THE BRAID by Helen Frost

1. Bibliography

Frost, Helen. 2006. The Braid. New York: Frances Foster Books. ISBN 9780374309626

2. Plot Summary

Set during the 1850s in Scotland and Canada, The Braid follows the experiences of two Scottish sisters who become separated.  One sister emigrates to Canada with their family, and the other chooses to remain in the homeland she loves, Scotland. The story follows their trials, losses, loves, and joys as they navigate through childhood and move toward adulthood.  Through their experiences the sisters learn that despite their physical distance their bond of love and sisterhood bind them forever together.  As they find their way through life apart they are still always together. 

    3. Critical Analysis

Frost seamlessly and intricately weaves her compelling tale of two sisters as she braids their experiences together, alternating narrative poems and smaller praise poems. The language and the sound of her prose rolls from the tongue, evoking feelings of longing, loss, courage, determination, and the harsh beautiful landscape of the sea which gives the characters their roots. Frost uses beautiful natural metaphors to enrich her text like the line, “Each stalk hold all the sun.”  Just as the sun and time feed each stock of wheat as it grows toward harvest, so to does time and experience provide growth and hope for Sarah and Jeannie through their experiences. This beautiful book of hope, loss, courage, and determination will find its way into the hearts of readers as they loose themselves in Frost's masterful prose.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)

YALSA “Best Books for Young Adults, 2007”

2007 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book

2007 Honor Book: “Lion and the Unicorn” Award for Excellence in North American Poetry

School Library Journal “Best Books of the Year, 2006”

NCSS-CBC Notable Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies

Notable Book in Historical Fiction, 2007, for the Children's Literature Assembly (CLA)

Texas TAYSHAS High School Reading List

*Starred review in School Library Journal: "This gem of a book ultimately tackles age-old issues of teen pregnancy, death, poverty, and first love in a timeless manner.  Accomplished and impressive." 

*Starred review in Booklist: "The Braid is both powerful fact and stirring metaphor . . . the book will inspire students and teachers to go back and study how the taut poetic lines manage to contain the powerful feelings."

*Starred review in Publishers Weekly: “Frost's ingeniously structured novel in verse . . . may be set in 1850, but its themes will resonate with today's teens.  Memorable."

5. Connections

*Helen Frost gives a brief introduction into the history of the Highland Clearances during the 1850s. Find out more about this time in history in Scotland. What affect did this have on the people of this time? Where did the evicted people go? Did everyone journey to Canada? How did they decide where to relocate? What effects did this have on the countries they immigrated to? Make a timeline of important events and facts to share what you find out.

*Helen Frost's family heritage is linked to the Highland Clearances, as they too immigrated from Scotland to Canada. The Braid is a story of one family's emigration experience to a new country. Research your family history and find out your family's story of how they came to America. What historical events were taking place that might have caused them to make such a journey? Share your findings with your family.

*More books by Helen Frost:

Diamond Willow. 2011. ISBN 978-0312603830

Keesha's House. 2007. ISBN 978-0374400125

Crossing Stones. 2009. ISBN 978-0374316532

Spinning Through the Universe: A Novel in Poems from Room 214. 2004. ISBN 978- 0374371593

A STICK IS AN EXCELLENT THING: POEMS CELEBRATING OUTDOOR PLAY by Marilyn Singer

1. Bibliography

Singer, Marilyn. 2012. A Stick is an Excellent Thing: Poems Celebrating Outdoor Play. Ill by LeUyen Pham. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780547124933

2. Plot Summary

Singer provides a day full of outdoor fun and adventure in her poetry collection titled A Stick is an Excellent Thing. She opens with a poetic invitation to play outside and follows it with beautifully illustrated poems about countless childhood games and activities to keep little bodies moving and little mouths laughing. After a wonderful long day of playing outside, she closes her poetry collection with children drifting off to sleep as they count the stars, one by one.

