1. Bibliographic Data
Pinkney, Jerry. Noah's Ark (Caldecott Honor Book). San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2002.
2. Plot Summary
Noah's Ark tells the story of God's displeasure with the earth, and how he instructed Noah to build an ark for his family and two of every animal. Noah trusts in the Lord, builds the ark, and then the animals come two by two. People mock and question Noah, but Noah takes him family on the ark. God then sends rain to flood the earth for forty day and forty nights. Noah, his family, and all the animals are kept safe so that they can walk on the earth again. God rids all the water, and promises to Noah "never again will I send a flood upon the earth to destroy it. From this day forward, life on earth will grow and prosper."
3. Critical Analysis
Jerry Pinkney's beautiful illustrations compliment the wondrous words God spoke to Noah. His use of soft colors with bits of bright color tell the story of Noah and the Ark. Pinkney describes the great flood in a simple manner for young children, but still includes all the important details of the story. Each page could tell the story itself as Noah listens to God, builds the ark, brings his family aboard, and welcomes all the pairs of animals. A great read for any family or Sunday school class.
4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Randolph Caldecott Award 2003
*Sydney Taylor Book Awards 2002
*Childrens Literature..."The illustrations are detailed tapestries of pencil and watercolor, faultless and immensely lovely."
5. Connection
*Read other popular Bible stories like David and Goliath.
*Ask the children to help you name some of the animals that all boarded the ark and are here today.
*Discuss why God flooded the earth, and chose Noah to build and live on the ark with his family.
"Noah's Ark." Childrens Literature Reviews. ezproxy.twu.edu:2291/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~sXnOhO:1 (accessed September 30, 2010).
Thursday, September 30, 2010
The Three Little Pigs retold and illustration by: James Marshall
1. Bibliographic Data
Marshall, James. The Three Little Pigs (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Reading Railroad Books (Pb)). New York: Turtleback, 2000.
2. Plot Summary
In The Three Little Pigs the mother pig sends her three young pigs out to live on their own. The three pigs decide to build houses for themselves. The first chooses to build his house out of straw. A hungry wolf notices the house, blows it down, and eats the pig. The second pig build his house house out of sticks, and the hungry wolf does the same thing. The third pig builds his house out of bricks very carefully to make sure it is sturdy. When the hungry wolf comes to eat the third pig and blow his house down he can't blow it down. After many tries of trying to entice the pig out of the house, the pig gets the best of the wolf, and "cooked the mean old wolf and gobbled him up."
3. Critical Analysis
James Marshall's retelling of The Three Little Pigs takes a more modern approach through his vocabulary. He also extends the story to include more effort by the wolf to get the third pig out of his house. Marshall conveys the first two pigs as not being very smart. They are not smart in their building supplies, and they are both mean to the people they buy the supplies from and the wolf. He makes the third pig more intelligent with his "capital decision" in building his house out of bricks. The pig then out smarts the wolf time and time again. Marshall not only conveys this through their demeanor, but their attire as well. His illustrations are bright and colorful, and the reader can see how casually dressed the first two pigs are, and how nice the intelligent pig is dressed in a suit and tie. Marshall uses up-to-date vocabulary that will carry this story on into future generations.
4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator
*Childrens Literature..."His retelling minimizes the gruesome aspects of traditional versions but still portrays the three pigs building their respective houses out of straw, wood and bricks and then tricking the Big Bad Wolf."
5. Connections
*Give the children straw, sticks, and legos to build the three houses in the story. They can then try blowing down each out like the wolf. The legos will pose as bricks and the children can see how sturdy the third pigs house was.
*Ask the children what they would build their house out of to protect them from the Big Bad Wolf.
"The Three Little Pigs." Childrens Literature Reviews. ezproxy.twu.edu:2291/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~4lctJR:1 (accessed September 30, 2010).
Marshall, James. The Three Little Pigs (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Reading Railroad Books (Pb)). New York: Turtleback, 2000.
2. Plot Summary
In The Three Little Pigs the mother pig sends her three young pigs out to live on their own. The three pigs decide to build houses for themselves. The first chooses to build his house out of straw. A hungry wolf notices the house, blows it down, and eats the pig. The second pig build his house house out of sticks, and the hungry wolf does the same thing. The third pig builds his house out of bricks very carefully to make sure it is sturdy. When the hungry wolf comes to eat the third pig and blow his house down he can't blow it down. After many tries of trying to entice the pig out of the house, the pig gets the best of the wolf, and "cooked the mean old wolf and gobbled him up."
