Module 15- SLIS 5420

 

Draw Me a Star

By Eric Carle

Carle, E. (1992). Draw me a star. New York: Philomel Books.

Summary

A young boy is asked to draw a star and he does, which leads to more and more requests for additional drawings, from a tree to a house to the moon. This book has beautiful illustrations, done in Carle’s trademark unique style, and it is a sweet and simple story that comes full circle at the end. It also gives instructions to the reader on how to draw a star at the end.

Impressions

I enjoyed the whimsical nature of this book and I always love Carle’s illustrations. They are beautifully done and very unique. I appreciated the somewhat biblical undertones in the beginning of the book, as it appears that the “requesting person” is showing the beginnings of creation in the first few drawings. This book is on the challenged list, largely because of the drawing of the man and woman (who I assume to be Adam and Eve) with no clothing on. Although the illustration is somewhat vague, it does show some “parts” of the body that some might find objectionable. Overall though, I liked the book-it seems to have a happy undertone throughout.

Reviews

In this creation story, a young artist draws a star, and the star asks for a sun, the sun a tree, and so on until the world becomes filled with living things. At last the artist, now aged, travels across the sky with another star he has made. There is poetry in the prose and mastery in the pictures, which evolve from collage set against a white background to an abundant landscape that is produced with an increasing use of color.

M.A.B. (1993). Draw me a star. Horn Book Magazine, 69(2), 221.

This book will appeal to readers of all ages; its stunning illustrations, spare text, and simple story line make it a good choice for story hour; but older children will also find it uplifting and meaningful. Especially pleasing is a diagram withing the story, accompanied by rhyming instructions how to draw a star: “Down/over/left/and right/draw/a star/oh so/bright.” An inspired book in every sense of the word.

Larkin, E. (1992). Book reviews: Preschool & primary grades. School Library Journal, 38(10), 80.

Suggestions for Use

I would love to use this book as part of an illustrator study, along with some of Carle’s other books. Compare and contrast different styles of illustrating, explaining that Carle uses other types of materials to create his pictures, like tissue paper. 

Module 14- SLIS 5420

Scranimals

By Jack Prelutsky

Prelutsky, J. (2002). Scranimals. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Summary

Two young children are on an adventure to Scranimal island, where there live very unique creatures. Each of these amazing creatures is a mixture of animal, plant, fruit, or vegetable. Some of these remarkable Scranimals include the Bananaconda, Porcupineapple, and Broccolion. This book is filled with fun and quirky rhymes and poems depicting the wonderful inhabitants of this whimsical island.

Impressions

I am not a big fan of poetry, in general, but I really love this book! I really enjoy Prelutsky’s work, as it is usually quite humorous and fun for the reader. I don’t care for stuffy, formal poetry, so this book is a great choice for someone like me. I can appreciate the rhyme and effort  of the book without feeling like I just read something I HAD to read. I will be promoting this book and more of Prelutsky’s work to my students when discussing poetry.

Reviews

Prelutsky's poems and Sís's illustrations describe "potatoads," "bananacondas," "hippopotamushrooms," and other hybrid residents of Scranimal Island. By combining the name of one animal with that of another animal, plant, or fungi, the poet shows how playing with language can lead to silliness, while still following most of nature's rules: if there were such things as "broccolions," they would logically prey upon "antelopetunias." After meeting these intriguing creatures, readers can try their hand at their own cross-pollination of species with words and pictures.

Engelfried, S. (2004). Scranimals (Book). School Library Journal, 50(6), 58.

Kids will easily get and appreciate most of the combinations (the Potatoad, the Radishark); others require a greater level of sophistication (the Camelberta Peach, the Cardinalbacore), though a helpful chart appears on the back cover. Sís's simultaneously imaginative and concrete illustrations transform a nice-enough collection of related poems into a unified whole.

Parravano, M. V. (2003). Scranimals. Horn Book Magazine, 79(1), 91.

Suggestions for Use

I would love to use this book with a poetry unit. I like the fact that this book has the rhyming element, which is what most students look for in poetry, at least initially. But even more than that, I would like to show the students how poetry can be fun and whimsical to write and to read. I think many times kids get the idea that poetry has to be very formal and stuffy, and any opportunity I can take to show them otherwise is a chance I don’t want to miss.

Module 13- SLIS 5420

Red Ted and the Lost Things

By Michael Rosen

Rosen, M. (2009). Red Ted and the lost things. Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press.