3. Critical Analysis

Children will enjoy the fun, familiar rhyme and rhythm of Singer's poems celebrating the many ways to play outside. Singer playfully captures the voice of childhood in her poems.  One example of this can be found in “Bubbles.”  Readers can feel the cocky self assurance of the boy as he boasts his bubble is “as big as a planet.” And then, they giggle with his little sister when she conspiratorially tells us she is the one sending a “parade / of small bubbles – a whole fleet -” floating behind him. Children will be able to relate to her poems, and might even find some new ideas of games to play with friends while they enjoy the freedom of long summer days.

Pham vividly captures the energy and joy of childhood in her illustrations. Her bright colors, happy children, and scenes filled with movement are as much a celebration of childhood and playing outside as are Singer's poems. They are a beautiful compliment in creating this visual treat for readers of all ages.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)

*Starred review in Kirkus: "A real strength of the collection is its engagement of the imagination. . . . A thrilling integration of verse and image, motivating all to serious fun."

*School Library Journal: "From running through sprinklers to blowing bubbles to catching fireflies, this book has 18 short poems about active, imaginative play in summer weather. . . . An appealing book."

*Booklist: "Fun for sharing and acting out many times over."

*Publishers Weekly: "Pham's grainy mixed-media scenes could take place anytime in the past 50 years, emphasizing the timeless (some might say lost) art of outdoor activity."

5. Connections

*Think of a game or an activity you like to do outside. Try writing your own poem about this activity. If you are doing this with a group of children, make copies of each child's poem and bind them into a book. This is an excellent way for the children to share their writing and some great ideas of things to play during the summer.

*“Bubbles” is a perfect poem for reading aloud with a group. Have two children come up to read, or divide your group in two (boys vs girls would be appropriate). Have the children read the poem aloud. Have the boys read the first section and then the girls read the second. You could even give them all bubbles to blow while they read the poem together.

*Learn about the science behind bubbles. Make your own bubble solution and use household supplies to make different kinds of bubble wands. Have fun and see what you can do with bubbles!

*More books by Marilyn Singer:

Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse. 2010. ISBN 978-0525479017

Fireflies at Midnight. 2003. ISBN 978-0689824920

First Food Fight This Fall and Other School Poems. 2008. ISBN 978-1402741456

I'm Your Bus. 2009. ISBN 978-0545089180

BOOKSPEAK! POEMS ABOUT BOOKS by Laura Purdie Salas

1. Bibliography

Salas, Laura Purdie. 2011. Bookspeak! Poems about Books. Ill by Josee Bisaillon. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780547223001

2. Plot Summary

Salas presents readers with a whimsical and creative collection of poems relating to all things about books. Readers will be delighted to explore the many facets that create some of our best beloved friends, books, in poetic form.

3. Critical Analysis

Using unusual imagery and a continually changing form for each poem, readers won't get board as they turn through the beautifully illustrated pages of Bookspeak!. Salas uses creative forms to add meaning to her poems and surprising images that capture the imagination. One example of her captivating imagery is found in “Skywriting.” In this poem she calls up a flock of "inky black birds” to represent words on the page.  She relates the fantastic experience of being swept away in a good book as the same as listening to those black birds “singing a story against a / white sky.” The forms are simple and the language is succinct, but she manages to capture the expansive wonderful feeling that comes when reading a good book. Salas provides readers with a book of poems they can relate to, play with, and take into their hearts as they celebrate with her the joy of literature.

Josee Bisaillon contributes fantastical images to this collection of poems. With butterflies exploding from unlocked diaries and surfers composed from text, she adds to the celebration of all things literary.  Her vibrant colors and detailed illustrations add charm and magic to Salas' collection.

4. Awards Won and Review Excerpt(s)

Minnesota Book Award

NCTE Notables

Bank Street Best Books

Librarians' Choice

Honor Book for Gelett Burgess Center for Creative Expression

Nerdy Book Award

*School Library Journal: "Well crafted and clever, covering a variety of aspects of books and reading.”

*Bulletin: "There's definite read aloud and performance potential here."

