Fleischman, P (1988). Joyful noise: poems for two voices. Illus. by Eric Beddows. New York: Harper Collins Inc.
This is a book of poems about various insects which was written to be read aloud with two voices. The test is written in two columns to show when the voices should in unison and when only a single voice is to be heard. All of the poems highlight where the insect lives or what it does or the sounds it makes. This book is an interesting read but it is really brought to life if performed the way it is written –with two voices aloud.
Genre: Poetry/Fiction
Format: Chapter book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s): Ages 6-12
Awards: 1988 ALA Notable Children's Books
1988 ALA Best Books for Young Adults
1988 Boston Globe Horn Book Award Honor Book for Fiction/Poetry
1989 Horn Book Fanfare Honor
1989 Newbery Medal
1988 Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)
1988 Children's Books (Library of Congress)
1988 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)
100 Books for Reading and Sharing (NY Public Library)
Fox, M. (1985). Wilfrid gordon
mcdonald partridge. Illus. by Julie Vivas. La Jolla: Kane/Miller Book Pulishers.
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge is a young boy living
next to an old people’s home. He has
lots of friends in that home but his favorite person in the home is Miss Nancy
Alison Delacourt Cooper because she has four names just like he does. One day Wilfrid Gordon overhears his parents
discussing Miss Nancy’s memory loss.
This set Wilfrid Gordon on a quest to find out first what is a memory
and that to help Miss Nancy find hers.
This is a sweet story that shows that no matter how small
you are you can make a difference in someone else’s life. The book contains wonderfully colorful
illustrations that move the story along and give a clear picture of what the
author wants the audience to see. The cover shows Wilfrid Gordon looking under
a chair for something.
Genre: Fiction
Format:
Picture book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s): Ages 3-7
Awards: 1986 ALA Notable Books
for Children
Wiesner, D. (2001). The
three pigs. New York: Clarion Books
This is a takeoff on the traditional story of The Three
Little Pigs. The story begins like the
traditional story but as the wolf huffs and puffs he blows the pigs into other
stories where there met other fictional characters like the cat, the fiddle and
the cow from “Hey Diddle Diddle” and a dragon that was guarding a golden rose. The pigs embark on a new adventure with each
new character they meet.
The way the story
is told gives the freedom to use their imagination to rewrite familiar stories
and make them their own. The
illustrations are excellent and show the words flying off the page and the pigs
sailing into a new story and crumbling pages as they go. My only concern about the story is that it
may be difficult to follow for younger children.
Genre: Fiction
Format:
Picture book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s): Ages 4-8
Awards:
2002 ALA Notable Books for Children
2002 Notable Books
of the English Language Arts
2002 Caldecott Medal
Wiesner, D.
(1991). Tuesday. New York: Clarion.
This almost wordless book depicts frogs
on their lily pads off on and adventure. The reader along with some to the
other animals at the lake watch as one frog becomes a swarm of frogs sailing
though the air and make mischief at different peoples houses. The action in the story is marked by the time
of day given by the author.
The story is told completely by the
detailed illustrations. The authors work
is done so well that the audience does not even notice that they are reading
pictures not words.
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Format: Picture Book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s): Ages 4 - 8
Awards: 1992 ALA
Notable
1992 Caldecott Award
Zelinsky, P. (1997). Rapunzel. New York: Dutton Children’s Books.
Couple who as long
awaited a child steals some enticing rapunzel herb form an enchanted
garden. The sorceress to whom the garden
belongs requires the unborn child as payment for stealing the herb. She takes the child at birth, names her
Rapunzel after the herb and raises her.
When Rapunzel turns twelve she takes her to a high tower and locks her
up there. The sorceress is the only one
who can visit her and when she comes she calls Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your
hair for Rapunzel has beautiful long red hair.
When Rapunzel let down her hair the sorceress climbs the hair to the top
of the tower. This continues until one
day a Prince hears Rapunzel’s sweet voice in the tower and will do anything to
meet her.
Beautiful photograph
like illustrations show the lovely scenery in the story. The illustrations follow the story. Children can see that actions have
consequences and that not everything that begins badly has to end that
way. The cover shows the sad eyes of
Rapunzel looking out of her tower and end pages show a scene of the village.
Genre: Traditional Fantasy
Format:
Picture book
Suggested Age or Grade level (s): Ages 4-8
Awards: 1998 ALA Notable Books
for Children
1998 Caldecott Medal
1998 Horn
Book Fanfare Honor
