Martin's Big Words

 Rappaport, D. (2001). Martin's big words.  New York: Hyperion Books for Children.




Martin's Big Words is a recipient of the 2002 Caldecott honor as well as the 2002 Coretta Scott King Honor.  Although recommended for ages 5-9, this book is really for everyone. The genre for this book is Multicultural Literacy.

 Martin's Big Words is the story of the life  Martin Luthur King, Jr.  The plot of this book is chronological and begins with Martin as a little boy seeing the signs, "White Only" and his feelings when he sees the signs.  The themes in this book are equality, justice, and love.  Children of all ages can learn from Martin's big words.

When reading this book to my son, we were able to have invaluable conversations about the "Big Words" in this book.  As you can see above and to the right, Rappaport makes the "Big Words" bigger and bolder than the other words.  Even by the first page, you can have in-depth discussions with your child and/or class about what these words mean.  How do the words "White Only" and "You are as good as anyone" make them feel.  Why are the feelings different?  In each page of this book, the "Big Words" will bring discussion about anti-slavery, love, justice, equality, an many more topics.
 

Illustrator Bryan Collier uses artistic media in the form of collage.  Throughout the book, Collier uses symbolism in subtle and unsubtle ways.  The picture on the left is an example of symbolism.  The four candles lit represent the four little girls who were killed in the Sixteenth Street Baptist church.

Martin's Big Words not only gives memorable teaching moments about love, equity, and justice, but also learning opportunities for historical timelines as well.  At the end of this book, a historical overview of Martin Luther King's life is given.  It goes from the date of his birth (January 15, 1929) to the first time Dr. King's birthday is celebrated as a national holiday (January 15, 1986). 

Where the Wild Things Are

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE     

STORY AND PICTURES BY MAURICE SENDAK

Sendak, M. (1963). Where the wild things are. New York: HarperCollins.

This book is a winner of the Caldecott Medal for the "Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year". Visual elements play a great part in this book where Sendak's muted ink illustrations complement the text.  This book is the story of a mischievous young boy named Max who has to go to bed without his supper after he talks back to his mother. Written in third person, readers jump into the world Max creates and visit the Wild Things.  This book is age appropriate for young readers ages 4-8.

My husband had the same reaction to this book the first time we read it to our son... "that's it?".  This book has a way of making you feel as if you are on the journey with Max.

"and in and out of weeks

and almost over a year

to where the wild things are."

In my opinion, Maurice Sendak's book is the epitome of what a picture book should be.  In very few words, this book transports a bedroom into a forest where the wild things are.  When the rumpus begins, Sendak is able to illustrate six consecutive pages without any words.

Throughout these pages, the reader lives in the world of Max and the funny and even sometimes frightening beasts howl at the moon, swing from the branches, and celebrate.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE teaches children about journeys, imagination, mischief, and in the end about love.  After traveling across the world and having as much fun as he wants, a little boy still chooses to come home to his mother who loves him.  The ultimate comfort food of soup and a sandwich is waiting for him, "and it was still hot".

 And yes after over 50 years..this book is still hot.

The Grouchy Ladybug

The Grouchy Ladybug

Carle, E. (1996). The grouchy ladybug. New York: HarperCollins.

Age Level: K-2

Genre: The Grouchy Ladybug, originally copyrighted in 1977, is an interactive book where children not only learn to tell time, but is also a concept book where children learn about different animals and insects through comedy/humor.

Summary: The Grouchy Ladybug is a delightful story about manners and conflict.  Carle's unique collage illustrations throughout the book are bright and colorful.

Reflection: Our textbook, Essentials of Children's Literature, 7th edition,  recommended this book.  I have read other Eric Carle books, but for some reason I have never read this one.  As a fan of Carle's art, I jumped at the chance to read one of his books.  The art work in this book does not disappoint.  It is amazing how Carle can take hand-painted paper and make illustrations through collage!

 The Grouchy Ladybug has so many learning opportunities for young readers!  An invaluable part of this book is the opportunity to teach time-telling in a fun way. The book begins with fireflies dancing around the moon and then starts the morning early at five o'clock.  Young readers will enjoy going through the events of the day.  Carle places clocks at the top of each page with the correct time to enhance the learning experience in addition to writing the words on each page.  In the age of digital clocks, this is an exceptional learning tool.

Growing page and word sizes also add to the enjoyment of the book.  Small, Medium, and Large can be used in a variety of ways in this book.  Carle uses smaller font and pictures to show the size of the insect or animal the grouchy little ladybug encounters.  Starting with the smallest hornet which takes up a very mall corner of one page and ending with the largest whale whose body takes up three entire pages.  Math, social studies, and science learning opportunities are endless throughout this book.

The Grouchy Ladybug with all of its multiple learning opportunities is in the end a story about sharing and being nice to each other.  Repetitive phrases throughout the book are "want to fight?" and "if you insist".  After an exhausting day encountering different animals and insects, the grouchy little ladybug finally gets to feast on aphids with a nice, friendly ladybug. 

 This book is a must read to children.  Teaching them about bullying (health), ladybugs and aphids (science), telling time (math), color (art), and size (social studies) The Grouchy Ladybug has it all!  More importantly... it is a good book that you will remember for a lifetime!

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

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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!