5. Connections

*“This is the Book” is a perfect poem for a group recitation. Have each reader take a stanza. Then read the poem together, each reading in his or her turn. You can even use simple props to represent each person involved in the writing and publishing process. For example, the writer could have a typewriter, the illustrator could have some art supplies, and the reader could have a finished book.

*Silas writes her poems from the different perspectives of books. For example, “The Sky is Falling” is a funny poem from the book's perspective of the reader falling asleep on it.  Try thinking of something you often do with a book or that you enjoy about books and reading and write your own creative poem.

*Other books by Laura Purdie Salas:

A Leaf Can Be... . 2012. ISBN 978-0761362036

Are You Living?: A Song about Living and Nonliving Things (Science Songs). 2009. ISBN 978-1404853027

Whose Shoes Are These?: A Look at Workers' Footwear. 2006. ISBN 978-1404819771

BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD by Ashley Bryan

1. Bibliographic Data

Bryan, Ashley. 2003. Beautiful Blackbird. Singapore: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780689847318

2. Plot Summary

When the world was still new, the birds were the “clean, clear colors” of the rainbow, but only Blackbird had any black. Wanting to be as beautiful as Blackbird, the other birds plead with him to share his black with them. Blackbird agrees and uses his “blackening brew in [his] medicine gourd” and a feather brush to give each bird beautiful, unique black markings.

    3.  Critical Analysis 

Set in the mythical past of Africa, “A long, long time ago,” Bryan introduces readers to the colorful world of Africa's birds and teaches readers about the important role art and artist play in our lives. In his retelling of the traditional African myth, Beautiful Blackbird, Bryan masterfully employes the irresistible rhythms of Africa into the birds' dialogue and songs. Readers will want to dance along with the birds as they sing the “Beak and Wing Dance.” They won't be able to do anything but nod in agreement as the birds enthusiastically declare, “Black is beautiful, uh-huh! Black is beautiful, uh-huh!” Readers will be swept away in the vitality of the rhythmic language.

Bold bright colors and basic shapes in the collage art illustrations establish the universal nature of these birds from the distant past. Though stationary on the page, the placement of each bird within the world and the line of their bodies suggest the irrepressible movement of birds and adds vibrancy to the work. His profusion of color and feather bring readers into the active, joyous, and creative world of these African birds and are reminiscent of traditional African art and culture. There is an energy and a freshness to Bryan's birds that readers will enjoy.

Beautiful Blackbird is an upbeat, vibrant retelling of a timeless African myth.

4. Awards Won and Review Excerpt(s)

2004 Coretta Scott King ware for Illustration

Texas 2X2 Reading List Book

*Publishers Weekly: “Scenes of the rainbow of wings are outdone only by a lakeside view of their colors intricately "mirrored in the waters." And Bryan's lilting and magical language is infectious.”

*School Library Journal: “The story line is simple and the rhythmic chants of the flock frequently interspersed throughout the text add drama and a rapper's cadence.”

*Booklist: “In this simple adaptation of a tale from the Ila-speaking people of Zambia, the message is clear: 'Black is beautiful.'...Using a more vivid palette than usual, Bryan employs boldly colored, cut-paper artwork to dramatize the action. The overlapping collage images fill the pages with energy as the song like responses of the birds tap out a rhythm punctuated with 'uh-huhs.'”

5. Connections

*The author, Ashley Bryan, used collage to make his beautiful illustrations. Try making your own collage of bird images. You can use construction paper to make free form images like Bryan, or cut up a nature magazine for images of birds. Try to recreate one of your favorite images from the book, or invent your own avian scene.

*Try making up your own dance and song for the birds from Beautiful Blackbird. Each color is beautiful, try making up a bird chant about your favorite color.

