Bibliography
Young, E. (1989). Lon po po: A red-riding hood story from China. Ill. By Ed Young. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN 0399216197
Plot Summary
Three sisters, Shang Tao and Paotza, live in the country with their mother who leaves them to visit their grandmother, Po Po. At dusk, a wolf disguised as their Po Po knocks on the door, telling the children to let it in. The children are suspicious since their mother has journeyed to visit their Po Po, but the wolf coaxes the children into letting it in. Upon arrival inside of the house, the fake Po Po blows out the candle, as to not reveal its true identity. The wolf acts as if it is weak and tired and piles into bed with the three young children. While in the bed, Shang feels the bushy tail and razor-sharp claws of the wolf. The wolf explains that what Shang is feeling are hemp strings to weave baskets and an awl to make shoes with. Then Shang lights another candle and catches a glimpse of the wolf’s furred face. Shang immediately begins to enlighten the wolf about gingko nuts. Shang tells the wolf how delectable and enjoyable they are. Shang, Tao and Paotze scurry up the gingko tree to pick nuts for the fake Po Po, who waits at the bottom of the soaring tree. Shang enlightens her sisters on the wolf’s real identity. The three sisters call down to the wolf, explaining that the nuts are only good if they are picked strait from the tree, and eaten immediately. They instruct the wolf to fetch a basket, sit in it, and throw a rope up to the tree so that the wolf can be hoisted up to the mouth-watering gingko nuts. At this point, the wolf is so consumed with getting to the nuts; it will do anything to acquire them. As the three sisters heave the wolf in the basket, they drop it several times. They keep assuring the wolf that they will succeed in pulling it up if they continue to try. During the final attempt, the three children pull incredibly hard, but all release the wolf when Shang signals them with a cough. This last blow to the wolf ends its life. The three children run to their home and lock the door. The next day, their mother and real Po Po return to hear the tale of the Po Po who visited the night before.
Critical Analysis
Young’s story allows the reader to be exposed to a traditional tale set in a new environment. He depicts the wolf as deceptive in nature. The wolf comes to a home with three young girls, and attempts to trick them enough so that it can eventually delight in devouring them. The tables quickly turn as Shang discovers the wolf’s true character. Young portrays Shang as very intelligent and cunning. When she sees the wolf’s face in the candlelight, she does not scream or bolt from the bed. Instead, she chooses to prey on the wolf’s weaknesses, which in this case is food. The strong, charismatic character of Shang could be thought of as a fine role model for young girls. When the other two sisters learn about the wolf, they all come together as a team to defeat the wolf. The reader can see Shang’s persuasive skills when she says, “But Po Po, Gingko is magic only when it is plucked directly from the tree. You must come and pluck it from the tree yourself” (Young 1989). As the three girls unsuccessfully hoist the wolf up the tree repeatedly, the wolf’s character turns from deceiving to desperate, almost comical. Any outsider witnessing this event could tell that the girls were trying to con the wolf. The wolf becomes so fixated on getting the gingko nuts, masking its identity is no longer a priority. It as if the wolf has lost all focus because of his obsession with achieving something to eat. Like in most traditional tales, good triumphs over evil.
The illustrations in the book reveal the wolf’s figure and face to the reader, but not to the children. Because of this, the reader is able to see how much danger the children are actually in. The picture of the wolf in bed with the children is particularly scary. We see the younger girls, Tao and Paotza, looking longingly towards their Po Po. At this same time, we see Shang with a dubious look on her face. The pictures help tell the story. They add a sense of actuality when we see the scenarios drawn out for us.
Review Excerpts
Publishers Weekly
Like ancient Oriental paintings, the illustrations are frequently grouped in panels. When the girls meet the wolf, e.g., the left panel focuses on their wary faces peering out from the darkness, the middle enlarges the evil wolf's eye and teeth, and the third is a vivid swirl of the blue clothes in which the wolf is disguised. The juxtaposition of abstract and realistic representations, the complicated play of color and shadow, and the depth of the artist's vision all help transform this simple fairy tale into an extraordinary and powerful book.
School Library Journal
The clever animal blows out the candle before the children can see him , and is actually in bed with them when they start asking the traditional "Why, Grandma!" questions. The eldest realizes the truth and tricks the wolf into letting them go outside to pick gingko nuts , and then lures him to his doom. The text possesses that matter-of-fact veracity that characterizes the best fairy tales. The watercolor and pastel pictures are remarkable: mystically beautiful in their depiction of the Chinese countryside, menacing in the exchanges with the wolf, and positively chilling in the scenes inside the house. Overall, this is an outstanding achievement that will be pored over again and again.
