The Lion and the Mouse

The Lion and the Mouse

Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Published by Little, Brown and Company in New York and Boston in 2009. ISBN 978-0-316-01356-7

     Jerry Pinkney turned Aesop's fable of The Lion and the Mouse into a beautiful wordless picture book. In the classic tale, a tiny mouse runs across a lion and the lion decides to let the mouse go. The lion then gets caught in a trap set by poachers. As lion is roaring in the trap, mouse hears his cries. The tiny mouse returns the favor of being freed by chewing away the ropes the lion is trapped in and the lion is released. The two animals go on to live their lives. 
     The illustrations in this version are spectacular. Pinkney’s striking detail conveys the meaning of the book wonderfully. For example, as the mouse runs from the screeching owl in the beginning, the reader can see the fear in his eyes as he runs through the emptied log. Also, I love the way Pinkney zooms into the small parts of the book, like the mouse as he sits in the field. At first, I almost missed the lion’s tail, as it looked like a part of the field, but upon careful examination I began to see the mouse running into the lion. The book is set within Africa and the beautiful scenes pull you in and make you feel as if you are there. The plot moves quickly throughout the book as many conflicts are constantly occurring. The owl chasing the mouse, the lion catching the mouse, the poachers laying the trap, the lion getting caught in the trap all contribute to the fast pace of the book. 
     I enjoyed reading this book and I am happy that I decided to add it to my own personal library. The beautiful pictures and wonderful lessons make this version great for readers of all ages. 

Awards and Reviews:

Caldecott Medal Winner 2010

Horn Book Awards Honor Book 2010

a New York Times Best Illustrated Book 2010

School Library Journal Best Books of 2009

In a starred review, SLJ made a good point about the near-wordless format: "the lack of words...allows for a slower, subtle, and ultimately more satisfying read." www.the-best-children’s-books.org

Connections: Compare and Contrast

The Three Little Pigs

The Three Little Pigs

Retold and illustrated by James Marshall. Published by Dial Books for Young Readers in New York in 1989. ISBN 0-8037-0594-8

James Marshall puts his own twist on the classic story of the three little pigs. The tale begins with the mother sending her three pigs off to build their houses. The first pig builds a house of straw, but it gets blown in and the pig gets eaten. The second pig builds a house of sticks. Again, the wolf is able to blow the house down and eat the pig. The third little pig builds a house of bricks and the wolf is unable to blow it down. In Marshall’s retelling of the classic tale, the wolf tries to trick the third little pig by inviting him to go to the turnip field, Merry Meadow, and the fair before giving up and trying to go down the chimney. In the end, the third little pig overcomes the evil wolf by thinking quickly and putting the pot of water to catch and kill the wolf. As an adult, I find it weird that the pig ate the wolf. I think children might be more accepting of the fact that the wolf ate pig number one and two after pig number three gets revenge for his brothers. However, this version of The Three Little Pigs has a lot of death in it, as the two pigs and the wolf are all eaten.

Marshall’s voice adds a lighter, funnier twist to this classic. For instance, after the man with sticks tells the second little pig to think twice about making his house of sticks, the pig responds with “Oh, pooh.” Marshall’s fun and whimsical text carries into his illustrations as he adds quirky details such as wind chimes and balloons in the second little pig’s house. Marshall seems to depict the third little pig as the smartest of the three pigs from the very beginning. For example, on page one, pig number three is dressed in a suit with a briefcase-type bag while pig number one and two are shirtless with shorts and no shoes.

Marshall’s retelling is set in the country and the pig and wolf visit fields, meadows, and the fair. The book’s pattern in text allows for listeners to chime in, which is great for read-alouds with young children.

Awards and Reviews:

Publishers Weekly

Readers who grin when they pick up this title can be forgiven for correctly anticipating amusing antics within, especially if they are familiar with Marshall's other half-fractured fairy tales (including Goldilocks and the Three Bears , a Caldecott Honor book). Deadpan as ever, Marshall begins this one in a traditional way: the old sow sends her piglets off into the big world. Despite the protests of the tradesmen who sell them materials, both the first and second pig construct their flimsy houses of straw and sticks. In short order, they are gobbled up by the wolf. The pig who invests in bricks, of course, does the gobbling when he encounters the wolf, after a merry mass of near misses that blithely build suspense. There are fairy tales, and there are Marshall's tales. Readers can also be forgiven for preferring his over all the rest. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) www.barnesandnoble.com

Children's Literature

The Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator retells the story of the "Three Little Pigs" in the same silly manner of his previously released Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. His retelling minimizes the gruesome aspects of traditional versions but still portrays the three pigs building their respective houses out of straw, wood and bricks and then tricking the Big Bad Wolf. The story's humor is exemplified when the first little pig asks a man for a lead of hay to build a house, only to be told, "That's not a good idea." The pig replies, "Mind your own business, thank you." This version could easily be paired with Marshall's other retellings for an author study, or could be used to review the traditional story before going on to Scieszka's The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, or Trivizas's The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig. Reviewer: Wendy Pollock-Gilson www.barnesandnoble.com

Connections: Ordinal Words, Sequencing, Fairy Tale Comparisons, Air Movement

Marshall, J. (1989). The Three Little Pigs. New York, US: Dial Books for Young Readers.

