Multicultural Children’s Literature is an essential form of children’s books. It is important for children who are members of minority ethnic groups be represented in literature. In the classroom it is encouraging and confirming for those students to read about someone like themselves and see their teacher get excited about a book about someone like them. The Russel text discusses how the biggest multicultural groups represented are African Americans and Native Americans. According to the text for my Reading class, the most underrepresented group if Hispanic girls. The Russel text discusses the importance of Multicultural children’s books being written by members of that multicultural group. This necessity should be more strongly proclaimed so that change can occur.

Chrysanthemum is a happy little girl who loves her name. She likes to say it over and over again “Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum.” Kevin Henkes’ use of repetition and imagery is amazing and fits perfectly into this delightful book! When She goes to school, everyone makes fun on Chrysanthemum’s name and she decides she no longer loves her name. Some of the children threaten to “pluck her” or “smell her” and the narrator tells us that poor Chrysanthemum, “wilted”. When she discovers that the beloved teacher, Mrs. Twinkle’s name is Delphinium, she blossoms! And all the other children love her name too. This story is fun and great for younger kids. The repetition and flowery imagery make it a joy for anyone to read.

Illustrations in Children's Literature

I am amazed by the way in which Children’s book authors/illustrators use the illustrations to tell a great part of the story. Many beloved books, such as Where the Wild Things Are, would not be the beloved classics they are today without their complex illustrations. Sendak’s pictures make his story and are representative of the text and themes within the story. I love how the illustrations in beginning have a large white border, which gradually becomes smaller as Max leaves civilization and enters “where the wild things are”. And the theme continues as he returns to the civilized world of white borders and text. The last page is amazing with its picture-less, white background and text. The symbolism within children’s picture books is phenomenal!

I first discovered Charlie and Lola books when I read “I am not Sleepy and I Will Not Go to Bed” to the little girl I babysat. The heroine, Lola is about five and an independent little girl who is very sure of herself. The website http://www.charlieandlola.com/ is delightful! The site has a few clips and videos from the new tv series “Charlie and Lola” that is on the Disney Channel. There is a section on the author and illustrator of the books, Lauren Child. According to the site she won “the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal” for I will not ever NEVER eat a tomato. I assume this is an award given in the UK since that is where Child resides. It even has a section with information about how to recycle and help the planet.

There are a number of Children’s classics that have been transformed into other forms of art. Dr. Seuss’ “Horton Hears a Who” was transformed into the musical “Seussical”, which I actually got to take part, as it was our senior musical at my high school. More recently the story became an animated movie, which is currently in theaters. Some see the transformation of books into movies and plays as positive, while others see it negatively. The argument against it is that people would only see the movie and never the book, but if that is the case, they probably would never have read the book anyway. The nice thing about the transformation of books into movies and plays is that they also inspire the movie goers to read the book. This was true for me in the case of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I had never wanted to read the books until seeing the first movie, and was inspired and ended up loving Tolkien’s books. In other cases the transformed version of the book is better than the originally. Arguably, this is the case with “Wicked”, the book written by Gregory Maguire and made into a musical in 2003. The concept created by Maguire is fascinating and enjoyable, but in execution, the musical surpasses the novel.

Book 10: Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity

Mo Willems has a fascinating skill with the English language. His children’s books are clever, funny and smart. Knuffle bunny Too is an adorable book that I found especially relatable. Just as the main character, Trixie, I too always carried my stuffed animal with me whenever I could, so her story was especially fun for me. Willems’ book is easy for any child to enjoy and laugh with. His books have characteristic speech bubbles for his characters along with the text on the bottom, which I think adds another layer to the book, but doesn’t the text down in any way. The artwork in this book is unique and adds a lot to the overall story. Willems takes black and white photos of the setting and adds the cartoonish characters with pen and ink. The result is fantastic.

Beatrix Potter’s books are far more complex than I ever realized as a child. That is what makes children’s books so amazing though. The author’s must have the ability to make their stories relevant to the audience and enjoyable enough to keep them still and enthralled. My brothers and I grew up reading Potter’s books and my mom and her siblings grew up reading them. The entire set of Beatrix Potter books is so fun and enjoyable. I thought it was interesting that she insisted her books be small for little hands. It makes perfect sense and also makes the books more accessible!

