Genre 3: Poetry

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Schertle, Alice. 2009. Button Up!: Wrinklend Rhymes Ill. Petra Mathers. New York: NY: Harcourt Children's Books. ISBN: 978-0-15-205050-4.

PLOT SUMMARY

This delightful collection of fifteen rhymes is voiced by the clothing of various animal characters.  From the ostrich that wears a turtleneck to mouse who wears undies.  These delightful poems will entice young children, from shoelaces, hats, undies, jammies, jackets they all have their own story to tell.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

These whimsical stand-alone poems would highly engage children of the pre-school age.  With each poem are beautiful watercolor animals dressed in a variety of outfits.  Many of the poems are very relatable to young children and mirror many events in their life.  "Emily's Undies" boast "She doesn't wear diapers, /not even to bed. /  Now she wears undies with ruffles instead." Is a great read aloud to those young children who are going through potty training.  Some of the rhymes appear in couplets and quatrains, “it tickles me / to be a little prickly” says Rick’s wool sweater. The personification in the rhymes is shown a very simplistic way.  At times some of the poems rhythm seems a little forced, "I am Violet's hiking hat. / I live on Violet's head. / 'I never take off my hiking hat,'/ Violet said."   Overall, this book is delightful and young children will love the picturesque creatures.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist starred (May 15, 2009 (Vol. 105, No. 18)

Schertle’s poetry is reminiscent of A. A. Milne and begs to be read aloud.

Horn Book (May/June, 2009)

Made for sharing, and worth learning by heart, too.

CONNECTIONS

·      Math:  Make a pictograph of the carious types of clothing the students are wearing.

·      Writing:  Make a flip book and have students draw the animal on the inside and draw and label the item of clothes in the inside flap.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Frost, Helen. 2008. Diamond Willow. New York, NY: Frances Foster Books. ISBN: 978-0-374-31776-8.

PLOT SUMMARY

When a shy young girl from Alaska wants to show her parents that she is growing up, she has a terrible accident that involves her greatest companion, her dog, Roxy.  When she finds out that her parents are planning on putting down Roxy, Willow takes the injured dog to her grandparent’s house.  Caught in a blizzard the young girl is looked after by the sprits of her ancestors. In the end, Willow discovers a family secret and her maturity is shown.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The presentation of this poem is perhaps the most appealing part of the stories.  The text is written out in a diamond shape when it is pertaining to Willow’s thought and certain words are bolder to give the underlying meaning behind the words.  When her ancestors, who take the form of animals, are narrating the text is traditional. Young Willow is a relatable character that many young teens will be able to identify with.  Through her journey she gains awareness of her own strength and place in her community.   The imagery in this novel in verse is quite captivating and very thoughtfully placed.  The subtle rhythms, when read aloud or silently, have a natural sway that captures the readers attention.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist (June 1, 2008 (Vol. 104, No. 19)

“Frost casts a subtle spell through innovative storytelling. Her poems offer pensive imagery and glimpses of character, and strong emotion.”

Publishers Weekly (July 28, 1989)

Frost “blends the young teen’s viewpoint with a strong sense of place and culture”

CONNECTIONS

*Writing:  Research Alaska or sled dogs

*Writing:  Have students write a journal entry about a time when they felt they had to prove something or prove themselves to someone

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Grimes, Nikki. 1994. MEET DANITRA BROWN. New York, NY: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books. ISBN 0-68812073-3

PLOT SUMMARY

In this spunky collection of thirteen poems two little girls who are best friends do everything from facing mean spirited children to forgiving each other for telling their biggest secret.  Zuri Jackson tells us in rhyme about her best friend Danitra Brown.  Danitra, “who only wears purple because she might be a princess”, is this dynamic character who always knows the right thing to say and do and is a true inspiration to Zuri.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

These collections of poems are insightful and humorous.  Niki Grimes does an excellent job of connecting the life lessons in her poetry.  The poem Coke-bottle Brown “dumb old Freddy Watson” was making funny of the two best friends.  Danitra’s response was just to ignore him because she “can’t waste time on some boy who thinks it’s funny bein’ mean. / Got book to read and hills to climb that Freddy’s never seen.”  The lessons continue throughout the collection.  When Zuri becomes upset because her mother is a single parent, the wise Danitra simple states: “You’ve got it good,” Danitra, says when I’m sad. / “Your mama loves twice as much.  Is that so bad?”  For children who know what it is like to be raise by only one parent, this poem will give them reassurance and encouragement.

