The Graveyard Book

Bibliography

Gaiman, Neil. 2008. The Graveyard Book. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 9780060530921

Summary

Nobody (Bod) Owens is just like any other boy. He must go through the trials and tribulations of growing up and deciding right from wrong. He is very different from most other boys though. He is being raised by the dead in a small town Brittish graveyard. The Graveyard book takes the readers through chapters of Bod's life as a cast of ghoulish characters protect him from the man Jack, who earlier murdered his family, and teach teach Bod the importance of community and family.

Critical Analysis

Nobody Owens is a very relatable character considering he is being raised by Mr. and Mrs. Owens, a couple that were not able to have children in life, but are happy to raise Bod in death. He is curious about the world around him which saved his life when he wandered into the graveyard to avoid the man Jack, a man who had murdered the rest of his family. His curiousness could be the death of him now though, as leaving the graveyard ensures that the man Jack will be looking for him now. Young readers are able to relate to Bod as he battles right from wrong while helping a young witch and standing up to the bullies at school. The reader also feels a comfort in the relationship Bod builds with those that care for him, the dead and his gaurdian Silas who can travel between the living and the dead, proving that family isn't given to you by blood, but by the support you give one another.

The setting of this story is both chilling and warming. Gaiman's dark tone and descriptions of the graveyard present the reader with the traditional feel of being surrounded by the dead, however the warmth given to the supporting characters as they guide Bod through his life create a sense of warmth in such a dark place, making it feel almost homey.

Neil Gaiman takes us through the coming of age of Nobody Jones. Each chapter is disconnected from the other, almost as if each chapter is an episode in a television series called "The Graveyard Book." Each even that Nobody goes through could be read on their own, although the lessons learned by the various graveyard inhabitants all come together in the end of the story. The theme of the novel of family, companionship and going out into the world on our own unfolds magically and left me with a tear in my eye as we watch a not so young Bod leave the graveyard and enter the real world to live his life. It is Gaiman's rich and magical tone that allows the reader to become so attached to the character.

Review Excerpts


Awards:

Carnegie Medal Recipient 2010
Newberry Medal Recipient 2009

Reviews:

"Gaiman has created a rich, surprising, and sometimes disturbing tale of dreams, ghouls, murderers, trickery and family." -School Library Journal

"Wistful, witty, wise - and creepy. ...Closer in tone to American Gods than to Coraline, but permeated with Bod's innocence, this needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child." -Kirkus

Connections:

Reader's Guide for the Graveyard Book
Book Club questions for The Graveyard Book
Neil Gaiman's Official Website

Other Books by Neil Gaiman:

-Coraline
-M Is for Magic
-Stardust
-The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish
-Neverwhere
-American Gods

Going Bovine

Bibliography

Bray, Libba. 2009. Going Bovine. New York, NY: Random House. ISBN: 9780385733977

Summary

Cameron is a 16 year old, apathetic, pot smoking high schooler that is doing his best to get by on just the bare minimum. Life is passing him by until he gets diagnosed with a human form of mad cow disease and is given on a couple weeks to live. While dealing with the stress and fear of the end of his life, Cameron is visited by a punk rock angel named Dulcie and given a mission. Find Doctor X to stop him from destroying the word and saving his life. Cameron sets off on a cross country adventure with a video game loving, life fearing dwarf and a yard gnome while he experiences the unbelievable and the mundane and finally lives!

Plot Analysis

Libba Bray introduces the reader Cameron, a character who is, quite frankly, unlikable at the beginning of the story. His apathetic outlook on life makes the reader want to scream, DO SOMETHING, but Cameron is content going through the motions and stopping to get a new "Great Tremolo" record every now and then. As the plot continues Cameron experiences seizures and hallucinations landing himself in the hospital due to a rare case of human mad cow disease. I personally found this story slow to get started. It wasn't until chapter fifteen that the reader learns of the main problem in the story and Cameron hears from his pink haired, punk rock angel that sends him on a mission to find Doctor X to cure himself and save the world. Cameron, along with a lovable hypochondriac, video game loving, mama's boy dwarf set off on a cross country trip where they essentially learn to drop their apathetic ways and live life. While the trip progresses through situations that are as mundane as bowling to the unrealisticness of encountering Norse gods, Cameron becomes a likable character that has learned life can't really begin until you set out to live it! And experiencing that first love, or first magical kiss with someone can make your life worth living.

Libba Brays style of writing is one that bounces from one idea to a next. Some might even describe it as schizophrenic. This writing style, along with a character that so many reluctant readers can relate to make this book a perfect tale for a cool, middle to high school dude. With her quirky sense of humor and exceptional writing, readers want to read through the slow beginning to see how it all goes down, and where the yard gnome from the cover comes into play. However, due to the themes and language in this book, it is a Young Adult novel that is best read by those that that have passed the prepubescent years.

Reviews

Awards:

2009 Children's Book Sense Pick
Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the Year
Booklist Books for Youth Editors' Choice in 2009
2010 Michael L. Printz Award winner

Reviews Excerpts:

"It's a trip worth taking, though meandering and message-driven at times. Some teens may check out before Cameron makes it to his final destination, but many will enjoy asking themselves the questions both deep and shallow that pop up along the way." -School Library Journal

"Libba Bray not only breaks the mold of the ubiquitous dying-teenages genre--she smashes it and grinds the tiny pieces into the sidewalk. For the record, I'd go anywhere she wanted to take me." -New York Times

Connections:

Going Bovine Website
Libba Bray Website
Writing Exercises from Libba Bray

Other Books By Libba Bray:

-The Restless Dead
-21 Proms
-A Great and Terrible Beauty
-Rebel Angels

Rapunzel's Revenge

Bibliography



Hale, Shannon and Dean. Ill. by Nathan Hale. 2008. Rapunzel's Revenge. New York, NY: Bloomsberry. ISBN 15999007o.

Plot Summary

Rapunzel has been trapped in a tower for too long, and now that she has freed herself, she wants revenge. Not just for herself or her real mother, who she has been kept away from her entire life, but for everyone who has been treated badly by "Mother" Gothel. Rapunzel, assisted by her new found sidekick Jack (of hte Beanstalk variety) get themselves into trouble and find their way out of it while they seek the revenge Rapunzel so deserves.

Critical Analysis

In Rapunzel's Revenge we are introduced to a new type of Rapunzel. In the classic tale, Rapunzel is a typical damsel in distress who is rescued by her prince and lives happily ever after. Shannon and Dean Hale have created an empowering character that knows what she wants and is going to do what she can to get it...usually while helping he sidekick (from the beanstalk) get out of trouble. The characters in this story are easily relatable to people of all ages and background. Nathan Hale has done a wonderful job of creating a cast of characters that span many different cultures. Shannon and Dean have created a strong female and a quirky con man male that balance each other well. Jack's humor allows the reader to experience Rapunzel's wit and Rapunzel brings out the adventurer in Jack.