*More books by Ashley Bryan:

Ashley Bryan's ABC of African American Poetry. ISBN 0689840454

The Night Has Ears: African Proverbs. ISBN 0689824270

Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum. ISBN 0689711077

Turtle Knows Your Name. ISBN 0689717288

The Story of Lightning and Thunder. ISBN 0689824505

*More books about African mythology:

Haley, Gail E. A Story, A Story: An African Tale. ISBN 0689205112

Knutson, Barbara. How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots: A Swahili Tale of Friendship. ISBN 0876144164

Aardema, Verna. Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale. ISBN 0803760892

McDermott, Gerald. Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa. ISBN 0152999671

THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS by Jon Scieszka

1. Bibliographic Data

Scieszka, Jon. 1996. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!. Ill by Lane Smith. New York, NY: Puffin Books. ISBN 0670827592

2. Plot Summary

Alexander T. Wolf, or A. Wolf for short, wants to set the story straight. He isn't really the big, bad wolf history has made him out to be. He is truly a misunderstood fellow, who is the victim of circumstance and bad press. He tells readers that it all began when he tried to make a birthday cake for his dear grandma. A quest to borrow a cup of sugar and an unfortunately powerful sneeze lead to the accidental demise of two piggy neighbors, a few unexpected ham dinners, an unpleasant encounter with one “rude little porker,” and culminating in prison time for the framed wolf. This is the story of how A. Wolf became the undeserving victim of bad press.

2. Critical Analysis

Don't judge a book by it's cover; that is the moral of A. Wolf's sad tale as told to Jon Scieszka. Set “Way back in Once Upon a Time time,” Scieszka hilariously retells A. Wolf's woeful tale of misunderstanding and bad timing to audiences in a natural and easy narrative which will leave them supporting Wolf's decision not to let those poor dead pigs go to waste, and wanting to offer him a cup of their own sugar for granny's birthday cake. True to the fairytale we all grew up with, Scieszka's story follows the same dramatic arc of events as the traditional, “Three Little Pigs,” except with a clever twist. Wolf didn't really huff and puff and blow the pigs' houses down. Instead he “huffed, snuffed” and “sneezed a great sneeze” to accidentally blow down some badly made houses. Readers will delight in this new twist to a classic fairy tale.

Lane Smith's sepia toned illustrations work hand in hand with Scieszka's text to bring A. Wolf's memories to life. Using the iconic imagery of the three little pigs' homes to bring the story back to the classic tale, Smith adds his own flare to this familiar world as the characters are dressed in familiar modern apparel and use contemporary accouterments like safety razors to shave hairy chinny-chin-chins. Clever details in each illustration like the fluffy bunny ears hanging out of a ridiculously tall hamburger or sticking out of the cake batter only add to the text's humor. Smith's art effortlessly intertwines with the text of the story to produce a series of delighted laughs froim the audience.

This humorous, unexpected new version of the classic The Three Little Pigs is bound to become a family favorite.

4. Awards Won and Review Excerpt(s)

ALA Notable Book

*Publishers Weekly: "Designed with uncommon flair...”

*School Library Journal: “It's the type of book that older kids (and adults) will find very funny.”

*Booklist: “Jon Scieszka's The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (1989) turned the favorite porkers' story upside-down by allowing the grossly misjudged wolf to tell his side of the story.”

     5.  Connections

*Scieskzka writes the story of The Three Little Pigs from the perspective of the villain, the Big Bad Wolf, with humorous consequences. Try writing your own fractured fairy tale. Take another classic fairy tale and create your own story from the perspective of the villain. You could even try your hand at writing your own version of The Three Little Pigs. Talk about perspective and how it can change how a situation is viewed and how the actions of an individual are interpreted.

*Try making your own houses for the three little pigs. You can use straw or dried grass clipped to make a house of straw, twigs or popsicle sticks for the stick house, and sugar cubes or Lego blocks to make your house of bricks.