“Meet Danitra Brown” would be great for children in their pre-teen years.  The lessons of friendship are throughout the collection.  Simply messages like, “ So I kept Danitra company. ‘cause that’s what friends are for.”  This simple rhyme is teaching how to act like a true friend.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Publishers Weekly (September 15, 1997)

"Anyone who has a best friend can relate to this realistic but bubbly volume."

CONNECTIONS

*Writing:  Have students write a poem about their best friend

*Reading comprehension: Write out several lines from the poetry collection and have the students discuss the meaning of the text.

Genre 2-Traditional Literature

Traditional Literature

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Scieszka, Jon. 1989. THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. Ill. by Lane Smith. New York: Puffin Books. ISBN 9780670827596

PLOT SUMMARY

"I don't know how this whole Big Bad Wolf thing got started, but it's all wrong.'' According to his first-person testimony in this story of the Three Little Pigs. This tale is told from the point of view of the wolf who is currently in prison for murder.  The wrongly accused wolf gives his side of the story that paints him in an innocent light.  The wolf is trying to make his “dear old granny” birthday cake when he realizes that he needs sugar.  The wolf goes to ask each of his three neighbors who happen to be the Three Little Pigs to borrow a cup of sugar.  When he arrives to the first two houses the wolf feels a sneeze coming and he “sneezed a great sneeze.”  When the house falls down on two of the three pigs the wolf had to eat them because he did not want the perfectly good food to ruin.  Finally, Alexander T. Wolf encounters the Third Little Pig and becomes infuriated when the pig insults his granny by yelling, “your old granny can sit on a pin!”  In is fit of anger Al tries to blow down the Third Little Pig’s house and the police come and arrest him.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This story gives a unique perspective from the point of view of Alexander T. Wolf, or as many children know him, the Big Bad Wolf.  Readers of all ages will enjoy the humor of the narrator as he tries to give perfectly logical reasons on why he ate the pigs.  Although the wolf is the villain some readers may be rooting for him because he dialogue is warm and inviting.  The impressionistic artwork adds life to the characters and gives them depth that is not usually found in children’s literature.  The storyline is dark and a little perverse and some may not want to share this story with the very young.  

The setting in the story  is recognizable as the tradition setting.  The wolf goes to three different house made out of three different materials.  Jon Scieszka gives the reader a glimpse of the different personalities of each of the pigs.  The wolfs testimony about the pigs almost makes his story plausible.  The humor is quite sophisticated for a children's story but is very enjoyable to read.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

School Library Journal (October 1989)

“Bespectacled wolf moves with a rather sinister bonelessness, and his juicy sneezes tear like thunderbolts through a dim, grainy world. It’s the type of book that older kids (and adults) will find very funny.”

Publishers Weekly (July 28, 1989)

In this gaily-newfangled version of a classic tale, Scieszka and Smith (Flying Jake) argue in favor of the villain, transforming the story of the three little pigs into a playfully suspicious, rather arch account of innocence beleaguered.

CONNECTIONS

*Writing:  Students can use a Venn diagram to compare “The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs” to the traditional story.

*Have students act out the “huffing and puffing” while reading the story.

