I enjoyed this book by Yoshiko Uchida. Young Rinko wants nothing more than to be like everyone else. A local laundry owner insults Rinko and her brother and when Rinko's mother opens her own laundry, the situation gets much worse. Rinko's family is full of dreams, but they don't believe they could really come true.
The family really isn't sure what to expect when they learn that Aunt Waka is coming to visit from Japan. Her presence turns out to be just what the family needs, and gives Rinko the courage to embrace her heritage and become a better person.
Yoshiko Uchida also wrote Best Bad Thing, The Happiest Ending, Picture Bride, Two Foolish Cats, and many other books before his death in 1992.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
The Star Fisher
I wasn't really sure what to expect when I checked out this book by Lawrence Yep. I know very little about Chinese culture so that aspect was interesting. Lawrence Yep has written many other books about Chinese culture, including Dragonwings, The Journal of Wong Ming-Chung: A Chinese Miner, Dragon's Gate, and his most recent work includes Mia (American Girl).
The story centers around fifteen-year-old Joan. Her Chinese-American family has just moved from Ohio to Clarksburg, West Virginia to continue their laundry business. The story takes place in 1927, so this book was a bit different than most prejudice stories I've read. The story centers around a Chinese folktale and how it mirrors Joan's new life. Despite the trouble that comes their way, the Lee family does not give up, and eventually Joan realizes she's not the only one in town who can see herself in the Star Fisher story.
This was not the best book I've read throughout this journey, but I thought it was good for learning a bit about Chinese culture. I found that the story was a little slow for me in some places.
The story centers around fifteen-year-old Joan. Her Chinese-American family has just moved from Ohio to Clarksburg, West Virginia to continue their laundry business. The story takes place in 1927, so this book was a bit different than most prejudice stories I've read. The story centers around a Chinese folktale and how it mirrors Joan's new life. Despite the trouble that comes their way, the Lee family does not give up, and eventually Joan realizes she's not the only one in town who can see herself in the Star Fisher story.
This was not the best book I've read throughout this journey, but I thought it was good for learning a bit about Chinese culture. I found that the story was a little slow for me in some places.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The Lorax
I had never read this book before so I was very curious to find out what it was about. It is not whimsical like The Cat in the Hat, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
The Lorax is didactic because it intends to teach children a life lesson. It's interesting how a book written in 1971 is still incredibly relevant today. The book deals with the negatives of commercialism and encourages children to think about the consequences of their actions.
I think there are still didactic children's books today. My first thought was the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, even though it is not a new story. I also thought of Kevin Henkes's Chrysanthemum, which I read to my students recently. Both stories attempt to teach children a lesson.
The Lorax is didactic because it intends to teach children a life lesson. It's interesting how a book written in 1971 is still incredibly relevant today. The book deals with the negatives of commercialism and encourages children to think about the consequences of their actions.
I think there are still didactic children's books today. My first thought was the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, even though it is not a new story. I also thought of Kevin Henkes's Chrysanthemum, which I read to my students recently. Both stories attempt to teach children a lesson.
The Cat in the Hat
I hadn't read this book since I was a child, so I couldn't quite remember everything that happened in it. I had forgotten how brilliant it is. I am so impressed by Dr. Seuss's ability to write such an interesting story using such simple words.
There is an incredible amount of tension in this book between the cat, the fish, and the children. Since I haven't read much children's literature prior to this class, I am not aware of any contemporary books that have the same type of tension in them.
This book absolutely appeals to today's children, and I believe it will appeal to children for many years to come. The story is simple to read and it is full of whimsy and fun. Children can relate to the story - they want to have fun and bend the rules but they must be responsible for their actions. I am happy that I was reintroduced to this story. I can't read it to my son, who will be born any time now!
There is an incredible amount of tension in this book between the cat, the fish, and the children. Since I haven't read much children's literature prior to this class, I am not aware of any contemporary books that have the same type of tension in them.
This book absolutely appeals to today's children, and I believe it will appeal to children for many years to come. The story is simple to read and it is full of whimsy and fun. Children can relate to the story - they want to have fun and bend the rules but they must be responsible for their actions. I am happy that I was reintroduced to this story. I can't read it to my son, who will be born any time now!
