Book Review #4 Traditional Literature

 Book Review #4-Traditional Literature

 The Ugly Duckling

Adapted and Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Pinkney, Jerry.  1999. THE UGLY DUCKLING.  New York, NY: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 068815932X

PLOT SUMMARY

In this adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale, Pinkney introduces the reader to a baby swan who begins his life as an ugly duckling and struggles to fit in a world who doesn't accept him.  His mother is the exception, she loves and cares for him while everyone else teases him without any compassion.  The duckling felt desperate to get away from the insults and the horrible treatment the other animals gave him, even his own brothers and sisters.  He leaves the farm to venture out into the world seeking a life of peace, peace he thought he could only feel by being alone.  Throughout the first year of his life he struggles desperately to find a new, safe home.  In his new dangerous world, he manages to survive through a long harsh winter, finally spring came and  he saw a flock of beautiful birds and joins them.  When he joined them he discovered that he is just like them.  At the end of this classic tale he feels pure joy in his heart because of the feeling of being beautiful and accepted.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This classic tale gives a message of hope to anyone who has struggled to fit in or who has been treated unfairly like this duck because they were different.  Pinkney keeps the reader engaged and brings out feelings of empathy and compassion when he describes the treatment the duckling is given.  Children can relate to the feeling of being treated unfairly and wanting to do everything in their power to fit in.  This story keeps the reader in suspense, the reader wants to know what will happen next, what will happen to the poor duckling.  Even though some of the events might seem a bit traumatic, this brings out children's feelings of empathy.

The use of watercolors in his illustrations are simply beautiful and reflects the time period of this classic tale.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Caldecott Medal 2002

Starred Review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "Pinkney's (Rikki-Tikki-Tavi) supple, exquisitely detailed watercolors provide a handsome foil to his graceful adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen classic."

Starred Review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "The appeal of this tale is as strong today as it was 150 years ago, and Pinkney has done an admirable job of repacking it for a new generation."

CONNECTIONS

*The Ugly Duckling is a story that every child can relate to, every child has struggled to do something or has experienced wanting to fit in, wanting to be part of a group.  Children can talk about a time when they had a difficult time with something and how they overcame it.

*Another story about fitting in:

Leaf, Munro.  THE STORY OF FERDINAND. ISBN 0670062642

Book #3 Traditional Literature

Book Review #3-Traditional Literature

THE LION AND THE MOUSE
BY JERRY PINKNEY

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Pinkney, Jerry. 2009 THE LION AND THE MOUSE. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 9780316013567

PLOT SUMMARY

In this classic tale of The Lion and the Mouse, Pinkney does an amazing job retelling this story through fine illustrations.  An unfortunate mouse accidentally

stumbles into a lion, luckily for the mouse he is released by the lion without causing him any harm.  The mouse runs to her hole to be with her babies when she hears a loud roar.  The roar is from the lion who was trapped in a net, a net the hunters had set up in the jungle.  The mouse returns to offer the lion assistance, she chews and chews through the net until the lion is free.  After the lion has been set free they both stare into each others eyes offering each other their friendship.  Two very different creatures have found friendship in each other. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Narrative is not necessary in this classic tale, the illustrations and the occasional animal sound are sufficient to tell a wonderful story.  The exquisite illustrations keep the reader engaged, Pinkney did an amazing job expressing the feelings of the characters with illustrations only.  The eyes of the lion and the mouse show the reader how sincere their feelings are, their expressions on their faces are enough to show the reader the true character and personality of the lion and the mouse.  The moral of the story is also very clear even in the youngest of the readers.

Pinkney's uses vivid detail and a wide range of appropriate colors to portray the setting in the African Plain. The colors he uses are not bright and do not need to be, the colors are just perfect enough to tell a unique story about a lion and a mouse in the jungle. His artistic style brings the characters in the story to life.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Caldecott Medal Winner 2010

Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "The ambiguity that results from the lack of words in this version allows for slower, subtle, and ultimately more satisfying read. Moments of humor and affection complement the drama."

Starred review in BOOKLIST: "Pinkney's soft, multihued strokes make everything in the jungle seem alive..."

CONNECTIONS

*This book can lead to discussions about the importance of friendship and helping others in time of need.

*It encourages kindness and the understanding that everyone no matter their size can be a helpful.

