Tag Archives: K-5

Stephanie’s Ponytail

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Title: Stephanie’s PonytailIMG_6206

Author: Robert Munsch

Illustrator: Michael Martchenko

Publisher:  Annick Press, 1996

Number of Pages: 24 pages

Tags: Fiction, Picture Book, K-5, Stephanie Prentice

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Analysis: Stephanie comes to school with her hair in a pony tail. The next day, her entire class has a pony tail just like her. After trying to have creative hair styles, she realizes her class is going to copy her no matter what. She tells the class she is going to shave her head. When she shows up to class the next day, everyone shaved their heads besides Stephanie.

This book serves as a mirror because it allows students to reflect on how they would feel if they were copied by other students. In the story, we see Stephanie become frustrated because she wanted to be unique. The story also allows children to reflect on the aspects that make them unique. Stephanie is given all the power in deciding how her hair will look and also how the other children in the class will style their hair.

The illustrations in this book are made with bright colors, drawing the reader in. They often mirror the text. In some cases, the images enhance the text by adding humor. This book consists mostly of one page pictures with the text on the opposite side. Robert Munsch portrays Stephanie as very confident by the repetition of the phrase, “it’s my ponytail and I like it.” The illustrator also shows her confidence in the images by her facial expressions and body language. Ideologically, this book has many layers. In the first layer, this book shows how frustrating it is when someone takes your original ideas. Stephanie becomes very frustrated that her classmates copy her original hair styles. Another layer teaches students to value their individuality. When Stephanie’s classmates shave their heads, it shows the negative aspects of being a follower instead of a leader. However, this book may be taken to be negative. Stephanie tricks her classmates into shaving their heads in spite of them copying her. This may teach children tricking people is okay. Also, at the beginning of the book Stephanie’s classmates tease her about her pony tail. I think this book is good to read for children to teach them individuality, however it is important to consider the negative views.IMG_6207

Show Some Respect

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IMG_6202 Title: Show Some Respect

Author: Anastasia Suen

Illustrator: Jeff Ebbeler

Publisher: Red Wagon, 2008

Number of Pages: 32 pages

Tags: Diversity, Fiction, Picture Book, K-5, Stephanie Prentice

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Analysis: Students from Main Street School are coming back from an assembly and need to clean up their room. Jack does not understand why he has to clean the room, thinking it is the janitor’s job. His classmates teach him the importance of respect.

This text functions as a mirror because it allows students to reflect on the respect they show for their classroom and their janitor. Also, this book functions as a window because it allows students to see the expectations of taking care of their classroom as well as the true responsibilities of a janitor.  Serving as a door, this book teaches students to take initiative and take care of their classroom on their own.

This book’s illustrations are very realistic. The moods and body language portrayed in the images allow the reader to truly understand how the characters are feeling, especially Jack. The images are mostly confined to one page with the text on the opposite side. The images mirror the text. There is a portrayal of diversity within the classroom. Structurally, this book has more text on the pages than other picture books. In addition, the discussion questions at the end of the book can lead to important conversations between students. The “Words to Know” section offers the readers definitions to words they might not understand or gives the definition as it was used in the text. The title speaks very clearly to the lessons learned in the book. This book teaches students the importance of respect for their own classroom as well as the janitor. It teaches children that janitors play an important role in schools, but are not responsible for people’s personal messes. The interactions between Jack and Isiah display very realistic conversations that may take place in a classroom regarding this topic.  This can be very important for elementary students who sometimes do not understand the responsibility of a janitor. The idea of respect can translate into many other areas of life as well.IMG_6203

A Story A Story: An African Tale

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IMG_4281 Author(s): Gail E. Haley

Illustrator/Photographer: Gail E. Haley

Publisher and Year: Aladdin Paperbacks in 1970

Number of Pages: 32

Genre: Fiction, Folklore

Analysis:

In this African tale, Ananse, or the spider man, decided one day that he wanted all the stories that the Sky God had in his golden box. Ananse had to first outsmart and capture a leopard, hornets, and a fairy to give to the Sky God in order to receive these stories. But after collecting these items for the Sky God, he received the golden box of stories and brought them back down to share with the people of earth, which is why African tales are now called spider stories.

