The Cat in the Hat is a book written by Dr. Seuss that walks a thin line between good sense and non sense. Children love the wild antics of The Cat in the Hat and love to make sense of the text that contains many sight words. A contemporary book that seems to have the same non sense / making sense mixture at The Cat in the Hat would be Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw. This book is about the crazy adventures of a group of sheep that take off in a jeep. It also has the same rhyming element at the cat in a hat.
The Cat in the Hat will always appeal to children because it makes the ordinary, extraordinary. Two children are stuck in their house, and then imagination and a little magic brings about the Cat in the Hat. The adventures will always appeal to children.
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The Lorax is a didactic book because it teaches a lesson while being entertaining. It is saddening to see the Truffula Trees cut down in this story because they are a non-renewable resource. This sounds very similar to issues in our own world. Children learn that luxuries come with a price. The story teaches that we should take minimally - just what we really need.
I think there are many great didactic books today. I use many of them in my classroom to teach certain lessons. The book I use include: Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen, Mr. Peabody's Apples, and Chrysanthemum.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
A Book By Yoshiko Uchida
For this review, I read the book The Bracelet. This book is about a Japanese-American girl, Emi, who has to move to an internment camp with her family because of World War II. The family lives in a horse stable. The book takes place in 1942. Emi struggles with leaving her home and friends.
What I really liked about this book was that it is historical fiction. It is great for students to learn about history and the emotions the people of that time faced. A great way for students to do this is through historical fiction.
I reacted to this book the way that I did because I love historical fiction. I teach social studies to all of the third grade classes in my school, and I am always looking for great pieces of children's literature to serve as teaching tools.
Other books by this author include: A Jar of Dreams, The Best Bad Thing, The Happiest Ending, Journey Home, Journey to Topaz, The Invisible Thread, The Magic Purse, and many more.
What I really liked about this book was that it is historical fiction. It is great for students to learn about history and the emotions the people of that time faced. A great way for students to do this is through historical fiction.
I reacted to this book the way that I did because I love historical fiction. I teach social studies to all of the third grade classes in my school, and I am always looking for great pieces of children's literature to serve as teaching tools.
Other books by this author include: A Jar of Dreams, The Best Bad Thing, The Happiest Ending, Journey Home, Journey to Topaz, The Invisible Thread, The Magic Purse, and many more.
A Book By Laurence Yep
For this review, I chose the book The Dragon's Child: A Story of Angel Island. This book is based on family accounts of Yep's own father and his journey to America.
What I really liked about this book was that the main character (Yep's father) was easy to relate to. Everyone has insecurities. Yep sometimes stuttered when he was nervous. I also liked that this book was based on true events, and how it had historical perspectives. This book allows opportunities to show students how immigrants felt when leaving their families behind.
My reaction to this book is because I really like children's literature that is based on real people or real events. It is great when children can learn about and learn from real-life.
Laurence Yep also authored the following books:· Dragonwings, Dragon’s Gate, Ribbons, The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, Lady of Ch'iao Kuo: Warrior of South, Hiroshima, and Dragon of the Lost Sea.
I've found that great children's literature can be based on real people and real events.
What I really liked about this book was that the main character (Yep's father) was easy to relate to. Everyone has insecurities. Yep sometimes stuttered when he was nervous. I also liked that this book was based on true events, and how it had historical perspectives. This book allows opportunities to show students how immigrants felt when leaving their families behind.
My reaction to this book is because I really like children's literature that is based on real people or real events. It is great when children can learn about and learn from real-life.
Laurence Yep also authored the following books:· Dragonwings, Dragon’s Gate, Ribbons, The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, Lady of Ch'iao Kuo: Warrior of South, Hiroshima, and Dragon of the Lost Sea.
I've found that great children's literature can be based on real people and real events.
A Book Illustrated By Jerry Pinkney
For this review, I chose The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney.
This is one of my favorite children's books because of the messages it delivers. It teaches children not to judge a book by its cover. It shows how awful it can feel to be judged and made fun of. It also shows that challenges can be overcome. I also loved the illustrations in this book. Jerry Pinkney used watercolors in these pictures, which made them absolutely beautiful.
My reaction to the storyline of the book is based on my own experiences as a child when I was made fun of. I'm sure everyone has a time in their life when they felt like the ugly duckling.
Jerry Pinkney has written over 75 books. Some of his books include The Patchwork Quilt, Mirandy and Brother Wind, The Talking Eggs, Half a Moon and One Whole Star, Pretend You're a Cat, to name a few. He even collaborated with Julius Lester (the last author I reviewed) on The Tales of Uncle Remus, Sam and the Tigers, Black Cowboy, John Henry, and Wild Horses.
