Assignment 1: Book Reviews

Part II: Book reviews!

In Part I, I evaluated a few of selection tools that Horning suggested and even included a few online resources that I feel deserve attention as selection tools for collection development.  Using the format to list the bibliography and publishing information, I intend to emulate my book reviews after Booklist.  After further research about each of the tools, I think I may understand the format better. Here is the format that I deduced from perusing the website and print edition. I plan to post as I go. 

Format:

Title.

Author. Illustrator.

Year. Page count. Publishing Company, price. (ISBN)

Age group audience.

Review (includes a summary, author info)

-Reviewer Name.

Book 1:

I Want My Hat Back.

By Jon Klassen. Illus. by the author.

2011.40p. Candlewick, $15.99 (9780763655983)

K-Gr.2

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. –Natalia Tabisaura

More to follow!