Review of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type

By Doreen Cronin; illustrated by Betsy Lewin

*All of these entries were created to fulfill an assignment for a course at TWU.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cronin, Doreen. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type. Ill. by Betsy Lewin. New York: Simon & Schuster: Little Simon. 2011. ISBN: 1442408898

PLOT SUMMARY

This is a story about Farmer Brown’s cows that like to type. The cows find an old typewriter in the barn and use it to type notes to Farmer Brown. The first note they left for him on the barn door complained about the barn being cold at night and asked for some electric blankets. Farmer Brown said that they could not have them and so the cows go on strike refusing to give milk. The cows left a note on behalf of the chickens claiming that they need electric blankets as well. The farmer did not respond to this request, so the chickens joined the cows refusing to lay eggs. The farmer got out his own typewriter and typed a note demanding milk and eggs and refusing to cave in to their request for electric blankets. The duck was neutral and agreed to take Farmer Brown’s note to the animals. The cows held an emergency meeting with all of the animals in the barn and sent the duck back to the farmer with a note that said that they would trade the typewriter for the electric blankets and they would send duck over with the typewriter. The farmer thought that was a good deal so he complied with their wishes and brought them electric blankets and waited for the typewriter. The next morning he received a note typed by the ducks that said the pond was boring and they wanted a diving board.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book is a board book printed on much thicker paper and meant for preschool-aged children. The wonderful artwork by Betsy Lewin is colorful and appealing to children. The story is humorous for both children and adults and enhances imagination. Since parents are their children’s first teachers, the book comes with lessons that can be a fun teaching tool for parents and preschool teachers. These include learning what constitutes a plot: the beginning, the middle, and the end; and then provides an example that gives a child an understanding of the meaning of what constitutes a plot; words to know, where the author and illustrator highlight words and there meanings throughout the text; the features of fiction’ development of phonics, comparison to other texts, and how to write a thank you note. Highly recommended!

 REVIEW EXCERPTS

Author Doreen Cronin was the recipient of the Caldecott Honor Book in 2011 for this work.

Illustrator Betsy Lewin was the recipient of the Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator for this work.

Amazon: “This hilarious tale will give young rebels-in-the-making a taste of the power of peaceful protest and the satisfaction of cooperative give and take. Witty watercolors by award-winning illustrator Betsy Lewin (Snake Alley Band, Araminta's Paint Box) will make this a favorite for one and all, even if words such as "ultimatum" and "neutral" throw the younger set. (Ages 5 to 8)”

Publishers Weekly: “Cronin humorously turns the tables on conventional barnyard dynamics; Lewin's bold, loose-lined watercolors set a light and easygoing mood that matches Farmer Brown's very funny predicament. Kids and underdogs everywhere will cheer for the clever critters that calmly and politely stand up for their rights, while their human caretaker becomes more and more unglued. Ages 3-7”

Booklist: “Lewin's wild line-and-watercolor cartoons are perfectly suited to this barnyard farce about animals that go on strike to demand better working conditions.”

CONNECTIONS

Read other books by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin:

·         Giggle, Giggle, Quack. ISBN: 1442408898

·         Dooby Dooby Moo. ISBN: 1442408901

·         Thump, Quack, Moo: A Whacky Adventure. ISBN: 141691630X

And many others!

Note: This book is a great teaching tool for preschool children. It teaches about, plot, expands vocabulary, understanding fiction, phonics, and even how to write a thank you note.

Review of Grandpa Green written and illustrated by Lane Smith

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Smith, Lane. Grandpa Green. Ill by Lane Smith. New York: MacMillan, Roaring Book Press, 2011. ISBN: 978159643607

7

PLOT SUMMARY

Grandpa Green was born before computers, cellphones, or television. The story follows Grandpa Green throughout his life. He got the chicken pox, he became a soldier in a world war, met his future wife and married her, and he became an artist working as a gardener and shaping trees and bushes into various colorful characters. Finally, he has children, many grandchildren, and one great grandchild who is the narrator of the story. Grandpa Green created a magical world to hand down to his family to enjoy for years to come.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The beautiful color illustrations attract a reader’s attention immediately. Various people are introduced as beautifully sculpted trees and bushes creating a magical feel to the book. The reader follows Grandpa Green throughout his life whose real ambition was to become a horticulturalist. He goes to war, meets his eventual wife in Paris (a drawing of the Eiffel Tower appears in the background when he meets her), marries her and finally gets to fulfill his dream. This is a wonderful book about aging, memory, family history, a love of nature, and love. The book is filled with stunning artwork by the author making it a truly visual treat.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

2012 Caldecott Honor Book

Publisher’s Weekly Best Children’s Picture Books in 2011

One of School Library Journal’s Best Picture Books of 2011

School Library Journal wrote, “Visually intriguing and emotionally resonant, this is a book to pore over and talk about. With each subsequent reading, it offers new layers of meaning and visual connections.”