The plot of Rapunzel's Revenge is one that is easy to follow. The beginning of the story finds the reader in familiar territory reading of a girl who has been taken from her mother and rasied by "Mother" Gothel until Rapunzel discovers the truth and is promptly placed in a high tower for safe keeping. At this point in the story, the classic tale changes. Instead of waiting to be rescued by her prince charming, Rapunzel uses her long locks to swing out of the tower and rescue her real mother from the depth of the mines. Rapunzel finds herself smack day in the middle of the old west with a goofy, dress wearing sidekick named Jack. The odd due find themselves traveling from town to town getting into trouble, as to be expected. Rather than the male always coming to the rescue of the female though, it is often Rapunzel's smarts that get her and Jack out of trouble. In the end good prevails over evil and Rapunzel is able to save her mother and put and end to Gothel. She happens to fall in love with her partner in crime while she's at it as well.



The author kept in the style of the wild west action adventure throughout the entirety of the book giving Rapunzel phrases such as "Well, I'll be swigger-jiggered and hung out to dry." While the talk was written in the first person perspective of Rapunzel, the illustrations would often tell another story, the true story. A shining example of this would be on pg. 34 when Rapunzel is describing her escape from the tree. She claims "I managed to lasso the tree...swing gracefully from my prison...climb down the tree's branches...and land triumphantly on the forest floor." However, Nathan has shown us the reality with a falling Rapunzel crashing to the forest floor. Hale's illustrations did a marvelous job of showing the details like the one previously described when the story needed it, but also showing the whole of the situation to help guide the readers on their journey through the wild west.

Review Excerpts


Reviews:

"The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive." -School Library Journal

"This graphic novel retelling of the fairy-tale classic, set in a swashbuckling Wile West, puts action first and features some serious girl power in its spunky and strong heroine...Hale's art matches the story well, yielding expressinve characters and lending a wonderful sense of place to the fantasy landscape. Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers." -Booklist

Awards:
-ALA 2009 Notable Children's Book
-YALSA 2009 Great Graphic Novel for Teens
-Cybil Award Winner

Connections:

Book Trailer for Rapunzel's Revenge
Shannon Hale's Official Site
Rapunzel's Revenge Reader's Theater
Rapunzel (Original Version) teaching guide

Other book by Shannon Hale
-Calamity Jack
-Austenland
-The Actor and the Housewife
-Princess Academy

Elijah of Buxton

Bibliography

Curtis, Christopher Paul. 2007. Elijah of Buxton. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 9780439023443

Plot

Elijah Buxton is the first born free child in Buxton, Canada. Buxton is a settlement that was started as a safe place for former slaves in 1849. Elijah learns about the burdens of those that are stuck in slavery as he hears tales from every one of the adults living in Buxton who had physical and emotional scars from their past. When Elijah is forced to accompany Mr. Leroy to Michagan in an effort to save his family Elijah is face to face with the terrible condition of the slaves and is forced to make a decision most eleven year olds would never have to make.

Critical Ananlysis

In Elijah of Buxton we are introduced to an eleven year old that is much like every eleven year we have ever met. He has a sense of humor, a skill that some would find useless (chunking rocks), is a magnet to mischeif and a pro at finding a way to not have to be responsible. He's very different from the eleven year olds of today though because he is the first born free child in a community estabolished for former slaves just over the Michigan border in Canada. While Elijah has grown up hearing tales of slavery, and in turn the reader hears them too, it isn't until he, and the reader, experience the terror themselves that the freedom he has is really appreciated.

Christopher Paul Curtis introduces the reader to a setting that is filled with hope and warmth within the members of the Buxton Community as they welcome in newcomers to the community. Family ties are strong and community members work together to create a support system, helping to overcome the battles the adults have all faced in their pasts. While the community is tight knit, they must deal with the threats of those that are ignorant and still believe in the ideas of slavery.

While hope and family are a central theme in the book, perhaps the most important theme, and the theme that educates the reader is that of racism and slavery. Elijah, who is aware of the struggles those around him faced, grows up in front of the reader as he steps up to the plate to do what is right for Mr. Leroy and his family, making a decision most eleven year olds would never even dream of. The authenticity of the the novel, from the stereotypes to the forming of such settlements gives the reader a history lesson they are sure to enjoy.

Review Excerpts

Awards:

-A Newbery Honor Book

-Coretta Scott King Award Winner

-A School Library Journal Best Book

-Parent's Choice Gold Award Winner

-NAACP Image Award Nominee

Reviews:

"Inexperienced and prone to mistakes, yet kind, courageous, and understanding, Elijah has the distinction of being the first child born in the Buxton Settlement, which was founded in Ontario in 1849 as a haven for former slaves. Narrator Elijah tells an episodic story that builds a broad picture of Buxton's residents before plunging into the dramatic events that take him out of Buxton and, quite possibly, out of his depth. In the author's note, Curtis relates the difficulty of tackling the subject of slavery realistically through a child's first-person perspective. Here, readers learn about conditions in slavery at a distance, though the horrors become increasingly apparent. Among the more memorable scenes are those in which Elijah meets escaped slaves—first, those who have made it to Canada and, later, those who have been retaken by slave catchers. Central to the story, these scenes show an emotional range and a subtlety unusual in children's fiction. Many readers drawn to the book by humor will find themselves at times on the edges of their seats in suspense and, at other moments, moved to tears. A fine, original novel from a gifted storyteller." - Booklist

"Christopher Paul Curtis knows how to write characters so engaging and believable you want to meet them in person. In fact, after reading his books, you feel like you have...Readers will slip into the story as they, along with eleven-year-old Elijah, assume a life of freedom, but this is the 1850's and slavery still exists in America, alarmingly close to the freed slave community of Buxton, Canada...Elijah's heroism is believable, growing from almost accidental, to faltering, to determined, albeit limited, saving one tiny soul rather than a whole group, which is all that can be expected of a child. Indeed, giving a child the opportunity to learn the horrors of the past but understand the hope of the future is the most we can ask of a character—and of an author." -Children's Literature

Connections

Other books by Christopher Paul Curtis:

-The Watsons go to Birmingham, 1963

-Bud, Not Buddy

-Mr. Chikee's Funny Money

-Bucking the Sarge

Discussion guide for Elijah of Buxton

Literature Unit including games, vocabulary puzzles and quizes

-Have students research other notable figures from slave backgrounds

-Track the underground railroad and other routes slaves would take to freedom

Al Capone Does My Shirts

Bibliography

Choldenko, Gennifer. 2004. Al Capone Does My Shirts. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0439674328

Plot Summary

Al Capone Does My Shirts introduces us to Mosse Flanagan, a twelve year old boy growing up in the 1930's who has just found him living on the island of Alcatraz. As if life on a rock that houses some of the country's biggest criminals isn't hard enough, Moose has a sister that adds to the difficulty of life. While balancing annoying children sharing space on The Rock with him and trying to make new friends at his school, he is expected to babysit his 16 year old autistic sister while their mother works to get Natalie into a special school for autistic children. Through some twists and turns in the story, Moose finds that Al Capone could possibly play an important role in the lives of Moose and Natalie.

