Base, Graeme. Animalia. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 1993.
If you still tend to “judge a book by its cover” then I don’t think you’ll be able to pass up Animalia written and illustrated by Graeme Base. Animalia is an alphabet book but it offers much more than just teaching the letters in their appropriate order. Each page is dedicated to one of the 26 letters of the alphabet and it contains a phrase using only words that begin with the designated letter. One of the words on each page is the name of an animal that starts with the given letter, thus explaining the title: Animalia. Base has filled each letter’s page from top to bottom with objects that begin with the showcased letter. So although the phrase may consist of only a few words, nearly all illustrations complement the letter. Base’s artwork style is a mixture of representational and surrealistic art with a great use of vivid color and intense texture.
I think beyond the sheer enjoyment this book brings, is a great teaching and learning tool. Each phrase uses alliteration and encourages vocabulary exploration. Since alliteration is used, it can be difficult to find words that make sense but also start with the appropriate letter, so some of the words are not found in everyday language. The illustrations alone are a learning tool that make readers question the strategic placement of each object.
Overall , Animalia is a fun, informational book that will leave readers of all ages entertained for hours!
Showing posts with label Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fiction. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
On the Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson
Woodson, Jacqueline. On the Other Side. New York, New York: G.P. Putnam's Son, 2001.
Jacqueline Woodson lays this story out like a beautiful poem with her fence that is used as a metaphor for the racial divide. The book is set in the south during the time of racism and the divide between whites and blacks. The story is about a summer friendship that overcomes that racial divide. The narrator, a young African American girl named Clover, lives next to a fence that separates her town. Clover's mother tells her she is never to climb over the fence because it wasn't safe. One summer morning while playing outside, Clover notices a girl on the other side of the fence. Becoming curious of each other as the summer goes by. One day they both finally get up enough guts to meet one another and they decide not to listen to either of their mother's and sit upon the fence which once divided them as if it was meant just for that.
The illustrations in this book are absolutely breathtaking. E.B. Lewis uses watercolor to capture the summer time in the south. The use of blue and yellow in the pictures show happiness and unity. The part where he captures the sadness of Clover not being able to go outside with the rain outside. On one of the pages shows the social status by the separation of the two by a cement line. You can tell the curiosity of the two children yearning to meet one another. Lewis depicts the time with the dresses and the sneakers. The sun is shining but there are dark shadows.
Jacqueline Woodson lays this story out like a beautiful poem with her fence that is used as a metaphor for the racial divide. The book is set in the south during the time of racism and the divide between whites and blacks. The story is about a summer friendship that overcomes that racial divide. The narrator, a young African American girl named Clover, lives next to a fence that separates her town. Clover's mother tells her she is never to climb over the fence because it wasn't safe. One summer morning while playing outside, Clover notices a girl on the other side of the fence. Becoming curious of each other as the summer goes by. One day they both finally get up enough guts to meet one another and they decide not to listen to either of their mother's and sit upon the fence which once divided them as if it was meant just for that.
The illustrations in this book are absolutely breathtaking. E.B. Lewis uses watercolor to capture the summer time in the south. The use of blue and yellow in the pictures show happiness and unity. The part where he captures the sadness of Clover not being able to go outside with the rain outside. On one of the pages shows the social status by the separation of the two by a cement line. You can tell the curiosity of the two children yearning to meet one another. Lewis depicts the time with the dresses and the sneakers. The sun is shining but there are dark shadows.
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales consists of stories that are inspired by and loosely based on classic fairy tales. It features a narrator, Jack of Jack and the Beanstalk and follows him through his interaction with other fairy tale characters. All of the characters and stories have a twist, such as Little Red Running Shorts instead of Little Red Riding Hood, and Chicken Licken instead of Chicken Little. The settings and points of view vary from story to story, but a common theme of sarcasm and irony ring throughout the different tales. For example, none of the stories end in the typical happy ending of the classics.
