The Three Little Tamales by Eric Kimmel

THE THREE LITTLE TAMALES by Eric Kimmel

Bibliography:

Kimmel, Eric. 2009. THE THREE LITTLE TAMALES. Illus. Valeria Docampo. Seattle, WA: Amazon Children’s Publishing.

Summary: This story is a lot like the traditional three little pigs story but instead of pigs it has tamales.  The three little tamales are sitting on the windowsill cooling when they are told by a tortilla to run or be eaten! So the tortillas run off and each builds his or her own house.  The first builds a house out of sagebrush. The second builds a house out of cornstalks. The third tamale builds her house out of cactus.  Then Senor Lobo (the big bad wolf) comes and begins to blow their houses down.  As you can imagine the first two lose their houses quite easily.  They run to the third tamale and its strong cactus house saves them.

Critical Analysis: I love this story because, being from Texas, Tamales are a big part of everything my family does. (yum!) It is pretty much the exact same story as the three little pigs except for the change from pigs to tamales.  I especially like the fact that there is a lot of Spanish and Texas related terms used in the story.  Also, the illustrator made the pictures extremely bright and fun. The colors especially caught my attention.  

Review Excerpts:

·      Booklist: “Docampo’s oil-on-paper illustrations add dimension to the story and bring the three little tamales to life. An excellent addition to collections of fairy-tale retellings.”

·      School Library Journal: “The colorful artwork combines with a text brimming with humor and sound effects (Ay! Ay! Ay!) for a delightful parody sure to satisfy readers appetite for fun.”

Connections:

·      This book would be a great way to introduce variants of their favorite fairytales

·      There is a lot of Spanish in this book so it would be a great way to continuing their understanding of Spanish

·      Other books by this author:

o   Kimmel, Eric A. 2009. THE MCELDERRY BOOK OF GREEK MYTHS.

o   Kimmel, Eric A. 2008. LITTLE BRITCHES AND THE RATTLERS.

·      Other books like this:

o   Scieszka, Jon and Lane Smith.  1996.  THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS.

o   Lowell, Susan.  1992.  THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS. 

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly by Simms Taback

THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY by Simms Taback

Bibliography:

 Taback, Simms. 1997. THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY.  New York, NY: Penguin Group. ISBN: 9780670869398.

Plot Summary: This story is a fun singsong tale of a woman who swallows bugs and animals.  She swallows a fly first, then a spider, bird, cat, dog, snake, pig, goat, cow, donkey, and horse.  The book is written based on the song written by Alan Mills and Rose Bonne and is more of a silly poem than a story.

Critical Analysis: I adore this book because of its fun pretense.  It is a little odd that the woman eats all of these things and it might be a little disturbing for some when the woman dies in the end.  However, it is meant to be a fun singsong type of book that is fun to read and fun listen to.

Review Excerpts:

·      Library School Journal: “From cover to moral (never swallow a horse), this cleverly illustrated version of an old folk favorite will delight children.”

·      New York Times: “The book is beautifully illustrated and lovingly designed by Simms Taback, and the publisher should be given enormous credit for the careful way it has produced the book and carried through his concept, which is a dandy.”

Connections:

·      This book is great to read to children because of its fun tone and topic

·      It helps kids understand rhyming

·      Other books by this author:

o   Taback, Simms. 2006. THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO SWALLOWED A BELL.  ISBN:  978-0439866439

o   Taback, Simms. 1999. JOSEPH HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT.  ISBN: 978-0670878550

o   Taback, Simms.  2005. KIBITZERS AND FOOLS.  ISBN:  978-0670059553

Thirteen Moons on Turtle’s Back: A Native American Year of Moons by Joseph Bruchac and Jonathan London

THIRTEEN MOONS ON TURTLE’S BACK: A NATIVE AMERICAN YEAR OF MOONS by Joseph Bruchac and Jonathan London

Bibliography:

Bruchac, Joseph, Jonathan London. 1992. THIRTEEN MOONS ON TURTLE’S BACK: A NATIVE AMERICAN YEAR OF MOONS. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.  ISBN: 0-590-12708-X