This is one of my favorite children's books because of the messages it delivers. It teaches children not to judge a book by its cover. It shows how awful it can feel to be judged and made fun of. It also shows that challenges can be overcome. I also loved the illustrations in this book. Jerry Pinkney used watercolors in these pictures, which made them absolutely beautiful.
My reaction to the storyline of the book is based on my own experiences as a child when I was made fun of. I'm sure everyone has a time in their life when they felt like the ugly duckling.
Jerry Pinkney has written over 75 books. Some of his books include The Patchwork Quilt, Mirandy and Brother Wind, The Talking Eggs, Half a Moon and One Whole Star, Pretend You're a Cat, to name a few. He even collaborated with Julius Lester (the last author I reviewed) on The Tales of Uncle Remus, Sam and the Tigers, Black Cowboy, John Henry, and Wild Horses.
A Book By Julius Lester
The book that I chose to read by Julius Lester was John Henry. John Henry is based on a tall tale about John Henry, a boy who grew unbelievably tall as a child. He grew through the roof!
In the particular retelling, John Henry was working on a railroad with a crew of men. The men came to a mountain, and needed to get through. The solution was to use a steam machine, which required no man power. John Henry bet that he could beat the steam machine through the mountain. The race was to the middle of the mountain. John Henry easily beat the steam machine to the middle, and he even kept on going. When he reached the other side of the mountain, he died.
What I really like about this story is that it is a tall tale, or a story passed down through generations. I love teaching my students about how in the past, stories were handed down through families, and this is a great example to share with them.
Some other books written by Julius Lester include: Search for the New Land, Revolutionary Notes, Day of Tears, Black Cowboy, Black Folk Tales, Wild Horses, Long Journey Home, The Tales of Uncle Remus, Sam and the Tigers, and many more.
In the particular retelling, John Henry was working on a railroad with a crew of men. The men came to a mountain, and needed to get through. The solution was to use a steam machine, which required no man power. John Henry bet that he could beat the steam machine through the mountain. The race was to the middle of the mountain. John Henry easily beat the steam machine to the middle, and he even kept on going. When he reached the other side of the mountain, he died.
What I really like about this story is that it is a tall tale, or a story passed down through generations. I love teaching my students about how in the past, stories were handed down through families, and this is a great example to share with them.
Some other books written by Julius Lester include: Search for the New Land, Revolutionary Notes, Day of Tears, Black Cowboy, Black Folk Tales, Wild Horses, Long Journey Home, The Tales of Uncle Remus, Sam and the Tigers, and many more.
Book vs. Movie 3: Horton Hears a Who
Horton Hears a Who was written by Dr. Seuss, and was made into a movie in 2008. Horton is a lovable elephant who hears something coming from a speck as it floats by. He discovers there is a whole world living on this speck and is determined to protect it. When others in the forest hear of Horton's speck, they set out to destroy it. Horton does whatever it takes to protect and the people of Who-ville (living on the speck), and the mayor and his people are depending on Horton to save them.
The movie is very similar to the book. There is even a narrator in the movie who reads lines exactly as they are found in the book. A big difference between the movie and book is that in the movie, there is more time spent in Who-ville and in developing those characters. This could be because the book is short, and the movie is about an hour and a half long. In the movie, we become familiar with the mayor of Who-ville and his family, especially his son Jo-Jo. In the book, it was not mentioned that Jo-Jo was the mayor's son. In the movie there is also Morton, a mouse, who is Horton's friend. This character is not in the book.
The movie is very similar to the book. There is even a narrator in the movie who reads lines exactly as they are found in the book. A big difference between the movie and book is that in the movie, there is more time spent in Who-ville and in developing those characters. This could be because the book is short, and the movie is about an hour and a half long. In the movie, we become familiar with the mayor of Who-ville and his family, especially his son Jo-Jo. In the book, it was not mentioned that Jo-Jo was the mayor's son. In the movie there is also Morton, a mouse, who is Horton's friend. This character is not in the book.
Book vs. Movie 2: Jumanji
Jumanji has to be one of my favorie movies from when I was younger. When looking for movies to compare to books, I went through my own personal collection of movies, and came across Jumanji. Yes, I still own my original copy of the VHS! At the time of its release (1995), I didn't know that it was based on a book. I recently came across a copy of the book at a bookstore and purchased it for my classroom. The book was written by Chris Van Allsburg, and it won the Caldecott Medal in 1982.
The movie stayed true to the book in many ways, and was different in some ways as well. The similarities include the children finding the game, the rules of the game (the main characters (Alan, Judy, Peter, and Sarah), and the game coming alive with each turn.
