Grandpa Green

Smith, Lane. 2011. Grandpa Green. New York: Roaring Book Press.  ISBN 9781596436077 (Photo obtained from www.lanesmithbooks.com)

   Plot Summary

Grandpa Green is a story in which readers travel through a vast garden with a boy, who is telling the story of his great-grandpa, Grandpa Green.  Grandpa Green grew up on a farm, went to war and later met his wife.  He now has children, grandchildren and a great grandchild, the narrator.  Although Grandpa Green has began to forget a lot, his beautiful garden, complete with shaped shrubbery which serves as a “walk down memory lane,” retells his story. 

Analysis

Turning page by page, the text in Grandpa Green is simplistic, often times only a sentence fragment appearing on two page spread.  The words are not extremely advanced; however, they are beyond a beginner’s level.  The theme behind the story focuses on Grandpa Green’s journey through life and loss of memory which may be beyond a younger reader’s ability to comprehend and appreciate the full value. The more superficial aspects (such as returning tangible items that Grandpa Green has misplaced) of the story will keep younger readers engaged. 

Beyond the touching storyline, the illustrations are a pivotal component of Grandpa Green.  Utilizing numerous shades of green, Smith manipulates the colors with shading and dimension which creates monumental images that jump off the page.  The illustrations solidify visual literacy, allowing the simplistic story to stand alone, without the text, transcending into a message much greater and engaging. 

While the complete merits of the story may be lost on younger readers (or a teachable moment about aging), Grandpa Green imparts the importance of family, love and loss in a creative, softened light.

Review Excerpts

HORN BOOK: “The art itself is fresh and imaginative, using line, shadow and color in exciting ways, Digital and other paints and inks play well with each other and the negative spaces between topiary and trees is rich.”

BOOKLIST: ““Sketched with a finely lined fairy-tale wispiness and dominated by verdant green, the illustrations are not just creative but poignant.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “"Visually intriguing and emotionally resonant, this is a book to pore over and talk about. With each subsequent reading, it offers new layers of meaning and visual connections."

Awards, Mentions and/or Honors

Caldecott Honor Award, 2012

Original Art Silver Medal Winner, Society of Illustrators, 2011

Enrichment Activities

Grandpa Green Activity packs: http://www.suzyred.com/pbks2012_Grandpa_Green.html

Books like Grandpa Green

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman

When I Was Little: A Four-Year-Old’s Memoir of Her Youth by Jamie Lee Curtis

Voices in the Park by Anthony Browne

The Duckling Gets a Cookie?!

Willems, Mo. 2012. The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.  ISBN 9781423151289

(Photo obtained from http://mowillemsstuff.blogspot.com)

   Plot Summary

Pigeon is no stranger in the picture-book world.  In the most recent installment following Pigeon, Mo Willems writes about a duckling that asks politely for a cookie and receives it. Duckling’s friend, Pigeon, gets upset about the fact that Duckling received a cookie when Pigeon asks for things all the time but does not receive them, representing the old adage that life is not fair.  Pigeon is then surprised that Duckling gives him the cookie.  Duckling then requests a cookie without nuts. 

Analysis

The text in The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? is arranged in simple sentences, often with only one sentence per page.  The story is easy to read with an easy to understand storyline for even the earliest readers.  Although the illustrations are very simplistic - where often only Pigeon, Duckling and the cookie appear on the two page spread, Willems utilizes action words (“scooty scoot scoot” appears where Duckling is dancing around in attempts to get attentions) and emotions in the illustrations to enhance the conversation occurring page by page. 

Willems has the ability to use character quirks (sarcasm, self-centeredness/behavioral issues, etc) in a way that makes it funny while being able to teach morals as well.  Duckling repeatedly mentions that the reason he got his cookie was because he asked politely even when Pigeon isn’t paying attention.  Duckling is able to portray what it means to be a good friend even if Pigeon does not really know that his motivation behind giving him the cookie was not purely innocent. 

Review Excerpts

HORN BOOK:  “Kids will undoubtedly be familiar with the Pigeon’s strong emotions, but here they aren’t the ones out of control, which makes the gentle lesson in behavior as sweet as a cookie.”

Awards, Mentions and/or Honors

Number 1 on Amazon.com’s Best Books of the Month for Children (April 2012): http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1000789971&plgroup=1

Enrichment Activities

Pigeon has his own website!  http://pigeonpresents.com/

Pigeon Tweets! http://twitter.com/The_Pigeon

Books like One The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?

The (rest of the) Pigeon Series

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! By Mo Willems

Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! By Mo Willems

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! By Mo Willems

The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! By Mo Willems

One fish two fish red fish blue fish

Giesel, Theodor (Dr. Suess). 1960. One fish two fish red fish blue fish. New York: Beginner Books, Inc.  ISBN 0394800133

   Plot Summary

One fish two fish red fish blue fish is a children’s book  which showcases what Dr. Seuss refers to as “funny things”  a girl and boy encounter on a daily basis through real and imaginary creatures they have as friends. 

Analysis

At first glance, One fish two fish red fish blue fish is simply a children’s reader true to Dr. Seuss style with the rhyming and made up words.  The book is rather lengthy with a loosely translated plot entwining page after page.  The story does not really flow much, is very choppy but would seemingly be helpful for children who are learning to read and have to stop due to interruption.  The reader can stop and start in almost any part of the story and not need to recall previous events.  This beginner reader incorporates numbers/counting, colors, letter/phrase repetition, predictable sentence structure and rhyming.  Further, the illustrations contain only minimal, primary colors and are simplistic in nature.  The imaginary creatures are just that, imaginary and thought up by Dr. Seuss but add to the creativity and whimsy to directly relate to the text and enhance the story.

Once a reader is able to separate themselves from some of the more ridiculous things in this book (which, arguably is the meat of what children love and makes Dr. Seuss so successful) and leave behind the hopes for a cohesive story, it is obvious to see that Dr. Seuss was challenging and teaching children to appreciate life and all its quirks while maintaining that tolerance is an important life lesson because, after all, everyone and everything is different.  

Awards, Recognition or Honors

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish is on the National Education Assocation’s (NEA) Teachers Top 100 Books for Children (Visit the NEA at http://www.nea.org/grants/13154.htm/)

Review Excerpts

BOOKS FOR YAs: "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish gives its readers a glimpse into a highly imaginative world where anything is possible!"    (http://www.booksforyas.com/review-one-fish-two-fish-red-fish-blue-fish-by-dr-seuss/)

Enrichment Activities

Printables: https://www.earlymoments.com/dr-seuss/List-of-Dr-Seuss-books1/One-Fish-Two-Fish-Red-Fish-Blue-Fish/One-Fish-Two-Fish-Fun-Activities/

Printables: http://www.seussville.com/Educators/educatorClassroomResources.php?id=printables

Books like One fish two fish red fish blue fish

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss

Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss

The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss

Go, Dog. Go! By P.D. Eastman

The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle

Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire

The Pigeon Loves Things That Go! By Mo Willems

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! By Mo Willems

Welcome!

Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by!  In the upcoming weeks, I will be reviewing books in the blog as part of one of my MLS courses.

Stay tuned :)