Plot summary: The story begins with a young Apenaki boy watching his grandfather carve a turtle out of wood on a spruce log.  The boy counts the scales on the turtle’s back and realizes there are 13. The grandfather explains that this represents the 13 moons in each year. His grandfather then tells him the 13 stories of the moons.  The first moon is in winter.  The poem talks about the frost giant and how he strikes the trunks of the cottonwood trees with his club making them crack.  This scared the people and they hid in their homes, but clever coyote learned the frost giant’s magic song and when he sang the giant slept.  So unless they hear the coyote’s song they stay inside where it is safe.  The second moon is still during winter and speaks about a small child lost in the snow who was taken in by a mother bear. The 3^rd moon is in the fall.  The Anishinabe believe that a long time ago their people could lay on the ground and just let the maple syrup run into their mouths.  Then when the Creator saw how lazy the people had gotten he sent his helper Man-a-bo-sho to pour water into the trees so that the people would have to boil out the maple syrup. The 4^th moon is winter turning into spring.  The Cree believe that when Wis-a-ked-jak the trickster came down to discuss with the animals about how many moons of snow there should be he talked to a moose, a frog, and a beaver. The frog said there should only be as many winter moons as toes on my foot. The 5^th moon takes place in spring.  The Huron story says that one winter Old Man Winter refused to leave.  The people asked for help from the sun who went to Old Man Winter’s home and had a white owl take him back to the snow of the north. The 6^th moon is in late spring.  The Seneca believe that one spring there was a little boy who went down to the river to fish where the Jo-ge-oh (the little people who care for the plants) lived.  The boy shared with them what he caught and the little people took him in a magic canoe to teach him things and give him strawberries.  The 7^th moon is in fall.  The Pomo believe that when the Creator (Earth Elder) was creating the Earth he shaped the Earth, the water and then stopped to think of what the people would need.  The Creator then made a giant oak tree that gave off acorns for the people to eat. The 8^th moon is when they harvest rice and corn.  The Menominee people believe that a long time ago Bear came out of the ground and became human but was very lonely so he called to the Thunder Eagle to be his brother on Earth. To the Thunder people he gave fire and corn.  To the People of the Bear he gave wild rice.  The two families then exchanged their gifts with one another.  The 9^th moon is in fall when the leaves turn.  This moon belongs to the Micmac and their story of the moose.  The story says that long ago when the creator asked the Moose what he would do when he saw human beings the Moose answered,” I will throw them up high on my sharp horns.” So the Creator made his horns flat so he could not hurt the people.  The 10^th moon is in late fall when the leaves fall.  The Cherokee believe that long ago the trees where told to stay awake for 7 days and nights.  However, only the pine, cedar, and spruce were still awake on the 7^th day.  The 11^th moon is in late fall early winter.  This story from the Winnebago says that deer used to keep their horns year round to protect themselves and fight.  However, the maker saw that they were still fighting in their winter lodges and were suffering greatly, so he made them drop off.  The 12^th moon belongs to the Lakota Sioux.  They believe that long ago when a wolf chief passed on he told his people to follow his footsteps when they died.  As his spirit walked to the sky his footprints left stars for them to follow.  The final moon is from the Abenaki and is about creation.  They believe that the changer who was formed from the creator, came to Earth and created the mountains and created Lake Champlain (Peh-ton-ba-gok).  When the changer was dying he came back to the lake completing the circle of his travels. 

Critical Analysis: This book is both beautifully written and illustrated.  The watercolor pictures wonderfully accompany the stories progression through the different moons.  My personal favorite part is that it’s not just one tribe.  The stories come from all different tribes including the Cherokee, the Cree, and the Abenaki.  The story itself begins with the boy and the 13 moons on turtle’s back and then ends with the words, “Its name is the last in our circle of seasons, thirteen moons on Old Turtle’s Back” making it a circle as well.  I think this book would be a great way to introduce Native American culture to students in a classroom or in your home.

Review Excerpts:

·      Publisher’s Weekly: “This unusual and intelligent book is an exemplary introduction to Native American culture with its emphasis on the importance of nature”

·      Kirkus Reviews: “Folklorist Bruchac and poet London work together on brief, dignified retellings of Native American legends for the accompanying text, properly pointing out in an afterword that tribes in different areas see different seasonal patterns and hold different beliefs.”

Connections:

·      This book is a great way to introduce Native American culture and stories.

·      Other great books by this author:

o   Bruchac, Joseph. A Boy Called Slow. 1998. ISBN: 978-0698116160

o   Bruchac, Joseph. Between Earth and Sky. 1999. ISBN: 978-0152020620

o   Bruchac, Joseph. Many Nations. 2004. ISBN: 978-0439635905

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

1. Bibliography: Potter, Beatrix. 1902. THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT. London, England. Frederick Warne & Co. ISBN:0723247706

2. Summary: The story is centered around Peter Rabbit and his family. He has three sisters, Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail and his mother.  Peter’s mother warns the children to never go into Mr. McGregor’s garden because that is where their father had an accident and was put into a pie.  Peter’s mother then leaves for the baker and the mischief begins.  Peter’s sisters go and pick blackberries, but Peter has other plans. He heads straight away to Mr. McGregor’s garden and eats vegetables until he is sick. Peter is then caught by Mr. McGregor and in the scuffle Peter looses his coat and shoes.  Peter is then stuck.  He can’t get away and every time he tries he runs into Mr. McGregor again.  He finally escapes and runs home.  His mother gives him chamomile tea to make him feel better and sends him to bed while his sisters get blackberries, bread and milk for dinner.

3. Critical Analysis: Like many books written during this time, the story has a lesson. This lesson isn’t always told in the most gentle of ways but this time it was softer.  I love Beatrix Potter because of her illustrations and her very British stories.  The colors in her illustrations are so beautiful and strong that it looks like it should be on canvas not in a children’s book.  I had never read Peter Rabbit although I had read “Jemima Puddle Duck.” I personally like Peter Rabbit because of the character.  He is such the proper English bunny, wearing a jacket and shoes, but he’s also just like any other little boy exploring and doing exactly what his mother told him not to. Beatrix Potter truly was a most amazing writer and illustrator.

