frustrated William a chance too show his bravery and win the heart of Hester, as they share a plate of ice cream. This is a beautifully drawn and written story, and is one of the best of the Polacco's many superb books. Teachers, parents, other adults, and kids will also want to check out her fun and informative website.
Rating:
Summary: Swamp Thang
Review: This is a magical ghost story/young romance /comedy by one of the very best children's book writers, Patricia Polacco. Here she creates a wonderfully drawn 'folk tale' about a group of kids and their almost encounter with the ghost of Quicksand Bottoms. Polacco is at the top of her narrative and artistic game. On pages 3-4, for example, Polacco foreshortens the perspective, in a manner that evokes Grandma Moses, to show the dozens of towns 'folk" making Halloween preparations. (Patricia Polacco is also Dr. Patricia Polacco, with a doctorate in art history). On the very next two-page illustration, Polacco returns to her familiar loveable loopy style. She is a master at conveying emotion and character just through splashes of color accenting expressive broad faces. The story is both leisurely and suspenseful, as the Halloween contests and pre-adolescent William's attempts to show Hester a thing or two (i.e., woo her) play against the looming presence of the legendary ghost. William can't seem to get anything right, and he gets "mad as the dickens." Polacco uses colloquialisms to good effect, especially with names: There's Hester Bledden, the object of his affection, as well as Mr. Stillwater, Lula Mae Cobb, Eulaylee Tester, Boof and Bertie Schiffer, all portrayed without condescension. Williams' big opportunity arrives that night "as an eerie blue light came up out of the swamp." Polacco's drawing of the swamp gas--or is it?) give us some spectacular blue tones and evanescent effects. The exciting, well-plotted denouement gives frustrated William a chance too show his bravery and win the heart of Hester, as they share a plate of ice cream. This is a beautifully drawn and written story, and is one of the best of the Polacco's many superb books. Teachers, parents, other adults, and kids will also want to check out her fun and informative website.
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