Leggins 1
RE 5140
Book Critiques Set #1
Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity (Caldecott )
Author/Illustrator: Mo Williams
Hyperion Books for Children, New York, 2007
3. Describe the artwork in terms of style and media. What elements of the illustrations appeal to you? Why?
This book was a follow-up to the story Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. The artwork in this book was amazing. The backgrounds were real black and white photographs and the characters were drawn into the scenes in color. Each picture had the appearance of being matted and the text was typed onto the solid background. It also contained bubbles for some of the characters dialogue that added another dimension to the book. These elements made it extremely engaging. I shared this book with my students and they thoroughly enjoyed seeing what they could find within the pictures.
Kitten’s First Full Moon (Caldecott )
Author/Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
HarperCollins, United States of America, 2004
4. Describe the setting. Was the setting essential to the plot of the book? Explain why or why not.
The setting for this story takes place at night outside as a kitten travels from their house’s front porch to play in the surrounding area. The setting was definitely essential to the plot. This story would not have been the same had it taken place inside the home our during the daytime. The darkness of night allowed for the little kitten to focus on the brightness and clearness of the full moon and how it resembled a bowl of milk. Throughout the night the kitten frolicked outside trying to get the bowl of milk it saw in the sky. There was a comical element when the kitten climbed the tree and saw the bigger bowl of milk that was the moon’s reflection in the pond and then jumped at it. So precious!
First the Egg (Caldecott )
Author/ Illustrator: Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Roaring Book Press, New York, 2007
10. How might you include this book in the social studies, science, or mathematics curriculum? Write about a specific activity you might do that relates to the content of the book.
This book would be ideal to use when studying changes in science. Sometimes it can be very difficult to have students understand the concept of change or transformation. This book uses some great examples to demonstrate this in a manner that would be easy for children to comprehend. It shows how a chicken emerges from an egg, a tadpole changes into a frog, a caterpillar that becomes a butterfly, and a seed that grows into a flower. I would also use this book as the springboard for a writing lesson about sequencing. When working with beginning writers, sometimes sequencing can be challenging. However this book uses the terms: “first” and “then” to show the passage of time. After the children have mastered those two terms, I would work with them on the use of “first,” “next,” “then,” and “last” to use in their writing practice.
Goin’ Someplace Special ( King)
Author: Patricia C. McKissack, Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney
Atheneum Books, New York, 2001
9. What is the theme of the book or poem within a collection? Do you think this is worthwhile theme for elementary children?
The theme is of how every person has the right to the same opportunities and is equal to all others. This theme is excellent to use when working in a unit about how all individuals are unique and special in their own ways. While the little girl Trisha Ann is encountering all types of hatred in her surroundings, she is still driven to get to her final destination, the public library, where all people are considered to be equal. This story also showcases the importance and value of reading and how it can open up a world full of opportunities. No matter a person’s race, culture, gender, or other exceptionality the public library sets so boundaries for its patrons.
Uptown (King)
Author/Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Henry Holt and Company, New York, 2000
12. Do you think the culture of the characters of the book are portrayed fairly? How do you know? What experiences did the author bring that would help him or her represent the culture fairly?
This book was brimming with examples of the typical Harlem neighborhood and aspects that make the African American culture so unique. The little boy that shows the reader around Harlem is knowledgeable about his surroundings and has a sense of pride in his community. It mentions things that are engrained into their culture such as chicken and waffles, jazz music, the North train, barbershops, and the Boys’ Choir of Harlem. It really pulled the reader into the neighborhood of Harlem and gave you a sampling of their culture. Currently the author resides in a neighborhood of Harlem, so he has a first hand experience of what happens in his surroundings. It almost seems as if perhaps the author portrayed himself as the boy in the story who takes you on the tour of Harlem.
Thunder Rose (King)
Author: Jerdine Nolen, Illustrator: Kadir Nelson
Harcourt, New York, 2003
Describe one of the main characters. How did the author make this character unique and believable?
Rose is a spunky little girl. She has always been able to accomplish remarkable tasks, such as when she was born she sat up and spoke to her parents. She is curious, creative, and kind. She has immeasurable strength and has a will stronger than many adults. She is pretty, has a sweet disposition, “yet is full of lightning and thunder. “She is blessed with a voice and gift of song that can control things like cattle, thieves, rain clouds, winds, and tornadoes. She would always use her abilities to help others in whatever way she could. I think that Rose would be a great role model for the young girls of today. While some of her behavior may be exaggerated by the author, she is a genuine person that many girls would love to emulate.
