There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

Bibliography:

Taback, Simms. 1997. THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY. Viking. ISBN 0670869392.

Plot summary:

“There was an old lady who swallowed a fly” is a well-known poem about the old lady who first swallows a fly, and then to solve the problem, swallows increasingly larger animals ...  until the horse ... and most of us know what happens next... "she died, of course." It is embroidered with quick witted comments by the soon-to-be-eaten animals as they witness the disappearance of others in an old lady’s toothy mouth. Their remarks rhyme with the story lines: “Perhaps, she’ll die. –I think I’ll cry.”

Critical analysis:

Simms Taback turns a well-loved poem into a fresh and funny version. Using an ever-expanding die-cut hole, Simms Taback let us see what went inside the old lady’s stomach. The art work was done using mixed media and collage on craft paper. Each page is full of humorous asides and details, from the names of different types of birds, to a recipe of spider soup, to the rhyming asides from the spectating animals. It is a real pleasure to turn page after page and enjoy bright images, clever remarks and a well-known poem.

Experts Review:

Caldecott Honor Book.

Booklist: “Although there are many versions of this perennial favorite, this is one of the funniest and most innovative yet.”

Connections:

Have a talk about the illustrations and all the absurd details included in each one.  Have you ever seen a fly with a telescope, or a spider like the one the old lady swallowed? Why do you think the bird is dressed like a deputy sheriff, or why does the cow have wings? 

Read other books by Simms Taback:

“Joseph had a little overcoat”

“Where is my friend?”

“This is the house that Jack built”

“Postcards from camp”

Ladder to the Moon

Bibliography:

Soetoro-Ng, Maya. 2011. LADDER TO THE MOON. Ill. by Yuyi Morales. Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763645700.


Plot Summary:

Suhaila never met Grandma Annie, but she knows that Annie was soft and loving and caring. One night a golden ladder appears at Suhaila's window, and Grandma Annie invites the child to climb with her to the moon. There they listen to the song of the moon. As they look down on the Earth they grow closer.
They see people on the Earth who are suffering from the ravages of natural and man-made disasters. Grandma Annie reaches out to these people, pulling them to the moon. There are women with children, brothers, sisters, and people from different countries and of different religions. Soon the moon is crowed with people sitting and laughing and telling stories and healing.
Finally, it is time for Suhaila to leave. She returns to her mother, taking love knowledge and courage with her.


Critical Analysis:

This lovely and touching story is about a connection between a granddaughter and her Grandmother. Maya Soetoro-Ng decided to us this story as a way of uniting her own daughter Suhaila and her own mother Annie, who had died before Suhaila was born.
The characters of granddaughter and grandmother fulfill and enrich each other. On the one hand there is wise and nourishing Annie; on the other hand young, innocent, and accepting Suhaila. Suhaila watches her grandmother shelter and heal those who suffer, eventually becoming the one who reaches down helps up and heals.
It is interesting how the author emphasizes the importance of the five human senses. It is by listening, tasting, seeing, feeling and smelling that we learn and grow wiser.
The theme of the book is very philosophical – how to grow stronger in faith, growth toward a higher self. Soetoro-Ng uses an extraordinary style to present this theme to young children through various symbols and characters.
The illustrations of Yuyi Morales compliment the message of the Soetoro-Ng’s story. They are unique and breath-taking images. She uses such elements as texture, soft lines and colors, and shapes to represent the complexity of human emotions such as grief and happiness, courage and curiosity, hurt and healing. We can find the image of a caring dog like the one the Aztecs believed to be a person’s companion in life and later again on the journey of death. Every character in this story has a voice and a story that is heard because of Morales’s illustrations. Soetoro-Ng’s words and Morales’s imagery combine to create a memorable story experience.

Review Experts:

"From Maya Soetoro-Ng, sister of President Obama, comes a lyrical story relaying the loving wisdom of their late mother to a young granddaughter she never met."  Goodreads.