I believe that this text could function as a window for readers who are not familiar with the African culture because it describes the reason that many African stories are called “Spider Stories,” it mentions a god or religious figure, and the illustrations show traditional African clothing and face paint. I also believe this could be an opportunity to introduce more cultures to the classroom, as well as, the chance to explore more traditional folklores and fables. This story could also function as a mirror for African American children to realize and understand the importance of their culture in a Westernized society. In the text, the Sky God is the character with all the stories and, therefore, all the power. I also thought that the stories were symbolic of knowledge, and Ananse wanted more knowledge but had to prove to the Sky God he was worthy of it first. The Sky God was also illustrated as larger and dressed more colorfully than all the other characters to represent his high status and power. The illustrations throughout the text are very colorful and contain lots of different patterns which help give the story a more energetic and tribal feel to it. I also believe that the images made the story more interesting and added to the overall message of the story.

Therefore, I would say that the text did a nice job of making the reader more aware of another culture and their thoughts and beliefs about why things are the way they are today. The original intent of this story was to help explain to others why African stories are often called “Spider Stories,” but in the process it also showed that someone can be successful even if they have all odds against them.

Terrible Things: An Allegory for the Holocaust

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IMG_4274Author(s): Eve Bunting

Illustrator/Photographer: Stephen Gammell

Publisher and Year: The Jewish Publication Society in 1989

Number of Pages: 28

Genre: Fiction

Analysis:

This story begins with a scene of animals in the woods, where everything seems to be going well until the “Terrible Things” come to the woods demanding to take different animals that have a specific trait like having feathers or being able to swim. The “Terrible Things” get away with taking the different creatures because none of the animals try to help the other ones because they do not want to make the “Terrible Things” angry with them. Therefore, group after group of animals are taken away by the “Terrible Things” until all the animals in the forest are gone, except for the one little rabbit who finally decides to go warn the other animals in the forest about what had happened.

This book is intentionally written as an allegory for the Holocaust, and therefore, this book can act as a window for children to learn about this tragic event from history. I also believe it can also act as a door to encourage children to stand up for others and to also question authority. This story shows the “Terrible Things” using coercion to assist in becoming more powerful, which illustrates how the Nazis gained their power in Germany in the 1940s. I believe that this story accurately depicts how the Holocaust occurred and how the people in Germany allowed it to happen, which was out of fear of questioning their authority figures and in hoping to save themselves. When first looking at this book, I noticed that the words are seen on both the top and the bottom of the pages, the “Terrible Things” are always placed at the top of the pages, and that there was no color used throughout the story. From page to page the text seems to be in a different location and I believe that this could represent the chaos that was occurring in the forest and the fact that nobody knew what was going to happen to the animals next. The illustrations within this text are extremely powerful because they are all black and white images and this lack of color exemplifies the dark and cold tone of the story. The images of the “Terrible Things” are always at the top of the page or above the other animals to symbolize their power and high status. I believe that the story itself is deep, but these images give another dimension and seriousness to the words being spoken.

The message that this story is trying to send the reader is that authority should be questioned because sometimes the reason they are powerful is because of the power the people have given them by not questioning them. I also believe that the story was also trying to explain the importance of standing up for others, especially those that do not have a voice.

Papa’s Mark

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IMG_4265Author(s): Gwendolyn Battle-Lavert

Illustrator/Photographer: Colin Bootman

Publisher and Year: Holiday House in 2004

Number of Pages: 30

Genre: Historical Fiction

Analysis:

This book is the story of how an African American boy named Simms, helped his father in becoming one of the first African Americans to vote in an election. Simms’s father does not know how to sign his name other than by just making a mark, therefore, Simms helps him learn how to write his name and encourages him and other African American men to vote in the election. In the end, Simms’s father and many other African American men vote despite any prior fears or uncertainties.

