The Wall Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain- Genre 4

Bibliography

Sis, Peter. 2007. The Wall Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain. New York: Frances Goster Books. ISBN 978-0-374-34701-7

Plot Summary

In this autobiography Sis tells the reader how he has wanted to draw all of his life. He grows up in the country of Czechoslovakia when WWII has ended, but it is occupied by the Soviets. He is living on the side of the Iron Curtain that is ruled by communism and symbols of it are everywhere. Sis loves to draw at home, but he is told what to draw at school. Everything in his life is compulsory or discouraged. The Iron Curtain strengthens as tensions increase with the Cold War. As Sis becomes older he realizes the government keeps secrets from him and people are being brainwashed. His love for drawing continues and with that comes a love for Western music such as Elvis, Beach Boys, and The Beatles. He wants to grow his hair long, but the government will not allow that. Art begins to appear on the wall. "People are followed, monitored, harassed, imprisoned, deported, and tortured." He dreams of being free flying over the wall. Finally, his dream comes true when the Berlin wall begins to come down. Sis moves to America to become an artist.

Critical Analysis

This is definitely not a picture book for young children. This is written for teenagers and up who are familiar with the Cold War and history. The basic text is easy to read and does not contain many words. There is an introduction and an afterword that explains more about his life. He begins with three basic words (Iron Curtain, Cold War, and Communism) with their definitions bordering the picture of an infant.

The book is organized from the time Sis is an infant until he is an adult. Most of the drawings are in black and white. Everything that is a symbol of communism is painted in red which really stands out on the pages. There are sidebars of text next to some of the pictures to explain what is happening. Their are dated inserts from his journal beginning in 1954 to June of 1977. The journal pages have drawings mixed with real photographs. The use of bright colors represents influences from the West on a double page spread. The pictures he draws of all the police have pig faces. The bright colors are seen again when people are painting the Wall over and over. Sis uses double page pictures of all the ways he dreams to escape. Text and pictures come together on the double page of the Berlin wall with positive words such as ( freedom, truth, happiness, virtue, art etc.) on one side of the wall. Negative words are in gray such as (stupidity, fear, suspicion, corruption etc.) on the communist side. The last double page picture is bordered by text explaining how the Wall fell from Communist control on November 9, 1989. His dream came true.

Review Excerpt(s)

Caldecott Honor Book 2008

Orbis Pictus Award 2008

Robert F. Sibert Medal 2008

Voya (Kevin Beach): "This book is packed with the author's primitive art that simply and effectively illustrates the history of Czechoslovakia's struggle with totalitarianism and evokes the dreams of its repressed people."

Kirkus: "A concise introduction fleshes out the history of the time, leaving the rest of the volume for a potent mix of narration, fanciful illustrations, maps and double-page spreads for journal entries. "

CCBC: "Renowned author and illustrator Peter Sís’ brilliant autobiographical exploration of the creative spirit offers his trademark blend of intricate visual images and narrative."

Booklist (Jennifer Mattson): "Throughout, terrific design dramatizes the conflict between conformity and creative freedom, often through sparing use of color; in many cases, the dominant palette of black, white, and Communist red threatens to swallow up young Peter’s freely doodled, riotously colored artwork. "

The San Diego Tribune: "With Sís, everything is multilayered and full of surprises. Getting it all in one read is like seeing the Metropolitan Museum of Art in an afternoon."

Connections

-Create a timeline for Peter's life

-Conduct an oral interview with someone who lived from 1930-1980's during the Cold War. Ask them about their memories of the Iron Curtain.

-Choose a topic from the book to research. For example Gagarin, Laika, Aurora, Staliin, Kremlin, Brezhnev, Khrushchev, Lenin, the Wall, The Beatles, Harlem Globetrotters, Beach Boys, Allen Ginsberg etc.

-Research the symbols of Communism and what they mean.