Connections:
Children can identify differences and similarities between Lon Po Po and Little Red-Riding Hood. By doing this children can see how some cultures are different, such as calling grandmother ‘Po Po.’ By reading more traditional tales from other countries, children learn so much about cultures and various ethnicities. Diverse children will also be able to identify with many of the retellings.
Additional recommended books:
*Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale by Gerald McDermott ISBN 0670133698
*Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti by Gerald McDermott ISBN 0805003118
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Folktale Review - Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet: Mexican Folktales By: Neil Philip
Bibliography
Philip, N. (2003). Horse hooves and chicken Feet: Mexican folktales. Ill. by Jacqueline Mair. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618194630
Plot Summary
Neil Philip provides us with 14 folktales from Mexico, as well as Mexican populations in Colorado and New Mexico. The folktales portray everyday people, in unusual circumstances. The stories are about love, religion, witchcraft, magic, and of course, good triumphing over evil. In The Flea, a young boy wishes to marry the magician’s daughter. He is given the test of hiding where the magician cannot find him. Eventually, the boy hides on the brim of the magician’s sombrero, winning his daughter. The Hog provides a particularly important lesson about greed. A man is so selfish that he will not share his fattened hog with the village. The man’s friend and he devise a plan to claim that the hog was stolen. The man’s friend actually does steal the great hog from the egotistical man, and realizes that the man had no intention of even sharing with him. “So the friend got the whole hog, and the man was left with nothing – and some say he was too mean to share even that with his neighbors” (Phillip, 2003). In Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet, young boys become fixated of beautiful dancing women. Luckily, one of the boys discovers that the women all have chicken’s feet and the men have horse hooves. These dancing women were actually witches. The boy and his friends nearly escaped them. Cinder Juan was one story that had many of the same scenarios as Cinderella. The youngest brother, Juan, was forced to sleep in squalor conditions, with only a cat as a friend. Juan finds buried gold that his deceased father left for him. Juan and the cat go away to a new town where they are very generous with their riches. Juan’s older brothers come looking for him, but Juan is hiding in the priest’s home. The cat tells Juan that in order to be safe he must pay the priest to have a mass for the souls of his dead mother and father. After the masses, Juan realizes that his friend the cat is actually the soul of his father, who is now retuning to God.
Critical Analysis
There is a heavy undertone of Catholicism prevalent throughout the book. While reading Pedro the Trickster, we see Pedro speaking to the Lord, and reciting the Hail Mary prayer when he is in trouble. In Cinder Juan, everything is saved once masses have been had for the soul of Juan’s dead parents. The priest’s home is a safe haven for Juan. Being Catholic, I can relate to the message in this story. As long as one stays true to their Catholic faith, good will beat evil each time. The Blessed Virgin Mary is also written about it The Seven Oxen. The girl in the story was convinced that the Blessed Virgin gave her food for her family. The element of witchcraft and the devil is also rampant throughout the stories. Whenever a character is greedy or selfish, they devil makes an appearance in the illustrations.
Jacqueline Mair’s pictures in the book grasp the culture and traditions of the Mexican people. The illustrations resemble paintings from Mexican artists like Frida Kahlo. The bright colors and animate faces contribute to the tales being told. The religious pictures are very bold. Angels are drawn as pleasant-faced winged creatures. The devils and demons appear to be dancing around with their tongues out, and arms stretched widely, as if they will grab you and take you away. The stories and pictures open the reader’s eyes to a world and culture that they may not have known about.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal
In an informative introduction, Philip delineates the distinctive flavor of Mexican tales, their blend of religion and humor, and the particular pointed bite of many of the stories. The sparkle he discerns in the body of work comes through clearly in his stylish and humorous retellings. Mair's primitive acrylic illustrations, based on Mexican folk art, are alive with bright color and a kinetic sensibility. They both complement and extend the spicy stories, making this a well-put-together package. Clearly superior to the Little Book of Latin American Folktales (Groundwood, 2003), this title is narrower in scope, but the excellence of the text more than compensates for it. The book concludes with detailed notes on each of the stories and an extensive bibliography. All of the stories tell aloud well, which may be the way to introduce this sound and enjoyable volume to youngsters.
Booklist
The stories are simply yet effectively retold, usually in five or six pages, with many reflecting the strong influence of the Catholic Church on Mexican culture. Adding considerably to the overall appeal of the book are Mair's exuberant illustrations, accomplished in the style of Mexican folk art. Usually, one illustration comprising several images accompanies each story, each image mirroring some action, often in a way that is original and unexpected.
Connections:
Children will enjoy reading folktales from the Mexican culture. Those children who are already familiar with the tales will be able to share more about them, even telling some of their own that they may have grown up with. While reading the stories, teachers can ask children if they have heard similar ones before. The children may be able to relate The Priest Who Had a Glimpse of Glory to Rip Van Winkle.