3. Critical Analysis
James Marshall's retelling of The Three Little Pigs takes a more modern approach through his vocabulary. He also extends the story to include more effort by the wolf to get the third pig out of his house. Marshall conveys the first two pigs as not being very smart. They are not smart in their building supplies, and they are both mean to the people they buy the supplies from and the wolf. He makes the third pig more intelligent with his "capital decision" in building his house out of bricks. The pig then out smarts the wolf time and time again. Marshall not only conveys this through their demeanor, but their attire as well. His illustrations are bright and colorful, and the reader can see how casually dressed the first two pigs are, and how nice the intelligent pig is dressed in a suit and tie. Marshall uses up-to-date vocabulary that will carry this story on into future generations.
4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator
*Childrens Literature..."His retelling minimizes the gruesome aspects of traditional versions but still portrays the three pigs building their respective houses out of straw, wood and bricks and then tricking the Big Bad Wolf."
5. Connections
*Give the children straw, sticks, and legos to build the three houses in the story. They can then try blowing down each out like the wolf. The legos will pose as bricks and the children can see how sturdy the third pigs house was.
*Ask the children what they would build their house out of to protect them from the Big Bad Wolf.
"The Three Little Pigs." Childrens Literature Reviews. ezproxy.twu.edu:2291/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~4lctJR:1 (accessed September 30, 2010).
Let it Shine by: Ashley Bryan
1. Bibliographic Data
Bryan, Ashley . Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals. New York: Atheneum, 2007.
2. Plot Summary
Let it Shine is a book of three popular songs: "This Little of Mine", "Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In", and "He's Got the Whole Worlds in His Hands". These three classic songs are sung in churches and sunday schools rooms all around the world. "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, hide it under a bushel 'OH NO!' is a favorite among children who chant "OH NO!" back.
3. Critical Analysis
Ashley Bryan's use of African colors in the illustrations remind the reader of where these three favorite spirituals orginated. He uses vivid, bright colors in cut-page collages on every page that make the reader happy and excited about these three songs. These songs are meant to be sung outloud and danced to, and his illustrations show how the people of Africa enjoy them. His use of color reminds me of "Jesus Loves the Little Children", and how he loves them no matter what color they are. Bryan uses black, red, orange, brown, purple, and white to show all the different children within the book.
4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Coretta Scott King Award 2008
*American Library Association Notable Books for Children 2008
*School Library Journal..."Bryan again proves himself a maestro with scissors (depicted on the endpages) in a series of arresting, kaleidoscopic cut-construction-paper collages that interprets three beloved spirituals."
5. Connections
*Teach the children the different dances that go along with each song, so that they can dance and sing along. In "This Little Light of Mine", teach them to use their pointer finger as the candle, and then to cover that finger with their other hand when you sing the part about hiding the light under a bushel.
*Have the children cut out pictures from colored construction paper and create their own collages to go with the songs.
"Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals." Books in Print. ezproxy.twu.edu:2214/merge_shared/details/RecordDetails.asp?item_uid=54621420&viewItemIndex=0&navPage=1&FullText=&BipAlertQueryString=&BipAlertDisplayQText= (accessed September 30, 2010).
Bryan, Ashley . Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals. New York: Atheneum, 2007.
2. Plot Summary
Let it Shine is a book of three popular songs: "This Little of Mine", "Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In", and "He's Got the Whole Worlds in His Hands". These three classic songs are sung in churches and sunday schools rooms all around the world. "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, hide it under a bushel 'OH NO!' is a favorite among children who chant "OH NO!" back.
3. Critical Analysis
Ashley Bryan's use of African colors in the illustrations remind the reader of where these three favorite spirituals orginated. He uses vivid, bright colors in cut-page collages on every page that make the reader happy and excited about these three songs. These songs are meant to be sung outloud and danced to, and his illustrations show how the people of Africa enjoy them. His use of color reminds me of "Jesus Loves the Little Children", and how he loves them no matter what color they are. Bryan uses black, red, orange, brown, purple, and white to show all the different children within the book.
4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Coretta Scott King Award 2008
*American Library Association Notable Books for Children 2008
*School Library Journal..."Bryan again proves himself a maestro with scissors (depicted on the endpages) in a series of arresting, kaleidoscopic cut-construction-paper collages that interprets three beloved spirituals."
5. Connections
*Teach the children the different dances that go along with each song, so that they can dance and sing along. In "This Little Light of Mine", teach them to use their pointer finger as the candle, and then to cover that finger with their other hand when you sing the part about hiding the light under a bushel.
*Have the children cut out pictures from colored construction paper and create their own collages to go with the songs.
"Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals." Books in Print. ezproxy.twu.edu:2214/merge_shared/details/RecordDetails.asp?item_uid=54621420&viewItemIndex=0&navPage=1&FullText=&BipAlertQueryString=&BipAlertDisplayQText= (accessed September 30, 2010).
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by: Judith Viorst
1. Bibliographic Data
Viorst, Judith. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. New York: Atheneum, 2009.