Summary

Red Ted is a teddy bear that has been left at the train station by his owner. He is placed on a shelf with some other lost things. Fearing he will never see his owner again, he decides to set out to find her. With the help of an alligator friend he has made and a cat they encounter along the way, Red Ted finds his way back home and into the arms of his owner.

Impressions

This graphic novel is a sweet story about friendship and loyalty between a stuffed animal and its owner. Though obviously fiction, this book portrays the feeling that most all of us have felt about our most beloved stuffed animals. I liked the way the author turned it around and showed the bear as being the one with the feelings of love and devotion, rather than the child. I’m sure we would all like to think that our stuffed toys love us just as much as we love them!

Reviews

Rosen's quirky combination of characters is matched by Stewart's muted colors and deliberately hazy backgrounds, which nicely spotlight the stuffed animals. His use of panels, which effectively further the action, vary from one to six per page and provide a quiet but effective pace. Noteworthy is an almost all-white, one-and-a-half-page spread; the sole image (on the bottom of the recto) is the trio depicted at Stevie's door, alone and in despair. The plucky and determined Red Ted deserves a place among the many lost-toys books on library shelves.

Elleman, B. (2009). Red Ted and the lost things. School Library Journal, 55(11), 86-87.

Red Ted, accidentally left behind, is deposited in the Place for Lost Things. Determined to find the little girl who loves him, he escapes the cavernous closet of forgotten toys. A naysaying crocodile and cheese-craving cat join Ted's expedition, and together they search for friendship, family and food in this charming tale. Both text and illustrations evoke time-tested teddy-bear classics such as Corduroy, with its toy-comes-alive point of view, and Paddington and Winnie-the-Pooh, with delicately penciled characters clearly defined against subtly drawn backgrounds.

Red Ted and the lost things. (2009). Kirkus Reviews, 77(20), 111.

Suggestions for Use

This book is a great introduction to graphic novels, especially for younger students. This is really the first graphic novel I ever read. It would be a good teaching tool to use to explain the proper way to read a graphic novel. You could also discuss the similarities and differences between books and graphic novels.

Book Trailers- SLIS 5420

Flotsam by David Weisner

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

Swimmy by Leo Lionni

Module 12- SLIS 5420

Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

By  Doreen Rappaport

Rappaport, D. (2001). Martin’s big words: The life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children.

Summary

This book is a wonderful representation of Dr. King’s life and his passion for civil rights and the movement towards equality for African Americans. The story is told chronologically from the time Martin was a young boy through the events of his death. It depicts his life work and importance in a way that younger children can understand and relate to. Beautiful illustrations help to create a classic children’s picture book.

Impressions

This is a fabulous book because it tells the very important life story of Dr. King in a way that elementary aged students can understand. It’s so vital that our students grasp the reasons that he was and still is such a major figure in our American history. I think it’s a very difficult concept for kids to grasp that things were not always the way they are now for African Americans, and they need to be able to relate, as best they can, to how hard life was before the civil rights movement. I think this book does a wonderful job of conveying the work of Dr. King in a kid-friendly way.

Reviews

Elegant and accessible, this powerful homage to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and beliefs is illustrated with glorious collage art made of cut paper, photographs, and watercolors. The narrative is interspersed with quotes from King himself and raises questions about oppression, prejudice, racism, and overcoming violence in nonviolent ways. An evocative introduction to the man who championed racial equality and who "taught others to fight with words, not fists."

Ralston, J. (2003). Martin's Big Words (Book). School Library Journal, 49(10), 98.

The author relies on her subject's own words, and his power, passion and pacifism shine through. Collier's (Uptown) striking watercolor and cut paper collage art feature closely focused, lifelike images of King and other individuals against an inventive montage of patterns and textures. The portraits of King exude his spiritual strength and peaceful visage. In the background of some scenes are intricate recreations of stained glass windows, which, Collier explains in an introductory note, he interprets as a metaphor for King's life. An elegant, understated pictorial biography.

Roback, D., Brown, J. M., Britton, J., & Zaleski, J. (2001). Martin’s big words (Book Review). Publishers Weekly, 248(41), 64.

Suggestions for Use

I have used this book during Black History month to explain the importance of Martin Luther King, Jr. in our history. I think most children have heard of him at a young age, but do not really understand who he was or what he did for our country. I used the video version of the book and before showing it, asked the students what they could tell me about Dr. King. We watched the video version of the story, which is very impactful. The narrator, Michael Clark Duncan, has a very powerful and impressive voice, which lends itself very well to the importance of the story. After watching, I asked the students to tell me again why Dr. King was so important, and the responses were very different. They really seemed to “get it” and appreciate his contributions to our society.