Analyzing Emergent literature
Poetry Literary Analysis 11/28/2016
Silverstein, S. (1974). Where the sidewalk ends: The poems & drawings of Shel Silverstein. New York: Harper and Row. |
ME I AM! by Jack Prelutsky
This poem is also a Quatrain that uses the rhyme scheme pattern of ABCB. The author uses repetition in the language of the poem with the words - ME I AM in each 1st and 3rd line. The purpose of the poem is to identify with one's self and feel unique. It is a lovely poem of self-expression and self-esteem. There is a noticeable rhythm when the poem is read that is easy to follow with a beat that has 8 syllables in the 1st and 3rd lines, and 6 syllables in the 2nd and 4th lines. I really enjoy this poem because it is fun to read and easy to understand, especially for children. I would incorporate this poem in my class as a way to celebrate diversity and encourage uniqueness and individuality in all children.
Literary Analysis - Biographical picture books 11/7/2016
LITERARY ANALYSIS - NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOKS 10/31/02016
Tyrone Hayes began collecting frogs in his back yard as a young boy. Little did he know he would grow up to become an important Harvard educated scientist! His love for frogs led him to research many different types of frogs across the globe and find out why a commonly used pesticide may have cause in their abnormal development. The author, Pamela S. Turner describes the scientific journey, as well as the stories behind a multitude of frogs. The book contains important highlights of research and precisely detailed photographs displaying scientists in action. Captions, sequence of events, reference aids, and an index provide early scientific minded readers with a plethora of information about frogs. Hayes, a smart, young African American male, raised in Columbia, SC, in a strictly segregated time period, beat all odds and became The Frog Scientist. This book is a wonderful mix of non-fiction and biographical information that will appeal to young scientists in the making.
Turner, P. S., & Comins, A. (2009). The frog scientist. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.
Have you ever wondered what really happened in Salem when people were being accused of being witches? In this non-fiction account of the accused and their stories, you will find out why the Salem witch hunt was considered a disaster. This book, designed for middle to high school students is a great realistic account of what occurred and how many lives were affected because of wild accusations. View my book-talk on this strange, yet captivating story. https://animoto.com/play/S4kAhIwcVshZXThvEqXf9w
Schanzer, R. (2011). Witches!: The absolutely true tale of disaster in Salem. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society.
This is a story about a boy who spent his days calculating numbers in his head. He made lots of friends around the world and shared his ideas about math. The story is beautifully illustrated to peak the minds of young mathematicians a tells about the journey of one of the most famous and most loved mathematicians in the world!
Heiligman, D., & Pham, L. (2013). The boy who loved math: The improbable life of Paul Erdős. New York: Roaring Brook Press.
Do you love space exploration? The Mars Rovers, named Spirit and Opportunity were robots sent to Mars to explore the planet's atmosphere for three months. Instead they were able to collect data for six years! In this non-fiction book you can see real pictures of the mission and how far space exploration has come since 2000. This is a great read for aspiring astronauts.
Rusch, E. (2012). The mighty Mars rovers: The incredible adventures of Spirit and Opportunity. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
This book is one of my favorites! It tells the story of parrots that lived on the island of Puerto Rico for millions of years, but almost became extinct due to human development and the destruction of their habitat. The journey to save the parrots is depicted and intertwined with the history of the Puerto Rican people. The illustrations are colorful, three-dimensional, textured collages that are as appealing as the story itself. Bird lovers, scientific minds, as well as readers who enjoy history will love this non-fiction story of survival.
Roth, S. L., & Trumbore, C. (2013). Parrots over Puerto Rico. New York: Lee & Low Books.
Literary Analysis - Fantasy & Classic 10/24/2016
Considered both a classic and a fantasy, this book resonates with the reader, both young and old, and takes them into a journey from tiny planet to tiny planet. Each planet is inhabited by one peculiar adult. The little prince, with his childlike mind cannot understand why the adults on the planets act the way they do. He thinks that grown-ups are strange. The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery is considered a classic because it has endured the test of time since it was published in 1943. It has a profound impact on the reader with its imaginative characters, and emotions of sadness, wonder, and solitude. How is the fantasy world set up in this book? The story begins in a real desert and continues into a magical and fantastical journey to other planets. It evokes childlike curiosity while exploring the nature of how adults think, attempting to realize what is truly important in life.