*More books by Jon Scieszka:

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fiarly Stupid Tales. ISBN 067084487X

Math Curse. ISBN 0670861944

The Frog Prince, Continued. ISBN 0670834211

The Knights of the Kitchen Table. ISBN 0142400432

*More versions of The Three Little Pigs:

Gravett, Emily. Wolf Won't Bite!. ISBN 1442427639

McNamara, Margaret. The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot. ISBN 9780375986949

Kimmel, Eric A. The Three Little Tamales. ISBN 9780761455196

Trumbauer, Lisa. The Three Little Pigs: The Graphic Novel. ISBN 9781434211958

Hillert, Margaret. The Three Little Pigs. ISBN 9781599530505

THE LION AND THE MOUSE by Jerry Pinkney

1. Bibliographic Data

Pinkney, Jerry. 2009. The Lion and the Mouse. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 9780316013567

2. Plot Summary

A small field mouse accidentally awakens a large lion and finds himself the subject of an early morning snack. Calling upon the lion's compassion and adding a promise to one day repay the favor, Mouse talks Lion into letting her go. Time passes and Lion one day finds himself hopelessly trapped in a net by hunters. Lion roars out in anguish at his situation. Mouse hears the distressed lion, remembers her promise to repay Lion's mercy, and sets out to free the king of beasts. Using her ingenuity and determination little Mouse frees Lion from the net. Lion and Mouse happily return to their families.

3. Critical Analysis

Set in the African Serengeti of Tanzania and Kenya, readers are instantly captivated by Pinkney's stunning, realistic images of Africa as he brings to life Aesop's fable, “The Lion and the Mouse.” Drawing on the universal nature of the fable, Pinkney chooses to use the most universal language of all to retell this classic morality tale, full, rich images. Each illustration speaks of the beauty of the landscape and its integral part to the wild nature of the story. From the opening pages readers are shown the grand expanse of land commanded by Lion as he lazily drowses amid a cacophony of animals and the smallness of Mouse as she narrowly escapes a hunting owl. These characters are defined as much by their environment as they are by their self determination. 

Drawing incredible human expression while maintaining the animal integrity of his characters, Pinkney allows readers to relate to the humanity of the situations and feel the emotions of the characters throughout the tale. Warm, rich colors add vibrancy to this already stunning visual landscape. This is a story of compassion, treating others as you would like to be treated, and of never underestimating the power of one small individual to make a big difference. Master storyteller, Jerry Pinkney, provides his audiences with hours of pleasure as they turn through his beautifully crafted illustrations and gain added depth, understanding, and insight into this ancient fable.

4. Awards Won and Review Excerpt(s)

2010 Caldecott Medal

2010 Horn Book Awards Honor Book

2010 New York Times Best Illustrated Book

2010 Indies Choice Book of the Year Winner, New Picture Book

*Starred review from School Library Journal: “This story starts on the cover with the glorious, golden countenance of a lion. No text is necessary to communicate the title: the direction of the beast's gaze and the conflicted expression on his tightly cropped face compel readers to turn the book over, where a mouse, almost filling the vertical space, glances back....Each spread contributes something new in this nearly wordless narrative, including the title opening, on which the watchful rodent pauses, resting in one of the large footprints that marches across the gutter....The ambiguity that results from the lack of words in this version allows for a slower, subtle, and ultimately more satisfying read. Moments of humor and affection complement the drama. A classic tale from a consummate artist.”

*Starred review from The Horn Book: “By retelling Aesop's fable entirely in his signature pencil and watercolor art, Pinkney encourages closer exploration of the pleasing detail with which he amplifies it.”

*Starred review from Kirkus Reviews: "A nearly wordless exploration of Aesop's fable of symbiotic mercy that is nothing short of masterful... Unimpeachable."

*Starred review from Publishers Weekly: “Pinkney has no need for words; his art speaks eloquently for itself."

5. Connections

*Check out several nonfiction books on the African Serengeti. Learn more about the ecosystem there. You can learn about the animals that live their and the types of plants you might see. Draw your own picture of what this unique ecosystem looks like.

*Learn more about the African lion or research what kind of mouse was used to portray Mouse in Pinkney's book. Write and illustrate a little book sharing the facts you learned about each animal. Share your book with someone else.

*Learn who Aesop was. Find out the answers to questions like: Who was Aesop? Where did he come from? What kind of stories did he write? What is a fable? Find out other famous fables attributed to him. Try creating your own fable. Write and illustrate your fable and share it with someone.

