Picture Books

Capital Choice
Shulevitz, Uri
So Sleepy Story
Farrar Straus Giroux
2006
PreK-2

Summary: A little boy dreams that his house comes alive with dishes that sway, chairs that rock, and clocks that call "cuckoo," but when he awakes, all is quiet.

Strengths: I like that there are sleepy colors such as gray, blue, and black to emphasize sleepiness. Every object and piece of furniture has a face that looks sleepy. It is also interesting when the objects such as the dishes and chairs "wake up," the colors get more vibrant.

Concerns: I was a little puzzled at where the music came from when it just "drifts in."

Classroom Use: It could be used before nap time in a PreK or Kindergarten classroom.

G ág, Wanda
Millions of Cats
G.P Putnam's Sons
1928, 1956
1-3 grades

Summary: A very old woman wants a cat because she is lonely so her husband sets out for one and stumbles upon trillions of cats. After they all follow him home, the cats fight over who should stay and only the homeliest cat is still around.

Strengths: It is an interesting book about cats for cat lovers. The black and white coloring makes it simple but sweet.

Concerns: Cats eating each other may not be suitable for children or it may upset them. The cats talking is unrealistic.

Classroom Use: It is a book for pleasure, it could be read to the class.

Lobel, Arnold
Frog and Toad are Friends
HarperCollins Publishers
1970
2nd-4th

Summary: The book contains five different stories on events experienced by two friends, Frog and Toad.

Strengths: Good length and level for beginning readers. Interesting stories and characters.

Concerns: People may find Toad to be an annoying character. He is either always depressed or has comething going wrong in his life and Frog has to come "save" him.

Classroom Use: It is a good book to read out loud to kids, teaches about friendship or how to use characters other than humans as the main characters.


MULTICULTURAL
Diakité, Baba Wagué
The Hatseller and the Monkeys
Scholastic Press
1999
2nd-4th

Summary: An African version of the familiar story of a man who sets off to sell his hats, only to have them stolen by a treeful of mischievous monkeys.

Strengths: The book is rich with African culture- pictures and text. It would be an easy story to remember and tell aloud to a class.

Concerns: There are many African words that are hard to pronounce. The book should be previewed and read before it is told in front of children.

Classroom Use: Tale told aloud to children. Children can get involved by saying short phrases. It can be used when talking about traditional tales and morals around the world.


Wiesner, David
Tuesday
Clarion Books
1991
K-3rd

Summary: Frogs rise on their lily pads, float through the air, and explore the nearby houses while their inhabitants sleep.

Strengths: Tuesday is a good version of a picture book/wordless book. It is an interesting and mysterious book to make up a storyline for.

Concerns: Very young children might have a hard time understanding some of the events of the story or what is going to happen the following Tuesday.

Classroom Use: Provides an example of a picture book that can help jumpstart the kids to create their own pictures.