Sub-Title: Being the MOSTLY True Adventures of Abraham Lincoln's Trouble-Making Sons, TAD and WILLIE
Author: Staton Rabin
Illustrator: Bagram Ibatoulline
Year: 2008
Publisher: Viking Press
Pages: 36
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Picture Book/Historical Fiction
Location: White House, Washington, D.C.
Time Period: Civil War (1860's)
Plot: Tad and Willie live with their parents, Martha and Abraham Lincoln, in the White House in Washington, D.C. Even though their father is a very busy man, the President of the United States always makes time for his sons. The boys are also mischievous, and they often get into trouble. They have a toy soldier that they frequently charge for some violation or another, then they come up with a different way to execute and bury the doll. SPOILER! During one of these execution plays, The gardener finds Tad and Willie digging in the flower bed to bury the toy soldier. Furious, the gardener chases Tad and Willie away. Unable to carry out the execution, Tad and Willie must figure out what to do with their doomed doll. They take the problem to their father, who is the middle of a meeting, and ask for a pardon. The President awards the doll a pardon, and it is shown that the President's stressful life is made easier by watching his son's antics.
Comments: When you're writing about events that really happened in world history, it's easy to stick to facts and take all of the emotion and story out of it. Staton Rabin does an excellent job focusing on that emotion and story, and successfully creates a tale not just about Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, but about fathers and sons and the importance of making time for family. Rabin is open about the fact that he changed the way things happened in order to help children relate with the story, and it's possible that he helped them understand a little more about the Civil War because of it. Despite all of this, I appreciated the notes found in the back of the book explaining exactly what the author changed, and why. With this, an explanation about who the characters in the story are, and a list of further reading, this book makes a good way to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth.
Of course I have to mention the artwork of Bagram Ibatoulline, who illustrated one of my favorite children's books of all time, found here. Ibatoulline succeeds again in capturing the mood just right. The pictures are warm and golden and very lifelike, and I laughed at the realistic look on the boys' face as they solemnly walked into the President's Office to ask for a pardon. Both the pictures and the prose work well together in telling the story of an amusing thing that happened during a very somber period of American history.
Themes: Civil War, Soldiers, Abraham Lincoln, Importance of Family, Fathers and Sons
Red Flags: Willie and Tad imagine different ways to execute their toy soldier.
Showing posts with label picture book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label picture book. Show all posts
Friday, August 7, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Graveyard Book
Author: Neil Gaiman
Illustrator: Dave Mckean
Year: 2008
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 320
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 2009 Newbery Medal, 2009 ALA Notable Books for Children, 2009 ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2008 Horn Book Fanfare Award
Genre: Gothic fantasy
Location: A forgotten graveyard in Britain
Time Period: Present Day (2008)
Plot: When a baby boy hides in a graveyard while a man named Jack murders the rest of his family, the inhabitants of the graveyard agree to adopt him. They name him Nobody (Bod) Owens, and bestow on him the power of the graveyard, which allows him to fade from sight, walk through walls, and see in the dark. Bod spends the next fourteen years in the graveyard. He makes friends with the inhabitants, learns to read by deciphering gravestones, and learns English history from people who lived it. While Bod wants to learn all he can about the world, his not-quite-dead and not-quite-living guardian, Silas, warns him that the man Jack is still out there, searching for him. SPOILER! When Jack discovers where Bod is, he and his band, the Jacks of All Trades, infiltrate the graveyard. It will take all that Bod has learned and the help of all of his friends in the graveyard to defeat this mighty foe. However, when this is done Bod no longer needs the protection of the graveyard, and he is allowed to leave the graveyard and seek his fortune in the world.
Comments: I did something I don't normally do when I read—instead of actually reading the book, I listened to the book on CD, which is narrated by the author. Gaiman is a great storyteller, and it was fun to hear the story come to life in his telling of it. He gave different inflections to most of the characters in the book, sounding young and youthful whenever Bod spoke, ghostly and ethereal when a character from the graveyard spoke, and deep and harsh whenever the man Jack spoke. My favorite voice, however, what the Scottish accent Gaiman used whenever Bod's only living friend, Scarlet, was on the scene.
The story itself is interesting, and it grabs your attention from the very first sentence: "There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife." Although the wording and the setting are both dark and tense, Gaiman keeps this book light, allowing the reader to experience Bod's wonder and pleasure in the world around him. The book follows Bod's adventures as he grows up, and for awhile I wondered if the tense scene at the beginning with the man Jack would ever be referred to again. The time Gaiman takes in telling the story pays off, however, when Bod uses the knowledge he gained from almost every chapter before when the man Jack finally makes another appearance.
It's the small touches Gaiman adds to this book that really make it great. With every new character introduced, the epitaph on their gravestone is read. Bod is a precocious main character, and he learns life lessons that even adults will find interesting and applicable. Even though Bod is in a situation that would never really happen, it seems completely natural that a boy in this situation wouldn't find death scary or frightening at all, which makes the book more believable. Oddly enough, despite all that happens in this book, the scenario I had the most trouble accepting was that fact that Bod was allowed to leave the graveyard and seek his fortune at the young age of 15. This is a fact that will be appealing to younger readers, however, and it's not a hinderance to the story.
I really enjoyed this book. My only regret from having listened to the book instead of reading it is that I missed Mckean's dark, jagged drawings, a few of which I have seen and which I think would add just as much character and life as Gaiman's inflections added. I'll just have to read the book again, won't I?
Themes: Murder, Family, Definition of Home, Seeking one's Fortune, Destiny, Standing up for what you believe in.
Red Flags: Bod deals with bullies, Silas gets run over by a car (but that's okay, because he's not alive), the book contains (good) werewolves, goblins, ghouls, murderers, and other creepy things that go bump in the night.
Friday, July 24, 2009
A Firefly Named Torchy
Author/Illustrator: Bernard Waber
Year: 1970
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Pages: 29
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 1971 Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor
Genre: Picture Book
Location: The edge of the woods
Time Period: Present Day (1970)
Plot: Torchy the Firefly wants to join his friends in twinkling, glowing, flashing, and sending secret messages. But when he turns on his light, it's so bright that it feels like day. The day animals wake up, the night animals hide, and the flowers open up. Everyone complains that Torchy's light is too bright. Sad and dejected, Torchy wanders off on his own to figure out what the problem is. SPOILER! When Torchy sees the lights of a big city, he discovers that there are many different kinds of light. Torchy learns that his light is special and unique, and he decides that he shouldn't hide it just because it's different.
Comments: I originally found this book while I was looking for non-fiction books about fireflies, but the book's title and the lovely 1960's font (as seen here) made me want to read it. Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover.
