Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino. New York: Hyperion, 2008. ISBN: 9781423100386
Annotation: A retelling of Thoreau’s time at Walden in a simplified graphic novel, comic book style, using excerpts of his own words
Media: two-tone pen and ink drawings
Rating: 4Q/4P
Literary devices:
Onomatopoeia: The author uses onomatopoeia throughout as when Thoreau steps on the snow, “Crunch!” or the owl hoots, “Hoo hoo Hoo...”
Sophisticated language: There is sophistication in Thoreau’s words, sentence structure, and manner of expressing himself. This is in contrast to Porcellino’s simplistic drawings. “October answers to that period in the life of man when he is no longer dependent on his transient moods, when all his experience ripens into wisdom, but every root, branch, leaf of him glows with maturity...”
lss 31/7/09
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Thoreau, Henry David. (2008) Thoreau at Walden. Illustrated by John
Porcellino. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 1423100387 Dewey 741.5.
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Summary
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A graphic novel interpretation of “Walden” using the actual words as Thoreau describes his experiment in simple living.
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Media
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Minimalist line work and squared off panels suits the topic.
Nice combination of silence and poetic text.
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Literary
Devices
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Shows the impact of simple text.
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Curriculum Connection
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Use in grades 5 and up for social studies – community projects
Science – environment, ecology
Philosophy
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Rating
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5Q 5P
top 10***
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Theme
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Simplicity.
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Mary Smartt 8/2/09
Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino. New York, NY: Hyperion, 2008. ISBN 978-1-4231-0038-6
Annotation: Porcellino uses simple line drawings and excerpts of Thoreau’s writings at Walden Pond to focus on Thoreau’s main ideas concerning civil obedience, living in society, and the wonders of nature.
Media: Pen and ink.
Rating: 5Q/5P.
Curricular connections: History/Social Studies, English/Language Arts, Biographies/Autobiographies, Poetry, Literary Adaptation.
School level: High school.
NP 07/04/09
Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino (author/illustrator). New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-4231-0038-7
Using quotes from Thoreau’s own writings, this comic-book style adaptation chronicles the classic author’s thoughts and feelings during his time spent at Walden Pond over the course of four seasons.
Medium: pen and ink
Rating: 5Q/2P
Literary device utilized: onomatopoeia
Example: “KLANG” (to represent the sound of a jailhouse door slamming shut)
Curricular connection: English/literature, middle school level
submitted July 2009 by Josh Mitchell
Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino and D.B. Johnson ill. New York: Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN-10: 1423100387
ISBN-13: 978-1423100386
By using the words of Thoreau himself to tell his story of his retreat to Walden Pond, the pared down text focuses on Thoreau's most profound thoughts.
Pen and ink manual color added.
5Q/5P
D. Guhl Summer 2009
++++
Thoreau at Walden, by John Porcellino. New York: Hyperion, 2008.
Summary: A charming first person account of the life of Henry David Thoreau, based on the philosopher’s writings.
Rating: 5Q, 5P
ISBN: 1423100387
Medium: Pen/ink (black/white/brown)
Curricular Connections: Great for History, English, etc.
Age Group: 5rd - 8th Grades
E.K. 7/29/09
++++
Thoreau at Walden, by John Porcellino. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2008.
ISBN: 978-1423100386
Annotation: Excerpts from Thoreau’s journals, presented with beautifully simple illustrations by John Porcellino.
Illustrations: ink line drawings with ink wash
Curricular Use: 7th grade and up; English Language Arts
5Q/5P
DM 7/29/09
Thoreau at Walden Pond by John Porcellino. New York: Hyperion, 2008.
ISBN: 1423100387
Media: Pen and ink with color
Q5/P5
Distills the words and philosophy of Henry David Thoreau into one story of his stay at his self-built cabin; describes how his interactions with nature and society affected his ideas.
CURRICULUM CONNECTION: 9TH – 12TH grade for U.S. History, Art, and English classes.
FBoggs 07/09
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Lesson Plan Title:
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Thoreau’s Attention to Detail
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Grade Level:
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Seventh
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Subject:
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Art
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Topic/Theme addressed:
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Nature, observation, detail, practical research, and memory vs. actuality (as related to studying).
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Student Learning Outcomes:
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Practice research and studying skills, hone artistic skills, and implement natural world into artistic ideas.
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CA Academic Standards Addressed:
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5.3 Examine art, photography, and other two- and three-dimensional images, comparing how different visual representations of the same object lead to different interpretations of its meaning, and describe or illustrate the results.