*Try acting out the fable, “The Lion and the Mouse,” with some friends or your family. Take turns being the different characters. What do you learn about each character after you have acted out their part? Do you see the characters any differently than before? Did you learn something new about the story from this experience?

*More books by Jerry Pinkney:

The Ugly Duckling. ISBN 068815932X

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. ISBN 0316056960

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. ISBN 0060587857

Noah's Ark. ISBN 1587172011

Three Little Kittens. ISBN 0803735332

The Nightingale. ISBN 0803724640

*More book versions of Aesop's fable, “The Lion and the Mouse”:

Sneed, Brad. Aesop's Fables. ISBN 9780803727519

Burkert, Rand. Mouse & Lion. ISBN 0545101476

Wood, A.J. The Lion and the Mouse: An Aesop's Fable. ISBN 1562946587

MILLIONS OF CATS by Wanda Gag

1. Bibliography

Gag, Wanda. 2006. Millions of Cats. New York, New York: Puffin Books. ISBN 9780142407080

2. Plot Summary

A lonely very old man and a lonely very old woman decide adopting a pretty little cat will bring them complete happiness. The very old man sets out on a journey to find the prettiest cat and bring it home. Unfortunately, unable to decide which cat is the most beautiful, he brings home more cats than his very old wife bargained for, “hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats,” in fact. Unable to care for all of these cats, the elderly couple asks the cats to choose which is the prettiest among them and elect that cat to stay with them.  Each cat believes it is the most beautiful, leading to a massive cat fight in which all of the cats “[eat] each other all up,” except for a single, scrawny kitten.  The elderly couple take in this homely kitten and love and care for it. In the end the very old man and the very old woman find happiness with their pretty cat and the cat finds happiness and love in his new home.

3. Critical Analysis

Reading the modern day fairytale, Millions of Cats, it is easy to see why Wanda Gag's story has become the oldest American picture book still in print (“Millions” 2012). Using traditional language and a catchy rhythm, repeating the refrain, “hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats,” throughout the story, readers are drawn into Gag's world and are touched by her timeless lesson in self esteem and love. Set in the rural countryside of days long past, an elderly couple and a homely kitten learn about the dangers of using superficial criteria when judging others, as well as experiencing the transformative effects of love. Children will laugh at the old man's foolishness at collecting “millions and billions and trillions” of cats. Readers will have their hearts warmed as they see how the love of the very old couple changes the homely kitten into “the most beautiful cat in the whole world.” Gag's tale is a powerful lesson in the power of love to change a person from the inside out.

Beautifully illustrated throughout, Wanda Gag uses black and white ink drawings to create the iconic world of the very old man, the very old woman, and their trillions of cats. Each picture perfectly accompanies the story's text and provides insight into the emotions and moods of the characters. Readers delight along with the very old man as they see what surprised joy spreads across his body as he discovers a hill covered in billions of cats, and they tense with anxiety as they see the very old couple run from the quarreling hillside of angry cats. Using a simple medium, Gag creates a rich and touching world readers feel they have always known. Her illustrations invite readers to connect with the characters and expand the story beyond the world of the page. Despite being over 75 years old, Gag's timeless masterpiece continues to delight and enchant audiences of all ages.

4. Awards Won and Review Excerpt(s)

1929 Newbery Honor Book

A Lewis Carroll Shelf Award Book

School Library Journal's “One Hundred Books that Shaped the Century”: "This Newbery Honor winner is distinguished by innovative design and a strong storyteller's cadence."

The New York Times: “A perennial favorite.”

5. Connections

*Talk about the kitten's transformation from a “homely cat” to the “most beautiful cat in the world” and what happened to cause this change. Talk about the affects of love and its role in self esteem. Discuss ways we can be kind to others.

*Talk about how the very old man makes his decisions as to which cats to bring home. How would you have chosen which cat to bring home? What makes the individual cats special? Talk about superficial traits vs. internal traits and how they should affect how we treat one another. Have the children make “All About Me” books about how they are special and what they love (Weston Woods 2008).

