The Girl Who Spun Gold

Hamilton, V. (2000).  The girl who spun gold.  New York:  Scholastic, Inc.

This is a wonderful multicultural picture book!  Virginia Hamilton has created a version of the West Indian tale that is similar to the German version of Rumplestiltskin.  Her writing begs to be read out loud, with her reflection of the West Indian speech pattern.  This story would be great for students because most of them have heard one version or another of this story and this one is told in such a way that is gripping and familiar at the same time.  Even though you know how it eventually ends, you are unable to put it down!  The story begins by describing in detail about the tiny fellow known as "Lit'mahn".  The girl named Quashiba and her mother are out under a tree, spinning thread.  They are talking and laughing, when Big King rides by and asks, almost rudely, what all the noise is about.  Her mother then tells the king that they are celebrating because her daughter is spinning gold thread for the king.  The king then says he will marry her because he wants all that for himself.  Quashiba is very upset at her mother's fib, but marries Big King.  The king tells his new wife that at the end of a year and a day, she must start filling three rooms up with golden things.  At the end of a year and a day, Big King locks Queen Quashiba in a room and demands that she fill it with golden things.  She is sad and afraid because she only knows how to spin plain thread.  Lit'mahn overhears and makes an appearance, offering to solve her troubles.  He gives her three days and three guesses each day to say his name.  If she is unable to, he will turn her tiny just like him and take her off to live with him.  She agrees and he proceeds to put her to sleep and then creates golden things within the room.  This version of a familiar folktale has a different twist on the ending than the usual American version that you may have grown up reading.  I'm not going to give it away, you will have to read it for yourself!  The illustrations are very vibrant and almost seem to pop off the page.  Leo and Diane Dillon, the illustrators, used metallic paint and also gold leaf to help convey texture and enrich the mood and meaning of the story.  I chose this book because of the author and her reputation of being a great writer.  This is the first story I have read by Virginia Hamilton and I would definitely read more! 

Big Question(s):  How would you compare/contrast this version of the folktale to the German version?  The English version?
How do you think the king feels toward at Quashiba at the beginning of the story?  The middle?  The end?

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed

Willems, M. (2009).  Naked mole rat gets dressed.  New York:  Hyperion Books for Children.

This is a hilarious picture book about the little known creatures:  naked mole rats.  Mo Willems uses  simple cartoons to tell this story of a naked mole rat who wishes to wear clothes.  The other naked mole rats do not understand him and his desire and want to mold him to their way of thinking.  The Grand-pah naked mole rat, who is the leader of sorts, makes a proclamation and everyone is happy.  You will have to read this to find out the ending!  I chose this book because it is such a funny story, you will be laughing all throughout.  This book uses some language that might make it hard for younger children to understand (such as "sarcastic" and "proclamation"), so be prepared to explain either before or during the reading.  This book can be used in a variety of ways within the classroom:  social studies (dress in different cultures), science (study of naked mole rats), and language (retelling, listening).

As with the other two Mo Willems books, I can see that he LOVES to laugh and make others laugh as well.  I really want to go read all his books!

Big Question(s):  Why do you think the naked mole rat wanted to wear clothes?  How do you think you would feel in his shoes?  Why do you think all the other naked mole rats thought he was gross for wanting to wear clothes?

Knuffle Bunny

Willems, M. (2004).  Knuffle bunny.  New York:  Hyperion Books for Children.

 Knuffle Bunny is a great picture book about a little girl named Trixie, who goes on a little adventure with her dad to the local laundromat when her beloved animal, Knuffle Bunny, comes up missing! Trixie cannot convey to her dad what is wrong and so she tries in many ways to "tell" him.  Mom has to help save the day. Trixie pronounces her favorite animal as "ka-nuffle" bunny.  It is a Dutch word that means to "snuggle or hug", which is what every child wants to do to his or her favorite stuffed animal or blanket!  The images in this story are why this is one of my favorite books.  The author/illustrator uses hand-drawn sketches and digital photography in sepia.  It really adds definition to the story by making the illustrations more life like and fun to look at.  Mo Willems is a very funny author and loves to combine drama and comedy all rolled into one hilarious story!  This book can connect in the classroom through social skills (feelings), literacy (predicting, retelling, acting out the story), or language (draw a picture of a favorite stuffed animal and describe it).