Saint-Exupéry, A. D., & Howard, R. (2000). The little prince. San Diego: Harcourt.
Everyone who's anyone has heard of Alice and her spirited adventures when she falls down the rabbit hole. Alice travels from a real world setting to a fantasy world full of unique, magical, and curious characters that are represented by talking animals and odd beings. Alice confronts dreamlike situations that convey a difficult situation, but in a whimsical and symbolic manner that is expected of a fantasy. This book is considered a classic because it has universal appeal and has withstood the test of time. Originally published in 1865, Alice's story has been retold many times. It has been adapted for film, including the ever popular Disney versions. Does the story have universal implications? Of course, many believe that Alice's transformations represent the real life challenges of transitioning from thinking like a child into thinking as an adult. Her experiences resonate with readers of all ages and provide an extraordinary existence created from ordinary struggles.
Carroll, L. (1981). Alice's adventures in Wonderland ; & Through the looking-glass. New York: Bantam.
Literary Analysis - Multicultural picture books 10/17/2016
This book is appealing to both the eyes and the minds of young children with its depictions of a variety of family structures. Does the book honestly portray the realities of life for today's children? Indeed. The author, Todd Parr begins by describing families as small, large, of different colors, as well as similar colors. He uses bold, colorful pictures of animals and stick figures to capture a child's interest. He then proceeds to compare families that have adopted children, stepchildren, two mothers or two fathers, or a single parent families. He encompasses a multitude of controversial topics while eliminating stereotypes of what a normal family should be. In this wonderful book, all families are special. He also tackles some difficult topics, such as "All families are sad when they lose someone they love". The Family Book is a great way to help children feel included. It is a must have in a classroom of early readers!
Parr, T. (2010). The Family Book. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
A young black girl with thick, tangled hair takes the reader through a journey of her mother's nightly ritual while brushing her hair. It is not just a description of different hair, however. It is about the girl's journey of self-acceptance when her mother tells her she is lucky to have such beautiful hair. The watercolor illustrations depict wonderful comparisons of the girl's different hairstyles and how they make her feel. Does the book truly represent the experience of the culture depicted? Absolutely! More often than not, the hair of a black person is considered "bad hair". In the book the mother explains to her daughter that her hair is beautiful, because she can style it so many different ways. It then goes on to describe and illustrate a variety of beautiful hairstyles such as an Afro compared to a globe, and how braids in rows on the scalp resemble how they plants seeds in the garden. This is a beautiful, informational, and inspirational read for any young child.
Tarpley, N., & Lewis, E. B. (1997). I love my hair! Boston: Little, Brown.
Literary Analysis - contemporary historical fiction 10/10/2016
Big Nate books are always fun to read. He is a typical kid, who gets into trouble now and then. Some may say his strongest character trait is that he's a troublemaker. In this book, Big Nate is very jealous of a new student in his middle school. Everyone likes Artur, aka Mr. Perfect, because Artur seems to do everything right. So in usual Big Nate style, he tells his story about his school days and being a scout troop. He is on a mission to sell more fundraising wall hangings than Artur. Middle school children often face the emotions of jealousy and competition. Big Nate books show the realistic occurrences of many modern day, middle school problems in a humorous and fun setting. In this contemporary fiction book, children will be able to relate to Big Nate's troubles and find out how he overcame his own personal dilemmas. As the story progresses, Big Nate guides us through his imagination, humor, and comic drawings . Check out his Fakebook page to see if Big Nate is on a roll or if he wipes out!
http://www.classtools.net/FB/1883-MUuQGt
Peirce, L. (2011). Big Nate on a roll. New York: Harper.