* Rewrite stories such as Hansel and Gretel and tell the story from the witches’ perspective or Jack and the Beanstalk from the giant’s perspective.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Zelinsky, Paul. 1997. RAPUNZEL. New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Book. ISBN 0525456074

PLOT SUMMARY

Rapunzel by Paul o. Zelinsky is a retelling of the German folktale.  In this version of Rapunzel her pregnant mother is craving the herb rapunzel, which is in a sorceress’ garden.  Desperate to make his wife happy, Rapunzel’s father, sneaks into the garden to get the herb and is caught by the sorceress and forced to choose between the life of his wife or giving up his unborn child.  When Rapunzel is born she is immediately taking away and raised by the sorceress. When Rapunzel turns twelve he is locked in a tall tower and is visited by the sorceress who calls out, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.”  One day a prince hears Rapunzel’s beautiful voice and falls in love with her.  He comes back daily trying to figure out how get into the tower to see Rapunzel.  He finally sees how the sorceress climbs up Rapunzel’s hair to get into the tall tower.  Rapunzel and the prince fall in love and get married only to have the sorceress banish Rapunzel to the “wild country” and blind the prince.  By the end of the story the prince and Rapunzel are reunited and return to his kingdom where they “lived a long life, happy and content”.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This beautifully adapted German folktale with Renaissance style artwork has a mature nature but carries a great lesson about over coming adversity and being triumphant in the face of evil.  The young heroine forms a bound with the sorceress who hold her captive but eventually finds out what true love is when she meets the young prince.  The characters run the gauntlet of raw emotions such as, jealousy, rage, despair, joy and jubilation.  These emotions are seen with great detail in the faces of the characters.  Although, this tale is darker than the Rapunzel story most children know, it is told incredibly with surprising twist and turns in the storyline.  The story, at first, seems like it will end in tragedy but eventually Zelinsky gives the readers their happily ever after. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Publishers Weekly (September 9, 2002)

"A breathtaking interpretation gives the fairy tale new art-historical roots, with illustrations that daringly-and effectively-mimic the masters of Italian Renaissance painting."

Horn Book starred (March, 1998)

“It takes a scholar's mind and an artist's insight to endow the familiar with unexpected nuances--which Zelinsky does with passion and dazzling technique.”

School Library Journal (November 1997)

What sets this Rapunzel apart from the others is the magnificence of the Renaissance setting. Readers will linger over the opulence and rich details of furnishings and fabrics, and admire the decorative patterns and architectural details of the tower and the rooms.

CONNECTIONS

·      *Play emotional charades and have students act out the different emotions of the characters.

·      *Have students try the herb rapunzel

·      *Students can research other edible herbs and flowers. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bryan, Ashley. 1993. THE STORY OF LIGHTENING & THUNDER. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689318367

PLOT SUMMARY

In this retelling of a West African story Ma Sheep and her rowdy son Ram Lightning are force to leave their kingdom and live in the sky.  After several incidents where Ram Lightning reeked havoc on the townspeople the King forced the mother and son farther and farther out of town. The last straw came when Ram Lightning accidently started a fire and the villagers no longer felt safe with him living so near.  The King proclaimed that Ma Sheep and Ram Lightning may no longer live on Earth but in the sky.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This tale is a great read-aloud with some rhymes and unexpected wordplay--the King scolds Lightning: "It is an outrage at your age to go on such a rampage!"  Ashley Bryan does a great job of making the characters come to life.  The drawings of Ma Sheep and Ram Lightning are a nice contrast of colors, dark and gloomy for the thunder and bright and vibrant for the lightening.  Perhaps the one part of the story that seems unnecessary and repetitive is the phrase “Uh, uh”.  When reading the story silently it interrupts the flow of the story, however the saying works better when it is read aloud. 

This story would be great to read to young children who are afraid of storms.  The explanation of why we have thunder and lightening might ease their fears.  The playful Ram Lightning is very endearing character that is funny and very relatable to students who may have a hard time sitting still.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Booklist (Vol. 90, No. 2 (September 15, 1993)

Bryan's swirling watercolors depict a bright African terrain peopled with decorative, colorful characters.

Kirkus Review starred (1993)

A delightful adaptation of a Nigerian folktale

CONNECTIONS

*Social Studies: Have students research Africa

*Writing:  Partner up and have students write their own tale explaining why we have other types of weather.