The differences begin with where the children found the game. In the movie, they find the game in the attic of their house, but in the book, it is found in a park under a tree. In the movie, the chidlren had lost their parents to a car accident and were living with their Aunt Nora. In the book, their parents were alive. In the end of the movie, Alan and Sarah tie a rock to the game and throw it into a creek. The book has a different disposal method. The children, Peter and Judy, put the game back under a tree, and two children find it. In the movie, Alan is sent back in time after finally completing the game, and is given the opportunity to save Peter and Judy's parents by preventing them from going on the trip on which they would have had their car accident.
I really liked the movie better in this case. I thought is was more action packed and adventerous. It was also suspenseful. In the book, you never really felt like the characters were in danger or had to "conquer" the game. The movie is much more entertaining. Of course, movie magic allows for more excitement!
The movie stayed true to the book in many ways, and was different in some ways as well. The similarities include the children finding the game, the rules of the game (the main characters (Alan, Judy, Peter, and Sarah), and the game coming alive with each turn.
The differences begin with where the children found the game. In the movie, they find the game in the attic of their house, but in the book, it is found in a park under a tree. In the movie, the chidlren had lost their parents to a car accident and were living with their Aunt Nora. In the book, their parents were alive. In the end of the movie, Alan and Sarah tie a rock to the game and throw it into a creek. The book has a different disposal method. The children, Peter and Judy, put the game back under a tree, and two children find it. In the movie, Alan is sent back in time after finally completing the game, and is given the opportunity to save Peter and Judy's parents by preventing them from going on the trip on which they would have had their car accident.
I really liked the movie better in this case. I thought is was more action packed and adventerous. It was also suspenseful. In the book, you never really felt like the characters were in danger or had to "conquer" the game. The movie is much more entertaining. Of course, movie magic allows for more excitement!
Book vs. Movie 1: Because of Winn-Dixie
After reading to book Because of Winn-Dixie, I just had to see the movie. This was actually one of the few times that I have felt that the movie was almost identical to the book.
There were very few minor differences. These minor differences include Opal's hair. In the book, she is describes as red-headed with freckles, and in the movie she is a cute blonde. The book also describes Winn-Dixie as an ugly dog with bald spots, and in the movie he is anything but. There were also a few scenes in the movie with a funny cop, which were not mentioned in the book.
There are many books that I have seen made into films, and many of them don't seem to capture the main character as described in the book. In this case, the actress, AnnaSophia Robb, played Opal's character exactly as I imagined her in the book. I was pleasantly surprised. In fact, I felt like this was one movie that did a factastic job of staying true to the book.
There were very few minor differences. These minor differences include Opal's hair. In the book, she is describes as red-headed with freckles, and in the movie she is a cute blonde. The book also describes Winn-Dixie as an ugly dog with bald spots, and in the movie he is anything but. There were also a few scenes in the movie with a funny cop, which were not mentioned in the book.
There are many books that I have seen made into films, and many of them don't seem to capture the main character as described in the book. In this case, the actress, AnnaSophia Robb, played Opal's character exactly as I imagined her in the book. I was pleasantly surprised. In fact, I felt like this was one movie that did a factastic job of staying true to the book.
Caldecott vs. Newbery
The Caldecott Medal is an award given to the artist of the most distinguished picture book published during the previous year. The Newbery Award committee serves as the judges. The Newbery Medal is an award given to the most distinguished children's book published during the previous year. If a book is chosen to be considered for both awards, the committee chooses for which award it will be considered. A book cannot with both awards. In simplified language, the Caldecott Medal is an award for the most outstanding illustrator, and the Newbery Medal is an award for the most outstanding author.
In my personal opinion, the believe that the content or storyline of a book is more important that the illustrations. In fact, many great pieces of children's literature do not have any illustrations at all. Therefore, the Newbery award is more important to me. This could be because I teach to a 3rd/4th grade audience. If I were in younger grades or had small children, then I might think differently.
I do not think illustrations are unimportant. Some of my favorite picture books of all time were chosen because of their illustrations. The picture books that I favor are because the artist was able to bring the characters and story alive through the pictures. The most beautiful illustrations I think I have ever seen are in the picture book Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom. You can feel the pain and triumphs Harriet felt just by looking at her facial expressions in the pictures.
In my personal opinion, the believe that the content or storyline of a book is more important that the illustrations. In fact, many great pieces of children's literature do not have any illustrations at all. Therefore, the Newbery award is more important to me. This could be because I teach to a 3rd/4th grade audience. If I were in younger grades or had small children, then I might think differently.
I do not think illustrations are unimportant. Some of my favorite picture books of all time were chosen because of their illustrations. The picture books that I favor are because the artist was able to bring the characters and story alive through the pictures. The most beautiful illustrations I think I have ever seen are in the picture book Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom. You can feel the pain and triumphs Harriet felt just by looking at her facial expressions in the pictures.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Newbery Book 2
Holes, by Louis Sachar, won the Newbery Medal in 1999.