The famous artist and children’s book illustrator Quentin Blake is most well known for his work on Roald Dahl’s books. Blake illustrated eighteen of Dahl’s tales and rhymes, according to his website, http://www.quentinblake.com/. Blake is still drawing and clearly keeping busy. His website shows his current, past and future exhibitions. I was quiet interested to discover he was recently chosen to “curate an exhibition that will delight children of all ages” in The Petit Palais in the Champs Elysees. The website showed a few pictures of the walls of museum and they do look amazing. He also recently created art for a hospital ward, and continued by creating more drawings than he originally planned. Prints of the drawings are available and I wish I had the money to buy one because they are lovely! Currently, an exhibition called, "Snozzcumbers and Frobscottle: the Wonderful World of Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake", is going on. The website described it as a showcase of some of Dahl and Blake’s well known characters and that visitors will “be given the chance to get up close to their favourite characters and discover them in new, splendiferous ways.” I wish I could go, but it’s on 30 Lime Street, Newcastle upon Tyne.

The Caldecott Award

I am so looking forward to this unit on picture books! I am always astounded by the amazing artwork that is present in some picture books. I was looking at some of the recent winners of the Caldecott Award, which is “awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children”, according to the ALA (American Library Association) website, www.ala.org. The 2007 Caldecott went to a book I have already read and reviewed here: The Invention of Hugo Cabret. The website shows honorable mentions of the year also. Those for 2007 included Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad written by Ellen Levine and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Another honor book was Knufflebunny by Mo Willems (author of the “Pigeon” books), which I have seen before but never read. These lists are a great source and they are all books with amazing and unique artwork.

Book 9: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Stargirl has been sitting on a bookshelf at my house back home for several years, and I just never got around to reading it. Well, I finally read it and was amazed. I did not expect the incredible story that was in store. This book is definitely for older kids, at least in middle school, but is a book any one could enjoy. If this book was an assignment for a class it would be a great book to inspire students to write papers. The main themes in Stargirl are about not conforming and being oneself. It also provokes thoughts of what is acceptable to society and why. Any student could use this book to talk about personal experiences and ideas and theories. I like how Spinelli’s book doesn’t seem particularly complex or difficult, but deals with such hard topics that relate to everyone.

Kids that love Skippyjon Jones

I was looking on youtube to see if I could find the author of Skippyjon Jones, Judy Schauchner reading her book, but no luck. First I found this play put on by adults of one of Skippy’s adventures and well, it was terrible. However, then I found something that is possibly even better than the author reading! An adorable little boy, with the help of his Dad and younger brother reenact two of Skippyjon Jones’ adventures. These videos are amazing! Skippyjon Jones (real name Jude) is about five or six years old and plays our favorite adventuring Siamese kitty with more energy and excitement than any adult could. The dad acts as narrator and director while the younger brother (Georgie) plays whatever villain Skippyjon Jones meets in his adventures. These videos are so fun, and I’m glad this family has their sons playing recorded. It’s so wonderful that the kids are playing using the characters they read about and not just characters from television. These videos are sure to brighten anyone’s day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ8gurOUJLk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ijN9Ze5NpY

It's always interesting to know of an author and the book(s) they've written and go for a long time only knowing them in relation to their books, and nothing else. Then, one day, you research or read something, and discover another part of them, maybe some of their background that ends up explaining how they came up with the book they wrote or reason behind it. It's always interesting how our understanding of the author deepens. So, with that thought in mind I decided to do a little research on Lois Lowry. A well known and admired children's author who's books I have grown up reading, including our current focus in class- The Giver. It turns out not only does Lowry have a website, but also a blog! The blog was actually really enjoyable to read and get to know more about this beloved author. In her biography on the website she reveals that she has lived all over the country, and the world, is a mother of four and grandmother now also. She also has a passion for art and knitting. The website also lists all of her books and even has a section of typed transcripts of interviews and speeches. In the copy of her Newberry Acceptance Speech (the last one in the section titled Speeches) she spoke about how she came up with her idea for the Giver. The speech is fascinating. This was so interesting and I would definitely suggest checking it out! Also according to her blog there will the a movie of The Giver in a few years!

www.loislowry.com

Bilbo Baggins (and his Tookishness)

Bilbo the hobbit is such an unlikely hero, which is what makes him so likeable. He is childlike in his love of relaxing, eating and playing- which is smoking his pipe and enjoying pipe rings. The entire book of “The Hobbit” is filled with remarks of how hard it is for a hobbit to go without second breakfast, etc. This extreme love of food and the easy life makes Bilbo’s adjustments to the rough life of an adventurer even more extraordinary. In Tolkien’s middle earth he is the most unlikely of heroes, yet he is a hero, even so. His similarities with children by way of his size and characteristics, and how he is viewed by others, make him relatable for kids. When Bilbo triumphs, the child reading triumphs. Bilbo the hobbit is such a marvelous character who encourages kids to be braver and bigger than their size (and the world) dictates!

