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: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: Falling for Rapunzel

Falling for Rapunzel.By Leah Wilcox. Illus. Lydia Monks. 
2003. 32p. Putnam, $15.99. (9780399237942)
 

Format: Hardcover
Age Group:Preschool to Gr2

Genre:Fiction

Awards:Oregon Book Award: Nominee 

Subjects/Themes: Fairytale, Princess

ELS promoted: 
Print motivation, phonological awareness, narrative skills
 

Annotation:
A prince wants to rescue Rapunzel from her tower, but being too far away, she throws out everything out the tower window including her maid. 

Reactions/Observations:
Rapunzel lives in a tall tower. The prince wants to rescue her, but she can't hear his requests to throw down something to help him upstairs.  She throws down everything but the kitchen sink and finally throws out her maid too. Using rhyme, Wilcox tells a fractured fairy tale with hilarious twists and turns. After everything has come flying out the tower window, Prince runs off with the maid only for readers to find out that there was back door to the tower. There was no need for all the tribulations. The artwork is playful and expressive. The rhyming text is paired well so children are able to see how the words rhyme. Also, because the story is based on an already existing fairytale children are able to predict what happens but will be surprised at how the story ends. This is one of my favorite books for storytime. I've read it for all ages of storytime, but it works best for preschool and up.

Book Review: A Soup Opera

A Soup Opera.By Jim Gill. Illus. by David Moose. 2009. 32p. Jim Gill, Inc, $24. (9780981572109)

Format: Multimedia
Age Group:Preschool to Gr2
Genre:Fiction

Awards: 2010 Notable Children’s Book & Recording Award — American Library Association

Subject/Themes: Soup, Opera

ELS promoted:Print motivation, phonological awareness, narrative skills

 

Annotation: This book is about a man and his frustrating quest to eat a bowl of soup.

Reactions/Observations:
This book is about a man and his frustrating quest to eat a bowl of soup. The illustrations are humorous and interesting.  Parent and children must listen to the accompanying CD or sing along to fully enjoy the humor of this unique story.  

Gill gives young audiences their first taste of opera. In its simplest form, it serves as a great sample. The soup opera tells the drama of a man and his bowl of soup set to music. As a drama, the storyteller and audience will become familiar with narrating this story in song. Song is a creative way to hear the simple sounds in the words. This book is unbelievably fun to read and encourage audience participation.  Children and parents will be able to experience the joy of reading together with this book.

Book Review: Press Here

Press Here.By Herve Tullet. Illus. by author.
2011. 56p. Handprint/Chronicle, $15.99. ( 978081189545)

Age Group:Toddler to Gr2
Genre:Fiction.

Awards:2012 Notable Children's Book

Subjects/Themes: Colors, Concept learning, Imagination

ELS promoted: Print motivation, vocabulary, print awareness

Format: Hardcover
 


 

 

Annotation:
Using the reader's imagination, a series of dots multiplies, grows, or changes color by pressing, tilting, or blowing on the previous page.
 

Reactions/Observations:
A series of dots and a large dose of imagination make up the story, Press Here.  The reader presses, tilts, and blows on the illustrated dots to transform the dots. I noticed that print motivation is an important skill portrayed in this story.  Without the preconceived notion that the pages should turn, there wouldn't be any magic to this book. To transform the dots, the reader and audience must know that the pages will turn to the right. The reader must be aware of print. The directions the dots move help identify new vocabulary as well.
 
Tullet's Press Here is wonderful! It's one of my current favorites for story time.  Children enjoy the interaction aspect of the dialogue and the book.  They feel included in the story. They love to reach out and pretend to touch the button to see what will change next.  We have a copy on our story time reference shelf.  It's a hit in in toddler, 5 and under, family, and especially in preschool storytime. 

Book Review: The Terrible Plop

The Terrible Plop. By Ursula Dubosarsky. Illus. by Andrew Joyner. 2009. 40p. FSG, $15.99. (9780374374280)

Age Group:Toddler to Gr1

Genre:Fiction

Awards:Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Award Winner - 2009 for The Terrible Plop

Subjects/Themes: Fear, Courage

ELS promoted:Print motivation, phonological awareness, print awareness

Format: Hardcover
 

Annotation: 
When a mysterious sound sends the whole forest running away in fear, only the littlest rabbit is brave enough to find out what's behind the terrible plop.
 

Reactions/Observations:
Using rhyming text and comical imagery, Dubosarsky weaves a comical tale that begins with a stampede of frightened rabbits.  Other animals get swept up in fray and run with them.  Everyone but the grizzly bear is afraid.  The bear coerces a rabbit to take him to the lake to find out what the "terrible plop" is. When the bear meets the plop, he runs too! The rabbit has the last laugh and finds out there's nothing to be afraid of.

