Category: Book Reviews (Page 3 of 4)

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Bryan, A. (2011). Beautiful blackbird. (A. Bryan, Illus.). Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 978-0689847318 

PLOT SUMMARY 

Long ago, Blackbird was voted the most beautiful bird in the forest. The other birds, who were colored red, yellow, blue, and green, were so envious that they begged Blackbird to paint their feathers with a touch of black so they could be beautiful too. Although Black-bird warns them that true beauty comes from within, the other birds persist and soon each is given a ring of black around their neck or a dot of black on their wings—markings that detail birds to this very day. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS 

Beautiful Blackbird is a Zambian tale set around a lake surrounded by trees with birds of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Ringdove sees the beauty of Blackbird and asks for some of his black coloring. The other birds who have gathered also ask Blackbird for some blackening which he freely gives until the gourd runs empty. As Blackbird puts the blackening on first Ringdove and then the other birds, he reminds them that “outside is not what is on the inside” and “I’ll be me and you be you.” This book celebrates each of our diversity, our unique characteristics and the various qualities that we all have. Bryan shows this diversity by making each of the birds bright, beautiful colors.  

The African culture is rich in many areas one of which is dance. This is shown in Beautiful Blackbird with the many dances that the birds do as they are given the blackening: the Beak and Wing Dance, the Show Claws Dance, the Sun-Up Dance, and the Sun-Down Dance. As these dances are shown in the picture book a rhythmic chant is read which serves as the “music” to which the birds dance.  

This is a wonderful story that will delight children of all ages. It is a great discussion starter to look at how each of us has unique and wonderful qualities that we can share with others.  

REVIEW EXCERPTS 

2004 Coretta Scott King Book Awards – Illustrator Award Winner 

School Library Journal: “This unusual and little-known pourquoi tale may supplement larger collections and serves as a thoughtful and entertaining addition to units on self-esteem.” 

Publishers Weekly: “Bryan’s lilting and magical language is infectious.” 

Booklist: “Ready-made for participative storytelling.” 

Kirkus Reviews: “This telling, by the master storyteller, just aches to be read aloud; the lively rhythms keep the simple folktale rollicking along […] still, the rolling language and appealing illustrations make this a must.” 

CONNECTIONS 

Gather other books by Ashley Bryan and look at how he portrays the African culture: 

Can’t Scare Me! ISBN 978-1442476578 

Who Built the Stable? A Nativity Poem. ISBN 978-1442409347 

The Night has Ears: African Proverbs. ISBN 978-0689824272 
Art: create some paper birds of all colors and decorate them black paint.  

Art: paint with bring colors on black paper OR use cut paper and glue onto black paper. 

ELA: Research the country of Zambia. 

SEL: What makes each of us unique?  

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Payne, E. (1944). Katy no-pocket. (H.A. Rey, Illus.). Houghton Mifflin Company.  

PLOT SUMMARY 

Katy’s distress at being a kangaroo with no pouch is quickly remedied by a kindly construction worker. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS 

The characters in Payne’s Katy No-Pocket will delight children of all ages. Seeing how mothers take care of their young gives a sense of safety to children. Katy’s concern for the well-being of her little kangaroo brings out empathetic feelings of the young readers. When Katy finally finds a solution to her problem of not being able to carry her child, the reader is relieved that her problem is solved. The animals in the story are all amicable to each other with Katy talking to a crocodile at the beginning of the story.  

Rey’s illustrations are ones with which children can identify. He uses simple line drawings and bright colors with a lighter, water-colored sky background so that the featured animal on the page stands out. Even with the simplicity of his drawings, he can show reflections in water, the pushing of baby birds from the nest, and the hopping motion of Katy. Rey does not busy his page of illustrations with anything extra. Children will delight in studying the illustrations.  

REVIEW EXCERPTS 

School Library Journal. “Truly amusing pictures.” 

Alabama Camellia Children’s Choice Book Award. 1981.  

CONNECTIONS 

• Talking to children about problem solving. 
• Collect non-fiction books about how animals care for their young. Compare.  
• Gather other books illustrated by H.A. Rey and compare.  

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Gag, W. (1928). Millions of cats. (W. Gag, Illus.). G. P. Putnam’s Sons.  ISBN 978-0399233159

PLOT SUMMARY 

Once upon a time there was an old man and an old woman who were very lonely. They decided to get a cat, but when the old man went out searching, he found not one cat, but millions and billions and trillions of cats! Unable to decide which one would be the best pet, he brought them all home. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS 

The simplicity of the line drawings done by Gag lets the reader focus on the story. Some of her drawings are from afar so that you can see the old man walking over hills and through valleys and the millions of cats on a hill. She then zooms in so that you see the old man looking at one particular cat. The drawings are sometimes small on a white background and other times the drawing takes up a two-page spread.  

Young children will quickly be able to “read” along with the repeated, rhythmic phrase “hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats.” They will find delight in the exaggeration of how far he must walk just to find a cat. The exaggeration continues when he comes upon a hill with millions and billions of cats and then later in the story when the cats eat a whole field of grass and drink a pond dry. 

This is a favorite that children will want to hear again and again.  

REVIEW EXCERPTS 

Newbery Medal Nominee 1929 

Lewis Carroll Shelf Award 1958 

New York Times “A perennial favorite.” 

School Library Journal One Hundred Books That Shaped the Century said,” Considered by many to have ushered in the age of the modern picture book, this Newbery Honor winner is characterized by innovative design and a strong storyteller’s cadence.” 

CONNECTIONS 

• Discussions with children about seeing beauty in everything. 
• Lessons on exaggeration. 
• Wanting everything is sometimes not the best for us. 
• Finding that perfect pet. 
• Other books about pets for children: 

• Keats, Ezra Jack. WHISTLE FOR WILLIE. ISBN 978-0140502022 
• Brown, Peter. CHILDREN MAKE TERRIBLE PETS. ISBN 978-0316015486 

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Willems, M. (2010). We are in a book! (M. Willems, Illus.). Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 978-1423133087

PLOT SUMMARY 

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can. Gerald and Piggie are best friends. In We Are in a Book! Gerald and Piggie discover the joy of being read. But what will happen when the book ends? 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS 

Mo Willems gives us another Elephant & Piggie book that are all time favorites with children. The use of simple repetitive vocabulary makes it easy for children to chime in and begin to recognize some of the dialogue between Elephant and Piggie. Willems also creates an interactive book with the reader by having Elephant and Piggie talk to the reader and where the reader keeps the story going.  

Willems is known for his simply drawn characters. The reader can focus on the storyline and vocabulary of the book because the speech bubbles make up most of what is on the page. Willems is highly creative in how he draws the two characters. Piggie seems to “run” up to the reader and then back to his friend. The font in the speech bubbles lets us know if the characters are yelling or telling a secret.  

Because of how Elephant and Piggie interact and what they say to each other, we can discern what kind of characters they are; Piggie being the more outspoken, brave character and Elephant being the more reserved and apprehensive one.  

REVIEW EXCERPTS 

Kirkus Review (March, 2019) 

As always, Willems displays his customary control of both body language and pacing even as he challenges his readers to engage with his characters and the physicality of their book. 

Storypath (March 30, 2011) 

This first reader/picture book is guaranteed to make a child (and adult) laugh. 

CONNECTIONS 

• Students who are avid readers and love a delightful story typically do not want the story to end. This book explains that you can read it again.  
• Read The Monster at the End of This Book to make text-to-text connections.  
• Stone, Jon. THE MONSTER AT THE END OF THIS BOOK. ISBN 978-0307010858