Critical Analaysis

Moose is your typical 12 year old which makes this novel and easy one for students to enjoy. He has a mother and father that sometimes expects more from him than he feels that they should and he has a sister who he loves, but is hard to deal with. He plays basketball, is annoyed by the seven year old that constantly shows up unnexpected and a bossy girl named Piper who gets him involved in a scheme to make some money. What kid can't relate to Moose? While he is relateable by children of this generation, he shows the reader the simplicity of his generation.

Throughout the plot of this story Gennifer Choldenko gives us a subtle history lesson on Alcatraz in its hayday and the mobster metality of Al Capone. Perhaps one of the biggest history lessons we learn about in Al Capone Does My Shirt is the lack of knowledge of Autistic children then, something that is diagnosed and dealt with on an everyday basis today. We also become a part of the stuggle Moose faces trying to decide right from wrong when it comes to the care of his sister. Does he stay in the apartment with with his sister like he knows he should, does he take her with him as he explores the ins and outs of Alcatraz with the other children and risk losing track of Natalie. The battle of right from wrong is tested, and he learns some lessons the hard way.

The diary style of writing makes the relationship between Moose and the reader a more intimate relatioship, making the reader want to pour over every page. Without a doubt, the tid bits of history Moose reveals in his entries will make the reader want to absorb even more about the Mobster days of Al Capone.

Review Excerpts

Awards:

-Newbery Honor Book

-2005 CBC-NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People

-ALA Notable Book

-American Literacy Corporation Literary Choice Award

-Best Book for Young Adults

-Book Sense PIck of the List Summer 2004

Reviews:

"Basing her sotry on the actual experience of those who supported the prison in the '30s-when Al Capone was an inmate-Choldenko's pacing is exquisite, balancing the tense family dynamics alongside the often humorous and riviting school story of peer pressure and friendship." -Kirkus

"The Flanagan family is believable...Moose makes a sympathetic main character....the story, told with skill and humor, will fascinate readers with an interest in what it was like for the children of prison guards and other workers to actually grow up on Alcatraz Island." -School Library Journal

Connections

Other books by Gennifer Choldenko:

-Al Capone Shines my Shoes

-Moonstruck

-No Passengers Beyond This Point

Al Capone Does My Shirt Webquest

Aids for Teachers

-Research other mobsters of the era

Marie Antoinette: Princess of Versailles

Bibliography

Lasky, Kathryn. 2000. Marie Anoinette: Princess of Versailles. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 04390766678

Plot Summary

Marie Antoinette is a 13 year old girl with many more problems than typical teenage girls. She is set to be the queen of France and has much to learn before that happens. Not to mention she has a proposal from Dauphin Louis XVI coming her way. The princess Diaries gives us a peek into Marie's life as she learns everything from reading and writing in English and French to how to dance and gamble. We watch her grow from a young child of 13 to a young woman at the age of 15 as she gets to know her Dauphin and learns the ins and outs of prepping to be a Queen.

Critical Analysis

This tale introduces the reader, intended to be a 5th-9th grader, to a headstrong, independent Marie Antoinette. While Marie grew up in a different time, country and is on track to be a queen, she is a character that the reader can relate to. She argues with her mother, has a love/hate relationship with her siblings, dislikes her lessons and is nervous about meeting the boy she is promised to.

While dealing with the ups and downs she is presented with, Marie grows from a young girl to a young woman. She struggles with the cultural changes she faces while she prepares herself for life in the French Court, a very different atmosphere than that of the Austrian lifestyle she has grown up in. While some of the new adventures excite her, she must deal with those that scare her as well.

Written in the style of a diary, the reader is introduced to the history of the time period in a way that a middle school aged student can understand and enjoy. Terms and situations are broken down and described as to keep the reader from feeling overwhelmed. With this writing style, readers are sure to learn more than expected about 18th century Austria and France and the etiquette of the French Court.

At the end of the novel, the reader will find an epilogue and historical note which gives a peek into Marie's reign as Queen of France. This also helps to feed our appetite for more informationon the decadance of Marie's life. The author has also included a detailed Habsburg-Bourbe Family tree and images of Marie Antoinette throughout her life, including a portrait of her done while being led to the guillotine for her execution.

Review Excerpts

"Lasky takes historical fact and weaves it into a sympathetic account of an adolescent Marie Antoinette." -School Library Journal

"The descriptions of the fantastic hair styles and dresses and the elaborate rituals and etiquette required at the Court of Versailles should fascinate today's young adults. The author's depiction of the political and dynastic reasons for the marriage of the young royals establishes the historical context of the novel that engages young readers learning about this period in history." -VOYA

"This book entertains and teaches at the same time. It's great for a study of the French Revolution, and it's a fun book to read as well." -Parent Council Reviews

Connections:

Other books by Kathryn Lasky:
-Lost Tales of Ga' Hoole
-Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor
-Mary, Queen of Scotts: Queen Without a Country

-Use novel as a jump start on research of Marie Antoinette
-Read other novels in the series to compare and contrast the women

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream

Bibliography

Stone, Tanya Lee. 2009. Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763636111

Plot Summary

Almost Astronauts tells the story of 13 women fighting to be admitted into the NASA space program. While they all had a background in flying, some clocking more flight hours than John Glenn, these women were not able to pursue the path they wanted to because of the fact they were women. This book tells us of the fight these women fought for gender equality in the space program as well as introducing the reader to the fight for gender equality and women’s rights across the country in the 1960’s. While these women didn’t find their way into the NASA space program, they paved the way for those women to follow.

Critical Analysis

Almost Astronauts is the epitome of a traditional nonfiction text. This well researched text introduces the reader to a group of women that worked to get gender equality into the NASA space program. The book, backed by the curator of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is well researched and presented in a manner that keeps a reader’s attention while delivering facts.

As with many traditional nonfiction texts, Almost Astronauts is one that does not need to be read from cover to cover, while it is enjoyable enough to be done this way. The reader is presented with a table of contents and an index to help the reader locate the specific information they may be looking for. Sources are broken down chapter by chapter in the back of the book to assist in locating more information if this text is being used for research purposes.

While this text can be used easily for research, with the passion shared by Stone and the rich photographs included keep the reader wanting to read not only about the 13 women themselves, but the ideology of the United States in the 1960s and the women that were ultimately able to partake in the NASA space program due to the path the “Mercury 13” paved.

