The Thief Lord

The Thief Lord

By Cornelia Funke

Cover illustration by Christian Birmingham

cover image retrieved from

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/113304.The_Thief_Lord

on September 16, 2012

Bibliography

Funke, Cornelia Caroline, and Oliver Latsch. The Thief Lord. [Frome, Somerset]: Chicken House, 2002.

ISBN-13: 9780545227704

Summary

Scipio, the title character who has dubbed himself The Thief Lord, uses his connections to provide a safe haven for runaways in the mystical city of Venice. Two of those runaways are brothers who are sought by their aunt, with the intention of adopting the youngest brother. Each of the runaways has an interest in staying hidden, which is complicated by detective Victor Getz, who has been retained by Aunt Esther to track down young Bo. An irresistible proposal to steal a treasured artifact places this motley gang in precarious situations, where they must use their wits to remain together, and free of meddlesome adults.

Critical Analysis

Oliver Latsch translates this story, originally written in German by Cornelia Funke, with fluidity and purpose. Set in Venice, Latsch holds on to many Italian words and phrases in translating the story. The authentic language adds depth for the reader, always grounding the story in its setting. The names of the characters are quite unique, most with an Italian flavor, even if some of them are not actually Italian names. The focal runaway brothers, Bo and Prosper, and their compadres Hornet, Riccio, and Mosca adequately relate the subculture of unwanted, runaway children. Italian locations, titles, and specialty vocabulary pepper the writing, building a rich connection to this foreign locale.

Scipio, the Thief Lord himself, comes from a vastly different world, one of privilege. Initially unaware of Scipio’s real life, the runaways trust him to be their provider. He leads the runaways to believe that the items he brings to them to be sold to Redbeard, a merchant of questionable scruples, are the spoils of his thievery. In fact, the booty is from his own opulent home. As Scipio’s dishonesty unravels, the contrast between the subcultures of wealth and poverty are revealed. In the end, all the children band together, ignoring their differences, to get themselves to a settled state of being.

This is tale of survival on many levels, cognizant of the culture in which it is set, yet universal in its appeal. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an adventure or who enjoys twists and turns in a story set in a foreign land. The Thief Lord delivers excitement, cultural authenticity, and a story of solid moral standards as a guiding factor in living, regardless of socioeconomic status.

Reviews

Elizabeth Bush (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, November 2002 (Vol. 56, No. 3))


Orphaned brothers Prosper and Bo have ditched their guardian aunt (who’s only willing to adopt the charming, younger Bo) and have fled to Venice, where they come under the dubious protection of a teen who carries off daring thefts by night and herds a small band of street gamins by day. This comparatively lightweight (in content, not ounces) romp has its moments, and the social joys of joining what promises to be a heavily hyped Reading Event may well carry the day.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, August 1, 2002 (Vol. 70, No. 15))

The magical city of Venice, with its moonlit waters, maze of canals, and magnificent palaces, is an excellent setting for the plot twists and turns in this fantasy/mystery/adventure, all rolled into one spellbinding story. A bestselling author in Germany, who has reached the US for the first time, Funke delights readers in the feelings of childhood, what it feels like to be innocent, afraid, curious, and safe; need friends and love; and want independence yet also to be cared for.

Claire Rosser (KLIATT Review, September 2002 (Vol. 36, No. 5))


This novel about runaways in Venice, Italy, has been a best seller in Germany and has won literary prizes there and in Austria and Switzerland. It isn't really a YA novel, but is instead a sometimes demanding children's book, filled with adventure and a bit of magic. It's demanding because it's rather long and filled with details about Venice, which may be hard for many middle school students. Still, I'm sure there will be students in 5th through 8th grade who will appreciate the European nature of the story. The vocabulary is somewhat demanding, with Italian words thrown in for atmosphere, but some YAs will certainly enjoy this challenge.

Connections

Social Studies:

·      Students will locate Venice on a map or globe. Learn more about this unique city by visiting the city’s webpage at http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina/1 . There students will view city maps, St. Mark’s Square, and images of gondoliers guiding their vaporettos through the narrow canals of the city. This site can be viewed in four languages (Italian, English, Romanian, and Ukrainian) for an interesting vocabulary comparison.

·      Students will create a map of a city of their own creation, with at least one landform that plays a big part of the city arrangement, such as the canals of Venice. Map must have important locations marked, include a map legend, and have a title (original name.)

Science:

·      Students will learn more about the greatest threat to modern Venice- it is sinking! Visit and discuss information at http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/04/the-sinking-city/

·      Students will predict what might happen if the ocean levels around Venice continue to rise. Students will brainstorm possible solutions for this dilemma.