Monday, November 3, 2008
The Talking Eggs
I just loved this book by Robert D. San Souci and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. It was completely different than what I expected.
This book is a typical fairy tale type story. It kind of reminded me of Cinderella because Blanche's mom and sister mistreated her but she was able to overcome that thanks to a little bit of magic. The story also reminded me of the story of the Samaritan woman in the Bible because Blanche shares water with an old woman at the well. The woman eventually helps Blanche because of that. I also thought of when Jesus fed 5000 people because the old woman was able to feed herself and Blanche with just a little bit.
To summarize the story, Blanche helped the old woman at the well. When her mother and sister got angry with her for taking so long to get the water, Blanche ran away into the woods and went with the old woman who made her promise not to laugh at anything she saw. Blanche kept her promise and she was richly rewarded. When her sister, Rose, tried to go to the woman's cabin, she laughed at what she saw and was punished.
This book has a fantastic moral and I really enjoyed the illustrations. They made the story. Jerry Pinkney has illustrated many books, including Little Red Hen, The Old African, The Song of the Trees, and The Nightingale.
This book is a typical fairy tale type story. It kind of reminded me of Cinderella because Blanche's mom and sister mistreated her but she was able to overcome that thanks to a little bit of magic. The story also reminded me of the story of the Samaritan woman in the Bible because Blanche shares water with an old woman at the well. The woman eventually helps Blanche because of that. I also thought of when Jesus fed 5000 people because the old woman was able to feed herself and Blanche with just a little bit.
To summarize the story, Blanche helped the old woman at the well. When her mother and sister got angry with her for taking so long to get the water, Blanche ran away into the woods and went with the old woman who made her promise not to laugh at anything she saw. Blanche kept her promise and she was richly rewarded. When her sister, Rose, tried to go to the woman's cabin, she laughed at what she saw and was punished.
This book has a fantastic moral and I really enjoyed the illustrations. They made the story. Jerry Pinkney has illustrated many books, including Little Red Hen, The Old African, The Song of the Trees, and The Nightingale.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Freaky Friday
I ran across this movie on digital cable as well, so I thought it would be a good choice for my final book into feature film selection. As with the other two selections, I read the book first.
This was an interesting book - much darker than I thought it would be when I checked it out. The story is about a girl named Annabel and her family. The story begins with Annabel waking up in her mother's body. She isn't nearly as shocked or alarmed by it as I thought she should be. She goes through a day as her mother and learns a lot about herself in the process. She has to be responsible for her annoying kid brother Ben (aka Ape Face) and learns that he doesn't hate her. She also attends a parent-teacher conference and finds out what her teachers really think about her. At the end of the book, we learn that Annabel's mother is responsible for the switch and they trade identities. Annabel decides to change her ways.
Believe it or not, I actually preferred the movie to the book on this one! I watched the modern version with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan. The writers made the story much more interesting because they explored the reactions of both Anna and her mother. The movie is really funny and they tie everything together nicely. I did notice that there are several subtle references to the book, such as the boy falling for the mother, Ben actually liking Anna, and Anna's realization that she needs to change her ways. The movie stuck to the general story but made it better, in my opinion.
This was an interesting book - much darker than I thought it would be when I checked it out. The story is about a girl named Annabel and her family. The story begins with Annabel waking up in her mother's body. She isn't nearly as shocked or alarmed by it as I thought she should be. She goes through a day as her mother and learns a lot about herself in the process. She has to be responsible for her annoying kid brother Ben (aka Ape Face) and learns that he doesn't hate her. She also attends a parent-teacher conference and finds out what her teachers really think about her. At the end of the book, we learn that Annabel's mother is responsible for the switch and they trade identities. Annabel decides to change her ways.
Believe it or not, I actually preferred the movie to the book on this one! I watched the modern version with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan. The writers made the story much more interesting because they explored the reactions of both Anna and her mother. The movie is really funny and they tie everything together nicely. I did notice that there are several subtle references to the book, such as the boy falling for the mother, Ben actually liking Anna, and Anna's realization that she needs to change her ways. The movie stuck to the general story but made it better, in my opinion.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Bridge to Terabithia
I noticed that this movie was on one of my digital cable channels a couple of weeks ago, so I recorded it so I could watch it for this course. I had never read the book before, so I was hoping our school library would have it. Luckily for me, it did.
