If you had asked me a week ago to name a couple literary elements I would not have been able to name one. But now I can! Character, point of view, time, place, plot, mood, symbol and symbol and extended metaphor, to name a few. They seem like simple enough aspects to writing but they are rarely given the attention they deserve. These elements are what make or break a book and without an understanding of literary elements the reader can miss out on so many aspects of a story.
You might be asking why someone who didn't even know what literary elements are is all of the sudden such a strong advocate for them, and that is a good question. In a class discussion on literary elements in the book The Higher Power of Lucky my eyes were opened to so many things I hadn't noticed previously in my ignorance. I was seeing things I hadn't before, making connections and enjoying the book so much more because of this new found knowledge of literary elements.
When told the list of literary elements (character, point of view, time, etc.) you would probably recognize them but can you explain their importance to the story? According to Peterson and Eeds, literary elements "enable us to enter even further into story worlds and see and understand them much better." If used properly, these elements pull the reader into the text and keep them there. The reader connects with the book, grows with the characters and is affected by the mood of the story. If you are reading without understanding literary elements then you are reading only one dimensionally and you are missing out on the whole encompassing experience. By gaining knowledge on literary elements and paying attention to them then you are given the power to be both a better reader and writer.
Need an example? We all know stories have characters, they are necessary for the story to work and that's it, right? Wrong. There is so much more to a story book character. It is through a story's characters that the reader has a chance to step into another's shoes and feel what it is like to be them. You get to know the character and travel along with them as they grow and change throughout the story. You gain insight to things you might never have had the chance to on your own because of a story's characters. The character is your guide and it is from them that you also learn and grow. Have you ever given a character in a story this much thought? My guess is not but next time you pick up a book you might catch yourself thinking about these things. It is through your understanding of literary elements, like characters, that leads to appreciation and a fuller reading experience.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
The Gingerbread Man
Title: The Gingerbread Man
Author and Illustrator: Carol Jones
Type: Picture Book
Grade Level: 1-3
Rating: 3 out of 5
A gingerbread man escapes from an old couple who baked him and then continues to run away from a series of nursery rhyme characters who hope to eat him. Eventually he meets up with a fox who promises to help him. A recipe for gingerbread is included in the back of the book.
It seems like every child grows up knowing and loving the story of The Gingerbread Man. It's a fun book with a gingerbread cutout who comes alive and goes running along and singing from people who would love to eat him. I know that after I finished reading the book I had the song stuck in my head. One concern that I would have with this book is there are some outdated words. If I was reading the book to my class I could work with them on explaining the words but if they were reading it on their own they might struggle with the old fashion words.
My child study student requested that I bring this book and so when I did the following week she was ecstatic. This version was different than what I used to. I don't remember a bunch of nursery rhyme characters being the ones preying on the gingerbread man but I enjoyed that. Also the pages had a cut out in them so as you read you could see who the next person would be to try to eat the gingerbread man. My child study student liked those cut outs because they gave her a clue on predicting who was next. As a teacher you could read the book aloud to your class and then do an activity like a play, a song, an obstacle course or a cooking activity with the book. There are a lot of options and great things you can do with this book.
Author and Illustrator: Carol Jones
Type: Picture Book
Grade Level: 1-3
Rating: 3 out of 5
A gingerbread man escapes from an old couple who baked him and then continues to run away from a series of nursery rhyme characters who hope to eat him. Eventually he meets up with a fox who promises to help him. A recipe for gingerbread is included in the back of the book.
It seems like every child grows up knowing and loving the story of The Gingerbread Man. It's a fun book with a gingerbread cutout who comes alive and goes running along and singing from people who would love to eat him. I know that after I finished reading the book I had the song stuck in my head. One concern that I would have with this book is there are some outdated words. If I was reading the book to my class I could work with them on explaining the words but if they were reading it on their own they might struggle with the old fashion words.
My child study student requested that I bring this book and so when I did the following week she was ecstatic. This version was different than what I used to. I don't remember a bunch of nursery rhyme characters being the ones preying on the gingerbread man but I enjoyed that. Also the pages had a cut out in them so as you read you could see who the next person would be to try to eat the gingerbread man. My child study student liked those cut outs because they gave her a clue on predicting who was next. As a teacher you could read the book aloud to your class and then do an activity like a play, a song, an obstacle course or a cooking activity with the book. There are a lot of options and great things you can do with this book.
