Graphic Novel





BIBLIOGRAPHY
Holm, Jennifer L. 2007. BABYMOUSE: PUPPY LOVE. Ill. by Matthew Holm. New York, NY: Random House. ISBN- 978-0-375-93990-7.  

PLOT SUMMARY
Babymouse is back and this time she has a yearning for a pet but not just any pet a dog. After trying out many different types of small pets and losing them she finds a lost dog. Hilarity ensures as Babymouse tries to teach her new dog how to be a respectable dog.  

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Babymouse is a graphic novel series intended for young girls. The storyline is very lighthearted as well as the design of the book which consists of black, white and pink. Most children can relate to wanting a pet if they do not have one particularly a desire to own a dog. The antics of Babymouse are funny even more so because the readers can relate to the predicaments that Babymouse finds herself in. One such event is when Buddy the dog has chewed up all of her shoes and the only ones she has left are her slippers. The author includes the right amount of narrative to the story and for the most part does not seem like a narrative but as the reader interacting with the protagonist.     

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
“Young readers will happily fall in line.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Frolicsome and breathlessly paced.” – Booklist

“The whole package is fresh and funny and even philosophical when it comes to values that third-graders understand.” – San Francisco Chronicle

CONNECTIONS

Use a series like Babymouse as a way to introduce young readers to the genre of graphic novels/ comic books.

Babymouse: Puppy Love

Babymouse: Queen of the World

Michael Printz YA Award

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Zusak, Markus. 2005. THE BOOK THIEF. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN-978-0-375-84220-7.  

PLOT SUMMARY
 Death narrates the story of a girl named Liesel Memigner who grows up in Nazi Germany. Liesel’s mother places her with a foster family the Hubermanns. When Liesel steals her first book she is unable to read it but her foster father uses the book to teach her how to read. However it is a dangerous time for all who live in Germany but especially for a family hiding a Jewish man from the Nazis.   

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
THE BOOK THIEF is a fantasy novel only because Death is the narrator and he chronicles the life of a nine year old girl named Liesel. Without Death the book would be realistic fiction. The book was well written but it seems as though would be intended for high school age individuals if not adults. The writing is very high brow and I feel that a younger audience would not grasp most of the concepts. The book does address concepts that many children experience whole growing up particularly the harsher side of life the death of a loved one, becoming a foster child and coping with one’s feelings just as Liesel copes with her anger by destroying one of Ilsa’s books.  

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
 “One of the most highly anticipated young-adult books in years.” – The Wall Street Journal

“Exquisitely written….A tour de force to be not just read but inhabited.” – The Horn Book Magazine

Honors

Horn Book Fanfare

Kirkus Reviews Editor Choice Award

School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

Publishers Weekly Best Children Book of the Year

Booklist Children Editors' Choice

Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book

Michael L. Printz Honor Book

Book Sense Book of the Year

National Jewish Book Award

CONNECTIONS

Use THE BOOK THIEF as a way to introduce Nazi Germany and the Jewish genocide.

The Book Thief

I Am the Messenger

Newbery Award

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gaiman, Neil. 2008. THE GRAVETARD BOOK. Ill. by Dave McKean. New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN- 978-0-06-053092-1.  

PLOT SUMMARY
After the murder of his family Nobody Owens is rescued and raised by the ghosts in a graveyard. Nobody or Bod for short has many adventures in the graveyard from running away with ghouls to befriending a ghostly witch but Bod’s life is still in grave danger from the man Jack who killed his family.  

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
 The Graveyard Book is a fantasy book within the subgenre of ghost stories the book addresses some dark themes at the beginning of the novel. Nobody’s entire family is murdered and he himself would have also been doomed to this fate if the Owens had not interceded. There is terminology that is introduced in the book “You were given the Freedom of the Graveyard..”. The author does a good job of explaining what Freedom of the Graveyard means as well as many other terms used like fading and dreamwalking. The majority of the book occurs in a graveyard and most of the characters are ghosts or other creatures. Bod has hurtles in life to work through and evildoers the Jacks to overcome. It contains many elements that many people would find enjoyable in the fantasy genre.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
 “Wistful, witty, wise—and creepy. This needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child.”   — Kirkus Reviews

“An utterly captivating tale…this is a rich story with broad appeal and is highly recommended for teens of all ages. ”   — Booklist

Honors

Newbery Medal

Carnegie Medal

Hugo Award

Locus Award

Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book

Best Indie Young Adult Buzz Book

Audiobook of the Year

ALA Notable Children's Book

ALA Best Book for Young Adults

ALA Booklist Editors' Choice

Horn Book Fanfare

Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book

Time Magazine Top Ten Fiction

Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice

New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing

New York Public Library Stuff for the Teen Age

CONNECTIONS

Use THE GRAVEYARD BOOK to discuss mythology and ghost stories.