Just like the last entry, I read the book before watching the movie. This book by Katherine Paterson won the 1978 Newbery Award. In the book, a young boy named Jess makes friends with his new neighbor named Leslie. Both children are picked on and they don't have many other friends. Together they discover a secret place in the forest, accessible by a swinging rope over a creek. Leslie encourages Jess to use his imagination and they create the magical land of Terabithia. One day, Jess doesn't go to Terabithia with Leslie and a terrible tragedy occurs. Jess has to figure out how to move on using the inner strength his friend helped him find.
The movie was actually quite similar to the book. A few details were changed but not enough to alter the main points of the story. At first, I wasn't sure what to make of the computer animation of the creatures of Terabithia, but it did make the movie interesting. I think children would enjoy that part. I prefer the imaginative language of the book, however, because you can create your own picture in your mind. I enjoyed the young actors, although I thought the character of Leslie was not enough of a tomboy. I pictured someone different from the description in the book.
Overall, I enjoyed both the book and the movie. Although I didn't get this feeling from the book, the movie reminded me a bit of the movie My Girl. Both are stories about a best friend dying and leaving the other person to find their inner strength and move on.
Just like the last entry, I read the book before watching the movie. This book by Katherine Paterson won the 1978 Newbery Award. In the book, a young boy named Jess makes friends with his new neighbor named Leslie. Both children are picked on and they don't have many other friends. Together they discover a secret place in the forest, accessible by a swinging rope over a creek. Leslie encourages Jess to use his imagination and they create the magical land of Terabithia. One day, Jess doesn't go to Terabithia with Leslie and a terrible tragedy occurs. Jess has to figure out how to move on using the inner strength his friend helped him find.
The movie was actually quite similar to the book. A few details were changed but not enough to alter the main points of the story. At first, I wasn't sure what to make of the computer animation of the creatures of Terabithia, but it did make the movie interesting. I think children would enjoy that part. I prefer the imaginative language of the book, however, because you can create your own picture in your mind. I enjoyed the young actors, although I thought the character of Leslie was not enough of a tomboy. I pictured someone different from the description in the book.
Overall, I enjoyed both the book and the movie. Although I didn't get this feeling from the book, the movie reminded me a bit of the movie My Girl. Both are stories about a best friend dying and leaving the other person to find their inner strength and move on.
Monday, October 6, 2008
The Polar Express
I may be one of the only people who has never seen The Polar Express or read the book. I generally prefer original stories in books to movie adaptations so I started out by reading the book.
I really loved the simplicity of this story. The book makes its point (don't stop believing), but it doesn't dwell on it. This is a quick read, even for elementary students. I can imagine this book being a great bedtime story for my son, who will be born very soon!
As for the movie, I enjoyed it, but I felt like the story lost much of its simplicity in the adaptation. Several subplots were added, I guess to keep the movie interesting. I think I would have enjoyed it more had the writers stuck to the original story, even if it would have made the movie shorter. That being said, I'll talk about the positives. The animation is gorgeous. If you haven't seen this movie, I recommend it for the animation quality alone. I watched one scene over and over because I couldn't believe computer animation could look so realistic. I liked the general idea of the movie as well. The original moral was still intact, but the new characters resolved their conflicts in a way that made you happy for them as well. One final note on the movie - I thought the songs were a little bizarre and out of place, but I think children would probably enjoy them.
It's pretty obvious that I vastly prefer the book to the movie. The book forces readers to use their imagination while the movie spoon feeds the imagery to you. As I said before, I really appreciate the book's simple and powerful message and I feel like that simple message gets lost just a little bit in the movie.
I really loved the simplicity of this story. The book makes its point (don't stop believing), but it doesn't dwell on it. This is a quick read, even for elementary students. I can imagine this book being a great bedtime story for my son, who will be born very soon!