*Science:  Research the scientific reason for thunder and lightning

Picture Books

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Willems, Mo. 2004. KNUFFLE BUNNY. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0-329-41634-0

PLOT SUMMARY:

When Trixie and her father are walking home from the laundromat Trixie realizes that she left her beloved Knuffle bunny behind.  Trixie who is only able to speak baby talk does everything she can to get her father to understand that she wants he favorite stuffed animal.  Trixie arrives home and her mother quickly asks 'Where is Knuffle Bunny.  They rush back to the laundromat and Trixie is reunited with her Knuffle Bunny and finally says her first words.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Mo Willems artistically portrays Brooklyn with photographic backgrounds and cartoon drawings.  The illustrations help bring alive the story of a young girl named Trixie. The illustrations paints the perfect picture of what a neighborhood looks like in New York.  The climax of the story is when trixie realizes that she has lost knuffle bunny and many students will be able to sympathize with the fact that Trixie is doing her best to tell her father what is wrong, but he just doesn't understand.

Mo Williams written baby talk not only adds such character and emotion to the young toddler, but allows for great conversations about how we can and should communicate  our feelings.  The story resolves itself beautifully when Trixie's father triumphantly finds Knuffle Bunny and the young girl can finaly say something more that baby talk.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

Kirkus Review starred (August 1, 2004)

Willems is a master of body language; Trixie's despair and her daddy's frazzlement as expressive as her joy ("KNUFFLE BUNNY!") and his triumph at the excavation of the errant bunny from the washing machine.

School Library Journal (October 1, 2004)

The concise, deftly told narrative becomes the perfect springboard for the pictures.

CONNECTIONS:
* Discuss the different emotions that Trixie is displaying
* Play emotional charades.  A student is given an emotion to act out and the other students have to name the emotion.
* Math connection:  Have students find out what their first words were and then complete a classroom graph.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Brown, Margaret Wise. 1947. GOODNIGHT MOON. ILL. By Clement Hurd. New York, NY: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-077586-5

PLOT SUMMARY:  In this classic picture book a little bunny is sitting in a  great green room and says goodnight to various objects before falling asleep.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:  This simple charming tale is conflict free story.  It is a plainly written tale of little bunny going to bed.  The main character, a bunny, is saying goodnight to all the things in a green room.  As the story progresses the drawings of the moon get dimmer and dimmer until the bunny is finally asleep. Although, the writing is simplistic in nature the real reason this is such a fantastic picture book in the drawings which have an old fashioned sense to the artwork.  A majority of the story is told through the pictures that are drawn with primry colors like red and green and black and white.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

School Library Journal (September 2009)  "clearly the best of the lot"

Book List "This classic bedtime story features black- and-white drawings alternating with the boldly-colored illustrations."

CONNECTIONS:
*Reading Connection: Have students do a sequencing activity ordering the objects that are being told goodnight.
*Writing Connection: Students can write a list of people or things they will say goodnight to.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Stead, Philip C. 2010. A SICK DAY FOR AMOS MCGEE. ILL. By Erin E. Stead. New York, NY: Roaring Book Press ISBN978-0-329-85962-6

PLOT SUMMARY:
In this beautifully illustrated picture book, Philip C. Stead writes about on elderly zookeeper, who despite having a busy day, always makes time to visit his animal friends. One day Amos wakes up with a cold and is unable to go to the zoo. When his animal friends realize that Amos didn't come to work the decide to see if their friend is OK.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:  
The beautiful wood block prints add so much life to the character in this tale of good deeds by the character Amos McGee and the zoo animals.  The friendship that the elderly zookeeper has with the animals is shown through the daily activities  that Amos does with each animals.  When Amos wakes up with a cold the reader can feel the impact of his absence by the worried look on the various animal faces.

Phillip C. Stead does a wonderful job of progressing through the day of Amos and the day when the animals decide to visit their sick friend.  Through the writing and eloquently drawn pictures the reader gets a great sense of how much the characters care for each other.  The story truly depicts how  friends should act and would be a great piece of literature to read to encourage friendship and bounding in the classroom.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

Booklist 05/01/10 "Each scene captures the drama of Amos and the creatures caring for each other"

Horn Book (May/June, 2010)  "the animals, while realistically rendered overall, display distinct personalities without uttering a word" 

CONNECTIONS:

Writing:  Students can write about a time the were sick or that they helped out a friend

Research: Have students pick one of the animals from the story to research and make a poster book report.