Torchy is a cute little firefly, and the message of the book is a great one for kids. As with most picture books, the artwork tells most of the story on its own, with night-black pages splashed with thick, muted colors. The excitement of the city is show with big, bold strokes and bright colors. The text of the story is amusing too. A lot of repetition is involved, with Torchy and the lights around him twinkling and glowing and flashing. Perhaps a better example of this, though is the part where Torchy wakes up all of the forest animals and they all have the same reaction. The flow of the story is simple, but the repetition would make it a good one for both group and individual enjoyment.
Themes: Fireflies, Self-Confidence
Year: 1970
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Pages: 29
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 1971 Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor
Genre: Picture Book
Location: The edge of the woods
Time Period: Present Day (1970)
Plot: Torchy the Firefly wants to join his friends in twinkling, glowing, flashing, and sending secret messages. But when he turns on his light, it's so bright that it feels like day. The day animals wake up, the night animals hide, and the flowers open up. Everyone complains that Torchy's light is too bright. Sad and dejected, Torchy wanders off on his own to figure out what the problem is. SPOILER! When Torchy sees the lights of a big city, he discovers that there are many different kinds of light. Torchy learns that his light is special and unique, and he decides that he shouldn't hide it just because it's different.
Comments: I originally found this book while I was looking for non-fiction books about fireflies, but the book's title and the lovely 1960's font (as seen here) made me want to read it. Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover.
Torchy is a cute little firefly, and the message of the book is a great one for kids. As with most picture books, the artwork tells most of the story on its own, with night-black pages splashed with thick, muted colors. The excitement of the city is show with big, bold strokes and bright colors. The text of the story is amusing too. A lot of repetition is involved, with Torchy and the lights around him twinkling and glowing and flashing. Perhaps a better example of this, though is the part where Torchy wakes up all of the forest animals and they all have the same reaction. The flow of the story is simple, but the repetition would make it a good one for both group and individual enjoyment.
Themes: Fireflies, Self-Confidence
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
What Charlie Heard: The Story of American Composer Charles Ives
Author/Illustrator: Mordecai Gerstein
Year: 2002
Publisher: Live Oak Media
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: ALA Notable Book 2003, Horn Book Fanfare 2002
Genre: Picture Book/Historical Fiction
Location: Small Town America
Time Period: 1874-1954
Plot: Describes the life of American composer Charles Ives (1874-1954), who wrote music which expressed all the sounds he heard in the world, but which was not well received during his lifetime. SPOILER! At the end of the book, Charlie's music is accepted, and he contemplates writing his greatest work, the Universe Symphony.
Comments: The magic of picture books is that sometimes there is a story that can be told better in pictures than it can through words. Gerstein does a good job of using words to explain how everything Charlie heard could be considered music—from the swish of his mother's skirts to the creaking of a door. Then he shows how Charlie hears the world by filling the pictures full of sounds. By the end of the book, it's hard to see the pictures for the number of sounds that are written across the pages. The pictures are warm and bright, and the text is engaging. Because there is so much going on in the text and in the pictures, this would be a good story for older children who are learning to read on their own rather than for younger children.
This story made me want to learn more about Charles Ives. I even checked out a CD of his music the next time I went to the library because of the book. (Gerstein even recommends a CD at the end of the book.) Combining this book with a sample of a CD would help children find more meaning in the music. Parents and teachers can say, "Remember that part where Charlie's dad directed two bands at once? Can you hear them in this song?" or "What do you think Charlie was thinking of when he wrote this piece?"
Themes: Music, Modernism, Persistence, Doing what you love
Year: 2002
Publisher: Live Oak Media
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: ALA Notable Book 2003, Horn Book Fanfare 2002
Genre: Picture Book/Historical Fiction
Location: Small Town America
Time Period: 1874-1954
Plot: Describes the life of American composer Charles Ives (1874-1954), who wrote music which expressed all the sounds he heard in the world, but which was not well received during his lifetime. SPOILER! At the end of the book, Charlie's music is accepted, and he contemplates writing his greatest work, the Universe Symphony.
Comments: The magic of picture books is that sometimes there is a story that can be told better in pictures than it can through words. Gerstein does a good job of using words to explain how everything Charlie heard could be considered music—from the swish of his mother's skirts to the creaking of a door. Then he shows how Charlie hears the world by filling the pictures full of sounds. By the end of the book, it's hard to see the pictures for the number of sounds that are written across the pages. The pictures are warm and bright, and the text is engaging. Because there is so much going on in the text and in the pictures, this would be a good story for older children who are learning to read on their own rather than for younger children.
This story made me want to learn more about Charles Ives. I even checked out a CD of his music the next time I went to the library because of the book. (Gerstein even recommends a CD at the end of the book.) Combining this book with a sample of a CD would help children find more meaning in the music. Parents and teachers can say, "Remember that part where Charlie's dad directed two bands at once? Can you hear them in this song?" or "What do you think Charlie was thinking of when he wrote this piece?"
Themes: Music, Modernism, Persistence, Doing what you love
Friday, May 22, 2009
Tuff Fluff: The Case of Duckie's Missing Brain
Author/Illustrator: Scott Nash
Year: 2004
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Mystery
Location: Los Attic
Time Period: Present (2004), a.k.a. 3:29, by the stopped watch on the wall
Plot: When Bluebell the stuffed bear comes to Tuff Fluff, Private Investigator, for help, Tuff Fluff is immediately on the case. Bluebell's friend Duckie was reading Bluebell a story when he suddenly lost the ability to speak. Now all Duckie can do is quack. Upon further investigation, Tuff finds out that Duckie's seam has come unsewn, and the fluff that made up his brain has been stolen. Is this the work of the residents of Beantown, an area of toys in Los Attic who think they are better than everyone else because they are stuffed with beans instead of stuffing? SPOILER! When Tuff Fluff, Bluebell, and Duckie confront the inhabitants of Beantown about the crime, they find that the residents of Beantown enjoy Duckie's stories too. Everyone in Los Attic bands together to find Duckie a new brain. Eventually, Bluebell donates some spare fluff to make a new brain for Duckie, and the Beantown residents contribute a bean as well. Duckie is recovered, and everyone joins together to hear him tell stories once again.
Comments: This is a fun appealing adventure story with an exciting tone. The story is told from Tuff Fluff's perspective, and children will enjoy trying to guess what will happen next. Besides the narration, the pictures are also engaging. They are simultaneously dark enough to match the mood, but bright enough to keep the story light-hearted. Fun details are added to each picture: a ceiling fan made out of a pencil eraser and paperclips, and houses made out of cardboard boxes.
