Picture Book Reviews

Picture Book Reviews

Bibliography
Mattick, Lindsay, Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear. Sophie Blackall. Little Brown and Company, 2015. ISBN: 9-780605-901100

Plot Summary
Young Cole asks his mother to tell him a true story about a bear. His mother obliges and, in the end, Cole finds that he is in a way relate to the world's most famous, lovable, huggable bear Winnie the Pooh.

Critical Analysis
Lindsay Mattick's true story about how the world came to know Winnie the Pooh is formatted to make the reader feel as if she were letting you in on the bedtime story she is giving her son. Her young son Cole hears the story of Harry Colebourn a veterinarian going off to wear that picks up a young bear on the way. He names her Winnipeg and the adventure of how Winnie the Pooh came to ensue.  At the end of this true story, Mattick shares parts from her family album. Giving us another opportunity to be welcomed into her family.

Sophie Blackall as the illustrator for Finding Winnie uses watercolor and ink to give us comforting imagery to follow in the journey of Harry and Winnipeg to our well-known Winnie using realistic, bright illustrations. As well as including images from Mattick's personal family album using a script that could have been typed from an old family typewriter.

This book shows how one choice or heartfelt discussion could lead to great love. That the chance meeting of a young man and a young bear could lead to fantastic stories that fill our homes to this very day.

Other Reviews
2016 Caldecott award recipient
Lolly Robinson for -The Horn Book- "Reading the book cover-to-cover is an emotional experience with a surprise ending. Blackall's art is straightforward and unassuming."
Booklists Review- "The visuals not only complement the fable-like cadences of Mattick's text but also include subtle details that enrich the story."

Connections
Video: Little Brown Readers, Finding Winnie book trailer told by Lindsay Mattick
https://youtu.be/Q5crtUwQl9Y

Other books about showing the impact of one.
Clinton, Chelsea, She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World, Alexandra Boiger. New York, NY, Philomel Books, 2017
  This book is about thirteen women who never gave up in the face of adversity and in turn, changed America for the better.

Hopkins, Joseph H., The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever, Jill McElmurry. Beach Lane Books, 2013
  This biography is about Kate Sessions—the first woman to graduate with a science degree from the University of California.

Bibliography
Willems, Mo. That is Not a Good idea! Willems, M. Balzer + Bray, New York, NY. 2013 ISBN: 978-0-06-220309-0

Plot Summary
A fox and a goose meet in the city; Fox invites the goose for a stroll all the while goose is warned that continuing the journey is not a good idea. Fox eventually invites goose for dinner to his home which leads to an unexpected end for the duo.

Critical Analysis
Mo Willems is known for "Don't let Pigeon Drive the Bus!" writes a fun picture book story that reminds anyone who grew up listening to their parents with slightly nagging please to be careful of strangers. With the tale of a sly fox and a sheepish goose. This story brought me back to my childhood especially as the goslings began telling the goose it was a bad idea when things seemed precarious in the story.

I found the illustrations of Willems were very bright and the use of red for the goslings pleas were very bold. If you pay close attention, the goose even gives an impression that she is playing coy throughout the story while the fox has a dashing almost sinister demeanor.

Other Reviews
 School Library Journal (starred review) — "This charmer is lovingly composed as an homage to silent movies and the concept of picture books as the ‘theater of the lap.' Children and adults will relish being taken for such a thrilling, suspenseful ride again and again."

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books — "Kids will clamor for a re-viewing and be pleased to note that the book cleverly sets itself up for the story going either way. This is also a delight to voice, with the goslings particularly enjoyable to act out."

Connections
As a mother myself all this worry came to me when thinking about my daughter and protecting her from strangers in her future. I feel like more books about strangers and safety would be an excellent way to introduce this in my home.