The Gingerbread Man

The Gingerbread Man

Written by Eric A. Kimmel and illustrated by Megan Lloyd. Published by Holiday House in New York in 1993. ISBN 0-8234-1137-0

In Kimmel’s version of this traditional tale, an old man and old woman bake a gingerbread man. After the cookie bakes, the old woman decorates him. As she places the last peppermint button, the cookie suddenly comes to life and runs away. He runs from the old man, old woman, old sow, dog, horse and cow. All of the characters tell the gingerbread man to slow down to talk as he zooms by. However, the gingerbread man runs on, taunting everyone to try to catch him.

Megan Lloyd seems to capture the feelings of the gingerbread perfectly, by showing the gingerbread man with a sneering smile as he runs from the characters in the book. Kimmel’s version of The Gingerbread Man is different than some of the other versions because the gingerbread cookie actually finishes cooking. In other versions I am familiar with, the bakers start to smell the cookie and cannot wait the whole baking time and take a peek into the oven. This is when the gingerbread cookie pops out of the oven and runs away. However, in Kimmel’s version, the cookie was baked, cooled and comes to life after he is decorated. Also, Kimmel adds a twist to the ending of his version. After the fox eats the gingerbread man, the last page shows a new pan of gingerbread cookies and tells how gingerbread men return each time people bake gingerbread. I think Kimmel’s version of the story helps young readers deal with the gingerbread man getting eaten in the ending of this traditional tale.  

            The characters in Kimmel’s version follows the typical characters found in this folktale. And true to the tale, that witty fox takes advantage of the arrogant cookie and tricks him into letting the fox “help” him across the river. The plot of the book follows the pattern of the cookie running away from all of the characters as he chants. Children often delight in the repeated chorus of this traditional tale, which makes this classic a favorite amongst readers of all ages.

            The book is set within a house in the country, and then the gingerbread takes us throughout the country with his chase. That is until he comes to the river. The river stops the gingerbread man as he thinks about what to do. Which then allows the perfect opportunity for that sneaky fox to talk with the cookie.

            I always enjoy sharing versions of this traditional tale with young children. I especially think children will enjoy the twist that Kimmel adds to his retelling and delight that there are many more gingerbread men out there. Lloyd's cookie sheet full of joyful, dancing gingerbread men will probably have children forgetting that the sly fox just gobbled up that gingerbread man. 

Awards and Reviews:

School Library Journal

Kimmel brings humor and warmth to the retelling of this spicy classic. His text has a fast-paced rhythm that is perfect for read-alouds or storytelling. The deft prose has a strong narrative, good dialogue, and a fine chorus from the Gingerbread Man himself. Lloyd's illustrations work in tandem with the text to create verve and motion while maintaining a ``fresh-from-the-oven'' appeal. Her engaging art works beautifully with Kimmel's retelling to keep both eye and action moving across each page, thus enhancing the story's pace. This is a welcome addition to the ranks of gingerbread men who line library shelves--even Galdone's classic telling (Clarion, 1983) will seem a bit dull compared to this version. Lloyd's illustrations remain striking both closeup and at a distance. A book that's sure to hold every reader and story-hour audience through to a most satisfyingly delicious ending. --Elizabeth Hanson, Chicago Public Library www.barnesandnoble.com 

BookList - Ilene Cooper

The familiar tale gets a lift in this sprightly edition. Though the story begins "Once upon a time," the time seems to be modern: the old man and the old woman are ensconced in an appealing farmhouse complete with gas stove. Whatever the comforts of his home, the gingerbread man, with his licorice eyes and three peppermint buttons, has no intention of staying, and off he runs, taunting everyone he meets with, "I'll run and run as fast as I can. / You can't catch me. I'm the Gingerbread Man!" Of course, the fox does catch him--big time--but this version softens the ending with a final page of fresh, recently baked gingerbread men. This is a story that calls for energetic art, and Lloyd provides just that in warm-toned watercolors that feature the gingerbread man zipping across the pages. A compact text and suitably large pictures make this just right for groups. www.barnesandnoble.com

Connections: Explore materials that dissolve in water, Explore materials that are changed by heat

Kimmel, E. A. The Gingerbread Man. New York, US: Holiday House.