How I Learned Geography (Caldecott)
Author/Illustrator: Uri Shulevitz
Farrar Straus Giroux, New York, 2008
11. What values are conveyed through this book? How were these values or social views conveyed to the reader?
The importance of money could be one viewed by the reader. The bare illustrations and the sparse text were great indications of the family’s lifestyle. The family had little money, only enough to purchase a small piece of bread. But when the father said that the purchased the map instead of the bread, it was implied that the map was going to give the family more sustenance. Despite not having a lot of money and very meager means, the boy was able to travel all throughout the world with the use of the map his dad had purchased. Perhaps the father was expressing that there is also a need of escape, especially in hard times such as the ones portrayed in the book. Despite being upon hard times, the family’s use of the map enriched their lives.
Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (King)
Author: Doreen Rappaport, Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Hyperion Books, New York, 2001
1. What elements of the author’s style and language drew you into the book? Explain and give examples.
The author’s use of language and style of writing was very intriguing. While it was a factual book about the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. it was written in a style that was very soothing to the reader. The text was simplistic yet had powerfulness through the author’s choice of words used in the text. I especially was moved when I read about the death of MLK. After describing his purpose for being in Memphis, the book simply states “he died.” On the next page it reads “his big words are alive for us today.” The contrast of dead and alive was strong yet reassured the reader that things will work out. The author did an excellent job with informing the reader about MLK’s death in that the style was very simplistic. The author’s style in this book was calming, yet it was packed with information. After reading this book, a child can have a better understanding of the life and death of MLK.
Rules (Newbery)
Author: Cynthia Lord
Scholastic, New York, 2006
9. What is the theme of the book or poem within a collection? Do you think this is a worthwhile theme for elementary children?
The theme of this book is about acceptance and uniqueness. This is absolutely a worthwhile theme for elementary children to learn about. Children growing up in today’s society struggle with fitting in with other children along with trying to find their true self. These children are struggling with developing their self-concept while trying to present themselves to others as normal. However, what is normal to one can differ from another. This book will allow children to learn about the tolerance of others along with accepting one another. It shows students how being different from their peers is acceptable because they are being true to themselves.
Henry and the Dragon (Addams)
Author: Bruce Edward Hall, Illustrator: William Low
Philomel Books, New York, 2004
Do you think the culture of the characters in the book was portrayed fairly? How do you know? What experiences did the author bring that would help him or her represent the culture fairly?
The Chinese culture does seem fairly well portrayed. The author begins the story with a spectacular introduction to Chinatown describing the streets, buildings, and layout. He refers to how there are a lot of people packed into a fairly small area. The author used lots of examples of the foods eaten by members of that culture such as dumplings with pork or shrimp, Chinese tea, and sweet pickled onions. The book also refers to how children refer to their elders with proper terms such as Mr. or Grandfather. Respect is discussed throughout the story as a central concept which is highly regarded in the Chinese culture. The story focuses on a couple of boys who work with an older gentleman and make beautiful kites out of rice paper. But every time they would go to fly it, some disrespectful Caucasian boys throw rocks and destroy the kites. The two groups of children get ready to fight until they are stopped as they marvel over the gigantic kite that all of the neighborhood children came together to create. The kites that are made are authentic, with the typical Chinese patterns and animals such as dragons and birds. Overall the author was very true to the Chinese culture.
Night Boat to Freedom (Addams)
Author: Margot Theis Raven, Illustrator: E.B. Lewis
Melanie Kroupa Books, New York, 2006
Describe the artwork in terms of style and media. What elements of the illustrations appeal to you? Why?
The illustrations look as if they are paintings with subtle shadows and shading surrounding the characters and settings. The colors and lines are blended into one another which create a sense of fluidity. This fluidity lends itself to the water used by the boat floating in the river as their mechanism for escape. One of the most exquisite illustrations to me is when the boy is sneaking out in the night to help others escape to freedom. While the pictures are dark as they represent it being nighttime, there are various shades of darkness so that the reader can still identify the action going on in the story where the slaves are escaping to freedom. The illustrator also uses bold colors to represent things such as blood, water, and freedom. Color has a strong impact in the book as freedom is represented by different colors throughout the story until the end when freedom is considered to be all of the colors. The colors were very representative to me of the lives than African Americans were forced to live in order to gain their freedom during the time of slavery.