 The New Yorker wrote, “In this affecting picture book, a boy recounts the life of his beloved great-grandfather…The author’s illustrations, a blend of line drawings and sponge painting, have a classic feel, and make clever use of the topiary theme, rewarding close examination and repeated reading.”

Shelf Awareness wrote, “Opening this book is like opening a gate to a secret garden, filled with the treasures of a life well lived. In his portrait of a boy who adores and honors his forgetful great-grandfather, Smith shows us that the things that are meaningful to the ones we love become part of our garden, too.”

CONNECTIONS

Read other Lane Smith books, such as

·            Smith, Lane. It’s a book. ISBN: 159643609

·            Caldecott Medal winner in 1993 – Scieszka, Jon. Ill. by Lane Smith. The Stinky Cheese Man. ISBN: 067084487X

·            Scieszka Jon. Ill. by Lane Smith. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! ISBN: 0670827592

Ø  This book would be an excellent tool to teach children about the importance of family history, aging, love, memory, and the love of nature.

Review of Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

By William Steig

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Steig, William. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. Ill. by William Steig. New York: Simon & Schuster: Aladdin Books, Second Edition:1987(1969). ISBN: 0671662694

PLOT SUMMARY

This story focuses on a boy donkey named Sylvester that lives with his mother and father. The boy is an avid rock and pebble collector and likes to put them out on the table and carefully examine each one. He is especially fond of a red pebble that he believes is magic and, as it turns out after several wishes were granted as long as he held the pebble in his hand, Sylvester learns that the pebble was indeed magical. On his way home, Sylvester daydreams about all of the things he will wish for his family. However, Sylvester encounters a dangerous lion, and without thinking, he wishes that he would become a rock. He did become a big rock but could no longer hold on to the red pebble, so he couldn’t make a wish. After looking for him for months, his parents feared the worse. In the spring, his parents went to the field where Sylvester was a rock and had a picnic. Sylvester’s father saw the pebble next to the rock and sets it on the rock, saying that he knew Sylvester would love that rock. This enabled Sylvester to make his best wish yet, to become himself again. After much joy, the father put the magic pebble in a safe. Someday they might use it, but they had all they wished for – Sylvester’s safe return.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The reader quickly understands that Sylvester Duncan is a fun-loving, likeable boy donkey that collects unique rocks and is enchanted by magic. His adventure takes a somewhat dark turn when Sylvester accidentally turns himself into a rock and everyone assumes something tragic has happened to him. The simple color illustrations convey those emotional feelings that hang over the heads of the bewildered parents and the community. The reader is drawn into that emotion, wondering whether Sylvester will ever be united with his parents and children with sympathize deeply with Sylvester’s plight. Fortunately, the book has a happy ending as Sylvester is magically reunited with his family. The book was initially rated appropriate for ages 4-6 years-old; however, that was quickly amended to 6-9 years-old. I agree that the book might be too traumatic for a 4 year-old. The book created controversy is several school districts and other organization for its portrayal of police as pigs which resulted in a ban in parts of the U.S.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

1970 Caldecott Medal

Voted 109^th out of 3,145 on the list of Best Children’s Books,

Amazon – “Steig imbues his characteristically simple illustrations of animals sporting human garb with evocative, irresistible, and heartbreaking vivid emotions. The text is straightforward and the dialogue remarkably touching.”

Common Sense Media: “Parents need to know that Steig's drawings capture the animals' emotions perfectly, as Sylvester learns that a simple wish can sometimes backfire, but love can overcome all.”

CONNECTIONS

Read other books by William Steig

·         Steig, William. Doctor De Soto. ISBN: 9780312611897

·         Steig, William. Amos & Boris. ISBN: 031253566X

·         Steig, William. Brave Irene. ISBN: 0312564228

And others…

Ø  The book is a good tool for teaching children about compassion and sympathy.