As fun as this book is, it can also be off-putting as well. This is listed as a book for children ages 4-8, but it's also a chapter book disguised as a picture book. Each chapter is about two to three pages long, and is accompanied by many full page illustrations. Because of this, the book is really for older children in the age range. See the Red Flags section as well.
Themes: Cooperation, Stories, Mysteries, Toy Animals, Accepting others' differences.
Red Flags: SPOILERS! Duckie's brain is eventually found: it's a ball of fluff, marking the place in the book Duckie was reading to Bluebell. The stuffing just simply fell out. Before they can put the stuffing back in, however, a wind comes through the room and blows Duckie's stuffing brain into Bluebell's mouth, who promptly swallows it. This isn't too disgusting when one focuses on the fact that it is simply stuffing being swallowed by a stuffed bear, but the implications are kind of gross. Children would probably not be bothered by this fact, however.
Year: 2004
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Mystery
Location: Los Attic
Time Period: Present (2004), a.k.a. 3:29, by the stopped watch on the wall
Plot: When Bluebell the stuffed bear comes to Tuff Fluff, Private Investigator, for help, Tuff Fluff is immediately on the case. Bluebell's friend Duckie was reading Bluebell a story when he suddenly lost the ability to speak. Now all Duckie can do is quack. Upon further investigation, Tuff finds out that Duckie's seam has come unsewn, and the fluff that made up his brain has been stolen. Is this the work of the residents of Beantown, an area of toys in Los Attic who think they are better than everyone else because they are stuffed with beans instead of stuffing? SPOILER! When Tuff Fluff, Bluebell, and Duckie confront the inhabitants of Beantown about the crime, they find that the residents of Beantown enjoy Duckie's stories too. Everyone in Los Attic bands together to find Duckie a new brain. Eventually, Bluebell donates some spare fluff to make a new brain for Duckie, and the Beantown residents contribute a bean as well. Duckie is recovered, and everyone joins together to hear him tell stories once again.
Comments: This is a fun appealing adventure story with an exciting tone. The story is told from Tuff Fluff's perspective, and children will enjoy trying to guess what will happen next. Besides the narration, the pictures are also engaging. They are simultaneously dark enough to match the mood, but bright enough to keep the story light-hearted. Fun details are added to each picture: a ceiling fan made out of a pencil eraser and paperclips, and houses made out of cardboard boxes.
As fun as this book is, it can also be off-putting as well. This is listed as a book for children ages 4-8, but it's also a chapter book disguised as a picture book. Each chapter is about two to three pages long, and is accompanied by many full page illustrations. Because of this, the book is really for older children in the age range. See the Red Flags section as well.
Themes: Cooperation, Stories, Mysteries, Toy Animals, Accepting others' differences.
Red Flags: SPOILERS! Duckie's brain is eventually found: it's a ball of fluff, marking the place in the book Duckie was reading to Bluebell. The stuffing just simply fell out. Before they can put the stuffing back in, however, a wind comes through the room and blows Duckie's stuffing brain into Bluebell's mouth, who promptly swallows it. This isn't too disgusting when one focuses on the fact that it is simply stuffing being swallowed by a stuffed bear, but the implications are kind of gross. Children would probably not be bothered by this fact, however.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Duck at the Door
Author/Illustrator: Jackie Urbanovic
Year: 2007
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Animals
Series Information: First book in the Max the Duck series.
Location: A farm in the country (U.S.A.)
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: When Max the Duck decides he wants to see what winter is like, he is taken by surprise—it's so cold! He knocks on the door of Irene and her birds, cats, dogs, rabbit, and ferret, and is welcomed with open arms. Soon Max makes himself right at home—hogging the TV, experimenting with recipes in the kitchen, and playing with his rubber duckies in the bathtub. SPOILER! When Spring comes, Max leaves to join his flock. Suddenly life without Max seems boring. When Winter comes again Max comes back, and he brings his flock with him!
Comments: This book is a great example of how pictures can tell a lot of the story if you let them. You wouldn't really think that the animals are annoyed with Max's antics if you didn't see the annoyance on the animals' faces. Each watercolor picture is simply done, but it speaks volumes. Words placed by each animal on the page also help convey what each animal is thinking. There is plenty of white space on the page, which makes this a great book for younger children. However, because a lot of the story is told in the pictures instead of the words, I wouldn't recommend this for a very big crowd.
The animals themselves steal the show, and Max is hilarious. No wonder this book and the others in the series are on the New York Times Bestseller list!
Themes: Ducks, Animals, Migration, Winter, Spring, Pros and Cons of Friendship
Year: 2007
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Animals
Series Information: First book in the Max the Duck series.
Location: A farm in the country (U.S.A.)
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: When Max the Duck decides he wants to see what winter is like, he is taken by surprise—it's so cold! He knocks on the door of Irene and her birds, cats, dogs, rabbit, and ferret, and is welcomed with open arms. Soon Max makes himself right at home—hogging the TV, experimenting with recipes in the kitchen, and playing with his rubber duckies in the bathtub. SPOILER! When Spring comes, Max leaves to join his flock. Suddenly life without Max seems boring. When Winter comes again Max comes back, and he brings his flock with him!
Comments: This book is a great example of how pictures can tell a lot of the story if you let them. You wouldn't really think that the animals are annoyed with Max's antics if you didn't see the annoyance on the animals' faces. Each watercolor picture is simply done, but it speaks volumes. Words placed by each animal on the page also help convey what each animal is thinking. There is plenty of white space on the page, which makes this a great book for younger children. However, because a lot of the story is told in the pictures instead of the words, I wouldn't recommend this for a very big crowd.
The animals themselves steal the show, and Max is hilarious. No wonder this book and the others in the series are on the New York Times Bestseller list!
Themes: Ducks, Animals, Migration, Winter, Spring, Pros and Cons of Friendship
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Read All About It!
Authors: Lara and Jenna Bush
Illustrator: Denise Brunkus
Year: 2008
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book
Location: Good Day Elementary School
Time Period: Present Day (2008)
Plot: Tyrone loves school. He loves hanging out with his friends and solving math problems and watching the science teacher make things explode. However, there is one thing he doesn't like—reading books. Tyrone doesn't pay attention when it is time for story time. But one day, even Tyrone becomes enthralled with the book Miss Libro reads to the children for story time. Suddenly, the characters in the books seem to pop right out of the pages and visit with the schoolchildren. SPOILER! When the children's favorite story character, a pig strongly reminiscent of Wilbur, disappears, Tyrone and his friends go on a search for him. They eventually find the pig and all of the other characters they have met throughout the year in the school library.
