"Flotsam" by David Wiesner

"Flotsam" 

by David Wiesner

40 pages /  Print / Science Fiction

Summary: A boy finds a strange camera on the shore at the beach. Curious about its contents, he goes to get the film developed at a nearby store. He is in shock when it is revealed that the photographs show sea creatures doing to most remarkable and strange things. The last picture is very special. It shows a photo of a girl holding a picture, and in the picture is a picture of a boy holding a picture. The boy is very interested in understanding why people are holding a picture of a picture. He gets his magnifying glass and sees that there are many people who have taken this picture of a picture. The boy decides to keep the tradition and take his own special picture with new film. The boy then throws the camera back in the ocean for another person to find one day. The book ends with another child finding the camera on a different beach.

 Evaluation: This book is a Caldecott Winner for its imaginative and illustrations and creative plotline. With many of Wiesner's books, there is little or no text, so the reader is forced to look closely at the illustrations to tell a story. The story being told here is that anything is possible. The ocean is so vast and unknown that maybe there are strange things happening that we cannot imagine. The theme of "adventure" and "journey" is also present in this book.

Appeal Terms: science fiction, lively, engrossing, mystical, magical

"The Stinky Cheese Man & Other Fairly Stupid Tales" by Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith

"The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales" 

by Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith

56 pages /  Print / Fairy Tale

Summary: From the introduction of the book, the author tells us that these are not just fairy tales, but "fairly stupid" fairy tales. Your favorite fairly tales have been transformed into new, funny ones using familiar and new characters. Characters in each of the fairly tales find themselves in the middle of other ones, making this a very entertaining book to read. The fairy tales that are "stupidly" retold are: :Chicken Little"("Chicken Licken"), "The Princess and the Pea" ("The Princess and the Bowling Ball"), "The Ugly Duckling" ("The Really Ugly Duckling"), "The Frog Prince"(“The Other Frog Prince”), "Little Red Riding Hood" ("Little Red Running Shorts") , Jack and the Bean Stalk ("Jack's Bean Problem"), Cinderella/Rumpelstiltskin ("Cinderumpelstiltskin"), "The Tortoise and the Hare" ("The Tortoise and the Hair"), and "The Gingerbread Man" ("The Stinky Cheese Man").

 Evaluation: This book is a collection of fractured fairy tales retold in a unique and funny way。Students love fractured fairy tales because they give a different way of looking at a story, which creates different questions to answer about story elements. Fractured fairy tales also are very funny, which students will appreciate. "The Stinky Cheese Man an Other Fairly Stupid Tales" is also wonderfully illustrated. The creepy and gross way each character and setting is drawn adds to the effect of the book. Fractured Fairy tale books are also great for teaching students that traditional stories are fun to recreate. This could lead to an assignment that makes the student make a fractured fairy tale of their own.

Appeal Terms: fairytale, leisurely, dark, humorous, magical, multiple plotlines, eccentric, quirky

"Far Out Fairy Tales : Hansel and Gretel and Zombies" by Benjamin Harper

   

"Far Out Fairy Tales : Hansel and Gretel and Zombies" 

by Benjamin Harper

40 pages /  Print / Graphic Novel

Summary: Zombie Hansel and Zombie Gretel's parents send them out in the woods to find brains of a tourist to bring back to eat. The parents dress them up in "human" costumes to trick tourists into helping them find their way back home. A witch sees them walking in the forest and she puts on her "human costume" to trick them into her candy house. The witch tricks Hansel into a cage by baiting him with brains. Hansel is fed brains so he can become nice and fat to eat Gretel is chained up and kept as a slave to do housework. The witch asked Gretel to light the oven, but then Gretel locks the witch in the oven. Instead of burning the witch, Gretel bites her and turns her into a zombie. Now all three of them are hungry for brains. The witch reveals that Hansel was not eating real brains, but rather "soy-based brains".  The witch returns the children to their parents. They all live together happily in the forest eating "soy-based brains".