Review Excerpts

Awards:
2010 Sibert Medal Award Winner
YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Honor
Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor
NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor
Bank Street Flora Stieglitz Straus Award

Reviews:
“Space gals. Astronettes. Astrodolls . . . Who do these women think they are?” The media mocked them. Male astronauts did not want them, and neither did then vice-president Lyndon Johnson. If they were to let women into the space program, blacks and other minorities would be next. Nearly 20 years before the U.S. officially admitted women into the astronaut program, 13 women, known as the Mercury 13, fought for the right to soar into space. This dramatic, large-size photo-essay covers their stories, along with the exciting politics of the women’s liberation struggle in the 1950s and ’60s (“What is a woman’s place?”) and the breakthrough science and technology surrounding space exploration, including details of the would-be astronauts’ tests and training. The chatty, immediate style (“Picture this”) and full-page photos make for a fast read, and the crucial civil-rights history will stay with readers. The long, spacious back matter is part of the story, with detailed chapter notes and a bibliography.” –Booklist

“Stone adopts a tone of righteous indignation in chronicling the quixotic efforts of 13 women to win admission into NASA's initial astronaut training program in the early 1960s. The women were all pilots (one, Jerrie Cobb, had more hours in the air than John Glenn or Scott Carpenter), earned high scores in preliminary tests, and even counted a senator's wife among their number. But resistance came from all directions—including NASA regulations, which were weighted toward men; media coverage that reflected contemporary gender expectations; political maneuvering by then vice president LBJ and other officials; and the crushing opposition expressed by renowned aviatrix Jackie Cochran in a 1962 Congressional hearing. Properly noting, however, that losing "depends on where you draw the finish line," the author closes with chapters on how women did ultimately win their way into space—not only as mission specialists, but also as pilots and commanders. Illustrated with sheaves of photos, and based on published sources, recently discovered documents, and original interviews with surviving members of the "Mercury 13," this passionately written account of a classic but little-known challenge to established gender prejudices also introduces readers to a select group of courageous, independent women.” –School Library Journal

Poetry Bonus Material by the author

Reading/Discussion Guide

-Have students research women astronauths such as Mae Jemison that were inspired by the "Mercury 13"

Down, Down, Down

Bibliography

Jenkins, Steve. 2009. Down, Down, Down. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 9780618966363

Plot Summary

In Down, Down, Down, readers are taken on a journey to the bottom of the sea where they learn facts and get a creative, eye catching glimpse of the creatures found on more than half of the earth. With the ocean covering more than two-thirds of the earth, and being up to seven miles deep in places there are tons of interesting creatures to learn about. Steve Jenkins teaches us all about a place that even less people have visited than the moon.

Critical Analysis

Steve Jenkins has once again presented readers with facts while feeding us eye candy with his elaborate paper cut collages in the Bluebonnet Award Nominee, Down, Down, Down. If the reputation Jenkins has made for himself with the over one million copies of nonfiction picture books wasn’t enough to trust the accuracy of his facts, a bibliography is found in the back of the book along with more detailed explanations of the previous pages. This bibliography is an excellent resource for those students that are sucked in to the world under the sea and longing for more information.

While many nonfiction books can be read out of sequence, Down, Down, Down is best read from cover to cover. The picture book begins by introducing us to the creatures found at the surface of the water. Our greatest ocean fear is immediately introduced to use as we are presented with a great white shark jumping out of the ocean. With each turn on the page, readers are taken further and further beneath the surface. Their attention is kept with the introduction of stranger and weirder creatures the further and further we go. It is obvious that Mr. Jenkins has done his research and has a strong passion for the information presented. He has shared his knowledge in a manner that is easily read independently by an emerging reader and easily understood with little assistance to beginning readers and loved by adults. It is no wonder that this selection was picked as a Texas Bluebonnet Nominee book.

Review Excerpts:

Awards:
Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee
ALA Notable Book 2010
2009 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book
New York Times –one of the eight most Notable Children’s Books of 2009
2011 Beehive Book Award Nominee

Reviews:
“For capturing the scale and biological richness of the ocean in a picture book, it seems hard to do better than “Down, Down, Down.” Through the almost magical use of cut paper, Jenkins takes the reaser on a voyage from the surface to the sunlit shallows to the very bottom of the sea.” –New York Times Book Review

“In this plunge into the deep, Jenkins displays his usual keen awareness of what is fascinating about biology and imparts it without sensationalism –the facts speak for themselves.” – Booklist

“Depicted in Jenkins’s signature handsome collages, the denizens of each level swim again ever-darkening backgrounds ranging from sunny blue to deepest black.” –School Library Journal

Connections:

Other books by Steve Jenkins:
-Bones
-Actual Size
-Biggest, Fastest, Strongest
-What Do You Do With a Tail Like This

-Have students create a collage in the style of Steve Jenkins

-Pick one animal introduced in Down, Down, Down to research further

What to do About Alice?

Bibliography

Kerley, Barbara. 2008. What to do About Alice. Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780439922319

Plot Summary

Alice Roosevelt was a small, large problem for her father Theodore Roosevelt. She didn’t like to live by the rules and the world loved her for it. She stole the heart of the nation as she showed us all that women can step outside of the expectations of women in the 1900’s and still be a smart, educated productive member of society. This biography, with its whimsical illustrations and tidbits of information is a spunky as Alice Roosevelt herself.

Critical Analysis

Barbara Kerley has created a story about Alice Lee Roosevelt that is both accurate and catching to the intended audience of young readers. As we follow Alice while she “eats up the world” the reader is introduced to easy to understand tidbits of information about a woman who caught the attention and hearts of Americans in the early 1900s. If the reputation of Barbara Kerley isn’t enough to give the book accreditation for the accuracy of information, the author has included author’s notes and works cited at the end of the story, including the name of her fact checker, Carol Felsenthal.

Being a biography, the book is one that follows a logical sequence of events taking us through the life of Alice and the struggles of Teddy as she grows and discovers what she likes and how she wants to live. The design of the book is just as lively as Alice herself. The illustrations grab the attention of the reader and the font and layout of the text keeps the reader flowing from one page to another.

The combination of large, colorful illustrations, vintage style fonts and the authors choice of words creates a story as lively as Alice’s personality. The interest the author has in Alice is transferred to the reader as I found myself wanting to learn even more about her. While the book was written for young readers using a language and vocabulary they can easily comprehend, older students and adults are left satisfied as well.