As for the movie, I enjoyed it, but I felt like the story lost much of its simplicity in the adaptation. Several subplots were added, I guess to keep the movie interesting. I think I would have enjoyed it more had the writers stuck to the original story, even if it would have made the movie shorter. That being said, I'll talk about the positives. The animation is gorgeous. If you haven't seen this movie, I recommend it for the animation quality alone. I watched one scene over and over because I couldn't believe computer animation could look so realistic. I liked the general idea of the movie as well. The original moral was still intact, but the new characters resolved their conflicts in a way that made you happy for them as well. One final note on the movie - I thought the songs were a little bizarre and out of place, but I think children would probably enjoy them.
It's pretty obvious that I vastly prefer the book to the movie. The book forces readers to use their imagination while the movie spoon feeds the imagery to you. As I said before, I really appreciate the book's simple and powerful message and I feel like that simple message gets lost just a little bit in the movie.
From Slave Ship to Freedom Road
I had never heard of Julius Lester, so I was very interested to read the work of an author I was unfamiliar with. In this book, From Slave Ship to Freedom Road, Lester's story about slavery is enhanced by the chilling artwork of Rod Brown. I really appreciated that slavery is not sugar coated here, even though this is a children's book. Lester describes the journey to America in haunting detail, asking the reader to imagine what it would feel like to be in that situation. The book goes on to describe the everyday lives of slaves, as well as their eventual freedom.
This book definitely gives you something to think about. I read it several hours ago and its realistic tone is still active in my mind. I do not think this book would have been as powerful had it been written as text alone. The pictures, while disturbing at times, really give the reader an idea of just how horrifying slavery really was.
This story was written in 1998, but Julius Lester has been writing books for some time. The book forward mentions another work, To Be a Slave, that was written over thirty years ago. Lester has also written Long Journey Home and This Strange New Feeling.
This book definitely gives you something to think about. I read it several hours ago and its realistic tone is still active in my mind. I do not think this book would have been as powerful had it been written as text alone. The pictures, while disturbing at times, really give the reader an idea of just how horrifying slavery really was.
This story was written in 1998, but Julius Lester has been writing books for some time. The book forward mentions another work, To Be a Slave, that was written over thirty years ago. Lester has also written Long Journey Home and This Strange New Feeling.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Elijah of Buxton
The next book I chose to review is the 2008 Coretta Scott King award winner, Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis.
Elijah was the first child born in the Buxton Settlement in Canada, a safe place for former slaves. Despite this distinction, Elijah’s mom is concerned about his fears and fragility. Elijah eventually meets up with some former slaves as well as some who are trying to escape. He decides to get involved in a dangerous plan to free them and shows incredible bravery and resolve.
This story started off a little slow but it really picked up. The first hand look at slavery was definitely eye opening. I was so glad to see Elijah find courage deep within himself to help the slaves who were trying to escape.
This book looks at the touchy subject of slavery in a memorable way. Students may not remember much they’ve learned in school about slavery but I bet they could recall the details of this book.
Elijah was the first child born in the Buxton Settlement in Canada, a safe place for former slaves. Despite this distinction, Elijah’s mom is concerned about his fears and fragility. Elijah eventually meets up with some former slaves as well as some who are trying to escape. He decides to get involved in a dangerous plan to free them and shows incredible bravery and resolve.
This story started off a little slow but it really picked up. The first hand look at slavery was definitely eye opening. I was so glad to see Elijah find courage deep within himself to help the slaves who were trying to escape.
This book looks at the touchy subject of slavery in a memorable way. Students may not remember much they’ve learned in school about slavery but I bet they could recall the details of this book.
Feathers
For my second Newbery selection, I chose the 2008 Honor Book Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson. This book is about a young girl named Frannie.
Frannie has dealt with her fair share of grief and heartache in her short lifetime, with her brother being deaf and her mother losing a child and having several miscarriages. She becomes obsessed with an Emily Dickinson poem that contains the message “Hope is the thing with feathers” and wonders about its meaning. When a new boy (nicknamed Jesus) comes to their all black school, she learns a lot by watching his interactions with the other kids and eventually begins to make sense of the poem’s words and finds hope in her own life.
I really wanted to like this book. The message is good but it just didn’t hold my interest like I had hoped it would. I did like how Frannie went from a vulnerable, confused girl to a confident young lady. Even though she had dealt with a lot of obstacles in her short life, she eventually found peace with her situation.
This book has a very honest tone, which is refreshing. I believe it would speak to students who have dealt with prejudice, loss, or other family problems. It would also be a good book for discussion with a class.
