by Kevin Hinkes
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hinkes, Kevin. 2004. KITTEN’S FIRST FULL MOON. Ill. by Kevin Hinkes. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0-06-058829-2
PLOT SUMMARY
In this enlightening picture book, a kitten chases the moon, which he believes to be a bowl of milk. Of course, he will never be able to catch it. He climbs trees, jumps in a pond, and roams the countryside trying get to the bowl of milk. In the end, Kitten finds a bowl of milk waiting on the doorstep. This playful book is predictable, fun and whimsical.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Hinkes award winning, Caldecott Medal book, KITTEN'S FIRST FULL MOON, definitely engages the readers in the kitten’s dilemma. It is obvious that the kitten has never experienced a full moon and doesn’t know the ways of the universe. The predictability of the plot will allow young children to engage in reading skills that will help them in years to come. Children will delight in watching the kitten learn about the world and how the moon appears to be so close.
The pictures are simple, yet intriguing. The illustrations are all in grayscale, which helps in the storyline since the moon looks like a bowl of milk. Color would never work with the story.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist starred (February 15, 2004 (Vol. 100, No. 12))
Wise preschoolers may chuckle at the kitten's folly, but they'll also recognize the mysterious power of moonlight to transform the familiar world of daytime into something altogether new.
Horn Book (May/June, 2004)
Anyone who has ever watched a cat spasmodically pounce and chase for no apparent reason will enjoy the imaginative, unpretentiously poetic method Henkes reads into this madness.
Horn Book starred (Fall 2004)
The rhythmic, action-oriented text is just right for small children.
Kirkus Review starred (February 15, 2004)
artful in its gracelessness and naïveté, just like a kitten. Simply charming. (Picture book. 3-5)
Publishers Weekly (February 16, 2004)
The narrative and visual pacing will keep children entranced, and the determined young heroine and her comical quest will win them over.
School Library Journal (April 1, 2004)
The rhythmic text and delightful artwork ensure storytime success. Kids will surely applaud this cat's irrepressible spirit.
CONNECTIONS
Frank Asch's classic Moongame (S & S, 1987) and Nancy Elizabeth Wallace's The Sun, the Moon and the Stars (Houghton, 2003) will be good books to connect a nocturnal theme.
Other books that would go along with this book are:
The Milk Makers by Gail Gibbons
Jenny's Surprise Summer by Eugenie
Three Little Kittens by Paul Galdone
Hi, Cat! by Ezra Jack Keats
Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle
On The Moon by Anna Milbourne
Cats by Anna Milbourne
The Moon Seems to Change by Franklyn M. Branley
Students could do an art activity using symmetry to learn about reflections.
Students could visit an an animal shelter or veterinarian to learn about caring for kittens.
A BIRTHDAY BASKET FOR TIA
by Pat Mora ~Illustrated by Cecily Lang
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mora, Pat. 1992. A BIRTHDAY BASKET FOR TIA. Ill. by Cecily Lang. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0-02-767400-2
PLOT SUMMARY
In A BIRTHDAY BASKET FOR TIA,a mother and her daughter prepare for a birthday party, along with the family cat, as they discuss what the day will bring. The main character, Cecilia, spends some time gathering meaningful items to put in a basket for a surprise for her great aunt who is turning ninety. When Aunt Tia comes to her surprise party she is greeted by Cecilia and the basket of gifts. As she takes each item out of the basket, she is aware of the meaning of each item.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
A BIRTHDAY BASKET FOR TIA crosses multicultural lines with its sprinkling of Spanish words and foods. Written in English, this book will be a favorite for children of all cultures because the theme is relative to all. The author uses a cumulative effect when writing about the items that Cecilia places in the basket. The book is written so that it is though the reader can hear the thoughts of the girl as she goes about her day. This is a "feel good" book in that the love for an elderly aunt and young girl are very evident.
