Thylias Moss

I really enjoyed reading this book! I think the illustrations show events similar to things children actually do. Page 18 shows her standing up as tall as she can on top of a slide, with the text, "I want to be tall but not so tall that nothing is above me". I also really enjoy the picture that spreads from page 7 to 8.
The language as well as some figurative language used is so cute and appropriate for the targeted age. The language invites audiences to think about what THEY want to do. I also like how on pages 11-12 it says, "At sunset I was a firefighter and I squirted water at the sun until it turned into the moon..." I really liked this quote. This is just one example of *many* that make the language in this story so great and imaginative for it's audience. The story provides hope and reinforces the big idea of exploring the world and chasing the things you love. Being given the question, "What do you want to do?" should NEVER limit you, it should challenge you! I think that is the main idea the author is trying to get across.… (más)

Summary:It is about an African American girl who is asked what she wants to be when she grows up. Instead of the normal reaction of a lawyer or doctor she says she wants to be the hops and dreams for every other little girl like her. The way she explains what is she wants to be is in such a way that children of many ages would be able to understand and it takes away the racial side of the book.

Personal Reaction. I LOVED this book and will make it a part of my personal library. She is not only wanting to be something she is wanting to make a difference and that is what I love.

Classroom Extensions: This would be a great book to read during black history month and talk to my students about how anyone no matter of race can make a difference.
I would also like my kids to write in their journals what they would like to be when they grow up. Kids at different ages start to make life changes and depending on the age group I would be teaching I would love to read what they would like to do with their futures.… (más)

I've got very mixed feelings about this one, as you might be able to tell from the fact that I finally ended up tagging it as both poetry and fiction. First, regarding form: while there are some lovely turns of phrase here (which can, of course, occur in prose as easily as in verse), I can't say that I'd rate this highly as poetry goes. In 99 percent of the "verse", the line breaks seem just short of arbitrary--in general, I almost feel as if this was the idea for a novel, but either because Moss wanted to write poetry instead or didn't feel like fleshing out a novel, it became "a narrative in verse". As such, as poetry, I wouldn't recommend it. The story, unlike the poetry, has enough drive to be of interest, however.

While the characters aren't always believable, they are interesting, and there are ideas here that may well be worth exploring for readers interested in neo-slave narratives. Like many slave narratives, literacy & language play heavily here, but in a fresh enough fashion that the narrative's plot and trajectory might well be of interest. And, if you're interested in contemporary looks at slavery, but not in poetry, don't let the form drive you away--honestly, this is more like prose than poetry in all but appearance and depth of character.… (más)