Video: A Friendly Stranger
https://youtu.be/SY7RhBszp0k

Other books about stranger safety.
 Pendziwol, Jean E. Once Upon a Dragon: Stranger Safety for Kids (and Dragons).  Gourbault, Martine. Kids Can Press, 2006.
 This book uses a dragon and fairy tale to deliver a great adventure while providing useful and accurate safety information.

Williams, Susette. The Day My Parents Got Lost. Forster, Jack. Family Friendly Fiction, 2013.
This book helps teach children the importance of staying close to their parent or guardian, no matter where they go.

Bibliography
Steig, William. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. Steig, William. Prentice-Hall Books for Young Readers, New York, NY. 1969. ISBN: 0-13-881707-3

Young Sylvester goes out to explore and finds a magic pebble that can grant him wishes while holding it. He wants to show his family, so he journeys home, and on the way, he encounters a lion. Frightened he wishes himself to be a rock, but now cannot wish himself back since he has no hands to hold the pebble.

Critical Analysis
William Steig shows us in this picture book that with a lot of hope and love, magic can move mountains or in this case a rock. This story reminded me of families that have members dealing with depression or addiction. Those members happy and carefree one day much like Sylvester become lost or withdrawn as Sylvester became a rock. Sylvester wants to come back, but then time and no progress makes it harder to escape. Until that member truly wakes up and wants to be with their family. Parents love is strong, and I think this story shows that with hope, determination and love any loved one can always be brought back within arms reach.

The illustrations from this story are done in thick pen ink and watercolor. Following each section of the story, the book could be told through pictures alone as they convey emotion when needed and the passing of time.

Other Reviews
Caldecott Award 1970
The New York Times Book Review wrote of Mr. Steig that "everything he does is magic."
Good reads review: "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" is one of William Steig's earlier books and has proven to be the most emotional and heartwarming of all of his books.

Connections
Other books that may deal with depression or addiction.
Cook, Julia. Blueloon. DuFalla, Anita. National Center for Youth Issues, 2012. ISBN: 9781937870041
 Excerpt: "I'm a blueloon. I'm supposed to be a regular balloon, but I'm just not having fun like the others. I'm kinda dull, and I'm kinda flat. My string is tied up in knots. I have a case of the blues...that's why I'm a blueloon. I've felt like this for weeks!"

Mercury, Catherine. Think of Wind. Kocker, William. One Big Press, 1996. ISBN: 0965444716
 This book affirms the emotions of hurt and anger while letting children know they are still loved.

Bibliography
Eastman, P.D. Go, Dog. Go! Random House/Beginner Books; 1st edition, 1961. ISBN: 0394800206

Plot Summary
Go, Dog. Go! An emergent reader picture book, is the story of many dogs, with two in particular as main characters. One is a yellow dog that is somewhat oblivious to the attention seeking pink poodle dog. The other is a pink poodle dog asks attention seeking questions throughout the book while the yellow dog shoots them down. In the end, the pink poodle dog finally gets yellow dogs' attention, and he responds positively.

Critical Analysis
P.D. Eastman uses repetition and colorful illustrations to catch an emergent readers attention. Any young reader will enjoy calling out parts of the story with the narrator as they will become aware of repetitions throughout the story. This book is an excellent addition for a child just starting out on their reading journey. Eastman's illustrations are also very colorful and exciting. Children will love the way the text matches the illustrations so they can point out parts they make connections to as they read in the book.

Other Reviews
School Library Journal -- "The canine cartoons make an elementary text funny and coherent and still one of the best around."
Goodreads review – "Fantastic illustrations. Good for teaching children about numbers and colors. Hilariously humorous at few points."

Connections

Repetition, simple vocabulary and illustrations to match the story action would be very helpful when introducing children to reading.

The following is a list of children's book that will help any emergent reader.
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/86.Best_Children_s_Books

Activities like sight words and color recognition to use along with Go, Dog. Go!
https://www.brighthubeducation.com/pre-k-and-k-lesson-plans/121803-educational-activities-for-go-dog-go/