Book 8: Skippyjon Jones in the Doghouse

Skippyjon Jones is a delightfully hilarious Siamese cat…who thinks he’s a Chihuahua. Skippyjon Jones is always getting into trouble for his mischief and when Mama Junebug Jones catches him he goes into time out, which is where his fun begins. He makes up silly rhymes about being a Chihuahua and “Holy Guacamole!” we join him headfirst into one of his “loco” adventures! This book is so great in how the child can learn a few Spanish phrases in the midst of all the silliness occurring. The illustrations are amazing too and draw you into the story. They also tell bits of the story that the writing leaves out. I learned about the Skippyjon Jones books from a girl I babysat who absolutely adored them. The reason is clear. These books are so well written and they just draw you into the story and make you laugh, whatever your age.

The last time I read “The Hobbit” was in second grade and the only thing I remember from reading it was Bilbo’s trick with Smaug. I also recall disliking the songs and riddles, because I didn’t understand. This time around however, I have really enjoyed the songs and especially the riddles! My favorite riddle from Gollum and Bilbo’s contest was the “egg” one. Tolkein’s songs to me, are reminiscent of those we read in “The Princess and the Goblin”. However in “The Hobbit” songs are not only for the good, but the bad also, like the goblins and wargs, they sing and create songs also. The songs in this book have a different meaning than in “The Princess and the Goblin”. However they still have power for the good characters. When Bilbo saves the dwarves from the spiders he lures them and angers them through teasing songs to work them up so he can outsmart them. Songs clearly play an important role in the book.

Monster!

In my Reading 302 class last week, every person in class was given play-dough and told to make a “monster of our own creation”. It was so interesting to see the unique monster each person came up with. I thought about how neat it would be to see the monsters children in a classroom would make! We have been instructed to give our monsters personalities and write a short story about it. My monster, so far is named Ira and his super power is his whistling ability. I would love to hear children’s stories of monsters they made. I am always delightfully surprised when I get the chance to hear children’s creativity!

Book 7: Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

Mighty Max doesn't really have any friends. He's big and scary looking, and he's learning disabled, dumb too. When Freak, also known as Kevin moves down the street they become friends. Freak is a little over three feet high and knows everything, at least that's how Max sees it. The two have always been picked on and bullied by classmates and others, but together, with brains and strengh and a height of more than seven feet ,they become Freak the Mighty! The book's themes are bullying and friendship. It would be especially encouraging for kids who experience bullying or aren't seem as very smart. It turns out throughout the book that Max isn't "dumb", when Freak explains what they're learning in school to him, he understands. That could be encouraging to kids who feel ostracized from others. A great great read!

Limerick!

We have read so many poems in the last week or so, and I have really enjoyed reviewing some I already knew and learning new poems. In honor of that I wanted to write a poem of my own. I decided on a limerick because they’re so bouncy and fun, and already structured! The 77557 pattern limits you just enough to make coming up with one less complicated!

There once was a daisy named Claire
And though she was really quit fair
No one noticed her much
For you see there was such
A great bunch of bluebonnets right there!

I absolutely love e.e. cummings’ poetry! I like that one of his main focuses in his poetry is nature. Now I know most poets write plenty about nature. However, the way cummings puts words together is kind of close to magic. I love how he squishes words together and omits punctuation and then moves words around to make the meaning more clear. My favorite one of his poems in the Sword Anthology is “maggie and milly and molly and may”. Each of the girls has a unique experience at the beach and it reflects their personality. The last line “For whatever we lost(like a you or a me) it’s always ourselves we find in the sea” is something I never really thought about before is true.

book 6: "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!" by Mo Willems

Mo Willems is the author of the popular “Pigeon” books. These include “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus”, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Too Late!”, and “The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!”. The thing that is so captivating about Pigeon is his simple desire to do whatever it is the reader is supposed to keep him from doing- in the case of the bus and staying up too late. With “The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!” the reader just observes a little duckling’s attempt to keep Pigeon from eating his find. Kids are so drawn to these books because they can tell the Pigeon “NO!” when he begs to drive the bus. It’s so funny because kids are always in the situation of the Pigeon, asking for something they can’t have or do. However they feel no sympathy for the Pigeon and revel in telling him no, he can not drive the bus however much he asks!

Book 5: Ida B:and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World by Katherine Hannigan

Ida B. Applewood talks to the trees in the orchard, sends letters to Canada by homemade raft down the brook, and best of all gets to spend her days at home learning and playing. One of Ida B’s most charming characteristics is her magnetic personality. She pulls the reader, willingly, into her world and allows us to enjoy her well prepared plans for any possibility. When Ida B hears the trees’ news that something bad is coming she has no way of preparing for what is coming. By the end Ida B has grown as an individual and the story has gone in a circle and slightly mirrors the beginning. This book causes the reader to think about how their attitude and actions affect those around them and to see things in another perspective.