The antics remind me of the classic, Chicken Little. Is the sky really falling? Only the brave will know. The illustrations are crisp and expressive. Dubosarsky uses mixed media to create texture, but the crisp illustrations keep the story cohesive. The story was told in rhyming text which serves as great practice for phonological awareness. I read this book in family storytime. Kids enjoyed trying to predict what the "plop" was. They were very surprised to discover the truth behind the plop.

Book Review: Bark, George

 

Bark, George.By  Jules Feiffer. Illus. by author.1999. 32p. HarperCollins, $17.99. (9780062051851)
 

Age Group: Preschool - Gr1
Genre:Fiction.

Awards:2000 ALA Notable Children's Book
2000 Notable Children's Books(ALA)
2000 Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book. 
2001 Buckeye Children's Book Award
00-01 Keystone to Reading Book Award Masterlist
00 2X2 Reading List

Subjects/Themes: Dogs, Animal Sounds, Veterinarian
ELS promoted: Print motivation, narrative skills 

Format: Hardcover.
 

Annotation: 

A mother dog tries to teach her pup how to bark, and is surprised at why he wasn't learning.
 

Reactions/Observations:
George's Mom tries to teach George to bark, but he can't.  George moos, quacks, meows and oinks, but he can't bark. His mother takes him to the vet to find out what's wrong. The vet sees the problem and slowly pulls all the different animals who made all the other sounds. George is cured...or at least that's what we think until he says "hello". 

This is a hilarious story! No matter how many times I have read this in storytime, it continues to surprise and entertain. The ideal audience for this book are preschoolers, but its humor spans across ages.Bark, George  is an easy book to promote print motivation with as well as narrative skills. Children will enjoy retelling the sequence of events to their friends and family.

Book Review: Magic Box

 

Magic Box. By Katie Cleminson. Illus. by author.
2009. 32p. Disney Hyperion, $15.99.(9781423121091) 

Age Group:Preschool to Gr2
Genre:Fiction. 

Awards:None listed.

Subjects/Themes: Magic, Bears, Birthdays

ELS promoted: Print motivation, vocabulary
Format: Hardcover.

 

Annotation: 
Eva receives a special box for her birthday! When she climbs into the box, it turns her into a magician. After she throws herself a fantastic birthday party, she wishes for a pet but gets more than she's ever dreamed of.
 

Reactions/Observations:
Cleminson creates a magical story about a special birthday made with magic. Eva receives a box with special instructions to "handle with care/ contains magic".  Antics ensue. She becomes a magician, pulls far too many rabbits out of a hat, and summons a larger than life polar bear pet named Monty. The story is playful and imaginative, but the best part is the art! The illustrations are enchanting. Each of the figures are drawn with dark heavy black lines. When the magic happens, blotches of bright colors fill the pages. The effect is magical. Cleminson introduces a lot of descriptive vocabulary throughout the book.  Children will enjoy celebrating Eva's birthday with her in this book.  This book is ideal for preschoolers. 

Book Review: How to Hug

Book #59

Book Image:

Bibliographic Citation:

How to Hug.
By Maryann Macdonald. Illus. by Jana Christy.
2011. 32p. Marshall Cavendish, $16.99 (9780761458043)

Age Group:
Toddler to Gr1

Genre:
Fiction
 

Awards:
 None listed.

Topics/Issues: 
Hugging

ELS promoted: 
Print awareness, print motivation, vocabulary
 

Format:
Hardcover
 

Author/Illustrator sites:
http://www.maryannmacdonald.com
 

Categorization Tags:
E Macdonald
 

Annotation: 
The reader is invited to consider some things about when, who, and how to hug and also advised to be prepared to receive one in return.

Reactions/Observations:
 "Hugs can be tricky!" How to Hug offers advice about how to navigate those tricky hugs. The advice includes  the whens, whos, how to hug, and what to do when you're given one. Each child in the book tries to hug an animal. The dialogue is warm, friendly, and sincere. The silly illustrations are bright and colorful.  They add humor to the existing dialogue. Toddlers may have trouble understanding all the vocabulary, but will understand what a hug means.  Preschoolers, kindergarteners, and first graders will be charmed by the advice and hopefully pass it on to a loved one. 


I've read this in different story times.  It went over best in 5 and under and preschool storytime. The children giggled as kids hugged moose, hippos, and zebras. They enjoyed identifying each of the animals too. The parents enjoyed it best in toddler storytime. It allowed them multiple opportunities to hug their little one as part of the story interaction.