Frannie has dealt with her fair share of grief and heartache in her short lifetime, with her brother being deaf and her mother losing a child and having several miscarriages. She becomes obsessed with an Emily Dickinson poem that contains the message “Hope is the thing with feathers” and wonders about its meaning. When a new boy (nicknamed Jesus) comes to their all black school, she learns a lot by watching his interactions with the other kids and eventually begins to make sense of the poem’s words and finds hope in her own life.
I really wanted to like this book. The message is good but it just didn’t hold my interest like I had hoped it would. I did like how Frannie went from a vulnerable, confused girl to a confident young lady. Even though she had dealt with a lot of obstacles in her short life, she eventually found peace with her situation.
This book has a very honest tone, which is refreshing. I believe it would speak to students who have dealt with prejudice, loss, or other family problems. It would also be a good book for discussion with a class.
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Higher Power of Lucky
After reading some of the articles posted on the Course Documents section of my LME 518 course, I decided to read The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron and illustrated by Matt Phelan just to see what all the fuss is about.
Apparently, there is a controversy because the book received the 2007 Newbery Medal despite its use of the word "scrotum". I was actually kind of surprised that our school library had the book on the shelf. I asked our library media specialist about the book and she said she was not aware of any controversy.
This book is about a girl named Lucky and her dog, HMS Beagle. Lucky's name is a bit of a misnomer, considering her mother died in a freak electrocution accident and her father wants nothing to do with her. After her mother's death, Lucky's father contacts his first wife, Brigitte (who lives in France), to care for Lucky. Brigitte reluctantly comes over to America, but Lucky is always wondering when she's going to return to France since she misses it so much.
Lucky spends her time after school doing odd jobs to pick up extra money in the tiny town of Hard Pan, California. After her chores are complete, she eavesdrops on various Anonymous meetings (Alcoholics Anonymous, Smokers Anonymous, etc.) to hear about how the people hit rock bottom then find their Higher Power.
She thinks that if she can find her Higher Power, she can deal with Brigitte returning to France only to leave her in an orphanage. As Lucky seeks out her Higher Power, she comes up with a plan to run away so she will not have to deal with Brigitte's departure. Things don't work out exactly as planned, however, so Lucky eventually returns home to find out Brigitte is not leaving after all. Lucky does discover her higher power, and is able to let go of her mother and embrace her new life.
I thought this book was pretty good, although there was a lot of build-up at the beginning and I felt that the author kind of rushed through the end. As far as the "scrotum" controversy goes, I was not offended by the author's use of the term in any way and I don't really see what all the fuss is about.
Apparently, there is a controversy because the book received the 2007 Newbery Medal despite its use of the word "scrotum". I was actually kind of surprised that our school library had the book on the shelf. I asked our library media specialist about the book and she said she was not aware of any controversy.
This book is about a girl named Lucky and her dog, HMS Beagle. Lucky's name is a bit of a misnomer, considering her mother died in a freak electrocution accident and her father wants nothing to do with her. After her mother's death, Lucky's father contacts his first wife, Brigitte (who lives in France), to care for Lucky. Brigitte reluctantly comes over to America, but Lucky is always wondering when she's going to return to France since she misses it so much.
Lucky spends her time after school doing odd jobs to pick up extra money in the tiny town of Hard Pan, California. After her chores are complete, she eavesdrops on various Anonymous meetings (Alcoholics Anonymous, Smokers Anonymous, etc.) to hear about how the people hit rock bottom then find their Higher Power.
She thinks that if she can find her Higher Power, she can deal with Brigitte returning to France only to leave her in an orphanage. As Lucky seeks out her Higher Power, she comes up with a plan to run away so she will not have to deal with Brigitte's departure. Things don't work out exactly as planned, however, so Lucky eventually returns home to find out Brigitte is not leaving after all. Lucky does discover her higher power, and is able to let go of her mother and embrace her new life.
I thought this book was pretty good, although there was a lot of build-up at the beginning and I felt that the author kind of rushed through the end. As far as the "scrotum" controversy goes, I was not offended by the author's use of the term in any way and I don't really see what all the fuss is about.
