Stanley, Diane.  2000.  MICHELANGELO.  New York:  Harper Collins.  ISBN:  0688150853.

     Diane Stanley’s picture book biography is written with vast information about Michelangelo.  She herself paints a picture of the well known artist, sculpture, and painter.

     The Buonarroti family lived a very frugal life in Florence. A new job as a court magistrate was offered to Lodovico.  The family moved to a little village of Caprese, which was fifty miles from the city of Florence.  Their second son, Michelangelo di Lodovico di Buonarroti Simoni was born on March 6, 1475. He was born during the Renaissance period to Lodovico and Francesca Buonarroti.  Michelangelo did not live with his family when he was younger.  He lived with a stonecutter in the village and learned how to chisel stone.  His mother died when he was six years old.  His father remarried and he began living with him again.  His father enrolled him in grammar school so he would learn reading, penmanship and a little bit of Latin.  Michelangelo did not enjoy school.  He asked his father permission to quit school.  He had learned to draw and he loved it.  His father was very displeased with him and felt it was a waste of his time to become an artist.  Michelangelo learned many techniques of painting from well known artists of the times. He did not get along well with people and really preferred to work alone.  He was commissioned to do work for several Popes and others of notoriety.  He learned how to chisel marble by studying the human anatomy.  He was asked by the cardinal to make a “marble sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding the dead Christ in her arms.  Such a scene is called a pieta, which means “pity” in Italian.”  Page 16.  It took Michelangelo two years to complete his master piece.  He worked in and around Rome for many years while completing “David,” painting the apostles for the ceiling of the cathedral, the tomb, the Sistine Chapel, and other projects he was asked to complete.  Michelangelo worked until he died at the age of eighty-nine.

     Diane Stanley researches her information thoroughly before she begins to write.  She has a bibliography of thirteen sources she has drawn information from for the writing of Michelangelo. Mrs. Stanley has written several children’s picture book biographies and Michelangelo received the Orbis Pictus Honor Book Award, from the NCTE. Stanley thanks Professor John Shearman of the Harvard University Department of Fine Arts for his helpful reading of the text.

     The organization of Michelangelo begins with a note from the author as an introduction of Michelangelo.  Stanley then continues with his early life at home and the beginnings of his artistic endeavors.  She continues developing the story with his accomplishments.  There are no reference aids.  She does include a Bibliography of sources at the end of the story. 

     The illustrations of Michelangelo are magnificent.  She uses watercolors, colored pencil, and gouache on Arches watercolor paper.  She also uses manipulation of the computer by using Adobe Photoshop.  Her drawings and enhanced photographs are expressive and almost touchable.

Stanley designed the jacket and Kathleen Westray assisted with other art work in Michelangelo. The browns, blues, greens, and pinks bring about the history of the times.  The highly skilled art work done by Michelangelo make the reader think about how difficult it must have been to paint or chisel the marble with candle light instead of the luxury of modern light today.

     The style of this biography is clear, informational, and fascinating.  Stanley writes, “The reputation of Florence as a place where artists grew like wildflowers after a summer rain is demonstrated by the following story, which may or may not be true.”  Page 2. What a great introduction. She continues with writing about a piece of work that was created and made to look old, buried, discovered, sold, owner felt cheated, and then through the times it was discovered that it was Michelangelo’s  earlier work.

    Young readers will marvel at this story.  The illustrations and enhanced photography will bring about amazement of how an artist could create such life like marble figures by chiseling a piece of marble.  How could someone paint a ceiling for years standing up?  Why did he live alone?  Did he have more than one brother?  Readers might want to investigate the following web site for more information about one of the greatest Renaissance artist of his time.

http://www.michelangelo.com/buon/bio-index2.html

Paulsen, Gary.  Dietz, N. [Narrator] 1996.  THE RIFLE[Audiobook]. Maryland: Recorded Books.

     THE RIFLE written by Gary Paulsen is a riveting Historical Fiction.  The Unabridged Audio Book of THE RIFLE narrated by Norman Dietz is an easy listening audio story.  Mr. Dietz’s voice is deep, smooth, and persuasive. 

