These reviews were created as an assignment for an SHSU course.
Willems,
Mo. 2019. THE PIGEON HAS TO GO TO SCHOOL!. New York: Hyperion Books for
Children. ISBN 9781368046459
Plot Summary: Mo Willems has done it again with his funny
pigeon character talking about something he doesn’t want to do. In this story,
the pigeon doesn’t want to go to school.
He discusses all the reasons he doesn’t want to go, but doesn’t really
seem to understand what school really entails.
A lot of his reasons are very similar to what children say in real life
about school. The pigeon has a great
realization at the end of the story.
Critical Analysis: Willems’s writing is very easy for the
reader to understand. The reader feels
like the pigeon is having and actual conversation with him or her. Willems also has a variety of punctuation
used as the pigeon expresses his feelings about school, so the reader can “hear”
the volume of the pigeon’s voice going up and down. The reader can relate to the pigeon’s fear of
school because his reasons of being fearful of the teacher and all the stuff
there is to learn are fears of kids in school.
As an illustrator, Willems draws simple pictures that are colorful
and attractive to the reader. His pigeon is a little goofy, which is perfect
for his children audience.
Review Excerpts:
Starred Review in School Library Journal: “Deftly balancing
genuine concerns with humor and buoyant reassurance, this irresistible offering
starring a fan favorite is sure to become a first-day-of-school classic.”
Starred Review on Booklist: “Children on their way to kindergarten may
recognize themselves in Pigeon’s story and take heart at his (eventual)
enthusiasm.”
Connections: Every fear that the pigeon cites about going to
school are relatable for children going to school for the first time and those
attending new school. The pigeon says he
doesn’t like mornings, and he’s concerned the teacher doesn’t like pigeons. He also worries about his heavy backpack,
what others will think of him, and all the things he needs to learn. Students can have discussions and even write about
how they felt coming to school for the first time and how they can relate to
the pigeon.
The book is filled with speech bubbles and different forms of
punctuation. This can spark some great
lessons and conversations detailing how to read different forms of punctuation
and the emotions that are conveyed when you see a period versus an exclamation
point along with large bold letters. This
book is a great back to school read aloud for every classroom to enjoy.
Thompson, Kay. 1955. ELOISE. Illustrations by Knight, Hilary. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743489768
Plot Summary: Eloise is a young girl who is enjoying life at
the Plaza. The story covers her crazy antics including sliding a stick on the
doors of her neighbors as she walks down the hallway, having temper tantrums,
and answering the phones of other guests in the lobby. Everyone knows Eloise. Her nanny and tutor do their best to support her
but must make life easier by spoiling her sometimes. When she’s not bothering the people also
living at the Plaza, she keeps herself from boredom by imagining all kinds of creative
scenarios.
Critical Analysis: Thompson seems to be catering to a child
reading her story in that she rarely uses punctuation, but still shares a story
that a child could easily relate. It’s
almost like Eloise is really talking to the reader and sharing her life that
everyone should understand. Eloise’s
parents are not around, and her daily activities are supported by her nanny and
tutor. The trouble she gets into reflects that of a lonely yet imaginative child.
The illustrations are simple with a slight bit of color to
attract the readers’ attention. Knight
utilizes the pink very well when showing Eloise’s made-up stories. The reader
automatically know what Eloise is doing and where her visions come into play.
Review Excerpt:
Amazon: “Eloise's taunts are
terrible, her imagination inimitable, her pace positively perilous. Her
impertinence will delight readers of all ages. (Ages 5 and older)?”
Connections: This book would be excellent for children who
are struggling with a missing parent. It shows the reader that others who care
for you can become family, take care of you, and provide what you need.
This book also gives children an opportunity to discuss creativity
and independence, what some may think is a simple idea, but might be hard for
some children. Children aren’t given a
lot of opportunities within the academic world to be creative and problem
solve. Eloise shows her readers that she can entertain herself when needed,
even though her boredom sometimes steers her to trouble.