A Birthday Basket for Tia

A Birthday Basket for Tia

Written by Pat Mora and illustrated by Cecily Lang. Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers in New York in 1992. ISBN 0-02-767400-2

            A Birthday Basket for Tia is about a special present that a young girl, Cecilia, builds for her great aunt, Tia. For her aunt’s 90^th birthday surprise, Cecilia goes around the house looking for items that represent special memories to put in a basket as a present. She assembles the basket and gives it to Tia at her surprise party. Tia enjoys the sentimental gift and the two begin to dance together.

            I liked the way the author incorporated Spanish text within the book. The few key phrases were enough to enhance the diversity represented in the book, but not so much where non-Spanish speakers would loose meaning. I think the illustrations added to the overall feel of the book, especially in the pictures of Cecilia and Tia together, which depicts how much love the two have for each other and reinforces the special relationship talked about throughout the text. The sentimental storyline of A Birthday Basket for Tia is great for children and adults alike. This book is a great multicultural book, essential in an early childhood library.

Awards and Reviews: (found at Patmora.com)

"Cecilia is an irrepresible child; she and her cat gambol through the pages, recalling important moments in this intergenerational relationship … Mora’s simple text exemplifies the best of recent multicultural publishing. An honest, child-centered story."—Horn Book

"Vibrant, detailed cut-paper illustrations portray family warmth and individuality with verve and panache."—School Library Journal

"This warm and joyful story by a Hispanic poet tells of a young girl’s search for the perfect present for her great-aunt’s ninetieth birthday … The final surprise at Tía’s party symbolizes the strong relationship between generations."—Julie Corsaro, Booklist

Teaching Connections: Birthdays and celebrations, teaching ideas

Millions of Cats

Millions of Cats

Written by Wanda Gag. Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons in New York in 1928.

ISBN 0-399-23315-6

In Millions of Cats there lived an old woman and old man. One day the couple decides to add a cat to their home, since they are so lonely. The old man goes out to find a cat. While looking, he finds a hill covered with cats. He starts to look for the prettiest cat and selects one. When leaving though, he finds another cat just as pretty and takes it too. Soon, he is leaving with all cats as he thinks each one is beautiful. When the old man gets home, the old woman is upset that there are so many cats. The couple decides to let the cats decide who will stay by asking which one is the prettiest. The cats immediately start fighting over which one is the prettiest. The couple retreats to their house until the fighting stops. Then, the old man finds one small, scared kitten in the grass. The couple brings the cat home and takes care of it. The small, scraggly kitten turns out to be “the most beautiful cat in the whole world.”

Even though the pictures for Millions of Cats are all in black in white, there is incredible detail within them, like the blades of grass in the hills and the artwork within the couple’s home. There are some things for teachers and librarians to consider before using this text though. For example, the old man is smoking a pipe on some pages, which may have been more accepted at the time of publishing than now. Also, I was a little shocked with the way all of the cats fought and killed each other, but of course death is present in many classic fairy tales and stories. I did like the caring nature of the old man and how he thought each cat was beautiful and wanted to take them all home. Overall, the classic story is a must read for librarians and teachers to be aware of.

Teaching Connections: Place value (hundreds, thousands, millions)

Kitten's First Full Moon

Kitten’s First Full Moon

Written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes. Published by Greenwillow Books in the United States in 2004. ISBN 0-06-058828-4

Kitten’s First Full Moon is about a kitten’s new experiences. When Kitten sees the full moon for the first time, she thinks it is a bowl of milk in the sky. Kitten then attempts to get the bowl of milk. She tries stretching her neck, leaping towards it, chasing it, and climbing a tree to get closer to it. However, she keeps failing to reach the bowl of milk in the sky.  Then, Kitten comes to a pond where she sees the reflection of the moon and thinks it’s a bigger bowl of milk! She leaps to reach the milk and ends up soaked in the pond. Kitten goes home sad and hungry. When Kitten gets home, she finds a bowl of milk waiting for her.

            I enjoyed Kitten’s First Full Moon, this was my first time to read the book. I think the persistence of Kitten sends a good message to readers.  Teachers and librarians could use this book to teach students about working hard and not giving up. I loved the illustrations of the book. I think Kevin Henkes did a great job of showing Kitten’s personality in the illustrations. Like showing the frustration on Kitten’s face when she could not reach the moon, even though she tried so hard. I also liked the monochromatic gray tones that he used on all of the pages. This played perfectly with the night-time setting. I also liked the repetitive pattern in the book and I think that it contributed to the overall feel of the book. I think this book will be a great addition to my library.  

Awards and Reviews: Caldecott Medal 2005

Teaching Connections: Phases of the moon, Author Study, Descriptive Language