THE RIFLE begins in 1768 with the very descriptive construction of THE RIFLE.  Cornish McManus invested two years of his time assembling this rifle.  Paulsen’s narrative of how this weapon was made goes beyond the average reader.  He discusses the maple wood selected to make the stock, the barrel, the teeth, the polishing, the urine from a neighbor’s cow, and the numerous hours and months he spent making this “sweet” rifle.  Cornish is creative and sometimes forgets that he needs to do repairs to guns so he can eat. Once it is completed he tries shooting it to see how accurate it was.  He was almost scared because he was not a shooter.  He was elated at the accuracy of THE RIFLE as he practiced with it. He meets Clara and his whole world changes.  He knows he must sell THE RIFLE so he can provide for his new wife.  Byam is introduced in the story and he buys THE RIFLE.  The price was his packs and the deal was made.  Cornish missed his rifle. The rifle was like a friend to him.  He had labored almost two years making it “sweet.”  The story continues with several owners of THE RIFLE, owners using it in the Revolutionary War, being stored in several closets and attics, and unfortunately the deadly occurrence on Christmas Eve of 1994.The last owner, Harv, had children. On Christmas Eve, the family was gathering around the Christmas tree, when all the wrong things were in place.  THE RIFLE was on the mantle, the candles were burning, the fire in the fireplace was struggling to burn, the parents were in the kitchen, the children were near the tree, and a spark began the dramatic tragic evening.  A spark ignited THE RIFLE and Richard was shot and dead in 1.43 seconds. The family was devastated and eventually dissolved into fragmented pieces.  His father pitched THE RIFLE into the river off a bridge.  Tim Harrow had read about the tragedy in the newspaper and then had viewed something being thrown into the river.  He snagged the trigger guard and pulled the rifle ashore. Presently the gun sits in a rifle cabinet in his home.

            The reader may question the validity of this historical fiction as finding information about this story may be difficult.  Gary Paulsen has a good reputation for writing accurately and honestly.  Anthropomorphism is avoided in THE RIFLE.

            The organization of this historical fiction story is well laid out and the events are easily followed. The story does contain reference aids such as chapters or divisions to introduce a new owner of THE RIFLE.  The divisions are: The Weapon, The Boy, The Joining and THE RIFLE. Being this was an Audio Book; the only illustration was the cover of the case.  It is very different from the book cover. The case is a pencil drawing of Richard in the background in golds and brown.  THE RIFLE is the forefront with a soldier shooting a weapon and Cornish working on THE RIFLE. It truly depicts the period of time in the 1700’s.

            The style of writing is clear and fascinating.  Norman Dietz voice is appropriate for this time in history.  Mr. Dietz sounds like a grandfather telling his grandchildren stories from his past.  Paulsen writes in such a way that the reader feels they are right there watching THE RIFLE being made or riding a horse to get away from the British soldiers, or heading south with the volunteers to help George Washington and his troops or participating in the writing or signing of the Declaration of Independence. The subject matter would be more appropriate for Young Adults.  

            Gary Paulsen writes with knowledge and expertise on guns.  The historical journey of over two hundred and thirty years brings a thought of:  Did anyone check to see if the gun was loaded?

Curtis, Christopher Paul.  1999.  BUD, NOT BUDDY.  New York:  Delacorte Press.  ISBN:  0385323069.

     Curtis writes a humorous historical fiction story fashioned after some of the events that occurred with his grandfathers.  The main character of the story is Bud.  He is a homeless ten year old trying to find a place in the world by himself.  The year is 1936 and the place is Flint, Michigan.  Bud’s mother dies when he is six years old and he is put into foster homes.  He is beaten in one and runs away from others.  He begins his adventure by trying to locate his real father.  He has some fliers that his mother has left behind.  Bud is very clever and figures this flier will guide him to his father. He finally reaches Grand Rapids and is determined to locate his father at the “Club.”  The band members;  Mr. Jimmy, Doug the Thug, Doo-Doo Bug Cross, Steady Eddie, Dirty Deed Bread, and sweet Ms. Thomas make Bud feel like he is home.  His “father” is harsh and mean to Bud.  Bud is having a challenging time adjusting to the rejection. Bud shows his new friends a picture of his mother and Mr. Calloway asks Bud her name.  Anglea Janet Caldwell was Mr. Calloway’s daughter and Bud was his grand son.  Bud was surprised with this news, “but the thing I felt most was glad that Herman E. Calloway wasn’t my dad.  Shucks, who’d want a daddy that on top of being so old and so doggone mean had such a big belly? Not Me.”  Page 213. The ending brings comfort and happiness to Bud.