*Other books by this amazing author:

THE LITTLE RED HEN. ISBN 9780803729353

AESOP'S FABLES. ISBN 9781587170003

PUSS IN BOOTS. ISBN 9780803716421

Book Review #2-Traditional Literature

Book Review #2-Traditional Literature

The Three Pigs by David Wiesner

Bibliography

Wiesner, David. 2001. THE THREE PIGS. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618007016

PLOT SUMMARY

This books starts out like the all other traditional Three Little Pig books, halfway through the book the story takes a twist.  Something completely unexpected happens, the pigs break out of the storybook and explore a completely different world. They meet up with characters from nursery rhymes and a dragon.  At the end of the story they pigs return to the brick house with the dragon, the dragon scares the wolf away. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This story of The Three Pigs is like never seen before, it is one of a kind with it's unexpected twist halfway through the book. Wiesner draws the reader in from the very beginning and keeps them engaged with its traditional "not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin" and "then I'll huff and puff and I'll blow your house in."  I had never read this book before and I completely did not expect what was going to happen, I expected the traditional events and boy was I wrong. The book offers so many opportunities for discussion since the events in the story are a big surprise for children who have heard the traditional story. 

This traditional tale has flat, simple illustrations that change as the story progresses.  They transform into incredible, detailed, and almost life like as the pigs make their way out of the book.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "witty dialogue and physical comedy abound in this inspired retelling of a familiar favorite."

Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: Wiesner's brilliant use of white space and perspective evokes a feeling that the characters can navigate endless possibilities-- and that the range of a story itself is limitless."

THE CALDECOTT MEDAL 2002

CONNECTIONS

*Read other books of The Three Pigs and use a venn diagram to compare and contrast the two stories.

*Other books for children to read to compare the stories:

Sciescka, Jon. THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS!ISBN 9780140544510

Book Review #1 Traditional Literature

 

Book Review - Traditional Literature

      

The Gingerbread Man retold by Eric A. Kimmel

Bibliography

Kimmel, Eric A.  1993.  THE GINGERBREAD MAN. Ill. by Megan Lloyd.  New York:  Holiday House.  ISBN  978082341137

Plot Summary

The Gingerbread Man retold my Eric A. Kimmel is a traditional folktale.  In this folktale an old woman and an old man make a gingerbread man, after the gingerbread man has been cooled and decorated it jumps to life and runs out the door.  The gingerbread man runs as fast as he can from the old man and the old woman he passes an old sow, dog, cow and horse.  They all join in with the old man and the old woman to chase the gingerbread man.  As they chase him the gingerbread man teases them with his chant "I'll run and run as fast as I can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!"

Until he meets a sly fox that who makes him believe he wants to be his friend and help him get across the river.  The sly fox convinces the gingerbread man to slowly get to his snout as they are crossing the river and he gets eaten.  Even though the gingerbread man was eaten it has a happy ending as they say he will return when someone bakes some gingerbread.

Critical Analysis

Eric Kimmel's retelling of this traditional story about a gingerbread man that comes to life and sends the old  man and old woman chasing after him.  This folktale has such a rhythm that children love with the repetition of the chant "I'll run and run as fast as I can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man." This contagious chant is repeated throughout the story as various characters are added to the chase of the gingerbread man.  Children can't help but to repeat the chant when they know the gingerbread man is ready to repeat it.  The word choices Kimmel uses are a great opportunity for children to be exposed to other words not just the basic, as he uses "sow" instead of simply saying pig.  He also uses the word "sly" to describe the fox which is a word young children do not commonly use.

Megan Lloyd did an outstanding job with the illustrations, bringing to life the gingerbread man and the characters feelings as they chase the gingerbread man.  Even though the illustrations are simple they help keep the reader engaged in this humorous folktale.

Review Excerpts

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: "Kimmel brings humor and warmth to the retelling of this spicy classic.  His text has a fast-paced rhythm that is perfect for read-alouds or storytelling."

BOOKLIST:  "The familiar tale gets a lift in this sprightly edition."

Connections

*Read other Gingerbread Man books and compare and contrast the two stories.

*Other versions of The Gingerbread Man:

Johnson, Bruce B.  THE GINGERBREAD MAN. ISBN 0590410563

McCafferty, Catherine.  THE GINGERBREAD MAN. ISBN 1624422357

Book Review #4

 Book Review:  The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

1.  Bibliography

Keats, Ezra Jack. 1962. THE SNOWY DAY. New York: Viking Press. ISBN 9781435208087

2.  Plot Summary

The Snowy Day is a children's book that tells the story of a boy named Peter and his fun filled day in the snow.  He wakes up one morning and see everything outside covered in snow.  He puts on his snowsuit and goes outside, he makes tracks with his feet and he smacks the snow on the trees.  He then sees children having a snowball fight, he knew he couldn't join them because he is too young.  Instead he plays alone, he made a smiling snowman, he made snow angels, and even pretended to be a mountain climber climbing a mountain of snow.  Peter even saved a big snowball in his pocket for the next day.  He goes home, takes a bath and thinks about the snowball in his pocket.  Before he goes to bed he checks his pocket and feels very sad because his snowball isn't there.  He goes to bed and dreams about the sun melting all the snow, when he wakes up in the morning he thinks about his dream.  He then looks outside and sees the snow falling, he gets ready to play outside again.  This time he goes out to play with a friend.