Comments: I don't usually read the picture books written by celebrities. It seems highly likely that the books are getting published not because they have any literary merit, but because the author's name is popular and thus profitable. However, I do have a soft spot for Laura Bush since she's a fellow librarian, so I thought I'd try the children's book she wrote with her daughter.
On the whole, but book was cute. The message of finding good friends in a book (and in the library) was a little contrived, but isn't that one reason why I read? I like meeting new people and wondering what it would be like to be them. The pictures were bright and clear and interesting, and there were a lot of fun details specific to each page that were fun to find. For example, the class Book List and Class Rules changed on each page.
The most distracting thing for me was a small thing that most readers wouldn't even think twice about: All of the signs, books, posters, etc. in the artwork used fonts that you'd find in word processing software. They weren't painted in like the rest of the picture, but were obviously added in digitally later. It was just slightly jarring to me. But on the whole, I think this is a good book that young elementary-age readers will enjoy.
Themes: Reading, Story Characters, Libraries
Multicultural Elements: One or two of the children in the classroom are obviously of different races, but that is it.
Illustrator: Denise Brunkus
Year: 2008
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book
Location: Good Day Elementary School
Time Period: Present Day (2008)
Plot: Tyrone loves school. He loves hanging out with his friends and solving math problems and watching the science teacher make things explode. However, there is one thing he doesn't like—reading books. Tyrone doesn't pay attention when it is time for story time. But one day, even Tyrone becomes enthralled with the book Miss Libro reads to the children for story time. Suddenly, the characters in the books seem to pop right out of the pages and visit with the schoolchildren. SPOILER! When the children's favorite story character, a pig strongly reminiscent of Wilbur, disappears, Tyrone and his friends go on a search for him. They eventually find the pig and all of the other characters they have met throughout the year in the school library.
Comments: I don't usually read the picture books written by celebrities. It seems highly likely that the books are getting published not because they have any literary merit, but because the author's name is popular and thus profitable. However, I do have a soft spot for Laura Bush since she's a fellow librarian, so I thought I'd try the children's book she wrote with her daughter.
On the whole, but book was cute. The message of finding good friends in a book (and in the library) was a little contrived, but isn't that one reason why I read? I like meeting new people and wondering what it would be like to be them. The pictures were bright and clear and interesting, and there were a lot of fun details specific to each page that were fun to find. For example, the class Book List and Class Rules changed on each page.
The most distracting thing for me was a small thing that most readers wouldn't even think twice about: All of the signs, books, posters, etc. in the artwork used fonts that you'd find in word processing software. They weren't painted in like the rest of the picture, but were obviously added in digitally later. It was just slightly jarring to me. But on the whole, I think this is a good book that young elementary-age readers will enjoy.
Themes: Reading, Story Characters, Libraries
Multicultural Elements: One or two of the children in the classroom are obviously of different races, but that is it.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Timothy and the Strong Pajamas
Author/Illustrator: Viviane Schwarz
Year: 2007
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Animal Adventure Story
Location: Not Specified
Time Period: Present Day? (2007)
Plot: When Timothy Smallbeast's mother fixes his favorite pajamas with "patches of power" and "buttons of braveness," Timothy suddenly finds that he has super strength. Determined to use his new superpower for good, he sets out to help an elephant, an old lady, a princess, some sailors, a zookeeper, a kitten, and a bear. SPOILER! When Timothy's pajamas rip, he loses his super strength, and must ask for help from those he just helped himself. When he gets home, his mother fixes his pajamas again.
Comments: If the storyline of this book is not fun enough, Schwarz makes this book even more fun by using various font sizes to emphasize particular points. The pictures are also bright and full of bold, yet simple color schemes. At times this book looks like a graphic novel, with different panes on one page. At other times, a single image takes up the entire page. I especially liked the comments of Timothy's stuffed monkey, who gave commentary on Timothy's feats of amazing strength. This is a book that I think any child will enjoy.
Themes: Friendship, Favorite Objects, Helping Others
Year: 2007
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Animal Adventure Story
Location: Not Specified
Time Period: Present Day? (2007)
Plot: When Timothy Smallbeast's mother fixes his favorite pajamas with "patches of power" and "buttons of braveness," Timothy suddenly finds that he has super strength. Determined to use his new superpower for good, he sets out to help an elephant, an old lady, a princess, some sailors, a zookeeper, a kitten, and a bear. SPOILER! When Timothy's pajamas rip, he loses his super strength, and must ask for help from those he just helped himself. When he gets home, his mother fixes his pajamas again.
Comments: If the storyline of this book is not fun enough, Schwarz makes this book even more fun by using various font sizes to emphasize particular points. The pictures are also bright and full of bold, yet simple color schemes. At times this book looks like a graphic novel, with different panes on one page. At other times, a single image takes up the entire page. I especially liked the comments of Timothy's stuffed monkey, who gave commentary on Timothy's feats of amazing strength. This is a book that I think any child will enjoy.
Themes: Friendship, Favorite Objects, Helping Others
Monday, January 26, 2009
11 Planets: A New View of the Solar System
Author/Illustrator: David A. Aguilar
Year: 2008
Publisher: National Geographic Society
Pages: 48
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Non-Fiction/Science
Location: the Solar System
Time Period: Present (2008)
Book Summary: Discusses the different objects that make up our solar system according to the new standards written by the International Astronomical Union. Covers objects from the sun to the planets, to the new dwarf planets, to comets, and more.
Comments: I've been wanting to read this book for awhile, because the title was so intriguing to me. Eleven planets?! I thought we only had eight now! How did we gain three? Upon reading the book, it all became clear: this book includes the three newly-defined dwarf planets (one of them being Pluto) in its list of planets. It even includes a little mnemonic device for memorizing them all: My Very Exciting Magic Carpet Just Sailed Under Nine Palace Elephants.
The facts in the book seemed accurate, labeling each object as a planet or a dwarf planet, although it didn't really go into the explanation of what makes one thing a planet, and what makes another a dwarf planet. I'm actually still confused on that point, but it kind of seems like the scientific community is still confused about it as well.
Despite my confusion, this is a nice brief overview of the solar system that I think children will enjoy. Most of the pictures in the book are photographs or realistic-looking illustrations, and many pictures are labeled. A glossary, index, and other fun facts are included at the back of the book.
Themes: Science, Solar System, Planets, Exploration
Red Flags: None
Year: 2008
Publisher: National Geographic Society
Pages: 48
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Genre: Non-Fiction/Science
Location: the Solar System
Time Period: Present (2008)
Book Summary: Discusses the different objects that make up our solar system according to the new standards written by the International Astronomical Union. Covers objects from the sun to the planets, to the new dwarf planets, to comets, and more.
