Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback - Book Review for TWU Course

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Taback, Simms. 1999. JOSEPH HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT.  New York, NY: Viking. ISBN 9780670878550.

PLOT SUMMARY
Joseph has an overcoat that gets worn and is repurposed into a jacket.  As each item he creates from the original overcoat wears, he finds a new something to create until he loses his final creation.  But, the story isn't over yet!

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

A sight for the eyes, this book is full of illustrations done in watercolor, Goache, pencil, ink and collage.  From the opening pages, there is much to see and read and explore.  Among the illustrations are bits of writing occasionally, sometimes humorous.  The title page has a little handwritten blurb that says (and there's a moral, too!)  Some of the collage is of newspaper pages, letters or sayings upon the walls.  The abundance of detail on each illustration makes it a fun book to read and explore, leaving it open to lots of speculation and conversation.  Also in many of the illustrations are die cut cutouts, changing each piece of clothing as he alters it.

The story obviously takes place in an earlier time in history as evidenced by the clothing and furniture in the pictures, and in a different culture as well.  By reading all the little letters and newspapers layring around in the illustrations, it becomes apparent that this is the Jewish culture in Poland.  If you don't take time to observe all the little details, that may never become apparent.  

The writing is repetitive so that children anticipate and become involved in the story, and yes, as the author states on the title page, there is a moral. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist:  "true example of accomplished bookmaking--from the typography and the endpapers to the bar code, set in what appears to be a patch of fabric. Taback's mixed-media and collage illustrations are alive with warmth, humor, and humanity. Their colors are festive yet controlled, and they are filled with homey clutter, interesting characters, and a million details to bring children back again and again. "

Publishers Weekly:  "With its effective repetition and an abundance of visual humor, this is tailor-made for reading aloud."

CONNECTIONS

Pairing this book with his THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY, which also has the die cut cutouts.  This feature keeps the story focused.  

This story could lead into art projects such as collage work, or it could be paired for a lesson on stories with morals and a creative writing assignement to create a story with a moral.

The Story of Lightening & Thunder by Ashley Bryan - Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bryan, Ashley. 1993. THE STORY OF LIGHTNING & THUNDER. New York, NY; Athenum. ISBN 0689318367.

PLOT SUMMARY

A retelling of an African folktale, Ma Sheep Thunder and her son Ram Lightning are important villagers due to their ability to bring the rain.  Ram Lightning keeps getting himself into mischief and eventually he and his mom are banned from the village altogether, explaining why thunder and lightning live in the sky.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The illustrations are the first thing of notice about this book.  The use of bright, clear colors and very geometric shapes and lines is representative of native African artwork, so it lends to the story well, reflecting the culture the story is set in.  There is a magical quality that Ma Thunder and Ram Lightning exhibit in their ability to bring the rain.  This traditional tale is set in towns in Africa to  bring authenticity.

Ashley Bryan's retelling takes on a very lyrical, sing-song quality at times with fun, silly rhymes and words thrown in such as uh-huh and the sound of thunder as baa-ba-lam!  This does not detract from the story, but at times emphasizes what is happening with the repetition and rhyming she invokes.  It makes for a fun book to read aloud to children. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Kirkus Reviews:  "Written to be read aloud (perhaps to a rambunctious child), with bits of rhyme and unexpected wordplay--the King scolds Lightning: ``It is an outrage at your age to go on such a rampage!'' There is one of Bryan's uniquely vibrant, swirling, light-filled paintings on every page. "

Publishers Weekly:  "Bryan takes a highly conversational, genial tone, with frequent interjections of "uh-huh" and "uh-uh," that quickly develops camaraderie between the reader, the narrator, the sprited ram, and his frazzled mother. Brilliantly colored and ingeniously patterned, Bryan's illustrations are a playful take on stained glass."

CONNECTIONS

Pairing this book with other folktales on thunder and lightning would be fun for a storytime or lesson exploring folktales.  HOW THUNDER AND LIGHTNING CAME TO BE: A CHOCTAW LEGEND by Beatrice Orcutt Harrell would be one good choice.  This book could also be paired with mythology and stories of Thor, exploring how cultures explain things. 