*Image a pet or animal you may have at home.  Imagine having “hundreds of [pets], thousands of [pets], millions and billions and trillions of [pets].” Draw what you think trillions of your pet would look like (Weston Woods 2008).

*Other books by Wanda Gag:

Tales from Grimm. ISBN 0816649367

Three Gay Tales from Grimm. ISBN 0816656908

Gone is Gone: Or the Story of a Man Who wanted to Do Housework. ISBN 0816642435

The Funny Thing. ISBN 0816642419

The ABC Bunny. ISBN 0816644160

Nothing At All. ISBN 0816644187

*Other books about self esteem:

Broskie, Julie. Being Me. ISBN 9780516249759

Esham, Barbara. If You're So Smart, How Come You Can't Spell Mississippi?. ISBN 160336448X

References

"Millions of Cats by Wanda Gág." The Wild Place. Richland County Public Library. Retrieved June 2012. http://www.myrcpl.com/children/book-lists/millions-cats-wanda-gag-january-2005.

Weston Woods. “Millions of Cats Discussion Guide.” Scholastic.com. 2008. http://www.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=36051

DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! by Mo Willems

1. Bibliography

Willems, Mo. 2003. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!. Singapore: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 078681988X

2. Plot Summary

A bus driver has to leave for a little while and asks the audience not to let the pigeon drive the bus while he is away. Once the driver is gone Pigeon proceeds to pester, plead, beg, and convince his way into driving the bus. He uses any means available to him to convince the reader to let him have his way. In the end, Pigeon's ambition is left unrealized and the bus driver returns. However, when all hope seems lost the irrepressible pigeon finds a new focus for his aspirations, driving a big shiny red semi-truck.

3. Critical Analysis

Pigeon is the perpetually frustrated embodiment of childhood. He has big hopes and dreams of driving a bus, but the bus driver and the audience doggedly deny him this overly ambitious wish. Mo Willems captures the ambition, pugnacity, creativity, and frustration of childhood in his iconic character, Pigeon. Writing half of a two way dialogue, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! draws readers into the plight of Pigeon, a stand in for the everyman preschooler, and demands them to be part of his experience.

Using deceptively simple illustrations and beautiful, muted colors, Willems creates a character children will want to draw on their own and adopt into their own imaginative creations. Willems' sparse illustrations of Pigeon simply drawn on an ever changing background of earth toned color emphasize the intimate conversational relationship between the audience and Pigeon. There are no visual or descriptive distractions to pull away from the intensity of this important conversation.  The conversational text and the intimate illustrations work in harmony to draw readers into the world of Pigeon and help to forge an unforgettable relationship.  Pigeon is a relatable, likable character that adults and children alike will grow to love.

4. Awards Won and Review Excerpt(s)

2004 Caldecott Honor Book

American Library Association Notable Book for Children

National Council of Teachers Notable Book

Bulletin Blue Ribbon (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books)

Starred Review in School Library Journal: “A brilliantly simple book that is absolutely true to life.”

Booklist: “Preschoolers will howl over the pigeon's dramatics, even as they recognize that he wheedles, blows up, and yearns to be powerful just like they do.”

5. Connections

*Look at the illustrations of Pigeon and describe the different emotions he expresses through his facial and body language. Analise the illustrations and discuss how the pigeon's face was drawn to express each emotion (Willems and Freeman 2012).

*Write out a variety of your own responses to Pigeon's entreaties to drive the bus. Share your responses (Willems and Freeman 2012).

*Think about a time you really wanted to do or have something, but your parents or guardians said you couldn’t have it.  Create your own “Pigeon” book – drawing pictures of yourself or Pigeon as the main character and asking the invisible audience if you can have the item or experience. See how many ways and arguments you can think of to get what you want.