Caldecott and Newbery Awards
Since I am reviewing Caldecott and Newbery Award winning books, I thought it would be nice to find out more about the two awards and the differences between them.
After exploring the website for the Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC), I learned that the Caldecott Medal is named for a famous 19th Century illustrator, Randolph Caldecott. The medal is awarded yearly to the artist of the best children's picture book. The medal winner is chosen by the ALSC.
The Newbery Medal is named for an 18th Century bookseller, John Newbery. The yearly winner is also chosen by the ALSC and goes to the author of the most notable piece of children's literature.
The awards are for completely different things, so it would not be fair to say one is more prestigious than the other. To receive either one would be a tremendous honor.
References
Association for Library Service to Children. (n.d.). Caldecott Medal Home Page. Retrieved September 12, 2008, from http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal.cfm
Association for Library Service to Children. (n.d.). Newbery Medal Home Page. Retrieved September 12, 2008, from http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/newberymedal/newberymedal.cfm
After exploring the website for the Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC), I learned that the Caldecott Medal is named for a famous 19th Century illustrator, Randolph Caldecott. The medal is awarded yearly to the artist of the best children's picture book. The medal winner is chosen by the ALSC.
The Newbery Medal is named for an 18th Century bookseller, John Newbery. The yearly winner is also chosen by the ALSC and goes to the author of the most notable piece of children's literature.
The awards are for completely different things, so it would not be fair to say one is more prestigious than the other. To receive either one would be a tremendous honor.
References
Association for Library Service to Children. (n.d.). Caldecott Medal Home Page. Retrieved September 12, 2008, from http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal.cfm
Association for Library Service to Children. (n.d.). Newbery Medal Home Page. Retrieved September 12, 2008, from http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/newberymedal/newberymedal.cfm
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Ella Sarah Gets Dressed
The final Caldecott Honor book I chose was Ella Sarah Gets Dressed by Margaret Chodos-Irvine. This is the story of a little girl who is very passionate about wearing a particular outfit of polka-dot pants, a flowery dress, striped socks, yellow shoes, and a red hat.
Ella Sarah's mother, father, and sister try to talk her out of wearing the ridiculous outfit, but Ella Sarah's mind is made up. She goes to her closet and puts on her chosen apparel, then the doorbell rings. She finds her friends at the door, all dressed similarly because they are going to have a tea party! Ella Sarah's style is not so strange after all.
This story makes me think of how unimaginative our society is. Many people think we have to fit in a certain mold and do things a certain way because it's the "right" thing to do. Ella Sarah reminds us that it's okay to be different and stand out in a crowd. I think this is a good lesson for young people and adults.
I'm actually going through that a little bit myself. I'm 7 months pregnant and people remind me every day that I'm changing and getting bigger. Sometimes I let it bother me a bit too much. I need to be more like Ella Sarah and embrace this time in my life!
Ella Sarah's mother, father, and sister try to talk her out of wearing the ridiculous outfit, but Ella Sarah's mind is made up. She goes to her closet and puts on her chosen apparel, then the doorbell rings. She finds her friends at the door, all dressed similarly because they are going to have a tea party! Ella Sarah's style is not so strange after all.
This story makes me think of how unimaginative our society is. Many people think we have to fit in a certain mold and do things a certain way because it's the "right" thing to do. Ella Sarah reminds us that it's okay to be different and stand out in a crowd. I think this is a good lesson for young people and adults.
I'm actually going through that a little bit myself. I'm 7 months pregnant and people remind me every day that I'm changing and getting bigger. Sometimes I let it bother me a bit too much. I need to be more like Ella Sarah and embrace this time in my life!
Kitten's First Full Moon
I just adored this charming story about a little kitten who saw "a little bowl of milk in the sky". This book is definitely deserving of the 2005 Caldecott Medal.
This is an all too familiar story of chasing after something you really want, only to find that you really didn't have to look too far to find it. The little kitten just can't seem to get that bowl of milk in the sky, even when she climbs up high in a tree. When she gets to the top of the tree, she sees a "big bowl of milk" in the pond below and goes down to get it. In the end, her misadventures lead her back home, where a bowl of milk is there waiting for her.
I will definitely read this book to my students because I think they would love it. They will enjoy guessing what the little kitten is going to do next. I'm really glad I chose this book to read.