Review Excerpts:

Awards:
Sibert Honor Book
Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book
Irma Black Award Honor Book
Parents Choice Award
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
An ALA Notable Book
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing

Reviews:

"Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was....The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for spectacular art." --Starred Review, Booklist

"Theodore Roosevelt s irrepressible oldest child receives an appropriately vivacious appreciation in this superb picture book.... Kerley s precise text presents readers with a devilishly smart, strong-willed girl who was determined to live life on her own terms and largely succeeded." --Starred Review, Kirkus

"Kerley s text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject s antics, as the girl greets White House visitors accompanied by her pet snake, refuses to let leg braces cramp her style, dives fully clothed into a ship s swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her father s trusted advisers. Fotheringham s digitally rendered, retro-style illustrations are a superb match for the text." --Starred Review, School Library Journal

Connections

Other books by Barbara Kerley:Greetings from Planet Earth
A Little Peace
The Extraordinary Mark Twain…


A list of research links
Think-Pair-Share with What to do About Alice?
Use as an introduction for student written biographies

Tippintown

Bibliography

Brown, Calef. 2003. Tippintown. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0618149724

Plot Summary

Calef Brown introduces the reader to the fantasy town of Tippintown. In Tippintown things are a little unique. Instead of hide and seek, one my play in a game of hide and shriek. Enormous heads have something to say and porpoises have a proper education. While the journey through Tippintown has to end sometime, our tour guide promises that tomorrow’s tour is sure to be your greatest journey yet.

Critical Analysis

The rhythm of this poem picture book was created with a longer, rhyming stanza on the left page, followed by a one-line, droll coda on the right side of the page. This rhythm can be difficult to read at first. Before reading it out loud to a group of students I had to read through it in my head several times. Students enjoying the book were never able to get the timing quite right. The use of rhyming words was helpful to the reader for developing the intended rhythm.

Brown’s language found in the poem helps to create a mystical word, but the words are able to be understood by the young reader the book is intended for. While the illustrations Calef included in the book help to create an understanding of a magical world, the poem stands alone encouraging the imagination to run wild while picturing assortment trees with flower and fruits of various sizes and shapes or gargoyles enjoying a day on the town.

Review Excerpts

“Brown is… similarly quirky and irreverent, a satirist without insult… A gleeful book for solo or shared reading.” –School Library Journal

“What an imagination Brown has! His often metrically challenged rhyming text doesn't tell much of a story, but it does provide a whimsical launching pad for his double-page pictures, which, though occasionally a wee bit too evocative of Maira Kalman, are, nevertheless, diverting in their offer of a pleasant excursion for the imagination.” –Booklist

Connections

Have students visualize their own illustrations before seeing Calef Brown's.
Official Calef Brown website

Other books by Calef Brown:
-Soup for Breakfast
-Dutch Sneakers and Fleakeepers
-Flamingo on the Roof: Poems and Paintings
-Polkabats and Octopus Pants

What My Mother Doesn't Know

Bibliography

Sones, Sonya. 2003. What My Mother Doesn’t Know. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9780689841149

Plot Summary

In this novel in verse we are introduced to a 15 year old girl named Sophie. We follow Sophie as she falls in and out of love with a boy not one, two, but three times. Not only is Sophie dealing with her changing feelings, she is also dealing with the ups and downs of friendships at that age and struggling to understand the arguing between her mother and her father.

Critical Analysis

The rhythm of the poems that makes up the novel “What My Mother Doesn’t Know” is a roller coaster just as the life of the 15 year old writing them. Some poems are short, sweet and to the point, while others go on and on as a girl’s confused mind often does. The changing of the rhythm makes the novel and enjoyable, quick read.

Sonya Sones’ language mimics that of a typical teen. We experience Sophie’s first love in the poem “I Wish” where she longs to be small enough to fit into Dylan’s pocket to be able to hear the beating of his heart every minute of every day. You can feel the urgency of this wish to come true with the Sophie’s wanting to “drink the magic potion.” The shape of the poem, wider at the top, narrow at the bottom, creates the feeling of shrinking to fit in a pocket. When being introduced to Chaz, Sophie’s internet love, the use of fonts creates the choppy, boyish demeanor while Sophie’s Victorian font creates the illusion of the hopeless romantic we’ve been living vicariously through. The off center, tilted position of the poems mimics the often all over the place thoughts of a 15 year old girl.

Review Excerpts

Awards:
-American Library Association as one of the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2004 and of 2005
-American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults (2002)
- American Library Association Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2002)
- International Reading Association Young Adults' Choice (2003)

Reviews:
"...Sones (Stop Pretending) poignantly captures the tingle and heartache of being young and boy-crazy...With its separate free verse poems woven into a fluid and coherent narrative with a satisfying ending, Sophie's honest and earthy story feels destined to captivate a young female audience, avid and reluctant readers alike." –Publisher’s Weekly

"...hilarious and irreverent in the style of Naylor's Alice books. The poetry is never pretentious or difficult; on the contrary, the very short, sometimes rhythmic lines make each page fly. Sophie's voice is colloquial and intimate, and the discoveries she makes are beyond formula, even while they are as sweetly romantic as popular song. A natural for reluctant readers, this will also attract young people who love to read." -Booklist

Connections

Encourage Students to share experiences of a week in verse form
Sonya Sones official website

Other Book by Sonya Sones:
-What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know
-One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies
-Stop Pretending What Happened When my Big Sister Went Crazy

This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness

Bibliography

Sidman, Joyce. 2007. This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness. Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 9780618616800

Plot Summary

This is Just to Say is a collection of poems about saying sorry written by a class of sixth graders. The class to the project one step farther and asked the recipient of each apology poem to write a poem back in response. The poems are both touching and funny as we are taken into the minds of new, young poets.

Critical Analysis

This collection of poems is written by many different people, giving the readers a variety of rhythms to enjoy. It is obvious that the students had studied several different types of poems, and were able to pick a rhythm to match the tone of the poem they were going for. In Kyle’s poem “Dodge Ball Crazy” the short, zig zagged lines reminds the reader of the balls being thrown back and forth across the gym. In the poem “What Girls Want” written by Maria, The repetition of lines gives a steady rhythm that is broken up in the end with a few short, staccato lines that adds a coyness every young girl wants to get across when writing a poem to the one they like. An impressive aspect of this collection written by such young students is that the traditional format of rhyming lines, most often written by young authors, was not included in the collection. The students stepped out of this comfort zone and explored poetry without the use of rhyme.
It is apparent that the sound and language of the collection was taken into consideration for the age that wrote the poems. This being said, finding an example of onomatopoeia or alliteration is not represented in the collection. The poems’ language has shown careful consideration in the placement of lines, some starting halfway across the line, the phrases chosen to represent the tone of their parents’ voices and the use of punctuation to show both excitement and disappointment.

The imagery and emotion found in these short, simple poems was touching. A young girl named Jewel wrote a poem to her father apologizing for making him want to leave her, touching on the fact that she doesn’t forget the number of times he’d left because of crying, messing up at school and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The response was written by the same little girl after reading a letter from her father. We learn through such a simple choice of words that her father considered suicide, “leaving this world” as she put it until her poem “called him back.” In other poems older brother and sisters wrote back, making it clear that they were keeping the upper hand with such simple, to the point poems as “Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m still really, pissed off at you” and “Little brother, You are one weird kid.”