Additional recommended books:
*Latin American Folktales: Stories from Hispanic and Indian Traditions by John Bierhorst
ISBN 0375714391
*Fiesta Feminina: Celebrating Women In Mexican Folktale by Mary-Joan Gerson
ISBN 1841488070
Philip, N. (2003). Horse hooves and chicken Feet: Mexican folktales. Ill. by Jacqueline Mair. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618194630
Plot Summary
Neil Philip provides us with 14 folktales from Mexico, as well as Mexican populations in Colorado and New Mexico. The folktales portray everyday people, in unusual circumstances. The stories are about love, religion, witchcraft, magic, and of course, good triumphing over evil. In The Flea, a young boy wishes to marry the magician’s daughter. He is given the test of hiding where the magician cannot find him. Eventually, the boy hides on the brim of the magician’s sombrero, winning his daughter. The Hog provides a particularly important lesson about greed. A man is so selfish that he will not share his fattened hog with the village. The man’s friend and he devise a plan to claim that the hog was stolen. The man’s friend actually does steal the great hog from the egotistical man, and realizes that the man had no intention of even sharing with him. “So the friend got the whole hog, and the man was left with nothing – and some say he was too mean to share even that with his neighbors” (Phillip, 2003). In Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet, young boys become fixated of beautiful dancing women. Luckily, one of the boys discovers that the women all have chicken’s feet and the men have horse hooves. These dancing women were actually witches. The boy and his friends nearly escaped them. Cinder Juan was one story that had many of the same scenarios as Cinderella. The youngest brother, Juan, was forced to sleep in squalor conditions, with only a cat as a friend. Juan finds buried gold that his deceased father left for him. Juan and the cat go away to a new town where they are very generous with their riches. Juan’s older brothers come looking for him, but Juan is hiding in the priest’s home. The cat tells Juan that in order to be safe he must pay the priest to have a mass for the souls of his dead mother and father. After the masses, Juan realizes that his friend the cat is actually the soul of his father, who is now retuning to God.
Critical Analysis
There is a heavy undertone of Catholicism prevalent throughout the book. While reading Pedro the Trickster, we see Pedro speaking to the Lord, and reciting the Hail Mary prayer when he is in trouble. In Cinder Juan, everything is saved once masses have been had for the soul of Juan’s dead parents. The priest’s home is a safe haven for Juan. Being Catholic, I can relate to the message in this story. As long as one stays true to their Catholic faith, good will beat evil each time. The Blessed Virgin Mary is also written about it The Seven Oxen. The girl in the story was convinced that the Blessed Virgin gave her food for her family. The element of witchcraft and the devil is also rampant throughout the stories. Whenever a character is greedy or selfish, they devil makes an appearance in the illustrations.
Jacqueline Mair’s pictures in the book grasp the culture and traditions of the Mexican people. The illustrations resemble paintings from Mexican artists like Frida Kahlo. The bright colors and animate faces contribute to the tales being told. The religious pictures are very bold. Angels are drawn as pleasant-faced winged creatures. The devils and demons appear to be dancing around with their tongues out, and arms stretched widely, as if they will grab you and take you away. The stories and pictures open the reader’s eyes to a world and culture that they may not have known about.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal
In an informative introduction, Philip delineates the distinctive flavor of Mexican tales, their blend of religion and humor, and the particular pointed bite of many of the stories. The sparkle he discerns in the body of work comes through clearly in his stylish and humorous retellings. Mair's primitive acrylic illustrations, based on Mexican folk art, are alive with bright color and a kinetic sensibility. They both complement and extend the spicy stories, making this a well-put-together package. Clearly superior to the Little Book of Latin American Folktales (Groundwood, 2003), this title is narrower in scope, but the excellence of the text more than compensates for it. The book concludes with detailed notes on each of the stories and an extensive bibliography. All of the stories tell aloud well, which may be the way to introduce this sound and enjoyable volume to youngsters.
Booklist
The stories are simply yet effectively retold, usually in five or six pages, with many reflecting the strong influence of the Catholic Church on Mexican culture. Adding considerably to the overall appeal of the book are Mair's exuberant illustrations, accomplished in the style of Mexican folk art. Usually, one illustration comprising several images accompanies each story, each image mirroring some action, often in a way that is original and unexpected.
Connections:
Children will enjoy reading folktales from the Mexican culture. Those children who are already familiar with the tales will be able to share more about them, even telling some of their own that they may have grown up with. While reading the stories, teachers can ask children if they have heard similar ones before. The children may be able to relate The Priest Who Had a Glimpse of Glory to Rip Van Winkle.