2. Plot Summary
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is about a boy name Alexander who wakes up with gum in his hair and realizes it's going to be a horrible day. His bad starts out with his brothers getting toys in the cereal boxes, and then getting carsick in the car. Once he gets to school, his teacher doesn't like his picture, his best friend said he wasn't his best friend anymore, and then his mom forgot to pack him dessert. After school the dentist found a cavity, he got in trouble for fighting, and they were out of his sneakers at the store. Finally when he got home, he had to eat lima beans, his brother took his pillow, and the cat wouldn't sleep with him. He figured he would move to Australia after this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
3. Critical Analysis
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day describes everybodies day every once in a while. Children will connect with this story because they feel like everything won't go their way sometimes. All of his problems through out the day are something that will happen to any kid, like your best friend picking on you or getting a cavity. The illustrations in the are sketched and in black and white. This leaves the imagaination to come up with colors and picture those in their heads. This book is a classic that any parent can share with their child, and tell them about how it used to be their favorite book.
4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Smart Book Award 2005
*Best Books List...Books to Read Aloud to Children of All Ages 2003
*Children's Literature..."Cruz captures the mood of the story in his black and white illustrations, which feature creative use of patterns and crosshatching to compensate for the lack of color."
5. Connections
*An activity to do with this book is to ask the children what happened on the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. What did they do to make it better?
*A good idea would be to tie in other classic books like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Where the Wild Things Are, or Caps for Sale.
"Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." Children's Literature Reviews. ezproxy.twu.edu:2095/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~1N2QzZ:18 (accessed September 15, 2010).
Viorst, Judith. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. New York: Atheneum, 2009.
2. Plot Summary
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is about a boy name Alexander who wakes up with gum in his hair and realizes it's going to be a horrible day. His bad starts out with his brothers getting toys in the cereal boxes, and then getting carsick in the car. Once he gets to school, his teacher doesn't like his picture, his best friend said he wasn't his best friend anymore, and then his mom forgot to pack him dessert. After school the dentist found a cavity, he got in trouble for fighting, and they were out of his sneakers at the store. Finally when he got home, he had to eat lima beans, his brother took his pillow, and the cat wouldn't sleep with him. He figured he would move to Australia after this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
3. Critical Analysis
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day describes everybodies day every once in a while. Children will connect with this story because they feel like everything won't go their way sometimes. All of his problems through out the day are something that will happen to any kid, like your best friend picking on you or getting a cavity. The illustrations in the are sketched and in black and white. This leaves the imagaination to come up with colors and picture those in their heads. This book is a classic that any parent can share with their child, and tell them about how it used to be their favorite book.
4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Smart Book Award 2005
*Best Books List...Books to Read Aloud to Children of All Ages 2003
*Children's Literature..."Cruz captures the mood of the story in his black and white illustrations, which feature creative use of patterns and crosshatching to compensate for the lack of color."
5. Connections
*An activity to do with this book is to ask the children what happened on the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. What did they do to make it better?
*A good idea would be to tie in other classic books like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Where the Wild Things Are, or Caps for Sale.
"Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." Children's Literature Reviews. ezproxy.twu.edu:2095/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~1N2QzZ:18 (accessed September 15, 2010).
Dooby Dooby Moo
1. Bibliographic Data
Cronin, Doreen. Dooby Dooby Moo. New York: Atheneum, 2009.
2. Plot Summary
Dooby Dooby Moo is about farm animals that compete in a talent show at the local fair. The cows sang, the sheep sang, the pigs did an interpretive dance, and the duck directed them all. The grand prize at the fair is a trampoline that he really wants. Farmer Brown thinks something is going on with the animals, so he listens to them every night. He doesn't want to leave them alone, and he decides to take them to the fair. The duck sings in the talent show, and ends up winning the trampoline. The farm animals do the talent show and win all with out Farmer Brown finding out.
3. Critical Analysis
Dooby Dooby Moo is an adorable, entertaining read for young children. The story line is fun loving, and allows children to sing along. The songs the farm animals sing are set to tunes from familiar songs. The text in the book is very appeasing, and will keep the child's attention with its different font, text all over the page, and little footnotes. The illustrations are full of color, and compliments the text wonderfully. The story line will teach children that if they want something bad enough, and they practice, practice, practice, that they can get it.
4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Golden Archer Award 07-08
*National Parenting Publications Award 2006
*Kirkus Reviews..."Lewin's watercolors delightfully extend Cronin's text."
5. Connections
*A good idea would be to pair this book up with other Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin books. They have multiple other books about these farm animals.
*You could ask the children what some of their talents are, and hold an impromptu talent show like the in the book.
"Dooby Dooby Moo." Children's Literature Reviews. http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2095/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~yST1wj:1 (accessed September 15, 2010).
Cronin, Doreen. Dooby Dooby Moo. New York: Atheneum, 2009.