Comments: I've been wanting to read this book for awhile, because the title was so intriguing to me. Eleven planets?! I thought we only had eight now! How did we gain three? Upon reading the book, it all became clear: this book includes the three newly-defined dwarf planets (one of them being Pluto) in its list of planets. It even includes a little mnemonic device for memorizing them all: My Very Exciting Magic Carpet Just Sailed Under Nine Palace Elephants.
The facts in the book seemed accurate, labeling each object as a planet or a dwarf planet, although it didn't really go into the explanation of what makes one thing a planet, and what makes another a dwarf planet. I'm actually still confused on that point, but it kind of seems like the scientific community is still confused about it as well.
Despite my confusion, this is a nice brief overview of the solar system that I think children will enjoy. Most of the pictures in the book are photographs or realistic-looking illustrations, and many pictures are labeled. A glossary, index, and other fun facts are included at the back of the book.
Themes: Science, Solar System, Planets, Exploration
Red Flags: None
Friday, December 12, 2008
The Book of Boys (for Girls) and the Book of Girls (for Boys)
Author: David T. Greenberg
Illustrator: Joy Allen
Year: 2005
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Poetry
Location: Anywhere, U.S.A.
Time Period: Present Day (2005)
Plot: Starting off with the classic nursery rhymes stating what little boys and girls are made of, this book turns into a battle of the sexes, with girls on left pages talking about what they don't like about boys, and boys on right pages talking about what they don't like about girls. Peace is restored when each gender discusses the things they like about the other.
Comments: The text on the inside flap of this book states that it is intended as two books in one. "Boys can read the Book of Girls (for Boys) on the left side, and the girls can counter by reading the Book of Boys (for Girls) on the right." Text isn't always lined up this way, however, so it might be hard for two people to read the different parts at the same time. It's a very fun idea, however, and the rhymes are creative. The watercolor and pencil drawings are fun and bright, and they show a lot of action. Children who are entering the "cootie" stage would enjoy this book.
Themes: Boys, Girls, Getting Along, Looking for the Good in Others.
Red Flags: A few burp and fart jokes, Children misbehaving
Multicultural Elements: Children of many different cultures are depicted
Illustrator: Joy Allen
Year: 2005
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Poetry
Location: Anywhere, U.S.A.
Time Period: Present Day (2005)
Plot: Starting off with the classic nursery rhymes stating what little boys and girls are made of, this book turns into a battle of the sexes, with girls on left pages talking about what they don't like about boys, and boys on right pages talking about what they don't like about girls. Peace is restored when each gender discusses the things they like about the other.
Comments: The text on the inside flap of this book states that it is intended as two books in one. "Boys can read the Book of Girls (for Boys) on the left side, and the girls can counter by reading the Book of Boys (for Girls) on the right." Text isn't always lined up this way, however, so it might be hard for two people to read the different parts at the same time. It's a very fun idea, however, and the rhymes are creative. The watercolor and pencil drawings are fun and bright, and they show a lot of action. Children who are entering the "cootie" stage would enjoy this book.
Themes: Boys, Girls, Getting Along, Looking for the Good in Others.
Red Flags: A few burp and fart jokes, Children misbehaving
Multicultural Elements: Children of many different cultures are depicted
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
All in Just One Cookie
Author: Susan E. Goodman
Illustrator: Timothy Bush
Year: 2006
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 2007 ALA Notable Book
Genre: Picture Book/Non-Fiction
Location: Grandma's Kitchen/All over the World
Time Period: Present Day (2006)
Plot: While Grandma gathers and mixes each of the ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies, the cat and the dog research how each ingredient is made and how it all mixes together to create a delicious treat.
Comments: This book pulls out all the stops in trying to teach children where their food comes from in an interesting and entertaining way. The pictures are bright and attractive, and the hungry dog and curious cat are fun to watch. Little jokes are made on each page. My favorite joke comes from the chickens who state, "I'm not crossing that road!" when they see the cat driving the eggs to the store.
The information in the book seems solid, and it goes into more detail than I thought a picture book would. For example, children get a small food chain lesson when they learn about the ecosystem surrounding saltwater ponds. The book ends with a map of the world depicting where each ingredient comes from. A recipe for chocolate chip cookies is found on the very last page of the book. This book may be used for information for young children's reports, but more information would probably be needed for older audiences.
Themes: Baking, History of Ingredients, Chocolate Chip Cookies
Red Flags: None
Illustrator: Timothy Bush
Year: 2006
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Intermediate (ages 9-12)
Awards: 2007 ALA Notable Book
Genre: Picture Book/Non-Fiction
Location: Grandma's Kitchen/All over the World
Time Period: Present Day (2006)
Plot: While Grandma gathers and mixes each of the ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies, the cat and the dog research how each ingredient is made and how it all mixes together to create a delicious treat.
Comments: This book pulls out all the stops in trying to teach children where their food comes from in an interesting and entertaining way. The pictures are bright and attractive, and the hungry dog and curious cat are fun to watch. Little jokes are made on each page. My favorite joke comes from the chickens who state, "I'm not crossing that road!" when they see the cat driving the eggs to the store.
The information in the book seems solid, and it goes into more detail than I thought a picture book would. For example, children get a small food chain lesson when they learn about the ecosystem surrounding saltwater ponds. The book ends with a map of the world depicting where each ingredient comes from. A recipe for chocolate chip cookies is found on the very last page of the book. This book may be used for information for young children's reports, but more information would probably be needed for older audiences.
Themes: Baking, History of Ingredients, Chocolate Chip Cookies
Red Flags: None
How I Became a Pirate
Author: Melinda Long
Illustrator: David Shannon
Year: 2003
Publisher: Harcourt
Pages: 44
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2004 ALA Notable Book, 2004 Book Sense Book of the Year
Genre: Picture Book/Adventure
Series Information: First of the Pirate books
Location: High Seas
Time Period: Present Day (2003)
Plot: When Braid Beard and his crew land at the beach, they meet Jeremy Jacob, a boy whose family is vacationing at the beach that day. Braid Beard notices Jeremy's talents at digging in the sand, and he asks Jeremy to join the crew and help them find the perfect place to bury their treasure. Jeremy agrees, and at first he enjoys eating with his mouth open and staying up past his bedtime. Jeremy starts to rethink his decision when he realizes that pirates don't get a bedtime story and goodnight kiss each night. SPOILER! When a terrible storm hits, and the ship loses its mast, Jeremy decides he has had enough of being a pirate. He suggests that Braid Beard and the crew hide their treasure in his back yard, which they do with the promise that they'll come by to see if he ever needs help.