My one complaint about the book would be the organization of the poems. The book is set up with the apology poems in the first part of the book, and the response poems in the second. The way I read the book, and friends that read it as well, was to read the apology and the response immediately following. I would have preferred to have those poems next to each other in the collection. Regardless, the illustrations, theme, topic and age of the authors all worked together to create an enjoyable read I would recommend to others.

Review Excerpts

“…the poems successfully navigate the complicated terrain for those who seek forgiveness.” –Publishers Weekly

“Mrs. Merz assigns her sixth-grade students to write poems of apology, and what emerges is a surprising array of emotions, poetic forms, and subjects from dead pets and biting hamsters to angry siblings and betrayal of trust. The children decide to create their own book of these poems, complete with an introduction and occasional notes by editor Anthony K…. This is an important book both for its creativity and for its wisdom.” –School Library Journal

Connections

A poetry-inspired writing lesson
Create your own class book of poems and responses
Joyce Sidman official website

Other Books by Joyce Sidman:
-Dark Emporer: And Other Poems of the Night
-Just Us Two
-Meow Ruff
-Song of the Water Boatman

Mrs. Chicken and the Hungry Crocodile

Bibliography

Paye, Won-Ldy and Margaret H. Lippert. 2003. Mrs. Chicken and the Hungry Crocodile. Ill. by Julie Pachkis. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 9780805070477

Plot Summary

While taking a bath one morning, Mrs. Chicken was not pleased with the fact that she couldn’t see her entire refection in the puddle. Do get a better look at herself she traveled to the nearby river, only to be caught by Crocodile. To save herself from being the crocodile’s dinner, Mrs. Chicken came up with a plan to convince crocodile that they were sisters and eating her for dinner would be a bad idea.

Critical Analysis

The characters presented to the reader in Mrs. Chicken and the Hungry Crocodile, two strong willed females, share the same characteristics as those found in traditional literature. Crocodile is a silly antagonist proving once again that good overcomes evil and smarts help the weaker to survive.

The plot follows the stories “good gal” as she is in search of a bathing spot where she can see her full reflection. With this vanity comes a price though and she is caught by a hungry crocodile. Presented with a problem, Mrs. Chicken comes up with a sly plan to trick the crocodile into thinking they are sisters by switching their eggs while she was sleeping. This unrealistic solution to Mrs. Chicken’s problem leaves the reader with a satisfying feeling knowing that the underdog once again comes out on top.

The African setting is represented beautifully in Julie Paschkis’ illustrations. The strong geometric patterns found on the animals against the strong contrast of the white and black backgrounds keep the reader’s eyes fixed on the story. The simplistic drawings also help with the comprehension of Mrs. Chicken’s plan for those readers who are too young to catch on based purely on text.

Review Excerpts

A New York Public Library "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing" title
An Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Medal Winner
A Riverbank Review Book of Distinction
A School Library Journal "Best Book

“…Told in straightforward language, this trickster tale is smart and funny…The stylized, gouache artwork is strong and streamlined, and not bogged down with detail. Curving lines depict the river, white backgrounds represent the outdoors, and glossy black delineates Crocodile's lair, which is decorated with geometric borders. The layout is effective, with parts of the reptile's body often extending off the page to insinuate size. The flat paintings recall folk art, and Crocodile's checkerboard skin reflects the patterns found in her home. This delectable offering will be a hit in storytime.” -School Library Journal

“Readers young and old will cluck with delight” – Publishers Weekly

Connections

Other books by Won-Ldy Paye:
-The Talking Vegetables
-Why Leopard Has Spots
-Head, Body and Legs: A Story From Liberia

African Folk Tale Unit
Won-Ldy Paye Official Website

The Three Little Pigs

Bibliography

Kellogg, Steven. 1999. The Three Little Pigs. New York, NY: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688087310

Plot Summary

Percy, Pete and Prudence are three happy little pigs. They are living comfortably thanks to the waffle business their mother Serafina had started. All things were great until a hungry wolf named Tempesto shows up. Tempesto’s huffing and puffing was not enough to bring down the three little pigs. With some help from mother pig Tempesto is sent on his way a changed wolf.

Critical Analysis

The characters in this story represent both good and evil. On the good side we are introduced to Percy, Pete and Prudence and their business minded mother Serafina. Playing for the evil team we have Tempesto the big, bad wolf. While these characters are simple, they are not boring and readers find themselves rooting for the three pigs and happy that the evil Tempesto learns the right way.

This updated version of the traditional story of The Three Little pigs follows the same general plot line. Three lovable pigs have found themselves happy in simple homes made of straw, sticks and bricks. All is well until the big, bad wolf comes to town and huffs and puffs and blows two of their houses down. The story is resolved by the smarts of the last little pig who built their house out of bricks buying them some time to trick the wolf and save the day. The reader in this story is left with a particularly satisfying ending knowing that the wolf was not hurt in the writing of this story. He simply understands the errors of his way and lands himself enjoying the sun and fun of the Gulf of Pasta while the three pigs and their mother build a waffle empire.

The setting of the story is very vague when left up to the words alone. It is not specifically the distant past, and it is not a modern setting either. The vagueness of the setting is one way readers are able to relate to the story for generations. As with many traditional stories, the time flies by as we watch the three little pigs grow up, overcome evil and raise piglets of their own in such a short time.

As with the traditional story, good triumphs over evil presenting the reader with the idea that being mean never gets you anything you really want. There is also a sense of perseverance present while the reader journeys with the pigs from one house to another trying to get away from the wolf. Finally, after several tries they are able to beat the wolf by treating him like one of the waffles from the waffle truck. I was very pleased, as were my test students, that the wolf at the end was a changed wolf and led a happy life being mellow and kind. This teachers the reader that lesson that once a bad apple does not always make for a bad apple…people can change!

The illustrations of this retelling of The Three Little Pigs are a whimsical addition of the story. The introduce us to a setting so full of details. While reading the story to a class of second graders they couldn’t get enough of them. Adults are given an extra bit of humor to help make the story enjoyable too with references to “HAMlet” and “peopley banks.”

