Book Review: Insectlopedia

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Florian, Douglas. 1998. INSECTLOPEDIA. New York: Harcourt. ISBN: 0329281631

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Insectlopedia is a book of poems about various types of insects, just like an encyclopedia. Throughout the 21 insect poems, the reader learns a few fun facts about each insect and has fun while reading them. The types of insects vary from flying insects to bugs that can make you squirm.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Florian does an excellent job bringing these insects to life and even making them lovable by including silly descriptions. When describing ticks Florian says, “Not gigan-tic. Not roman-tic. Not artis-tic. Not majes-tic. Not magne-tic. Nor aesthe-tic. Ticks are strictly parasi-tic.” The rhyme and rhythm of his words make this book fun to read aloud. The layout of his words is extremely playful, I loved how his poem about the inchworm is shaped in the form of an actual inchworm. After reading this book, I was left laughing and wanting to read more by Florian!

The illustrations used throughout the story were made of watercolor on brown paper bags in a collage. Florian’s pictures appear to be slightly messy and almost childlike, which is sure to inspire a young artist. The pictures are very dull and include lots of browns, yellows and oranges. Because of Florian’s color choices, they do not compete with his poems and instead complete them.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY review: "The silly, imaginative verses about whirligig beetles and waterbugs (almost) match the exquisite pictures in playfulness and wit. The result is downright stunning."

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “As he did in Beast Feast (1994), On The Wing (1996), and In the Swim (1997, all Harcourt), Florian offers 21 short, inventive poems and paintings that create playful images of animals. Here, the subjects are arthropods such as the mayfly, praying mantis, hornet, black widow spider, and weevils. The verse form is as varied as the creatures presented. Shaped or pattern poems about the inchworm, whirligig beetles, and mound-building termites work particularly well. The words are arranged in pleasing patterns and the rhythms fit the characteristics of the subjects. The design adds to the overall appeal. Each selection is given its own page, allowing for the use of large type and plenty of glossy white space, and paired with a full-page watercolor with a neat border of white. These portraits build on the imaginatively integrated realistic and anthropomorphic images created in the text. There are other books of poetry about insects and lots of collections of humorous verses about animals but none match Insectlopedia.”

KIRKUS REVIEW: “The creator of In the Swim (1997) joins Paul Fleischman (in Joyful Noise, 1987) in poetically praising insects. Read alone or read aloud, each of these ticklish tidbits features an individual member of the insect world, and focuses on attributes, foibles, and antics displayed in the eight-legged community. The daddy longlegs is accused of engaging in spiderobics, the walking stick performs a disappearing trick, and mosquitoes feast on the skin as ``take-out.'' Some of the entries rely on clever wordplay, while others are examples of concrete poetry; the text takes on the hump of the inchworm or the spiral movements of the whirligig beetle. The watercolor illustrations, abstract and stylized, achieve a comic effect by incorporating collage elements reminiscent of an entomolgist's field notes.”

 

5. CONNECTIONS

*Go on an insect walk outside and see if you can find some of the insects that you read about in the story.

*After reading this book, do a bug research project with your student or child.

*Love bugs? Check out these books to learn more about them:

Johnson, Jinny. SIMON AND SCHUSTER CHILDREN’S GUIDE TO INSECTS AND SPIDERS. ISBN: 9780689811630

Rabe, Tish. ON BEYOND BUGS: ALL ABOUT INSECTS. Ill. by Aristides Ruiz. ISBN: 9780679873037

Barner, Bob. BUGS, BUGS, BUGS. ISBN: 9780811822381

Book Review: Red Sings From Treetops

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sidman, Joyce. 2009. RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS: A YEAR IN COLORS. Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN: 978054701494