Harvesting Hope The Story of Cesar Chavez- Genre 4

Bibliography

Krull, Kathleen. 2003. Harvesting Hope The Story of Cesar Chavez. Ill. by Yuyi Morales. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 978-0-15-201437-7.

Plot Summary

The story begins with Cesar remembering how wonderful life was at his ranch in Arizona. He was a quiet boy whose mother taught him never to fight. Conflicts needed to be worked out by words. When he was ten a terrible drought forced he and his family to leave their ranch in Arizona for California to look for work. His family became migrant workers on other people's farms. He felt like a slave harvesting beets, grapevines, and lettuce. He left school at the end of eighth grade to work full time in the fields. He felt he had to use his life to fight for change for migrant workers who were not treated properly. "He showed a knack for solving problems, and people trusted him." He began the National farm Workers Association. When the grapes needed harvesting he led a group off the fields in a march from Delano to Sacramento. The grapes began to rot on the vines. Their were ten-thousand people in the march when they reached Sacramento. Chavez had signed the first contract for farmworkers in American history. He had won his fight for migrant workers without any violence.

Critical Analysis

The end of the book has an author's note explaining more information about the life of a well known activist. The story is a biography about Cesar Chavez focusing on the early years of his life and fight. The details of his life are accurate. The book is written as a story of his life. It is interesting and easy to read. The book uses a few Spanish phrases for authenticity. They are explained as you read. The illustations by Yuyi Morales were done with acrylics, handmade stamps, and computer created cut-outs. The vibrant pictures are on two page spreads that are very colorful. The focus of the pictures are on the people, and their expressions on their faces add to the text. You feel the struggle of the migrant workers in their faces and sore feet on the march. This story gives everyone hope that they can solve any problem with their words.

Review Excerpt(s)

Pura Belpre Honor Book 2004

Texas Bluebonnet Award 2004

Best Children's Books of the Year 2004

School Library Journal Best Books 2003

Bookhive (Jeanenne): "This biography is an uplifting story of non-violent protest and perservance."

Booklist (Traci Todd): "Krull's language demonstrates a poetic sensibility ("The eighty acres of their ranch were an island in the shimmering Arizona desert, and the stars were all their own.")."

Children's Literature (Norah Piehl) : "Although Cesar Chavez might seem an unlikely subject for a picture book, the circumstances of his life and work should appeal to young people's sense of justice."

CCBC : "Morales's lush artwork, done mostly with richly colored oil paintings, contributes to the depth of this story. "

Kirkus : "Cesar Chavez, like his heroes Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi, believed in non-violent change. He fought ceaselessly for the rights of migrant farm workers to have a decent living conditions and a living wage. "

Horn Book: "There are no sources, but this is an excellent choice for furthering understanding of racism, of nonviolent protest, and of the lives of workers before unions."

Connections

-Read about other peaceful activists that were Cesar Chavez's heroes like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and Saint Francis of Assisi.

-Read other related books like:
Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell and Helen Oxenbury
Calling the Doves by Juan Felipe Herrera and Elly Simmons
Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English
by Alma Flor Ada and Simón Silva
A Day's Work by Eve Bunting and Ronald Himler
Cuadros de familia / Family Pictures by Carmen Lomas Garza
Make text to text connections/ text to self connections/ text to world connections

-Prejudice caused Cesar Chavez to hate school. Write about how prejudice is bad.

Pyramids and Mummies- Genre 4

Bibliography

Simon, Seymour. 2003. Pyramids and Mummies. New York: Sea Star Books. ISBN 1-58717-240-2.

Plot Summary

Egyptians built pyramids over 5,000 years ago. These are the oldest buildings on earth today. They were built as a tomb for their pharaoh. They were built on a square base with sloping sides in the shape of a triangle. The Egyptians thought they were building a stairway to the sun on the journey into the next world. All of the pharaohs gold and treasures were buried in the pyramid with the pharaoh for the next world. Only the tomb of King Tut still had the valuables intact. All of the other pyramids were robbed. A statue of a Sphinx stood outside the pyramid. The Sphinx has a body of a lion and the head of a pharaoh. It was believed to guard the pyramid. The Aztec and Mayan peoples of Mexico and Central America built pyramids as temples for worship.