            The facts are current and accurate.  Mr. Curtis turns some of his knowledge about his grandfathers into this historical fiction story.  The Great Depression in the 1930’s was very difficult for people.  His writing about the hard times Bud and the other characters experience make the story so real.  Bud is an interesting fellow of ten years old.  He has a sense of humor, a suitcase full of secret things, and “Rule for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself.”  Page 11.  Bud refers to his rules when the situation or circumstance begins to get a bit sticky for him. The memory of the vampire and the bat has Bud thinking about Rule Number 328:

 “When You Make Up Your Mind to Do Something,

             Hurry Up and Do It, If You Wait You

Might Talk Yourself Out of What You

Wanted in the First Place.”  Page 27.

            The story is logical and clearly follows the events and experiences Bud encounters.  The story contains a page of Acknowledgements, chapters and an Afterword.  There are two black and white photographs showing Herman F. Curtis and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression!!!!!! and Earl “Lefty” Lewis, pitcher for the Grand Rapids, Michigan. “Lefty” Lewis also pitched for many years in the minors of the Negro Baseball Leagues.”  Page 239.  Mr. Curtis’s great grandfather was a bandleader most of his life.  The hard times of the Great Depression were evident in the story. The cover of the book shows Bud sitting on a bench with his suitcase.  He is an African American boy dressed in a white shirt, suspenders, and brown corduroy knickers.   There is also an inset of the band in the background.

            The style of the story is lively, hilarious, and energetic.  The antics Bud experiences make the reader think how in the world will he get out of this situation?  The young protagonist amuses his readers with:  “I held the mop so that is was floating on the top of the water in the bucket.  I was pretending it was that underwater boat in the book Momma read to me, Twenty Thousand Leaks Under the Sea.”  Page 198

Mr. Curtis has written an entertaining narrative, that reader’s fourth grade and up will enjoy.  His vernacular is of the times and brings laughter, tears, passion, and sadness to this enlightening story. BUD, NOT BUDDY, was a Bluebonnet Nominee, is a Newbery winner, a Coretta Scott King Honor book, and has received several other awards.

Park, Linda Sue.  2001.  A SINGLE SHARD.  New York:  Houghton Mifflin.  ISBN:  0395978270.

            A SINGLE SHARD is a Historical Fiction written by Linda Sue Park.  This book also received the Newbery Award in 2000. 

            Korean history is explained to the reader in a tender-fascinating way. The story takes place in a small village on the west coast of Korea during the late 12^th century.  The main character-Tree-Ear is an orphan and is named after the “mushroom that grew on tree trunks without benefit of parent seed.” His friend, Crane–man, is crippled and walks with a crutch. The two men live under a bridge and are very poor.  Crane-man taught young Tree-ear how to hunt for food in rubbish heaps. Tree-ear dreams of being a potter.  In the village of Ch’ulp’o Tree-ear watched the many potters in this important village.  He especially observed Min.  Time passed and Tree-ear became Min’s helper. He chopped wood for the kiln and would help anyway he could just to get closer to Min.  Tree-ear was learning how to work with the clay.  Min was well known in his village and was commissioned to do work for the Honorable Emissary.  Tree-ear became Min’s apprentice.  He traveled over the treacherous mountains to delivery Min’s work.  Tree-ear is robbed and left only with a single shard. Upon Tree-ears return to the village, he learns of Crane-mans death, the trust Min has given him, a new name and place to live.

            Linda Sue Park facts are current and accurate.  She has researched the Korean celadon potters of the Koryo era. The author’s notes describe the Korean history that explains how “every piece described in this book actually exists in a museum or private collection somewhere in the world.”  Page 149.  The Korean celadon has always been valued in Japan.  Park describes the color of the pottery by indicating that the “cause of the brown spots and impure glaze tint that ruined Min’s initial work for the royal emissary is now known to be oxidation.”  Page 150.

            The organization of the story is sequential and informative.  Tree-ear begins as a young man trying to survive every day living by rummaging through heaps of rubbish for food.  He dreams of becoming a famous potter like Min. His faithfulness and loyalty to Min make his visions come true.

            The colorful illustration on the cover depicts the Korean culture.  A young boy with traditional white pants, shirt, head band, straw pack on his back and a walking stick truly are attractive to the reader. 

            The writing style flows from page to page.  The relationship of Tree-ear and Crane-man are like father and son.  Tree-ear is the young protagonist that draws the reader into his world. Min mellows with age and Ajima, his wife always showed love to Tree-ear as a mother would to a son.

            Linda Sue Park has become known for bringing her culture to the reading table.  She writes with class, educational integrity and knowledge. To learn more about Korea, readers might want to go to the following links:

 http://www.lindasuepark.com/bio.html

http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/singleshard.html

The National Museum of Korea has the Goryeo Celadon Gallery on the First Floor:

http://www.museum.go.kr/eng/index.html