“Maya Soetoro-Ng’s book Ladder to the Moon is a stunning story about love, loss, service and so very much more”. There's a book.

Connections:


Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez. Written by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Yuyi Morales. Harcourt 2003.

Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book. Written and illustrated by Yuyi Morales. Chronicle Books 2003.

Sand Sister. Written by Amanda White, illustrated by Yuyi Morales. Barefoot Books 2004.

Little Night Written and illustrated by Yuyi Morales.Roaring Brook Press. A Neal Porter Book, 2007. 

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! by A. Wolf

Bibliography:

Scieszka, Jon. 1989.THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS. Ill. by Lane Smith. New York. Viking Penguin. ISBN 0670827592


Plot Summary:

        The story of the three little pigs is told from the wolf’s perspective. “Whose fault is it that wolves like to eat little animals?” he asks. “It’s just our diet.”

On that horrible, unfortunate day Wolf was making a birthday cake for his granny. He didn't feel well; he had a terrible sneezing cold. Wolf realized that he’d run out of sugar. So, he went to his neighbors to borrow a cup. Well, his neighbor was Little Pig, and he’d built his house out of straw. When Wolf knocked, no one answered the door. As he was about to leave, Wolf sneezed a great sneeze. Disastrously the whole straw house fell down. Wolf was terrified to find a dead pig in the pile of straw. The least he could do is eat it.

       In his search for sugar, Wolf wanders to the house of Mr. Pig, Little Pig’s brother. Though this house was built of sticks, it didn't survive Wolf’s sneeze either. Nor did Mr. Pig: he was served as a second helping.

       Unlucky, poor Wolf, still in search of a cup of sugar, went to the third brother who had built his house out of brick. It just wasn't Wolf’s day: this third pig not only refused to lend him a cup of sugar, he started trash talking Wolf’s dear granny. No wonder that Wolf went a little crazy: tried breaking down the pig’s door and went making a real scene.

       The rest is history: the police came, arrested Wolf, and made up this story about a big, bad wolf.

Critical Analysis

       Jon Scieszka offers a new and refreshing twist on the story The Three Little Pigs: The True Story of The 3 Little Pigs! by A. Wolf. Readers will delight in Wolf’s reasoning as to why the whole situation with the pigs was just a misunderstanding.

        The story that has been told so many times before gets a new perspective, a new colorization filled with humorous remarks like:

 “Now this neighbor was a pig. And he wasn’t too bright, either. He had built his whole house out of straw.”

and

“And right in the middle of the pile of straw was the First Little Pig – dead as a doornail. It seemed like a shame to leave a perfectly good ham dinner lying there in the straw. So I ate it up.”

But, in the final analysis the story remains the same: a mean wolf eats two innocent pigs, before being stopped by a huntsman in the original and a police officer in Scieszka’s version.

         The illustrations by Lane Smith are a great supplement to the story. Smith’s realistic illustrations make the story that much more believable. They show the wolf as a well-dressed character wearing eye-glasses – a literary sign of intelligence and honesty. How can the reader doubt such an honest character? Touches of humor are seen in almost every illustration. How sweet and touching it sounds when we read that Wolf is making a cake for his dear old granny only to see in the accompanying illustration a mixing bowl containing not only the expected cake ingredients, but also bunny ears. My favorite illustration is the image of a huge cheeseburger layered with a rabbit’s ears, a rat’s tail, and a mouse’s whiskers.

         This quick-witted retelling of an old story, coupled with remarkable illustrations, creates a delightful and hilarious version of the tale.

   

Review Experts:

Caldecott Honor Award for illustrations.

Publishers Weekly said of it, “Smith’s highly imaginative watercolors eschew realism, further updating the tale, though some may find their urbane stylization and intentionally static quality mystifyingly adult. Designed with uncommon flair, this alternative fable is both fetching and glib.”