Review Excerpts

"This contemporary retelling features Serafina Sow, whose mission in life is to bring waffles to the world. After building a highly successful wafflery, she retires to the Gulf of Pasta, leaving the family business in the hands of her capable offspring, Percy, Pete, and Prudence. The three operate the business and build themselves comfortable homes of straw, wood, and brick, of course. Enter Tempesto, a thugish, leather-jacketed wolf. He orders the three pigs to cook themselves?he isn't interested in waffles. Kellogg's usual busy, highly defined illustrations complement the humorous, clever text. In the satisfying, nonfatal ending, Serafina Sow returns from retirement to help her children defeat Tempesto, who has the meanness steamed out of him after coming down the chimney into the waffle iron. He is sent to the Gulf of Pasta in Serafina's place, where he spends his days as a mellow beach bum.” –School Library Journal

"Just as the pig family in this story soups up their old waffle iron with four wheels and various tanks, pipes, and hoses, so Kellogg takes a favorite folk tale and adds his own inventive touches of character, plot twists, and humor. Serafina Sow supports her three little pigs with her traveling waffle business, but when the children graduate from Hog Hollow Academy, she retires to the Gulf of Pasta and turns the business over to the next generation. Percy builds a straw bungalow, Pete a log cabin, and Prudence a brick cottage. When Tempesto the wicked wolf looks at the waffle menu and orders piglet, the traditional tale is off and running, with some entirely new details and no apologies to anyone. Much of the broad humor is carried in the lively, colorful illustrations, though there's wordplay aplenty in the text and pictures too: Tempesto slides down the chimney, lands on the waffle iron, is blasted with maple syrup, smothered in butter, and turned into a "WOLFFLE." Just as Serafina's customers flock to The Wheeled Wafflery, so children will greet Kellogg's latest picture book with eagerness based on memories of his many satisfying books. Pure pleasure for Kellogg fans.” -Booklist

Connections

Other books by Steven Kellogg:
-Johnny Appleseed
-Paul Bunyan
-Pecos Bill
-Millions to Measure
-Chicken Little

Three Little Pigs Unit Study
Steven Kellogg Author Study
Steven Kellogg Official Website

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Bibliography

Taback, Simms. 1999. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. New York, NY: Viking. ISBN 0670878553

Plot Summary

Joseph is a simple man with an old and worn coat. As his coat becomes more and more worn Joseph finds many new ways to enjoy the coat. Eventually Joseph is left with nothing. Even though he is left with nothing from the original coat, he is able to turn it into something, teaching us all a simple lesson.

Critical Analysis

In this short Yiddish tale we are introduced to Joseph. While he doesn’t have a lot, he has the love of an old and worn coat and the innovation to turn it into something new each time it becomes old, worn and unwearable. This simple, uncomplicated character is easy for a young child to understand and learn from.

Simms Taback has introduced us to a setting without many details included in the story. In fact, reading only the words, one would have no clue the story was based on an old, Yiddish tune. We are quickly taken through the long life of the old and worn overcoat and an the accomplishment of Joseph creating a story over nothing.

You can always make something out of nothing and this is the lesson Simms Taback teaches the reader in Joseph Has a Little Overcoat. Children are able to relate to this theme, or moral, due to the feeling of having nothing to do, or nothing to play with. Students can understand the theme while feeling there is nothing to write about. You can always make something out of nothing, whether it is reinventing a toy the way Joseph reinvented his overcoat or writing a thoughtful, meaningful story over a simple event in their life.

The story of Joseph is based off a Yiddish folk song called “I had a Little Overcoat.” As with the song, the story of Joseph contains the same simple pattern that makes the story easy to remember and orally retell as well as makes it a simple story for early readers to catch on to. As with the character of Joseph, the plot and writing style is very simplistic.

It is with the award winning illustrations that the reader is introduced to the cultural aspect of this story. Simms has included so many details that readers are always able to find something new to soak in. In the details of the illustrations, the reader is introduced to the Yiddish culture through aspects like a Menorah in the corner and the clothes of the people. Illustrations of newspapers and books introduce us to the characters of the Yiddish language and tapestries on the wall give the more advanced some other thoughts to process such as, “When the coat is old, only the hoes are new.” The die cuts included by Mr. Taback keep the readers engaged as they try to predict what the next reinvention of the overcoat will be.

Review Excerpts

2000 Caldecott Medal Recipient

“…it's the bustling mixed-media artwork, highlighted by the strategically placed die-cuts, that steals the show. Taback works into his folk art a menagerie of wide-eyed animals witnessing the overcoat's transformation, miniature photographs superimposed on paintings and some clever asides reproduced in small print (a wall hanging declares, "Better to have an ugly patch than a beautiful hole"; a newspaper headline announces, "Fiddler on Roof Falls off Roof"). With its effective repetition and an abundance of visual humor, this is tailor-made for reading aloud.” – Publisher’s Weekly

“…A book bursting at the seams with ingenuity and creative spirit. When Joseph's overcoat becomes "old and worn," he snips off the patches and turns it into a jacket. When his jacket is beyond repair, he makes a vest. Joseph recycles his garments until he has nothing left. But by trading in his scissors for a pen and paintbrush he creates a story, showing "you can always make something out of nothing." – School Library Journal

Connections

Main Idea and Retelling Lesson
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat Technology Integration Lesson
Printables and Online Games

Other books by Simms Taback
-There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
-This is the House That Jack Built
-Kibitzers and Fools

Tomas and the Library Lady

Bibliography

Mora, Pat. 1997. Tomas and the Library Lady. Ill. by Raul Colon. New York, NY: Random House. ISBN 0679804013

Plot Summary

Tomas and the Library Lady is a charming story about a poor, migrant family who has traveled from Texas to Iowa for the harvest. While they family may be poor in belongings, they are rich in closeness and stories, enjoying sitting and listening to Papa Grande’s classics. Tomas has been given the task of learning new stories to share with the family. As he learns these stories, he develops a relationship with a kind librarian and a love of books.

Critical Analysis

Pat Mora has introduced us to a charming story that teaches the reader about the true riches in life. We are introduced to a young boy who discovers the beauty of getting lost in a book and sharing it with those around you. We are also reminded of the good out there while we get to see the mentor relationship develop between Tomas and the Library Lady. The story is not one that has kids laughing out loud or relating to the situations of migrant workers, but it teaches us some of life’s most important lessons. Wealth is not about the money or belongings you have, but the family and relationships you build with those around you.

While students may not been drawn to this story because of the humor or a relatable story line, they are completely mesmerized by the illustrations of Raul Colon. Raul has created breathtaking illustrations that allow the reader to peek inside the world Tomas finds in books. The deep, rich colors along with Pat Mora’s writing style give the reader a comforting feel as the snuggle up with a lovely story.