The first time I read poems by William Carlos Williams they just seemed odd to me. They’re certainly uniquely different from most of the other poems I read when I was younger. In sixth grade I had to do a report on a poem by a poet and I drew Williams. I was torn between the poem “This is Just to Say” and “The Red Wheelbarrow”. I finally picked “This is Just to Say”. It’s so short and simple but the imagery is clear. You can’t help but see the purple plum coming out of the icebox and tasting so sweet and cold. My favorite line though is about how “you were probably saving for breakfast, forgive me they were delicious”. Once one can adjust to the different style these poems actually carry a lot of meaning, though some of it may be hidden, as in the wheelbarrow.

Jack Prelutsky’s poems were so hilarious to me as a child and I still find them funny! I went to his website and Wow! It is so enjoyable! The website has songs he wrote and sings and a section for parents and teachers. That section has activity sheets and tips for parents when they read with their kids. It’s really great. The most enjoyable section though is the one for kids! It has a short biography, sports cards with funny poems, and old family photos that were really neat! Also there’s a bunch of fan letters from kids which are hilarious to read! There’s a question and answer section that I found informative and fun of course! Prelutsky also gave advise to aspiring writers-“Read! Read! Read! And Write! Write! Write!"

Visit!: www.jackprelutsky.com

Cats!

T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” is an enjoyable read and as a child who loved animals I enjoyed it when I finally picked it up a couple years ago. Long before opening the book of poems though, I saw Cats the Musical. When I was little I knew a handful of the songs because we had a cd of Andrew Lloyd Webber songs. My very favorite was Magical Mr. Mistoffoles! The musical is interesting but truly, so strange. From the book we read the poem of “Macavity the Mystery Cat”. If one is going to read this poem it’s helpful to read my favorite part of the book, “The Naming of Cats”. Eliot explains that all cats have an everyday name their owner gives them but they also have a name that is only theirs and no others. Here is the last lines of the poem in Eliot’s own well phrased words:

“The name that no human research can discover - But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess. When you notice a cat in profound meditation, The reason, I tell you, is always the same: His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name: His ineffable effable Effanineffable Deep and inscrutable singular Name.”

It is amazing to me how easily he can keep his words in correct rhyme and rhythme and still convey his point so well and fluently.

For Christian’s it is important to teach our children biblical truths and principles and about what it means to know and follow Christ. Children’s books are a great tool to use to teach kids biblical truths. There are Christian children’s books that discuss concepts such as the importance of Christmas and Easter and Jesus’s life. Then there are those that focus on why we go to church and then there are those that tell a story as a metaphor to God and his love for his children. One of my good friend’s mom has a book published that she wrote and illustrated which teaches biblical truths through the ABC’s. It is colorfully illustrated with childlike watercolors and is very appealing to children. The book is “S is for Shepherd” by Tricia Lowenfield and it is adorable! It is such a wonderful tool to go through with kids and a different way for them to learn stories and important concepts from the Bible.

Several months ago when I was excavating in my garage back home and searching for some college stuff, I discovered some boxes of old books and games from my childhood that never made their way into our house. Most of the books I recognized but there was one big and colorful one I had absolutely no recollection of. It’s title was something to the effect of “We’re all different”. The really neat thing about this book was how on every page it would show some aspect of our world/universe. It had a section about animals and planets and languages. The best section was the one about people and how we are not all the same. It had pictures of all sorts of people, from African tribesmen to Dutch children. This book’s theme was teaching children how everyone isn’t the same, even though it can feel that way in our little bubbles as kids. We are all special and different and loved by God. I really liked this book and the way in which it presented such an important theme. It was sad to me I hadn’t been interested enough to have read it as a child or maybe it was just discarded somehow. I think books with similar themes are very important to children and I know as a teacher a portion of my books will focus on this essential topic!

"Gobble! gobble! goblin! There you go a wobblin'!"

I found MacDonald’s “The Princess and the Goblin” infinitely more pleasing than “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”. I enjoyed finding examples that supported MacDonald’s belief in the spirituality that can come with imagination. MacDonald believed the imagination could be a tool which God could use to reveal himself. I agree with this belief and enjoyed discovering how he supported it in the tale. Upon meeting our hero, Curdie, we learn his strongest defense against the goblins is songs. The most powerful are those he makes up with his creative mind. Through this idea that imaginative songs can fight evil, MacDonald argues for art and creative imagery as a way to serve God. Some Christians, especially during MacDonald’s time, may have found the idea of art and its forms idle and useless as opposed to working and “being useful”. MacDonald’s idea about art was probably a pretty new and revolutionary in some ways.