Comments: Boys especially will like this story of a boy who gets to act up as much as he wants, but determines that he'd rather be home with his parents. Shannon's paintings are full of detail, and his pirates are hilarious. Even on pages that are mostly text, pirates are drawn around the edges, giving the effect of pirates looking at you from above as you lay on the floor looking up. The text is fun, but the best part of it is the crew's habit of repeating whatever it is the captain says in large, bold, messy letters.
Themes: Pirates, Treasure, Acting Up, Appreciating Regular Life
Red Flags: Small instances of Peril; Most of the characters are pirates, but they're harmless ones.
Illustrator: David Shannon
Year: 2003
Publisher: Harcourt
Pages: 44
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2004 ALA Notable Book, 2004 Book Sense Book of the Year
Genre: Picture Book/Adventure
Series Information: First of the Pirate books
Location: High Seas
Time Period: Present Day (2003)
Plot: When Braid Beard and his crew land at the beach, they meet Jeremy Jacob, a boy whose family is vacationing at the beach that day. Braid Beard notices Jeremy's talents at digging in the sand, and he asks Jeremy to join the crew and help them find the perfect place to bury their treasure. Jeremy agrees, and at first he enjoys eating with his mouth open and staying up past his bedtime. Jeremy starts to rethink his decision when he realizes that pirates don't get a bedtime story and goodnight kiss each night. SPOILER! When a terrible storm hits, and the ship loses its mast, Jeremy decides he has had enough of being a pirate. He suggests that Braid Beard and the crew hide their treasure in his back yard, which they do with the promise that they'll come by to see if he ever needs help.
Comments: Boys especially will like this story of a boy who gets to act up as much as he wants, but determines that he'd rather be home with his parents. Shannon's paintings are full of detail, and his pirates are hilarious. Even on pages that are mostly text, pirates are drawn around the edges, giving the effect of pirates looking at you from above as you lay on the floor looking up. The text is fun, but the best part of it is the crew's habit of repeating whatever it is the captain says in large, bold, messy letters.
Themes: Pirates, Treasure, Acting Up, Appreciating Regular Life
Red Flags: Small instances of Peril; Most of the characters are pirates, but they're harmless ones.
Baby Brains: The Smartest Baby in the Whole World
Author/Illustrator: Simon James
Year: 2004
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2004 Horn Book Fanfare award
Genre: Picture Book/Fantasy
Series Information: First of the Baby Brains series
Location: Anytown, USA
Time Period: Present Day (2003)
Plot: Mr. and Mrs. Brains wanted their baby to be smart, so even before he was born Mrs. Brains read to him at night and played classical music and foreign language tapes during the day. The morning after Mr. and Mrs. Brains bring him back from the hospital, he is discovered reading the newspaper and he fixes the family car. He attends school and earns a medical degree in a matter of weeks. When NASA finds out about Baby Brains, they ask him to go on the next space mission. SPOILER! Finding himself alone in the middle of space, Baby Brains finally does something normal: he asks for his mommy. Baby Brains is sent back home, where he decides to enjoy the benefits of being a baby, except for on weekends when he helps out at the local hospital.
Comments: Children will probably love the absurd idea of a baby who is so smart that he can fix a car, practice medicine, and become an astronaut. Simon James has an artistic style similar to that of Quentin Blake of the Roald Dahl books fame. In fact, the slightly absurd subject matter and pictures made me feel like I was reading a Roald Dahl book written for younger readers.
Themes: Genius Children, Babies, The importance of families
Red Flags: None
Year: 2004
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2004 Horn Book Fanfare award
Genre: Picture Book/Fantasy
Series Information: First of the Baby Brains series
Location: Anytown, USA
Time Period: Present Day (2003)
Plot: Mr. and Mrs. Brains wanted their baby to be smart, so even before he was born Mrs. Brains read to him at night and played classical music and foreign language tapes during the day. The morning after Mr. and Mrs. Brains bring him back from the hospital, he is discovered reading the newspaper and he fixes the family car. He attends school and earns a medical degree in a matter of weeks. When NASA finds out about Baby Brains, they ask him to go on the next space mission. SPOILER! Finding himself alone in the middle of space, Baby Brains finally does something normal: he asks for his mommy. Baby Brains is sent back home, where he decides to enjoy the benefits of being a baby, except for on weekends when he helps out at the local hospital.
Comments: Children will probably love the absurd idea of a baby who is so smart that he can fix a car, practice medicine, and become an astronaut. Simon James has an artistic style similar to that of Quentin Blake of the Roald Dahl books fame. In fact, the slightly absurd subject matter and pictures made me feel like I was reading a Roald Dahl book written for younger readers.
Themes: Genius Children, Babies, The importance of families
Red Flags: None
Monday, December 8, 2008
Duck and Goose
Author/Illustrator: Tad Hills
Year: 2006
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2007 ALA Notable Book for Children
Genre: Picture Book
Series Information: First book in the Duck & Goose series
Location: A ball sitting in the grass in a meadow
Time Period: Present Day (2006)
Plot: When Duck and Goose spot a large white ball with yellow, orange, and red spots on it, they mistake it for an egg. The two begin to fight over whose egg it is, and they eventually decide to raise it together. SPOILER! When a bluebird comes by and asks if he can play with their ball too, Duck and Goose realize their mistake, and they begin playing with the ball instead of sitting on it.
Comments: This was a very cute story. Hills manages to teach children about cooperation and sharing without hitting them over the head with the message. Hills also tries to keep children's interest with the text, making shouted phrases in bigger fonts and placing text in different places on the page. Perhaps the most successful part of this story is Hills' description of Duck and Goose, who are both comical characters. A lot of this comes through in Hills' artwork. His paintings are bright and fun. I especially enjoyed the expressions and mannerisms he manages to give Duck and Goose even though they're simply drawn.
Themes: Sharing, Friendship, Cooperation, Mistaken Identity
Red Flags: None
Year: 2006
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2007 ALA Notable Book for Children
Genre: Picture Book
Series Information: First book in the Duck & Goose series
Location: A ball sitting in the grass in a meadow
Time Period: Present Day (2006)
Plot: When Duck and Goose spot a large white ball with yellow, orange, and red spots on it, they mistake it for an egg. The two begin to fight over whose egg it is, and they eventually decide to raise it together. SPOILER! When a bluebird comes by and asks if he can play with their ball too, Duck and Goose realize their mistake, and they begin playing with the ball instead of sitting on it.
Comments: This was a very cute story. Hills manages to teach children about cooperation and sharing without hitting them over the head with the message. Hills also tries to keep children's interest with the text, making shouted phrases in bigger fonts and placing text in different places on the page. Perhaps the most successful part of this story is Hills' description of Duck and Goose, who are both comical characters. A lot of this comes through in Hills' artwork. His paintings are bright and fun. I especially enjoyed the expressions and mannerisms he manages to give Duck and Goose even though they're simply drawn.