Review Excerpts

“Colon's earthy, sun-warmed colors, textured with swirling lines, add life to this biographical fragment and help portray Tomas's reading adventures in appealing ways.” – School Library Journal

“From the immigrant slums of New York City to the fields of California, it's an elemental American experience: the uprooted child who finds a home in the library.” – Booklist

Awards
Selected for Arlington Reads, 2005Texas Bluebonnet Master List, 1999-2000
Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award, Southwest Texas State University, 1998Teachers' Choices, International Reading Association, 1998
Honor Award in the Multicultural and International category. Skipping Stones Magazine, 1998Notable Books for Children, Smithsonian, 1997
Nebraska Golden Sower Nominee, 1999-2000Américas Award Commended List, Consortium of Latin American Studies
Programs (CLASP), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1997

Connections

Other Books by Pat Mora
The Birthday Lady
Book Fiest!
Confetti
Gracias~Thanks
The Desert is My Mother

Tomas and the Library Lady-A Study Guide
Pat Mora Official Website
Use story to introduce a unit on community helpers or migrant workers

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Bibliography

Viorst, Judith. 1972. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Ill. by Ray Cruz. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN0689300727

Plot Summary

Alexander is having one of those bad days. It is one of those days where nothing is going his way at school, at home, or out and about. If only he lived in Australia! Everyone would get a window seat, there would be a dessert in each lunch box and the Mickey Mouse night light would never burn out. Alexander learns a lesson, that he might not like, but one we all must learn. Even people in Australia have terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days.

Critical Analysis

Alexander is a young boy who is having a bad day. One of those days everyone can have regardless of their age, creating a character we can all relate to. Like any person that is having a rough day, Alexander thinks the world is out to get him. And just as we all do, he wants to escape. Young readers who are reading this story for the first time and adults who are reading it for the 10th time to their children can relate to Alexander’s need to escape his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Judith Viorst has created a simple plot with a problem that grows and grows and grows. The solution to his problem is just as simplistic with a simple answer: bad days happen, even to those in Australia. The concept is a simple one to understand for the young readers the story is intended for, but a lesson that even the adult readers need to hear from time to time. The final illustration of the book leaves the reader with the hope that going to bed allows us to wake up to new not so terrible day.

Alexander’s setting is one that students experience every day, just one more aspect that makes this story so relatable. Jay Cruz has created illustrations full of detail that take the setting to a deeper level. The reader is able to feel the pain Alexander feels sitting at the lunch table with no dessert and understand the frustrations of being in bed unable to sleep and looking across the room to see two happy, sleeping roommates. Even with reading through this story several times, new details popped out in the illustrations each time making the setting even more realistic.

Everybody has their bad days no matter where you are. It’s a underlying theme in life and it is the theme of this book. Without being preachy or repetitive Judith Viorst has taught us that everyone has those days when things just aren’t going our way. It’s a part of life and we have to cope with it. Sometimes, just as with Alexander, the solution to all of our problems is to get a good night’s sleep.

This book was written much the way I consider a child Alexander’s age to speak or write. The text opens with a run on sentence that seems to go on for hours. The way it is written forces the read to speed through without taking a real breath, setting the tone of the story reminiscent of a child’s way of speaking. This same tone is evident throughout the story.

The illustrations by Ray Cruz only add to the gloomy tone of the story being told by Alexander. His detailed pen and paper drawings share with the reader the full range of emotions felt by Alexander from depression, to disgust to the anxiety felt throughout his day. The details of the illustrations pull the reader into the setting giving them new bit and pieces to notice with each reading, keeping the story fresh and loved time after time.

Review Excerpts

1988 winner of the George G. Stone Center for Children’s Books Recognition of Merit Award

“This handsome new edition of Judith Viorst’s classic picture book is sure to charm readers of all ages.” -Simon and Schuster

Connections

A unit for Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
A list of interdisciplinary activities for Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
A Good Day Lesson

Other Books by Judith Viorst:
Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday
Alexander, Who is Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move
I'll Fix Anthony
My Mama Says there Aren't any Zombies, Ghosts, Vampires, Creatures, Demons, Monsters, Fiends, Goblins or Things

Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

Bibliography

Henkes, Kevin. 2004. Kitten’s First Full Moon. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0060588284

Plot Summary

Kitten is a hungry cat with a persistent personality. After seeing her first full moon, she is convinced that it is a little bowl in the sky and she wants it. Kitten tries many times to reach the bowl in the sky with no success. In the end, this very unlucky kitten returns home to a little luck. What a night it turns out to be!

Critical Analysis

Kevin Henkes introduces us to a character named Kitten that is one any person, young or old, can relate to. True to the curiosity of a cat, Kitten sees a bowl of milk in the sky when she looks at her first full moon. Children experiencing the story can relate to the feeling of confusion when experiencing something for the first time. Adults can relate to the trial and error we all experienced and learned from.

The plot of Kitten’s First Full Moon is one that is simple, but easily followed by the intended audience. The reader is taken on a journey of trial and error while Kitten seeks the bowl in the sky. It is a predictable book that lends itself well to lessons on predicting and problem solving, leaving the reader with a satisfied feeling when kitten is granted her wish.

Kevin Henkes’ illustrations depict a quiet, country setting, instilling a sense of calmness in the reader as they go on an adventure with kitten. By not building up the surrounding area the reader is left to focus on the main character and the trial and error she goes through while searching for her bowl of milk. With a lack of setting development, the reader focuses on the illustrations of Kitten herself, experiencing her emotions which are so well drawn.

I would believe the underlying theme in Kitten’s first full moon would be “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again.” The story demonstrates to readers of a young age that despite the heartache and hurt of trying and failing more than once, sticking to it may end up with a reward in the end, even if it isn’t what you’ve first set out to accomplish.

Kevin Henkes wrote this story in a clear, concise style. There is no dialogue, little punctuation and a vocabulary a young reader can relate to. While the writing is simplistic, the reader still gets a feeling for the personality of Kitten as she “wiggled her bottom and sprang from the top step of the porch.” The reader is instantly ready for an adventure with a inquisitive, active kitten.

Review Excepts

Winner of the 2005 Caldecott Medal

“An irresistible offering from the multifaceted Henkes. The spare and suspense-filled story concerns a kitten that mistakes the moon for a bowl of milk. When she opens her mouth to lick the treat, she ends up with a bug on her tongue…Done in a charcoal and cream-colored palette, the understated illustrations feature thick black outlines, pleasing curves, and swiftly changing expressions that are full of nuance. The rhythmic text and delightful artwork ensure storytime success. Kids will surely applaud this cat's irrepressible spirit.” –School Library Journal

“Henkes creates another winner with this simple, charming story about a naive kitten who mistakes a round, shining moon for a bowl of milk. Henkes' elemental words and rhythms work beautifully with his shimmering artwork in bold black lines and a silvery palette of moonlight, which captures the excitement of a nighttime adventure and creates a lovable, expressive, determined kitten.” -Booklist

Connections

Kitten’s First Full Moon- Hundred’s chart Lesson
Kitten’s First Full Moon- Descriptive sentence lesson

Other Books by Kevin Henkes
-All Alone
-Bailey Goes Camping
-Goodbye Curtis
-Julius: The Baby of the World
-Chrysanthemum