What I really loved about Holes was that it teaches children about overcoming obstacles and doing the right thing. Stanley Yelnats' family is cursed, and he is wrongly accused of a crime and sent to a detention center called Camp Green Lake. Stanley has to dig holes every single day. There, Stanley meets Zero, a boy who cannot read. What the boys didn't know was that the camp warden had them digging holes to find the outlaw, Kissin' Kate Barlow's, fortune. Stanley and Zero end up banding together and face many obstacles. In the end, the boys dig up the truth behind the "holes" and the curse on Stanley's family. The story has many great examples of "doing what's right" instead of what is easy, and overcoming the odds.
I think I reacted to the book in this way because I can think of many times in my life and others' lives where we have almost felt "cursed" because of how badly things get sometimes. You have to face your obstacles one at a time, strive for the best outcome, and help those in need along the way, just as Stanley Yelnats did in this story.
Another book I have read by Louis Sachar is Sideways Stories from Wayside School. While the story lines in the books are drastically different, they do have one thing in common: humor. Louis Sachar's books are full of humorous moments. Even though the message in the story Holes is more serious, the humor really entertains and makes Stanley a well-liked character.
An insight about children's literature gained from this book is that great literature grabs the reader's attention immediately and holds it. It delivers many messages. Holes is probably one of the most entertaining books that I have read for this blog. I couldn't put it down.
What I really loved about Holes was that it teaches children about overcoming obstacles and doing the right thing. Stanley Yelnats' family is cursed, and he is wrongly accused of a crime and sent to a detention center called Camp Green Lake. Stanley has to dig holes every single day. There, Stanley meets Zero, a boy who cannot read. What the boys didn't know was that the camp warden had them digging holes to find the outlaw, Kissin' Kate Barlow's, fortune. Stanley and Zero end up banding together and face many obstacles. In the end, the boys dig up the truth behind the "holes" and the curse on Stanley's family. The story has many great examples of "doing what's right" instead of what is easy, and overcoming the odds.
I think I reacted to the book in this way because I can think of many times in my life and others' lives where we have almost felt "cursed" because of how badly things get sometimes. You have to face your obstacles one at a time, strive for the best outcome, and help those in need along the way, just as Stanley Yelnats did in this story.
Another book I have read by Louis Sachar is Sideways Stories from Wayside School. While the story lines in the books are drastically different, they do have one thing in common: humor. Louis Sachar's books are full of humorous moments. Even though the message in the story Holes is more serious, the humor really entertains and makes Stanley a well-liked character.
An insight about children's literature gained from this book is that great literature grabs the reader's attention immediately and holds it. It delivers many messages. Holes is probably one of the most entertaining books that I have read for this blog. I couldn't put it down.
Newbery Book 1
Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo, was named a Newbery Honor book in 2001. It is very evident why this book was chosen. I've always heard that this was a good book, but had never gotten around to reading it. Now, after reading the book, I would have to say that it has become on of my favorite books of all time. I am very anxious to read this book to my class.
What I really liked about this book was all of the different ways children, and even adults could relate to Opal. Many people, my students and myself included, experience hardships in their lifetime, and all we can do is hope for a better outcome. Opal endured many hardships. Her mother left when she was very young, she had to leave all of her friends behind in Watley, and struggled with the absence of her mother on a daily basis. Winn-Dixie came at the right time in Opal's life. It was through Winn-Dixie that she was able to make friends, feel welcomed, and learn about her mother.
I can relate to Opal in the sense that I have had my share of hardships, just like her. In certain hardships, I had the same "alone" feeling as Opal did when she first moved to Naomi.
A second book I read by Kate DiCamillo was The Tale of Despereaux. This book has one message in common with The Tale of Despereaux in that both stories are about characters who face hardships and have the will to overcome them. Dexpereaux was shunned from his mouse family and sent to the dungeon because he didn't act like a mouse should. In the end, he follows his dream and is happy.
An insight gained from this book is that great children's literature comes in all shapes and sizes. Great literature can help a reader gain respect and empathy, it can teach, or in this case it can be something one can relate to.
What I really liked about this book was all of the different ways children, and even adults could relate to Opal. Many people, my students and myself included, experience hardships in their lifetime, and all we can do is hope for a better outcome. Opal endured many hardships. Her mother left when she was very young, she had to leave all of her friends behind in Watley, and struggled with the absence of her mother on a daily basis. Winn-Dixie came at the right time in Opal's life. It was through Winn-Dixie that she was able to make friends, feel welcomed, and learn about her mother.