This book could serve as a window into seeing the injustice that many African Americans have faced, and still do today. This book could also function as a mirror for African American children, in which they may recognize the value of their culture and the role they play, as children, in their culture. I also believe that this story is a door for all people to really begin to recognize the racism that is still present in our world today, and encourage children to become advocates for their culture and their rights as humans. The illustrations that accompany the story portray the characters in a very accurate way, from the way they are dressed, to the expressions on their faces. The colors used throughout the book are fairly dark with a yellow and brown color scheme, which can represent the confinement felt by the African Americans in this book.

I thought that the author accurately described the challenges that faced many African Americans during the Civil Rights movement, and even after they earned the right to vote. This book does not go into much detail of what had happened in order for the African Americans to have the right to vote, but it does explain how literacy was one challenge for many African Americans and also the fear of what might happen to them if they do vote. Also, all throughout the story, Simms is always around to help his father like picking up groceries, teaching his father how to spell his name, making posters, and encouraging both his father and other African American males to vote which shows children that they are capable of helping their elders and making a difference in social justice situations. Simms can also be considered a symbol of younger generations and the huge impact they have on continuing the fight for civil rights.

Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon

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IMG_6200Title: Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon

Author:  Patty Lovell

Illustrator: Da vid Catrow

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2001

Number of Pages: 32 pages

Tags: Emotion, Family, Fiction, Friendship, Picture Book, K-5, Stephanie Prentice

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Analysis: Molly Lou Melon starts in a new school where a bully picks on her for her physical characteristics. Molly Lou Melon has buck teeth, is short, clumsy, and has a squeaky voice. Despite all this, Molly’s grandmother teaches her to be proud of herself. Her grandmother’s lessons are put to the test when she moves to a new school.

Children who have been picked on can very easily relate to this book. Molly Lou Melon is bullied by a student at her new school many times. In addition, children are able to see the way in which Molly Lou Melon stands up to the bully, giving them confidence of their own. This book can also provide children an inspiration to stop the act of bullying in their schools.

In the images, Molly Lou Melon is shown to be much smaller than the furniture in her room. There is a ladder for her to climb into bed, which emphasizes how short Molly Lou Melon is. The exaggeration of her physical characteristics makes the point of which the author is trying to make. The bold text used in the parts when Ronald Durkin was making fun of her exaggerate the act of bullying taking place. The images are very colorful and detailed, drawing a reader in. The repetitive use of “so shIMG_6201e did” shows the reader that Molly Lou Melon took her grandmother’s advice to heart. The lack of frames in the illustrations allows the reader to connect to Molly Lou Melon on a personal level. Ideologically, this book has many layers. One layer shows that if people stand up to bullies, the bullying stops. Each time Ronald Durkin bullied Molly Lou Melon, she did something that all her other classmates loved. Eventually Ronald Durkin stopped bullying her. The second layer teaches children to love who they are and what they look like. Molly Lou Melon has a lot of self confidence when it comes to doing anything. Molly Lou Melon’s grandmother teaches her that she can accomplish anything if she carries herself with confidence, and that’s just what she does. This book teaches children to value self confidence and individuality.

Monday, Wednesday, and Every Other Weekend

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Title: Monday, Wednesday, and Every Other Weekend

IMG_6189Author: Karen Stanton

Illustrator: Karen Stanton

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends, 2014

Number of Pages: 40 pages

Tags: 

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Analysis: In this story, Henry’s parents are divorced and he lives in two different houses. On Monday, Wednesday, and every other weekend Henry and his dog, Pomegranate, live with their mom in her apartment. On Tuesday, Thursday, and every other weekend, they live with their dad in his new house.  Pomegranate gets confused with the new changes and wants to go back to his old home.

