Blog Entry #10

Skippyjon Jones

Written and Illustrated by Judy Schachner

Dutton Children’s Books, 2003

30 pages

Fiction

            Skippyjon Jones was recommended to me by my practicum teacher. After reading this book, I completely love this character! Skippyjon Jones is a Siamese cat that gets scolded often, by his mother, for not acting like a cat. When he was in his room jumping on his bed, he saw himself in the mirror, and thought he was a Chihuahua. That gets his imagination going, and soon he is calling himself El Skippito. He pretends he is a great, Spanish-speaking sword fighter that saves his Chihuahua friends from the Bumblebeeto. It seems that Skippyjon Jones would rather be a dog than a cat any day of the week.

            The media used in Skippyjon Jones is drawing using a pen and painting with acrylics. The illustrations in this book are extremely colorful using a lot of bright hues. The mood of the book is humorous, and that is easy to see in every illustration. The illustrations have a rough texture. The brush strokes and texture of the canvas, or paper used, is seen throughout the book. Almost every color is used in this book’s illustrations.

            Skippyjon Jones is appropriate for a third or fourth grade reading level, because it is a lengthy book that uses uncommon language. I believe this book would be great for English Language Learner students. It would give them something to relate to, by having many proper Spanish words in the book, and their classmates could connect to them in some way. It would be a great opportunity for students to learn some Spanish words that could be used to interact with ELL students. Also, this book would be great for teaching new vocabulary and rhyming. The students would love this book! It is so funny! This book has received the following awards: the E. B. White Read Aloud Award in 2004, The Ladybug Picture Book Award in 2005, the Armadillo Readers' Choice Award in 2005, The Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award in 2005, and the Colorado Children's Book Award in 2006.

Blog Entry #9

The Magic Hat

Written by Mem Fox

Illustrated by Tricia Tusa

Harcourt, Inc., 2002

32 pages

Fiction

            I chose this book because it has been a favorite with young children since it was written. It has a very catchy rhyme that appeals to children. The Magic Hat is about a hat that flew through the air and into town, sat on people’s heads, and turned them into animals. Then a wizard came, turned the animals back into people, and left town with the magic hat. He left town as a little boy with the magic hat sitting on his head.

            The illustrations in The Magic Hat are very colorful and fun. The media in this book are drawing in ink and painting with watercolors. On almost every page, there is a beautiful landscape and sky in the background. The fact that there are a lot of landscape illustrations, means there is a variety of earth tones and natural colors that were used. In addition to those colors, there are very bright, fun colors that portray the mood of this book. The wizard’s outfit has a lot of different colors that are all bright and happy. There are many people and animals in the book, so almost every page is full of large illustrations.

            This book is appropriate for a second grade student according to the reading level. Although, this book would be just fine for a kindergarten or first grade read aloud that is done by the teacher. If it were used in a second grade lesson, it could be used for making predictions about what animal the people in the book would be turned into next based on the illustrations in the book. This book would be a great example of rhyming words. The Magic Hat could be used for comprehension and sequence. Students could retell the order in which people were turned into animals in the book. This book has no awards or honors.

Blog Entry #8

Knuffle Bunny

Written and Illustrated by Mo Willems

Hyperion Books for Children, 2004

32 pages

Fiction

            I chose this book because I came across it in a kindergarten classroom library, and it seemed very appropriate for that age. I knew that if it was by Mo Willems, it was probably a good book. Trixie and her daddy went down to the Laundromat, where they left Knuffle Bunny, her favorite stuffed animal. Trixie did not realize it right away, but when she did, she tried to tell her daddy. Trixie’s daddy could not understand her babbling, and when they got back home, her mom noticed she did not have Knuffle Bunny. The whole family rushed back to the Laundromat to search for it. When Trixie’s daddy found Knuffle Bunny, she said her first words.

            The illustrations in Knuffle Bunny are unique, because photography and expressive cartoon art are combined. The media is digital photography and drawing. The background photographs are sepia style, and the characters are sketched in ink and then shaded with color by computer. The illustrations look very real, because the background is composed of actual photographs of the city. The contrast in the illustrations is striking, but it really brings the characters to life in this book.

            This book is appropriate for early readers, most likely kindergarten through second grade. This book could also be great for a preschool class. If I were using this book for a lesson in a kindergarten class, I would read it aloud, and then talk about the illustrations and how to make predictions from them. After the lesson, the students could share similar stories or even draw a favorite toy of their own. In a first or second grade class, this may be a very simple read, but I would talk about characters, setting, plot, or sequence. There are some very good examples of elements in English Language Arts that could be discussed in this book. This book received a Caldecott Honor in 2005.