I can relate to Opal in the sense that I have had my share of hardships, just like her. In certain hardships, I had the same "alone" feeling as Opal did when she first moved to Naomi.
A second book I read by Kate DiCamillo was The Tale of Despereaux. This book has one message in common with The Tale of Despereaux in that both stories are about characters who face hardships and have the will to overcome them. Dexpereaux was shunned from his mouse family and sent to the dungeon because he didn't act like a mouse should. In the end, he follows his dream and is happy.
An insight gained from this book is that great children's literature comes in all shapes and sizes. Great literature can help a reader gain respect and empathy, it can teach, or in this case it can be something one can relate to.
Coretta Scott King Award Book
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award in 2007.
What I really liked about this book were Harriet's discussions with God. This is the first story I've read about Harriet Tubman where I feel like I got a glimpse into her thought process and what she must have really been going through. This book shows children the inner struggles Harriet dealt with during her numerous trips south to free slaves. I also loved the illustrations in this book. They really made the story come to life. There was so much detail put into her facial expressions that you can feel the pain and triumphs without even reading the words.
While I cannot relate to the slavery aspect, I can relate to some of Harriet's other struggles. I couldn't imagine how difficult it was for Harriet to leave her family behind without being able to tell them she was leaving or even where she was planning to go. I imagine this must have felt like it did for me at my sister's funeral. Except in this case, I was the one left behind.
This book reminded me of The Drinking Gourd. The Drinking Gourd is one of my favorite books, and is also about traveling the underground railroad. While this book mentions Harriet's use of songs and the stars, The Drinking Gourd goes deeper into the meaning of both. I loved how the book explained the meaning behind the songs that the slaved would sing. The slaves used the songs as a way to remember routes and as ways to tell each other things. It also talked about how they used the stars in the night sky to find their way. "The drinking gourd" was the big dipper, which contained the North Star, and helped them travel north.
This book reminded me that our own history makes up some of the best children's literature of all time. Children should be exposed to our history starting at an early age. This can be accomplished through the use of children's literature. If children learn about our history and feel the emotion of the people involved, this can help keep history from repeating itself.
What I really liked about this book were Harriet's discussions with God. This is the first story I've read about Harriet Tubman where I feel like I got a glimpse into her thought process and what she must have really been going through. This book shows children the inner struggles Harriet dealt with during her numerous trips south to free slaves. I also loved the illustrations in this book. They really made the story come to life. There was so much detail put into her facial expressions that you can feel the pain and triumphs without even reading the words.
While I cannot relate to the slavery aspect, I can relate to some of Harriet's other struggles. I couldn't imagine how difficult it was for Harriet to leave her family behind without being able to tell them she was leaving or even where she was planning to go. I imagine this must have felt like it did for me at my sister's funeral. Except in this case, I was the one left behind.
This book reminded me of The Drinking Gourd. The Drinking Gourd is one of my favorite books, and is also about traveling the underground railroad. While this book mentions Harriet's use of songs and the stars, The Drinking Gourd goes deeper into the meaning of both. I loved how the book explained the meaning behind the songs that the slaved would sing. The slaves used the songs as a way to remember routes and as ways to tell each other things. It also talked about how they used the stars in the night sky to find their way. "The drinking gourd" was the big dipper, which contained the North Star, and helped them travel north.
This book reminded me that our own history makes up some of the best children's literature of all time. Children should be exposed to our history starting at an early age. This can be accomplished through the use of children's literature. If children learn about our history and feel the emotion of the people involved, this can help keep history from repeating itself.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Caldecott Book 5
The fifth Caldecott book I read was The Man Who Walked Between the Towers written and illustrated Mordicai Gerstein. The Man Who Walked Between the Towers won the Caldecott Medal in 2004.
What I really liked about this book was that it exposes children to two things: First, it has an age appropriate way of remembering September 11th, and it exposes children to the culture of street performing. Many of our students were very young when September 11th happened, so this is an appropriate way to teach our students about their history. Students can also learn about street performing. While this is something that doesn't really happen around here, it is neat for students to see activities and traditions that happen in other places.
My reaction is based on my own life experiences. September 11th, for me, is one of those days that you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when you found out what happened. It is important for us to learn about and remember our history.
I have not read any other books by this author, but it does remind me of some of the books in our reading series. We have several non-fiction and historical fiction books about events that have happened in America. It think it is important for students to know their history and to learn from it.
The insight I gained from this book is that students can be taught history in many ways. They can be presented the facts in non-fiction texts or learn from historical fiction. No matter the method, what is important is that they learn their history.
