Sunday, February 15, 2015

PB 14:14 Day 2 ~ BARACK

Continuing the PB 14:14 Challenge, I will review BARACK and focus on one of the Top 10 Story Elements for Picture Books through the analysis format.


Title: BARACK
Author: Jonah Winter
Illustrator: A.G. Ford Type: Nonfiction Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books Publishing Year: 2010 Word Count: 1288-words Summary:This illustrated biography of Barack Obama focuses on his family origins and childhood. 
Picture Book Element: Beginning/Ending and Pacing

I love this illustrated biography about the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.

I love the story. Jonah Winter "hooked" me immediately.

BEGINNING: "Looking back, it's hard to believe how far he has come, the man whose name the world now knows - BARACK OBAMA. This is a journey that began in many places."

Now look at the ending. Is it satisfying? Did the author tie it in to the beginning? You be the judge. 

ENDING: "Here, right here, in this country with its history of slavery and racism, an African-American named Barack Obama rose to unimaginable heights because he refused to let other people tell him who he was, because again, once again, his journey was just beginning."




* The author spoke of his journey in the beginning. And summed it up in the end. Yes, this ending is definitely satisfying.  







I loved the PACING of this book. One of my favorite paragraphs which is a perfect example of pacing is: 
     "He arrived here during a dark time in American History. All across America, people were losing their jobs, losing their houses, losing their sense of hope. 
     Many people were tired of a war that had gone on too long. They were tired of fighting with their neighbors over politics. They were just tired."

I loved how the author used the power of three to drive his point home - "losing their jobs, losing their houses, losing their sense of hope." And "Many people were tired...They were tired...They were just tired." 

 What are you reading?

17 comments:

  1. Beautiful book Jackie. Certainly a great and satisfying sense if beginnings and endings. The art is luscious.

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    1. It is a great book. I love the new nonfiction books. They are fabulous.

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  2. Yes, the pacing is good here, Jackie. You get the sense of being weighed down. The people were tired and the beginning and ending do echo each other. Nice review. I am reading Lulu righ tnow - chat 1 for an early chpt. book. I jus tore the 1st chapter apart an d I am in love w/Hilary McKay's writing. She's British, I think.

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    1. That is a good book, Kathy. And yes, you do get the sense of being weighed down. I love that this book was not about politics. I enjoyed the neutrality of this. I spoke about his family and treating the world as if he was part of a big family. I enjoyed this book.

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  3. Love your choice for Day 2 of PB 14:14, Jackie. My book today (Love, Twelve Miles Long) also shows a strong beginning and ending...great minds think alike. :) ;) And I could have very easily added Pacing...because the book employs that very effectively also.
    Your post is fantastic!

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    1. I am familiar with LOVE TWELVE MILES LONG. The author was a Lee & Low New Voices Winner. The story is about young Frederick Douglas and his mother travelling twelve miles to spend time with him. What parents do for their children is amazing.

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  4. Jackie, Thanks for sharing BARACK. It's interesting to see how his story is told.

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  5. Love the illustrations you've shared here too! Great example of how to connect a beginning and an ending, for sure.

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    1. The illustrations are indeed amazing. I love A.G. Ford illustrations. Both books I reviewed it just happened to be he was the illustrator. I am a huge fan of his work.

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  6. Pacing ties in so completely with beginning/end. Thanks for sharing your insights and the book!

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    1. Yes, this book had many of the elements. I am huge on hooks, satisfying ending, and pacing.

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  7. Loved the paragraphs you chose to quote. They were very helpful to SEE the beg/end and pacing in the book. Awesome!

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    1. Thanks, Christie. This book is well written. And this author have written many nonfiction biography for children.

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  8. Why have I not heard of this book?!?!? Thank you for sharing it.

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    1. I do not know why you have not heard of this book. But I am happy to be the one who exposed it to you :) Happy Reading!

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  9. Sounds like a great example of the element beginnings/endings.
    Thanks for sharing it.

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