A Modern Day Heroine ... from 1899

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

by Jacqueline Kelly

Calpurnia Tate came to me by way of a great friend who managed to get hold of an advance copy at an ALA conference earlier in 2009. By the time I got to it, there was buzz building about it in the talk about this year’s award winners, and rightfully so.

Summary

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is the story of a young girl living in west Texas in 1899. She is the only girl amongst several brothers, and unlike most girls of the time, she is more interested in science than sewing. Calpurnia’s interests in science and exploring are encouraged by her grandfather, a quiet, somewhat intimidating man who built the family pecan business and now spends his days tinkering in his lab and collecting specimens for observation.

Upon entering his personal library and getting glimpse of the books he reads and specimens he studies, Calpurnia is quickly enamored with science and making observations about the plant and animal life taking place around her. While her brothers consider their grandfather a somewhat unapproachable man, Calpurnia quickly becomes fast friends with the family patriarch, assisting him, asking questions, and learning. It is only when Calpurnia’s mother begins to take notice of her lack of interest in more feminine activities such as sewing and playing the piano, that Calpurnia begins to realize that science isn’t what she is “supposed” to do.

Worth Staying Up Past Bedtime?

Like I said in my introduction, there’s good reason this book has been getting some buzz. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate manages the great feat of taking young readers to an early time, yet never feels slow or dull. It also highlights the challenges young women of Calpurnia’s time were up against - those with ambitions toward higher education or careers were not always well-received or supported. Calpurnia is a great heroine for young girls, and I loved reading about her scientific ambitions and discoveries.

Reviews

“Interwoven with the scientific theme are threads of daily life in a large family—the bonds with siblings, the conversations overheard, the unspoken understandings and misunderstandings—all told with wry humor and a sharp eye for details that bring the characters and the setting to life.” - Booklist

“The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate” is the most delightful historical novel for tweens in many, many years. …Callie’s struggles to find a place in the world where she’ll be encouraged in the gawky joys of intellectual curiosity are fresh, funny, and poignant today.”— The New Yorker, “Book Bench” section

“Kelly, without anachronism, has created a memorable, warm, spirited young woman who’s refreshingly ahead of her time.”—The Horn Book Review

Get 'Em While They're Hot

Bagels from Benny

by Aubrey Davis

I was straightening books in children’s non-fiction the other day (because I volunteer at the library, not because I’m a compulsive person who just straightens books, although I have been known to do so on occasion ...) and came across a book called Bagels from Benny. I was intrigued for two reasons: 1. The cover illustration was a giant bagel with a beam of light emanating through the center, beaming on to a young boy; and 2. I knew - just knew - it was a Jewish story. It wasn’t until I picked the book up and started reading that I realized this was the first religious-themed children’s book I have read since I started my program.

Summary

Benny is a young boy who’s grandfather owns a bagel shop. Everyday, Benny visits the shop and helps out, always noticing how complimentary the customers are about his grandfather’s bagels. “So crusty outside” cries one. “So soft inside!” says another. One day, as a woman thanks his grandfather, Benny overhears his reply: “Why thank me?” Benny is confused. Didn’t his grandpa make the bagels, meaning he deserves the thanks? When he asks about this, Benny’s grandfather explains the chain involved in making the bagels: flour that was made from wheat, that was made from the earth, which was made by God. Benny understands the chain, and thanks God for the delicious bagels.

But he wonders if God can hear him. So he decides that the best thing to do is share the bagels with God, because God should certainly have the chance to enjoy the result of all that hard work. What follows is Benny’s sweet attempts to share the bagels with God, and a realization that he has helped someone else in the process.

Worth Staying Up Past Bedtime?

I instantly fell in love with this story and would definitely stay up to read it again. A little research showed me that the story is actually based on an ancient Jewish folk tale from Spain, and I love the message it conveys. The illustrations were lovely and descriptive, and I found myself thinking fondly of the best bagels I’ve eaten as I looked at the plump, steaming ones in the pictures.

Reviews
“Even young readers will have no trouble appreciating either wisdom that Grandpa offers, or the close relationship between him and his devout grandson.” - Kirkus Reviews

“In creating a child protagonist and introducing an intergenerational element, Davis increases the folktale’s accessibility to young readers, and his fluid prose, too, is welcoming.” - Publisher’s Weekly

“A valuable addition to Judaic and public children’s collections.” - Jewish Book World

Transitions

Hello again, dear readers ... whoever you are ...

The spring semester has begun, and with it, a new batch of classes for me to tackle. While I no longer have to read numerous children’s books each week, I’m still reading them (of COURSE, I’m still reading them!). I’ve decided to keep this blog active as well, because I like sharing my thoughts on these books, and having a record of what I’ve read. To this point, all entries/reviews on this blog were for books I read for my SLIS 5420 course at UNT, which I completed in December 2009. From here, the format will change slightly, though I’ll still provide a summary and my own thoughts on each book I read.

Enjoy!