Themes: Sharing, Friendship, Cooperation, Mistaken Identity
Red Flags: None
At Night
Author/Illustrator: Jonathan Bean
Year: 2007
Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2007 Horn Book Fanfare award, 2008 Charlotte Zolotow Award
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction
Location: New York City at Night
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: A young girl who cannot sleep feels a breeze coming from her bedroom window. She picks up her pillow and blankets and follows the breeze upstairs to the roof of their house in New York City, where she makes a bed out of two garden chairs. She then falls asleep after watching the stars. The last page shows the mother sitting next to the little girl, enjoying the peace and quiet.
Comments: The soothing, rhythmic text and the calm, muted pictures make this book an excellent choice for bedtime reading. It was obvious to me that the author is an artist rather than a storyteller because sometimes the text is interrupted at an odd place for the insertion of another picture, but this doesn't really matter that much since it is in the pictures that the story is truly told. This book makes me wish I had a rooftop garden to sleep in during the summer months.
Themes: Having Trouble Sleeping, New York at Night, Enjoying the world around you.
Red Flags: None
Year: 2007
Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2007 Horn Book Fanfare award, 2008 Charlotte Zolotow Award
Genre: Picture Book/Realistic Fiction
Location: New York City at Night
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: A young girl who cannot sleep feels a breeze coming from her bedroom window. She picks up her pillow and blankets and follows the breeze upstairs to the roof of their house in New York City, where she makes a bed out of two garden chairs. She then falls asleep after watching the stars. The last page shows the mother sitting next to the little girl, enjoying the peace and quiet.
Comments: The soothing, rhythmic text and the calm, muted pictures make this book an excellent choice for bedtime reading. It was obvious to me that the author is an artist rather than a storyteller because sometimes the text is interrupted at an odd place for the insertion of another picture, but this doesn't really matter that much since it is in the pictures that the story is truly told. This book makes me wish I had a rooftop garden to sleep in during the summer months.
Themes: Having Trouble Sleeping, New York at Night, Enjoying the world around you.
Red Flags: None
Friday, December 5, 2008
Babymouse: Queen of the World!
Authors: Jennifer L. Holm
Illustrator: Matthew Holm
Year: 2005
Publisher: Random House
Pages: 91
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Graphic Novel
Series Information: First Book in the Babymouse Series
Location: Elementary School
Time Period: Present Day (2005)
Plot: When Babymouse hears that the most popular girl in school, Felicia Furrypaws, is having a sleepover, Babymouse becomes determined to get an invitation, even if it means helping Felicia cheat on her book report and letting down her best friend, Wilson Weasel. SPOILER! When Babymouse goes to the sleepover, she realizes just how mean Felicia is and just how much they don't have in common. Babymouse realizes that she doesn't need to be popular to be happy, and she leaves the sleepover, and heads over to Wilson's house to make amends.
Comments: I can see why this book is popular. Babymouse is not only a precocious little mouse, she's also extremely imaginative. The pictures in the book are mostly black and white, until Babymouse starts daydreaming, at which point the pages explode with the color pink. Babymouse's imagination turns even the most boring of topics into something fun and exciting. Children probably also enjoy the fact that this is a "thick" book that they can read and understand.
Themes: Sleepovers, Friends, Popularity, Using your Imagination
Red Flags: None
Illustrator: Matthew Holm
Year: 2005
Publisher: Random House
Pages: 91
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Graphic Novel
Series Information: First Book in the Babymouse Series
Location: Elementary School
Time Period: Present Day (2005)
Plot: When Babymouse hears that the most popular girl in school, Felicia Furrypaws, is having a sleepover, Babymouse becomes determined to get an invitation, even if it means helping Felicia cheat on her book report and letting down her best friend, Wilson Weasel. SPOILER! When Babymouse goes to the sleepover, she realizes just how mean Felicia is and just how much they don't have in common. Babymouse realizes that she doesn't need to be popular to be happy, and she leaves the sleepover, and heads over to Wilson's house to make amends.
Comments: I can see why this book is popular. Babymouse is not only a precocious little mouse, she's also extremely imaginative. The pictures in the book are mostly black and white, until Babymouse starts daydreaming, at which point the pages explode with the color pink. Babymouse's imagination turns even the most boring of topics into something fun and exciting. Children probably also enjoy the fact that this is a "thick" book that they can read and understand.
Themes: Sleepovers, Friends, Popularity, Using your Imagination
Red Flags: None
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Black? White! Day? Night!
Author/Illustrator: Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Year: 2006
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Pages: 24
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2007 ALA Notable Children's Book
Genre: Picture Book/Movable Book
Location: Anywhere
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: This book discusses opposites in a question and answer format. Each page is a lift-the-flap with holes cut so the reader can see a section of what is on the inside of the page. What seems like one thing on the top of the flap is revealed to be its exact opposite when the flap is lifted.
Comments: This book was very entertaining and educational. It not only contains flaps that children will love to lift, but the illustrations are bold and bright. The opposites used are sometimes unexpected, and will keep even older children guessing. My favorite page was the Sad? Happy! page.
Themes: Opposites
Red Flags: None
Year: 2006
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Pages: 24
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2007 ALA Notable Children's Book
Genre: Picture Book/Movable Book
Location: Anywhere
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: This book discusses opposites in a question and answer format. Each page is a lift-the-flap with holes cut so the reader can see a section of what is on the inside of the page. What seems like one thing on the top of the flap is revealed to be its exact opposite when the flap is lifted.
Comments: This book was very entertaining and educational. It not only contains flaps that children will love to lift, but the illustrations are bold and bright. The opposites used are sometimes unexpected, and will keep even older children guessing. My favorite page was the Sad? Happy! page.
Themes: Opposites
Red Flags: None
Tails
Author: Matthew Van Fleet
Art Directed by: Skip Skwarck
Year: 2003
Publisher: Red Wagon Books (Harcourt, Inc.)
Pages: 20
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (Preschool)
Genre: Picture Book/Tactile Book/Movable Book
Plot: Children will learn about different animals and their tails in this movable book which includes 7 different textures to touch, a scratch-and-sniff scent, pull tabs and flaps, and more.
Comments: If you look at the back of the book, it looks like this is the ultimate educational tool. Along with the features I mentioned above, this book claims it "demonstrates opposites, actions, counting, and more." The rhyming text was minimal, but it did convey the idea of opposites. The last page included a picture of all of the animals in the book, along with labels of their names. (I was impressed when the monkey was labelled as a Tamarin). I guess I've got a long way to go as an educator. I also read this book to the same 2 1/2 year-old mentioned in the previous post, and besides touching all of the different tails, I had the most fun asking her what noises the different animals make (the monkey says "aaaaa"). I didn't even think about discussing the concept of opposites with her. Despite my personal lackings, this is a very well put-together book with bright colors that I think children would enjoy even without the tactile and movable elements. Those just make the book more fun.
