A Good Day

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A Good Day


Henkes, K. (2007). A good day. New York: Greenwillow Books

Age Level: 3-5

Genre: Family situation animal fantasies

Summary: "Refreshing". What starts off as a very bad day for different animals ends up becoming a very good day.  A Good Day demonstrates just when you think thinks are bad, they can get better for any animal or person.  This is an uplifting book that leaves you thinking, "What if?".

Reflection:  A Good Day by Kevin Henkes was recommended in our textbook Essentials of Children's Literature by Lynch-Brown, Tomlinson, and Short.  Henkes was listed as one of the notable authors and illustrators of children's books (pg. 84).

Henkes lives up to his reputation with A Good Day.  When observing Henkes' art, my first thought was that it represented Print making, specifically woodcuts.  Upon further observation, I realized that Henkes is using watercolors.  The bright pictures of different animals and his use of the colors he is illustrating.  Little yellow bird is illustrated as just that, a yellow bird.

This book is not only wonderfully illustrated, but shows the readers a great lesson in life.  Little yellow bird, little white dog, little orange fox, and little brown squirrel are having such bad days until their days turn into good ones.  With each of these animals, Henke teaches invaluable lessons.  They all turn their luck around and have a good day.  The pictures show the emotions of these animals.

You can see how little yellow bird is distraught over losing his feather...

Henke does such a wonderful job teaching children how to express their emotions.  Little yellow bird is sad about losing its feather in the picture above.  In the picture below, it shows what little yellow bird looks like when it is happy and not worried about the feather.

 

  At the end of the book, Henke brings together each character in one illustration.  This gives the reader the opportunity to ask questions about feelings and each of the animals.  Children are able to point to each of the animals and discuss the events in the animals day and how they were able to turn their event into a positive experience.  Because of this, I believe A Good Day should be considered an interactive book.
















 

This was my first reading of a Henke book.  It was a pleasant experience to read a book that ended with a positive and happy ending.  This book is simple enough to be read to very young readers, but holds the audience's attention well enough to be read by all.  The insight into this book is endless and is a must read for children of all ages to teach them that life is, quite simply, what you make of it.  This book gives true meaning to the quote used by many about the glass being half full or half empty. 

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

 --> --> Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

Steig, W. (1969). Sylvester and the magic pebble. New York: Windmill Books, Inc.

Age Level: 4-8

Genre: Fantasy

Summary: Sylvester finds a magic pebble that can make wishes come true.  When frightened by a lion, Sylvester makes a wish that will change his life.  This book is about the feelings of Sylvester and his parents from the time he makes a wish until they are reunited.  Sylvester and the Magic Pebble received The Caldecott Medal in 1970.

Reflection:  Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, by William Steig, is a timeless classic that epitomizes the definition of picture books.  In our textbook Essentials of Children's Literature, by Lynch-Brown, Tomlinson, and Short, they state that children's first experiences with books have to be positive so they will want to continue to read and be involved with books.  This book holds the attention of the children and is suggested for ages 4-8.

I took the opportunity this class has given me to read this book to my own son, age six.  At first he was apprehensive about enjoying the book, but soon we were both hooked.  The illustrations Steig uses throughout the book show the emotions on each page.  As our textbook explains, this is a picture storybook. "The text of most picture storybooks is meant to be read aloud to the intended audience of 4- to 7-year-olds, at least for the first time or two, and often includes challenging vocabulary" (pg. 98).

      
As you can see, Steig not only includes challenging words throughout the book, but illustrates them as well.  The word "inquiring" is used in a sentence and the illustrations show the Duncan's inquiring or asking different neighbors where Sylvester is or if they knew his whereabouts.  It also shows the word "dawn" in the illustration. The sun is low in the sky and the clouds represent dawn as well.

After reading our textbook, I began to notice the artistic style and learned that Sylvester and the Magic Pebble represents watercolors with the visual element of composition.  I came to the conclusion that composition is the visual element by the expressions of the characters illustrated in the book.

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble is a book that children of all ages can enjoy...adults too!  It is a story about magic, love, and hope.  It is a timeless classic that, along with its illustrations, will make everyone want to read it again.  And think twice when they see a small, shiny, red pebble!

Introduction

Hello all! This is my first message.  My name is Joan-Michael and I am a 6th-8th grade physical education teacher at Russell Middle School located in Russell, Kentucky.  Before teaching at RMS, I taught at The Snowden School in Memphis, TN and Ida B. Wells Elementary and Phillips High School in Chicago, IL.

I have always been an avid reader and read anything I can get my hands on.  While I read mostly fiction, I read Unbroken earlier this year and enjoyed it much more than I expected.  I am a member of a local book club and read our designated book as soon as it is released.  We just finished The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy.  This book is amazing considering Dundy published this semi-autobiography in 1958.  Definitely a book to read.

Aside from reading, I run and just completed The Tough Mudder last weekend in Maysville, KY.  This 12 mile run and 23 obstacle course was one word...COLD!  I am a wife and the mother of two.  One human son (Cooper, 6) and one canine son (Boudreaux, 2) who is a black lab.  I went to undergraduate school at Ole Miss (Major: Exercise Science, Minor: English) and completed graduate work at University of Alabama to get my physical education certification.

 Hotty Toddy and Roll Tide!  

With my husband, John, at the Ole Miss/Alabama Game