Module 15: The Adventures of Captain Underpants-The First Epic Novel

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Book Summary:
The first installment of the Captain Underpants series. George and Harold are elementary school friends who like to have fun and joke around at school. Principal Krupp dislikes the two because of their pranks, and he shows them a video with incriminating evidence. The two friends order a hypnotizing ring, and they soon hypnotize Mr. Krupp and convince him to become Captain Underpants for real. They also switch the video with a kid video of songs about purple dragons. Mr. Krupp becomes Captain Underpants and captures two bank robbers, and then foils the sinister plan of Dr. Diaper. George and Harold then pour water on his head to unhypnotize him; however, this only makes him snap back and forth between his new alter ego.

APA Reference of Book:
Pilkey, D. (1997). The adventures of Captain Underpants: The first epic novel. New York, NY: Scholastic. 

Impressions:
I enjoyed reading this book and seeing how the series began. The two characters of Harold and George are funny and likeable, but in a twisted kind of way. I can see how some parents may object to the series because of the bad examples they set with their pranks, but I feel that we need to look beyond this and accept these characters as having redeemable qualities. Good triumphs over evil in the end in spite of the faults of the two protagonists.

Professional Review:

Gr 2-4--Pilkey plays with words and pictures, providing great entertainment. The story is immediately engaging--two fourth-grade boys who write comic books and who love to pull pranks find themselves in big trouble. Mean Mr. Krupp, their principal, videotapes George and Harold setting up their stunts and threatens to expose them. The boys' luck changes when they send for a 3-D Hypno-Ring and hypnotize Krupp, turning him into Captain Underpants, their own superhero creation. Later, Pilkey includes several pages of flip-o-ramas that animate the action. The simple black-and-white illustrations on every page furnish comic-strip appeal. The cover features Captain Underpants resplendent in white briefs, on top of a tall building. This book will fly off the shelves.

Hopf, M. M. (1997, December 1). [Review of the book The aventures of Captain Underpants: The first epic novel, by Dav Pilkey]. School Library Journal, 43(12), 99. Retrieved from www.slj.com.

Library Use:
A lesson can be designed to introduce students to humorous stories with a discussion of differences of traditional superheroes with those of Captain Underpants.

Module 14: This is Just to Say: Poems of apology and forgiveness

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Book Summary:
A collection of poems aimed at elementary level students. The first half of the book includes poems of apology written from the perspective of a student. The second half of the book are the responses to the apologies written as poems.

APA Reference of Book:

Sidman, J., & Zagarenski, P. (2007). This is just to say: Poems of apology and forgiveness. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

Impressions:
I liked the concept of having poems of apology together with the responses. They are light hearted and enjoyable to read, and they make a good collection to introduce young children to poetry.

Professional Review:

Gr 4-7 --Mrs. Merz assigns her sixth-grade students to write poems of apology, and what emerges is a surprising array of emotions, poetic forms, and subjects from dead pets and biting hamsters to angry siblings and betrayal of trust. The children decide to create their own book of these poems, complete with an introduction and occasional notes by editor Anthony K. Fast-talking Thomas writes a humorous poem patterned after William Carlos Williams's "This Is Just to Say," apologizing to Mrs. Garcia in the office, for stealing the jelly donuts in the teachers' lounge: "Forgive me/they were delicious/so sweet/and so gloppy." Mrs. Garcia's response poem says, "Of course I forgive you./But I still have to call your mother." A more serious concern emerges in "Next Time," written by Jewel: "Please, please come back./Don't leave me spinning alone,/like a slow, sad tornado./I'm sorry, Daddy./Next time I'll be/perfect." In the response poem, Jewel describes her father's wrenching reply telling her that, "None of the stupid things/I have ever done/are even close to being your fault." Sidman's ear is keen, capturing many voices. Her skill as a poet accessible to young people is unmatched. Zagarenski's delicately outlined collage drawings and paintings are created on mixed backgrounds-notebook paper, paper bags, newspaper, graph paper, school supplies. This is an important book both for its creativity and for its wisdom.

Bock, L. (2007, May 1). [Review of the book This is just to say: Poems of apology and forgiveness, by Joyce Sidman]. School Library Journal, 53(5), 162. Retrieved from www.slj.com.

Library Use:
A poetry lesson could be done using this book to introduce young elementary students to poetry. Afterwards as an activity the students can write their own poem of apology and then have a discussion at the end of the lesson.