·      Students will explore the gates around Venice, designed to control rising water, at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/venice/  Students will design a diagram that details how such a barrier system works.

Reading:

·      Students will read other books about or set in Venice. (see list of suggestions below) Students will write a paragraph summarizing each book they have read, and a persuasive paragraph convincing readers of which book was the best.

Olivia Goes to Venice by Ian Falconer

Zoe Sophia’s Scrapbook: an Adventure in Venice by Claudia Mauner and Elisa Smalley

Vendela in Venice by Christina Bjork

There’s a Dolphin in the Canal! by John Bemelmans Marciano

·      Students will create a graphic organizer that displays similarities and differences between Venice and their own city.

Writing:

·      Students will write a new chapter for The Thief Lord, detailing another adventure involving at least three of the characters from the book.

·      Students will write a letter to Aunt Esther, persuading her to adopt both Bo and Prosper.

Other Books by Cornelia Funke

Novels:

▪   Ghosthunters and the Incredibly Revolting Ghost (1993)

▪   When Santa Fell To Earth (1994)

▪   Ghosthunters and the Gruesome Invincible Lightning Ghost! (1994)

▪   Ghosthunters and the Totally Moldy Baroness! (1995)

▪   Dragon Rider (1997)

▪   Igraine the Brave (1998)

▪   Ghosthunters and the Muddy Monster of Doom! (2001)

▪   Inkheart (2003)

▪   Inkspell (2005)

▪   Inkdeath (2007)

▪   Reckless (2010)

Picture Books:

•   Pirate Girl (1993)

•   Princess Pigsty (1997)

•   Princess Knight, the (2001)

•   Wildest Brother, the (2004)

Series:

•   Inkheart Trilogy

•   Ghosthunters

Shoes From Grandpa

Shoes From Grandpa

By Mem Fox

Illustrated by Patricia Mullins

cover image retrieved from

http://www.memfox.com/shoes-from-grandpa.html

on September 16, 2012

 Bibliography

Fox, Mem, and Patricia Mullins. Shoes from Grandpa. New York: Orchard Books, 1990.

ISBN-13: 9780531070314

Summary

Jessie is a young girl with a common problem- she’s outgrown her clothes and is in need of new. Her Grandpa gets the ball rolling, offering to buy her some shoes. The entire family, gathered for a family cookout, gets into the spirit of things by suggesting what they will in turn provide her. Jessie thanks them all, but asks kindly for the one article of clothing that hasn’t been suggested, but she dearly wants.

Critical Analysis

Ms. Fox once again weaves a delightful tale that youngsters of all ages will enjoy. This story builds on each article of clothing that was offered previously, as a new item is suggested for Jessie. The story unfolds in clever rhyme, patterned after the famous writing style of The House That Jack Built.

Though Ms. Fox is a well-known Australian author, there are no textual clues that her story is set in her homeland. This is a story that children from any culture could believe was written about, and for, them. Language patterns are consistent with American English, not British English, which one might expect in a book set in Australia. The vivid, appealing illustrations of Ms. Mullins offer the only clue as to the culture from which this story comes. On the last page of the book, the final illustration includes tags cut off of the jeans Jessie longed for. One of the tags reads “all cotton- made in Australia.” Astute observers will notice this detail, but anyone not picking up on the clue will still enjoy the story.

Jessie is the only named character in this story, with other characters referred to by their relational name, i.e., dad, mom, cousin, etc. The practice of gathering family for a cookout is common in many cultures, though the Australians are known for it, since they celebrate Christmas during summer, often with a cookout. The foods illustrated on the grill appear to be meats common to many cultures.

The engaging rhymes and rhythm make this a book for everyone, regardless of culture or age.

Reviews

CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 1990)

An up-to-date cumulative variation on The House That Jack Built features Jessie and rings with lines such as "...And her mom said, / 'I'll buy you a skirt that won't show the dirt, / to go with the socks from the local shops, / to go with the shoes from Grandpa'..." The final, full-color collage shows high-spirited Jessie's preference for jeans as she dashes away on her skateboard!

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1990)


In a lively cumulative rhyme, the well-loved Australian author of Hattie and the Fox (1988) tells how Jessie's family all chip in with other garments after Grandpa gives her new shoes. Mullins' expansive collages are bright and bold, fine for group sharing; she achieves wonderful three-dimensional effects with her various, skillfully employed materials.