What I really liked about this book was that it exposes children to two things: First, it has an age appropriate way of remembering September 11th, and it exposes children to the culture of street performing. Many of our students were very young when September 11th happened, so this is an appropriate way to teach our students about their history. Students can also learn about street performing. While this is something that doesn't really happen around here, it is neat for students to see activities and traditions that happen in other places.
My reaction is based on my own life experiences. September 11th, for me, is one of those days that you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when you found out what happened. It is important for us to learn about and remember our history.
I have not read any other books by this author, but it does remind me of some of the books in our reading series. We have several non-fiction and historical fiction books about events that have happened in America. It think it is important for students to know their history and to learn from it.
The insight I gained from this book is that students can be taught history in many ways. They can be presented the facts in non-fiction texts or learn from historical fiction. No matter the method, what is important is that they learn their history.
Caldecott Book 4
The fourth Caldecott book I read was The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster and illustrated by Chris Raschka. The Hello, Goodbye Window won the Caldecott Medal in 2006.
What I really like about The Hello, Goodbye Window is that it is easy for children to relate to. Almost every child has visited their grandparents, can related to having a "hello, goodbye" window, seeing their reflection in a window, or staring at the stars through a window. This little girl is like most children. She is very curious and constantly exploring.
There are many experiences in my life that influences my reaction to this book. First, many of the experiences were similar to my own. While I did not have any grandparents, we did have a window that was very similar to the "hello, goodbye" window. This was our kitchen window. I remember doing many of the same things at my window as the main character did in this story.
While I haven't read any other books by the same author, this book does remind me of Ira Sleeps Over and Owen. Both of these books are about childhood experiences that most children can relate to. Sleeping over at someone's house for the first time, and giving up your baby blankie are big events in a child's live, and most children can relate. It is good for children to be able to relate to characters in children's literature.
The new insight I gained from this book was while it is important for children to learn new things from characters in children's literature, it is also important for them to be able to relate to these characters. If children can see themselves in the shoes of the character, then they are more likely to understand and remember the message the book delivers.
What I really like about The Hello, Goodbye Window is that it is easy for children to relate to. Almost every child has visited their grandparents, can related to having a "hello, goodbye" window, seeing their reflection in a window, or staring at the stars through a window. This little girl is like most children. She is very curious and constantly exploring.
There are many experiences in my life that influences my reaction to this book. First, many of the experiences were similar to my own. While I did not have any grandparents, we did have a window that was very similar to the "hello, goodbye" window. This was our kitchen window. I remember doing many of the same things at my window as the main character did in this story.
While I haven't read any other books by the same author, this book does remind me of Ira Sleeps Over and Owen. Both of these books are about childhood experiences that most children can relate to. Sleeping over at someone's house for the first time, and giving up your baby blankie are big events in a child's live, and most children can relate. It is good for children to be able to relate to characters in children's literature.
The new insight I gained from this book was while it is important for children to learn new things from characters in children's literature, it is also important for them to be able to relate to these characters. If children can see themselves in the shoes of the character, then they are more likely to understand and remember the message the book delivers.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Caldecott Book 3
The third Caldecott book I read was Kitten's First Full Moon, by Kevin Henkes. This book won the Caldecott medal in 2005.
Kitten's First Full Moon is about a kitten who sees a full moon for the first time and thinks it is a bowl of milk in the sky. We read about her attempts to reach the bowl of milk in the sky. This book would be great for early primary students with its one character and simplistic plot.
What I really liked about this book was the illustrations. I thought they brought the story to life. I really liked how different these illustrations were from other books, and even other Caldecott winners. In this book, the illustrations are very simplistic. They are black and white drawings with thick, bold black lines. The uncluttered pictures match the uncluttered storyline.
My reaction to this book is based on my love of children's literature. I don't know how do describe my reaction other than that I loved kitten's sense of adventure and how inquisitive she was. I choose books such as this one to read in my classroom because I want my students to be curious and adventurous. That is how you learn!
My favorite book by Kevin Henkes is Chrysanthemum. I absolutely love Chrysanthemum, and I read it to my class every year. Kitten's First Full Moon probably has more differences than similarities with Chrysanthemum. I think Kittens First Full Moon is geared towards a younger audience. While both books are great stories for young students, I feel that Chrysanthemum delivers a great message. Students learn that all names are special and you should tease someone about their name.
The new insight I gained from this book was that illustrations can really make or break a book. I feel that the black and white, simplistic illustrations really match well with the storyline. Elaborate, colorful illustrations would have really taken away from the story.
Kitten's First Full Moon is about a kitten who sees a full moon for the first time and thinks it is a bowl of milk in the sky. We read about her attempts to reach the bowl of milk in the sky. This book would be great for early primary students with its one character and simplistic plot.