The Egyptians believed they had to preserve the pharaohs body for the next world. It took 70 days to prepare a body for burial. The organs had to be removed in a process called embalming. They were placed in special jars. Only the heart was left in the body. The body was covered in salt for 40 days and then rubbed with oils and spices. The inside was stuffed with salt and a hot wax poured over the body. It was then wrapped in linen and placed in a coffin called a sarcophagus.

It is still a mystery how these huge blocks were moved to build these pyramids.

Critical Analysis

This book did not include too much information. It was interesting to read and it never talked down to the reader. Unfamiliar words had pronunciations in parentheses next to it. There are no subheadings, index, or table of contents in this book. It reads like a story. The text is set right on top of pictures or along side of them. The book has many details on how the pyramids were built and the pharaohs were preserved. There were real photos that added information to the text. They are very appealing. There were also aerial views to show the real size of a pyramid. Everyone would be amazed at the real photos of a mummy. It is surprising how preserved they are after so many years. There are real color photos of Egyptian, and Aztec pyramids too. The author also includes color photos of new pyramid shaped buildings being built in modern times.

Review Excerpt(s)

Children's Literature (Sharon Oliver): "In this independent reader, author Seymour Simon presents basic yet fascinating information on Ancient Egypt for young readers".

Horn Book (2005): "An interesting, well-researched text is supported by appealing color photos".

Connections

-Read other books about pyramids, mummies, and Egypt. Make a powerpoint about what they have learned.
Other books may include:
Picture a Country: Egypt by Henry Pluckrose
Ms. Frizzles's Adventure: Ancient Egypt by Aliki
Look What Came From Egypt by Miles Harvey
If I were a Kid in Ancient Egypt: Children of the Ancient World by Cobblestone Publishers

-Make a burial mask
-Create a sphinx out of floral oasis using plastic knives
-Build a pyramid out of sugar cubes
-Learn the mummification process by mummifying an apple.

Meow Ruff- Genre 3

Bibliography

Sidman, Joyce. 2006. Meow Ruff. Ill. by Michelle Berg. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 978-0618-44894-4

Plot Summary

This story is written in concrete poetry. On a clear, sunny day a dog runs out of his house. At the same time a car drops off a confused cat, leaving it all alone. The dog smells the cat and is off on a hunt for it. The cat recognizes the dog and begins hissing at him. The clouds are beginning to grow and become dark. A thunderstorm begins. The dog and cat hide under the picnic table together where they fall asleep. They awake when the sky is sunny again and begin to play together. The owner of the dog picks up the cat and asks "if he has found a friend?"

Critical Analysis

This story made up of concrete poetry takes time to read. You may even need to read it more than once. I found I had to look in the pictures for hidden words. The bottoms of the pages have words describing the sidewalk or grass. The art in this story is made up of the text. I was surprised that the illustrator was not the author too. Michelle Berg uses very bold colors and simple drawings (two dimensional) that were digitally created. Every page is outlined in a black line. The poems use many adjectives to describe the changing weather and how the dog and cat change their attitudes about each other and become friends. The clouds begin as a wisp until they are heavy with words. The rain begins as a "drip" and progresses to "fat rain berries", and "wet sky missiles". Sidman chooses her words carefully to add onomatopoeia to the poems which allows the reader to hear what is happening too.

Review Excerpt(s)

Minnesota Book Award 2007

Jennifer Mattson (Booklist): "unlike most books about the form, doesn't just collect unrelated poems, but tells a story through them."

Sheilah Eagen (Children's Literature): "Set aside some time to fully explore this masterpiece of words and shapes--a match made in concrete poetry heaven."