Clifford to the Rescue
Title: Clifford to the Rescue
Author and Illustrator: Norman Bridwell
Type: Picture Book
Grade Level: K-2
Rating: 3 out of 5
Author and Illustrator: Norman Bridwell
Type: Picture Book
Grade Level: K-2
Rating: 3 out of 5
Clifford is a very big red dog. With his owner, Emily Elizabeth, Clifford helps out around his town. Whether it is catching robbers, rescuing people from a burning building or helping a kitten, Clifford is happily there to help.
Clifford books are classics, I remember growing up on them. They are simple reads but a child can get a lot out of them. They are full of lessons, teach about holidays and other things a reader deals with on a daily basis. It has a little edge also because kids love animals and a dog teaching them lessons is different than a normal kid doing the same things. I think Clifford books are a great teaching tool because the student is enjoying reading while also learning something.
I had the opportunity to read this book with my child study student and she loved it. She saw I had a Clifford book and was immediately excited to read it. She enjoyed making predictions on what would happen next and pointing out what was happening in the pictures. I had brought the book along because I had been curious if another child would react to and love the books as much as I did when I was a child. She clearly did and after she was done reading we had a discussion on helping others. Clifford to the Rescue would be a good book to use in the classroom during a lesson on helping others for younger elementary students. Like I did with my child study student you could read the book and discuss how you have helped others as an introduction to your lesson. From my own personal experiences as a reader and also from working with my child study student I think this book would be a very effective teaching tool.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Title: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Author: Laura Joffe Numeroff
Illustrator: Felicia Bond
Type: Picture Book
Grade Level: K-1
Rating: 5 out of 5
If you give a mouse a cookie then you better be prepared for a busy day of following his orders. A silly story of a boy who offers a mouse a cookie and the adventures that ensue.
I challenge you to find someone who didn't love this book as a child. It is a classic that every child loves and every adult has fond memories of. It is a simple book but the little mouse is so funny and endearing that you can't help but love his demanding character. Plus the illustrations are excellent. They are simple like the text but really make the book. The cause and effect nature of the book establishes a pattern in the book that according to Tunnel and Jacobs is a sign of a well-written book. (If this happens then this will happen, when this happens then this will happen, etc.) It makes the pattern of the book predictable and comfortable for children to follow.
You could read this book to your students simply for an enjoyable read or you could also incorporate some sort of activity along with it. You could teach your students about cause and effects relationships with the mouse being an excellent example. You could talk about the chain of events leading from one thing to another and even do your own type of activity with it. There is a whole series of If You Give books like If You Give a Moose a Muffin and If You Give a Pig a Pancake, so if you have a reluctant reader who enjoyed this book there are several more similar to it that they can enjoy.
Author: Laura Joffe Numeroff
Illustrator: Felicia Bond
Type: Picture Book
Grade Level: K-1
Rating: 5 out of 5
If you give a mouse a cookie then you better be prepared for a busy day of following his orders. A silly story of a boy who offers a mouse a cookie and the adventures that ensue.
I challenge you to find someone who didn't love this book as a child. It is a classic that every child loves and every adult has fond memories of. It is a simple book but the little mouse is so funny and endearing that you can't help but love his demanding character. Plus the illustrations are excellent. They are simple like the text but really make the book. The cause and effect nature of the book establishes a pattern in the book that according to Tunnel and Jacobs is a sign of a well-written book. (If this happens then this will happen, when this happens then this will happen, etc.) It makes the pattern of the book predictable and comfortable for children to follow.
You could read this book to your students simply for an enjoyable read or you could also incorporate some sort of activity along with it. You could teach your students about cause and effects relationships with the mouse being an excellent example. You could talk about the chain of events leading from one thing to another and even do your own type of activity with it. There is a whole series of If You Give books like If You Give a Moose a Muffin and If You Give a Pig a Pancake, so if you have a reluctant reader who enjoyed this book there are several more similar to it that they can enjoy.
Curious George Visits the Library
Title: Curious George Visits the Library
Author: Margret and H.A. Rey
Illustrator: Martha Weston
Type: Picture Book
Grade Level: 1-3
Rating: 3 out of 5
George, a very curious monkey, visits the library just in time for story time but gets impatient while waiting for his favorite book to be read. He explores the library finding loads of books to read and learns about how the library works.
As a child I enjoyed these books, I mean, they are classics. George is such a funny character and children love the idea of a monkey getting into mischief. The text is extremely simplistic and Tunnel and Jacobs would possibly say that the book might be condescending because of its controlled vocabulary and because the text tells rather than shows. Despite those things the story works because of the age of reader the book is aimed at. The simple sentences are what is to be expected of a reader at such a level.