2. Plot Summary
Dooby Dooby Moo is about farm animals that compete in a talent show at the local fair. The cows sang, the sheep sang, the pigs did an interpretive dance, and the duck directed them all. The grand prize at the fair is a trampoline that he really wants. Farmer Brown thinks something is going on with the animals, so he listens to them every night. He doesn't want to leave them alone, and he decides to take them to the fair. The duck sings in the talent show, and ends up winning the trampoline. The farm animals do the talent show and win all with out Farmer Brown finding out.
3. Critical Analysis
Dooby Dooby Moo is an adorable, entertaining read for young children. The story line is fun loving, and allows children to sing along. The songs the farm animals sing are set to tunes from familiar songs. The text in the book is very appeasing, and will keep the child's attention with its different font, text all over the page, and little footnotes. The illustrations are full of color, and compliments the text wonderfully. The story line will teach children that if they want something bad enough, and they practice, practice, practice, that they can get it.
4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Golden Archer Award 07-08
*National Parenting Publications Award 2006
*Kirkus Reviews..."Lewin's watercolors delightfully extend Cronin's text."
5. Connections
*A good idea would be to pair this book up with other Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin books. They have multiple other books about these farm animals.
*You could ask the children what some of their talents are, and hold an impromptu talent show like the in the book.
"Dooby Dooby Moo." Children's Literature Reviews. http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2095/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~yST1wj:1 (accessed September 15, 2010).
Caldecott Medal Picture Book
1. Bibliographic Data
Wiesner, David. Flotsam. New York: Clarion Books, 2006.
2.Plot Summary
Flotsam is about a young boy who goes to the beach with his family. He discovers a camera that has washed to shore, and decides to develop the film inside. The film inside the camera holds a picture of a child holding another child's picture, that child holding another child's picture, and so on. He finds the picture of the very first child when he zooms in on each picture. The boy decides to carry on the tradition, and takes a picture of him holding the picture of the person who had the camera before him. He throws the camera back out to see for more children to find and enjoy it.
3. Critical Analysis
David Wiesner created a wonderful book full of pictures. There is no text in this picture book, which invites children to use their imaginations. The boy in the story seems to be a loner, but it is exciting to follow him on his journey to discovering who was the first child to use this camera. The book is a child's version of message in a bottle. This camera has traveled across the world to very different children and culture, which introduces children to diversity. While they are all different, they all have the camera in common. The illustrations are full of color and large in size, which makes it easy for children to see and come up with their own story.
4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s):
*Caldecott Medal
*New York Times..."Wiesner’s detailed watercolors make the absurd wonderfully believable, his graphic storytelling sense is sure and swift, and children will surely love “Flotsam” from start to finish."
5. Connections
*A good connection to make with Flotsam is to read and introduce other David Wiesner books to children. He has won the Caldecott Medal for his other picture books.
*The New York TImes suggested incorporating other books about sea life (Dear Fish by Chris Gall, Sea Horse by Chris Butterworth).
Small, David. "Fish in Focus - Books - Review - New York Times." The New York Times . http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/books/review/Small.t.html?_r=1&ref=bookreviews (accessed September 15, 2010).
Wiesner, David. Flotsam. New York: Clarion Books, 2006.
2.Plot Summary
Flotsam is about a young boy who goes to the beach with his family. He discovers a camera that has washed to shore, and decides to develop the film inside. The film inside the camera holds a picture of a child holding another child's picture, that child holding another child's picture, and so on. He finds the picture of the very first child when he zooms in on each picture. The boy decides to carry on the tradition, and takes a picture of him holding the picture of the person who had the camera before him. He throws the camera back out to see for more children to find and enjoy it.
3. Critical Analysis
David Wiesner created a wonderful book full of pictures. There is no text in this picture book, which invites children to use their imaginations. The boy in the story seems to be a loner, but it is exciting to follow him on his journey to discovering who was the first child to use this camera. The book is a child's version of message in a bottle. This camera has traveled across the world to very different children and culture, which introduces children to diversity. While they are all different, they all have the camera in common. The illustrations are full of color and large in size, which makes it easy for children to see and come up with their own story.
4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s):
*Caldecott Medal
*New York Times..."Wiesner’s detailed watercolors make the absurd wonderfully believable, his graphic storytelling sense is sure and swift, and children will surely love “Flotsam” from start to finish."
5. Connections
*A good connection to make with Flotsam is to read and introduce other David Wiesner books to children. He has won the Caldecott Medal for his other picture books.
*The New York TImes suggested incorporating other books about sea life (Dear Fish by Chris Gall, Sea Horse by Chris Butterworth).
Small, David. "Fish in Focus - Books - Review - New York Times." The New York Times . http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/books/review/Small.t.html?_r=1&ref=bookreviews (accessed September 15, 2010).
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