Horn Book 2006: "This book takes concrete poetry to a new level."

Connections

-Find other books of concrete poetry to share with each other.

- Have students lightly sketch any animal on paper. Brainstorm words about their animal parts (ex. beak, feathers). Fill in the sketch with the words.

- Brainstorm the different forms of water. Write a poem about their favorite form of water. Rewrite the poem in the shape of whatever they are writing about.

Toasting Marshmallows- Genre 3

Bibliography

George, Kristine O'Connell. 2001. Toasting Marshmallows. Ill. by Kate Kiesler. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0-618-04597-X

Plot Summary

This book focuses on a yearly family camping trip. There are thirty poems in this book. It is told from the sister's point of view. All the poems have something to do with a camping trip. It begins with putting up the tent and ends with putting away the flannel pajamas until next year. The poems are humorous. George uses concrete poems, haiku's, cinquains and onomatopoeia. Her poems in this book do not rhyme.

Critical Analysis

George's writing is very simple and concrete. I have never been on a camping trip and she was able to paint a very realistic picture in my mind for me with the help of Kate Kiesler what camping would be like. The language of every poem helps create a vivid image. In the poem "Sleeping Bag" you can picture a girl getting dressed in the sleeping bag by her word choice. /"I wriggle, scoootch,/ scrunch, and jiggle. Flop/ Front flips, back flips- /I'm a caterpillar/ in a cozy cloth cocoon/that zips." George chooses all of her words carefully to also create imagery and make the reader laugh or feel as if you are camping with this family.

The illustrator Kate Kiesler paints beautiful scenery with oil paintings. The illustrations are vibrant colors that describe exactly what the text is saying. The scenes are very realistic. The poem "Flashlight" has the text creatively inside the beams of light from a flashlight. The reader will feel like they are on the camping trip. You can not only see the pictures, but you can hear the sounds, feel the chill from the night air, smell and almost taste the toasted marshmallows. It is a delight for the senses!

Review Excerpt(s)

Booklist 2001: "this fine collection brings the outdoors up close in quiet, immediate poems that engage all the senses."

Christopher Moning (Children's Literature): "With a child's eye view, and with simple, well-chosen words."

Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry, 2002

Texas Bluebonnet 2003-2004

Connections

- Choose a topic and students write a cinquain about that topic.

- Turn out the lights in the classroom. The students read poems about flashlights. Have students brainstorm and write poems on flashlights.

-Read other poems by Kristine O'Connell George.

-Have a camping theme day with other camping books, and learn camping songs.

what my mother doesn't know- Genre 3

Bibliography

Sones, Sonya. 2003. What My Mother Doesn't Know. New York: Simon Pulse. ISBN 978-0-0689-855535.

Plot Summary

This book is written in first person. It tells the story of Sophie a fourteen year old girl in verse. It is very easy to read and can be read quickly. It begins when she broke up with Lou and is beginning to date Dylan. She has supportive friends, Rachel and Grace to talk to, but she feels her mother really does not listen. Her mother seems to be dealing with her own depression. The book touches on the creepy world of cyberspace and religious bigotry. Sophie is also trying to deal with fighting with her mom, and her parents constant fighting. She makes friends with a dorky boy in art class. They both love art and a friendship begins. She struggles with letting her friends know that she is in love with the boy Murphy, who everyone has made fun of in school. He turns out to be Mr. Right.

Critical Analysis

This story would appeal to young girls. This is poetry written in first person using verse. It reminded me that I was peeking into Sophie's journal. The story touches on your emotions of humor, love, and fear. Every verse is short and easy to read. You feel that Sophie is speaking honestly from her heart. Sones uses short lines to create a staccato rhythm. She chooses her words carefully to create an image in your head. For example she is soaking in the tub after ice skating and says she is "watching the steam curl into question marks".

