Picture Book- Millions of Cats

 

 Bibliographic data

Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag

Paperstar ©1928

ISBN: 9780698113633

Brief Plot Summary

An elderly couple resolves to treat their loneliness by getting a cat. The old man sets out on a long journey only to find millions of cats. Unable to decide on one he takes all of them home. The old woman is displeased and stressed about the impossibility of caring for so many. Then all the cats “quarrel” until they devour one another, leaving behind one, ugly, scraggly kitten. The couple cares for it until it becomes beautiful and healthy.

Critical Analysis

Written in the late 20’s this book differs in many ways to picture books of today. The illustrations are black and white and hand-written text. Early literacy experts of today advise to read books with simple bright pictures, which this book lacks. Another weakness is the language in this book. It features many run on sentences. It is nearly too verbose too read aloud to younger audiences. One could argue the language contributes to its strength as an epic tale. The language does create vast and magical images. The pictures too support this imagery by using foreshortening art techniques and layering hilly scenes.

Review Excerpt(s)

A top 100 book of the last 100 years- New York Public Library 2013

“Considered by many to have ushered in the age of the modern picture book, this Newbery Honor winner is characterized by innovative design and a strong storyteller’s cadence.” -SLJ

Connections

Help children visualize the story by using felts, particularly during the parts that describe the different cats.

Compare and discuss choosing a beautiful cat or the unhealthy cat. Talk about the feelings associated with nursing the cat back to good health.

Read other stories feature cats like Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin.

Create a STEM storytime by using books and songs to understand numbers. Use a book like How Much Is a Million by David Schwartz. Do estimation activities like guessing how many jellybeans are in a jar.

Have the audience chant along to the repeating line- “Hundreds of cats, thousands of cats…”

Picture Book- A Ball For Daisy

Bibliographic data

A Ball For Daisy by Chris Raschka

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books ©2011

ISBN: 9780375858611

Brief plot summary

Our protagonist, Daisy is introduced playing and lovingly sleeping with her ball. One day her owner walks her to the dog park with the ball in tow. Another dog pops the ball during play. Daisy spends the rest of the day mourning her loss. The next day at the dog park the owner of the other dog replaces Daisy’s ball and all is well again.

Critical analysis with specific literary considerations pertinent to each genre

Using a watercolor palate of primary colors and neutrals, Raschka shares the story of Daisy and her ball. Using the media of watercolor creates a dreamy clean scene. The reader can almost feel how fuzzy and soft Daisy is. Switching between neutrals and bright colors Raschka coherently displays Daisy’s mood. One weakness is when the art is executed in panels. These panels complicate the page and are small for reading aloud.

Raschka’s wordless picture book is great for developing a child’s verbal narrative skills as they express what is happening in the pictures. It is also an opportunity to talk about early concepts such as shapes (the ball is a circle), colors (the couch is green and blue), and emotions (Daisy’s face is happy). This type of story also is useful for developing comprehension skills. It encourages readers to write their own story.

Review excerpt(s)

“Raschka uses fairly sophisticated comic-book arrangements long, narrow, horizontal panels, and so forth but masks them with soft watercolor edges instead of sharp corners. The result feels like something of pure emotion.” -Daniel Kraus (Booklist, Jun. 1, 2011 (Vol. 107, No. 19))

 

“Chris Raschka's extraordinarily expressive ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations not only clearly convey the storyline through a mix of full-page and borderless panel illustrations but also exude emotion, giving young children ample opportunities to follow, articulate, and interpret the events unfolding on the pages.: -CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 2012)

Connections

 

Use this book in a storytime about emotions. While reading ask about facial expression and colors that convey feeling.

For older audiences expand on the story by having children write their own words.

Use with other wordless picture books in a writing activity. Children can narrate their own versions on paper. Another variation would be to let the children take turns narrating the page verbally for the whole group to enjoy.

Picture Book: That Is Not a Good Idea! by Mo Willems

Bibliographic Data

That Is Not a Good Idea by Mo Willems

Publisher: Balzer & Bray ©2013

ISBN: 9780062203090

Plot Summary

Mo Willems is at it again with exasperated dialogue and whimsical characterization extremes, but this time he has a surprise ending. Designed with the aesthetics of a silent film, a wolf lures a seemingly naive duck into his kitchen. She innocently hovers over the boiling soup only to push in the wolf. The audience ducklings who we thought were warning her during whole story (of what a “bad idea” it was to follow the wolf) join her for dinner.

Critical Analysis

According to Vardell’s Children’s Literature in Action, “For young children ‘reading’ the pictures are an important part of early literacy” (p. 44). The illustrations are the epitome of Willems style, simple shapes and darkly outlined. Mo Willems simplifies the story by spreading one line at a time over the two-page spread. Children have nothing to be distracted or confused by making this book an ideal choice for early literacy storytimes.

This story tempts the reader with foreshadowing only to flip them over with a surprise ending. Upon deceit older children may examine the pictures and dialogue only to find no signs of trickery, only our preconceived notions have lead us astray. After all isn’t the wolf always the bad guy? The first illustration shows a non-directional, red line between the characters so there was no way of knowing who uttered the line, “What luck! Dinner!” Willems surprise twist invites further musing.

Like many of Willems books this story is entirely dialogue. The stylized fonts and punctuation encourage pauses and emphasis when reading aloud. Watch for the repeating line- another one of Willem’s MO’s. Books that have repeating lines are frequently recommended for developing early literacy skills, so a librarian could justifiably add this to his or her storytime collection.

Review Exerpts

 “By the time the story reaches its peak, you can practically hear the Wurlitzer throbbing, and kids will be squirming with tense glee” – Ian Chipman (Booklist, May 15, 2013 (Vol. 109, No. 18))

“The climax proves that appearances can be deceiving, as the anticipated conclusion is turned on its head. Using signature bold lines, Willems' illustrations are as satisfyingly expressive and comic as his previous work.” -Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 2013 (Vol. 81, No. 7))

Connections

After reading aloud, enjoy it again as a puppet show.

Practice looking for foreshadowing by asking questions during the story.  After the ducklings lines of lament, ask the audience to raise their hands if they believe the duck will meet her end.

Ask questions pertaining to characterization as you read, like, “Is the wolf clever? How about the duck? And the ducklings?”

The Official Mo Willems website: http://www.mowillems.com/

Teacher’s Guides for Mo Willems books: http://www.pigeonpresents.com/grownup.aspx