The Three Pigs by David Wiesner - Review for TWU course

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Wiesner, David. 2001. THE THREE PIGS. New York, NY; Clarion Books. ISBN 9780618007011.

PLOT SUMMARY

The book starts out with the basic story of the Three Little Pigs as we all know it, the repetitive lines drawing children in.  Midway, the story takes a twist as the pigs break out of the storybook and explore a different world, meeting up with other familiar characters, such as the cow who jumped over the moon and the cat and the fiddle.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This is the story of the three pigs as not seen before, the traditional tale, with a twist.  The traditional tale is illustrated with flat, simple illustrations, transforming into incredibly detailed, almost lifelike illustrations as the pigs make their way out of the pages of the book. The illustrations are done in watercolor, gouache, pencil, colored pencil, and colored inks, per the verso page.  The lifelike images help the story become more alive as the unexpected takes place.  The theme of good triumphs over evil is preserved, but with a bit of humor and fun thrown in. The fun, silly and lighthearted theme makes the familiar story comforting, but allows children to embellish and use their imaginations.

This adaptation offers a wonderful chance for dialogic reading in literacy.  Being the story has been "hijacked" much of it is now open to interpretation in the pictures and oft wordless pages. The open ended quality of the story leaving it up for interpretation and the ability to create a story as desired.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Caldecott Medal Award 2002

ALA Notable Children's Book 2002

BOOKLIST starred review:  "Wiesner's latest is a post-modern fantasy for young readers that takes Scieszka's fragmentation a step further: it not only breaks apart and deliciously reinvents the pigs' tale, it invites readers to step beyond the boundaries of story and picture book altogether."

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY:  "brilliant use of white space and perspective (as the pigs fly to the upper right-hand corner of a spread on their makeshift plane, or as one pig's snout dominates a full page) evokes a feeling that the characters can navigate endless possibilities--and that the range of story itself is limitless."

CONNECTIONS

Pairing this book with Jon Sciezscka's THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS would give the same story told from the wolf's point of view

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein - Book Review for TWU

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gerstein, Mordicai. 2003. THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS. Brookfield, CT; Roaring Book Press. ISBN 9780761317913.

PLOT SUMMARY
This children's picture book is based on a real event that occurred in 1974. Phililppe Petit was a tightrope artist who could not resist the allure of the twin towers of the World Trade Center In New York City. He managed to sneak a cable between the two towers during the dark hours and during the morning rush hour spent an hour walking, dancing and performing a quarter mile in the sky, between the two towers.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The story told in this book is amazing, a man plotting to walk on a tightrope between the twin towers? Then, to relate to children that this really did happen, how exciting that makes the story. The imagination seemed to go into overtime as I read the book seeing it as if it was happening right in front of me, imagining the plotting and coordination to get the reels of cable and equipment to the rooftops and not be stopped.

The pictures in the book tell much of the story and portray the excitement, anticipation and angst as the event unfolds. The words are almost an afterthought, aiding by laying down a storyline. The passage of time was clearly defined by the illustrations. While the plan was to have this event take place before dawn, watching the lightening of the pictures by a rising sun brought excitement and apprehension that it would not be accomplished.

The illustrations are detailed and almost tell the story on their own. They lend themselves to further exploration and talk with children, asking about the details, posing questions as to "how do you think they felt when the cable fell," etc. There are two fold out pages in the book making for three page spreads which did a great job to emphasize the height of the towers and the cable Philippe was walking on, and the distance between the towers. I can honestly say that looking at the pictures gave me a slight feeling of vertigo.

The final illustration in the book is the one that impacted me the most. It is an illustration of the New York City skyline, without the towers standing, but with a faint imprint of them as if in our memory. For me, that single image was the most powerful of the book, pulling the entire thing toether and making the feat Philippe accomplished much more wonderful and something that needs to be shared as it can never be duplicated.


REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Winner 2004 Caldecott Medal

From School Library Journal: "With its graceful majesty and mythic overtones, this unique and uplifting book is at once a portrait of a larger-than-life individual and a memorial to the towers and the lives associated with them."