Additional recommended books:
*Latin American Folktales: Stories from Hispanic and Indian Traditions by John Bierhorst
ISBN 0375714391
*Fiesta Feminina: Celebrating Women In Mexican Folktale by Mary-Joan Gerson
ISBN 1841488070
Folktale Review - Abadeha: The Philippine Cinderella By: Myrna J. de la Paz
Bibliography
De la Paz, M. (2001). Abadeha: The Philippine Cinderella. Ill. By Youshan Tang. Auburn, CA: Shen's Books. ISBN 1885008171
Plot Summary
Abadeha is a young Filipino girl lives with her father, stepmother and stepsisters after her mother passes away. Because Abadeha’s father is away on fishing trips, Stepmother treats Abadeha as if she were a slave. One day, Stepmother throws handkerchiefs at her and demands, “Wash these two handkerchiefs until the white one turns black and the black one turns white” (de la Paz, 2001). Abadeha is so upset, she runs to the riverbank and weeps as she remembers the happy times when her mother was still alive. As her tears fall, she suddenly sees several spirits appear before her eyes. The spirits help her with the impossible handkerchief task, as well as several other jobs that Stepmother insists upon. The spirits present Abadeha with a beautiful sarimanok bird. When Stepmother sees the plump and full bird, she chops the head off and cooks it for dinner. Abadeha takes the deceased bird’s feet and buries them next to her mother’s grave. After the rainy season, Abadeha returns to the plot to see a beautiful jewel encrusted tree growing from the sarimanok's grave. This tree is discovered by a handsome prince who places one of the tree’s golden rings on his finger. The prince’s finger swells badly around the ring, causing it to become fixed on his hand. During the night, the prince has a dream that tells him that the one girl who can remove the ring will be his new bride. When the prince’s news is announced, several girls from the islands flock to try their hand at removing the ring. Abadeha asked to go as well, but Stepmother was shocked at this request and proceeds to lock her stepdaughter away. The spirits came and freed Abadeha from her confinement, and told her to go to the prince. Abadeha, filthy and haggard, tenderly removed the prince’s ring, while onlookers were astonished. The prince found his bride. Abadeha and the prince celebrated a very beautiful and joyous wedding. Abadeha's father felt so proud of his daughter, and decided to banish Stepmother and her daughters to the chicken yard. Happiness and love flourished between Abadeha and her prince.
Critical Analysis
Myrna J. de la Paz’s Abadeha: A Philippine Cinderella is an excellent folktale variant of the Cinderella story. De la Paz really captures the agony and struggle that the Cinderella character, Abadeha, must endure each and every day. Stepmother is depicted as a very cruel and threatening woman. The illustrations of Stepmother portray her as a selfish woman who holds a great amount of resentment towards her stepdaughter. Abadeha is very obedient; doing loads of cleaning and cooking, but never receives recognition for her hard work. The author does a tremendous job telling the reader how much Abadeha misses her deceased mother, and how she wishes her life could be full of joy and happiness once again. When the spirits present Abadeha with the sarimanok bird, the reader begins to feel happy for her. I was very jolted when Stepmother grabbed the bird and chopped off its head and feet in order to cook it. Just when it looked like Abadeha was being given happiness, it was quickly taken away. She remains very obedient throughout the story, even though she is going through an immense amount of pain.
I found the concept of the prince’s ring to be very interesting. In the traditional Cinderella story, fitting into a glass slipper is the deciding method to find the prince’s bride. In this retelling, de la Paz chooses to create an item to be taken off by the chosen bride. The prince does not go door to door searching for his bride. Instead, the women must come to him. Because I am part of the Filipino culture, I know that this is a very accepted practice. Women are expected to wait on men and make sure they are being taken care of. Throughout the story, Abadeha is extremely subservient, never once talking back to Stepmother, even though some of us would have liked her to. De la Paz portrayed the young Filipino girl very well. Many of the illustrations depicted Filipino life very accurately. The luscious palm trees, red-orange sunsets, and sarimanok birds are that are very prevalent in the Philippines. By looking at the pictures, I can almost feel the intense humidity that is rampant in the islands. In several pictures, Abadeha is seen using traditional Filipino cooking pots, mango knives, woven mats, and homemade brooms. De la Paz brilliantly captured how life in the Philippines is.
Review Excerpts
Booklist
As de la Paz explains in an author's note, this story, a reconstruction of the Cinderella story from traditional Philippine folklore, has disappeared from mainstream folklore because of Spanish colonization and Americanization. This telling is long, but the details are evocative. The colored pencil art is pleasant but oddly generic. Although the characters are in traditional dress, there is no real feeling of time or place. Still, many libraries, especially those with a Filipino population, will want to have this on hand.
School Library Journal
The illustrations are slightly stiff; often characters' eyes seem to be dark sockets with a resulting look reminiscent of textbook art. The text and art together provide an adequate, if somewhat awkward portrayal of Cinderella.