Evaluation: This book is perfect for Halloween or teaching fractured fairy tales. There is a section in the book that explains the differences from the original Hansel and Gretel fairytale. The author also includes some reason comprehension questions to help the reader understand the plot. Kids love zombies these days, and the dialogue is very funny for readers. The story is short so readers can finish it in one sitting and feel accomplished that they read a book.

Appeal Terms: fairy tale, dark, humorous, magical, creepy, spooky, plot twists

"My Pen" by Christopher Myers

"My Pen" 

by Christopher Myers

32 pages /  Print / Fantasy

Summary: "To the people who make things, and to the people who share them." Christopher Myers dedicates this book to the creators. This simple story is page after page of a boy creating fantasy scenes with his pen. His pen allows him to travel to Africa in a newspaper boat, ride dinosaurs, tell people that he loves him, and more. Myers encourages readers to pick up a pen and let your own world be created.

Evaluation: The illustrations of "My Pen" are very detailed and imaginative. I think students that have a drawing talent will enjoy reading this book and gain inspiration. After reading this book I wanted to pick up a pen and create a world of my own. This book celebrates beauty and the expression and art.

Appeal Terms: leisurely, inspirational, magical, character centered, thought provoking, introspective, art

"Moonday" by Adam Rex

"Moonday" 

by Adam Rex

40 pages /  Print / Fantasy

Summary: A little boy and his family take a drive one night up a hill. They watch the moon from atop the hill, but the moon then follows the family back to their home. The moon stays in their backyard that night and into the morning. The next day is very dark outside, and all the townspeople are tired because it is still night. The boy returns home from school and has a plan. The family gets in their car to drive back to the hill. The moon follows them to the top of the hill. The boy tells the moon to "stay", and it does. The moon stays at the top of the hill and the sun rises the next morning.


Evaluation: I have always had a fascination with the moon, so this story makes me think of how I would stare at the moon as a child and hope to touch it. The dark shades and shadows throughout this book give the reader a sleepy feeling, like the townspeople felt. I think students will enjoy the illustrations of the sleepy and yawning people on each page, who cannot go to sleep until the moon returns up in the sky. This book is full of imagination and warm moments.

Appeal Terms: science fiction, easy, magical, heartwarming, gentle, plot centered

"Harold and the Purple Crayon" by Crockett Johnson

"Harold and the Purple Crayon" 

by Crockett Johnson

64 pages /  Print / Fantasy

Summary: Harold explores a world as he draws it with his purple crayon. He draws himself into different situations; climbing mountains, sailing the see, and sharing a picnic with animals. When it is time for bed, Harold draws him back back home with the help of the moon.

Evaluation: What a great book that captures the imagination of a young child. The illustrations are simple but important to the plot of the story. Johnson's use of line on each page makes your eye follow the shapes and movement of Harold's journey. The line from the purple crayon moves the story along and leaves you excited with the next magical thing to happen. The visual clues left on each page makes you guess what will happen next. This is a great story to read as a class and guess where Harold will go off to next!

Appeal Terms: adventure, easy, humorous, magical, gentle, well developed

"Animalia" by Graeme Base

"Animalia" 

by Graeme Base

32 pages /  Print / Fantasy

Summary: This book is an illustrated alternative alphabet filled with animals doing human things. This book is an adventure to read, with each letter representing a different animal. Also on each page are things that start with that letter. With so many detailed pictures and hidden treasures to find on each page, this book could take longer to read than a chapter book.

Evaluation: This book, like other books I've reviewed on this blog, is a work of art. This book is like your wildest and most strange dream. Because it is an alphabet book, students can learn about letter sounds (phonics) and alliteration (crimson cats,  hairy hippos, etc.). The tongue twisters on each page are fun to read. The book contains one inappropriate sentence that parents should look at before reading it to their child, ("Kid Kookaburra and Kelly Kangaroo kidnap Kitty Koala") showing animals in criminal clothing. This book can be read many times, and you would probably discover something new each time.

