THE RAINBOW TULIP by Pat Mora, Ill. by Elizabeth Sayles

Bibliography
Mora, Pat. 1999. The Rainbow Tulip. Ill. by Elizabeth Sayles. New York: The Penguin Group. ISBN 0670872911

Plot Summary
The Rainbow Tulip is a story about the author's mother, Stella, when she was in the first grade. Stella is excited about the May Day parade at her school, in which all the girls get to dress up as tulips. She decides to have her costume made with various spring colors instead of just one. Although all the other kids have single color costumes, Stella wears her costume with pride and dignity.

Critical Analysis
This is a story about being proud of one's individuality. Stella loves colors and wears her colorful tulip costume to the May Day parade although the other children's costumes are monochromatic. The other girls are tulips of all blue or pink, but Stella's costume incorporates all the colors of spring. Although Stella is embarrassed at times when her family's differences stand out, she has the courage to be who she is. Stella expresses how she wishes her mother was more like the other parents, yet she still loves and looks up to her mother. Stella's uneasiness about being different rings true to anyone who knows how it feels to stand out from the majority.

The illustrations are warm and calm. They help set the time period of the 1920s and have a hazy and dreamy feeling to them as if someone is reminiscing. This supports the fact that the story is based off of a real event from Mora's mother's childhood. Although the story is from a historical time period, the theme of being accepted as an individual is timeless.

Mora includes Spanish phrases throughout the story in such a way that any English speaker can understand their meaning. The story is simply told, and the dialog is used to show the loving relationships between the characters. However, it seems that a very accepting picture is painted of how others respond to people who are different from them in some manner. A few boyish giggles is the only teasing that Stella has to worry about in this situation. However, children will be able to relate to Stella's fears of showing her individuality. My seven year old daughter got the message and related it to how she wears her hair in braids despite the fact that most of the kids at her school do not.

Awards and Review Excerpts

• Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award, 2000 - Nominee Texas
• Booklist: "There's not much story: when she goes to the May parade at school in a tulip costume of many colors, she worries that she looks different from everyone else, only to realize that it's fine to be different. What many immigrant kids will enjoy is the bicultural experience."
• Kirkus Reviews: "With warmth and directness, Mora celebrates diversity, but provides a balanced view of assimilation as well, Sayles's softly colored illustrations, by turns wistful and vibrant, capture the times and the tone as a young child finds her place in her parents' new country."
• The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: "...while the story is not prescriptive, it has many layers for discussion and reflection."

Connections

• This story is true and based off of a childhood experience of Pat Mora's mother. In her author's note, Pat Mora mentions a family tree. Invite children to create a family tree.
• Family can have many stories and experiences to share. Have children ask a family member to share a story from their childhood. These stories can then be shared with the group. Do any of these stories reveal a lesson learned?
• Other books about Mexican Americans: 

           Rodríguez, Luis J. América is Her Name. ISBN 1880684403
           Sáenz, Benjamin Alire. A Gift From Papá Diego. ISBN 0938317334
           Elya, Susan Middleton. Home at Last. ISBN 1584300205

A SICK DAY FOR AMOS MCGEE by Phillip C. Stead, Ill. by Erin E. Stead

Bibliography
Stead, Philip C. 2010. A Sick Day for Amos McGee. Ill. by Erin E. Stead. New York: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9781596434028

Plot Summary
A Sick Day for Amos McGee is about an elderly zookeeper who visits his animal friends at the zoo daily. One day, Amos wakes up with a cold and takes a sick day from work. His animal friends miss him that day and decide to visit Amos at home to see how he is. Amos is delighted to see his friends who nurture him for the rest of the day.

Critical Analysis
The plot is simple and believable. Amos gets sick and has to miss work to recover. The resolution is unique in that it is Amos’ animal friends who help him recover. It is the human personalities that each of the animal characters embodies that appeals to young children. The only human character, Amos, loves his job and the animals that are a part of it. Amos could have been anyone. It is only through the illustrations that the reader sees that he is a kind-hearted senior citizen.

The passage of time is key to the development of the story. Words and illustrations convey this clearly. There are depictions of the bored animal friends trying to wait patiently for Amos at the zoo. The story describes how the animals prepare for their daily meetings with Amos. When he does not show, there are wordless images of the animals waiting at the bus stop and then taking the bus to Amos’ house. It is at this moment that one realizes how well illustrations and words complement each other. The illustrations are also filled with little details about the characters that the text has no need to describe. For example, Amos sleeps with a teddy bear, and the penguin loves red balloons.

I read this story to my three year old for the first time, and we both loved it. He was able to relate to the characters, such as the penguin at the end that was still awake while everyone else was asleep. I thought the characters lovable and was thrilled to witness my young one understanding the overall message of friendship without it having to be clearly spelled out in the story. I myself was able to relate to the cozy feeling of being taken care of by loved ones.

Awards and Review Excerpts

Charlotte Zolotow Award, 2011 - Honor Book

Cybil Award, 2010 – Finalist

New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books, 2010

Randolph Caldecott Medal, 2011

Kirkus: "This gentle, ultimately warm story acknowledges the care and reciprocity behind all good friendships..."

Library Media Connection: "This is a sweet, but simple story about the value of friendship, loyalty, dedication, and duty."

Connections

The main theme of the story is friendship and coming through for friends when they need you the most. Share real life stories of helping others in need.

Read another book about friendship by Philip C. Stead: Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat. ISBN 9781596435629

The illustrations in A Sick Day for Amos McGee are full of little details and surprises that are not told in the written story. Can you find any?