This is an all too familiar story of chasing after something you really want, only to find that you really didn't have to look too far to find it. The little kitten just can't seem to get that bowl of milk in the sky, even when she climbs up high in a tree. When she gets to the top of the tree, she sees a "big bowl of milk" in the pond below and goes down to get it. In the end, her misadventures lead her back home, where a bowl of milk is there waiting for her.
I will definitely read this book to my students because I think they would love it. They will enjoy guessing what the little kitten is going to do next. I'm really glad I chose this book to read.
The Hello, Goodbye Window
This 2006 Caldecott medal winner is written by Norton Juster and illustrated by Chris Raschka. This book tells the lively story of a young girl who visits her grandparents, Poppy and Nanna. They have a special window in their house called the Hello, Goodbye window, where special things happen.
Perhaps more important than the story itself is the powerful imagery captured in the whimsical drawings. The bold colors represent the girl's mood and emotions as she explains why the window is so important to her. The story is very imaginative and I can see why children would enjoy it.
This story was particularly powerful for me because it reminded me of visiting my own Nana, who passed away just 3 years ago. We didn't have a special window, but I will never forget all the wonderful times we shared together.
Perhaps more important than the story itself is the powerful imagery captured in the whimsical drawings. The bold colors represent the girl's mood and emotions as she explains why the window is so important to her. The story is very imaginative and I can see why children would enjoy it.
This story was particularly powerful for me because it reminded me of visiting my own Nana, who passed away just 3 years ago. We didn't have a special window, but I will never forget all the wonderful times we shared together.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity
This charming story by Mo Willems is also a 2008 Caldecott Honor book. In the story, young Trixie can't wait to show off her one-of-a-kind knuffle bunny to all her classmates. To her dismay, her classmate Sonja has one just like it.
The girls spent the day arguing in jealousy until the teacher finally had to take the knuffle bunnies away. The bunnies were returned after school and all was well until both girls realized that they had the wrong bunny in the middle of the night.
Their dads called one another and arranged for an exchange in the middle of the night and both girls were so happy to have their own bunnies back that they realized they were happy each other had the correct bunny. The girls became best friends and shared their bunnies.
I enjoyed this story for several reasons. First, the author combines character illustrations with real black and white photos of the school and city, which kept the story interesting. Also, I believe students will enjoy keeping track of the bunnies and that they will be intrigued to see whether or not the girls are able to get the right bunny back. Finally, the book shares a good lesson that you are still unique, even if someone else has one thing that you have.
The girls spent the day arguing in jealousy until the teacher finally had to take the knuffle bunnies away. The bunnies were returned after school and all was well until both girls realized that they had the wrong bunny in the middle of the night.
Their dads called one another and arranged for an exchange in the middle of the night and both girls were so happy to have their own bunnies back that they realized they were happy each other had the correct bunny. The girls became best friends and shared their bunnies.
I enjoyed this story for several reasons. First, the author combines character illustrations with real black and white photos of the school and city, which kept the story interesting. Also, I believe students will enjoy keeping track of the bunnies and that they will be intrigued to see whether or not the girls are able to get the right bunny back. Finally, the book shares a good lesson that you are still unique, even if someone else has one thing that you have.
First the Egg
I chose a 2008 Caldecott Honor book for my first book review. First the Egg is written by Laura Vaccaro Seeger. This story is a short picture book for young children that explores the age old question: which came first, the chicken or the egg?
At first glance, I wasn't really sure why this book would be a Caldecott Honor book. When I read the book, however, I truly enjoyed its simple, yet profound message that everything comes from something else.
The book's cutouts preview the image on the next page in a clever and unexpected way. Young children will love to guess what's coming up next. I will definitely read this book to my young students in the near future.
At first glance, I wasn't really sure why this book would be a Caldecott Honor book. When I read the book, however, I truly enjoyed its simple, yet profound message that everything comes from something else.
The book's cutouts preview the image on the next page in a clever and unexpected way. Young children will love to guess what's coming up next. I will definitely read this book to my young students in the near future.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Welcome!
Welcome to my blog. I am not new to blogging although I don't do it often. I am excited about reviewing some fantastic children's books here.
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