Connections
Read several different retellings of the Cinderella story. Ask the class to compare and contrast the different stories. By doing this, children can see how cultures have different customs and practices. Have each child create their own Cinderella story. This story can include traditions and customs from their own families. Each child can then read their story to the class.
Additional recommended books
*Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition by Jewell Reinhart Coburn
ISBN 1885008139
*Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella by Robert D. San Souci ISBN 0689848889
*The Irish Cinderlad by Shirley Climo ISBN 0064435776
*Bubba, The Cowboy Prince by Helen Ketteman ISBN 0590255061
De la Paz, M. (2001). Abadeha: The Philippine Cinderella. Ill. By Youshan Tang. Auburn, CA: Shen's Books. ISBN 1885008171
Plot Summary
Abadeha is a young Filipino girl lives with her father, stepmother and stepsisters after her mother passes away. Because Abadeha’s father is away on fishing trips, Stepmother treats Abadeha as if she were a slave. One day, Stepmother throws handkerchiefs at her and demands, “Wash these two handkerchiefs until the white one turns black and the black one turns white” (de la Paz, 2001). Abadeha is so upset, she runs to the riverbank and weeps as she remembers the happy times when her mother was still alive. As her tears fall, she suddenly sees several spirits appear before her eyes. The spirits help her with the impossible handkerchief task, as well as several other jobs that Stepmother insists upon. The spirits present Abadeha with a beautiful sarimanok bird. When Stepmother sees the plump and full bird, she chops the head off and cooks it for dinner. Abadeha takes the deceased bird’s feet and buries them next to her mother’s grave. After the rainy season, Abadeha returns to the plot to see a beautiful jewel encrusted tree growing from the sarimanok's grave. This tree is discovered by a handsome prince who places one of the tree’s golden rings on his finger. The prince’s finger swells badly around the ring, causing it to become fixed on his hand. During the night, the prince has a dream that tells him that the one girl who can remove the ring will be his new bride. When the prince’s news is announced, several girls from the islands flock to try their hand at removing the ring. Abadeha asked to go as well, but Stepmother was shocked at this request and proceeds to lock her stepdaughter away. The spirits came and freed Abadeha from her confinement, and told her to go to the prince. Abadeha, filthy and haggard, tenderly removed the prince’s ring, while onlookers were astonished. The prince found his bride. Abadeha and the prince celebrated a very beautiful and joyous wedding. Abadeha's father felt so proud of his daughter, and decided to banish Stepmother and her daughters to the chicken yard. Happiness and love flourished between Abadeha and her prince.
Critical Analysis
Myrna J. de la Paz’s Abadeha: A Philippine Cinderella is an excellent folktale variant of the Cinderella story. De la Paz really captures the agony and struggle that the Cinderella character, Abadeha, must endure each and every day. Stepmother is depicted as a very cruel and threatening woman. The illustrations of Stepmother portray her as a selfish woman who holds a great amount of resentment towards her stepdaughter. Abadeha is very obedient; doing loads of cleaning and cooking, but never receives recognition for her hard work. The author does a tremendous job telling the reader how much Abadeha misses her deceased mother, and how she wishes her life could be full of joy and happiness once again. When the spirits present Abadeha with the sarimanok bird, the reader begins to feel happy for her. I was very jolted when Stepmother grabbed the bird and chopped off its head and feet in order to cook it. Just when it looked like Abadeha was being given happiness, it was quickly taken away. She remains very obedient throughout the story, even though she is going through an immense amount of pain.
I found the concept of the prince’s ring to be very interesting. In the traditional Cinderella story, fitting into a glass slipper is the deciding method to find the prince’s bride. In this retelling, de la Paz chooses to create an item to be taken off by the chosen bride. The prince does not go door to door searching for his bride. Instead, the women must come to him. Because I am part of the Filipino culture, I know that this is a very accepted practice. Women are expected to wait on men and make sure they are being taken care of. Throughout the story, Abadeha is extremely subservient, never once talking back to Stepmother, even though some of us would have liked her to. De la Paz portrayed the young Filipino girl very well. Many of the illustrations depicted Filipino life very accurately. The luscious palm trees, red-orange sunsets, and sarimanok birds are that are very prevalent in the Philippines. By looking at the pictures, I can almost feel the intense humidity that is rampant in the islands. In several pictures, Abadeha is seen using traditional Filipino cooking pots, mango knives, woven mats, and homemade brooms. De la Paz brilliantly captured how life in the Philippines is.
Review Excerpts
Booklist
As de la Paz explains in an author's note, this story, a reconstruction of the Cinderella story from traditional Philippine folklore, has disappeared from mainstream folklore because of Spanish colonization and Americanization. This telling is long, but the details are evocative. The colored pencil art is pleasant but oddly generic. Although the characters are in traditional dress, there is no real feeling of time or place. Still, many libraries, especially those with a Filipino population, will want to have this on hand.