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

This book of poems accurately describes the colors through each season. Starting with spring, Sidman explains the sounds, sights and smells that you experience in springtime according by its colors. As she moves through each season, Sidman also includes details on what events go on by explaining them by color. By the end of the story, as she describes winter the store goes full circle and foreshadows what season will come next.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors is a poetry book describing the colors that are experienced throughout the seasons. Throughout the poems, Sidman uses great word choice that really paints a picture in the reader's mind. For example when she describes spring by saying, “Green floats through rain-dark trees, and glows, mossy-soft, at my feet.” The reader can actually feel that they are staring at green trees and standing on soft green grass. I really liked how Sidman highlighted the color that was being talked about on that particular page, because it draws in the reader’s attention and forces them to focus on that color. There is a great amount of emotion that flows through this story, and it allows the reader to connect to their favorite season of the year.

Zagarenski’s illustrations are made from mixed media paintings on wood and computer illustrations and I found this mix to be quite interesting. The combination of pictures with words in them and the lines from the wood paintings give the story a very “mystical” feel. The illustrations complement the story very well and correspond with the text by showing a variety of color blends according to what specific color is being written about.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2010 Caldecott Honor Book

NEW YORK TIMES review: "It's wonderfully strange to read of colors with sounds, smells and tastes.”

KIRKUS REVIEWS starred review: "A charming inspiration to notice colors and correlate emotions."

THE BULLETIN starred review: "This book has a freshness and visual impact all its own, and it will inspire a rainbow of uses."

HORN BOOK starred review: "Sustaining the playfulness of the text and its sense of awe, mystery, and beauty, the illustrations contribute gracefully to the celebration."

BOOKLIST starred review: "As the title implies, the colors that surprise on every page, do sing."

 

5. CONNECTIONS

*Students can create their own color poems by choosing a color and describing what that color means to them. Great activity for all seasons!

*For other poetry books about nature by Joyce Sidman check out the following books:

Sidman, Joyce and Krommes, Beth. SWIRL BY SWIRL: SPIRALS IN NATURE. ISBN: 9780547315836

Sidman, Joyce. DARK EMPEROR AND OTHER POEMS OF THE NIGHT. Ill. by Rick Allen. ISBN: 0547152280

Sidman, Joyce. BUTTERFLY EYES AND OTHER SECRETS OF THE MEADOW. Ill. by Beth Krommes. ISBN: 061856313X

Book Review: Diamond Willow

 

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Frost, Helen. 2008. DIAMOND WILLOW. New York: Frances Foster Books. ISBN: 9780374317768

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

This poetic story is about a young girl who lives in a small town in the middle of Alaska. The modes of transportation are by snowmobile or dog sledding. The main character, Willow, decides to take a team of dogs to her grandparents' house and ends up getting in an accident leaving one of the dogs, Roxy, badly injured. When the family learns that Roxy is blind and might not be able to see again, they have to make a decision on what to do with their beloved dog. 

When Willow learns of what might happen to Roxy, she decides to take matters into her own hands and get Roxy to the safety of her grandparent’s house. As Willow enlists the help of her friend Kaylie, they set out on a journey to save Roxy’s life and run into many unexpected events.  Throughout their journey and in the ending of the story there is much to be resolved, and Willow finds out that throughout this journey she was not alone.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Frost does a great job creating a book of poetry that quickly becomes a page turner. Each page of poetry is in the shape of a diamond and contains code words that tell you the inner feelings of the main character, Willow. Frost’s poetic writing is easy to follow and understand. Frost’s word choice greatly explains Willow's innermost thoughts and allows the reader to feel as though they are there in Alaska. Her vivid description of Alaska and the trails that Willow follows on her dog sledding trip are very descriptive and create a mental picture of what Willow’s life is like.

The experiences that Willow goes through can connect with readers on many different levels. Her experiences range from not having friends, to the thought of losing a pet, fighting with family and the bond between humans and animals. There are sad moments and parts that can make you smile, such as when Willow finds out that Roxy can see towards the end.  