Connections

Writing:

• ·      Students will try their hand at creating a rhyming story. Working in small groups, one student will begin the story with a two-line rhyme. The story will be passed to the next group member, who will add the next part of the story with another two-line rhyme, and so on. Students will follow this structure until the group is satisfied with their story. As an extension, pages can be illustrated and bound, to create a rhyming storybook for the class library.
• ·      Each student will create an individual rhyme about the clothing he/she is wearing at the moment, patterned after the rhyming story in Shoes From Grandpa.

Reading:

·      Students will examine other texts patterned after The House That Jack Built, such as

All the World’s a Stage by Rebecca Piatt Davidson

The Chair Where Bear Sits by Lee Wardlaw

The House That Drac Built by Judy Sierra

The House That Jack Haunted by Pamela Conn Beall and Susan Hagen

That House That Jill Built by Phyllis Root

This is the Matzah by Abby Levine

·      Students will read other books by Mem Fox, paying attention to the relationships Ms. Fox establishes between her characters. Suggested titles are listed below.

Art:

·      Students will create an illustration of themselves all decked out in their favorite clothes. Use textured materials, such as wallpaper samples or fabric scraps, to give the illustration depth and interest.

·      Shoes From Grandpa is set at a family cookout. Students will illustrate an activity that brings their own family together. Write a caption or paragraph to explain the illustration and why that activity is important to/fun for the family.

Math:

• ·     Students will browse catalogs or clothing advertisements to determine prices for the items given to Jessie in this book. Add them all up to see how much Jessie’s family would have spent if they had bought all of the items in a big shopping spree.

 Science/Social Studies:

• ·      Students will locate Australia on a map or globe. Explore why Australia experiences opposite seasons to those in the United States.

Other Books by Mem Fox

The Little Dragon

Let’s Count Goats!

A Giraffe in the Bath (co-written with Olivia Rawson)

Hello Baby!

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes  


Where The Giant Sleeps  


A Particular Cow

Hunwick’s Egg 


Where Is The Green Sheep?

The Magic Hat  


Harriet, You’ll Drive Me Wild!

Sleepy Bears 


Whoever You Are 


Boo to a Goose 


Wombat Divine 


Tough Boris

Sophie

Shoes from Grandpa 


Feathers and Fools  


Night Noises 


With Love, at Christmas

Koala Lou 


Guess What? 


Goodnight Sleep Tight

A Bedtime Story  


The Straight Line Wonder

Sail Away: The Ballad of Skip and Nell  


Just Like That 


Hattie and the Fox  


Arabella: The Smallest Girl in the World

Zoo-Looking 


Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge 


Possum Magic 

An Elephant in the Garden

An Elephant in the Garden

By Michael Morpurgo

cover image retrieved from

 http://michaelmorpurgo.com/books/an-elephant-in-the-garden

on September 16, 2012

Bibliography

Morpurgo, Michael. An Elephant in the Garden. New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2011.

ISBN-13: 978-0312593698

Summary

The reminiscences of an elderly woman frame this charming tale of a very unexpected result of World War II, the bonding of a zoo elephant with the German family who attempts to safe her.

Young Karl accompanies his mother to her job in an elder care facility, where he strikes up a friendship with a reclusive resident. Elizabeth sees a striking resemblance between Karl and her younger brother during his childhood. Their common name warms her heart, and leads Elizabeth to recall her teenage days as Lizzie, who endured the terrors of the War, including her father being sent off to battle. Lizzie’s mother, a zookeeper, assumes responsibility for Marlene, an elephant from the zoo who will be put down if the city is attacked. The adventure of moving Marlene to safety when Dresden does come under attack, and the accompanying difficulties while seeking safety, is relayed in a touching recollection.

Critical Analysis

As this story opens in a present-day nursing home, where the young son of one of the nurses plays while waiting for his mother to get off work, it is a tale that could be played out in almost any nursing home around the world. Elderly Elizabeth spends her days reclusively, piping up from time to time about events she remembers from her younger days. Dismissed as someone loosing her memory, Elizabeth assures young Karl and his mother that though she “cannot remember much about yesterday, nor even what I had for breakfast this morning … I promise you I can remember just how it was when I was young.” This statement summarizes the mental state of many elderly worldwide, which is a great unifying factor to connect to the reader. As Elizabeth begins to relay her memories of how an elephant came to be in her garden, the text turns to a tale with international flavor.