*Other books by Mo Willems:

Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!. ISBN 0786837462

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!. ISBN 0786818697

We are in a Book! An elephant & Piggy Book. ISBN 1423133080

The Duckling Gets a Cookie?!. ISBN 140634009X

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. ISBN 0786818700

*Other books about emotions:

Patricelli, Leslie. Baby Happy, Baby Sad. ISBN 9780763632458

Aliki. Feelings. ISBN 0688038328

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. Amazing Faces: Poems. ISBN 1600603343

References

Willems, Mo and Judy Freeman. The Pigeon Teacher's Guide. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. Accessed on June 2012. http://www.pigeonpresents.com/teachersguides/pigeon_teachguide.pdf.

KITTEN'S FIRST FULL MOON by Kevin Henkes

1. Bibliography

Henkes, Kevin. 2004. Kitten's First Full Moon. New York, New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 9780060588298

2. Plot Summary

It is Kitten's first full moon and she mistakes the unfamiliar round moon for a yummy bowl of milk. In pursuit of this giant bowl of milk Kitten tries several humorous schemes and adventures to reach the ever out of reach moon.  After a final soggy failure, a sad and hungry Kitten returns home to discover a nice bowl of milk waiting for her on the porch. Kitten returns home to learn what we all must learn, sometimes what we long for is under our nose all along.

3. Critical Analysis

Henkes uses simple language and engaging art work to capture the imagination of young readers and teach them the valuable lesson that we don't always need to roam far from home to find what we need. The text of the story reflects the voice of an understanding narrator sharing with the audience Kitten's perception of her experience. The text is clearly sympathetic to Kitten's plight, often repeating the refrain, “Poor Kitten!” However, Henkes' delightful illustrations aren't as biased.

Henkes' monochromatic illustrations show the humorous reality of Kitten's ill fated pursuit. These simple and honest illustrations add depth and humor to the text, helping readers to gain insight into the reality of Kitten's experience. One such example is the telling visual revelation about the true nature of Kitten's marvelous discovery of a second, bigger bowl of milk. While Kitten is convinced she has found another bowl of milk and the narrator rejoices in her discover, the reader can plainly see in the adjacent illustration that her discovery is really a reflection of the moon in the pond. Tongue in cheek pairings of text and illustration such as this are found throughout the book, creating a marvelously humorous tone to Kitten's tale. 

Henkes' skill as a storyteller is beautifully displayed in this simple story of Kitten as she learns about longing, disappointment, and home during her first full moon.

4. Awards Won and Review Excerpt(s)

2005 Caldecott Medal for Illustrations

School Library Journal Best Book

New York Times Best Illustrated Book

Bulletin Blue Ribbon (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books)

ALA Notable Children's Book

Texas 2X2 Reading List

Charlotte Zolotow Award

Book Sense Pick

School Library Journal: “An irresistible offering from the multifaceted Henkes.”

Starred Review in Booklist: “Henkes creates another winner in this simple, charming, story about a naive little kitten...”

Kirkus Reviews: “...artful in its gracelessness and naivete, just like kitten. Simply charming.”

5. Connections

*Just as Kitten saw something familiar in the world of nature when she mistook the full moon for a bowl of milk, other things in nature can resemble common objects we use in our daily lives. Take a walk outside and look at the objects around you. Use your imagination and try to see what else objects in nature could be, for example, shortly mowed grass could look like carpet, or a flower flipped upside-down could look like a beautiful doll skirt. See how many imaginative connections you can make. Record your discoveries in a journal or on a piece of paper.

*Have a discussion about longing. Talk about how your experience relates to Kitten's experience of wanting a big bowl of milk. What does it feel like to really want a thing?  What have you done to gain it?  Was the effort worth the reward?

*Other books by Kevin Henkes:

Owen. ISBN 0439686180

A Good Day. ISBN 006114018X

Little White Rabbit. ISBN 0062006428

Chrysanthemum. ISBN 0061119741

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. ISBN 1591123488

*Other books about mistaken identity:

Eastman, P.D. Are You My Mother?. ISBN 0375984437

Newman, Jeff. Hippo! No, Rhino!. ISBN 9780316155731