Big question(s):  How would you feel if you lost your favorite stuffed animal?  How else do you think Trixie could have told her dad about her lost Knuffle Bunny?  How was she feeling at the beginning of the story?  the middle?  the end?

There Is a Bird on Your Head!

Willems, M. (2007).  There is a bird on your head!  New York:  Hyperion Books for Children

This easy-reader picture book (An Elephant & Piggie Book) begins with cartoon illustrations of the main characters:  a pig and an elephant wearing glasses and no text.  The author uses simple text to create a dialogue between the two characters as the elephant is experiencing a very humorous situation.  The dialogue appears in a text bubbles that matches the color of each animal and is enlarged to show voice volume.  The author's depiction of the action going on upon the elephant's head encourages the reader (and audience) to laugh out loud!  I chose this book because I love to read Mo Willems books!  He has a very funny way of telling even the most simple of stories to make everyone smile!  A great book for a quick laugh!

Big question(s):  How do you think the pig get the nest off of his head?  Why was the elephant so upset?  If we were to extend the story, what do you think would happen next?

When Sophie Gets Angry-Really, Really Angry...

Bang. M. (1999).  When Sophie gets angry-really, really angry.  New York:  Scholastic, Inc.

This is a great picture book that describes what we sometimes go through when we get angry.  Everyone feels this way, even if we are too old to show it!  Sophie does not want to share with her sister, but her mother tells her she needs to.  The author uses color to help describe how Sophie feels and uses wonderful descriptions of the different emotions that Sophie feels from really angry to sad to calm.  The author is also the illustrator and she has chosen lots of colors to depict how Sophie feels from rich reds and orange when she feels angry to soft blues when she feels calm.  The illustrator uses great texture in each picture such as harsh lines to depictSophie's anger and soft brush strokes that show a peacefulness and calmness in Sophie.   I chose this book because feeling are sometimes hard for young children to understand.  This book enables them to see that it is ok to feel angry and that there are things you can do to help yourself calm down, without being aggressive towards others.  In the classroom, this book can be connected to the curriculum through language (listening, speaking, writing) to encourage literacy skills, social studies (to regulate own emotions, identify other's emotions), drama (retelling the story), and cognitive (problem solving).  This book leads to role playing where you can play the "What If?" game to work on different scenarios that might occur in the classroom of your particular age group.  This is a great read that everyone can identify with!
Big Question(s):  What ways do you show anger?  What helps calm you down?

Hush!

Ho, M. (1996).  Hush!.  New York:  Orchard Books.

Hush! is a picture book that is also aThai lullaby.  It tells of a mother's quest to keep all things quiet so that her child can sleep...or so she thinks.  I chose this book because of the wonderful illustrations done by Holly Meade.   She depicts many animals from the smallest of insects, the mosquito, to the largest of mammals, the elephant.  The author incorporates great animal sounds into the story as the mom looks to see what is making the noise that might wake her child.  What she does not see is that her child has woken up and gets into a bit of mischief while she continues to try and quiet the animals one by one.  These actions are not depicted in the text, but in the warm illustrations which are done by Holly Meade.  I recommend this book as it is very peaceful to read, especially to young children, with great illustrations.  This book can be incorporated in the classroom  by making connections with science (classification and categorization of animals), drama (retelling the story), social studies (cultural),  and enhancing literacy skills through language (listening, speaking, and writing).
Big Question(s):  Why did the mom fall asleep at the end?  What do you think it would be like to sleep with all those noises going on around you?