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Required Materials:
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Sketch book, pencil, erasers, Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino
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Lead-In Activity:
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Read Thoreau at Walden to the class and explain lesson
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Step 1: Memory Trip
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Choose a natural object and sketch it from memory (i.e. tree, leaf, grass, plant, flower).
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Step 2: Field Trip
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Go outside and students will find similar object to sketch.
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Step 3: Compare
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Students compare and contrast their memory and actual sketches
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Step 4: Discuss
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Teacher leads discussion on differences, patterns in observation, importance of viewing and reviewing pertinent material.
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FBoggs 07/09
Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino from the writings of Henry David Thoreau. New York: Hyperion, 2008. ISBN 1-4231-0038-7.
Top 10
John Porcellino’s simple brown and black ink line drawings of nature provide the perfect backdrop to contemplate Thoreau’s less is more philosophy.
Media: Brown and Black Ink.
Q5/P4
6-12th
Curricular Connection: Level: 7-12th. Language Arts, Philosophy, Writing, Art.
Literary Devices: Sophisticated language is evident in the writings of Thoreau. The ideas more than the words are sophisticated.
D. Balestreri added to PB 7/24/09
Citation: Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino and John Porcellino, ill. New York: Hyperion Books, 2008.
ISBN: 978-1-4231-0038-6
Annotation: Porcellino uses Henry David Thoreau’s journal entries to illustrate Thoreau’s two years that he spent on Walden Pond.
Media: Black and white ink with brown done in a cartoon style in a graphic novel format
Personal Rating: 4Q/4P
Curricular Connections: This would be a good source for an English class. Students could read Thoreau’s journal and compare it to Porcellino’s book. They could also research Thoreau and learn more about his philosophy and political beliefs. D.B. Johnson provides an excellent introduction about Thoreau at the beginning of the book and Porcellino’s afterward is also useful. Porcellino gives very detailed panel discussions explaining what each section of the book means and how it relates to Thoreau’s journal. He also provides the quotation sources and gives a detailed bibliography. This book is well-researched and students would find it interesting to explore how Porcellino created this text. They could also read Henry Builds a Cabin by D.B. Johnson to learn more about Thoreau.
Grade Level or Age Range: 6th grade to High School
By: Joanne Maher July 24th, 2009
Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2008.
ISBN: 978-1-4231-0038-6. Subjects/Genre: Philosophy, Nature/Graphic Novel Grades: 8-10
Thoreau extolls on civil disobedience and living off the land, celebrated in simple pen drawings and a neutral pallet graphic novel format.
Curricular Connections: English teachers will rejoice at a refreshing option for instructing students on the teachings of Thoreau.
Q/P: 3/2: While Porcellino sought to emphasize the simplicity of Thoreau's message, he may have gone overboard in that area. Die-hard Thoreau fans will be rewarded to see the material brought to life for those who may not relate as closely to the message.
BVG, 7/22/09
Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino.New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2008.
ISBN: 1-4231-0038-7
Annotation: Writer Henry David Thoreau lived two years in an isolated cabin learning to live in harmony with nature by growing his own food, living alone, and reading and writing. This graphic novel tells the story of that time of his life in his words.
Media: Black and white ink
Rating: 5Q/5P
RAC 7.20.09
Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino, Henry David Thoreau, and D.B. Johnson. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2008.
ISBN: 978-1-42310-038-6
Annotation: Henry David Thoreau finished his education and disappeared to Walden Pond to ruminate on life and the nature of existence.
Age range: 5-8 grades
Media used by illustrator: two-toned line drawings
Personal Rating: 5Q/4P
Curriculum Usage: ideal in a junior high English class
ateater/07-20-09
Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino. NY: Hyperion, 2008. ISBN 978-1-4231-0038-6
Echoing Thoreau's message of simplicity, this graphic-format version is a pared-down version of the classic. Using matching simplified illustrations, this is a good match for introducing Thoreau to a new audience.
Illustrations: Pen and Ink
Themes: Henry David Thoreau, Walden Pond, Literature
5Q/5P
ggolden
7/18/09
Porcellino, J. (2008). Thoreau at Walden, New York: Hyperion.
ISBN: 9781423100386
Illustrated as simply and purposefully as Thoreau's stay at Walden, this distilled ode to Thoreau's insights is elegantly readable.
Media: Pen and Ink
Rating: 5Q/5P
Ages: Grades 5 and up
Subjects: Henry David Throreau, Transcendentalism, Social Norms/Social Deviance
Curricular Connections: History/Language Arts/Philosophy
km 7/13/09
TOP TEN Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino. New York: Hyperion, 2008.