There are no illustrations in the book until the last twenty eight pages where there is a black and white drawing of Sophie's favorite painting from the museum. Le Bal `a Bougival (a woman dancing with an unmasked man) is drawn like a flip book at the end. You do not realize that you are reading poetry. I had to smile because this book took me on a journey back to my adolescent years.

Review Excerpt(s)

Soaring Eagle Book Award 2004

Booklist: "Is a fast, funny, touching book"

Children's Literature: "The highs and lows of Sophie's life reflect much of the excitement and anguish that mark adolescence."

Kliatt: "Sophie is full of life, excited about falling in love, worried about her image, loyal to her friends, trying to understand her parents."

Connections

- Read more of Sonya Sones books. For example, Stop Pretending, What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know,or One Of Those Hideous Books Where The Mother Dies. Compare her writing in verse.

- Make a bubble map describing the character Sophie in this book.

-Write a connection you have to one of the poems. Try writing it in verse.

And the Green Grass Grew All Around- Genre 2

Bibliiography

Schwartz, Alvin. 1992. And the Green Grass Grew All Around Folk Poetry from Everyone. Ill. by Sue Truesdell. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0-06-0227583.

Plot Summary

Alvin Schwartz has organized about 300 folk poems. A folk poem is poetry that has orally been passed down through the generations. Most of the folk poets are unknown. Schwartz organized them into chapters about people, food, school, teases and taunts, wishes/warnings, love and marriage, work, stories, nonsense, riddles, fun and games, rain and shine, tree, animals and insects, and other things. Many of the rhyming words are delightful to the ear.

Critical Analysis

All of the folk poems in this book are meant to be read aloud or sung in some way. Folk poets use use ordinary language in their writing. The notes in the back of the book tell us how far back to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and earlier these poems began. For some of the rhymes Schwartz included simple musical stanzas to show us how the rhyme should be sung. There were lots of parodies. "On Top of Spaghetti" brought back many childhood memories while I was reading. I also remember some of these chants while I was learning to jump rope. It was interesting to discover that these chants were written for boys because jump roping was a boys' activity until the late nineteenth century. Schwartz includes an impressive list of sources at the end of the book.

Sue Truesdell used black and white cartoon like drawings to add humor to the text. They are whimsical and add expression to every page. With some chants or poems there are directions included to explain how they should be read. I could not help but smile because many of these poems and chants have been on the Barney shows on television that my children watched while they were growing up. This collection of poems that rhyme and are pleasant to our ear are a definite part of our past.

Review Excerpt(s)

Hazel Rochman Booklist: "The late Alvin Schwartz has left a joyful legacy in this collection of folk poetry for everyone to share. "

Sheree Van Vreede Children's Literature: Perhaps the best collection of folk rhymes I have seen, this award-winning compilation covers many childhood favorites, such as "Do your ears hang low? Do they wobble to and fro?" and "Here comes the bride/Big, fat, and wide."

Kirkus 1992: Truesdell's marvelous characters dance across the generously broad pages, peering inquisitively at the hilarious goings-on or gleefully joining in the shenanigans. It's hard to imagine a child who wouldn't greet this treasure trove with enthusiasm.

Horn Book 1992: There are rhymes children use for choosing up sides, clapping hands, and jumping rope, as well as parodies of nursery rhymes and nonsense verse for all occasions.

Connections

-A great way to introduce poetry on the playground. Have children repeat chants while jumping rope.
-Introduce poetry to young children.

Iktomi and the Boulder- Genre 2

Bibliography

Goble, Paul. 1988. Iktomi and the Boulder. New York, NY: Orchard Books. ISBN 0-531-05760-7.

Plot Summary

This is a Plains Indian story that is retold and illustrated by Paul Goble. The story begins when Iktomi is walking aimlessly along to visit relatives in a nearby village. He is conceited and loves the way he is dressed. He is showing off as he is walking along. He begins to get very hot and decides to leave his blanket on a boulder as a generous gesture to protect the boulder from the hot sun. He goes on his way and realizes it will rain. He goes back to get his blanket to protect him. The boulder chases him up a hill and across a river until it rolls on top of Iktomi's legs. He pleads with animals to help roll it off of him, but they give up and leave him alone. In the night he sees bats and tells them how the boulder was insulting the bats. He makes them angry and they hit the boulder to break it into pieces of rocks and Iktomi walks away.