The artwork is very elaborate, and the text itself is incorporated into the story. The font size and color change depending on which character is speaking, and even the title and dedication pages stay true to the sarcastic nature of the book. The images fuse together both realistic and abstract images. The abstract image will be painted, with what appear to be clippings of realistic images surrounding it.
C&G refers to this book as Literary Lore, which are described as fracture fairy tales that imitate or change traditional folk tales. (Cullinan & Galda, p. 175). A child reading this would have to be old enough to understand the link between the classic stories and the revised ones. A young child might not be able to understand the humor of the book, whereas older children and adults find it hilarious. The book is very entertaining, and would be a lot of fun to read for several different age groups.
Scieszka, Jon, and Lane Smith. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. 1st ed. New York: Viking, 1992.
Black Cat By Christopher Myers
Myers, Christopher. Black Cat. New York: Scholastic Press, 1999.
Black Cat is a children’s picture book written and illustrated by Christopher Myers. The book’s genre is general fiction, poetry and rhyming. This book is about a black cat that freely wanders through the inner city streets and alleys of Harlem day and night. The unobserved narrator throughout the book asks the cat where is it’s home, and where does it go. It appears the cat has no home, and wanders freely as he (or she) pleases.
Black Cat is written in a rhythmic poetry, which style matches the unique illustrations of the book. The book can be enjoyed by wide age group, but the book’s poetry may be too complex and it’s references to foreign things may be to difficult for young children to understand.
The illustrations in this book are very unique. Myers uses real photographs shot in Harlem and Brooklyn, and transforms them into eye-catching collages by adding his own ink and gouache (a type of paint).
I think this book portrays the themes of identity, freedom, and a home. The cat is free to roam wherever and however he wishes. This book may evoke the reader to think about their home life, and realize that they are lucky to have a home, although this book also shows that the cat enjoys his freedom and independence without a home. At the end when the cat is asked where is it’s home, the cat responds, “anywhere I roam.”
If you like this book, you would also enjoy Harlem, written by Walter Dean Myers, and illustrated by Christoper Myers.
Black Cat is a children’s picture book written and illustrated by Christopher Myers. The book’s genre is general fiction, poetry and rhyming. This book is about a black cat that freely wanders through the inner city streets and alleys of Harlem day and night. The unobserved narrator throughout the book asks the cat where is it’s home, and where does it go. It appears the cat has no home, and wanders freely as he (or she) pleases.
Black Cat is written in a rhythmic poetry, which style matches the unique illustrations of the book. The book can be enjoyed by wide age group, but the book’s poetry may be too complex and it’s references to foreign things may be to difficult for young children to understand.
The illustrations in this book are very unique. Myers uses real photographs shot in Harlem and Brooklyn, and transforms them into eye-catching collages by adding his own ink and gouache (a type of paint).
I think this book portrays the themes of identity, freedom, and a home. The cat is free to roam wherever and however he wishes. This book may evoke the reader to think about their home life, and realize that they are lucky to have a home, although this book also shows that the cat enjoys his freedom and independence without a home. At the end when the cat is asked where is it’s home, the cat responds, “anywhere I roam.”
If you like this book, you would also enjoy Harlem, written by Walter Dean Myers, and illustrated by Christoper Myers.
The Runaway Bunny - Margaret Wise Brown
The famous pair, Margaret Wise Brown and illustrator, Clement Hurd, have once again produced a heart warming bedtime story, The Runaway Bunny, sure to make any child’s dreams sweet. The story first introduces a little bunny informing his mother that he is going to run away, with the mother replying that if he does she will find him. Each page, the bunny fabricates a plan of action he will take to get away from his mother by adopting different professions that put him up on mountain tops and out in the ocean. No matter what he does his mother seems to finds him every time. Unconditional love is easily portrayed by the mother each page, which makes it a simple lesson for children to hold on to.