Photographs hold a great deal of power and I have really enjoyed seeing the photographs of Charles Dodgson (also known as Lewis Caroll). It was neat to see a true image of Alice and to see a little of her personality in the picture. The same goes for seeing photographs of the famous author George McDonald and his family. It makes me think about how as much as I love artwork in children’s books, there seems to be a lack of photography as a form of art in picture books. I can think of nonfiction picture book I had as a child that was illustrated through photography. Maybe one reason for this lack of photographs in books has to do with the specificity that a photograph holds. Maybe, in a pen and ink drawing there’s room for more imagination on the child’s part. Maybe photographs don’t sell as well in books and aren’t as appealing to children. Either way I think if photographs were the artwork used to illustrate children’s books an even broader amount of art could be used for children’s books.

Book 4: Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

Madeline is as captivating today as it was to me at the age of eight. One can’t help but be mesmerized by the little red haired girl who is so unique from the identical two rows of girls she accompanies. The order and neatness of every page, with the sometimes dissimilar action of Madeline is pleasing to look at. The rhyming and rhythm of the lines are fun to read. The way they rhyme and still hold so much meaning and clarity is truly artistic and professionally done. The text is so enjoyable, but the book truly wouldn’t be what it is without the amazing illustrations. One of my favorite aspect of the illustrations is the famous Parisian landmarks Bemelmans sets as the background of some scenes. They add depth to the artwork and make the reader want to come back to them and find out what and where they are. Thankfully the final page lists the monuments and buildings of each page for the reader to be aware of.

Identity

In class we’ve been discussing how Identity is a major theme in Children’s Literature. In following this idea I wanted to make an incomplete list of Children’s books, classics and newer that focus on the theme of identity. This list offers a wide array of books appropriate for different ages, and some, such as Harry Potter, may not be appropriate to read to the class as a whole. Books that can’t be read in class may be recommended to students as outside reading.

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Holes by Louis Sachar

These are only a few of the books for children which focus on identity. I thought of them because they were some of my favorites growing up, or, I discovered them recently and fell I love. Dear Reader, can you think of a book from your childhood or recent past that focuses on the theme of identity?

Alice's Adventures

Little Alice fell down a hole
And took such a time to reach the floor.

She finally landed in a room with many doors from which to choose
Alice drank from a bottle and shrank then ate cake and up she grows and grows.

Eventually our heroine makes it out and further in, to wonderland
She meets a mouse, offends the birds and is left all alone to stand.

The Duchess is her next acquaintance and my how she sneezes
Her baby grunts and it’s suddenly a pig which pleases.

Since Alice no longer has to hold and coddle it
She chats with the grinning feline for a bit.

“We’re all mad here” says the Cheshire cat
So Alice goes to tea with the mad man that dons a hat.

Once she escapes from that insane tea time
She finds the garden which appeared so sublime.

Upon arriving, she finds the madness remains
She learns from the past and her mind strains

To recall all the wonder is a dream
And the characters the pack of cards they seem.

Book 3: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Despereaux is different. The mice all over the castle whisper about how he was born with his eyes open, “he’s just not right!” they say. He isn’t like the other mice. Instead of constantly sniffing for crumbs, Despereaux reads books about a knight that rescues a princess and listens to the King play his guitar to Despereaux’s beloved, the Princes Pea.
The book’s central themes are love, forgiveness, and dark versus light. Throughout the book, DiCamill0 emphasizes the concept of love and its power. Love spurns our tiny hero to go into the darkness that is the dungeon and face death (in the form of rats) for the one he loves. While much of the book is dark and frightening, DiCamill0 makes it bearable by speaking directly to the reader about what may happen next. Her style makes to book even more enjoyable and unique.

Thoughts on Fantasy

I love the fantasy genre (most of the time at least). In Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” Trilogy as the reader, I escaped into Middle Earth to fight orcs and live among the elves. There’s something beautiful about escaping into an impossible world that is nothing other than the result of someone’s imagination. It’s amazing how by bringing the reader into their world, the author can show the reader the ideas or concepts he’s trying to convey. In the well known series, “The Chronicles of Narnia”, C.S. Lewis uses a different world in a different universe to create a story parallel to that of the biblical story of the salvation of man through Christ. Instead of Jesus, the Christ figure is the Great Lion, Aslan. Lewis offers a new perspective and new way to understand the Message of the Church. There are a lot of reasons to love fantasy. It’s enjoyable because it is an escape but still has familiar themes and values we can relate to.