“One of the best books of the year, exuding vitality and energy.” The Bookseller

“A hilarious alternative version.” NATE News

Connections

Gather other books illustrated by Lane Smith, such as THE STINKY CHEESE MAN AND OTHER FAIRLY STUPID TALES (also written by Jon Scieszka) and MADAM PRESIDENT.

THE THREE LITTLE WOLVES AND THE BIG BAD PIG by Eugene Trivizas

Have the students either side with the pigs or the wolf and present evidence for their argument and have a debate (role play).

Dramatize the story with the teacher/librarian acting as narrator and the children portraying the parts.  Ask the children how being the Wolf made them feel.

The Rainbow Tulip

Bibliography:

Mora, Pat. 1999. THE RAINBOW TULIP.Ill. by Elizabeth Sayles Viking.ISBN 0670872911

Plot Summary:

This is a touching story about the little girl Estelita. Her name is Stella at school, but her parents call her ‘Estelita’. Estelita speaks English at school; at home she speaks Spanish. Her parents don’t speak English at all. Estelita’s family, her parents and two brothers, are so different from everyone else she knows: her neighbors, her classmates, her classmates’ families. Estelita’s mother, her quiet mother, is especially different from the other mothers. She wears no makeup, only long dresses in dim colors, and her hair is always in a tight bun. She doesn’t talk much. Only her smile brightens her features, her warm hands offering comfort.

               Estelita’s class is going to participate in the May parade. All the girls in the class will be tulips. Estelita wants to be a rainbow tulip – yellow and pink and blue and green. On the day of the parade Estelita is a little nervous. What if her friends and teacher laugh at her?

               When it is time to weave the maypole she feels how different she is, but she doesn’t lose control, remembers every step of the dance, and helps her friends who forgot what to do. She knows that everyone watches: her teachers, the principal, other children’s parents, and her quiet mother - who stands alone because she cannot talk to the other parents. Estelita knows that her mother is very proud of her.

               At home mother and daughter have a lime sherbet, talk about how it is difficult being different, about their family, and about Estelita’s dreams. And it feels so right.

Critical Analysis:

The plot of this story shows the difference between two contrasting personalities. On the one side: quiet and simple Mother; on the other: bright and vivid Estelita. Estelita’s character is a bridge connecting the Spanish culture of her family to the English culture of their adopted home.

Pat Mora, the author of the story, uses simple sentences, weaving Spanish words into them, helping the reader feel the atmosphere of the Spanish family. The illustrations by Elizabeth Sayles are wonderful reflections of the story. The artist uses soft lines to represent Mother’s character, and warm colors to represent Estelita’s. The words and picture used in the book effectively to depict Mexican culture, and emphasize Estelita’s character being the bridge connecting the two cultures. It is not easy to be different, to carry “newness”, but it is oh, so exciting and refreshing.

Review Experts

Kirkus Reviews (September 1, 1999) “With warmth and directness, Mora celebrates diversity, but provides a balanced view of assimilation as well.”

School Library Journal (1999) “Based on a story from the author’s mother’s childhood, and perfectly extended by soft, warm pastel drawings framed in white, this tale of family love and support crosses cultural boundaries and may remind youngsters of times when their families made all the difference.” 

Awards:

Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award Nominee 1999

Growing Up Latino in the U.S.A. list (ALSC American Library Association) 2004
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Fourth Edition (National Council of Teachers of English) 2003
Texas Reading Club (State of Texas booklist) 2004

Connections:

Extend The Rainbow Tulip by Pat Mora with an exploration of other holidays in May that include dancing. May Day written by Jeffrey Kent (2008)

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the Mexican Hat Dance by F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor Ada, illustrated by Marcela Gomez and David Silva, and translated by Joe Hayes 

A Ball for Daisy

Bibliography:
Raschka, Christopher. 2011. A BALL FOR DAISY. New York. Schwarz and Wade Books. ISBN 9780375858611.