ISBN: 9781423100386
Annotation: The story about Henry David Thoreau when he was living at Walden Pond. The two years of his life and his philosophy are explained in this biography. This book will make hesitant readers want to learn more about Walden.
Media: pen and ink color
Rating: 5Q/5P
Subject: English, Biography. Grade 9-12
Armando Rivera 7-05-09
Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino. New York: Hyperion, 2008. 1-4232-0038-7
Annotation: This graphic novel, narrated in Thoreau's own words, weaves together elements from "Walden," "Civil disobedience," "Walking," and Thoreau's journals to tell the story of his two years in the woods and of the night he spent in jail for refusing to pay a poll tax.
Media: soft pencil drawings
Rating: 5Q/4P TOP TEN
Curriculum Connection: Upper elementary and Middle School; History: A part of American's life within the era of the Civil War, given from the perspective of a civilian's experience
lvanburen/06-09
Citation: Thoreau at Walden by Henry David Thoreau and John Porcellino, ill. New York: Hyperion, 2008.
ISBN: 1423100387
Annotation: Chronological account of Henry David Thoreau’s transcendentalist philosophy and his experience of a solitary life in Walden Pond away from civilization and enveloped by the natural world.
Media: White and Black Ink.
Curricular Connections: 6th to 9th grade English/ Language Arts. Subjects- Henry David Thoreau, Transcendentalism, Simplicity, Emerson, Solitude
Rating: 5Q/4P
Top Ten Favorite
S.F 06/21/09
TOP TEN
Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2008.
ISBN-13: 97814231000386
ISBN-10: 14231000387
Illustrator: John Porcellino
Media: Pen and Ink/Color
4Q/4P
Curricular connection: Biographical Studies. Studying the lives of others gives the reader an inroad to the eras and specific worldviews of numerous subjects. Students will have the opportunity to learn from the individual’s personal experience and gain insight to their own life’s meaning.
Grade level: 5th grade
Annotation: Thoreau at Walden is the graphic novel, which tells the story of Henry David Thoreau: philosopher, existentialist and writer. The graphic novel describes the events that lead up to Thoreau writing Walden and Civil Disobedience.
KRF 6/22/09
Thoreau At Walden by John Porcellino, ill. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2008.
This book tells the story of writer Henry David Thoreau, who lived two years in an isolated cabin surrounded by nature and living in harmony with it. His "experiment in living" included reading, writing, and growing his own food.
- ISBN 1423100387 (hardcover)
- Media: White and black ink
- Rating: 5Q/4P
- Literary Device: onomatopoeia - when Thoreau is put in jail for not paying his poll tax, a single frame displays the word "KLANG-" as the jail door slams shut.
- Curricular Connections: Grades 5-7, Biography, History/Social Studies, Language Arts, Poetry
DPower 6/25/09
TOP TEN Thoreau at Walden, by John Porcellino and Henry David Thoreau. Hyperion Books CH, 2008.
Summary: Thoreau's words from Walden and Civil Disobedience are paired with simple softly-colored line drawings.
Analysis: I was put off by the simplicity of the illustrations when I first flipped through this book, but they're actually a perfect fit. Combined with a children's plot, they'd feel childlike, but as it is, they complement the simplicity and serenity of Walden beautifully. Unlike some wordless comics (The Arrival for example) where the images carry the action along, these are for the most part still images. They invite the reader to sit with the beauty of nature or the simple chores of Thoreau's little farm. It almost feels like what Thoreau would have done if he'd illustrated Walden, except that he was a trained surveyor, and thus would more likely have made painstakingly accurate representations of every beloved bean row. But it still has that sketchbook feel of someone jotting down exactly as much as is necessary to get across the feeling or situation being described. There is an excellent introduction and appendix giving more detail on Thoreau's life and the quotes selected.
Illustrations: Tan, green, and brown cartoon line drawings.
Rating: 5Q/4P (5P in Concord)
Curricular connections: It would be great for a high school class that was reading Walden or Civil Disobedience in its entirety, either as an introduction or explicitly to discuss the process of translating a work or philosophy into different media. It would also be good for an elementary or middle school class just starting to learn about Thoreau (in this area, perhaps in conjunction with a field trip to Walden Pond).
-- SLH
Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino from the writings of Henry David Thoreau. New York: Hyperion, 2008. ISBN-10: 1423100387
John Porcellino uses actual text from Thoreau's Walden in his comic adaptation. His minimalistic approach suits the text well and draws the reader into Walden's search for meaning through simple living.
- Media: Pen and Ink
- Rating: 5Q/4P
- Curricular Connections: Grades 6-12, Language Arts
- Special Category: Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino
CHA 07/31/09
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