This story serves as a mirror, allowing children with divorced parents to see their own life reflected in the story. It deals with the many changes that take place during a divorce. The images also include children of different cultures which creates diversity. In addition, the images are created using different texts from French, Italian, and other languages. Children who have not experienced this significant change in their life can grasp an idea of how other children may feel in this situation.

The images are very colorful and lively, creating a positive mood. They are made with a mixture of acrylic paint and some collage materials.  In addition, it is obvious through the illustrations that Mama’s and Papa’s house are very different places. Mama lives in an apartment while Papa has his own house down the street. In the images, the reader can see the calendars shown on the wall. In each house, the calendar on the wall shows thIMG_6192e days that Henry will spend there. The author and illustrator uses Pomegranate to display most of the emotions felt by children during times of divorce within their family. For example, Pomegranate runs away and Henry knows just where to find him. Henry runs to his old house, “the house where we all used to live together,” and finds Pomegranate there. However, she portrays the main character Henry as happy and well adjusted to his new life, but does not underplay the emotions Henry experiences. The author also portrays each parent positively, listing the perks of living in each house.  While searching for the dog, the illustrator creates a map that allows the reader to see the town in which Henry lives. The dots on the map show where Henry goes to find his dog. This book handles the feelings surrounding divorce in a positive way. This book can be used by families who are struggling to establish a new way of living after divorce. This book is relatable to a lot of children who experience this shift in family dynamics.

Benito’s Sopaipillas

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Benitos1

Title: Benito’s Sopaipillas

Author: Ana Baca

Illustrator: Anthony Accardo

Publisher and Year: Piñata Books, 2006

Number of Pages: 26

Genre: Fiction

Analysis: Benito’s Sopaipillas is about a young girl,Cristina, learning about her family history. Her grandmother tells her a story about Cristina’s great grandfather Benito and his soup catchers also know as sopaipillas in Spanish that he made many years ago with his mother.

This book can function as a window for those who are not familiar with this culture and sopaipillas. Many people who read this book can learn a lot about the culture displayed throughout. Not only could the book function as a window, but it could also function as a mirror for those who are familiar with this culture. People of this culture can relate to this book and understand the story behind sopaipillas. Benito’s Sopaipillas can also function as a door for children who want to learn more about their family culture and history. Cristina learns a lot about her great grandfather Benito and his sopaipillas, so other children could want to learn about their family history.

Benitos2

Perceptually, the front cover of the book had a mysterious feeling especially since they were cheering for rain, which was unclear the meaning behind the image on the front. From the front cover, there is both Spanish and English portrayed in the title, author and illustrator which showed that the book would both involve Spanish and English, without even opening to the first page.

Structurally, all the images are on the right side, with the entire left side full of text. The text is in two different languages, Spanish and English, which is why the text takes up an entire page. On each page, the image is framed, which only allows the audience to have a glimpse into the storyline, and not truly connect with the storyline and characters. Separating the English text and the Spanish text is a small image of a crop. This image changes throughout the book adapting to the storyline, three examples of this image can be seen below.

Benitos4Benitos5Benitos6

Ideologically, the book expresses stories about Cristina’s family history, showing to the audience that family history is important for all to learn about. Cristina learned about her own family’s culture and history, which could encourage the audience to also learn about their own family culture and history. Since the book contains text in both Spanish and English, the two different languages are useful depending on the audience. For example, if one person wanted to learn Spanish and knew English, he or she could read the English text and the Spanish text to learn the meaning of different words. The same is true for the opposite, if one person were to know Spanish, but not English, he or she could use both texts to learn English.

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Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat Ella Fitzgerald

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SkitScat1

Title: Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat Ella Fitzgerald

Author: Roxane Orgill

Illustrator: Sean Qualls

Publisher and Year: Candlewick Press, 2010

Number of Pages: 38

Genre: Biography

Analysis: Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat Ella Fitzgerald is a biography about Ella Fitzgerald and her swing dancing and singing career. The book goes through a timeline of events throughout her life, some that were challenging, some that were joyful, but all ending with success.