Plot summary:

This is a wordless type of picture books. The author brings us a beautiful and tender story about a dog Daisy and her ball. The plot is very simple: Daisy is fond of her toy; she likes to sleep with it, she likes to play with it in the house and in the park. Something terrible happens in the park: the other dog popped the ball! Poor Daisy is desperate, nothing can cheer her up. Until the next day in the park... Is it possible to find a new toy and a new friend at the same time?

Critical analysis:



 Although there are no words, it is such a delicate and touching story.  It’s pictures are the words and I think that they do a great job telling the story. The illustrations are very vivid and bright and show exactly what the author is trying to say. Of all visual elements, color dominates on the pages, conveying emotions. Red ball represents strong, warm feelings, love, attraction.  

Older readers will recognize the deeper theme of loss and healing. The simple story about the dog and her ball introduces more mature topic: how does one recover from a loss or a big disappointment? Children can discover these themes by looking through the book with older readers, or they can simply be entertained by the adorable story of a dog and her ball. Overall, the picture book is quite enjoyable.  It’s recommended for children 3-7 but can certainly be enjoyed by all!


I think this book is a great way to introduce emotions and creativity, develop oral fluency and vocabulary skills. It also allows young readers to use their imagination  just by viewing the pictures. 



Review expert(s)

"A story that is noteworthy for both its artistry and its child appeal." Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"Rarely, perhaps never, has so steep an emotional arc been drawn with such utter, winning simplicity." School Library Journal, Starred Review

"Raschka's genius lies in capturing the essence of situations that are deeply felt by children." Horn Book, Starred Review


Connections:

Suggest to students to try themselves in a role of an author and come up with the best story, using illustration of the book.

Have students create a silent movie, based on the book.

Prompt a discussion about toys, things loved and lost. 

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very bad Day

Bibliography:

Viorst, Judith. 1972. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Illustrated by Ray Cruz. New York. Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0-689-30072-7.

Plot Summary:

This story captures one day of a little boy's life. Everything goes wrong for little Alexander from the early morning: gum stuck in his hair, tripping over the toy by his bed, no surprise in the cereal box. Can it get any worse?
As the plot rises the day does not become better: teacher dislikes Alexander's picture of invisible castle, criticizes him for singing too loud; there is no dessert in his lunch box.
The chain of misadventures follows Alexander to the bedtime: his bath was too hot, the night light burn out and even a cat choose his brother's bed to sleep on. This terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day is enough to make anybody want to escape to Australia!

Critical Analysis:

The illustrations in this book are black and white, echoing the grumpy mood of the little boy. It seems the color drained out of the book's pages as well as out of the dull day. The illustrator, Ray Cruz, uses a detailed and textured technique to substitute the lack of the color.
Though the book is about an ordinary child who is just having a bad day, his character can be interpreted as a symbol of human selfishness and struggle.
At the end of the book the author leaves us hope for a better tomorrow.

Review Experts:

 “Bibliotherapy rarely produces a classic, but this book describes perfectly a simple childhood and adult phenomenon – a day when things just don’t go your way.” -100 Best Books for Children.

 “The perfect antidote to any adult that claims that childhood is one sweet, blissful, stress free ride of innocence and carefree days.”- School Library Journal

Connections:

Books by Judith Viorst
Alexander, Who’s Not (Do you hear me? I mean it!) Going to Move By Judith Viorst
Rosie and Michael By Judith Viorst
Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday By Judith Viorst
Absolutely Positively Alexander: The Complete Story By Judith Viorst

Books related to the topic of dealing with frustration and anger:
The Little Engine That Could By Watty Piper
When Sophie Gets Angry – Really, Really Angry... By Molly Bang
Mean Soup By Betsy Everitt
How to Take the Grrrr Out of Anger By Elizabeth Verdick and Majorie Lisovskis

Introduction

This blog was created as a part of my TWU course Young Adults Literature.