Book Review: Chicken Little

Chicken Little By Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley. Illus. the authors.

2009.32 pg. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter, $16.95 (9781596434646)

Format: Hardcover

Age Group:PreS-K

Genre: Fiction 

Awards: Booklist Editors' Choice: Media, 2011

Subjects/Themes: Folklore, Chickens, Animals

Early Literacy Skills Promoted: Print motivation, phonological awareness, print awareness,

 

Annotation: 

A retelling of Chicken Little. An acorn falls upon Chicken Little's head and she claims the sky is falling. Mass panic ensues.

Reactions/Observations:

Rebecca and Ed Emberley retell the tale of Chicken Little in a more modern but equally entertaining way. Like in the classic, Chicken Little, who is not to clever, mistakes an acorn falling on her head as a piece of the falling sky. She encounters different animals on her panicked retreat, recruiting other panicked animals on the way. Finally they meet a Wolf who promises to keep them “safe”. Little do they know, they’ve been tricked into hiding in the darkness of his tummy! A pitter patter of feet and a great big sneeze change the classic ending to this yarn.

The Emberleys weave an amusing retelling of the classic folktale, Chicken Little. Their illustrations are constructed of collaged textured paper in bright colors which creates a more modern feel to the story. Although based on the original, the new artwork and added bits redefine this story so that it’s entirely new. The revised ending also provides a fresh and friendlier ending especially for the younger audience.

Book Review: Another Brother

Another brother By Matthew Cordell. Illus. the author.2012.unpaged. Feiwel & Friends. $16.99 (9780312643249)

Format: Hardcover
Age Group:Preschool to Gr3
Genre:Fiction

Awards:None listed.

Subjects/Themes: Siblings, Family life, Imitation
Early Literacy Skills Promoted: Print motivation, print awareness
 

Annotation: 

Davy doesn't like his twelve brothers imitating him all the time, but when they finally stop copying him why does he feel lonely?
 

Reactions/Observations:

Cordell tells the story of a family of three: mom, dad, and Davy. Davy enjoys the sole attention of his parents until a brother is born, but not just one brother Davy gets twelve other brothers! Every move Davy makes, his younger brothers copy. He complains, but his dad tells him that one day they’ll find their own interests and no longer copy him. Davy can’t wait…until the day it actually happens. Surprisingly Davy is saddened that his little shadows no longer follow. One day a little sister punctuates Davy’s tale with a light-hearted twist.

The illustrations are amusing and bright. Cordell uses simple lines and highlights of bright watercolor on a white background to depict Davy’s story. Davy’s experience depicts the important lesson that sometimes it’s lonely being the one and only. As an older child, I can relate to the older sibling experience. Other older siblings will easily be able to relate to Davy also. Another Brother was a warm and easily shared story about the pros and cons of siblings.

Book Review: Very Hairy Bear

Very Hairy Bear.by Alice Schertle. Illus. by Matt Phelan.2007. Harcourt,Inc., $16 (9780152165680)

Format: Hardcover
Age Group:PreS-K

Genre:Fiction
Awards:None listed.

Subjects/Themes: Bears, Seasons

ELS promoted: 
Print motivation, phonological awareness

Annotation: 

A very hair bear experiences the four seasons in his wooded home.
 

Reactions/Observations:

Schertle writes a rhyming tale about a “very hairy bear and his no-hair nose”. The bear strolls through the pages with his “no-hair nose” leading him and the audience through the seasons. He dives into water for salmon, digs deep into a beehive for honey, gobbles up blueberries, and finds his way into his den for the winter. 
 

The story has a rhythm created by Schertle’s use of language, which serves as a great literacy tool to promote phonological awareness with early readers. She uses alliteration and rhyme to carry the narrative, but unfortunately the flow is interrupted by parts that don’t rhyme as well as others. Some portions seem forced like “…when soft white snowflakes start to fall and cling to bear hair…(if there’s a bear there)”. Fortunately the illustrations are so charming, it’s easy to ignore the clumsy parts of narration.  Children will still appreciate the rhyming text and the rhythm it creates. Phelan’s use of pastel and pencil are delightful. The scenery communicates the bear's loveable expressions and the change in seasons well.

Book Review:Wonder Bear

Wonder Bear by Tao Nyeu. Illus. the author.

2008.48 pg. Dial, $17.99 (9780803733282)
 

Format: Hardcover
Age Group:Preschool to Gr1
Genre: Fiction

Awards: Society of Illustrators' Founders Award

Subjects/Themes: Imaginary Creatures, Bears, Dreams
ELS promoted: 

Print motivation, print awareness, narrative skills  
 
Annotation: 

A young boy and girl plant seeds before they go to bed.  They dream about a bear that shows them magical places and creatures.

Reactions/Observations:

Reminiscent of Miyazaki’s My Neighbor Totoro, two young children travel into a magical world accompanied by a new friend (in this case, it’s Wonder Bear). In Nyeu’s wordless picture book, a young boy and girl plant a garden which grows overnight into gigantic blossoms that bloom Wonder Bear. Wonder Bear is an enormous white bear with a magical top hat that creates surreal mischievous monkeys, lions made of balloons, and flying sea life to entertain the children.

The artwork is phenomenal! The composition of the illustrations further emphasize the movement of the characters and the narrative. The book’s color scheme has a retro feel to it which adds to the whimsical nature of the imagery. The illustrations alone make this a personal favorite! Although this book is wordless, it provides an opportunity to practice narrative skills through book talking.  It’s unfortunate that the story line is weak in comparison to its strong imagery. Nyeu also authors and illustrates Bunny Days (2011) which shares her light hearted sense of humor that is only touched upon in Wonder Bear. Children will enjoy retelling and re imagining this dreamlike tale.