This book would be a great read aloud before going to the school library with your class. You could read the story, talk about what George did that was acceptable and unacceptable in a library and students could talk about their own experiences at a library. After going over library etiquette your class is prepared to visit the library. Books from this series are full of lessons and important stories relevant to the readers. You could use Curious George books for a theme on teaching life lessons.
Author: Margret and H.A. Rey
Illustrator: Martha Weston
Type: Picture Book
Grade Level: 1-3
Rating: 3 out of 5
George, a very curious monkey, visits the library just in time for story time but gets impatient while waiting for his favorite book to be read. He explores the library finding loads of books to read and learns about how the library works.
As a child I enjoyed these books, I mean, they are classics. George is such a funny character and children love the idea of a monkey getting into mischief. The text is extremely simplistic and Tunnel and Jacobs would possibly say that the book might be condescending because of its controlled vocabulary and because the text tells rather than shows. Despite those things the story works because of the age of reader the book is aimed at. The simple sentences are what is to be expected of a reader at such a level.
This book would be a great read aloud before going to the school library with your class. You could read the story, talk about what George did that was acceptable and unacceptable in a library and students could talk about their own experiences at a library. After going over library etiquette your class is prepared to visit the library. Books from this series are full of lessons and important stories relevant to the readers. You could use Curious George books for a theme on teaching life lessons.
Llama Llama Misses Mama
Title: Llama Llama Misses Mama
Author and Illustrator: Anna Dewdney
Type: Picture Book
Grade Level: Pre-1
Rating: 4 out of 5
It is Llama's first day of school and she is feeling overwhelmed and lonely. Eventually Llama is having so much fun she forgets to miss her Mama!
This is a very cute story. As a reader I could relate with Llama because I remember my first day of school, or even other events that were new to me. I was shy and unsure and once I opened up to the new setting I completely forgot to be sad or lonely or shy. The story rhymed and had a great flow to it. As I read it aloud I caught myself thinking that Tunnel and Jacob's term "music in language" best described the text. The illustrations were also very cute and work great alongside the text.
For pretty obvious reasons this book would be great for the first day of school, especially for kindergarten. Llama is experiencing exactly what you're students are going through so they can relate to him very well. You could start the day off with reading the book aloud so your students understand they are not alone in their feelings and that it is natural. You could also use this book for a rhyming unit for beginners. The rhyming is simple but gets the point across.
This is a very cute story. As a reader I could relate with Llama because I remember my first day of school, or even other events that were new to me. I was shy and unsure and once I opened up to the new setting I completely forgot to be sad or lonely or shy. The story rhymed and had a great flow to it. As I read it aloud I caught myself thinking that Tunnel and Jacob's term "music in language" best described the text. The illustrations were also very cute and work great alongside the text.
For pretty obvious reasons this book would be great for the first day of school, especially for kindergarten. Llama is experiencing exactly what you're students are going through so they can relate to him very well. You could start the day off with reading the book aloud so your students understand they are not alone in their feelings and that it is natural. You could also use this book for a rhyming unit for beginners. The rhyming is simple but gets the point across.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Author/Illustrator Study: Brian Selznick
Despite initially saying he would never be a children's book illustrator, Brian Selznick became just that, and a very successful one too. Selznick wrote his first book, The Houdini Box while working at a children's book store and from there his career took off as a commissioned illustrator for other authors. He did a lot of work drawing for other authors but continued to write and illustrate his own books.
A list of his work as both author and illustrator
- The Houdini Box
- The Boy of a Thousand Faces
- The Robot King
- The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2008 Caldecott Medal)
A partial list of his work as illustrator
- Frindle by Andrew Clements
- The Doll People by Ann Martin and Laura Godwin
- Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride by Pam Munoz Ryan
- The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley (2002 Caldecott Honor Book)
Brian Selznick is foremost known as an illustrator and its understandable because of his amazing artwork. I really enjoyed the story plot of his books but his drawings were what really stood out for me. Although he is both an author and illustrator, Selznick's drawings are the key to his success. His work is usually just charcoal drawings but he adds such definition and depth that they come alive on the page. Selznick travels all over while researching for his drawings. He wants to see exactly what it is he is drawing, to be able to feel and experience his subject. He was taught to feel them physically and emotionally and I believe his connection with his work is what makes his drawings jump off the pages and into the hearts and minds of the readers. It is no wonder that he has illustrated for more than 10 different authors and also won the Caldecott Award!