The Graveyard Book

The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish

Historical Fiction

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 1995. THE MIDWIFE’S APPRENTICE. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN-0395692296.  

PLOT SUMMARY
Alyce is a homeless girl with no one and no prospects when she is taken in by Jane, the midwife. Alyce becomes the midwife’s apprentice but, even though she now has a place to live and is learning a trade, things are far from perfect.          

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Right away readers are aware of the life for a homeless child who sleeps in the dung to keep warm. Cushman does not try to hide the reality of a child growing up alone in fourteenth century England. The dialect spoken is common for the setting of the story “By the bones of Saint Cuthbert….”. I am not sure that many children could relate to Alyce and the way she is treated especially in the beginning when she has no name except for insults. I feel that younger children would not be able to comprehend everything that Alyce has gone though in her short life. Cushman included an author’s note at the end of the book which provided readers with some historical background information on midwifes. I think the author’s note is helpful to readers because readers are able to connect the theme of the book with history.   

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
"has an almost unrivaled ability to build atmosphere, and her evocation of a medieval village, if not scholarly in its authenticity, is supremely colorful and pungent." - Publishers Weekly
"This novel is about a strong, young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home. ... Kids will be caught up in this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone." - Booklist

Honors

Newbery Medal
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Notable Book for Children
Booklist Editors' Choice
Horn Book Fanfare Selection
School Library Journal, Best Books of the Year
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
Hungry Mind Review Book of Distinction
Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts
Not Just For Children Anymore! Selection (CBC)
Parenting Magazine Reading Magic Awards
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Readers Choice Award Short List
Parents' Choice Gold Award
American Bookseller "Pick of the Lists"
New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
ABC Children's Booksellers Choice Award
NYPL Books for the Teen Age List

CONNECTIONS

After reading the book have your students act out a historical play set during medieval times. 

The Midwife's Apprentice

Catherine, Called Birdy

Historical novel

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Holm, Jennifer. 2010. TURTLE IN PARADISE. New York, NY: Random House. ISBN- 9780375836886.  

PLOT SUMMARY
Turtle is forced to go to Key West to live with relatives after her mother is hired as a housekeeper by an employer who dislikes children. Key West opens up a whole new world for Turtle especially when she discovers a treasure map.        

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
TURTLE IN PARADISE is set during the Great Depression in 1935. The author does a great job in describing characters and the general attitude for most people living during the depression. Turtle seems to be more mature and grown up than her own mother. I think the Holm’s does a good job in describing events from Turtle’s point of view. “Mama’s good at looking at the sunny side of life…I blame Hollywood.”  I think that many children feel as though they know everything and are smarter than even some adults. I think that many adults would enjoy reading the book in part due to all of the references to 1935 pop culture like orphan Annie and Shirley Temple. Holm’s included a author’s note at the end of the book she explains how the book was inspired by her great-grandmother. 

 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
“This richly detailed novel was inspired by Holm's great-grandmother's stories. Readers who enjoy melodic, humorous tales of the past won't want to miss it.” - School Library Journal
"Turtle is just the right mixture of knowingness and hope; the plot is a hilarious blend of family dramas seasoned with a dollop of adventure." - Booklist

Honors

2011 Newbery Honor Book

An ALA Notable Book

Booklist Editor's Choice

Chicago Library Best of the Best

Texas Bluebonnet List

A Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of 2010

Spring 2010 Junior Library Guild Selection

New York Times Bestseller

CONNECTIONS

Create your own treasure map and go on a quest around the school with your students to find the treasure.