What I really liked about this book was the illustrations. I thought they brought the story to life. I really liked how different these illustrations were from other books, and even other Caldecott winners. In this book, the illustrations are very simplistic. They are black and white drawings with thick, bold black lines. The uncluttered pictures match the uncluttered storyline.
My reaction to this book is based on my love of children's literature. I don't know how do describe my reaction other than that I loved kitten's sense of adventure and how inquisitive she was. I choose books such as this one to read in my classroom because I want my students to be curious and adventurous. That is how you learn!
My favorite book by Kevin Henkes is Chrysanthemum. I absolutely love Chrysanthemum, and I read it to my class every year. Kitten's First Full Moon probably has more differences than similarities with Chrysanthemum. I think Kittens First Full Moon is geared towards a younger audience. While both books are great stories for young students, I feel that Chrysanthemum delivers a great message. Students learn that all names are special and you should tease someone about their name.
The new insight I gained from this book was that illustrations can really make or break a book. I feel that the black and white, simplistic illustrations really match well with the storyline. Elaborate, colorful illustrations would have really taken away from the story.
Caldecott Book 2
The second book I read was Flotsam by David Wiesner. This book won the Caldecott Medal in 2007.
Flotsam is something that floats, and in this case it is anything that floats in the ocean. This book is about a little boy who spends his day at the beach. While looking at a crab, a big wave comes ashore and knocks him down. When the wave pulls back, he can see that an old camera had washed up on the beach. He took the film and had it developed. The pictures turn out to be real treasures!
I really liked Flotsam for several reasons. First, the illustrations tell the story. When I first realized that there were no words, I thought that the book really couldn't be that great. However, I didn't even miss the words. The story was so complete through the illustrations. I forgot there wasn't even any text. It is a nice change to look at a book with a series of beautiful illustrations and to be able to feel like you completely understand the story. Another reason I really liked Flotsam was because I immediately thought of several lessons I could do with my students. I thought it would be really interesting to have my students be the authors by coming up with the text to go along with the illustrations.
My reaction to this book is mainly based on my love for children's literature. I particularly loved the main character in the story. He had so many great qualities that I would love for my students to see. I loved that the boy was so curious! He came to the beach with a microscope!!! Instead of building sandcastles and playing in the water, this boy was looking closely at the wildlife and his new discovery: the old camera. He developed the film from the old camera and carefully examined each picture. One picture was of a girl holding a picture of a boy, who was holding a picture of another boy, who was holding a picture of another girl, and so on. The boy in the story first looked at the picture with a magnifying glass, and then with his microscope. He finally found the first boy, who was dressed in early 1900's clothing. I absolutely loved that the boy in the story continued the trend and took a picture of himself holding the picture. The boy also showed that he was selfless. Instead of keeping this rare, old, treasure of a camera, he threw it back into the ocean for someone new to discover!
Another book of David Wiesner's that I have read is Tuesday. I absolutely loved this book when I was a child, and with good reason. Both of these books are silent stories that allow the reader's imagination to run wild. Flotsam and Tuesday compare and contrast in several ways. They are similar in that they are silent stories, and both contain some science fiction / fantasy elements. However, their differences are what I love the most. Tuesday is so different because it is so random and unexpected! The lillypads levitate out of a pond on a random Tuesday, and the events unfold. I love the expression on the face of the man eating a sandwich. I would have had the exact same expression!
A new insight that I gained from this book is that great children's literature can be wordless! A series of illustrations can still tell a beautiful story. I guess the saying, "A picture's worth a thousand words," is really true.
Flotsam is something that floats, and in this case it is anything that floats in the ocean. This book is about a little boy who spends his day at the beach. While looking at a crab, a big wave comes ashore and knocks him down. When the wave pulls back, he can see that an old camera had washed up on the beach. He took the film and had it developed. The pictures turn out to be real treasures!
I really liked Flotsam for several reasons. First, the illustrations tell the story. When I first realized that there were no words, I thought that the book really couldn't be that great. However, I didn't even miss the words. The story was so complete through the illustrations. I forgot there wasn't even any text. It is a nice change to look at a book with a series of beautiful illustrations and to be able to feel like you completely understand the story. Another reason I really liked Flotsam was because I immediately thought of several lessons I could do with my students. I thought it would be really interesting to have my students be the authors by coming up with the text to go along with the illustrations.