Ed Emberly is a well known author and illustrator of children’s books. His drawing books are famous for his one of a kind technique and creativity involved in every lesson. Emberly has illustrated and written several children’s books, but his drawing books remain the most popular and beloved. There is a unique way he makes the creation of any artwork simple for a child. He breaks down the creation by starting with a square, or a few lines, and slowly adding triangles and dots and half circles…before you know it you’ve drawn a train, or a giraffe, or Frankenstein. Emberly’s books vary in the topic of artwork. Some of his book titles include: “The Drawing Book of Weirdo’s”, “The Drawing Book of Faces”, “The Drawing Book of Animals”, and many others. As a child my favorite Ed Emberly book was the “Great Thumbprint Drawing Book”. It was so inspiring to see all the amazing creations that could be made with a thumbprint and pen, and it was a blast to recreate those in the book and attempt my own. Emberly contributed a great deal to the children’s book industry and his drawing books will continue to be loved and used by generations of fans.

I've read a whole lot of classic children's books over the years, but I've never thought to pick up "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". The main reason for this is probably because the cartoon movie scared me silly as a child and continues to creep me out today. The crazy rabbit who won't stop going on about being late and the scary queen of hearts who is trying to chop off heads was enough to give me plenty of nightmares as a kid. Reading the famous and influential book should be interesting. I'm looking forward to the examples of realism and imagination. It should be interesting to see how similar the book is to the movie too.

Great book for Adults and Kids alike!

In my reading and writing class the other week, my teacher read us “Scaredy Squirrel makes a Friend” by author and illustrator Melanie Watt. This book was one of the funniest books I had ever heard/read! If you haven’t read it, go do so! The writing is already so funny, and the illustrations make the story even more enjoyable! It is adorable! Scaredy Squirrel’s biggest characteristic is, of course, that he’s scared. It’s so hilarious because his fears are all highly absurd and irrelevant. For example Scaredy Squirrel’s biggest fears (which are listed on the website) include green Martians, killer bees, tarantulas, poison ivy, germs and sharks. On the website, the about the author page let’s us know that Melanie Watt shares Scaredy Squirrel’s fear of sharks. The theme of this book was a very important one too. Scaredy Squirrel learns not to judge someone’s capability as a friend, and to step out of his comfort zone. In doing so he makes an unlikely friend with a dog, even though he isn’t 99% free like the goldfish he planned on making friends with. This theme is so important for kids to learn and practice. So often in and outside the classroom, kids exclude other kids. It seems to be something that just comes naturally and is easy to do without thinking about it. This would be a great book to read to a class if they were having trouble excluding a classmate. Adults also could use the reminder as well!

I would definitely encourage you to check out the website! http://www.scaredysquirrel.com/
The best part is how at the bottom of every page there’s a reader warning that states, “This material is not suitable for green Martians.”

Ode to Harry Potter.

This past summer was filled with Harry Potter’s story
Subsequently the final book came with much glory.

While its nice to know our champions end,
I can’t help but feel I’ve lost a friend.

Dear Harry, Hermione, and Ron
Dumbledore and Snape’s hook nose, so long!

I sure will miss the train ride there,
And the awful robes Ron had to wear.

Our hero certainly broke a rule or two.
He often had good reason for his heart was true.

While I would be glad if the series was extended,
it’s a good thing the trio never got suspended.

Henry vs. Char- the answer is clear.

I last saw Ever After once several years ago, so I got excited when I discovered we’d be watching it in class! The movie has been nice; though full of sickeningly sappy moments at times. While watching this movie, especially after reading Ella Enchanted, I can’t help but compare Prince Henry and Char. Let me just say, there is no comparing the two. Our first introduction to Henry is that he wants to marry for love, which makes him likeable enough. However, throughout the film his key traits reveal that he is thoughtless, a bad listener, selfish, in love with himself and just plain cocky. I’m being cruel. He has nice moments: he’s helpful in saving DaVinci’s painting and he takes Danielle to the library. I have trouble seeing why Danielle falls for him when he is so clueless. I suppose he just doesn’t compare with Char and I can’t help but compare other prince’s from the story with him. I also find Char’s faults more forgivable. Ever After is an enjoyable take on the Cinderella Story, but not my favorite. The irony is fun in how the personalities of the Prince and Cinderella are switched. She is smart and even saves him, and herself, while he is oblivious and often just allows things to happen. So this idea is a fun take on the story, but not satisfying. At least the Prince’s character develops over the course of the story. I still think I’ll stick with Char.