4. Review Excerpts: 

~The Los Angeles Times: “The special flavor of Potter’s visual style is easy to recall. It is a world seen in miniatures, a dollhouse world, a world seen through the naturalist’s microscope.”

~New York Public Library’s Books  of the Century

~ 501 Must Read Books

5. Connections:

~This story helps kids understand the necessity of listening to their parents.

~Helps reiterate the point that taking something that is not yours is not right.

~Other books by Beatrix Potter:

Potter, Beatrix. 1908. THE TALE OF JEMIMA PUDDLE DUCK. ISBN:0723247781 

Potter, Beatrix. 1903.  THE TALE OF SQUIRREL NUTKIN. ISBN: 0723267707

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

1. Bibliography: Willems, Mo. 2003. DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! New York, NY. Hyperion Press. ISBN:078681988X

2. Plot Summary: The story is about a pigeon who really wants to drive the bus but the bus driver won’t let him.  He tries to beg the reader and the bus driver complaining he, “never gets to do anything.” The pigeon finally loses it and screams, “LET ME DRIVE THE BUS!” but the bus driver has come back and the pigeon has to leave.  He then sees a trailer and gets another idea.

3. Critical Analysis: Mo Willems’ stories are hysterical and a pleasure to look at.  Mr. Willems is a great cartoonist type artist and all of his books have great cartoon animals.  This book was the very first book of his I read and I immediately fell in love. The pigeon is very persistent in achieving his dream to drive a bus.  This book is a lot of fun for younger children but also, I’ve read this book to 2nd graders and they thought it was hysterical.  

4. Review Excerpts: 

~ALA Notable Book

~2009 Indies Choice Picture Book Hall of Fame

~ School Library Journal Best Book

~New York Times Best Seller

5. Connections:

~Mo Willems’ pigeon is a lot like a child throwing a fit. This might be a way to explain to children that throwing fits are just silly.

~ This funny book is a great way to help children learn to read.  

~ Other books by Mo Willems:

Willems, Mo. 2005. THE PIGEON HAS FEELINGS TOO! ISBN:0786836504.

Willems, Mo. 2012. THE DUCKLING GETS A COOKIE. ISBN: 1423151283.

Willems, Mo. 2011. I BROKE MY TRUNK.  ISBN: 1423133099

Book Review: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

1. Bibliography: Selznick, Brian. 2007. THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET.  New York, NY. Scholastic Press Inc.  ISBN: 978-0-439-81378-5.

2. Plot Summary: The story is about a young man named Hugo Cabret who lives in Paris with his father who works at the museum.  Hugo and his father work on an mechanical man trying to fix him.  One night there is a fire in the museum and Hugo’s father tragically dies.  Hugo is then transferred to his uncle’s custody.  Hugo’s uncle works in the train station winding the clocks. Hugo learns how to wind each clock and, after his uncle’s disappearance, continues to do so on his own. In his free time, Hugo works on the mechanical man stealing parts from the local toy store and working from his father’s notebook.  One day the man who runs the toy shop catches him stealing and confronts him taking his father’s notebook.  In order to get his notebook back and work off his debt, Hugo must work in the shop helping fix the toys.  
   Hugo meets a young girl named Isabelle Melies who is an orphan and lives with her godparents Georges Melies (the toy shop owner) and Jeanne d’Alcy.  Isabelle pushes Hugo to go on adventures and Hugo eventually ends up showing Isabelle his automaton. Hugo has worked and worked to fix the mechanical man but his work fails. Hugo then notices that Isabelle’s necklace is the exact shape of the key hole in the automaton.  They then put the key in, turn it, and find out that the automaton draws cryptic pictures.  The story then flows in and out weaving a story full of magic, moving pictures, and a film making giant who fell.   

3. Critical Analysis: I fell in love with this story from the very first time I read it.  The story itself is very intricate but the pictures are what amazes me.  Brian Selznick is a very talented artist and his work is displayed beautifully in this book.  Many of the pages in the book are just pictures.  No words. Readers are drawn into the story even deeper because they can see what’s happening.  There are words on many of the pages that help move the story along.
     The characters in this story are so raw and real.  Hugo has lost both his parents and his uncle and is now alone in the world. Isabelle is an orphan who was taken in by her godparents.  These aren’t picture perfect, cookie-cutter families.  They know pain and fear.
     The story may come across as strange because of the the shift between pictures and text but I adore the change and welcome it.  

4. Review Excerpts:
~A Caldecott Award Medal winner
~ Publisher’s Weekly: “Here is a true masterpiece~ an artful blending of narrative, illustration and cinematic technique, for a story as tantalizing as it is touching.”
~The Los Angeles Times: “Brian Selznick explores the line between telling and showing in an entirely new way in his captivating book, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret."

5. Connections:
~This would be a great way to look at illustrators and their job.
~ Exploring the French culture and food.
~ Exploring how movies started and Georges Melies.
~ Other books where the illustrator is the author:
Brown, Peter. 2009. THE CURIOUS GARDEN
Potter, Beatrix. 1902. THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT. ISBN:12533701.