My reaction to this book is mainly based on my love for children's literature. I particularly loved the main character in the story. He had so many great qualities that I would love for my students to see. I loved that the boy was so curious! He came to the beach with a microscope!!! Instead of building sandcastles and playing in the water, this boy was looking closely at the wildlife and his new discovery: the old camera. He developed the film from the old camera and carefully examined each picture. One picture was of a girl holding a picture of a boy, who was holding a picture of another boy, who was holding a picture of another girl, and so on. The boy in the story first looked at the picture with a magnifying glass, and then with his microscope. He finally found the first boy, who was dressed in early 1900's clothing. I absolutely loved that the boy in the story continued the trend and took a picture of himself holding the picture. The boy also showed that he was selfless. Instead of keeping this rare, old, treasure of a camera, he threw it back into the ocean for someone new to discover!
Another book of David Wiesner's that I have read is Tuesday. I absolutely loved this book when I was a child, and with good reason. Both of these books are silent stories that allow the reader's imagination to run wild. Flotsam and Tuesday compare and contrast in several ways. They are similar in that they are silent stories, and both contain some science fiction / fantasy elements. However, their differences are what I love the most. Tuesday is so different because it is so random and unexpected! The lillypads levitate out of a pond on a random Tuesday, and the events unfold. I love the expression on the face of the man eating a sandwich. I would have had the exact same expression!
A new insight that I gained from this book is that great children's literature can be wordless! A series of illustrations can still tell a beautiful story. I guess the saying, "A picture's worth a thousand words," is really true.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Caldecott Book 1
The first book I read is called Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline briggs Martin and illustrated by Mary Azarian. Snowflake Bentley won the Caldecott Medal in 1999.
I loved Snowflake Bentley for several reasons. I feel it is only appropriate to mention the beautiful illustrations first since it is a Caldecott winner. I thought the pictures were not only clear and crisp like snowflakes, but they also succeeded in bringing the story to life.
From a teaching standpoint, I felt the book had many good messages for students. Willie can teach us all about following dreams, being persistent, working hard, and never giving up even when others put you down. He shows us that money isn't always the most important thing. He continued to follow his dream even though he knew he would never make great money.
I loved the fact that this story is about a real person. So many times, we read fictional stories to our students about these same things, but in the end, it is still fiction. It is always nice to be able to show my students examples of real people who followed their dreams and did something with their life that they were passionate about.
My reaction to this book is influenced by my own life. I admire Willie for chasing his dream even when some people didn't support him. While teaching is my passion, it is not my only passion or dream I had for my life. Many times, I find myself regretting the decision to give up on other dreams that I had.
When reading this book, I found myself comparing it to other books about people who pursued and achieved dreams. While Willie's persistence was very similar to that of others, I really liked the fact that his goal was so different: photographing a snowflake. Many other aspects of Willie's journey were very similar to those in these other books. I think it is important for these books to include the struggles that were faced in order to reach a goal. Willie couldn't draw the snowflake, he had trouble photographing them before they melted, and he had to do hours of work on each photo, to name a few struggles. Many times our students expect instantaneous results. It is important for students to see the years of dedication put into a single goal.
When I first think about great children's literature, biographies did not come to mind. I know part of this is because I still have A LOT of literature to be exposed to. However, this book is a great example of how a biography can be a great piece of literature. Overall, Snowflake Bentley is a great piece of children's literature.
I loved Snowflake Bentley for several reasons. I feel it is only appropriate to mention the beautiful illustrations first since it is a Caldecott winner. I thought the pictures were not only clear and crisp like snowflakes, but they also succeeded in bringing the story to life.
From a teaching standpoint, I felt the book had many good messages for students. Willie can teach us all about following dreams, being persistent, working hard, and never giving up even when others put you down. He shows us that money isn't always the most important thing. He continued to follow his dream even though he knew he would never make great money.
I loved the fact that this story is about a real person. So many times, we read fictional stories to our students about these same things, but in the end, it is still fiction. It is always nice to be able to show my students examples of real people who followed their dreams and did something with their life that they were passionate about.
My reaction to this book is influenced by my own life. I admire Willie for chasing his dream even when some people didn't support him. While teaching is my passion, it is not my only passion or dream I had for my life. Many times, I find myself regretting the decision to give up on other dreams that I had.
When reading this book, I found myself comparing it to other books about people who pursued and achieved dreams. While Willie's persistence was very similar to that of others, I really liked the fact that his goal was so different: photographing a snowflake. Many other aspects of Willie's journey were very similar to those in these other books. I think it is important for these books to include the struggles that were faced in order to reach a goal. Willie couldn't draw the snowflake, he had trouble photographing them before they melted, and he had to do hours of work on each photo, to name a few struggles. Many times our students expect instantaneous results. It is important for students to see the years of dedication put into a single goal.
When I first think about great children's literature, biographies did not come to mind. I know part of this is because I still have A LOT of literature to be exposed to. However, this book is a great example of how a biography can be a great piece of literature. Overall, Snowflake Bentley is a great piece of children's literature.
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