GENRE 1 PICTURE BOOKS

DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS

by Mo Willems

Willems, Mo. 2003  Don't let the pigeon drive the bus!, New York:  Hyperion Books for Children, 2003.  ISBN:   0-7868-1988-X

1. Summary
This simple but true to life picture story book is about a lively pigeon who dreams of driving a bus.  The author and illustrator Mo Willems skillfully engages his young audience by putting them in charge of watching the bus while the driver takes a break. The bus driver asks one thing “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus.”  As the story continues the pigeon asks “Hey, Can I drive the bus?” The pigeon proceeds to beg, plead and try to bribe the readers to let him drive the bus only prompting the young audience to say “NO”. The pigeon eventually loses control from not getting his way.   

 2.Critical Analysis
In this humorous and interactive story children ages 2 – 10 and adults can relate to the pigeon trying to get his way.  The first time I read this book I laughed out loud. It is an accurate portrayal of a child’s persistent begging to get their way and Mo Willems does it with such humor. He creates a dialogue with the audience by asking them to not let the pigeon drive the bus and children take the adult role by saying “NO” to the pigeon as he tries to persuade them to let him. This engaging story keeps the attention of its audience and keeps them involved in the story.  It is a must read for all parents and their children.

As with all picture books, illustrations play just as big a role in the book as the words.  In this book, Mo Willems portrays the emotions of the pigeon with his simple yet effective drawings, particularly, showing the pigeon’s expressions and feelings with his big eye.   The drawings are simple black charcoal outlines with pastel backgrounds with a vintage flare.   They let the audience center on the emotions of the pigeon bringing together the words with the pictures to tell the story.

Strengths:  the book’s greatest strengths are its humor, interactiveness and how the illustrations bring out the emotions of the characters.

Weakness:  I loved this book and was hard pressed to find anything I did not like about it.

3. Review excerpt(s)
A Caldecott Honor Book, 2004

Readers will likely find satisfaction in this whimsical show of emotions and, perhaps, a bit of self-recognition. Publishers Weekly (February 10, 2003)

A first picture book by an Emmy Award-winning writer and animator, listeners will be begging, pleading, lying, and bribing to hear it again and again. Kirkus Review (April 1, 2003)

4.  Connections

·         Encourage a discussion with young children ( age 3-5) about emotions.  Using their faces children can show various emotions.  This can  lead to a discussion about experiences that make them feel happy, sad, mad etc…  

·         Read several of the pigeon books by Mo Willems and compare and contrast them.

                Don’t let the Pigeons Stay up late!
                The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!
                The Pigeon Has Feelings Too!
                The Pigeon Loves Things that Go!

Writing activities: 

·         Can be used as a model for persuasive writing and how pictures help tell a story.  Students can write a letter from the pigeon trying to persuade the listener to let him drive the bus.

   Predict different outcomes.  What would happen if we let the pigeon drive the bus?

All the World

By Liz Garton Scanlon

Illustrated by Marla Frazee

1.       Bibliography

Scanlon Garton, Liz. 2009.  ALL THE WORLD. III. by Marla Frazee. New York:  Beach Lane Books.  ISBN 1416985808

2.       Summary

This poetic picture story book follows a young interracial family throughout a summer day and night starting with a trip to the beach, then on to the farmers market, a lake, a café, and then settling at home.  Each page exhibits the many things the world has to offer and peoples interactions with it - offering the words   “All the world is everything  - everything is you and me”.

3.        Critical analysis

This rhyming lyrical book celebrates the world around us and all it has to offer. This is a great book for children ages 3-7 to initiate a conversation about the important things in life and help them understand their world better.   The story touches on people’s differences, nature, love, connections and intimacy.  The writing is passionate and inspiring leading us to think about what’s important in life. 

Bravo to Marla Frazee for her outstanding illustrations in this book.  Her soft, comforting watercolor illustrations bring the text alive and evoke sentimental feelings within us.   The illustrations deepen a child’s understanding of the world. They show the connections, love and intimacy of the characters and the beauty of the world around us.   The double page spread with the simple flowing phrases move the story forward creates a calming feeling.   