Frost even adds in a twist throughout the story by adding in animal characters that represent Willow’s family and friends that have passed away. I enjoyed reading the point of view from which those animal/past relatives told their story, and felt that it provided extra information that was pertinent to the story.

This is a great book for older readers and I would highly recommend it for students in grades fifth through eighth grade.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2009 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award

THE HORN BOOK review: “As a dog and dogsled story, this has appeal and wears its knowledge gracefully.”

BULLETIN OF THE CENTER OF CHILDREN’S BOOKS review: “Frost has spun metaphoric gold out of an evocative natural landscape, and she knows just how to craft it into an elegant and moving story of a young girl’s deepening understanding of the relationships she shares with those around her.”

 

5. CONNECTIONS

*This is a great book to have discussions about making friends and self esteem.

*Want more books about dog sledding and racing? Be sure to check out these books:

Gardiner, John Reynolds. STONE FOX. ISBN: 9780064401326

Paulsen, Gary. DOG SONG. ISBN: 9781416939191

*Challenge: create your own poem in the shape of an object and try to use a secret code throughout like Helen Frost did in her book!

Book Review: Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY: 

Kimmel, Eric A. 1988. ANANSI AND THE MOSS-COVERED ROCK. Ill. by Janet Stevens. New York: Holiday House. ISBN: 082340689

2. PLOT SUMMARY: 

Anansi is a tricky little spider that lives in the forest. One day when he is walking through the forest, he finds a moss covered rock. As soon as he sees the rock, he says “isn’t this a strange moss covered rock?” Right when he speaks these words he falls to the ground and doesn’t wake up for an hour. When he wakes, he says the same words again and passes out immediately. Once he wakes from his slumber, Anansi figures out that this a magical rock so he decides to play tricks on his fellow animal friends. He visits his friend the lion and asks him to go on a walk with him in the cool forest. When they arrive at the moss covered rock, Anansi points to the rock and forces the lion to say the magical words in which the lion passes out. When the lion is asleep, Anansi goes back to the lion's house and steals all of his yams.

As Anansi continues to trick his friends, one animal the Little Bush Deer sees it all and decides to play a trick on Anansi. When Anansi asks the deer to go on a walk, the deer obliges and goes with him. When Anansi tries to get the little deer to say the magical words, the deer reverses the trick and ends up getting Anansi to say the words instead. Once Anansi passes out, the Little Bush Deer finds all of his friends and helps them get their food back from Anansi’s house. Once Anansi wakes, he comes home to find his house empty with no food. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS: 

Kimmel has beautifully created a story that has a lesson for all to follow. The reader is able to learn the golden rule, do onto others as you would have them do onto you. In this tale, we learn about many characters but two of them have strong personality traits, the antagonist Anansi and the protagonist Little Bush Deer. Right from the start you can tell that Anansi is a trickster and is up to no good when he begins to play tricks on his own friends. The Little Bush Deer comes out as a "hero" in this story when he teaches Anansi a lesson. The repeated magical phrase “Isn’t this a strange moss-covered rock” and the sound “kpom” is sure to get reader quickly involved in this great read aloud. 

Stevens' illustrations are detailed and fun. The bright vivid colors used throughout the book greatly enhance the story as well and attract the reader's attention immediately. I loved how she used foreshadowing in her illustrations by showing the little deer hiding in the background of all of the pictures. This minor detail allows the reader to guess why the deer was including in the pictures, only to find out later what a big role the deer plays in the story.

  

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS: 

BULLETIN OF THE CENTER OF CHILDRENS BOOKS review: "This book combines Stevens' knack for drawing funny animals with Kimmel's sense of rhythmic storytelling. . . . Stevens has cleverly avoided cartooning the spider's face and opted instead for emphasizing his very expressive set of eight black legs. The stylized exaggeration of words and pictures is just wry enough to avoid cuteness and maintain the mischief of a true trickster tale."