Book 2: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick is an exceptional book. Set in Paris in 1931 and starring an orphaned boy who is full of mysterious secrets. The book begins with a short, one-page introduction and black and white sketches lead the reader into a train station to a boy named Hugo Cabret. We follow him through the train station page by page, and eventually reach a paragraph describing his thoughts. The rest of the book follows the premise set at the beginning. It is unlike any book I have read, the pictures are throughout the story, and describe the story better than if it had been only words. The mystery behind the story is amplified by the wordless yet beautiful drawings. I suggest this book to anyone who likes a good adventure!

Eric Carle has illustrated over 40 books, and written many of those. He has received awards from all over the world for his artwork and amazing stories. His technique of combining colorfully painted tissue paper is highly recognizable and unique. His website http://www.eric-carle.com/ provides a list of some of his awards, along with a list of the books he has written and an autobiography. Before becoming a famous children’s illustrator Carle spent years as graphics designer for the New York Times and then as an art director for an advertising agency. One day a respected author who had seen Carle’s work in an advertisement, requested he illustrate his children’s book. The collaborated together for the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? The rest, as they say, is history! My favorite part of his website is his videos showing how he creates a few art pieces! It’s a lot fun to see how he paints tissue paper and then creates his caterpillar! After watching him, I really want to try and mimic his technique!

Since the story of Ella Enchanted is told in first-person, the use of the fairy book and letters gives the reader a chance to witness more than we could without these tools. Levine could have created a story that used third-person, and let us know information through that; however it is hard to picture connecting to Ella’s character in the same way if we couldn’t experience her telling of the story. When reading the book and catching glimpses into other character’s lives through the book one can’t help but feel as if they’re spying, and its a lot of fun! As readers we feel we’re seeing the characters as they are. Reading the letters between Mum Olga and her daughters verified our belief of their superficial characters. When we are fortunate to glimpse the letters between Char and Ella, we see the foundations of their relationship and see their love for one another grow. I absolutely adore how Levine constructed this book and enjoy breaking it down to discover why I love this story so much.

Repetition, Repetition, Repeptition.

Repetition is a huge part of children’s book. Adults often find repetition in books tiresome and irritating. Somehow children have an appreciation in hearing words or phrases over and over again. They can also participate in the story when they know the repetitive phrase that is approaching. In many of the fairy tales we have read, phrases are repeated and I found them slightly annoying and usually skipped them as I read them to myself. Kids however, adore repetition in storybooks and love to be involved in repeating the phrase out loud together. Repetition stories also teach meanings to new words. For example in “Alexander and the Terrible, Rotten, No Good, Very Bad Day” kids learn other words/phrases for bad. While the meaning behind repetition is unclear for adults, children find value in repetition.

Let's find the Wardrobe that Leads to Kyrria

Several different and unique adaptations of Cinderella came out during my childhood. I loved the movie Ever After and the Disney Cinderella; but none can compare to Ella. I admire her bravery and love for Char. Her stubbornness and love of languages along with other qualities make her relatable and personal. I first read Ella Enchanted in fifth or sixth grade, and I was hooked! I have gone back and read this book countless times since then. It’s actually one of my comfort books. Sometimes when I’m feeling low, or just feel like it, I’ll read one of my comfort books. These include but are not limited to The Chronicles of Narnia, The Little Prince, Where the Sidewalk Ends, and of course Ella Enchanted. She is such a loveable character because she’s uniquely different from the original Grimm’s Cinderella or the Disney one. Ella doesn’t let life just happen to her. She may be cursed, but she won’t take anything sitting down! (That is, unless of course she’s ordered to...)
I also love the imagination that went into this book. The elves are one of my favorite parts, and remind me of Tolkien’s elves in Lord of the Rings series. Levine’s descriptions make the reader feel safe and protected in the elf country. When we learn that an elf meal consists of different types of soup, I can’t help but wonder and wish to be part of their feast.

Well, I’m going to go curl up and read one of my favorite books now!

A scrumdiddlyumptious author!

The matter with human beans is that they is absolutely refusing to believe in anything unless they is actually seeing it right in front of their own schnozzles.
~ The BFG
Roald Dahl’s books have the amazing ability to bring us into a new world. It’s a world in which the impossible is possible and likely to occur. In his world a child can become friends with talking insects, your family can be rescued by a candy-making genius, and the underdog defies the odds and succeeds. In elementary school I fell in love with Dahl’s writing and read every book I could find by him. He is without a doubt my favorite children’s author. At times adults have declared his books inappropriate for violence. In truth, however, his violent descriptions of the Trunchbull from Matilda, the Twits, or the giants from the BFG are so completely ridiculous that children find it absurdly hilarious. Dahl loved to play with imagination, and mix the possible with the impossible, which causes us to open our imaginations. In the BFG, he describes how dreams are mixed in jars to make more complex dreams, almost like cooking! Roald Dahl’s writing influenced my love for reading and I plan to share his unique stories with my students!