The illustrations in the book are setup differently than most, where with each page that includes text, the picture is a black and white sketch. Then, there is a spread following the black and white pages that has no border or words, bright colors, and is an example of impressionistic art as an oil painting. Since the whole book is based on a conversation between a mother and her little bunny boy, each black and white page explains what that character intends to do. Each color page, therefore, exhibits the result of their intentions. The book’s simple story line with repetitive phrases, cumulative pattern of events, and literal illustrations of the content makes it a perfect book for children that are learning to read.
Brown, Margaret Wise. The Runaway Bunny. New York City: Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc., 1972.
The illustrations in the book are setup differently than most, where with each page that includes text, the picture is a black and white sketch. Then, there is a spread following the black and white pages that has no border or words, bright colors, and is an example of impressionistic art as an oil painting. Since the whole book is based on a conversation between a mother and her little bunny boy, each black and white page explains what that character intends to do. Each color page, therefore, exhibits the result of their intentions. The book’s simple story line with repetitive phrases, cumulative pattern of events, and literal illustrations of the content makes it a perfect book for children that are learning to read.
Brown, Margaret Wise. The Runaway Bunny. New York City: Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc., 1972.
Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold
Ringgold, Faith. Tar Beach. New York: Crown Publishers, 1991.
"Anyone can fly. All you need is somewhere to go that you can't get to any other way. The next thing you know, you're flying among the stars."
-Cassie Louise Lightfoot
Tar Beach is a fascinating and imaginative children's book in which Faith Ringgold ties her own childhood memories as well as African American history into her fictional story.
It takes place in the late 1930's on the top of eight year old, African-American, Cassie Louise Lightfoot's city apartment, called Tar Beach. here, Cassie take her dreams to new heights- literally. Cassie explains that she can own anything that she flies over. She glides past Daddy's Union so she can give it to him. Ringgold touches on the fact that "colored or half breed Indian like they say" couldn't join the Union. Ringgold characterizes Cassie as a strong, heroic, black, female child who strive to give her family a better life.
Interestingly, Tar Beach was actually a story quilt before it became a children's book. Incorporating Faith Ringgold's quilt into the story, she place the quilt as the border on each page with the beautifully painted illustrations as the center focus. Ringgold uses many vibrant and colorful hues that stay constant as you turn the page. Her are emphasizes the African culture by using many browns, oranges, and reds. The night sky, where Cassie flies, is a deep and peaceful blue, symbolizing freedom. She has no worried in the sky, and works to free her family of the hardships that they face.
This book is suitable for third grade and above. It is important for the children to have a basic idea of the time period in order to understand this story.
Monday, March 17, 2008
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
Carle, Eric. The Very Busy Spider. New York: Philomel Books, 1984.
The Very Busy Spider is a classic children’s fiction picture book. The story is told in third person about a spider on a fence of a farm that wants to spin her web. On every page we are introduced to a different farm animal that tries to distract the spider. The spider never leaves the fence, and continues to make her web. At the end of the story she catches a fly in her web. We learn from the spider that if you keep working and stay focused, in the end, you will get what you wanted.
The art in this picture book is impressionistic. The colors are emphasized. Carle uses very bright colors on white backgrounds. Every picture is made up of a mixture of many shades of the same or similar colors, making a collage effect. Eric Carle adds texture to the book through the spider’s web. Readers are able to feel the web on every page as it grows. The pictures take up the whole page, with the very top being left for the text, with the exception of the last page. On the last page the text goes down the side of the left page, with the pictures taking up the rest.
The relationship between text and illustrations is symmetry. The text and illustrations say the same things. This is a good book for kids who are learning to read because of the repetitiveness of the words. The kids also can learn all of the noises animals make in the book. This book is appropriate for all ages.