literary analysis - historical fiction 10/3/2016
Rudi was only 16 years old when he tried to conquer the Citadel, a mountain in the Alps whose summit had never been conquered. Only one man had come close, Rudi's father, Joseph Matt. Rudi never knew his father, however, because he died trying to conquer the Citadel when Rudi was very young; too young to remember. Because of this tragedy, Rudi's mother did not want Rudi to have anything to do with mountain climbing. She forbade it. But mountain climbing was in Rudi's blood. The setting of the story is based around the Appalachian mountains, although the town is fictional and so are the characters. The story, set in 1865, is similar to the real-life story of the climbing of the Matterhorn in 1965. The fictional town of Kurtal resembles the actual town Zermatt. From there, the author uses his imagination to tell Rudi's story based on his own personal experience of his expedition to Mount Everest.
Ullman, J. R. (1954). Banner in the sky. New York: Harper Collins.
Set in Denmark in 1943, during a tumultuous time dealing with Nazi occupied lands, food shortages, and a Danish resistance to save the Jewish people, a young girl named Annemarie and her family risk it all for their Jewish friends. Although the story of Annemarie and her friend Ellen is fiction, it is set in a real place during a historically difficult time for the Jewish population. The tale encompasses a multitude of emotions that include courage, strength, sacrifice, uncertainty, pride, and fear; an inspiration for all readers of this book, young and old.
Lowry, L. (1989). Number the stars. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Literary analysis - traditional literature 9/26/2016
Kiefer, B. Z., & Tyson, C. A. (2014). Charlotte Huck's children's literature: A brief guide (2nd ed.). NY: McGraw-Hill.
Disney's version of King Arthur is simplified in this easy to read picture book designed for beginning readers ages 2 - 5. In the typical Disney fashion, the book pages are full of colorful pictures that will entice any child, while at the same time exposing them to the traditional literary classics we learn to love.
Memling, C., & McGary, N. (1963). The sword in the stone. NY: Golden Books.
In this abridged version of the traditional tale written by Howard Pyle (the version I read), young readers ages 8 - 10 can indulge in the epic adventures of King Arthur with a simplified language that is rich and satisfying. The book is carefully retold by Tania Zamorsky and includes discussion questions that will allow students the opportunity to think critically. For example, one question asks, "Do you believe King Arthur was a real person? What parts of the story do you think are fact and which are legend?" (Zamorsky, Andreasen, & Pyle, 2006, p.145). The questions will engage children and invite conversations about the differences and similarities between the past and the present.
Zamorsky, T., Andreasen, D., & Pyle, H. (2006). The story of King Arthur and his knights: Retold from the Howard Pyle original. New York: Sterling Pub.
The epic collections of stories surrounding the mythical hero, King Arthur, is told by Green in a format that mirrors the classic tale written by Thomas Malory, with wonderful black and white illustrations by Lotte Reiniger. This book is intended for readers 10 years and older, so the text is more complicated and the old-style European culture more pronounced than the two earlier books I analyzed. At the end of the book, some questions are presented to the readers such as, "Why do you think that the King Arthur legend has lasted for so long?", and "Can you see any similarities between Arthur and modern heroes such as Harry Potter or Luke Skywalker?", making this book a great addition to a classroom library.
Green, R. L., & Reiniger, L. (1988). King Arthur and his knights of The Round Table. London: Puffin Books.
LITERARY ANALYSIS - Fiction and Classic Picture Books 9/19/2016
Where the Wild Things Are is a beautifully illustrated classic children's book, winner of the 1964 Caldecott Medal for the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year, and for good reason. While Max starts his journey into the story, the illustrations become larger and fill more white space, until they are completely covered from top to bottom depicting the climax of the story, the wild rumpus! Max, in his white wolf suit, is always the focal point against a backdrop of curiously changing landscapes. The illustrations provide more detail about the wild things, than the text does. This gives the book a reciprocal quality by putting more focus on the illustrations as the story moves forward.
Sendak, M., & Sendak, M. (1963). Where the wild things are. New York: Harper & Row.