It is Selznick's ability to grab the reader's attention with his drawings that makes his books great for reading aloud (or on your own) in the classroom. I'm thinking in particular that The Boy of a Thousand Faces would be a great read aloud in a classroom around Halloween time. The pictures are sensational and add to the fun plot that will have the students not only enthralled but their minds will be speeding along trying to predict what is going to happen next. (I know I kept trying to guess what was going to happen next!)
Although I am sure girls would enjoy them too (I did!) but the books that Selznick wrote and also illustrated take on the interests that Selznick had as a child himself (monsters, magic, machines, etc.). I think his books would be great for boys that are reluctant readers. The books are vivid and exciting and the text is easy enough to read without skimping out on excitement.
Brian Selznick's most recent book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2008 Caldecott Award) is a book that is abuzz not just in the literary world but also the cinematic one. Selznick describes the book as “not exactly a novel, and it’s not quite a picture book, and it’s not really a graphic novel, or a flip book, or a movie, but a combination of all these things” (Selznick). The book is 533 pages with 300 of those pages being pictures. Unlike the traditional idea of pictures accompanying text Selznick decided that with Hugo pictures would be telling parts of the story that the text did not. Karen Breen, a chairwoman of the Caldecott judges committee said that the book was chosen because of “the way the illustrations told the story was so exquisite” (Rich). It is a unique idea with a unique plot that has even captured the attention of Martin Scorsese who will be directing an adaptation of the novel into a movie. With a star studded cast and crew it will be interesting to see how Selznick’s brilliance carries over onto the big screen.
Although I am sure girls would enjoy them too (I did!) but the books that Selznick wrote and also illustrated take on the interests that Selznick had as a child himself (monsters, magic, machines, etc.). I think his books would be great for boys that are reluctant readers. The books are vivid and exciting and the text is easy enough to read without skimping out on excitement.
Brian Selznick's most recent book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2008 Caldecott Award) is a book that is abuzz not just in the literary world but also the cinematic one. Selznick describes the book as “not exactly a novel, and it’s not quite a picture book, and it’s not really a graphic novel, or a flip book, or a movie, but a combination of all these things” (Selznick). The book is 533 pages with 300 of those pages being pictures. Unlike the traditional idea of pictures accompanying text Selznick decided that with Hugo pictures would be telling parts of the story that the text did not. Karen Breen, a chairwoman of the Caldecott judges committee said that the book was chosen because of “the way the illustrations told the story was so exquisite” (Rich). It is a unique idea with a unique plot that has even captured the attention of Martin Scorsese who will be directing an adaptation of the novel into a movie. With a star studded cast and crew it will be interesting to see how Selznick’s brilliance carries over onto the big screen.
For more information on The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the making of the movie and Brian Selznick you can visit his website dedicated to the book. Hugo Cabret Website
Nicky's Noisy Night
Title: Nicky’s Noisy Night
Author: Harriet Ziefert
Illustrator: Richard Brown
Type: Picture Book
Grade Level: Pre-K
Rating: 3 out of 5
Nicky the kitten can't sleep and so with the help of the reader lifting the flaps he is able to discover what is causing the noises that are keeping him awake.
I remember loving lift-the-flap books and Nicky's Noisy Night was one of my favorites. Not only is it exciting to guess what is behind that door or curtain or clock but with a lift-the-flap book the reader gets to take charge and interact with the book. The fun a reader (or listener) can have with this book makes me think of what Mem Fox said about the importance of having fun while reading and making a game of it. This book is for beginning readers and it does the important job of showing that reading can in fact be fun and lively. According to Tunnel and Jacobs establishing patterns in writing can be part of what makes a book well-written. In the book the pages start with saying that something is making a noise and asks who is it? The pages follow the same pattern which makes the reading predictable and thus easy. The continual pattern also makes the reading flow smoothly.
I had the opportunity to read this book with my child study student and so I was able to first hand see her come alive with the book. She could hardly wait to lift the flaps and see what was making the noises disturbing poor Nicky. Yet, before she opened the flaps we would both make a prediction on what we thought was making the noise. It was a great opportunity for me to work on making predictions with her and I think as a teacher I could use this in a classroom and work on a unit of making predictions. This unit would be for younger students based on the reading level of the book so I could pair it up with simple guessing and predicting activities.