The Very Busy Spider is a classic children’s fiction picture book. The story is told in third person about a spider on a fence of a farm that wants to spin her web. On every page we are introduced to a different farm animal that tries to distract the spider. The spider never leaves the fence, and continues to make her web. At the end of the story she catches a fly in her web. We learn from the spider that if you keep working and stay focused, in the end, you will get what you wanted.
The art in this picture book is impressionistic. The colors are emphasized. Carle uses very bright colors on white backgrounds. Every picture is made up of a mixture of many shades of the same or similar colors, making a collage effect. Eric Carle adds texture to the book through the spider’s web. Readers are able to feel the web on every page as it grows. The pictures take up the whole page, with the very top being left for the text, with the exception of the last page. On the last page the text goes down the side of the left page, with the pictures taking up the rest.
The relationship between text and illustrations is symmetry. The text and illustrations say the same things. This is a good book for kids who are learning to read because of the repetitiveness of the words. The kids also can learn all of the noises animals make in the book. This book is appropriate for all ages.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Math Curse by Jon Scieszka Illustrated by Lane smith
Scieszka, Jon, and Lane Smith. Math Curse. New York: Penguin Group, 1995.
In Math Curse, a girl is told by her teacher that everything could be seen as a math problem. The narrator engages the audience in one hilarious story after another of how she encounters math in her everyday life. She introduces many playful problems such as, “Estimate how many M&Ms you would eat if you had to measure the Mississippi River with M&Ms”(np).
The unique style in which the text and illustrations are presented further reinforce the intriguing nature of the book. The collage-like illustrations are big, bold, eye-catching and colorful. The font varies in size, capitalization and even position on the page. For example, on one page, the text acts as a border; the book has to be turned in order to read the words on each side. Variation in text guides the way the book is read and helps to maximize the humor. It emphasizes funny points such as, “I am now a raving math lunatic”(np).
The dedication page, price label, age group, list of other books the author wrote, etc. also incorporate the mathematical playfulness presented throughout the book and reinforce that math is everywhere. For example, a Venn diagram illustrates which books the illustrator and author have done. To top it off, the book presents answers to even the most ridiculous problems on the back cover.
I found many sources online, including these, which incorporate the reading of “Math Curse” into a lesson plan: http://www.theteacherscorner.net/lesson-plans/math/storyproblems/mathcurse.htm and http://www.k-state.edu/smartbooks/Lesson017.html
In Math Curse, a girl is told by her teacher that everything could be seen as a math problem. The narrator engages the audience in one hilarious story after another of how she encounters math in her everyday life. She introduces many playful problems such as, “Estimate how many M&Ms you would eat if you had to measure the Mississippi River with M&Ms”(np).
The unique style in which the text and illustrations are presented further reinforce the intriguing nature of the book. The collage-like illustrations are big, bold, eye-catching and colorful. The font varies in size, capitalization and even position on the page. For example, on one page, the text acts as a border; the book has to be turned in order to read the words on each side. Variation in text guides the way the book is read and helps to maximize the humor. It emphasizes funny points such as, “I am now a raving math lunatic”(np).
The dedication page, price label, age group, list of other books the author wrote, etc. also incorporate the mathematical playfulness presented throughout the book and reinforce that math is everywhere. For example, a Venn diagram illustrates which books the illustrator and author have done. To top it off, the book presents answers to even the most ridiculous problems on the back cover.
I found many sources online, including these, which incorporate the reading of “Math Curse” into a lesson plan: http://www.theteacherscorner.net/lesson-plans/math/storyproblems/mathcurse.htm and http://www.k-state.edu/smartbooks/Lesson017.html
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton tells of a little house in the country inhabited by the same family for generations. The house is content to be lived in and loved, watching the seasons change every year. However, the world the little house knows begins to change as a city begins to be built around it. Focalized through the point of view of the house itself, this touching story serves to show the consequences of urban development in a simple, but very clear and honest way.