Book Review: I Want My Hat Back

I Want My Hat Back. By Jon Klassen. Illus. by the author. 2011.40p. Candlewick, $15.99(9780763655983)

Format: Hardcover
Age Group: PreS-Gr.2

Genre:Fiction

Awards:Theodor Seuss Geisel Beginning Reader Honor

E.B. White Read Aloud Award

Colorado Children's Book Award Nominee

E.B. White Read-Aloud Picture Book finalist

Bank Street Irma Black Awards

Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices List

Texas 2x2 Reading List Selection

ALA Notable Children's Books

New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing

CYBIL Award - Shortlist

 Horn Book Fanfare, The

New York Times Book Review Notable Books of the Year

Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year

New York Times Book Review 10 Best Illustrated Children's Books 

Subjects/Themes:Lost and found possessions, Bears, Hats

ELS promoted:Print motivation, narrative skills, print awareness

 

Annotation:

 A bear almost gives up looking for his hat until he remembers something important. 

Reactions/Observations:

Klassen is known for his illustrations in other books. His first story depicts a bear’s search for his lost red hat. He questions every animal he encounters—the fox, frog, rabbit with a familiar red hat, turtle, snake, and armadillo. Each one answering that they had not seen his hat. The bear finally lies on the floor in defeat when a reindeer walks by to ask what’s wrong. The bear shares his dilemma and describes his hat, only to trigger a memory of seeing his hat! He knows who took it! He runs back to rabbit. With tense glances across pages, bear and rabbit duke it out without saying a word. The audience is unaware of the conflict’s conclusion until squirrel asks about rabbit’s whereabouts. He is answered by bear that has mysteriously reclaimed his cap by unknown circumstances and proclaims his innocence in a defensive although humorous manner. 

The illustrations are simple and expressive. The bear is on the left page discussing with another animal on the right page. Their eyes are dead pan, but in combination with the dialogue the emotions and actions are well depicted. The simplicity leaves much to the imagination which appeals both to its younger audience and the grown up audience. The humor has a dark edge, but not enough to dim the levity of the story. 

I recently used this story as a puppet show. We worried that the kids may not understand the silent moments, but were surprised that the humor and meaningful pauses were equally important parts of the story. Children and parents enjoyed the show.  Although I think the ideal audience would have been preschool and higher. 

Book Review: Sandwich Swap

The Sandwich Swap. By Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah with Kelly Dipucchio. Illus. by Tricia Tusa. 2010. 32 pg. Disney/Hyperion., $16.99 (9781423124849)
 

Format: Hardcover
Age Group: PreS-Gr.2
Genre:Fiction 

Awards: NYSRA Charlotte Award Nominee

Subjects/Themes: Friendship, Multicultural

ELS promoted: Print motivation, print awareness, vocabulary
 

Annotation: 
Best friends Lily and Salma disagree about their preferred foods, but later trade foods and change their minds.
 

Reactions/Observations:

Based on the author’s nursery school experiences, Salma and Lily are best friends (from different cultural backgrounds) until the day their sandwiches come between them. Lily brings a peanut butter jelly sandwich while Salma brings a hummus sandwich every day. Each one pities the other’s “yucky” and “gross” sandwich, but neither understands that their sandwiches symbolize the love their parents both put into making their lunches. They are offended. After their yelling match starts a huge food fight, Salma and Lily are ashamed that they let their differences come between them.  Both decide that they need to be open to what seems foreign or strange and change. First, they offer to try each other’s sandwiches. They trade sandwiches only to find out that they were both wrong! The sandwiches were not gross or yucky.  They were delicious! With the help of their principal, Salma and Lily share their newfound lesson with a multicultural feast of food alongside their classmates.  

The author tells the story of two girls who discover each others' cultural difference through food. Food is a universal unifier.  In this story, it separates them but eventually brings them together. Despite the difference in culture, both girls have a lot in common and spend a lot of time together.  The sandwich symbolizes the difference. Being able to look past the differences to their similarities allows them to stay friends. Multiculturalism is the same. It’s simply being able to respect other cultures and acknowledge the wonderful things in the differences in culture. I enjoyed the sweet story about their friendship and appreciated the common themes of school drama with friends on the playground (or in this case, the cafeteria).  I also enjoyed the warm illustrations depicting their friendship. The illustrations are light and playful, easily inspiring a smile upon the readers’ faces once all the conflicts are resolved.

Book Review: If You Give a Pig a Pancake

If You Give a Pig a Pancake.By Laura Numeroff. Illus. by Felicia Bond.1998. 32p. HarperCollins, $16.99. (9780060266868 ) 
 

Format: Hardcover
Age Group:Toddler to Preschool  

Genre:Fiction

Awards: IRA/CBC Children's Choice

Subjects/Themes:Cumulative Stories, Math, Pigs, Pancakes

ELS promoted: Print motivation, narrative skills

Annotation: 

One thing leads to another when you give a pig a pancake.
 

Reactions/Observations:
Like Numeroff's Mouse, the Pig wants a pancake but you never know what consequences will happen if you hand that pancake over. The sticky syrup must be dealt with. The rubber ducky has to be there. The duck makes the pig homesick for the farm. And the circle continues.

 The cumulative nature of the story creates an opportunity to create anticipation as well as practice narrative skills. It encourages readers to predict what will happen next. If You Give a Pig a Pancake follows the same formula as Numeroff's other "If you give a..." books. Although they can be predictable, Numeroff creates new ways to surprise us.Children enjoy how the anticipation builds throughout the story. Parents will enjoy how they learn to wait .