Novel in Verse: Serafina's Promise

Serfina's Promise
by Ann E. Burg
Scholastic Press
2013
304 pages

Available October 2013

(image from author's website)

Poignant, beautiful, and precious, Serafina's Promise tells the story of extreme poverty and hardship through the eyes of eleven-year-old Serafina. Serafina longs to play games and run around with her friends but her family needs her to haul water several times a day. Her Manman and Gogo depend on her. There is no one else to do all the chores. Papa works in Port-au-Prince, miles from their home.

Serafina dreams of going to school to learn how to write and read. She wants to become a doctor and save sick babies, like her little brother who died. She knows she has to convince her parents that she must go to school. There is no money for school uniforms or pencils, but Serafina decides that she will work for the money somehow.

A flood destroys their village and their home. They have lost everything but they still have each other. Serafina's dream is put on hold until the family clears land and rebuilds. A series of tragedies does little to hinder this young girl's spirit, and Serafina begins to realize her dream.

Written in verse (similar to Out of the Dust by Hesse), Serafina's Promise is an easy read for reluctant readers and sure to please those readers who love poetry. Young readers will gain insight into a country they may never have known about--Haiti--with its poverty, hunger, and tragedy. Ann E. Burk is donating a portion of her royalties to Haitian People's Support Project and Pure Water for the World.

Highly, highly recommended for middle grades 4-up. Add this to any collection of free verse and poetry.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received the arc from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)

Young Readers Pick: The Highway Rat

The Highway Rat
by Julia Donaldson
Illustrations by Axel Sheffler
Arthur A. Levine Books
2013
32 pages

"The Highwayman" (1906) --a rhyming and rhythmic narrative poem of love and revenge   inspired this rhyming children's story The Highway Rat for the much younger set. A mean but comic rat rides his horse through the countryside terrifying country creatures.

"His teeth were sharp and yellow/his manners were rough and rude/and the Highway Rat went riding/riding--riding/Riding along the highway/and stealing the travelers' food." He steals  clover from the rabbit, nuts from a squirrel, a leaf from some ants, flies from a spider, milk from the cat, hay from a horse and the creatures get thinner and thinner. They are terrified of the evil thief until....

Finally, the Highway Rat encounters a clever duck. The duck tricks the Highway Rat into a wild goose chase. She promises that her sister--who lives in a faraway cave--has goodies galore. The Rat is tricked into believing the sister is answering the duck when the duck yells into the cave. She yells, "Do you have cakes and chocolates?" and the rat hears the sister answering (it's really the echo), "Chocolates! Chocolates! Chocolates..." The silly rat enters the cave and the resourceful duck escapes on the rat's horse. The duck shares the bounty from the saddlebags with all the country creatures while  the rat wanders blindly through the cave until he ends up on the other side of the mountain. He gives up his life of crime to work in a bakery--at least he'll get to eat sweet treats there!

The rhyming story will capture young readers. The rat who starts out a bit menacing is comic later. The duck is the true hero of the story and kids will like the clever trick she pulls. Illustrations of all the animals are spot on for young readers. The two page spread of the animals celebrating captures their joy as they dance and eat goodies  from the saddlebags. The menacing rat at the beginning is a meek mouse as he sweeps the floors in the cake shop at the end.

Highly, highly recommended ages 2-up. This book could by paired in any  classroom where "The Highwayman" is read and used when teaching rhyme and rhythm to any grade level.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received the F & G from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)