The text of The Little House is simple and straightforward, presenting the observations of the little house as she watches the seasons change every year in the country and eventually the gradual process of building a big city. Yet even while being simple, the text is full of heartfelt emotion, leading the reader to connect with the plight of the little house. Accompanying the text is
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
Willems, Mo. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. New York City: Hyperion Books for Children, 2003.
The story begins right as we open the book. In the front end-pages, a cartoon pigeon dreams of driving a bus. On the title page, a bus driver introduces himself and asks us if we will watch his bus for a short while. He adds, in what would seem like an afterthought was it not the title of the book, “Oh, and remember: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” That simple task becomes all-consuming when we are confronted with the persistent pigeon. The pigeon asks to drive the bus. The pigeon begs to drive the bus. The pigeon attempts to trick us into letting it drive the bus. Finally, the pigeon throws a fit of frustration when we do not allow it to drive the bus. Though the bus driver returns to a pigeon-free bus, his return is not the end of the story because on the final pages the pigeon encounters a semi-truck, which, predictably, he dreams of driving.
Willems’ simple, creative and effective use of page space, beginning on that very first end-page, is exciting because of its interactive nature. The back cover of the book proclaims, “Finally, a book you can say ‘no’ to!”An emphatic “NO!” is just how young and old readers alike are likely to react to the pleading pigeon. While the elementary word choice and the naïve cartoon drawings make the text seem childlike, they portray a cunning (and very human) pigeon whose tactics and emotions are universally recognizable.
For more information about the book, the pigeon or the author, check out: http://www.mowillems.com
Friday, March 14, 2008
Brave Irene by William Steig
Steig, William. Brave Irene. New York City: Sumburst, 1986.
The fictional story begins as Mrs. Bobbin, a dressmaker, puts the final touches on a gown that she has made for the duchess. The dress was intended to be worn that night, but Mrs. Bobbin feels too ill to make the delivery. Her daughter Irene insists on making the delivery herself, even though that means battling a snow storm. Although she wants to give up numerous times, Irene keeps going and eventually reaches the palace. The duchess shows her appreciation and commends Irene for her bravery. The next day, Irene is returned home in a sleigh where she finds her mother fully recovered.
Steig tells this enchanting story to demonstrate the universal theme of determination and persistence. He writes about a young girl who went against all odds just to please her mother. Through Steig’s illustrations, the reader can see her range of emotions. She begins excited, but throughout the pictures, her frustration becomes more obvious. Steig includes the Wind, her opposition in the cold. He even gives the Wind its own voice, which seems to be the voice inside Irene’s head, urging her to return home. The colors and lines are appropriately soft, especially outdoors. Steig created the text to surround the picture, so that most of the page is focused on his illustrations. By doing this, he creates a story suited for all readers. Overall, Brave Irene contains a message on perseverance, a message that is relevant to everyone.
The fictional story begins as Mrs. Bobbin, a dressmaker, puts the final touches on a gown that she has made for the duchess. The dress was intended to be worn that night, but Mrs. Bobbin feels too ill to make the delivery. Her daughter Irene insists on making the delivery herself, even though that means battling a snow storm. Although she wants to give up numerous times, Irene keeps going and eventually reaches the palace. The duchess shows her appreciation and commends Irene for her bravery. The next day, Irene is returned home in a sleigh where she finds her mother fully recovered.
Steig tells this enchanting story to demonstrate the universal theme of determination and persistence. He writes about a young girl who went against all odds just to please her mother. Through Steig’s illustrations, the reader can see her range of emotions. She begins excited, but throughout the pictures, her frustration becomes more obvious. Steig includes the Wind, her opposition in the cold. He even gives the Wind its own voice, which seems to be the voice inside Irene’s head, urging her to return home. The colors and lines are appropriately soft, especially outdoors. Steig created the text to surround the picture, so that most of the page is focused on his illustrations. By doing this, he creates a story suited for all readers. Overall, Brave Irene contains a message on perseverance, a message that is relevant to everyone.
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