This book could function as a window for many people who are not sure of who Ella Fitzgerald is. Throughout the book the audience can learn about Ella Fitzgerald as a person, her career, success, family and much more. Not only can this book function as a window, but it can also function as a mirror for African American young girls who love singing and dancing. After reading this book, young girls can feel encouraged to continue pursuing their passion like Ella did. Young girls may feel exhilarated or confident after reading about Ella’s success singing and dancing.

SkitScat2

Perceptually, this book has an entertaining and engaging front cover along with a fun title that children will enjoy reading because of the phonics. Initially, the audience is not able to tell that the book is also about dancing, one may simply think that this book is only about singing. While first seeing the front cover, the reader may think that this book is fiction and not a true story about Ella Fitzgerald. It isn’t until reading the first few pages that the true story begins to emerge.

Structurally, there are a lot of words per page resulting in the reading of each page being quite lengthy. However, the author is sharing a lot of information about Ella Fitzgerald. The images throughout the book are unframed, allowing the audience to feel included in the action and connected with Ella Fitzgerald as a book character. Throughout the book, the illustrator portrays a variety of facial expressions, which are understandable to all audiences. The audience can connect with Ella and her story while reading the book because of the true story and connections that can be made throughout the book.

SkitScat3

Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat Ella Fitzgerald ideologically portrays a positive message for young girls, however, there is also a negative lesson. First, the story of Ella Fitzgerald and all of her hard work and success can be inspirational for all girls. This book can teach girls to never give up on their dreams because with hard work they can be successful in whatever they do. A negative lesson seen in the book is that Ella disobeyed the law multiple times resulting in her being sent to a school for orphans. Reading this book, children can understand that even though Ella disobeyed the law she was still very successful.

Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin

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Primo1

Author: Duncan Tonatiuh

Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh

Publisher and Year: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2010

Number of Pages: 29

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Analysis: Dear Primo is a book about two cousins who live in different countries, one in America and the other cousin in Mexico. These boys write letters back and forth comparing the cultural differences in their own country. Dear Primo is also a 2015 Monarch Award Nominee.

This book could function as a mirror for other families whom are separated by country borders. Many families experience separation from one another and have some cultural differences within their family members. For families who are experiencing the same dilemma as Charlie and Carlitos, this book could function as a door because it could encourage them to write letters or communicate more with their families in other countries. However, this book could also function as a window for those who have family living in the same town or even same state because they could learn more about different cultures amongst families after reading this book.

Perceptually, the unique depictions of the characters on the front-page make the audience wonder what the book is about and curious if all the images will have a similar style as the drawings of the boys on the front. Once seeing the cover, the reader may want to dive into the book and read more about the culture seen. From the front cover, people who have learned about Spanish will recognize the word “primo” which means cousin in Spanish. This hint allows Spanish-speaking readers to know that this book will include the Spanish culture.

Structurally, the unframed images allow the audience to feel part of the action, experiencing the moments with Charlie and Carlitos. While reading the book, a reader may relate more to one cousin than the other. Within the book there are a couple pages that have similar instances portrayed with minimal differences. For example on the last page, which Primo2is seen to the right, the boys are both in bed, but the differences of their shoes, lights, beds, shelves, tables and toys all vary based on the culture and country that the boys live in. The images throughout the book add to the words. Often times when Carlitos is writing he will include words in Spanish, so the images help the reader to understand the meaning of those few Spanish words.

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The book ideologically portrays some important lessons about family and culture. The value of family can be seen throughout this book by the letters that Charlie and Carlitos write to each other. The boys care for one another and value the differences within their culture. Even though the cultural differences exist, the boys still love and respect one another. The differences are what make the family special in their own way. This book teaches others about a new culture and some basic language that children may be able to use. The lessons throughout this book are beneficial, informational and intriguing.