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “The text is rhythmic, nicely building suspense to the inevitable conclusion. Stevens' complementary, colorful illustrations add detail, humor, and movement to the text. Here, Anansi is portrayed as a large eight-legged arachnid; his expression is in his motion. The other animals are almost realistic, although with facial expressions that are characteristic of the artist's work. This new picture book Anansi tale will be welcomed by all trickster fans.”

5. CONNECTIONS: 

*Have students create their own fable, where the reader learns a lesson like Anansi did.

*There are great examples of foreshadowing and prediction opportunities to do with children. 

 *For more books by Eric Kimmel featuring Anansi ,check out: 

Kimmel, Eric A. ANANSI AND THE TALKING MELON. Ill. by Janet Stevens. ISBN: 9780823411672

Kimmel, Eric A. ANANSI GOES FISHING. Ill. by Janet Stevens. ISBN: 9780823410224

Kimmel, Eric A. ANANSI AND THE MAGIC STICK. Ill. by Janet Stevens. ISBN: 9780823417636

Kimmel, Eric A. ANANSI’S PARTY TIME. Ill. by Janet Stevens. ISBN: 9780823422418

Book Review: Swamp Angel

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY: 

Isaacs, Anne. 1994. SWAMP ANGEL. Ill. by Paul Zelinsky. New York: Dutton. ISBN: 0525452710

2. PLOT SUMMARY: 

This tall tale is about a “little” big girl named Angelica. Angelica is quite large for her size and is very helpful to others at a young age. For example, when a wagon train got stuck in a swamp, Angelica lifted their wagons and put them on higher ground. From then on, she was called “Swamp Angel." After hearing about a tyrant, named Thundering Tarnation and all of the problems that he is causing, Swamp Angel signs up to hunt him down for a reward. After several hunters fail to hunt the bear, Swamp Angel finds the bear and the duel begins. The battle between Swamp Angel and Thundering Tarnation continues over several days, until Swamp Angel's wit gets the best of him. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS: 

Isaacs’ tale of Swamp Angel is an adventure for all. Her word choice and descriptions make the reader feel that they are actually in Tennessee. Isaacs did a great job including many “how it came to be moments”, such as how Thundering Tarnation became a constellation and how the Shortgrass Prairie got started. 

The humorous quotes such as, “the newborn was scarcely taller than her mother and couldn’t climb a tree without help” and “quiltin’ is men’s work”, show the reader a silly side and creates a lovable character. Swamp Angel (Angelica) is a strong character that has good morals and a big heart. The plot is exciting, especially during the big fight, and the reader is quickly turning the pages to figure out what happens next. 

Zelinsky’s oil painting illustrations are beautiful and the fact that he illustrated them on wooden veneers give the story a rustic touch. The pictures go well with the story and also add further descriptions of the characters' feelings and actions. The text is nicely tied into the illustrations and does not distract from Zelinsky’s stunning work. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS: 

1994 Caldecott Honor

1995 Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor

BOOKLIST: “Zelinsky's detailed oil paintings in folk-art style are exquisite, framed in cherry, maple, and birch wood grains. They are also hilarious, making brilliant use of perspective to extend the mischief and the droll understatement.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Zelinsky paints his primitive views of Americana with oil on veneer, a choice that gives each page a grainy border, well suited to this backwoods tale. A master of composition, he varies readers' perspectives by framing the portrait of the newborn and, later, the series of male hunters with small ovals. He uses double-page lunettes to depict the massive bear and woman sprawled across the pages, and places the menacing beast lunging over the frame in another memorable scene. The pictures and words cavort across the page in perfect synchronization, revealing the heroine's feisty solution. Buy for a great guffaw in small groups or one-on-one. It's an American classic in the making.”

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:” Zelinsky's stunning American-primitive oil paintings, set against an unusual background of cherry, maple and birch veneers, frankly steal the show here. Their success, however, does not diminish the accomplishment of Isaac's, whose feisty tall tale marks an impressive picture-book debut.”