This book has it all! The story begins with, you guessed it, a very hungry caterpillar. The little guy proceeds to find some food and in doing so, he learns how to count as he eats his way through colorfully illustrated fruits and goodies each day of the week, while leaving small holes as he moves along the pages. The illustrator, Eric Carle, uses bright colors, simple shapes, and a lot of white space to set the composition of the character. In the beginning of the book, the caterpillar is small on the page behind a very large landscape. After a week of eating, the caterpillar is drawn very large, leaving little white space and highlighting what is to come...the caterpillar becomes a beautiful, colorful butterfly! The butterfly,a double page illustration, pleases the eyes with bright colors that signify the great joy of metamorphosis.
Carle, E. (1969). The very hungry caterpillar. New York: Scholastic.
Before I could even read, I was thumbing through the pages of this classic Disney story. I remember my mother had a very old version of this book that was mostly black and white, with a few pages in color. My attraction to the book was obviously the colorful settings. There was hardly any white space at all, which left the pages full will intricate and descriptive illustrations that could tell a story even without words. The characters are placed in a bright or dark scenery, depending upon the tone of the the text written on the page. Without the ability to read, I could easily determine if I was in a happy or scary part of the story.
Disney, W. (1973). Snow White and the seven dwarfs. New York: Random House.
In this vivid book, children are playing outside in the snow, "Swirling, whirling, skating, spinning on frozen lakes." Vibrant illustrations describe the text with artwork depicting children in motion, having fun the snow. The landscapes are full of swirly smooth lines and hues of blue and white that signify the cold winter weather and all the fun activities that come with it. The children illustrated in the book are dressed in bright, bold colors as if to relay their delight of having a snow day.The illustrator uses many diagonal scenes to show motion which correlate with the significant use of verbs in the text. This fun winter book is a great way to insight questions about the activities that can occur when it snows.
Cocca-Leffler, M. (2010). Let it snow. New York: Scholastic.
The story of Miss Rumphius and her far-away travels are exquisitely illustrated in this book by Barbara Cooney. Every turn of the page has an intricately designed setting or landscape that captures the idea of the text perfectly and transports the reader to that setting. The soft, smooth colors and lines give a comforting, calm, and welcoming feel. The pictures completely reinforce the text and make me want to go out and "do something to make the world more beautiful."
Cooney, B. (1985). Miss Rumphius. New York: Penguin Books.
Literary Analysis - emergent picture books 9/12/2016
This board book makes learning the alphabet a fun search-and-find experience for any emergent reader. With it's beautiful illustrations and textured pages, beginning readers can look at the letter of the alphabet and find all the different words that begin with that letter! This book is not only fun, but it will also help build an emergent reader's vocabulary and inspire an alphabet creation of their own. The alphabet letters are reinforced with small phrases that include many words beginning with the letter shown.
Doyle, E. (2015). A B see. Simon & Schuster Merchandise &.
What better way to help a beginning reader count the numbers 1 through 10 than with a fun, interactive, pull-the-tab-to-reveal, counting board book! Children will see the numbers on large, bold text and be able to see the objects as they are revealed. The pull tabs peak a child's curiosity and capture their attention with brightly colored pictures that are easily identifiable, such as balloons, cupcakes, cars, and flowers.
Lloyd, C., & Palastanga, V. (2015). Pull the tab: Numbers. NY, NY: DK Publishing.
This book is perfect for bedtime with its warmly illustrated pages and comforting story. As a mother tucks her child into bed, he asks her, "Mama, what if I were a big scary ape? Would you still love me then?". The mother then responds with her reassuring actions and the child repeats his question with a different scary creature. The text, when written as the child's words are written in large, uneven, and seemingly "scary" text across the pages. The mother's reactions, however, are written in small, evenly aligned and justified text, portraying a calm and collected response. The drawings are soothing with their pastel colored images and images of a star filled night to help a child predict which creature the child will be next without causing real fright.
McCourt, L., & Moore, C. (1997). I love you, Stinky Face. Mahwah, NJ: Troll.