I remember loving lift-the-flap books and Nicky's Noisy Night was one of my favorites. Not only is it exciting to guess what is behind that door or curtain or clock but with a lift-the-flap book the reader gets to take charge and interact with the book. The fun a reader (or listener) can have with this book makes me think of what Mem Fox said about the importance of having fun while reading and making a game of it. This book is for beginning readers and it does the important job of showing that reading can in fact be fun and lively. According to Tunnel and Jacobs establishing patterns in writing can be part of what makes a book well-written. In the book the pages start with saying that something is making a noise and asks who is it? The pages follow the same pattern which makes the reading predictable and thus easy. The continual pattern also makes the reading flow smoothly.
I had the opportunity to read this book with my child study student and so I was able to first hand see her come alive with the book. She could hardly wait to lift the flaps and see what was making the noises disturbing poor Nicky. Yet, before she opened the flaps we would both make a prediction on what we thought was making the noise. It was a great opportunity for me to work on making predictions with her and I think as a teacher I could use this in a classroom and work on a unit of making predictions. This unit would be for younger students based on the reading level of the book so I could pair it up with simple guessing and predicting activities.
Harold and the Purple Crayon
Title: Harold and the Purple Crayon
Author and Illustrator: Crockett Johnson
Type: Picture Book
Grade Level: K-2
Rating: 5 out of 5
Harold and the Purple Crayon is about young Harold who decides to take up his large purple crayon and go for a nighttime walk. Whatever Harold imagines he can create with his purple crayon and so ensues the adventure.
If you ask anyone who has read Harold and the Purple Crayon if they liked it you will get a similar reaction to this- "Yes! I loved that book when I was younger!" It is exactly what I say when asked about the book. It brings back warm memories of reading the book with my sister and mom and then doing purple crayon drawings of our own.
Although the illustrations are simple they are fantastic. They portray Harold's childish capability to draw as well portray his thoughts. The pictures tell what the story at times does not. I read this book with my child study student and at the point when Harold was frightened by the monster and his hand started shaking she looked at the illustration and exclaimed, "Oh no! He is drawing water! He can't swim and he is going to drown!" Based on the pictures she was able to predict what was going to happen next. She didn't know if he could swim or not but she added her own details to the story. It wasn't until the next page that the text explains Harold's shaking hand accidentally drew water. So from my experience with my child study student I saw that this book would be great for working on predictions and from my own experience I know that pairing the book with a fun coloring activity is a great idea for younger students reading the book.
If you ask anyone who has read Harold and the Purple Crayon if they liked it you will get a similar reaction to this- "Yes! I loved that book when I was younger!" It is exactly what I say when asked about the book. It brings back warm memories of reading the book with my sister and mom and then doing purple crayon drawings of our own.
Although the illustrations are simple they are fantastic. They portray Harold's childish capability to draw as well portray his thoughts. The pictures tell what the story at times does not. I read this book with my child study student and at the point when Harold was frightened by the monster and his hand started shaking she looked at the illustration and exclaimed, "Oh no! He is drawing water! He can't swim and he is going to drown!" Based on the pictures she was able to predict what was going to happen next. She didn't know if he could swim or not but she added her own details to the story. It wasn't until the next page that the text explains Harold's shaking hand accidentally drew water. So from my experience with my child study student I saw that this book would be great for working on predictions and from my own experience I know that pairing the book with a fun coloring activity is a great idea for younger students reading the book.
The Boy of a Thousand Faces
Title: The Boy of a Thousand Faces
Author and Illustrator: Brian Selznick
Type: Picture Book
Grade Level: 2-5
Rating: 4 out of 5
The Boy of a Thousand Faces is about 10 year old Alonzo King who was born on Halloween and loves monsters of all types. Nobody else in the town believes in monsters until one day The Beast arrives and sends the town into a frenzy and seeking Alonzo's expertise.
I really enjoyed this book. Even though it was a book about monsters I found it very cute and the characters endearing. The plot was unique and fun and the drawings doubled the fun and uniqueness of the book. Alonzo is a passionate character and his emotions carry over to the reader and they feel his boredom, curiosity and excitement. He is a likable character that readers (especially children who are as equally obsessed with monsters) can relate to.
It is Selznick's ability to grab the reader's attention with his drawings that especially makes his book great for reading aloud in the classroom. The Boy of a Thousand Faces would be a great read aloud around Halloween time. The pictures are sensational and add to the fun plot that will have the students not only enthralled but they get to act as detectives and try to guess what is going to happen next. Additionally we could do an art project where the students get to create Halloween masks and become one of Alonzo's 1,000 faces.