Turtle in Paradise

Our Only May Amelia

Scott O’Dell Award Winning Book

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Erdrich, Louise. 2006. THE GAME OF SILENCE. New York, NY: HarperCollins. ISBN-13 978-0064410298.  

PLOT SUMMARY
Omakayas or Little Frog is a 9 year old girl who lives with her family and tribe, the Ojibwe, on an island on Lake Superior. Change is coming to Omakayas’ life, white people want Omakayas’ tribe to leave their homes and move farther west.   

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
THE GAME OF SILENCE is the second book within the Little Frog series. The events of the book occur on an island called the Golden Breasted Woodpecker which is located on Lake Superior in 1847. The author does a good job in relating Omakayas feelings to the readers. Omakayas still misses her baby brother who died two years ago and the emotions she feels for her brother are evident in a scene when she carries a baby for his mother “she would….give him all the love she….could no longer give her little brother Neewo.” Older children who understand death and who have lost someone in their own lives would relate to Omakayas. I think that students will be interested to learn about the Ojibwe tribe and the native language that is used within the book. There are black and white illustrations included within the book. The illustrations provide the reader with small details like the dolls made from corn husks and reeds that Omakayas and her cousins play with. The author note at the end of the book explains more about the Ojibwe language. The author admits that the Ojibwe words used within the book is based on phonetic spelling rather than the actual spelling of the words.         

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
“As Erdrich said in the Booklist Story Behind the Story, "Little House on the Lake" [BKL Ap 1 99], about The Birchbark House, her research into her ancestors revealed the horrifying history and also a culture rich, funny, and warm. In this heartrending novel the sense of what was lost is overwhelming.” - Booklist

“Although the story is set on an island in Lake Superior in 1850, readers will identify with the everyday activities of the Ojibwa, from snowball fights to fishing excursions, providing a parallel to their own lives while encouraging an appreciation for one that is very different. The action is somewhat slow, but Erdrich's captivating tale of four seasons portrays a deep appreciation of our environment, our history, and our Native American sisters and brothers.” – School Library Journal

Honors

Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

Kirkus Editor’s Choice

Horn Book Fanfare

ALA Notable Children’s Book

ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice

New York Times Notable

CONNECTIONS

Use this book to start a lesson on Native Americans and the history of different local tribes.

The Game of Silence

The Birchbark House

Biography

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Freedman, Russell. 2010. LAFAYETTE AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. New York, NY: Holiday House. ISBN- 9780823421824.  

PLOT SUMMARY
Follow the life of one of the leading men of the American Revolution, Gilbert de Lafayette, a French nobleman who played a pivotal role in the war. Lafayette was a young man of nineteen when he defied his king in order to join the American Revolution.       

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
LAFAYETTE AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION is a biography which covers Lafayette’s life from birth to death while focusing on his contribution to the American Revolution. The book is organized in sequential order with the exception of the first chapter which first introduced Lafayette’s plans to join the American Revolution. The author uses multiple quotes throughout the book from Lafayette and other’s comments about him. The author provides source notes which documents the quotes he chose to use. The book is age appropriate for the intended audience. Boys would especially enjoy reading about Lafayette’s life. Included in the book is: portraits of figures discussed in the book, illustrations, letters, and Lafayette’s signature all of which enhance the design of the book. The author integrated a time line at the end of the book which allows researchers to quickly look at a year to discover the important events that occurred. In addition to the source notes the author provides a work cited of all of the materials used to research for the book.     

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
"In this solidly researched and smoothly written biography, Freedman creates a vivid portrait of Lafayette . . . Handsomely designed with a spacious format and good use of color."—Booklist
"Freedman [writes] with an acute eye for fascinating detail and significant facts. An interesting and useful commentary on selected sources rounds out another superb volume by a master of his craft."—Kirkus Reviews

Honors

A 2011 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

CONNECTIONS

Allow students to listen to some ballads written during the American Revolution then have the students write a ballad of their own based on an important figure from the American Revolution.

Lafayette and the American Revolution

Lincoln: A Photobiography

Author Karen Blumenthal

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Blumenthal, Karen. 2002. SIX DAYS IN OCTOBER: THE STOCK MARKET CRASH OF 1929: A WALL STREET JOURNAL BOOK. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN- 0689842767.  