From Booklist: "Gerstein uses varied perspectives to tell the story--from the close-up jacket picture of one foot on the rope to the fold-out of Petit high above the traffic, swaying in the wind. Then there's a quiet view of the city skyline now, empty of the towers, and an astonishing image of the tiny figure high on the wire between the ghostly buildings we remember. "

CONNECTIONS
This is a book that I have a harder time pairing with another book except in the manner of a Caldecott storytime. I think the book can better be paired with a lesson plan on the World Trade Center, or the events of September 11, 2001. Bringing this children's book into a high school room and reading it to the class would have a great impact, I believe.

Let's Eat by Pat Mora, illustrated by Maribel Suarez - Book Review for TWU

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mora, Pat. 2008. LET'S EAT!/ ¡A COMER! Ill. by Maribel Suárez. New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN 9780060850388.

PLOT SUMMARY
A family (Mom, Dad, Grandma, three children and a dog) sit down to dinner. With lots of good food on the table, the main character asks her father if they are rich. Father's reply confirms the girls observation, in ways not relating to food.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Told in both English and Spanish, this simple book is full of colorful pictures that emphasize the text. This would be an excellent book to throw into a storytime, exposing English speakers to Spanish, and treating the Spanish speakers who do not often get to hear a storytime in their own language. The pictures emphasize the text which will aid children in associating the unfamiliar word with its meaning.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Kirkus Reviews: "Kids who know either English or Spanish can be introduced to this book and encouraged to try to learn some words or sentences in the unfamiliar language."

Criticas: " The minimal text is straightforward, and the pleasing … colorful watercolors add to the sweetness of the story. A well-executed … appealing story that is recommended for all libraries with Spanish collections."

CONNECTIONS
For a food/bilingual storytime a good pairing is Yum! Mmmm! Que Rico! Americas' Sproutings by Pat Mora.

Flotsam by David Wiesner - Book Review for TWU

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Wiesner, David. 2006. FLOTSAM. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780618194575.

PLOT SUMMARY
In this picture book without words, a young boy finds a camera, washed up on the beach. Curious, he develops the film to find some very unusual pictures of sea creatures and one particular picture of interest The picture is of a child, holding a picture of a child, holding a picture of a child, to many degrees. As the boy realizes what has been recorded in this camera and explores the pictures, he decides to become part of this elaborate record.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The pictures in this book are phenomenal, bright and highly detailed, with each "reading" revealing more detail. One of my favorite pictures is of a fish family in their living room, the children fish packed like sardines on the couch; the light bulbs in the lamps are sturgeon fish with their natural glowing bulbs; a fishbowl on the table, the pets swimming in and out of it. The pictures are whimsical with some humor thrown in. Multiple readings bring new aspects to light, new details, which can be expanded upon. It can be as simple or elaborate as the reader would like. Being a wordless picture book, the story can change with each person reading the book, or even with each re-reading.

The concept portrayed by the picture within a picture is fascinating for older readers to expand upon, imaginations can run wild. For the youngest readers, I believe the concept is a bit beyond them, but the glorious pictures give liberty to read and interpret a story as simple as you wish. It would be fun to re-read with a child as they grow and watch their ability to grasp concepts change.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Caldecott Medal Recipient 2007.

Starred Review in KIRKUS: "From arguably the most inventive and cerebral visual storyteller in children's literature comes a wordless invitation.....not to be resisted."

Starred Review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: This wordless books vivid watercolor paintings have a crisp realism that anchors the elements of fantasy.

CONNECTIONS Pair this with other works by Wiesner for a visual feast. TUESDAY, THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, or FREE FALL to name a few, for an illustrator themed reading. For a wordless picture book theme, SIDEWALK CIRCUS by Paul Fleishman, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes and THE RED BOOK by Barbara Lehman would be good choices.

Purpose of my bookbag

Currently, I am two classes away from my Master in Library Science at Texas Woman's University. I used to write a little blurb under this same title for the library and plan on using this blog in the log run as my public book review blog, incorporated on the website of the library I work in, accessible to friends when they ask for suggestions, and as a general record of my reading.

And........they're OFF!