The Houdini Box
Title: The Houdini Box
Author and Illustrator: Brian Selznick
Type: Picture Book
Grade Level: 2-5
Rating: 4 out of 5
Inspired by the work of Houdini, young Victor devotes himself to copying the work of the great magician. Despite failure Victor continues to lock himself in a trunk, holding his breath while submerged in his bathtub and attempting to walk through walls. One day he runs into Houdini at a train station and not wanting to reveal his secrets in public Houdini promises to send Victor something in the mail. This is how Victor comes to own a mysterious locked box with the initial E.W. inscribed upon it.
It is not a book I would usually choose for myself but I still really enjoyed it. Victor is a great, lively boy that you could find in any household. His curiosity and passion for a boy at his age is very realistic. I also really loved the parallels between Victor and Houdini. The beginning flipped between the two magicians and is a good lesson on comparing for students.
While the story is fiction I enjoyed the historical facts and real-life fliers about Houdini. As a reader I got to read an interesting and fun book while also learning some history. A lot of the time students at this age level don't like to read historical fiction books and so a book like this could be a good way to show them that history can be fun!
It is not a book I would usually choose for myself but I still really enjoyed it. Victor is a great, lively boy that you could find in any household. His curiosity and passion for a boy at his age is very realistic. I also really loved the parallels between Victor and Houdini. The beginning flipped between the two magicians and is a good lesson on comparing for students.
While the story is fiction I enjoyed the historical facts and real-life fliers about Houdini. As a reader I got to read an interesting and fun book while also learning some history. A lot of the time students at this age level don't like to read historical fiction books and so a book like this could be a good way to show them that history can be fun!
Whistle for Willie
Title: Whistle for Willie
Author and Illustrator: Ezra Jack Keats
Type: Picture Book
Grade Level: K-2
Rating: 5 out of 5
Peter’s greatest wish is to whistle! He wishes he could whistle like the other children and be able to whistle for his dog, Willie. The story follows Peter’s struggles as he practices and works hard to achieve his dream.
I just love this book. It was one of my favorites as a child because of the beautiful, bright pictures and also because I could relate with the struggle to whistle. I remember my older sister was able to whistle and then all my friends could whistle and I still couldn't. It was so frustrating! I told my mom of my continual failure and she pulled Whistle for Willie from the bookshelf for the two of us to read. I connected with Peter right away and it made it easier for me knowing that others struggle with learning how to whistle. Just like when Peter learned to whistle I too happily showed off to my parents. I still emotionally connect to Peter because of my past experiences with whistling.
As a child I remember being able to relate to Peter and I’m sure my students would too. Everyone struggled with whistling and everyone has a story about the first time they were able to. This may not be the most academic of books but it would definitely be a fun read. You could pair it with a whistling unit or focus on the artwork and work on collages of your own. I don't think this book gets enough credit for the beautiful pictures but children certainly appreciate it and I can imagine they would love to try to copy the artistic style. No matter what you do with the book the children are going to love it.
Poppy
Title: Poppy
Author: Avi
Illustrator: Brian Floca
Type: Novel
Grade Level: 3-5
Rating: 4 out of 5
The land around Dimwood forest is ruled by the owl, Mr. Ocax, who promises to protect the inhabiting mice as long as they remain obedient. In order to save her giant mouse family, Poppy, sets out on a dangerous adventure and takes on the horrible Mr. Ocax.
I remember loving this book as a child and I loved it as much now that I’m older. It has love, death, bravery, and humor. It hit me emotionally. Even though it is targeted for a younger audience I still found myself getting caught up in the plot. While reading I did have one concern though concerning the emotional pulls of the book. I was a little shocked at the death of characters wondering if that was appropriate for young children. Then I remembered that as a 3rd grader I read the book and the deaths did not upset me. Yes, I was sad when brave Ragweed died but I was at an age that I could understand that death is part of life and could continue on reading without being too shaken up. Now reflecting on this, I think it is actually good there is death and struggle in the novel because children deal with these things in real life and it is something they can relate to and must learn to handle.
This book would be good to incorporate in a unit on making predictions and educated guesses. I read this book a long time ago so I didn’t remember much of it. I found myself several times making predictions and using the context of the book to guess what would happen next. Sometimes I was wrong and sometimes I was right and I think it would be an excellent example to read while teaching children about making predictions.
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