KIRKUS REVIEWS: “It is impossible to convey the sheer pleasure, the exaggerated loopiness, of newcomer Isaacs's wonderful story. Matching the superb text stride for stride are Zelinsky's (The Wheels on the Bus, 1990) altered-state, American primitive paintings--gems that provide new pleasures, reading after reading. To say that you are entering Caldecott land doesn't begin to do this book justice.”

5. CONNECTIONS: 

*For more tall tales featuring tall characters, check out the following books: 

Lester, Julius. JOHN HENRY. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. ISBN: 9780140566222

Kellogg, Steven. PAUL BUNYAN. ISBN: 9780688058005

*This would be a great book to read aloud, when discussing various types of traditional folktales. You can also compare and contrast Swamp Angel with Paul Bunyan or John Henry.

Book Review: The Three Little Pigs

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Marshall, James. 1989. THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. New York: Dial Books. ISBN: 0803705948

2. PLOT SUMMARY: 

In this story, three little pigs set off and leave home for the first time. The first little pig meets a man with a cart of straw and decides to build a house out of straw. The big bad wolf discovers the little pig in his straw house and demands the pig to let him in. When the pig says no, the wolf then blows his house down and eats the pig. The second little pig finds a man selling sticks and decides to build his house out of sticks. The big bad wolf, who is still hungry, finds the little pig and asks him to let him in. The second little pig says no and the wolf blows the pig's house down and eats him for a meal.

The third little pig, who is much wiser, decides to build his house out of bricks because they are strong and sturdy. When the wolf finds the third little pig and asks to come in, the pig replies that he is too busy. The wolf does not like hearing this, so he decides to meet up with the pig the next day at a specified time to get turnips. The wise pig decides to get up early and go without the wolf, which only infuriates the wolf even more. The wolf continues to set up appointments with the pig, and the pig keeps on getting away. At the end, the wolf loses his temper and follows the pig home to tell him that he is now going to eat the pig for dinner. As the wolf climbs onto the pig's house, the little pig puts an iron pot under the fireplace for the wolf to fall into. Once the wolf falls down the chimney, he ends up becoming the pig's meal instead. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

Throughout this story, the reader learns a lesson from the three pigs. The lesson being that you must be clever and thoughtful, in order to survive. This is why the third little pig, who built a house out of bricks, was able to live at the end of the story. The main characters, the big bad wolf and the third little pig, were very strong characters and easily fit the roles of the protagonist and the antagonist. The pig and wolf's repeated sayings of, “no, no, no not by the hair of my chinny chin chin” and “then I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house in” are fun for everyone to chime in on.

Marshall’s colorful and detailed pictures are sure to capture the reader’s attention. The illustrations are funny and have many “laugh out loud” moments, especially when you see the little pigs' bottoms being blown into the air by the wolf.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS:

KIRKUS REVIEW: “A delightfully witty rendition, honoring the old tale while giving it a fresh new look.”

COOPERATIVE CHILDREN’S BOOK CENTER review: “A solid addition to Marshall's lighthearted sequence of picture book folklore including GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS (1988) and RED RIDING HOOD (1987).”

5. CONNECTIONS: 

*Other variants of The Three Little Pigs:

Galdone, Paul. THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. ISBN: 9780547370200

Sierra, Judith. TO TELL THE TRUTH, B.B. WOLF. Ill. by Otto Siebold. ISBN: 9780375856204

Eric Kimmel. THE THREE LITTLE TAMALES. Ill. By Valeria Docampo. ISBN: 9780761455196

*Extension Activities from Scholastic: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/three-little-pigs-extension-activities

*This story would be a great book for storytelling. The repeated lines are sure to involve the entire audience.

