Bibliography
Henkes, Kevin 2004. Kitten’s First Full Moon. Greenwillow Books, ISBN 0060588284
Plot Summary
One night Kitten observes her first full moon and mistakes it for a little bowl of milk in the sky. She has quite an adventure trying to reach it. Her quest takes her to a few places away from home. She is unsuccessful in her attempts, so she finally returns home sad and tired. When she arrives home she finds a nice little surprise.
Critical Analysis
This simple tale about a young kitten’s quest to drink from a little bowl of milk in the sky is a story young children can easily relate to. Things are not always what they seem when you are learning about the world. You may not always get what you want, but you will get what you need. The text has a few repetitive phrases that young children can easily join in and “read”. The sentences alternate in length from long descriptive ones to short ones.
The black and white drawing conveys a night lit by a full moon and the white fur of the kitten is visible at night. Young children can see the emotions of the kittens in the pictures as she attempts and fails to get the bowl of milk. The flowers, the firefly lights, and the pond are all round just like the bowl of milk kitten so desires. The drawings were done using Gouache and colored pencils to prepare the black, grey and white drawings.
Review Excerpts
The Horn Book v. 80 no. 3 (May/June 2004) p. 314-15
"The black-and-white forms, with subtle gradations of gray, are larger and more solid-looking than Henkes's usual work, with less interior line. Nevertheless, the kitten, whose white fur glows against the charcoal-gray sky like the moon she desires, is sprightly and expressive. . . .
The New York Times Book Review v. 109 no. 20 (May 16 2004) p. 18
"In the classic children's-book convention, the story is succinctly told, pared down to a beginning, a middle and the end. The pictures fit the words perfectly, with equal amounts of simplicity and charm. As the title implies, there are two stars in this story: the moon, which doubles as a bowl of milk, and Kitten."
Awards
2005 Caldecott Medal
Connections
Children can chart the phases of the moon for one cycle. Children can observe the moon each night and draw a picture of it on a calendar from one full moon until the next one appears.
Children can write about a time they tried and tried to get something and yet somehow couldn’t no matter how much they tried and eventually got the object they desired when least expected.
Other picture books by Kevin Henkes
Little White Rabbit ISBN 0062006428
Old Bear ISBN 0061552054
A Good Day ISBN 006114018X
My Garden ISBN 0061715174
Bibliography
Mora, Pat. 2006. Ill by Doug Cushman. Marimba! Animales from A to Z. Clarion Books. ISBN 0-618-19453-3.
Plot summary
Once a year, the monkey lulls the zookeepers to sleep so he can play his marimba and all the zoo animals join in for a night of dancing and celebrating.
Critical Analysis
This alphabet picture book is written in English with the names of one animal in Spanish and one in English for almost each letter of the alphabet. Cognates, words that are easily recognizable to non-Spanish speakers, are used to name animals in Spanish. Animal names in Spanish are printed in brightly colored text. Rhyme and some alliteration give the text a rhythmic beat that flows easily off the tongue to make for an engaging read aloud.
The illustrations are brightly colored and juxtaposed with a black starry night. The animals are all drawn with expressive faces and bodies depicting all the fun they are having while the zookeepers sleep. The marimba playing monkey makes an appearance on each pair of open pages.
The authors note is informative about Pat Mora’s creative process and includes an illustrated translation and pronunciation guide for the Spanish names of the animals
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal v. 52 no. 11 (November 2006) p. 106-7
This infectiously cheerful alphabet book includes both Spanish and English animal names (the author deliberately chose examples that are easily recognizable in both languages). Rhyming verses introduce pairs of letters………..This freshly presented concept book will please children and may tempt librarians to share it at story time.
MultiCultural Review v. 16 no. 2 (Summer 2007) p. 79
"Mora has bridged two languages and two cultures in this delightful children's alphabet book. . . . This is sure to be a good cross-cultural resource book and a great addition to any community and school library."
Awards
Bank Street College Best Children's Books of the Year, 2007
Connections
Children can create their own alphabet books in English and/or Spanish using other animals.
Children can research animals they are unfamiliar with from the story and learn about them.
Children can learn about other words that are cognates in English and Spanish.
Other books by Pat Mora
Uno, Dos, Tres/One, Two, Three ISBN 0618054685
Tomas and the Library Lady ISBN 0375803491
Book Fiesta ISBN 0061288772
Other English/Spanish Alphabet Books
Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet by Yuyi Morales ISBN 1596433299
Gathering the Sun by Alma Flor Ada ISBN 0688170676
ABeCedarios: Mexican Folk Art ABCs in English and Spanish by Cynthia Weill ISBN 1933693134
Alphabet Fiesta : An English /Spanish Alphabet Story by Anne Miranda ISBN 1890515299
Calavera Abecdario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book by Jeanette Winter ISBN 0152059067
Bibliography
McCloskey, Robert,1941. Make Way for Ducklings. New York. The Viking Press ISBN 0-14-241386-0
Plot Summary
Mr. and Mrs. Mallard Duck search for a place to raise their brood of ducklings and liked a little island in the Public Garden until a bicyclist nearly runs the mother over. The ducks settle on nearby river on another little island. There the ducks raise their little family and meet a friendly policeman who feeds them peanuts daily. When the ducklings are ready, the Mallard family moves to the Public Garden. The mother duck leads the ducklings all in a line through the busy city streets. The friendly policeman spots them and calls for back up and helps the duck family cross the streets and to their new home in the Public Garden.
Critical Analysis
Review Excerpts
Awards
1942 Caldecott Medal
Connections
Children can compare and contrast Make Way for Ducklings with Chibi: A True Story from Japan by Julia Takaya
Children can research facts about mallard ducks
Books about ducks
Chibi: A True Story from Japan by Julia Takaya ISBN 0395720885
The Story about Ping by Marjorie Flak ISBN 0448421658
10 Little Rubber Ducks by Eric Carle ISBN 0060740752
Duck for President by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin ISBN 0689863772
John Philip Duck by Patricia Polacco ISBN 0399242627
Other books by Robert McCloskey
Blueberries for Sal ISBN 9994568418
One Morning in Maine ISBN 0140501746
Time of Wonder ISBN 0140502017
Lentil ISBN 0140502874
Burt Dow, Deep-Water Man ISBN014050978X