3.  Critical Analysis

The Snowy Day is an easy book children can enjoy and for those who don't have experience in the snow they can discover what kind of things children do in the snow.  It allows children who are not familiar with snow to experience what it would be like to play in the snow through Peter's adventures.  We can experience each on of his adventures in the snow through the illustrations, children who have never experienced snow can visualize what it would be like, what it would be like to make snow angels.  Children can visualize the snow angels through the wonderful illustrations. Watercolors are used to create simple, but yet wonderful images that helps tell Peter's story of his day in the snow.

This is a simple, but yet wonderful book of a little boy who has a fun day.  Peter plays alone in the snow and has a joyous day, he does not need others to enjoy his moments in the snow.  The author did an amazing job allowing us to experience the things Peter did in the snow.

4.  Review Excerpts

Starred review in THE HORN BOOK: "in this mood book, never static, but sparkling with atmosphere in lovely water-color pictures."

Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: In  it was ranked #5  among the "Top 100 Picture Books" in a survey published.

CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER 1963

5.  Connections

Every child can relate to Peter and not necessarily playing in the snow, but just having an adventurous day outdoors.  This book shows the imagination children possess, they can enjoy themselves in what nature has to offer.  Children can make connections of adventures they have playing outside and this book also allows the reader to visualize what it would be like to play in the snow, to make a snowman, to make angels, and do many other exciting things in the snow.

 Many children in the South (South Texas) have never experienced snow and this book simply allows children to experience that. The author allows the reader to vividly experience snow adventures through his illustrations.

Other books with wonderful illustrations by Ezra Jack Keats are Peter's Chair, Whistle for Willie, and A Letter for Amy.

Book Review #3

 Book Review:  Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

1.  Bibliography

McCloskey, Robert. 1941. MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS. New York: The Viking Press. ISBN: 9780670451494

2.  Plot Summary

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are looking for a new home to start a family.  Mrs. Mallard wants a safe place they can raise their children, they fly around in Boston looking for the perfect place.  They stop for a rest at the Boston Public Garden, after almost being run over by a kid on a bicycle she decides that would not be a good spot to raise a family.  They fly off and go to the Charles River where there their eight ducklings hatch.  Mrs, Mallard teaches her eight ducklings what they need to survive while Mr. Mallard goes to the Boston Public Garden where they will meet in a week.  After a week Mrs. Mallard and her ducklings set off to meet Mr. Mallard.  As they're on their way they encounter some problems and a nice police officer help escort them to the Public Garden.  When they are finally there, safe and sound they meet Mr. Mallard in  a little island in the pond.  The little ducklings liked the new island so much they decided to live there.

3.  Critical Analysis

This is a very entertaining story about a family of ducks looking for the perfect home to raise babies.  The story moves from one situation keeping the reader engaged throughout the whole story.  McCloskey keeps the reader engaged with the strong personality of Mrs. Mallard who teaches her ducklings how to survive in the city.  He also uses rhyming names for the ducklings, this is something young readers find entertaining.  I read this book to my first grade students and they absolutely enjoyed it.  Since the book is pretty long, I read it in two days. When I stopped in the middle of the story the first day the students wanted more, they wanted me to keep reading.  They were very curious about what would happen next.

McCloskey's pencil illustrations are unique, very different from the normal children's books.  Most children's books are in color and this is just in black and white which manages to keep the reader engaged.

It is a very entertaining book for children of all ages, keeps the reader engaged and wanting more.

4.  Book Excerpts

Award-The Caldecott Medal 1942

Starred Review in New York Times: "one of the merriest books ever."

Starred Review in THE HORN BOOK: Robert McCloskey's unusual and stunning pictures have long been a delight for their fun as well as their spirit of place."

5.  Connections

This book can lead to discussions of mothers taking care of their children and wanting them to be safe.  We can have children making connections of how Mr. & Mrs. Mallard are like their own parents, what are some things they did in the story that reminds them of things their parents do.  Other children's books written by Robert McCloskey are Blueberries for Sal and One Morning in Maine.