Appeal Terms: animal, leisurely, humorous, magical, gentle, quirky

"The Book That Eats People" by John Perry ( Illustrated by Mark Fearing)

"The Book That Eats People" 

by John Perry ( Illustrated by Mark Fearing)

38 pages /  Print / Humorous

Summary: This is simply the book that eats people! This book can smell the food on your hands if you don't wash them. That makes the book hungry. It hides in the library, sometimes disguising itself by putting on a different book's jacket. It will even eat other books in the library! The book kept eating other children until it was locked away in jail. It couldn't be kept in jail for long, so it was sent to the zoo. It would not eat junk food that they sold at the zoo, it only wanted to eat people. Never read this book after eating something delicious, it will smell the food and get hungry. Don't read this book alone! It is the book that eats people!

Evaluation: I really enjoy a book that breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to its readers. The page design in this book is very creative. There is a lot of collage work, and designs borrowed from comic books ( cells, and columns). Some illustrations are made to look like the book was taped together and ripped apart by the monster book. Some pages look like the inside of a stomach of a book that just ate a collection of science textbooks. Creepy. An unexpected monster, a book, is a perfect character to use in a library during Halloween. Students and librarians are the main characters in this book, so they both can find a connection in this book when reading it.

Appeal Terms: science fiction, humorous, fast, foreboding, edgy, magical, creepy, spooky, character centered, quirky

"Tuesday" by David Weisner

   

"Tuesday" 

by David Weisner

32 pages /  E-Book / Sci-Fi

Summary: In the middle of the night, frogs start levitating on lily pads and fly across the night sky. The swarm of flying frogs wreak havoc on the town, terrorizing the dogs in the neighborhood and making a mess of things. The frogs return home to the lake as the sun rises in the morning sky. The next night, it is the pigs turn to fly in the night sky.


Evaluation: An instant favorite of mine. Weisner's use of perspective is truly amazing as he transports us into his world of creativity and magic. The flying frogs reminded me of Moses and the  plague of frogs that inherited Egypt. Perhaps there is an allegory that Weisner is trying to portray? This book, like "The Lion and the Mouse", has very few words. These books are great for children as they are forced to look at the illustrations and create their own story. It makes the reader focus on every inch of the illustration in case they missed some visual clue that is imperative to the plot. Books like these are great for language learners and can help develop an emerging reader's love for books.

Appeal Terms: animal, sci/fic, fast, humorous, magical, action oriented, quirky

"Cinderella" by K.Y. Craft

 

"Cinderella" 

by K.Y. Craft

32 pages /  E-Book / Folktale

Summary: Cinderella, forced to serve her stepsisters, finds herself meeting a prince in the woods. The prince fancies her very much, but Cinderella runs off to care for an injured bird she found. The bird ends up being a fairy godmother that transforms Cinderella into a beautiful princess. The godmother also gifts her a magical coach to accompany her to the gala at the prince's castle. The prince sees Cinderella at the gala and falls in love. Cinderella leaves the gala before midnight because the magic spell will end at that time. She forgets one slipper, but the prince retrieves it. The prince searches for the owner of the slipper by visiting every woman in the kingdom until he finds someone that fits it. Finally, the prince gets to Cinderella and the slipper is a perfect fit. They marry and live happily ever after.

Evaluation: This book is a work of art. Craft has created fantastic illustrations that play off the magical story of Cinderella. Each illustration in the book (oil painting) could stand on its own and tell a story. The style of illustration matches the time period of the story, my guess is the late 1600s. The story of Cinderella has many variations from around the world, but this story is much like Disney rendition. The  font used in the book is difficult to read at times, the only weakness of this book. The illustrations are so large and full of life, while the text is small and thin. The book is recommended to people that love this classic fairytale, or people that appreciate visual masterpieces. The illustrations are lifelike, so it helps ground this fantastical story into our reality.

Appeal Terms: fairytale, easy, romantic, magical, character centered, dramatic