The pictures are vivid and colorful. The words are easy to read because they are all in white or light areas of the page. I noticed that the characters stay in the same clothes throughout the story, even when she is reminiscing. I think this will help young readers keep the characters straight.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
"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
AWARDS
Southwest Book Award, Border Regional Library Association
Book Links Salutes "A Few Good Books" of 1992
Utah Governor’s September Children’s Book-of-the-Month, 2004
CONNECTIONS
Other books that would go along with this book are:
Mice and Beans by Pam Munoz Ryan
The Wednesday Surprise by Eve Bunting
Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan
Night Noises by Mem Fox
Flower Garden by Eve Bunting
Arthur's Birthday by Marc Brown
A Letter to Amy by Ezra Jack Keats
Happy Birthday, Moon by Frank Asch
The Secret Birthday Message by Eric Carle
Clifford's Birthday Party by Norman Bridwell
Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto
Some Birthday! by Patricia Polacco
Abuela (English Edition with Spanish Phrases) (Picture Puffins) by Arthur Dorros
Abuela's Weave by Omar S. Castaneda
A Birthday for Frances by Russell Hoban
Students could do bring pictures of their family to put in a book shaped like a birthday cake made out of construction paper.
Students could bring an item that has a special meaning for them and place it in a big basket at the front of the classroom until time to share.
Students could draw a basket and draw (or cut from a magazine) pictures that they would use to fill the basket if they were gifting to someone they love.
SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE
by William Steig
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Steig, William. 1969. SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE. Ill. by William Steig. New York, NY: Windmill Books/Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-67-166269-4
PLOT SUMMARY
This timeless story, SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE, is about a donkey who finds a red, shiny pebble. He discovers that it has magic powers while he is holding it in his hands while he wishes for the rain to go away. After a big error in judgement, Sylvester, the donkey, is destined to remain a rock until one day, after much heartache, his parents picnic on Sylvester, the rock. When his parents place the pebble upon the rock, he is able to wish himself back to a donkey. The story has a very happy ending with the family reunited.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE is a story that has a very clear message. We don't have to wish for things, rather be happy with who you are and what you have. This book is one that can be enjoyed by all ages and cultures. It is timeless in that the message will be relevant in all times. The story is full of fantasy such as, a magic rock, talking animals, a donkey changing into a rock and back, etc, but yet the storyline is somewhat predictable and believable. The story is full of hope for a good ending and offers relief when it happens.
The pictures, pretty much, tell the story. They are colorful and detailed. This storybook will be one that children will remember not only for the story, but for the illustrations.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal...
"This first-rate production should be in all public and school libraries."
AWARDS
Emphasis on Reading: A Children's Choice Book Award Program Winner 1982-1983 Grades K-1 Alabama
Randolph Caldecott Medal Winner 1970 United States
CONNECTIONS
Other books that would go along with this book are:
Officer Buckle & Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Same series: Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears (Imagination Library Books)
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola
Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
Doctor De Soto by William Steig
The Amazing Bone by William Steig
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
Activity Ideas from Scholastic
If the story of Sylvester and the Magic Pebble continued after the end of the story, in what ways do you think the
Duncan's life would be different from the way it was at the beginning of the story? Why do you think these changes
would happen?
Talk with children about what they might wish for if they found a magic pebble. Ask: Why would you wish for these
things? How would these things make your life better?
Later, print children's wishes on small slips of paper. Put the wishes in a hat or box. Have children take turns pulling a
wish out of the hat and seeing if they can identify the child in the group who made the wish.
Discuss with children the kinds of things they enjoy doing with their family members. Encourage children to describe
those things they particularly like about their parents, guardians, siblings, relatives, and special events they may
have shared with them.
Talk about special collections the children may have had similar to the pebble collection that Sylvester had.
Cut out at least twenty circles, to represent pebbles, from light-weight cardboard. Make different markings on the circles.
Be sure that each circle has markings that are identical to one of the other circles. Place all of the circles face up on
the tabletop. Have children pretend that the circles are magic pebbles. Then have children take turns looking for
the matching pairs of "magic pebbles." (Make your own variations on this visual discrimination game by increasing
or decreasing the amount of detail in the markings on the circles, depending on the ability levels of children in your
class. For example, for younger children, you might want children to look for circles with matching colors. For older
children, you might want to have them hunt for circles with matching detailed patterns.) When each child has had an
opportunity to find "matching magic pebbles" celebrate with a classroom picnic similar to the one the Duncan family
enjoyed.
Take a walk outdoors with children. Have children stop by a large rock, tree, or tree stump. Ask children: If this rock
(tree, tree stump) could talk, what do you think it might say? How do you think it would feel about where it lives
and how it spends each day? How do you think it would feel about having visitors? When you return to the classroom,
have children write or dictate stories about the magic rock (tree, tree stump) that came to life. Later, have children
illustrate their stories and share them with their classmates.
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