Blog Entry #7

City dog, Country frog

Written by Mo Willems

Illustrated by Jon J. Muth

Hyperion Books for Children, 2010

51 pages

Fiction

            I chose this book because I thought it would be a good read for boys. It is a very sweet, simple book that focuses on friendship. It was spring time and City dog’s first day in the country, when he met Country frog. Country frog taught City dog some fun games. In summer, City dog ran to Country frog’s rock and taught him some City dog games. That fall, they played another game and remembered all of the fun they had in spring and summer. In winter, City dog went to meet Country frog at his rock and things took a turn that season. That next spring, City dog ended up making a brand new friend.

            The illustrations in city dog, country frog are a beautifully expressive style of painting. The medium is painting using watercolors. The colors chosen are naturalistic hues, because the setting is in nature. There is a lot of green, blue, brown, and grey in the spring time illustrations. In fall, there are warm hues of orange, yellow, and red. In winter, there are white, grey, and blue hues. Every illustration shows the beauty of the season and the feelings of City dog and Country frog.

            City dog, country frog is a very simple read and would be great for an early reader. This book would be more appropriate for kindergarten and first grade, but second graders may enjoy reading this too. This book would be great for a lesson on the seasons for a kindergarten class, because it takes you through every season from spring to spring the following year. The illustrations represent every season well and would be great for a discussion on how every season is different. Other topics that could be discussed from this book are friendship and emotions. This book has no awards or honors.

Blog Entry #6

Wemberly Worried

Written and Illustrated by Kevin Henkes

Greenwillow Books, 2000

30 pages

Fiction

            I chose Wemberly Worried, because I know two teachers that have this book. So, when I came across it in the library, I thought I would blog about it. This is an adorable book about a little mouse that worries about anything and everything. Her mom, dad, and grandmother tell her not to worry, but she does anyway. Wemberly worried about starting school, and she worried about that more than anything else. In the end, she made a friend, and school was not so bad after all.

The media used in Wemberly Worried is drawing with black pen and watercolor painting. Every page has some white negative space in the background to emphasize what Wemberly was worrying about. Many of the colors used are pastel pink, purple, green, and blue. Wemberly is a little girl mouse, and I believe the illustrations reflect that. The colors used in this book would appeal to a little girl. The illustrations really do a great job with body language and facial expressions to show her worry.

            This book would be appropriate for early elementary grades. I think it would be great for a kindergarten read aloud to discuss how the students felt on the first day of school. The teacher could start by asking the students what their feelings were before the first day and how they feel now. That would be a great opportunity for a compare and contrast with the kindergarten students. This book has received the ALA Notable Children’s Book Award, the IRA/CBC Children's Choice Award, and the IRA/CBC Teachers' Choice Award.

Blog Entry #5

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

Written by Eric Litwin

Illustrated by James Dean

HarperCollins Publishers, 2008

32 pages

Fiction

            I chose this book because I loved Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes. I thought it was a great book with a really cool character, Pete the Cat. It is a very popular selection at book fairs, libraries, and elementary schools. Pete the Cat loves his white shoes and everywhere he goes he keeps stepping in something that changes the color of his shoes. He does not mind. He just keeps on strolling along and singing his song. Last, he steps in a bucket of water and ends up in wet, white shoes. No matter what Pete stepped in, it was all good, and he still loved his shoes.

            The media in this book was painting using watercolors and drawing in pen. There are a lot of primary colors used in this book. The illustrator uses a lot of blue in the outdoor backgrounds and in general. He also used yellow, green, red, orange, green, brown and gray. The illustrations in Pete the Cat are very colorful which matches the personality of the book. The watercolor paints soften the dimension of the colors so they are not so bright.

            This book would be best used in a kindergarten class. First and second graders may enjoy reading this, it is such a fun book, and would be great for a beginning reader. I had this in mind for a kindergarten class, because it would be such an easy way to learn colors. This book has a song with a very catchy tune that is easy to remember. The teacher could read this book aloud before an activity to learn the colors white, red, blue and brown. This book has no awards or honors but was a bestseller.

Blog Entry #4

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes

Written by Eric Litwin

Illustrated by James Dean

HarperCollins Publishers, 2011

32 pages

Fiction

            I chose this book because it is a popular selection with elementary schools and teachers. Pete is a cool character, the story is fun, and the book is musical. Pete the Cat is about a very cool cat that goes to school in his “rocking red shoes.” As Pete goes to the different places in the school, and does different activities in each place, he sings his song. Every place he goes is different, but Pete does not worry. In the story, the reader is asked to guess which place in the school he will be going next.

            In Pete the Cat, the medium was painting with watercolors. Pete is dark blue and most of the backgrounds in the book are blue, yellow, or green. There are a lot of bright, primary colors in this book. Most of the colors used were blue, black, red, green, yellow, and orange. Even though the colors are bright, they are softened by the texture of the watercolor. It looks as if drawing in pen may have been used for the outlines in Pete the Cat.

