WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN'T KNOW by Sonya Sones

Bibliography
Sones, Sonya. 2001. What my Mother Doesn't Know. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689841140

Plot Summary
This novel in verse tells the story of Sophie and her journey of realizing the difference between love and lust. Sophie is a love-starved teenager who seeks love from boys in school and even through online chat. Sones reveals Sophie's exploration in love through unique poems that mesh together to tell the journey of a girl who finally finds love in the homeliest yet most genuine companion that a girl could ever have.

Critical Analysis
Most of Sones' poems are in free verse with each one put together so carefully that even the poems' titles are crucial in carrying along the plot. For example, the reader finds out that Sophie is an only child only by reading the title of the poem "Why I Don't Mind Being an Only Child." Rhythm, rhyme, sound, and imagery is incorporated sparingly and is a departure from the free verse. These elements are used to alert the reader of a major revelation in the story. For example, "Long Weekend" has a distinct rhythm and portrays Sophie's loneliness and nervousness after a big fight with her boyfriend, Dylan. In "More or Less," rhyme is used as Sophie realizes that she is only physically attracted to Dylan. Alliteration is used in the title "Dinner Downer." This poem. reveals how dysfunctional Sophie's family is. Imagery is used to reveal Sophie's moods. "At the Beach" portrays the "magical" feeling of being touched by sunrays on a beach while providing the reader with a sense of Sophie's "overcast" mood.

What my Mother Doesn't Know is a true reflection of the teenage girl. It reveals the insecurities, worries, and needs that many female adolescents go through in such an honest way that it will automatically appeal to this audience. One may even forget that Sophie is a fictional character.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

• Iowa Teen Award, 2006
• Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2001 - American Library Association
• YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2002 - American Library Association
• YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2002 - American Library Association
• Booklist: "A natural for reluctant readers, this will also attract young people who love to read."
• Kirkus: "Romantic and sexy, with a happy ending that leaves Sophie together with Mr. Right, Sones ... has crafted a verse experience that will leave teenage readers sighing with recognition and satisfaction."

Connections

• Poetry is meant to be read aloud. Try reading some of the poems in this book aloud. Start with poems that have distinct rhythms, rhymes, or sounds. 
• Other works by Sonya Sones:

          One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies. ISBN 0689858205
          Stop Pretending: What Happened When my Big Sister Went Crazy. ISBN                0060283874

• Nikki Grimes is another poet who writes about the teenage experience from an African American point of view. Try one of her works:      

          Jazmin's Notebook. ISBN 0803722249
         Bronx Masquerade. ISBN 0803725698.


  

THE LION & THE MOUSE by Jerry Pinkney

Bibliography
Pinkney, Jerry. 2009. The Lion & the Mouse. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780316013567

Plot Summary
A mouse finds herself in the clutches of a lion while trying to escape from an owl. The lion decides to spare her life. One day, the lion finds himself ensnared in a trap left by poachers. The mouse hears his cry and rescues him.

Critical Analysis
The plot of this story is so simple that it is told in pictures only. The only language present is the sounds that some of the animals make, for example, the roar of the lion in trouble and the squeaks of the mouse's babies. This story takes place in the African Serengeti, a place where one would expect to find a lion. According to Pinkney, the beautiful illustrations capture the landscapes of Tanzania and Kenya. There are two main characters who are both strong. The lion is strong in the obvious sense, and the mouse is strong in that she can survive her dangerous surroundings in order to care for her children. Just like the original fable, the moral remains that strength can be found in the small and meek.

My daughter loves this story and automatically put her own words to the beautiful illustrations. Although my daughter is familiar with the original fable, the illustrations are so descriptive that it is not necessary to know the fable in order to enjoy the story. This story proves that pictures can sometimes tell a story better than words.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts

•  Randolph Caldecott Medal, 2010
• New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year, 2009
• Kirkus Reviews: "A nearly wordless exploration of Aesop's fable of symbiotic mercy that is nothing short of masterful."
• Booklist: "Pinkney bends his no-word rule a bit with a few noises that are worked into the art (“Screeeech” when an owl dives; “Putt-Putt-Putt” when the hunters’ jeep arrives), but these transgressions will only encourage young listeners to get involved with read-along sessions. And involved they will be—how could they not get drawn into watercolors of such detail and splendor?"