Book Review: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Book #57

Book Image:

Bibliographic Citation:

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
By Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault. Illus. by Lois Ehlert.
1989. 30p. Simon & Schuster, $17.99. (9780671679491)

Age Group:
Toddler - Gr1
 

Genre:
Fiction
 

Awards:

• Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
• Children's Choices, 1990; International Reading Association; United States
• Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner 1991 Grades K-3 Kentucky
• Parents' Choice Award (Gold 2003, Best 25 Books in 25 Years United States

Topics/Issues:
Alphabet
 

ELS promoted: 
Print motivation, print awareness, letter knowledge, phonological awareness
 

Format: 
Hardcover
 

Author/Illustrator sites:
 http://billmartinjr.com/bill_martin

Categorization Tags:
E Martin
 

Annotation: 

An alphabet rhyme that tells the story of what happens when the whole alphabet tries to climb a coconut tree.

Reactions/Observations:
A tells B. B tells C to meet "at the top of the coconut tree".  The letters are neon and high contrast to the book's background. The images are eye catching and easy to engage a young audience.  Children will enjoy this playful story about the alphabet's antics with the coconut tree.
 
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is definitely a classic!  Its illustration and dialogue do not date the story. I had not read it before I started working in children's services, so I was pleasantly surprised when I had the opportunity to read it to a 5 and under storytime. Parents and children enjoyed identifying the letters. I heard many of the parents take the opportunity to mention the difference between upper case and lower case letters. The rhyming text is also great for promoting phonological awareness. The book is so enjoyable that it's easy to forget that it's educational too.

Media Review: Dr. Jean Sings Silly Songs

Book #55

Book Image:

Bibliographic Citation: 
Dr. Jean. (2007). Dr. Jean Sings Silly Songs. United States: Constructive Playthings.
 

Age Group:
Kindergarten to Gr1

Genre:
Music
 

Awards:
None listed.

Topics/Issues: 

ELS promoted: 
Phonological awareness, vocabulary, narrative skills
 

Format:
Music CD
 

Author/Illustrator sites:
http://drjean.org/

Categorization Tags:
 ZM FELD DJS P 00 

Annotation: 
This collection of silly songs will put a smile on your child's face. Songs include "Bubble Gum", "Katalina Matalina", and "Alligator Chant".
 

Reactions/Observations:

Dr. Jean is a story time staple. Her CD, Dr. Jean Sings silly songs, is a favorite with “Bubble Gum” and “Alligator Chant”. Most of the songs on this CD are sung to familiar tunes like “Shortnin’ Bread” or “Skip to My Lou” which allows parents and children alike to easily sing along. This collection of sings includes “Katalina Matalina”, “Baby Fish”, and a variety of other story time favorites.

Music helps with a variety of early literacy skills. Songs promote phonological awareness, vocabulary building and narrative skills. Letter knowledge, print awareness, and print motivation are not excluded in the musical arena, but their presence is not as abundant as the other skills mentioned. Dr. Jean Sings Silly Songs is not an exception. Her songs provide opportunity to further reinforce these early literacy skills. The songs involve large motions and unpredictable lyrics sung at varied tempos and volumes. The varied tempos allow for songs to be sung slightly slower enabling kids to sing and hear every sound. “Bubblegum” describes the properties of gum using hand motions and song. Any kind of naming or description promotes vocabulary building. Also, the verses in the songs promote narrative skills. As each verse is added the songs build much like a story builds with its beginning, middle, and end .

The songs are easy to sing along with your child. The actions are easily available via Dr. Jean’s YouTube channel and through the scripted actions in the lyric book, but one can easily create their own choreography to complement the music. These features allow for easy interaction between parent and child. I often use this CD in my story time. At first, I thought the songs would bore my audience. To my surprise, they love it and request it often! Children love the silliness that ensues in each song. They become so engaged that they have forgotten that they’re still learning a valuable literacy lesson. I highly recommend this music CD as an early learning resource. This music CD is ideal for a preschool audience.

Media Review: Between the Lions

Book #52

Book Image:

Bibliographic Citation: 
Between the Lions. (2005) Between the Lions: Fuzzy Wuzzy, Wuzzy?. United States: PBS.
 

Age Group:
Toddler to Gr2
 

Genre:
Fiction
 

Awards:
Here is a complete list of the awards won: Between the Lions Awards

Topics/Issues: 
Early literacy, Reading
 

ELS promoted: 
Print motivation, print awareness, phonological awareness, vocabulary, narrative skills, letter knowledge

Format: 
DVD, TV Show
 

Author/Illustrator sites:
http://pbskids.org/lions/

Categorization Tags:
E Between the Lions

Annotation: 
 Between the Lions is a PBS Kids puppet show designed to promote reading. In Fuzzy Wuzzy, Wuzzy?, everyone except for Lionel is thrilled that Fuzzy Wuzzy from the book comes out to conga in the library.