My Pal, Victor/ Mi Amigo, Victor(Schneider)
Author: Diane Gonzales Bertrand, Illustrator: Robert L. Sweetland
Raven Tree Press, Green Bay, WI, 2004
Describe one of the main characters. How did the author make this character unique and believable?
In this story one of the main characters is a little boy named Victor. He has a friend, Dominic, who describes Victor all throughout the entire story. Victor is a Hispanic boy, probably about 7 or 8 years old and enjoys all of the activities that other young boys enjoy. He likes going to baseball games, playing with his dog, riding rollercoasters, swimming, and dozens of other adventures. He is a very joyful child, smiling and happy, enjoying the time he gets to spend with his friend. He has a very vivid imagination, creating stories that are enjoyed by his friend when they spend time together. It is very obvious by his friend’s face that he is a wonderful child to know. There is one difference about Victor however. He is a child that is wheelchair bound. Throughout the story when Victor is pictured, his legs are either always covered up or he is in a seated position. But the most notable quality about Victor is how his friend mentions that he is accepting of him for the person he is. I feel that this is because it’s an issue that Victor has to deal with himself throughout his life. Many children will be able to relate to Victor because their have their own unique characteristics that make them all individuals.
Marcelo in the Real World(Schneider)
Author: Francisco Stork
Arthur A. Levine Books, New York, 2009
What values were conveyed through this book? How were these values or social views conveyed to the reader?
Respect and acceptance are the values that seem to be carried throughout this novel. Marcelo is a young man, who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome which is a mild form of autism. He attends a special school, a passion for learning about religion, and has a love for horses. Marcelo knows there is something different about himself unlike the others. He knows he is more literal than others and has problems socializing and interacting with his peers. His mother is a very caring individual but his father struggles with Marcelo and believes that his son can control his actions even though in actuality he cannot. His father gets him a summer job working at his law firm and desperately wants Marcelo to attend a public high school. Marcelo’s mother, sister, rabbi, and his new friend he works with in the mailroom, Jasmine are all accepting of Marcelo and his behaviors. But in the story he also encounters others who lack respect for him because of his differences and struggle with their acceptance of him. In the end Marcelo learns to accept himself for the person he is and that he is a very capable person in charge of his destiny despite others who try to control him.
Lightship(Sibert)
Author: Brian Floca
Atheneum Books, New York, 2007
Describe the setting. Was the setting essential to the plot of the book? Explain why or why not?
The setting was extremely important to this book. The story was about a large vessel called a lightship. A lightship is a boat that remains out in the ocean and is used as a source of light. The lightship is similar to a lighthouse in how its purpose is to help guide other ships out in the ocean. The setting of this story is in the ocean. Without the ship being in the ocean, it would have no purpose. It always stays there to assist other ships when there is bad weather such as rain, fog, snow, whatever may arise. Despite these rough weather conditions the ship remains anchored into the same spot out of duty to help the other ships when necessary. If other conditions or vessels move it out of its spot its crew immediately resets the ship’s anchor. The most intriguing part of this book that demonstrates the ship’s purpose is at the end when a fog rolls in. The crew immediately springs into action sounding the horn to alert the other ships. They also shine the bright light to help the other ships by marking the way to safety among rocks, reefs, wrecks, the fog and night. The lightship’s job allows the other ships to return home safe and sound.
Papa and Me(Belpre’)
Author: Athur Dorros Illustrator: Rudy Gutierrez
HarperCollins Publishers, NewYork, 2008
How did the author make the story believable? Were you able to relate to the characters in any way?
This story was completely believable for me. It is about a young boy and his relationship that he has with his father. In the story they have special food made just for the pair, they have intimate conversations with each other, and they even take trips together just as the two of them. The young boy describes the time he spends with his father with such joy it is very noticeable how close the two of them are and how important they are to each other. It seems like they have a unique bond that many children do not have with their parents. This story helped me to be able to relate to the characters in how I also have a very close relationship with my father. I thoroughly enjoy spending time with my father, especially when it is just the two of us. While I am not a boy such as the main character, I still felt that the character shared a commonality with me, our relationships with our father. I really think that children would enjoy this book if they have a special bond with a parent or family member. The book overall gives a great deal of emphasis for how special these relationships can be.
Action Jackson(Sibert)