Book Review: Henry's Freedom Box

 

1. Bibliography:                 

Levine, Ellen. Henry’s Freedom Box. By Kadir Nelson. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN: 9780439777339

2. Plot Summary:

This true story of Henry Box Brown is a story of a child born into slavery in America who traveled the Underground Railroad. Henry was born on a plantation and when his master passed away, he was sold to the master’s brother to work. Because of this he had to leave his mother and siblings at a very young age. Henry’s new master was not kind and he would beat his slaves causing Henry to fear for his life. 

After several years had passed, Henry met a slave named Nancy. Eventually, Henry and Nancy got married and had several children. Life was good until one fateful day when Henry’s wife and kids got sold at a slave auction. Knowing that he would never see his family again, Henry decided to seek freedom. He met several white men in town that were against slavery, who ended up helping Henry “mail” himself to Philadelphia where he could be free. Henry traveled in a box from Richmond, VA to Philadelphia, PA in 27 hours! Upon arrival in Philadelphia, Henry was officially a free man. 

3. Critical Analysis:

Levine’s writing is crisp and to the point. Her words perfectly paint a picture of what life was like as a slave in the mid 1800’s. The main character, Henry, is someone that you can immediately connect with on an emotional level. Levine’s use of words allows the readers to feel what Henry is feeling from beginning to end. Since this story is based on a true story, the plot is very believable, even though it’s hard to imagine being cramped in a box for 27 hours! The point of the story is for the reader to learn about a slave's trials and tribulations. Due to Henry's determination he was able to succeed in becoming a free citizen.  Since this story took place during the time of slavery (which is obviously no longer legal) I felt that Levine did an excellent job of portraying what it was like to live during those times. 

Nelson’s illustrations exceeded my expectations. The pictures were very realistic, and fit the time period perfectly. His drawings look like they were drawn from a long time ago and they are very detail oriented. They complement the story well, without distracting the reader by taking away from the written word.

Besides being well written and beautifully illustrated, this book is a great book to teach about America’s history and how African Americans had to fight for their freedom. There are many lessons to be learned from this book and I highly recommend it. 

4. Review Excerpts:

Cooperative Children's Book Center Best of the Year

Caldecott Honor

Starred Review from Kirkus Reviews: "Nelson's powerful portraits add a majestic element to Levine's history-based tale...sonorous prose that makes a perfect match for the art, this is a story of pride and ingenuity that will leave readers profoundly moved..."

Starred Review from Booklist: "...it's the dramatic artwork that brings this emphatically to life." 

5. Connections:

*Other books illustrated and/or written by Kadir Nelson:

Nelson, Kadir. Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans. ISBN: 9780061730740

Robinson, Sharon. Testing the Ice: A True Story of Jackie Robinson. By: Kadir Nelson. ISBN: 9780545052511

*A letter from Kadir Nelson on how he created the illustrations for this historical fiction picture book: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/letter-kadir-nelson

*Henry’s Freedom Box lesson plan from Scholastic: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/henrys-freedom-box-lesson-plan

Book Review: A Ball for Daisy

1. Bibliography:                 

Raschka, Chris. A Ball for Daisy. New York, NY: Random House. ISBN: 9780375958618

2. Plot Summary:

This wordless picture book is a story of Daisy the dog and her beloved red ball. At the beginning of the story, the first few pages show Daisy affectionately playing and sleeping with her red ball. When her owner, a little girl, takes Daisy on a walk she throws the ball and another dog gets it and pops it accidentally. Daisy becomes very upset and leaves the park with her owner. Then next day on their walk, they run into the “ball ruining” dog and his owner and she has a blue ball for the dogs to play with. The two dogs run and play with the blue ball and in the end Daisy gets to take it home with her. 

3. Critical Analysis:

The main character Daisy is a lovable black and white dog with floppy ears who loves her red ball. This story is an honest depiction of how a dog behaves…especially when they have a favorite toy. Just by looking at the first couple of pages, you can see in Raschka's illustrations how much Daisy loves this red ball. As the story continues, you can see and feel all the emotions that Daisy is feeling as she loses the ball to another dog and watches it pop at the park. The reader can feel her disappointment as Daisy walks back home without the ball. When Daisy meets up at the park the next day and finds a new blue ball to play with, you can’t help but smile and feel happy for her. 

