Hornbooks and Inkwells by Verla Kay

Hornbooks and Inkwells Reviews

• 
  Karen

  The art and the history are interesting, but the execution, rhymes that depend on the afterword for some explanation (the hook for the outhouse door for instance), is clumsy.
• 
  Wanda

  A delightful book completely written in trochaic tetrameter. Although the rhythm is as simple as they come and the rhymes themselves are true and simple, this book still paints an excellent picture of what an old one room school house was like. The illustrations are marvelous.
  Really liked this little book,
  Hope you'll want to take a look.
• 
  Mama Reads

  When I leafed through this after requesting it from the library, I was nearly certain it would fall short in the eyes of my history-loving 5 and 6 year olds. To my surprise, they both liked it but the younger daughter loved it. With additional reads, the kids picked up on subtleties in the illustrations. Offline conversation is required to make this book come alive.
• 
  Juan Figueroa

  This book will help demonstrate to the students what school was like 200 years ago. A parent or teacher can use this book for a comparison and contrast to help students see the differences in how school has evolved. I would recommend this book to early elementary students.
• 
  Rebecca Caufman

  Good book to read if you are studying colonial times and you would like to show students what school was like back then.
• 
  Dan Blackley

  Kay writes with a rhyming style all her own.
  This one is about schools.
• 
  Janet

  This is an incredible look at life and happenings in a colonial one room school, its materials, and rituals. My only question is there are a number of girls in the illustrations, but would that many girls have been attending school at that time and especially in a school building. Loved the fact the author listed a time period reference that she consulted called, Christopher Dock Colonial Schoolmaster—The Biography and Writings of Christopher Dock by Gerald C. Studer. Dock was a schoolmaster in eastern Pennsylvania.
• 
  Katie Fitzgerald

  Hornbooks and Inkwells is a picture book poem that tells of the experiences of two brothers, Peter and John Paul, in an eighteenth century one room schoolhouse. The book is written in a style author Verla Kay has dubbed "cryptic rhyme." According to her website:
  
  She calls it by this name because she writes her stories in short, clipped, descriptive verses that paint vivid, concise pictures using almost no full sentences. Much is left up to the imagination of the reader, who has to "fill in the gaps." Hence the term, cryptic rhyme -- verses with hidden meanings.
  
  I have to agree, after reading the book, that cryptic is definitely the proper descriptor for Kay's writing. While some moments were truly evocative and interesting, I got lost in most of the text, trying to find a verb to hang onto. without the illustrations to guide me along, it would have been nearly impossible for me to keep track of what was happening from one stanza of the poem to the next. Sometimes I really liked having just hints of emotions and atmosphere, provided by few words. The first two pages drew me right into the setting:
  
  Squirrels scamper,
  Acorns, munch.
  Brothers skipping,
  Gold leaves, CRUNCH!
  
  One-room schoolhouse,
  Ringing bell.
  Chimney sparking,
  smoky smell.
  
  That is less than 20 words but it paints a complete picture of the time period, the time of day, and the time of year.
  
  Later on, though, the cryptic nature of the writing becomes an obstacle, rather than an artistic tool.
  
  Mother, hugging:
  "You'll succeed."
  John Paul labors,
  Bible, read!
  
  I understand the scene because the illustration accompanying the words spells it out for me, but the last line of that page in particular, sounds like it was written because it fit the "cryptic rhyme" formula, not because it was the best way to show John Paul is learning to read using the Bible.
  
  Another moment that didn't really work for me was:
  
  John Paul learns
  Geography.
  Peter winning
  Spelling bee!
  
  The change in tense doesn't make sense to me. Why wouldn't it be "Peter wins / a spelling bee?"
  
  There are some great historical facts in this book, that are explained in the author's note. I especially liked learning about the bathroom hook, that was used like a hall pass, and allowed only one student at a time out of the room. Unfortunately, had I skipped the author's note, I wouldn't have understood any of that, because it gets lost in the spare language of the rhymes.
  
  The illustrations, done by S.D. Schindler, using gouache and watercolor on elephant hide paper, served wonderfully to depict the changing weather, and the objects, clothing, and teaching methods of the time period. I did find myself wishing for a bit more action and expression among the students who appear on so many pages of the story, but the detail missing from them was made up in the scenery. I especially liked the small details of the furniture in the home and the classroom, and the leaves on the fall trees.
  
  Though I think this book has wonderful factual content, overall I was somewhat disappointed in the presentation. "Cryptic rhyme" is a neat idea, but it doesn't really work me, and I think it makes it difficult to grasp new concepts, such as the history lesson embedded in this book. Still, though, Hornbooks and Inkwells would be a wonderful introduction to a classroom unit on eighteenth century America, or even a great read-aloud for the first day of school.
• 
  Valerie

  I read this book for the ATY 2019 Reading Challenge Week 12: books about reading/books or an author/writer.
  