Critical Analysis

Goble writes and illustrates a Sioux Indian tale explaining the reasons for rocks scattered over the Great Plains. Iktomi is the Sioux name of a clever, mischief maker. Goble tells in his forward how he always tries to fool others, but he is stupid and a liar. In the note for the reader Iktomi's thoughts are in small print. The italic print is where the the author asks questions to discuss about Iktomi. The reader is actively thinking while reading the story. The story is supposed to explain why bats have flattened faces, and why there are rocks scattered all over the Great Plains. The pictures are colorful, but the facial expressions are simple. Goble uses dash marks to show Iktomi walking in the distance. Iktomi is a grey figure in the distance. His drawings add to the meaning of the text.

Review Excerpt(s)

Golden Sower Award 1992

Connections

-Read other Iktomi stories such as Iktomi and the Berries, Iktomi and the Coyote and Iktomi loses his Eyes. Compare the character Iktomi in each of the stories.
-Use the story to introduce science lesson on rocks.
-Students write their own Iktomi story to explain why something happened

Bubba The Cowboy Prince a fractured texas tale- Genre 2

Bibliography

Ketteman, Helen. 1997. Bubba The Cowboy Prince A Fractured Texas Tale. Ill. James Warhola. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0-590-25506-1

Plot Summary

This fairy tale by Helen Ketteman is loosely based on the story "Cinderella". The hero is a cowboy named Bubba with two lazy stepbrothers and a wicked stepdaddy. He is forced to do all of the chores while his stepbrothers boss him around. Miz Lurleen throws a ball to to find a real cowboy to marry and live with her at her ranch in Texas. Bubba finds a fairy godcow who makes him handsome with the swish of a tail. He attends the ball (hoedown) and is dancing with Miz Lurleen when the magic runs out at midnight. He runs away and loses a boot. She searches many ranches looking for her real cowboy. Miz Lurleen finds Bubba. They ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after.

Critical Analysis

This is a Texas retelling of the Cinderella story. Helen is from Dallas, Texas and uses western language from the southern culture to make the story authentic. The text uses great metaphors and a Texas drawl. The tale is humorous with a male in the starring role of Cinderella and a wealthy cowgirl as the prince. It is full of great idiomatic phrases.

James Warhola's artwork is beautiful. He uses double pages for his scenes. Your eyes need time to enjoy everything on the pages. The colors are bright, and the expressions on the faces of the animals and people are priceless. They are full of thought and humor. The moon and clouds even have expressions to enjoy. I think this version of the Cinderella fairy tale would appeal to boys as well as girls.

Review Excerpt(s)

-Golden Sower Award 2001

Connections

Compare Bubba the Cowboy Prince and Cinderella using a graphic organizer.

Determine the meaning of the many idiomatic phrases from the book. For example "bonked the beejebers out of his bean".

Students look at other fairy tales and work in small groups to try and create their own fractured fairy tale.




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Talking with Artists- Genre 1

Bibliography

Cummings, Pat. 1992. Talking with Artists. New York: Bradbury Press. ISBN 0-02-724245-5

Plot Summary

In this book Pat Cummings had conversations with fourteen favorite children's book illustrators. When she would visit schools children always had questions for her about how she became an illustrator. Pat decided to ask the same eight questions of all the artists. The book is a compelation of how the artists share their stories about how they became illustrators. The one thing all of the artists had in common was their love to draw and they kept drawing all of their life.