PLOT SUMMARY
The stock market crash was a major event in history that lead to the Great Depression. Blumenthal, provides an account spanning six days of the events that lead up to the crash and directly after it.   

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This informational book is not intended for younger readers who would not understand most of the vocabulary used in the book. I am not entirely sure that most middle school students would fully grasp the terminology that Blumenthal, uses, “exchange officials bragged that their exchange was a free and fair marketplace..”. Blumenthal, does include explanations for terms and questions associated with the stock market such as the “bulls and bears” and “what is a company worth?” which is helpful for those individuals with no background in the subject matter. In between the recount of the events of the stock market crash the author weaves in some personal accounts from three different individuals who were all affected by the crash. Included in the book were newspaper clips, photographs, telegrams and, cartoons. The items included were useful and enhanced the book by reinforcing the concerns that many people felt about the stock market. A table of content is included which allows readers to locate specific information. The book is organized by days and each chapter explains the events that occurred on each specific date. The author provides a list of sources which were used in writing the book, the author states that a majority of her material came from newspapers and magazines written during the time of the crash.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
“A Wall Street Journal bureau chief, Blumenthal, combines a fascinating overview of the infamous stock market crash in 1929 with a rare and useful primer of financial basics…. Throughout, fact boxes define financial vocabulary--stocks, bonds, bulls and bears, margins, the measure of a company's worth, and more--in clear language that is both compelling and instructive….” - Booklist

Honors

Robert F. Sibert Honor Book.

CONNECTIONS

While studying the stock market crash read excerpts from the book for a more detailed definition of terms used in the stock market.

Six Days in October

Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition

Orbis Pictus/Sibert Award winning book

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Montgomery, Sy. 2006. QUEST FOR THE TREE KANGAROO: AN EXPEDITION TO THE CLOUD FOREST OF NEW GUINEA. Photographs by Nic Bishop. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN-13 9780618496419.  

PLOT SUMMARY
Montgomery leads readers through the cloud forest of Papua New Guinea in the search for an exciting animal that most people have never seen or heard of before. Tree kangaroos are an endangered species once hunted for their pelts and meat. Learn more about conservation, the cloud forest, and most of all tree kangaroos in QUEST FOR THE TREE KANGAROO.  

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
QUEST FOR THE TREE KANGAROO is an informational book that is a part of a series entitled Scientists in the Field and is written based on a specific expedition. Montgomery himself was part of the expedition that traveled to Papua New Guinea to study the tree kangaroo. The book includes quotes from members of the conservation team and members of Yawan village. I think that children as well as adults would enjoy reading this book. The writer interjects some casual language which seems to be an attempt to connect with an intended younger audience, “On a previous expedition, a leech dropped into Lisa’s eye. Yuck!”. The author did not include a table of contents to identify the organization of the book. The book seems to be organized based on the sequence of events that occurred before the expedition, during, and a follow up after the trip ended. The author included no sources although a majority of the text involves information that the team discovered based on the study. The book includes some incredible photographs of landscapes, people, and animals with captions. The pictures are all bright and vibrant which enhances the subjects of the book. In some of the pictures of the tree kangaroos it seems as though you could reach out and stroke the kangaroo’s soft looking fur.  

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
“Montgomery and Bishop follow award-wining titles such as The Tarantula Scientist (2004) with another beautifully illustrated entry in the Scientists in the Field series….” - Booklist

Honors

Henry Bergh Children's Book Award Winner

Orbis Pictus Award

Robert F. Sibert Honor Book.

CONNECTIONS

Inform students about local conservation efforts. Allow students to choose a local animal on the endangered species list to research and then have the students present the animal in class.  

Quest For The Tree Kangaroo 

The Tarantula Scientist

Poetry

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Brown, Calef. 2006. FLAMINGOS ON THE ROOF: POEMS AND PAINTINGS. Ill. by  Calef Brown. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN: 0618562982

PLOT SUMMARY
This book is filled with poem after poem about unusual, off-the-wall topics. This book will fill young children with delight. Where most children listen for reindeer on their roofs during Christmas time in Brown’s world children hear flamingos on their roofs in December. 