His website is a lot of fun too. Check it out! www.roalddahl.com

Cinderelly, Cinderelly!

While Cinderella was not my very favorite Disney princess as a child, she was definitely up there. She had some characteristics I couldn’t help but admire. Most importantly, she communicated with woodland creatures. That’s right, she talked to birds and squirrels and mice, not to mention, they talked back! They also ran errands for her and helped her clean! Who needs a prince when you have little animals for friends? At least, this was my thought process as a child. In reading Cinderella as more of an adult, the absurdity of woodland creatures helping someone clean is clearer to me.
I went and saw the movie “Enchanted” over break. When the Cinderella character was in New York and needed some help cleaning, she sang her little song, and hilarity ensued. In exchange for bluebirds and quaint, roly-poly mice, her helpers were squadrons of pigeons, sewer rats, flies and most disgusting of all; cockroaches. The scene was a highly comical parody on Cinderella and her helpers!

Growing up, I had the privilege of being read to by my parents every night and throughout the day. I remember when I was two or three, my favorite book was the one about “ten monkeys jumping on a bed, one falls off and bumps his head..” You know the rest; well I was so proud of myself because, I could READ! That’s right I knew every single one of those words and could read it to you if you asked me, or if I just thought you needed to hear this amazing feat! In reality, of course, I couldn’t read the book at all, I just had it memorized.
Its so funny babysitting for kids who try and pull of the same exploit, and the best part is that they, like me at their age, really believe that they CAN read! Before gaining literacy, they can’t comprehend what its like to read a sentence without stumbling over every letter. I am so excited thinking about what it will be like seeing children progress in their reading and other skills over the course of a school year. It will be something extraordinary to witness.

Witches and Evil Moms on PBS, Oh My!

Hansel and Gretel, without a doubt, has to be the scariest fairy tale. I vividly remember watching a Hansel and Gretel video when I was younger. It was on PBS and it was the the “Faerie Tale Theatre” version. I can still see the idiotic Hansel stuffing his face with food while the witch greedily waits for her meal.

The horrifying thought of parents abandoning their children is disturbing enough as it is. Then the story continues on with a woman who eats children! Older and slightly wiser as I am, I recognize the relevance of this story at the time of its conception and retelling. Food, or lack of, was a major driving force for the large number of poor people. It isn’t hard to understand a starving family dreaming of a house made of bread. Still though, that witch haunted me long after Hansel and Gretel escaped. If I have kids, I plan on trying to shield them from that disturbing story.

Ahh! I found it online! Watch if you’re brave enough!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okpSINXsqSg

Book 1:Anatole and The Cat
Author: Eve Titus
Picture Book? Yes
January 23, 2008

Antole the mouse faces the classic problem situation. Yep, you guessed it, a cat. To his delight he works as a famous cheese-taster for the most famous cheese makers in all of France. He works at night, so the owner is unaware that his prized cheese-taster is not a man, but a fromage-loving rodent. When our beloved mouse faces the dilemma of a cat in his workplace he is nervous and mistakenly gives bizarre suggestions for improvements to the cheeses. One of his suggestions was to wrap the cheese in a banana peel for perfection. Poor Antanole must outsmart the cat or quit his job.
This book was an enjoyable read; with the personification of a mouse with a family, a job, and an aversion to cats (of course!) it is easy to see how a child could relate to the tiny character with fears, though I would expect his fear to make the child feel superior. The type of humor, absurdity, was a lot of fun. It was especially funny to read all of Antole’s suggestions for the cheeses: “Could be better, use crushed jelly beans” and “add six moldy marshmallows” would have had me on the floor laughing when I was 8 years old.

Outside Reading List

Book 1: Anatole and the Cat
Author: Eve Titus
Picture Book? Yes
January 23

Book 2: The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Author: Brian Selznick
Picture Book? No
February 10

Book 3: The Tale of Despereaux
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Picture Book? No
February 23

Book 4: Madeline
Author: Ludwig Bemelmans
Picture Book? Yes
February 28

Book 5: Ida B...and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World
Author: Katherine Hannigan
Picture Book? No
March 23

Book 6: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Author: Mo Willems
Picture Book? Yes
March 25

Book 7: Freak the Mighty
Author: Rodman Philbrick
Picture Book? No
March 28

Book 8: Skippyjon Jones in the Doghouse
Author: Judy Schauchner
Picture Book? Yes
April 2

Book 9: Stargirl
Author: Jerry Spinelli
Picture Book? No
April 10

Book 10: Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity
Author: Mo Willems
Picture Book? Yes
April 16