Connections 

• Encourage children to add their own words to the story by asking them what do they think is happening in each scene.
• Other fables by Jerry Pinkney:

          The Little Red Hen. ISBN 0803729359
          Aesop's Fables. ISBN 1587170000

• Read other versions of The Lion and the Mouse. Some suggestions are:

          Orgel, Doris. The Lion and the Mouse: And Other Aesop's Fables. ISBN           078942665X
          Morrison, Toni and Slade. Who's Got Game? The Lion or the Mouse? ISBN           9780743222488
          Bader, Barbara. Aesop & Company: With Scenes from His Legendary Life. ISBN           0395505976
 

THE THREE HORRID LITTLE PIGS by Liz Pichon

Bibliography
Pichon, Liz. 2008. The Three Horrid Little Pigs. Wilton, CT: tiger tales. ISBN 158925077X

Plot Summary
The three pigs are bad, and the wolf is a kindly builder who just wants to help. Mama pig kicks out her three unruly children, and they are forced to live on their own. Each pig builds a house made out of straw, twigs, and a chicken coop by stealing their building materials from fellow animals. When the wronged animals rebel against the pigs, the three pigs make their way to the wolf's house built out of bricks. The wolf welcomes them, and the pigs mend their lazy ways.

Critical Analysis
This fractured fairy tale version of The Three Little Pigs twists the roles of the characters; the pigs are lazy and mean, and the wolf is kind. The pigs steal their building materials from other animals and react rudely to the wolf's kindness. This conflict between characters moves the story along quickly. In fact, time passes too quickly, and the pigs mend their lazy ways in the last three pages rather unrealistically. However, this goes in line with the happy ending that is expected from all fairy tales.

The story starts and ends in the classic way with "once upon a time" and "they all lived happily ever after." The illustrations complement the characters' images and portray the tension in the story by giving the pigs bad boy images, making the wolf's home warm and cozy, and portraying the anger and frustration of the animals being bullied by the pigs. An English tale told by an English woman, this story keeps its European feel, especially with the modern dress of the pigs.

My three year old does not care for this tale. This may have been because he is not familiar with the original story. I myself feel that the story ends too abruptly with the pigs suddenly having a change of attitude. I was hoping for something witty or some other twist. My daughter, on the other hand, likes it. She likes how the animals work together in the end to build a bigger house. However, she had difficulty with the moral of the story, in which I had to explain to her that it is about how kindness can win others over. Maybe this lesson could have been stated at the end of the story to explain the change in the pigs' behavior. She did get that it is a version of the original Three Little Pigs. 

Review Excerpts

• Booklist: "Children will enjoy the clever twist on a familiar story."
• Library Media Connection: "This picture book serves as another fine example of a fairytale twist that will be enjoyed by young readers."

Connections

• Read other versions or variants of The Three Little Pigs. Have children compare the stories to this one.
• Children can write and share their own version of The Three Little Pigs.
• Other fractured fairy tales:

           Bar-el, Dan. Such a Prince. ISBN 9780618714681
           Hale, Bruce. Snoring Beauty. ISBN 9780152163143
           Hoberman, Mary Ann. Very Short Fairy Tales to Read Together. ISBN 0316146110
           Wilcox, Leah. Falling for Rapunzel. ISBN 0399237941
           Hartman, Bob. The Wolf who Cried Boy. ISBN 0399235787

JUST A MINUTE: A TRICKSTER TALE AND COUNTING BOOK by Yuyi Morales

Bibliography
Morales, Yuyi. 2003. Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. ISBN 0811837580

Plot Summary
Death, Señor Calavera, pays Grandma Beetle a visit to her home to collect her. However, Grandma Beetle is not ready to go and tricks Señor Calavera into waiting while she prepares her birthday party. By the end of the night, Señor Calavera is celebrating with Grandma Beetle and her children. He leaves without taking Grandma Beetle away.