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
 The book is an individual poet compilation. There is no theme for the book other than that all of the poems are silly and funny. I find the poems to be every unique such as the poem “Ten-Cent Haiku” I have never read a poem inside of a poem. I also like this poem because it introduces children to a different type of poem. Most children have never heard of a haiku, I know that I did not learn about haikus until I was a student in high school. Brown uses creative language in which the reader uses to build images within the audience’s mind. This is apparent in the poem “Weatherbee’s Diner” this poem is about a diner that serves not food but dishes made from the weather, “The thunder is wonderful, order it loud/with sun-dried tornado on top of a cloud”. I can picture these dishes in my mind and I know that children will too especially at the thought of ordering weather to eat.      

The illustrations are kooky and some of the pictures remind me of the work of Picasso. For me the most interesting depiction is that of the allicatter and the gatorpillar. I think that young children will enjoy the thought of an alligator that is a caterpillar that then turns into a butterfly.   

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
“…The author's strong command of poetic form and his way with words make creating nonsense rhyme look effortless. Full-page, flat acrylic illustrations, most painted in harmonious jewel tones, face single-toned pages of text in a variety of colors. The style is abstract with a folk-art quality, often cartoonish, and always whimsical. The characters have humorous, stylized features and varied skin tones, ranging from pale blue to light green to burnt umber. Packed with amusing details, the paintings consistently expand upon the text….” – School Library Journal

“….Words and pictures manage to be both clear and weird, an enjoyable mix.” - Booklist

Honors

New York Times #1 Best Seller In Children’s Picture Books
Winner of the Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry
A 2007 Children’s Book Council Choice

CONNECTIONS

Read the poems aloud to children and, then have the children write their own zany poems with illustrations that they have drawn to accompany the poems .

Flamingos on the Roof

Hallowilloween: Nefarious Silliness

Calef Brown

Verse Novels

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Engle, Margarite. 2008. THE SURRENDER TREE: POEMS OF CUBA’S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN-13 9780805086744  

PLOT SUMMARY
The poetry book is a collection of poems that tell the story of Cuban slaves and their fight for freedom. The poems revel how one former slave Rosa, becomes a symbol of hope and healing through the long wars.

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book of poetry is a verse novel that follows several events that occurred during a series of wars that occurred in Cuba concerning plantation owners freeing their slaves. It is told as a narrative from several points of view in which events are told. The author writes from several different perspectives: the healer, the slave, the slave hunter, the general and, the child. I think that Engle wanted to provide the reader with multiple points of view because it encourages the reader to think about how they would feel in each role. Most of the characters were born into their positions. I find it interesting that the character Lieutenant Death, is never given a true name. During one poem at the beginning of the novel I almost felt sorry for him because it seems that he does not like his position as a slave hunter “I am scared of …..the ears of captives/still warm”. In this poem is his describing all of the things that he is scared of and they all involve instruments of his position.        

This book would be better for older students in middle school or high school to read and study. I do not think that younger students would understand the events and emotions that are conveyed in the novel. War is a serious topic and younger students do not have the maturity level to appreciate “The Surrender Tree”.
 
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
“The Surrender Tree is hauntingly beautiful, revealing pieces of Cuba's troubled past through the poetry of hidden moments such as the glimpse of a woman shuttling children through a cave roof for Rosa's care or the snapshot of runaway Chinese slaves catching a crocodile to eat. Though the narrative feels somewhat repetitive in its first third, one comes to realize it is merely symbolic of the unending cycle of war and the necessity for Rosa and other freed slaves to flee domesticity each time a new conflict begins.” – The School Library

“The switching perspectives personalize the dramatic political history, including the establishment of the world’s first “reconcentration camps” to hold prisoners, as well as the role of slave owners who freed their slaves and joined the resistance against Spain. Many readers will be caught by the compelling narrative voices and want to pursue the historical accounts in Engle’s bibliography.” - Booklist

Honors

• Newbery Honor
• Pura Belpré Award
• Américas Award
• Jane Addams Award
• Claudia Lewis Poetry Award
• Lee Bennett Hopkins Honor
• ALA Best Books for Young Adults
• ALA Notable Book
• NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book
• Amelia Bloomer Book
• Booklist Editor’s Choice
• Kansas State Reading Circle
• Michigan Great Lakes Great Books Award Master List
• Junior Library Guild Selection

CONNECTIONS

Assign students to choose a verse novel to read and review for a class report.