Book Review #2

Book Review: Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by  Doreen Cronin pictures by Betsy Lewin

1.  Bibliography

Cronin, Doreen. 2000. CLICK, CLACK, MOO COWS THAT TYPE.  Ill. by Betsy Lewin. New York, New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Divison. ISBN 9780689832130

2.  Plot Summary

In this funny book, Farmer Brown's cows find a typewriter and they type all day long.  As the story moves on the cows end up leaving Farmer Brown notes demanding electric blankets for themselves and their friends, the hens.  When Farmer Brown does not answer to their demands, they go on strike leaving Farmer Brown with no milk and no eggs.  No milk and no eggs left Farmer Brown furious so he got out his own typewriter and sent a note to the cows with the duck.  The cows and hens turn in the typewriter for electric blankets, but unexpectedly the duck learned some tricks from the cows and the hen.  At the end the duck begins to have his own demands.  

3.  Critical Analysis

Cronin's writing is simple and funny, something children will enjoy.  In a funny way the author writes about him needing the eggs and the milk from these animals.  Not only does the farmer need the animals but the animals need to farmer to take care of them.  All of this is written in a hilarious manner.  I read this book to my five year old son and he loved it, he thought what the animals were being so silly.  He wanted to read it over and over.

The illustrations by Betsy Lewin were awesome!  The drawings are colorful and engaging to the reader.  The use of watercolors brings the story to life, it makes this book and the all the books she has illustrated unique.  The expressions she puts on the animals and the farmer's face give a clear understanding of what that animals and the farmer are feeling.  My students were able to point out the expressions on their faces and what they were feeling.

4.  Review Excerpts

Award: Caldecott Honor Book 2001

Starred review in BOOKLIST: "the thickly outlined pictures extend the fun, with closeups of the frenzied boss, the stalwart cows, and the hens cozy under the plugged-in blankets."

Starred Review in PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY:  "Lewin's bold, loose-lined watercolors set a light and easygoing mood that matches Farmer Brown's very funny predicament."

5.  Connections

The children make connections of how a farmer needs to meet the needs of animals to get what he needs, in this case milk and eggs. Discussing the silly negotiations (discuss the meaning of negotiations) of the animals and the farmers can bring discussion of negotiations they have made or people they know have made.  This funny book also has a typewriter, something that children today are not familiar with.  This can also bring a discussion about technology and how it has changed.

What I liked the most were the illustrations with the use of water colors, Betsy Lewin did an outstanding job with the illustrations.  

Other books illustrated by Betsy Lewin are Quack Duck for President, Click Clack Peep, Giggle Giggle Quack, and many more.

Book Review #1

 Book Review: A Ball For Daisy by Chris Raschka

1. Bibliography

     Raschka, Chris. 2011. A BALL FOR DAISY. By Chris Raschka. New York: Schwartz & Wade          Books. ISBN 978-0-375-85861-1

2. Plot Summary

In this picture book, Chris Raschka tells the story of a white dog named Daisy and her favorite ball.  Daisy loves the ball so much she takes it everywhere she goes, she even sleeps with it.  One day her owner take her out for a walk and they take the red with with them.  The ball gets taken by a brown dog who also wants to play with the ball.  Daisy tried to get the ball back but the brown dog insists on playing with it and ends up popping the ball.  Daisy is very sad because her favorite ball is ruined and her owner throws it in the trash.  Later, Daisy's owner takes her for a walk and on that walk she sees the same brown dog who ruined her red ball. That brown dog has a blue ball and gives it to Daisy, that blue ball makes Daisy very happy.

3.  Critical Analysis 

This is a story of a dog and her ball which shows an honest depiction of how a dog behaves.  By looking at the first couple of pages the reader can see in Raschka's illustrations how much Daisy loves her ball.  As the story continues you can see all the emotions that Daisy is feeling as she loses her favorite red ball.  The reader can see and feel the disappointment in Daisy's face as she walks with her owner without her ball.  The next time she walks with her owner and is given a new ball the reader can experience the happiness Daisy is feeling.

The illustrations are made up of water colors and ink, which make this book different from other picture books that I have seen.  Raschka's pictures walks you through this picture book without the need to have words, the reader can draw her own conclusions.

This is a great book to share with young kids, especially those who love dogs.  Reading A Ball for Daisy allows many opportunities to discuss different types of emotions and allows for a discussion of feeling we might have when losing something we care for.  I recommend this book for children of all ages, has many teachable moments throughout the story.

4.  Review Excerpts

• Starred Review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Raschka's genius lies in capturing the essence of situations that are deeply felt by children."
• Winner of the 2012 Randolph Caldecott Medal

5.  Connections

• This picture books is great book to make lead discussions about what it is like to lose something special.
• Students can make connections about their feelings when they have made a new friend or when their friend has done something they don't like.
• Students can write about a time they have had feeling like Daisy.