Critical Analysis
The theme of Just a Minute is a classic one of good triumphing over evil, in which Grandma Beetle outwits death. Grandma Beetle is a strong female character who is so clever that she even gets death to help out with some of her birthday party preparations at her home. Since this is a counting book, the plot is simple in that each page introduces a new number to go along with a chore. The numbers are revealed in English and Spanish starting with one and ending with ten. Rhythm is created using repetition of the phrase "Just a minute, Señor Calavera ... I will go with you right away, I have just ..." The resolution is satisfying in that death allows Grandma Beetle to live to see her next birthday.

My daughter loved this story. She laughed hysterically with each repetition of  "just a minute" and couldn't wait to see what Grandma Beetle's next excuse would be. At the age of 7, she did not understand that Señor Calavera was death. This may be a concept that older elementary school children will understand. I enjoyed this story as well. The beautiful illustrations reflect a color palette of the Mexican tradition. It has a nice rhythm to it and is meant to be read aloud because of this.

Awards Won & Review Excerpts 

• Pura Belpre Award, 2004 Winner
•  Booklist: "The splendid paintings and spirited storytelling--along with useful math and multicultural elements--augur a long, full life for this original folktale."
• Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices: "The vibrant acrylic and mixed-media illustrations are a perfect accompaniment to the lively and humorous story."
• Kirkus Reviews: "Lit with dancing lines and warm colors, Morales's illustrations enhance the appeal of this winning story even further."

Connections

• Younger kids can practice their counting skills in English and Spanish from one to ten. Have children count beads and match them with the number they represent in number form as well as in written English and Spanish. 
• Try reading another Mexican trickster tale for young elementary school students:

        Johnston, Tony. The Tale of Rabbit and Coyote. ISBN 0399222588

• Other counting books in English and Spanish:

           Mora, Pat. Uno, Dos, Tres = One, Two, Three. ISBN 0395672945
           Sáenz, Benjamin Alire. A Perfect Season for Dreaming = Un Tiempo Perfecto para            Soñar. ISBN 9781933693019
            

ARE YOU MY MOTHER? by P.D. Eastman

Bibliography
Eastman, P. D. 1960. Are You My Mother?  New York: Random House. ISBN 0394800184

Plot Summary

A mother bird leaves her egg in search of some food. While she is gone, her egg hatches. Not seeing his mother, the baby bird goes in search of her. He encounters a kitten, hen, dog, cow, car, boat, plane, and bulldozer asking if each is his mother. Upon accidentally making his way back to his nest, he finally finds her.

Critical Analysis

This book is an easy reader, so the vocabulary is purposely limited. Despite the limited vocabulary, the story is interesting, and the illustrations reflect the baby bird's emotions well, his determination, frustration, fear, and finally contentment in finding his mother. The story is about having a sense of where you belong, and children can relate to the fear of being lost. When the baby bird finally sees his mother, he is certain of who she is and states with confidence "you are my mother."

Since the characters are the story's focus, the setting is a nondescript rural area. Even the inanimate objects, such as the plane and bulldozer, have almost human faces. For example, the plane looks like it has eyes and the baby bird looks like its caught in the bulldozer's mouth. The story focuses on the mother and child relationship. I can easily relate to this coming from a single parent household. Although this may not have been the author's intention, it is nice to see a nontraditional family portrayed.

Young children will find this story fun because of its predictable nature. There is repetition in the language, such as the question, "Are you my mother?" Also, there is the run through of who is not the bird's mother in several places throughout the story until one reaches the end where there is the final summary of all things that did not qualify.

Review Excerpt
Children's Literature: "The illustrations capture both the humor and poignancy of the quest, which speaks reassuringly to many children's worries about parental loss. As kids, my siblings and I wanted to hear this story again and again."

Connections

• Try other books from the Dr. Seuss Beginner Books series by Dr. Seuss himself. These are classics!

         One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. ISBN 0394892240
         Green Eggs and Ham. ISBN 0394800168
         The Cat in the Hat. ISBN 0001711016

• Younger children like repetition in books. Try a second reading having them join in on the repeated phrase, "Are you my mother?" Also, have them try to recall all the animals and objects the little bird approaches throughout the story.

• The illustrations show inanimate objects with human features. Have children draw their favorite objects in a similar manner.

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?