Read one poem a day from a verse novel aloud to older children or adults.

Margarita Engle

The Surrender Tree

The Poet Slave of Cuba

Award Winning Poetry Book

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Schertle, Alice. 2009. BUTTON UP!: WRINKLED RHYMES. Ill. by Petra Mathers. New York, NY: Harcourt Children's Books. ISBN 9780152050504

PLOT SUMMARY
If your clothing could talk what would it say? This book of poems explores what our clothing would say about us if it could talk. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The book is a collection of topical poems about children's clothes and all of the poems are written by the same author. The poems are an excellent way to share different points of view. The author uses sensory language which calls to mind a certain image such as the poem titled “Rick’s WOOL SWEATER,”  the words that the authors uses you can just picture Rick, “I make Rick twitchy- wool feels itchy next to his skin.” Most of us at one time have worn a wool sweater so we know how it feels. I can just picture Rick squirming and jerking while wearing this sweater. All of the poems are silly and funny. Young children would be able to relate to the subjects of the poems.     
 

The illustrations for the book are well done. The colors are bright and the animals are all very humanistic in their portrayals. The detailed drawings do a great job of depicting the images that the author evokes. I think that by using animals instead of actual children the poems become even more silly and outrageous which would farther interest young children.  

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
"From delicately comical to downright funny, the art perfectly reflects the contagiously rhythmic, playful verse. Made for sharing, and worth learning by heart, too." - Horn Book

". . . these poems will give readers a new perspective on getting dressed . . . Playful spreads and spot art suit the small, snappy verses beautifully. This whimsical little volume will make a delightful addition to poetry collections." - School Library Journal

"The whimsical illustrations pair perfectly with the wittiness of the text, and the whole is a clever and original poetic treat." - Booklist

Honors

Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award - 2010

CONNECTIONS

Invite younger children to join you in singing poems. For example you can use the poem “The Song of Harvey’s GALOSHES”. This would be a good way to connect children to poetry.   

Button Up!: Wrinkled Rhymes

How Now Brown Cow?

Alice Schertle Profile

Lesson Plans Poetry

Folktales

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bruchac, Joseph and James Bruchac. 2001. HOW THE CHIPMUNK GOT HIS STRIPES. Ill. by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0803724047.

 
PLOT SUMMARY
Bear believes that he is the biggest and strongest animal in the forest. He feels that there is nothing that he can’t do so Brown Squirrel challenges Bear to tell the sun to not rise. So Bear tells the sun not the rise in the morning but do you think that sun listened to Bear? No, and all of the animals of the forest witnessed that Bear was wrong and that Brown Squirrel was right. However, Brown Squirrel was not a gracious winner and he taunted Bear. Bear retaliates by attempting to eat Brown Squirrel however; Brown Squirrel is too fast and only suffers from scratches down his back from Bear. After this occurs Brown Squirrel is now known as Chipmunk.         

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
I found the book to be very interesting. I have never read a Native American folktale before, but due to other traditional tales I am already familiar with the concept of beast tales. Even though the characters are animals they display very prominent human characteristics such as pride and boastfulness. Neither is a very desirable trait and the book illustrates the moral of the folktale rather easily for both Bear and Brown Squirrel. I think that younger children would enjoy the book not only for the story but for the vibrant and expressive illustrations as well. The characters’ expressions are so well drawn that it is easy for young children to infer the mood of the characters.  I wish there had been more books like this when I was growing-up. I am glad that the genre of folktales has expanded to include more than just the traditional European folktales. It was interesting to read the authors’ note at the beginning that referred to the origin of the story. I am always interested to discover the history of a folktale since it illustrates the culture that the folktale originated in.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
“In their introductory authors' notes, the Bruchacs indicate that the story is an amalgam of tales they have heard from Cherokee, Abenaki, and Mohawk sources, and has further been fleshed out through their own telling over the years. The result is polished, cohesive, and energetic. While the story begs to be told, Aruego and Dewey's vibrantly hued trademark watercolors add significantly to the humor.” – School Library Journal   

“…the dialogue is effective and invites audience participation--especially the repeated phrases with sound effects…” – Publishers Weekly

CONNECTIONS

The book would be a good introduction to bullying for young children especially since it shows two different types of bullying. It is not just the overt bullying that children must be aware of but also bullying such as taunting other students for being wrong.