  This book was inspired by a rare book written about Christopher Dock, who was a Colonial Schoolmaster. I could have read it for its open verse poetry, too. The poetry and the illustrations tell the reader so much about what school was like in the mid-1700s. It is a fun, lively book and a quick read. The author may even have discovered the origin of "playing hooky."
• 
  Tasha

  Head to school with brothers Peter and John Paul in this picture book that shows school days in the 18th century. The one-room school has hard benches where the children learn math, history and their alphabet. Punishments for misbehaving are being struck with the rod or wearing neck yokes, as both Peter and John Paul find out. As winter comes, there is skating on the pond and hauling wood for the schoolroom fire. With spring, the children are learning more and more, but leave school with the same bursts of energy they started with.
  
  According to the Author’s Note, this book is based on Christopher Docks’ mid-1700s school. He not only taught the normal courses, but included morals, safety, health, courtesy and social attitudes. The book is written in rhyming verse that reads easily. The verse captures the activities of the days at school.
  
  Schindler’s illustrations are detailed and really point out the differences between schools today and in the 18th century. The illustrations have natural colors that offer a feel of life in the past.
  
  A wonderful marriage of picture book and historical content, this book will be appreciated by children studying history as well as the history of studying. Children returning to school this fall will also appreciate that they go to modern schools. Appropriate for ages 6-9.
  
• 
  Angela

  It's amazing how far education has come, but even how incredible the first schoolrooms were! After visiting our state's historical society this past summer, my son has really enjoyed pointing out various things when he sees glimpses of the past. He actually selected this book from the library because, "It's just like that one room school we saw!"
  This book is written in a rhyming verse and details an eighteenth century, one-room schoolhouse. There is good historical accuracy and explanation of what it might have been like to attend and teach in one of these types of schools. There is a subtext about two brothers who misbehave and their punishment--I found that awkward. The illustrations are the best part of this book, actually.
  In today's classroom, I could see using this book to practice writing on a subject about which the students are quite familiar--their own classrooms. It would be fun to try to put it into this same rhyming format.
• 
  Becky B

  A look inside a Colonial one room schoolhouse with spare, rhyming text that still manages to convey all the unique attributes of school during this time period.
  
  Very rarely a few of the characters speak in this book, and they have horrible backwoods vernacular accents that didn't seem true to the setting, like "cain't" and "ken." That part rubbed me wrong. It sounded too old West, which is the wrong setting in time and location. The rest of the history stuff is fine, and gives a quick peek into old classroom life. I also liked the rhyming spare text structure. If only the vernacular were different.
• 
  Dolly

  This is an entertaining story depciting life throughout the year in a colonial classroom. The rhyming narrative is rhythmic and fun to read aloud, although children might be confused by some of the dialect. The illustrations are very good and do a nice job of showing life for schoolchildren at that time in history.
  
  I liked the author's note at the end of the book that explains a bit more about Christopher Dock's teaching methods, which were considered unusual at the time. I discovered this book in the Jamestown Settlement Museum gift shop while shopping for souvenirs.
• 
  Peggy Archer

  Another winner from Verla Kay, Hornbooks and Inkwells shows school days in a one-room schoolhouse in the 1700's. Sprinkled with humor, typical sibling spats, and good times with friends and family, the reader won't even realize that they're learning. The warm and detailed illustrations are the perfect compliment to Verla's text.
• 
  Rina Lopez

  The story show time from mid 1700, and this story show children how school was before. The illustration of the book was colorful, also the lines, forms and shapes show history. The book has a rhyme sequence that transport the reading to the time. The setting in the pictures help the reader to get a clear image of how the life was in mid 1700. This book is rage to preschooler to 3rd grade.
• 
  Sandie

  Adorable! I would use this book in my classroom as an introduction to colonial America. Perhaps I'd even have them do a compare/contrast activity having my students compare the school system now to how it was in the 1700s. Very cute picture book. I loved it!
• 
  The Brothers

  A charming poem of two brothers in the 18th century attending a one-room school house. Each of the brothers have their own strengths and weaknesses, and it's nice to see each blossom as they study and learn.
  
  Really fun and engaging illustrations.
• 
  Edward Sullivan

  Going to school in the mid-18th century.
• 
  Jennifer Rummel

  Great look at a year in a one room schoolhouse. Old fashion pictures make the book come alive!
• 
  Shelli

  Based on a true story of a blab school in the 1500's. Great way to chat with your children or students about how different schools where then vs. now.
• 
  Shelley

  1/2 star for the interesting back matter.
• 
  Teri

  book in verse about school in a one room school house
• 
  Erin

  Author's note made the book even more interesting. Author got the idea from the writings of an 18th century school teacher (his book found at the Boston Public Library!)
• 
  Magila

  3.5
  
  Interesting storytelling scheme.
• 
  Holly E Bacon

  This look has great pictures, but I did not care for the "story".