Reactions/Observations:

Between the Lions is an award winning PBS program. The series premiered in 2000. The program consists of different segments focusing promoting literacy skills to its audience. Each show playfully teaches about a letter sound from a rhyme or book. I previewed Between the Lions: Fuzzy Wuzzy, Wuzzy? Segments included “Gawain’s Word”, “Cliff hanger”, and “The Vowelles”. The program focused on the short “u” sound with a variety of great skits and segments showing how different words can be made using the same short “u” sound.

This series is entertaining both for the child and the parent. It demonstrates valuable reading skills in a fun and interactive way. The segments serve as great skill builders for a variety of early literacy skills including phonological awareness, vocabulary, and print motivation. Concepts and text are often repeated for additional practice and building fluency. Vocabulary used in discussion between characters was not oversimplified. It served as a great vocabulary builder for viewers. Out of the five digital media sources, I find this show to be the most valuable tool to help children to become successful readers. The content and humor are age appropriate and easily enjoyed by the entire family. Between the Lions is a definite “must see” for the 3-7 years old audience.

Media Review:Sesame Street

Review #51

Book Image:

Bibliographic Citation: 
Sesame Street.(Producer) 2009. Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days.(DVD) United States: Sesame Street.

Age Group:
Toddler to Gr1 

Genre:
Fiction

Awards:
 There were so many awards for this show that I included a link for the entire list. Because this DVD was the "best of" the last 40 years of this series, this awards and nominations list also apply.
 Sesame Street Awards and Nominations List

Topics/Issues:
 Early literacy, school readiness skills

ELS promoted: 
 Letter knowledge, narrative skills, vocabulary, phonological awareness, print motivation

Format: 
DVD and TV show
 

Author/Illustrator sites:
http://www.sesamestreet.org/ and http://pbskids.org/sesame/

Categorization Tags:
E Sesame Street
 

Annotation:
Sesame Street has been educating and entertaining kids for the past 40 years.  Here are the best Sesame Street memories and behind the scenes footage.
 

Reactions/Observations:

The new Sesame Street is as good as or better than I remembered as a child. Since 1969, parents and children have watched their favorite characters weave lessons about life and community between early literacy skills. Segments and skits are educational yet entertaining. The lessons taught are positive and widely vary. The humor appeals to both parents and children which promotes inter generational viewing and interaction.

Sesame Street is bright and inviting, showing children and characters from varied cultural backgrounds. Characters engage in everyday activities which serve as great inspiration to parents and children. In the episode I reviewed, Count Von Count is counting the food on his plate at breakfast when Baby Bear decides he would like to learn how to count too. Count Von Count shows Baby Bear that counting everything can teach you to be a better counter. This sets the common theme throughout the show that everyday activities can be lessons for math and literacy.

Sesame Street is well known as an educational tool. The show improves cognitive skills and school readiness skills (Walsh, 1995). Their young viewers gain an advantage in math, vocabulary, letter knowledge, phonological awareness, print motivation, and other school readiness skills. The street name and its residents have become iconic. Although new characters have been added, Sesame Street is still the same great education tool that continues to reinvent itself. This series is easy to like and fun to watch. The target age for this series is 3-5 years old.

Book Review: Round is a Mooncake

Book #45

Book Image:

Bibliographic Citation: 

Round is a Mooncake: A Book of Shapes.

By Roseanne Thong. Illus. by Grace Lin.

2000. 40p. Chronicle, $15.99. (0811826767)
 

Age Group:
Toddler to Gr1
 

Genre:
Fiction
 

Awards:
None listed.
 

Topics/Issues: 
Shapes, 

ELS promoted: 
Print awareness, print motivation, vocabulary, phonological awareness

Format:

Hardcover.


Author/Illustrator sites:
http://www.greenfield-thong.com/ /  http://www.gracelin.com/index.php

Categorization Tags:
E Thong
 

Annotation:

A Chinese girl points out different shapes around her multicultural neighborhood.

Reactions/Observations:
 Round is a Mooncake is set with an Asian theme which provides a multicultural background for this book about shapes.  A little girl points out different shapes around her neighborhood, home, and places she goes to with her family. She stealthily introduces  Chinese objects such as "dim sum" and "a calligraphy inking stone " among the shapes. I pulled this book for our Asian American Heritage Month display and was surprised that I enjoyed this book.  Every year adult students come in looking for "multicultural books". It's difficult coming up with a few that are appropriate for younger audiences AND are enjoyable to read.  Because it is a concept book with multicultural characteristics, I think it is a successful addition to the list of books they should be picking up.


My family and I lived in Hong Kong for the first 6 years of my life, so I appreciate the Chinese culture references. I also appreciated the interactive nature of the text.  The images are paired with some rhyming text promoting phonological awareness. Thong also begins a dialogue with her readers by asking if they can identify the shapes too.