McCloskey, Robert. 1941. MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 9780758700568
Plot Summary: Mr. and Mrs. Mallard Duck are on a very long search
to find just the right spot to lay their eggs and start a family. Mrs. Mallard dismisses multiple places before
landing near Charles River near Boston.
They meet a nice policeman, Michael, who feeds them. Mr. Mallard leaves one week while Mrs.
Mallard teaches the babies how to swim, dive, and stay away from moving things
like bicycles. After a week’s amount of
time, Mrs. Mallard, and her ducklings travel to the Boston Public Gardens to
meet Mr. Mallard. Along they way, Michael and other police officers need to
escort them away from moving cars and other city dangers.
Critical Analysis: Most of the story is easy to follow,
however a reader with little knowledge of the geography might get lost with some
of the vocabulary. For a picture book, it might also be a little lengthy for a
younger reader to enjoy unless he or she is really vested in the plot. McCloskey focuses on a theme of friendship
and family which is sure to attract most readers.
I love that even though McCloskey’s illustrations are
basically pencil gray drawings there are still various details, which is no
wonder he won a Caldecott Medal for this book.
Down to the wrinkles in the policeman’s clothes and the flag outside the
State House, McCloskey helps the reader visualize each place where the ducks
traveled.
Review Excerpts:
Kirkus: “…an enchanting and very
original book.”
The Horn Book: “Their (Bostonians) enthusiasm is rewarded with
plucky, astonishingly detailed ducks (apparently modeled after
ducks in McCloskey’s bathtub) and a wealth of beloved Boston landmarks (Beacon
Street! The Charles River! The swan boats in the Public Garden!).”
Connections: This book can be used to focus on family units
and how important care for family members is within a community. Not only does Mrs. Mallard understand that
Mr. Mallard needs to leave to explore the rest of the river, but she also shows
a mother can take care of her family. Michael,
even though he is human and not a direct member of the Mallard family, becomes
an extension and shows the reader that family is not always directly related to
you. The values of family can be shown
among friends.
Plot Summary: Mattick does an incredible job of using her family
to tell the story of beginning of one of the world’s most beloved bears. She begins where she is telling her son a
bedtime story about her great-grandfather, Harry Colebourn, who loves animals
and goes to war to take care of the horses.
Along the way, Harry meets a man with a bear and decides to purchase him
and bring him to his army camp. Winnipeg
(Winnie for short) quickly becomes the mascot for the men earning himself a
lookout job and even poses for the group picture. As time goes on, Harry realizes that the war
is not the best place for Winnie and takes her to the London Zoo so she can be loved. The zoo is where Christopher Robin meets
Winnie and Winnie becomes a part of their family. Mattick’s son, Cole, names his
stuffed bear Winnie and so begins the stories of our famous bear.
Critical Analysis: This is a beautifully written story about
a beloved character that is tied so well to a family history. As Mattick is telling her bedtime story, Cole
chimes in with comments just as children do at bedtime. Mattick keeps the reader engaged wondering
when Christopher Robin will enter the story along with hoping and praying that
the bear will find her true home.
Blackall’s illustrations are done in Chinese ink and
watercolor giving such life-like qualities to all the characters including the
bear. Her illustrations capture the
history of war and the time-period so vividly that the reader believes he or
she is actually there in the story. The
end of the book adds even more to the “bed-time” story by showing actual photographs
of Harry, Winnie and the army, and various artifacts.
Review Excerpt:
Starred Review Booklist: “Blackall’s warm, beautiful gouache-and-ink
illustrations capture an impressive depth of feeling, even in relatively
simplified faces. The visuals not only complement the fablelike cadences of
Mattick’s text but also include subtle details that enrich the story—the
opening pages, for instance, recall a storybook forest before melting into the
surroundings of Cole’s bedroom, where he hears the story of Colebourn and Winnie.”
Connections: This book is an amazing bedtime story that
offers the reader a chance to dive into a unique family history. This book
could be the jumping off point for students to start conversations with their parents
and grandparents to learn family stories.
Students could also do research using the photographs at the
back of the story to find truth to this family history and to find other
interesting war stories of animals that might have accompanied soldiers.
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