 This would be a great book to use puppets with. Younger children would enjoy how the characters interact with one another. All you would need is a puppet to play Bear and a puppet to play Brown Squirrel and something to make stripes with such as yarn or white tape.

As a librarian or teacher you could encourage the children to participate in the reading of the book by having one group say “The sun will not come up” and another group to say “The sun is going to rise” as it follows with the book.  

 

Joseph Bruchac

How Chipmunk Got His Stripes

Raccoon's Last Race

Turtle's Race With Beaver

Native American Folktales

Caldecott Medal Book

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Zelinsky, Paul. 1997. RAPUNZEL. Ill. by Paul O. Zelinsky. New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN 0525456074.

PLOT SUMMARY
A couple who has no children is finally expecting a child but the wife yearns for some rapunzel from the garden of a sorceress. The husband steals the rapunzel for his wife but he is caught and the sorceress forces the couple to give their child to her. A daughter is born and the sorceress takes her away and names her Rapunzel. The sorceress takes Rapunzel, to live in a tower with no way in except for a window at the very top. The sorceress climbs to the by using Rapunzel’s long hair. One day a prince comes upon the tower and hears Rapunzel’s voice. Will the prince make it to the top of the tower and if he does what will happen to Rapunzel? 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book’s detailed illustrations have a very strong renaissance style depicting the characters and scenery. Although, in my opinion this book is meant for older children it could be used as a wordless picture book allowing younger children to make-up their own story based on the illustrations. The story is a classic retelling of the Brother’s Grimm version. I like that the author includes a note at the end which provides the reader with the background for the original story even beyond the Grimm’s version. Fairy tales can reveal much about a culture and the current values of the eras in which they were written.  

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

“Zelinsky (Swamp Angel) does a star turn with this breathtaking interpretation of a favorite fairy tale.” - Publishers Weekly

"Simply put, this is a gorgeous book; it demonstrates respect for the traditions of painting and the fairy tale while at the same time adhering to a singular, wholly original, artistic vision." - The Horn Book

"Suffused with golden light, Zelinsky's landscapes and indoor scenes are grandly evocative, composed and executed with superb technical and emotional command." - Kirkus Reviews

“An elegant and sophisticated retelling that draws on early French and Italian versions of the tale.” - School Library Journal

Honors

Caldecott Winner - 1998

CONNECTIONS

Zelinsky's version of Rapunzel would be an excellent book to study for an art history class with older children or even high school students. The illustrations are a great representation of Italian Renaissance art that can be used to introduce students to a modern take on Renaissance art and how current artiest are still influenced from different periods of art.

Paul O. Zelinsky

Lesson Plans

Rapunzel

Rumpelstiltskin

Knick Knack Paddywhack

The Three Little Pigs

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Scieszka, Jon. 1989. THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. Ill. by Lane Smith. New York, NY: Penguin Group. ISBN 0670827592.

PLOT SUMMARY
This is the story of The Three Little Pigs, but not the story that most people know. It is told by the other party, otherwise known as the Big Bad Wolf. However, according to Al Wolf the original story got it all wrong. Al Wolf tells the readers how everything is just a big misunderstanding. He is not the terrible wolf that everyone thinks he is, but he is simply a wolf who wanted to make a cake for his grandmother while he suffered from a cold.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Scienszka’s book is not your average fairy tale of The Three Little Pigs it is instead a fractured fairy tale featuring the wolf as the main character rather than the pigs as the original story does. It is a parody of the original traditional tale. I like that the book encourages children to think about different points of view. There are two sides to every story and things are not always what they seem to be, depending on whose side you are listening to. The illustrations are very unique and eye catching. The reader should be sure to watch for the details that Smith has added to the pages. The illustrator also demonstrates some satire, one of the pages in particular stood out to me. The illustration is after the wolf has sneezed down the second pig’s house and shows the pig’s rump in the air with the proper eating utensils on both sides, which came from the sticks that made up his house.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
"Designed with uncommon flair," said PW, this "gaily newfangled version of the classic tale" takes sides with the villain. "Imaginative watercolors eschew realism, further updating the tale." – Publishers Weekly

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

Honors

ALA Notable Children’s Books

Best Book of the Year - School Library Journal

Best Book of the Year - The New York Times

Best Book of the Year - Publishers Weekly

CONNECTIONS
A unit which covered many different versions of the Three Little Pigs would be a great way to study folktale variants. First read a more traditional version of the story and then read a non-traditional version and compare and contrast the two. This would be a great way to study points of view and critical analysis.
 