            Pete the Cat would be appropriate for kindergarten and up. I believe children of all ages would love this, and it would appeal to girls and boys. A kindergarten teacher could use this book for a read aloud after the class has toured the school for the first time and have the students guess which room Pete will be going to next. It would let them know that they should not worry about going to a new place and to just keep on going like Pete did. For other grades, it would be a good example for instruction on rhyming words and alliteration. This book has no awards or honors.

Blog Entry #3

Ginger and Petunia

Written by Patricia Polacco

Philomel Books, 2007

37 pages

Fiction

          

I chose this book because I have read other books by Patricia Polacco that were great. She is a credible, well-known author that writes wonderful children’s books. Ginger and Petunia is about a refined lady named Virginia Vincent Folsum, or Ginger, and her spoiled pet pig, Petunia. Ginger is a pianist and had to leave the country for a while, and when she left Petunia’s sitter did not come. So Petunia took on Ginger’s exhausting, daily identity as piano teacher and socialite. It is truly hilarious to read about the things Petunia did while Ginger was away.

            The illustrator’s medium was drawing using pencils and markers in this book. The drawings are very realistic and colorful. The illustrator used bright colors and warm hues. There a many lines and rough edges in the drawings to create texture. Many of the pages have a large area of white, negative space with a single drawing as the focal point. In my opinion, the illustrations were reflective of every event and emotion in Ginger and Petunia.

            This book would be appropriate for third grade and up, or an advanced reader, because it is a lengthy book that uses upper level vocabulary. A teacher could read this book aloud to a second grade class and discuss what some of those words mean. It is a very funny book that would be enjoyable to both boys and girls. Ginger and Petunia could be used in English Language Arts to describe personification or to pick out some of the vocabulary to use in a lesson. The story could be used in lower grades as an introductory read aloud for a science lesson on pigs. It can be used as a compare and contrast to explain that pigs cannot actually do any of those things Petunia did and then to teach real facts about them. This book has no awards or honors.

Blog Entry #2

I Stink!

Written by Kate & Jim McMullan

Illustrated by Jim McMullan

Joanna Cotler Books, 2002

32 pages

Fiction

           

I chose I Stink! because it was very descriptive, humorous, and colorful. The first book I chose was from the same publisher, and it was a great book too. This book is about a garbage truck with personality, attitude, and cool features. It describes what the garbage truck does at night while people sleep in the big city. This book is also an alphabet book within a fiction story. I thought that was a neat feature of I Stink!

            The artistic media used in this book was drawing using pastels and charcoal pencils. The pastels, or colored chalk, give a rough-looking texture to the illustrations. On every page, there is a balance of cool and warm hues. The illustrator used a lot of black, brown, and grey of different shades. There are also many bright pastels that were used like purple, pink, orange, yellow, and red. The illustrator used almost every color to make, I Stink!, a very fun-looking, colorful book.           

I believe this book would be appropriate for students from preschool to second grade. The reason for that is because this book contains a section with the alphabet within its storyline. Boys would adore this book, and it would be great for any parent or teacher to read aloud. A student in first or second grade would enjoy reading this on their own, and a kindergartner could thumb through to enjoy the pictures and learn the alphabet. I Stink! could be used for a lesson on the alphabet, rhyming, adjectives, or personification to name a few. This book has received the following awards: ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice New Hampshire, Ladybug Picture Book Award, New York Times Notable, New York Times Best Illustrated Book, ALA Notable Children’s Book, and Nevada Young Readers’ Award.

Blog Entry #1

Diary of a Worm

Written by Doreen Cronin

Illustrated by Harry Bliss

Joanna Cotler Books, 2003

                                                         32 pages

                                                         Fiction

           

      I chose this book because the author is well-known and has received Caldecott Honors for two other books she has written. This story is a diary about a worm that narrates the events of his daily life. His life is much like that of a normal, human child except it is written from the perspective of a worm. His diary portrays his family and school life, daily activities, and struggles. This book is very enjoyable and comical.

     The illustrator is an actual cartoonist, and this book is illustrated in the style of cartoon art. There are a lot of speech bubbles which are reflective of this style. The media is drawing using pen and ink and painting using watercolors. The illustrator used a lot of texture and color in this book. It contains a lot of earth tones and dark colors since the setting is in nature, but there are pops of bright color on every page as well. There is a nice balance of warm and cool hues of color.

      This book is appropriate for a reader on a second grade level, it is very relatable to children this age, and would be appropriate for a teacher to read aloud. This book could be used as motivation for a science lesson on earthworms. It would be a funny book to get the lesson started with and to show that earthworms do not actually do these things that the book suggests. There are a couple factual statements about worms in the book that could be helpful to the lesson as well. This book has received the following awards: School Library Journal Best Book, Parents' Choice Silver Honor, Nevada Young Readers’ Award, IRA/CBC Children's Choice, and Buckaroo Book Award nominee (Wyoming).