School Library Journal
The illustrations are slightly stiff; often characters' eyes seem to be dark sockets with a resulting look reminiscent of textbook art. The text and art together provide an adequate, if somewhat awkward portrayal of Cinderella.
Connections
Read several different retellings of the Cinderella story. Ask the class to compare and contrast the different stories. By doing this, children can see how cultures have different customs and practices. Have each child create their own Cinderella story. This story can include traditions and customs from their own families. Each child can then read their story to the class.
Additional recommended books
*Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition by Jewell Reinhart Coburn
ISBN 1885008139
*Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella by Robert D. San Souci ISBN 0689848889
*The Irish Cinderlad by Shirley Climo ISBN 0064435776
*Bubba, The Cowboy Prince by Helen Ketteman ISBN 0590255061
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Picture This: How Pictures Work By: Molly Bang
Bibliography
Bang, M. 2000. Picture This: How Pictures Work. New York, NY: SeaStar Books.
ISBN 1587170299
Plot Summary
The author, Molly Bang, shows us how illustrations can be emphasized and call attention to certain expressions. She demonstrates how stories can be enriched by pictures. Certain shapes, sizes and colors come together to create a particular environment. We can see how a picture forms and what elements must be present in order to convey a message.
Critical Analysis
Molly Bang shows how pictures are important to a story, and that they are not there to merely fill up blank space. She explains how pictures can change the meaning of a story, express fear or sadness, and serve as a tool for better understanding of a plot. Bang shows that color is vital in portraying a feeling, such as anger. When we see a red face on an illustration, we can determine that this character must be angry. Bang educates us on the use of size. By altering the size of a character, she illustrates how the character becomes slighter and more vulnerable. Bang shows us her techniques with the Little Red Riding Hood example. By drawing her as a red triangle, Bang places the symbol behind black bar which represents a tree. By this placement, Molly Bang creates a sense of the character being in the woods. When Bang wants to fear more for the safety of Little Red Riding Hood, she makes the red triangle smaller and smaller amidst the trees. It is interesting to see how minor adjustments to pictures create and entirely new sense.
Review Excerpt(s)
Library Journal- Most of us can describe how a painting makes us feel, but few can say why. Bang brilliantly illustrates how simple forms--diagonals, triangles, curves, horizontals--can be active, soothing, or downright scary.
The Horn Book- Picture This extends the imagination, encourages creativity, and helps readers re-examine their world and themselves from different perspectives.
Connections
Classrooms can practice cutting out colored paper into different shapes and sizes. They can experiment with the placement of certain character symbols. By doing this, children can see how pictures can make us feel different emotions while reading a story.
Other books on illustration:
*Illustrating Children's Books: Creating Pictures for Publication by Martin Salisbruy
ISBN 0764127179
*Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children's Books by Uri Shulevits
ISBN 0823059359
*Bologna Annual 2007 (Bologna Annual. Illustrators of Children's Books
by Bologna International Selection Jury ISBN 0698400615
Bang, M. 2000. Picture This: How Pictures Work. New York, NY: SeaStar Books.
ISBN 1587170299
Plot Summary
The author, Molly Bang, shows us how illustrations can be emphasized and call attention to certain expressions. She demonstrates how stories can be enriched by pictures. Certain shapes, sizes and colors come together to create a particular environment. We can see how a picture forms and what elements must be present in order to convey a message.
Critical Analysis
Molly Bang shows how pictures are important to a story, and that they are not there to merely fill up blank space. She explains how pictures can change the meaning of a story, express fear or sadness, and serve as a tool for better understanding of a plot. Bang shows that color is vital in portraying a feeling, such as anger. When we see a red face on an illustration, we can determine that this character must be angry. Bang educates us on the use of size. By altering the size of a character, she illustrates how the character becomes slighter and more vulnerable. Bang shows us her techniques with the Little Red Riding Hood example. By drawing her as a red triangle, Bang places the symbol behind black bar which represents a tree. By this placement, Molly Bang creates a sense of the character being in the woods. When Bang wants to fear more for the safety of Little Red Riding Hood, she makes the red triangle smaller and smaller amidst the trees. It is interesting to see how minor adjustments to pictures create and entirely new sense.
Review Excerpt(s)
Library Journal- Most of us can describe how a painting makes us feel, but few can say why. Bang brilliantly illustrates how simple forms--diagonals, triangles, curves, horizontals--can be active, soothing, or downright scary.
The Horn Book- Picture This extends the imagination, encourages creativity, and helps readers re-examine their world and themselves from different perspectives.
Connections
Classrooms can practice cutting out colored paper into different shapes and sizes. They can experiment with the placement of certain character symbols. By doing this, children can see how pictures can make us feel different emotions while reading a story.