Jon Scieszka's Website

Lesson Plans

Scholastic Classroom Activities

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

The Frog Prince Continued

Picture Book

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Willems, Mo. 2010. CAN I PLAY TOO?. Ill. by Mo Willems. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 9781423119913.

PLOT SUMMARY
This is another book in the Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems. Elephant and Piggie are two friends who are playing together when a new friend comes along and wants to play too. They want to play together but how does a snake play catch? Watch as these friends problem solve so that everyone can play.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Within the story the characters are presented with a problem that they then have to solve. The problem presented is what do you do when one of your friends is different? I think that this story presents the issue in a straightforward and obvious way. The characters have to work through different solutions before arriving to one that works best for all involved. Both the story and illustrations are very simplistic. The only drawings are the characters and some balls. Even though they are simple the artist shows a lot of emotions on the characters’ faces.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
“These masterful mini-dramas will delight and amuse easy-reader and picture-book audiences, alike.” – School Library Journal

“Accessible, appealing, and full of authentic emotions about what makes friendships tick, these titles will put a contemporary shine on easy reader collections.” - Booklist

Honors

CONNECTIONS

Mo Willems

Teaching Guide

Can I Play Too?

We Are in a Book

I Broke My Trunk

Caldecott Medal Book

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stead, Philip C.. 2010. A SICK DAY FOR AMOS MCGEE. Ill. by Erin E. Stead. New York, NY: A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9781596434028.

PLOT SUMMARY
The story is about an elderly zookeeper named Amos McGee. Everyday Amos follows the same routine as he cares for the animals at the zoo but one day Amos wakes up with a cold and has to stay home from work. Wondering where Amos could be, the animals take a bus ride Amos’s house to check on him. While at his house the animals take good care of Amos just as he always does for him.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
“A Sick Day for Amos McGee” is a lighthearted story about friendship and what friends are willing to do for those they care about. I think that children of all ages would enjoy this story and the thought of having zoo animals come to their house when they are sick to take care of them. The illustrations for the book are amazing. Erin Stead’s woodblock printing skills shows very detailed characters. Amos is probably the most detailed character of all within the story, and he almost seems to come to life on the pages of the book.
 
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
“Endearing, expressive characterization in spare illustrations rendered in muted tones distinguish this timeless picture book.  It’s a great day for Amos McGee!” - Caldecott Medal Committee Chair Judy Zuckerman. 

Honors

Best Illustrated Children’s Book Award 2010 - New York Times

Caldecott Medal 2011

CONNECTIONS

Philip C. Stead

Erin E. Stead

A Sick Day for Amos McGee

Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat

Erin Stead Woodblock Process Video

Lesson Plan Activities

Classic Picture Book

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gag, Wanda. 1928. MILLIONS OF CAT’S. Ill. by Wanda Gag. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN 9780399233159

PLOT SUMMARY
Within this classic picture book Wanda Gag tells a story about a very lonely old man and woman. The old woman tells the man that the only way to alleviate their loneliness is to find a cat. The old man leaves to find his wife a cat. The old man finds what he is looking for and more, so much more that he cannot decide which one is the best cat so he takes them all. In the end it all works out, but how do you think his wife felt about the “Millions of Cats” he brings back?

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Gag’s story is very straight forward. There are no twists and turns to the plot and it is a very easy read for a child sense it contains repetitive, rhyming words. The illustrations are also simplistic. The pictures are drawn in black and white and for the most part are simply accents to the story. However, for the story I think that the art is just right to convey the lightheartedness of the story.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
"One Hundred Books That Shaped the Century" - School Library Journal

Honor

Newberry Honor Book - 1929

CONNECTIONS

Wanda Gag House

Millions of Cats Discussion Guide

Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag

Nothing At All by Wanda Gag

Funny Thing by Wanda Gag