The Talking EggsAuthor: San Souci, Robert D.
Title: The Talking Eggs Illustrator: Jerry Pickney Publisher and Publication Date: Dial Books, 1989\ Genre: Picture Book; Folklore Recommended Audience:: Grades 3-4 Plot Summary: Rose does everything she is told to do. When she meets an old woman with magical abilities, her life changes. With the chicken house full of talking eggs with treasures of gold, jewels, and fine dresses, her life changes even more. Personal Reaction/Evaluation: I really enjoyed reading this book. While similar to the Cinderella story, it is more realistic in a sense, but it doesn’t have a Prince Charming or magic ball Memorable Literary Element: The memorable literary element in this story is its theme. The theme of the story is good things happen to those who aren’t greedy. Blanche gets jewels and riches when she chooses the eggs that are plain. Illustrations: The illustrations are very artistic. They look like detailed paintings instead of the illustrations one associates with picture books. Review: Goodreads: “This is a spellbinding tale of two sisters, their mother, an old witch- woman, some very odd animals and a whole lot of talking eggs. It is based on a Creole folktale and captures the flavour of the American South. The illustrations are beautiful and can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.” Promotion Idea: This book would be excellent in a fairy tale unit. It can be read with different versions of Cinderella and then the students compare and contrast the different versions. |
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!Author: Willems, Mo
Title: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Illustrator: Willems, Mo Publisher and Publication Date: Walker Books, April 2003\ Genre: Picture Book Recommended Audience:: PreK - 1 Plot Summary: When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place-a pigeon! But you've never met one like this before. As he pleads, wheedles, and begs his way through the book, children will love being able to answer back and decide his fate. Personal Reaction/Evaluation: This book was really cute! Children will love interacting and reading along with it! Memorable Literary Element: The theme of this story is a great literary element. It highlights responsibility and leadership, emphasizing how the right thing to do sometimes is just say, "No!" Illustrations: The illustrations are comical, and sometimes span double pages. They illustrate how the pigeon is trying to convince the reader to let him drive the bus. Review: Goodreads: "The friendly bus driver entrusts the reader with not letting the pigeon drive the bus. The rest of the story is the pigeon wheedling the reader to let him drive the bus. I really like this idea. Younger kids can just read the story and see the pigeon throwing a fit. It’s funny, the pigeon’s silly and tries all the sorts of excuses and whining that a child uses when they want anything." Promotion Idea: This is a great book to read before going over rules. This teaches the kids that the bus driver said no, so the pigeon needs to not drive the bus. Same way with library rules. It helps explain that rules are in place for a reason. |
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a FlyAuthor: Taback, Simms
Title: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly Illustrator: Taback, Simms Publisher and Publication Date: Genre: Fiction, Picture Book Recommended Audience:: K - 3 Plot Summary: Everyone knows the song about the old lady who swallowed a fly, a spider, a bird, and even worse, but who's ever seen what's going on inside the old lady's stomach? With this inventive die-cut artwork, Simms Tabak gives us a rollicking, eye-popping version of the well-loved poem. Personal Reaction/Evaluation: This book is great. I enjoyed how each time the old lady ate something, it was something more insane each time. I highly recommend it. Memorable Literary Element: The biggest literary element in this book is the sequencing. With each addition, it sequences what the old lady ate. Illustrations: With his die-cut artwork, Simms Taback gives the reader a eye-popping version of the story. Review: School Library Journal: "PreS-Gr 3--From cover to moral (never swallow a horse), this cleverly illustrated version of an old folk favorite will delight children. Each page is full of details and humorous asides, from the names of different types of birds, to a recipe for spider soup, to the rhyming asides from the spectating animals. As for the old lady, with her toothy grin and round bloodshot eyes, she looks wacky enough to go so far as to swallow a horse. A die-cut hole allows readers to see inside her belly, first the critters already devoured and, with the turn of the page, the new animal that will join the crowd in her ever-expanding stomach. The pattern of the lady's dress, with its patchwork of bright, torn colored paper pasted on black, is used as the background motif for the words. The text is handwritten on vivid strips of paper that are loosely placed on the patterned page, thus creating a lively interplay between the meaning of the words and their visual power. All in all, this illustrator provides an eye-catching, energy-filled interpretation that could easily become a classic in itself." Promotion Idea: This book would be great to read to a class when learning about sequencing events. Officer Buckle and Gloria |
The Polar Express |
Author: Van Allsburg, Chris
Title: The Polar Express Illustrator: Van Allsburg, Chris Publisher and Publication Date: Houghton Mifflin, October 1985\ Genre: Picture Book Recommended Audience:: K - 2 Plot Summary: Late one Christmas Eve, a boy boards a mysterious train: The Polar Express bound for the North Pole. Once there, Santa offers the boy any gift he desires. The boy asks for one bell from the harness of a reindeer. The bell is lost. On Christmas morning, the boy finds the bell under the tree. The boy's mother admires the bell, but laments that it is broken — for you see, only believers can hear the sound of the bell. Personal Reaction/Evaluation: This book is the perfect read around Christmas. It encourages the students to believe in the magic of Christmas. Memorable Literary Element: The climax of the story is the memorable literary element. Everyone holds their breath as Santa picks someone to receive the first Christmas gift, and the little boy he chooses simply wants a bell from the reindeers' harness. Illustrations: The pictures are very realistic, Review: Children's Literature: "A young man tells a story of his childhood and how his belief in Santa comes to life one snowy Christmas Eve. Although his friends tell him "there is no Santa," he still believes he will hear the bells of Santa's sleigh. Those beliefs come true when the Polar Express takes him to the North Pole. When they come to the North Pole, Santa chooses the protagonist to be the recipient of the first gift of Christmas. The boy wants something small and meaningful: a bell from Santa's sleigh. The bell symbolizes the belief in Santa and the spirit of Christmas, and only those who believe can hear the magical sound of the bell. The thrilling story along with detailed and colorful illustrations can make anyone believe in the spirit of Christmas. This twentieth anniversary edition includes illustrations that are filled with amazing contrasts of light and dark, making the pictures feel alive. The detailed words and artwork on every page, make readers feel as if they also are living the dreams of the little boy." Promotion Idea: This is a great book to display during the month of December on a Christmas display. |