(Dates: Sept 12-19)
Sept.12
This book (and most wordless books) force you to really look at the art. A lot of the time I look but am focused on reading the text so I miss a lot of things. I really appreciated the different art style and structure of the book.
It is in French I believe but it still lets you get an idea of how this book is structured.
It is interesting that what this book is about is different from my interpretation. I don’t want to spoil/warp someone else interpretation of the book so I can’t go into that aspect. I did like it for the art and story.
Sept. 13
I seriously need to read more books that deal with South American in general culture! I really liked the different art styles used for this picture book. Viva Frida helped me to learn more about Frida Kahlo, who I need to read a non-fiction book about soon.
+You can really tell when there is a #ownvoices because it sounds authentic (I could hear my cousin in the little boy character), Art, all kinds of diversity background, creative, looking at beauty in your surroundings (especially in poor neighborhoods which you are told are ugly and etc all the time), It has commentary/stuff that adults can get out of it too.
+Art, creative story (this story stands out compared to other stories)
It has a sense of loss which makes it feel kind of sad. It is the viewpoint of someone who is older retelling a story basically saying I remember when.
I don’t like the heavy emphasis on the men of the civil rights movement without any women being shown.
+Art, thing we do to get through rough periods, depict depression/sad period because of point in life.
I like that it is bringing depression and sadness to a younger audience. We as a society don’t talk about sadness, depression, mental illness, and etc enough. There is so much put on strength=being emotionless/hiding or holding in emotions.
Sept 16
I could tell what this one was about and I liked it. I like the commentary that came out of this.
I liked its message about accepting yourself. It is also important to show a black girl being encouraged and beating the odds.
The art is good but the story was o.k. I understood what was going on at the beginning but I started getting confused towards the middle. Of course I did not read what it was about before reading it. What is the fun of a wordless book if you know what is about before reading it?
+Art, commentary on one child rule/Chinese culture
~On Wordless Picture Books and Graphic Novels
I don’t know if I like authors telling you what a story is about instead of letting you interpret it yourself. I can understand why many of these books explained because what the books are portraying kids (and many adults) may misunderstand what they are about.
Overall, I really enjoyed all the books I read. Most of them were creative and unique which does not always happen with picture books. This makes me want to seek even more diversity in picture books than I already do.
themollyweather 