Other books on illustration:
*Illustrating Children's Books: Creating Pictures for Publication by Martin Salisbruy
ISBN 0764127179
*Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children's Books by Uri Shulevits
ISBN 0823059359
*Bologna Annual 2007 (Bologna Annual. Illustrators of Children's Books
by Bologna International Selection Jury ISBN 0698400615
My Friend Rabbit By: Eric Rohmann
Bibliography
Rohmann, E. 2002. My Friend Rabbit. Brookfield, CT: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 0761324208
Plot Summary
Mouse describes his friend Rabbit who is always trying to have fun and help, but seems get into trouble. Rabbit has gotten their plane stuck in a tree, and he recruits several animals to build a tower in order to get the plane back. Once Rabbit has his tall ladder of animals, including an elephant, a rhinoceros, and a bear among others, barely reaches the plane. Suddenly, the natural tower loses balance, and all of the animal fall, making them very angry at Rabbit. Mouse flies down and saves his friend from the grasp of the fuming animals. Mouse knows that his friend means well. As they fly, the two friends become stuck in the tree, and Rabbit starts cooking up another brilliant plan to get them saved.
Critical Analysis
The use of illustration is very important to the story. There are not many words on each page, and some pages are comprised solely of pictures. Rhomman’s illustrations have a very important job, since there are so few words. The bright colors used seem allow the images really jump out at the readers. The illustrations are excellent at presenting action and movement. While reading the story, I could almost hear what it sounded like and how it felt when the animal tower came crashing down. Rhomman does an outstanding job of showing emotions through the facial expressions of his characters. We can see the timid look of the animals when Rabbit is dragging them together for an unknown fate. The faces then look shocked and terrified as they fall. I can see how the angry eyes of the animals evoked fear in Rabbit when they were surrounding him. The wide-eyes of Rabbit tell the reader that he is very scared. Even when things are not going as planned, we see Rabbit with a determined and pleasant look on his face, showing the reader that he will never give up, much to the dismay of his friend, Mouse.
Review Excerpts
Publishers Weekly This gentle lesson in patience and loyalty, balanced on the back of a hilarious set of illustrations, will leave young readers clamoring for repeat readings
School Library Journal The double-page, hand-colored relief prints with heavy black outlines are magnificent, and children will enjoy the comically expressive pictures of the animals before and after their attempt to extract the plane. The text is minimal; it's the illustrations that are the draw here.
Connections
This book could be used as a wonderful tool in teaching patience to young children. They can think of a friend, family member, or pet that sometimes gets into trouble, even though they mean well. This activity could go one step higher by asking students to explain the reasons why they still love this person or pet, despite their faults.
Additional recommended books:
*A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann ISBN 9780517709153
*Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes ISBN 0060588284
Rohmann, E. 2002. My Friend Rabbit. Brookfield, CT: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 0761324208
Plot Summary
Mouse describes his friend Rabbit who is always trying to have fun and help, but seems get into trouble. Rabbit has gotten their plane stuck in a tree, and he recruits several animals to build a tower in order to get the plane back. Once Rabbit has his tall ladder of animals, including an elephant, a rhinoceros, and a bear among others, barely reaches the plane. Suddenly, the natural tower loses balance, and all of the animal fall, making them very angry at Rabbit. Mouse flies down and saves his friend from the grasp of the fuming animals. Mouse knows that his friend means well. As they fly, the two friends become stuck in the tree, and Rabbit starts cooking up another brilliant plan to get them saved.
Critical Analysis
The use of illustration is very important to the story. There are not many words on each page, and some pages are comprised solely of pictures. Rhomman’s illustrations have a very important job, since there are so few words. The bright colors used seem allow the images really jump out at the readers. The illustrations are excellent at presenting action and movement. While reading the story, I could almost hear what it sounded like and how it felt when the animal tower came crashing down. Rhomman does an outstanding job of showing emotions through the facial expressions of his characters. We can see the timid look of the animals when Rabbit is dragging them together for an unknown fate. The faces then look shocked and terrified as they fall. I can see how the angry eyes of the animals evoked fear in Rabbit when they were surrounding him. The wide-eyes of Rabbit tell the reader that he is very scared. Even when things are not going as planned, we see Rabbit with a determined and pleasant look on his face, showing the reader that he will never give up, much to the dismay of his friend, Mouse.
Review Excerpts
Publishers Weekly This gentle lesson in patience and loyalty, balanced on the back of a hilarious set of illustrations, will leave young readers clamoring for repeat readings
School Library Journal The double-page, hand-colored relief prints with heavy black outlines are magnificent, and children will enjoy the comically expressive pictures of the animals before and after their attempt to extract the plane. The text is minimal; it's the illustrations that are the draw here.
