Max Found Two Sticks

Author/Illustrator: Brian Pinkney

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

ISBN: 0-689-81593-x

Imagine that… a boy expressing himself through music.  This is an exciting story of a young boy who finds himself in a bit of a funk and just doesn’t feel like talking.  The mysterious-seeming reason for his mood was irrelevant because the wind was about to blow him a “pick-me-up”, literally.  A sudden gust of Brooklyn wind came, and knocked down two sticks from a nearby tree.  Max improvised these tools of nature by using them to start the rhythm of his day.  Acquiring objects throughout the day from friends and family, Max expressed himself through the beat of his growing drum set.  Author and Illustrator Brian Pinkney portrayed every page with a descriptive beat, which was so clear, that as I read I could almost hear each drum rhythm.  The sound of the drums was still in my head long after I put the book down… which inspired me to pick the book up again.

The story takes place in Brooklyn, New York.  As New Yorkers, we know that our city is one of the most culturally diverse - if not the most diverse – city in the world.  The most interesting way we get to learn about cultures is through their musical expression.  Max banging on a variety of objects in the story reminded me of street performers all over the city.  On any given day - in the subways, hotspots, and downtowns of the five boroughs, there is a great chance you’ll experience live musical culture - whether it’s the Scottish bagpiper in the subway, the Latin jazz band on a corner in Times Square, or the Caribbean calypso drummer in downtown Brooklyn.  New York is the heart of these amazing musical expressions.  Max fits into the city scene perfectly.  There’s no doubt in my mind that Pinkney had these performers in mind when he created this story.

While growing up, the author looked on as his father, illustrator Jerry Pinkney, created his art.  Using materials and supplies his father handed down to him, Brian started his own projects based on what he learned from simply observing his father in action.  Brian later pursued his love of art and obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree.  Brian Pinkney uses a unique style of art known as “scratchboard”.  Scratchboard art is created using a blade instead of a paintbrush.  With the blade, the artist cuts into a piece of clay.  This results in a black and white sketch, which can then be colored with oil paints.  Pinkney finds scratching very rhythmical, and the sound it makes aides him in creating his masterpieces.  Brian Pinkney has received a Caldecott Award for his artwork as well as a Coretta Scott King Award.  Most of his work is in African American culture but he has collaborated with other authors to do books celebrating various other cultures.  Many of his recent books were done with his wife, children’s book author, Andrea Davis Pinkney.  Max Found Two Sticks is Pinkney’s first self-illustrated book, which is inspired by his love for the drums and set in the town in which he and his family reside.  The page that stands out to me the most is the one in which Max’s father is seen conducting the train.  In the background is New York City with the Twin Towers standing tall in the skyline.

I particularly enjoyed the way Max expressed himself and his mood through music and rhythm. I remember the powerful role music played in my high school years. I found being a teenager challenging, but when I came home from school I found solace in my guitar, which I would play for hours at a time. The importance and value of teaching children self-expression is priceless. This has now become one of my new favorite books. 


* Please see "scratchboard" video below.

David Goes To School.

Author/Illustrator: David Shannon

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

ISBN: 978-0-545-29251-1

Imagine that... an elementary school student is having a tough time staying out of trouble in class.  We all know the list of rules that are expected to be followed in the classroom; not to mention how exhausting it can be to follow every single one!  In the book David Goes to School, David reminds us just how much easier it is to pass time when you have a little fun.  Unfortunately for David, this must be done at the expense of constant reminders to settle down and ultimately... detention.


Throughout his school day, David finds himself being admonished for his tardiness, his inability to be patient, and a handful of other childish acts.  David appears to be nothing more than a distraction for the rest of the class.  At the end of the day the teacher still gives David a pat on the head and rewards him with a star- a positive reinforcement that, as a teacher, I know well.  Simply because a child is a bit misbehaved does not mean they are not trying.


Before reading this book, the illustration on the cover implied mischief to me and instantly reminded me of myself in elementary school.  While reading the story beyond the cover, each page continued to be a flashback to my days in P.S.45.


I would not describe myself as being a bad kid, but my name was frequently on the “bad” list along with the other regulars.  I rarely made it to the “good” list, with it's set of regulars. Each day one of the “good” children was chosen to be the monitor and write the list.  I especially remember this clearly from the fourth grade where my teacher, Mrs. Friedman, eventually assigned me a seat that was off to the side, isolated from the rest of the class.


I remember my teachers constantly telling me to pay attention; many reports of parent teacher conferences were about my talking and daydreaming in class.  It seems like David and I have many things in common.  This is one of the numerous reasons why I enjoy this book and love to share it with my students.


From cover to cover there is no wonder why author/ illustrator David Shannon received a Caldecott Honor.  Each page is a timeless portrait of any classroom, on any day, in any school in America. In many of the pages I can see myself in David’s place being politely scolded for my excited behavior. With seasonal decorations, a globe, and a poster board of the alphabet, it is also a tiring reminder of how much effort we teachers put into the decorating of our own classrooms.