The illustrations are the best part of this book. The illustrations are made with water colors and ink, which set this book apart from others. Raschka's pictures take you through the story in a way that words cannot. The reader can take their own meanings out of the pictures and draw their own conclusions. I loved how some of his illustrations took over both pages and made you go back and forth multiple times before turning the page. This book definitely was a page turner!

This would be a great book to share with kids of all ages, especially dog lovers. Reading A Ball for Daisy allows many opportunities to discuss various types of emotions and requires the reader to think about what the characters might be feeling throughout the book. I highly recommend this book for many reasons as there are many teachable moments throughout. 

4. Review Excerpts:

Best Illustrated Children’s Book Awards by the New York Times

Winner of the 2012 Randolph Caldecott Medal

School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2011

Starred Review, School Library Journal: "Raschka’s genius lies in capturing the essence of situations that are deeply felt by children."

Starred Review, Horn Book: "a story that is noteworthy for both its artistry and its child appeal."

Starred Review, Kirkus Review: “Rarely, perhaps never, has so steep an emotional arc been drawn with such utter, winning simplicity.”

5. Connections:

*Great tool for teaching kids about drawing conclusions and about emotions. 

*For other books by Chris Raschka:

Norton, Juster and Raschka, Chris. The Hello, Goodbye Window. ISBN: 9780786809141

Raschka, Chris. Yo! Yes? ISBN: 9780439921855

Book Review: Are You My Mother?

1. Bibliography: 

Eastman, P.D. Are you my mother? New York: Random House, 1960. ISBN: 9780394800189

2. Plot Summary:

This is a very sweet story that is about a baby bird's journey to find his mother. After breaking through his egg, he finds that his mother is nowhere to be seen. The baby bird is eager to meet his mother so he sets out on a journey to find her. On his way, he comes across many different animals and objects and asks if they are his mother. In a surprising way, he ends up finding his mother and all is well in the world. 

3. Critical Analysis:

This heartwarming tale is a great story to share with young ones and even the “young at heart”. Eastman’s writing in Are you my Mother is very simply and heartfelt. You can’t help but emotionally jump in and join the baby bird in hopes that he finds his mother soon. The baby bird is so innocent and naïve that he becomes easy to love. His curious personality and determination is a true testament that you should never give up trying.

P.D. Eastman’s illustrations are very uncomplicated and ordinary. Throughout the book, Eastman uses only five colors and the pictures are simple and do not distract the reader from the text. These types of illustrations are very nostalgic and bring the reader back to a time of simplicity and peace. The last page of the story is a wordless page that contains a picture of baby bird and his mother resting peacefully in their nest. This is a great way to end this book, leaving the reader to wonder what happens next in their lives. The simplicity of Eastman’s writing and illustrations make this a great book for beginners, and is one that everyone will enjoy. 

4. Review Excerpts:

#45 in Top 100 Best Picture Books according to the School Library Journal

Positive Review from School Library Journal Blog: “I am such a big fan of the truly excellent easy reader. This is another one that blows you away with its perfect simplicity.”

Positive Review from CommonSenseMedia.org: “This classic tale is as appealing to modern-day children as it was to their parent’s decades ago.”

5. Connections:

*This is a great book to read with your little one and discuss the relationships between a mother and child. 

*Here are some related books about mother and child relationships:

Munsch, Robert. Love you Forever. ISBN: 0920668372

Chaconas, Dori. Momma, Will You? ISBN: 0670059072

*Other books by P.D. Eastman

 P.D. Eastman. Go, Dog. Go! ISBN: 0394800206

 P.D. Eastman. The Best Nest. ISBN: 0375825037