Connections
This book could be used as a wonderful tool in teaching patience to young children. They can think of a friend, family member, or pet that sometimes gets into trouble, even though they mean well. This activity could go one step higher by asking students to explain the reasons why they still love this person or pet, despite their faults.
Additional recommended books:
*A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann ISBN 9780517709153
*Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes ISBN 0060588284
Knuffle Bunny By: Mo Willems
Bibliography
Willems, Mo. 2004. Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. By Mo Willems. New York, NY: Hyperion Books For Children. ISBN 078681870
Plot Summary
A toddler girl named Trixie, who does not yet speak, goes to help her daddy at the Laundromat. The trip is full of fun and adventure until Trixie realizes that her favorite stuffed bunny is nowhere to be found. The reader sees Trixie’s inability to express her predicament. Trixie’s parents go through an intense search for the Knuffle Bunny, which is eventually found, leading Trixie to speak her first words.
Critical Analysis
Readers, both young and old, can enjoy and connect with this book. The black and white photos throughout the book can connect with parents who may have lived in similar looking neighborhoods. While appealing to adults, the bright and bold overlay of the human characters grab the attention of children. Trixie's facial expressions alone, could tell the story. We can see how the emotions progressed throughout the day, as particular events were happening to Trixie. Losing a beloved toy is something that children can relate to. Recovering that missing toy can evoke so much happiness in a child, that they may even utter their first words, like Trixie did.
Review Excerpts
Publishers Weekly: Willems renders the characters with Little Lulu-style pointed noses and their expressions are laugh-out-loud funny, from the hapless father's worried look as he and Trixie venture out to the Laundromat, to his roll-up-your-sleeves determination as he rescues the stuffed toy from the washing machine.
Booklist: “Sepia-tone photographs of a Brooklyn neighborhood provide the backdrops for his hand-drawn artwork, intensifying the humor of the gleefully stylized characters--especially Trixie herself, who effectively registers all the universal signs of toddler distress, from the first quavery grimace to the uncooperative, "boneless" stage to the googly-eyed, gape-mouthed crisis point. Even children who can already talk a blue streak will come away satisfied that their own strong emotions have been mirrored and legitimized, and readers of all ages will recognize the agonizing frustration of a little girl who knows far more than she can articulate.” Jennifer Mattson
Connections
Children will be able to relate their own experiences to Trixie’s. Children can understand the feelings that the illustrations depicted throughout the book. Adults will also remember if they had a toy like the Knuffle Bunny when they were young.
Other books by this author that are recommended:
*Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems ISBN 1423102991
*Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems ISBN 078681988
*The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! by Mo Willems ISBN 0786836504
Willems, Mo. 2004. Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. By Mo Willems. New York, NY: Hyperion Books For Children. ISBN 078681870
Plot Summary
A toddler girl named Trixie, who does not yet speak, goes to help her daddy at the Laundromat. The trip is full of fun and adventure until Trixie realizes that her favorite stuffed bunny is nowhere to be found. The reader sees Trixie’s inability to express her predicament. Trixie’s parents go through an intense search for the Knuffle Bunny, which is eventually found, leading Trixie to speak her first words.
Critical Analysis
Readers, both young and old, can enjoy and connect with this book. The black and white photos throughout the book can connect with parents who may have lived in similar looking neighborhoods. While appealing to adults, the bright and bold overlay of the human characters grab the attention of children. Trixie's facial expressions alone, could tell the story. We can see how the emotions progressed throughout the day, as particular events were happening to Trixie. Losing a beloved toy is something that children can relate to. Recovering that missing toy can evoke so much happiness in a child, that they may even utter their first words, like Trixie did.
Review Excerpts
Publishers Weekly: Willems renders the characters with Little Lulu-style pointed noses and their expressions are laugh-out-loud funny, from the hapless father's worried look as he and Trixie venture out to the Laundromat, to his roll-up-your-sleeves determination as he rescues the stuffed toy from the washing machine.
Booklist: “Sepia-tone photographs of a Brooklyn neighborhood provide the backdrops for his hand-drawn artwork, intensifying the humor of the gleefully stylized characters--especially Trixie herself, who effectively registers all the universal signs of toddler distress, from the first quavery grimace to the uncooperative, "boneless" stage to the googly-eyed, gape-mouthed crisis point. Even children who can already talk a blue streak will come away satisfied that their own strong emotions have been mirrored and legitimized, and readers of all ages will recognize the agonizing frustration of a little girl who knows far more than she can articulate.” Jennifer Mattson
Connections
Children will be able to relate their own experiences to Trixie’s. Children can understand the feelings that the illustrations depicted throughout the book. Adults will also remember if they had a toy like the Knuffle Bunny when they were young.
Other books by this author that are recommended:
*Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems ISBN 1423102991
*Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems ISBN 078681988
*The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! by Mo Willems ISBN 0786836504
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