Critical Analysis

Children will love looking at a picture of the illustrator as a child and as an adult. Every artist has a drawing that they did as a child with their age posted. There is also a picture from one of their published books with the medium that was used. The illustrators answer the same eight questions. All of the artists loved drawing as a child and continued to practice and practice. The other theme that seems to run throughout the book is that they get their ideas from everything they see around them. Tom Feelings says it best with his advice to "carry a sketchbook wherever you go because it's a record of what you're seeing and feeling". The back of the book has a glossary of terms that children may not be familiar with.

While reading this book I could not help but think about my own child who loves drawing. She loves to draw people. One Sunday in church I looked over and she was drawing the priest while he was giving his sermon. She would be encouraged by reading this book to continue what she is doing. She could see herself in these different artists.

Review Excerpt(s)

Horn Book Guide:1995 Nonfiction Rating 1, Outstanding, noteworthy in style, content, and/or illustration.

Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children. Honor Book United States

Connections

-For older students research many jobs available in the field of art.
-Have students choose another artist that is not in the book to find out more information about them.
-Great way to introduce the illustrator. Gather other books by this artist to compare their style of illustrating.
-Try out the medium that artist prefers in their drawings.

THE HOUSE IN THE NIGHT-Genre 1

Bibliography

Swanson, Susan Marie. 2008. The House in the Night. Ill. Beth Krommes. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 978-0-618-86244-3

Plot Summary

This story was inspired by a poem from The OxfordNursery Rhyme Book. The poem began "This is the key of the kingdom". It has a very simple text with only a few words. The words are very soothing. The child is given a key to the house where a light burns. The child goes to their room and finds a book with a bird that magically flies the child through the dark sky. There are lights throughout the dark sky. The story comes back to the key and the house in the night where it began.

Critical Analysis

The author uses his favorite poem to create this story. The author uses familiar words in the child's home, and very simple sentences. It begins with the sun setting, but then the moon has all of the light. The illustrations are black and white scratchboard, but they are decorated in gold color representing light. The night is never all dark. There is light in the house and in the world. It gives a child the feeling of security. This book is a bedtime story that allows the child to feel safe at home before sleeping.

Review Excerpt

Randolph Caldecott Medal 2009

"A beautiful piece of bookmaking that will delight both parents and children."— Ilene Cooper

Connections

-This story can be used to teach prepositional phrases in grammar.

KNUFFLE BUNNY-Genre 1

Bibliography

Willems, Mo. 2004. Knuffle Bunny. New York, N.Y.: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 078681870-0

Plot Summary

In this easy to read picture book, Mo Willems writes about how a child speaks her very first words. Trixie goes to the laundromat with her daddy, while carrying her favorite stuffed animal. She helps her daddy load the machine, but loses her friend. She is too young to speak words and struggles to explain the problem to her father. She throws a temper tantrum on the way home. Trixie and dad are both frustrated. Mom solves the problem immediately when she opens the door and realizes what is missing. The family returns to the laundromat and dad finds the stuffed animal. Trixies first words are "Knuffle Bunny"

Critical Analysis

Mo Willems uses real photographs of his hometown and then draws colored ink sketches of cartoon people. He adds the people into his photographs. The black and white photographs lead the reader to believe this is what happened to the author when he was small. The facial expressions of Trixie really tell the story. Trixie has a temper tantrum when she can not explain that her favorite stuffed animal is missing. All children can relate to a time they lost something special, and all parents can think of a time that their child has been "boneless". It is amazing how mom is the hero and solves the problem immediately as she opens the door. That special mom/child connection is evident in this story.

Review Excerpt(s)

2005 Caldecott Honor Book

School Library Journal: "Personalities are artfully created so that both parents and children will recognize themselves within these pages. a seamless and supremely satisfying presentation of art and text".

Connections

Introduce other books by Mo Willems like Knuffle Bunny Too, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, and The Pegeon Finds a Hot Dog.

Children write about a time they lost something special to them.

Grace's Book Reviews- LS 5603 Literature for Children and YA

This is created as an assignment for a TWU course.