Together the pictures and flowing words on each page evokes a feeling of love and family  and  how we are all  important  to the world.

Strengths:  It is a feel good book that is calming, relaxing and encourages children to think about the world around them.

Weaknesses:  Had to read it twice to grasp the full meaning of the book.

4.        Review excerpts

2010 Caldecott Honor

ALA Notable Children's Books 2004

Starred Review in Horn Book Magazine -- "Scanlon's text has a child-friendly simplicity reminiscent of Margaret Wise Brown...All the World will win audiences with a sensibility both timeless and thoroughly modern."

Starred Review in Kirkus Reviews "It's hard to imagine a cozier and more spacious world. At once a lullaby and an invigorating love song to nature, families and interconnectedness.

5.  Connections

·         Lead a discussion about activities your family does on a weekend.   Children can write and illustrate their family activities.

·         Lead a Discussion on how families are different.   Have the children draw a picture of their family.

·         Retell the story using props.  Put different items in a sack and retell the story using those items. 

·         Discuss the terms hope, peace, love and trust.

·         Choose several pages from the book.  Have children use their five senses to pick out things they see, hear, smell, touch and taste. 

Related books:

This is My Family by Bobby Kalman

In My World Louis Ehlert

Other books by Liz Garton Scanlon

A Sock is a Pocket for Your Toes: APocket Book by Liz Garton Scanlon

Noodle & Lou by Liz Garton Scanlon

MILLIONS OF CATS

By Wanda Gág

 

 

 

1.       Bibliography

Gág, Wanda. 1928.  MILLIONS OF CATS. New York: Puffin Books. ISBN 0-399-23315-6

2.       Summary

First published in 1928 this Newbery Honoree by Wanda Gag is one of the oldest American picture books still in print and one of the first American picture books with literary success.  It is an unexpected story with a twist about a lonely old man and woman who decide that a cat is a cure for their loneliness. The old man travels far and wide to get a cat for him and his wife.  When he gets to the place where the cats are, there are so many beautiful ones he cannot decide which one is the most beautiful and he takes them all.  When he arrives home with all the cats they soon realize they cannot take care of them all.  They decide that they would let the cats choose who the most beautiful cat is, only to turn out in a kitty massacre.  In the end, one scrawny kitten remained and they took him in and loved him.

3.        Critical Analysis

This was a fun read that children ages 4 – 8 will take pleasure in being read aloud to them.  They will enjoy repeating the rhyming lyrics “Cats here, cats there, Cats and kittens everywhere, Hundreds of cats, thousand of cats, Millions and billions and trillions of cats.” The story focuses on bigger topics such as vanity, humility, loneliness and companionship.  Some readers may find the kitty massacre toward the end of the story hard to handle but it does not show pictures and only mentions it twice.  It is an easy read.   This was my first time to read the book and it reminded of many of the folktales I read as a child.  This book has truly stood the test of time.

The detailed Black pen and ink illustrations placed in the middle of each page on a double page spread moves the plot along and the reader is anxiously waiting to see what happens on the next page. The font is hand lettered and matches the illustrations which give it that vintage feel.

4.  Review excerpt

“School Library Journal's "One Hundred Books that Shaped the Century"--This Newbery Honor winner is distinguished by innovative design and a strong storyteller's cadence."

Newbery Honor 1929

5.       Connections

·         Millions of cats can be used in several activities including creating stick puppets to reenact the story, felt board story for sequencing the story, and a place value lesson can be introduced with this book.

·         Discussion questions that can be discussed after reading the book.  Is being the prettiest the most important thing? What is more important?  Why did the other cats leave the scrawny cat alone?  How did the scrawny cat survive? How did it feel in the end? Students can then write about what makes them special and unique. Related books are The Ugly Duckling and Corduroy by Don Freeman