Elizabeth (Lizzie in her youth) slips into her tale of her younger brother, whom she calls Karli, her mother, and the father they dearly love, who is a soldier in the German army, away fighting the Russians. Lizzie refers to the German names of her parents, whom she called Papi and Mutti, and sprinkles many other German terms into her tale. Small details, such as the food they ate or their terms for common items, add to the cultural markers. Names of the characters reflect German spellings, often ending in i for the final long e sound. A love for German actresses (Malene Dietrich), music (Bach), and paintings (the work of Rembrandt) are included as explanations into character’s softer sides.

This book is uncommon in that in tells the everyday story of a German family during World War II. Mistreatment of the Jews by Nazis is described briefly, to drive home that point that Lizzie dislikes injustice in any form. The family’s adoption of Marlene, the elephant who spends nights in the family garden as a precaution in case the city is attacked during the night, is an extension of their distaste for the injustice of war. A common practice during WWII was for zoos to euthanize potentially dangerous animals if the city was attacked, to prevent the large or carnivorous animals from escaping in terror and doing harm to innocent civilians. Mutti could not bear the thought of her beloved elephant, whom she had cared for since birth, being shot. Thus, she began the practice of bringing her home each evening to watch over her.

Several German terms are used throughout the book, lending authenticity to the story. When the family stumbles upon a downed Canadian Royal Air Force pilot during their escape from Dresden, cultural misconceptions about the foreigner are obvious. The family and the pilot form a tenuous bond, seeking to help one another survive the trek to safety. Peter, the pilot, is described as having an accent, which he certainly would have had to a German. Peter and the family learn more about one anther’s cultures as they explain little details about themselves.

As Elizabeth retells her story, the book switches fonts as she goes from present day to the past. This is a fine device to aid the reader in switching time periods. The story starts of rather slowly, but draws the reader in to a charming tale. Teeming with historical details, this personal story is an excellent study in the horrors of war and the determination of the strong to survive in spite of hardship. I recommend it for upper elementary or middle school readers, or any lovers of historical fiction. 

Reviews

Thom Barthelmess (Booklist, Oct. 1, 2011 (Vol. 108, No. 3))

Alternating narratives tell the story of a family’s remarkable survival of the Allied bombing of Dresden in 1945. The occasional interruptions to the story build suspense and add a layer of resonance to Morpurgo’s poignant and thoughtful exploration of the terrible impact of war on both sides of the fighting.

Deborah Cooper (VOYA, October 2011 (Vol. 34, No. 4))

An Elephant is the Garden tells the story of Lizzie, a fifteen-year-old girl in Dresden, Germany, during the second World War. The author adeptly balances Lizzie's experiences and emotions with the factual background. Librarians and educators alike will welcome this semi-factual historical title as a valuable teaching aide on the subject of war.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 2011 (Vol. 79, No. 16))


Lizzie, a frail, aged nursing-home resident, relates to her nurse and the nurse's son her poignant World War II tale set in Dresden, Germany. A moving but somewhat flawed tale of human—and animal—courage in the face of tragic suffering.

Connections

Writing:

·      Journal writing: Students will create a journal entry for another adventure involving Marlene that the family might have had during their exodus from Dresden.

·      Reader’s Response: Students will assume the role of Marlene, to retell one of the events detailed in the novel from her point of view.

Reading:

·      View video of the author discussing this book and reading excerpts at http://michaelmorpurgo.com/books/an-elephant-in-the-garden

·      A book quiz and two puzzles related to the book are available on the author’s website, http://michaelmorpurgo.com/activities/C3

·      This story is uncommon for literature set in the World War II time period, in that it tells the story of a family of German commoners and the effect of the War on their lives. Students will read another story set during WWII, which tells the story of a family affected by WWII from the viewpoint of someone on the side of the Allies or a Jewish family (see list of suggested books following.) Students will compare and contrast the stories told from opposing viewpoints.

Possible novel choices:

Lilly’s Crossing     by Patricia Reilly Giff

Number the Stars     by Lois Lowry

Stepping on the Cracks     by Mary Downing Hahn

The Art of Keeping Cool     by Janet Taylor Lisle

Students will create a tri-fold graphic organizer, detailing effects of the War from each novel on the outside panes, and common effects in the center frame.

Art:

·      Students will create a collage of pictures/objects from this story that play an important role in the telling of this story, i.e. an elephant, a farmhouse, a compass, an elderly woman, a circus, a WWII era plane, a soldier’s uniform, etc.

·      Students will create an elephant mosaic. The elephant can be constructed from materials associated with the story, such as fake snow, hay from the stable, flowers from a garden, musical notes associated with the children’s choir, etc.; or from any material the student associates with the characteristics of the elephant or of war.