Themes: Animals, Tails, Learning what makes things different
Red Flags: None
Art Directed by: Skip Skwarck
Year: 2003
Publisher: Red Wagon Books (Harcourt, Inc.)
Pages: 20
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (Preschool)
Genre: Picture Book/Tactile Book/Movable Book
Plot: Children will learn about different animals and their tails in this movable book which includes 7 different textures to touch, a scratch-and-sniff scent, pull tabs and flaps, and more.
Comments: If you look at the back of the book, it looks like this is the ultimate educational tool. Along with the features I mentioned above, this book claims it "demonstrates opposites, actions, counting, and more." The rhyming text was minimal, but it did convey the idea of opposites. The last page included a picture of all of the animals in the book, along with labels of their names. (I was impressed when the monkey was labelled as a Tamarin). I guess I've got a long way to go as an educator. I also read this book to the same 2 1/2 year-old mentioned in the previous post, and besides touching all of the different tails, I had the most fun asking her what noises the different animals make (the monkey says "aaaaa"). I didn't even think about discussing the concept of opposites with her. Despite my personal lackings, this is a very well put-together book with bright colors that I think children would enjoy even without the tactile and movable elements. Those just make the book more fun.
Themes: Animals, Tails, Learning what makes things different
Red Flags: None
Ten Little Ladybugs
Author: Melanie Gerth
Illustrator: Laura Huliska-Beith
Year: 2003
Publisher: Piggy Toes Press
Pages: 22
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Counting Book
Series Information: Same idea used in Good Night, Sweet Butterflies and others
Location: Anywhere in the World
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: Young children learn to count backwards as their parents read of ten little ladybugs who fly away one by one.
Comments: In most book reviews I would discuss Gerth's whimsical rhyme or the dreamlike quality of Huliska-Beith's watercolors. Both are excellent reasons to like this book, and I think they are important in keeping a young child's attention. However, I read this book to a 2 1/2 year old over the Thanksgiving break, and the part she obviously loved the most was the fact that she could actually touch each of the bumpy ladybugs that stood out of the page. She touched them over and over and over again as I counted. I guess it just goes to show that a picture book can be of the highest quality, but the child actually gets the most out of the fact that they are having a one-on-one moment with a parent or other adult. Either that, or those bumpy ladybugs are a lot of fun! :)
Themes: Counting Backwards, Ladybugs
Red Flags: None
Illustrator: Laura Huliska-Beith
Year: 2003
Publisher: Piggy Toes Press
Pages: 22
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Genre: Picture Book/Counting Book
Series Information: Same idea used in Good Night, Sweet Butterflies and others
Location: Anywhere in the World
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Plot: Young children learn to count backwards as their parents read of ten little ladybugs who fly away one by one.
Comments: In most book reviews I would discuss Gerth's whimsical rhyme or the dreamlike quality of Huliska-Beith's watercolors. Both are excellent reasons to like this book, and I think they are important in keeping a young child's attention. However, I read this book to a 2 1/2 year old over the Thanksgiving break, and the part she obviously loved the most was the fact that she could actually touch each of the bumpy ladybugs that stood out of the page. She touched them over and over and over again as I counted. I guess it just goes to show that a picture book can be of the highest quality, but the child actually gets the most out of the fact that they are having a one-on-one moment with a parent or other adult. Either that, or those bumpy ladybugs are a lot of fun! :)
Themes: Counting Backwards, Ladybugs
Red Flags: None
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Apples to Oregon
Extended Title: Apples to Oregon: Being the (Slightly) True Narrative of How a Brave Pioneer Father Brought Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Grapes, and Cherries (and Children) Across the Plains
Author: Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrator: Nancy Carpenter
Year: 2004
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2005 ALA Notable Book, 2004 Golden Kite Award
Genre: Picture Book, Historical Fiction/Tall Tale/Western
Location: Oregon Trail
Time Period: Early 1800s
Plot: A tall tale based loosely on the life of Henderson Luelling, this book describes what it might have been like on the trail when a farmer from Iowa tries to bring not only his family across the prairie to Oregon, but also hundreds of fruit trees and vines as well. The family encounters adventures such as crossing the Platte and Columbia Rivers, dust storms, droughts, dangerous mountain passes, and the oncoming threat of winter.
Comments: Hopkinson writes in an amusing, singsong tone that sounds just like someone telling a western tall tale. Although this is the story of Henderson Luelling, children will like the fact that it is the main character, Delicious, who saves the trees again and again. Carpenter's oil paintings are fun and bright and golden, matching the tone of Hopkinson's tall tale. The end of the book includes a note about the source of the tale, describing who Henderson Luelling really was and giving a little bit of the history of what it takes to grow apples. Children can learn something with this book without feeling like the information is being crammed down their throats.
Themes: Crossing the Plains, Pioneers, Fruit, Apples, Henderson Luelling
Red Flags: A mighty dust storm requires all of the children to take off their clothes and drape them over the fruit trees, other slight instances of peril
Author: Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrator: Nancy Carpenter
Year: 2004
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Beginning Reader (ages 4-8)
Awards: 2005 ALA Notable Book, 2004 Golden Kite Award
Genre: Picture Book, Historical Fiction/Tall Tale/Western
Location: Oregon Trail
Time Period: Early 1800s
Plot: A tall tale based loosely on the life of Henderson Luelling, this book describes what it might have been like on the trail when a farmer from Iowa tries to bring not only his family across the prairie to Oregon, but also hundreds of fruit trees and vines as well. The family encounters adventures such as crossing the Platte and Columbia Rivers, dust storms, droughts, dangerous mountain passes, and the oncoming threat of winter.
Comments: Hopkinson writes in an amusing, singsong tone that sounds just like someone telling a western tall tale. Although this is the story of Henderson Luelling, children will like the fact that it is the main character, Delicious, who saves the trees again and again. Carpenter's oil paintings are fun and bright and golden, matching the tone of Hopkinson's tall tale. The end of the book includes a note about the source of the tale, describing who Henderson Luelling really was and giving a little bit of the history of what it takes to grow apples. Children can learn something with this book without feeling like the information is being crammed down their throats.
Themes: Crossing the Plains, Pioneers, Fruit, Apples, Henderson Luelling
Red Flags: A mighty dust storm requires all of the children to take off their clothes and drape them over the fruit trees, other slight instances of peril
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