·      Students will paint a landscape of the countryside Marlene and the family traversed as they sought safety and the American soldiers.

Social Studies:

·      Students will learn more about the aerial raids in the European theater of World War II by viewing clips from the History Channel, such as the London Blitz at http://www.history.com/videos/patton-and-the-liberation-of-europe#history-features-london-blitz , the Bombing of Hamburg at http://www.history.com/videos/patton-and-the-liberation-of-europe#bombing-hamburg , or aerial dogfights footage at

http://www.history.com/videos/patton-and-the-liberation-of-europe#aerial-gun-cams-film-dogfights

·      Students will gain a greater understanding of the effects of World War II on a US soldier by reading the Jones Family Letters, which trace the experiences of Joe Jones, a U.S. soldier in the WW II European war theater. Letters can be accessed through links at

http://www.bringinghistoryhome.org/assets/bringinghistoryhome/5th-grade/unit-2/5_WWII_LessonPlans.pdf

·      Students will construct a timeline of major events of WWII. The timeline will be an annotated, illustrated product with at least 10 events.

Other Books by Michael Morpurgo

▪   It Never Rained: Five Stories

▪   Living Poets (compiler with Clifford Simmons)

▪   Long Way Home

▪   Thatcher Jones

▪   The Story-Teller (compiler with Graham Barrett)

▪   Friend or Foe

▪   Do All You Dare

▪   What Shall We Do with It?

▪   All Around the Year (with Ted Hughes)

▪   Love at First Sight

▪   That's How

▪   The Day I Took the Bull By the Horn

▪   The Ghost-Fish

▪   The Marble Crusher and Other Stories

▪   The Nine Lives of Montezuma

▪   Miss Wirtle's Revenge

▪   The White Horse of Zennor: And Other Stories from below the Eagle's Nest

▪   War Horse

▪   Twist of Gold

▪   Little Foxes

▪   Why the Whales Came

▪   Words of Songs (libretto, music by Phyllis Tate)

▪   Tom's Sausage Lion

▪   Conker

▪   Jo-Jo, the Melon Monkey

▪   King of the Cloud Forests

▪   Mossop's Last Chance (with Shoo Rayner)

▪   My Friend Walter

▪   Albertine, Goose Queen (with Shoo Rayner)

▪   Mr. Nobody's Eyes

▪   Jigger's Day Off (with Shoo Rayner)

▪   Waiting for Anya

▪   And Pigs Might Fly! (with Shoo Rayner)

▪   Colly's Barn

▪   The Sandman and the Turtles

▪   Martians at Mudpuddle Farm (with Shoo Rayner)

▪   The King in the Forest

▪   The War of Jenkins' Ear

▪   Arthur, High King of Britain

▪   Snakes and Ladders

▪   The Dancing Bear

▪   Blodin the Beast

▪   Mum's the Word (with Shoo Rayner)

▪   Stories from Mudpuddle Farm (with Shoo Rayner)

▪   The Wreck of the Zanzibar

▪   Robin of Sherwood

▪   Sam's Duck

▪   The Butterfly Lion

▪   The Ghost of Grania O'Malley

▪   Farm Boy

▪   Cockadoodle-doo, Mr Sultana!

▪   Escape from Shangri-La

▪   Joan of Arc

▪   Red Eyes at Night

▪   Wartman

▪   Kensuke's Kingdom

▪   The Rainbow Bear

▪   Wombat Goes Walkabout

▪   Billy the Kid

▪   Black Queen

▪   Dear Olly

▪   From Hereabout Hill

▪   The Silver Swan

▪   Who's a Big Bully Then?

▪   More Muck and Magic

▪   Out of the Ashes

▪   Toro! Toro!

▪   Cool!

▪   Mr. Skip

▪   The Last Wolf

▪   The Sleeping Sword

▪   Gentle Giant

▪   Private Peaceful

▪   Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

▪   I Believe in Unicorns

▪   The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips

▪   Albatross

▪   It's a Dog's Life

▪   Alone on a Wide, Wide Sea

▪   Beowulf , illustrated by Michael Foreman

▪   Born to Run

▪   The Mozart Question

▪   Hansel and Gretel

▪   This Morning I Met a Whale

▪   Kaspar: Prince of Cats

▪   The Voices of Children

▪   The Birthday Book (editor, with Quentin Blake)

▪   Running Wild

▪   Mudpuddle Farm: Six Animal Adventures (with Shoo Rayner)

▪   The Kites Are Flying!