Bibliography:
De La Pena, Matt. 2015. LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET. III. by Christian Robinson. London: Puffin. ISBN 9780605851269
Plot Summary:
In this lighthearted picture book, a curious little boy named CJ, hops on a bus with his grandmother that takes them on a ride through town. Throughout the duration of the ride the little boy continuously asks his grandmother inquiring questions about the world around him, and the reasons why to everyday things. His wise grandmother gives him a new perspective on his view of a rainy day, waiting for the bus, why they don’t have a car, and the little boy realizes the beauty of things around him that he thought otherwise about. Once they reach the last stop on Market Street the reader finds out the characters final destination. Both CJ and his grandmother volunteer at what seems to be a soup kitchen.
Critical Analysis:
De La Pena’s writing is seen through a young boys perspective on a bus ride. His sentence structure uses compound sentences that vary in length, but an easy read for a child. For example, “From the bus stop, he watched water pool on flower petals. Watched rain patter against the windshield of a nearby car. His friend Colby climbed in, gave CJ a wave and drove off with his dad.”
This book has a storyline along with main characters such as CJ and his grandmother (who remains nameless). The setting mostly takes place on a bus ride through town on a rainy day. There is not a prominent problem in the story, but the reader can get a vibe that CJ is curious about the world around him, but can also come off as having an unfavorable disposition about the bus trip. The climax of the story also takes place at the conclusion. As the reader nears the end of the story you are finally able to find out where the characters last stop is. The reader can conclude that though the little boy seemed to not want to travel to the soup kitchen, but once reached the destination he was satisfied to be there to help out.
Christian Robinson’s illustrations create a sense of lightheartedness through the use of vibrant colors, and easily recognizable shapes such as buildings, the sun, birds, and the city-like landscape. The pictures are simple but allow for young children to connect to the content. The color scheme is bright with reds, yellows, and oranges to keep the reader reminded of the perspective of a young main character CJ.
Review Excerpt(s):
- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The urban setting is truly reflective, showing people with different skin colors, body types, abilities, ages, and classes in a natural and authentic manner… A lovely title.”
- KIRKUS REVIEW: "...a textual and artistic tour de force."
- Thom Barthelmess wrote in BOOKLIST: "The celebratory warmth is irresistible, offering a picture of community that resonates with harmony and diversity."
- Horn Book Best Book of 2015
- Winner of the 2016 Newbery Medal
- A 2016 Coretta Scott King Honor Book for the illustrator
Connections:
*This text can easily connect with community and lead to a discussion of different places to live such as urban communities and the different types of members of the community that you may encounter along your travels. *This book has multiple opportunities for connections about helping others such as the soup kitchen that is mentioned in the end of the story, and how to be a good citizen in a community, as well as how it makes you feel to help others in your community.
*The characters in this story also leads to a discussion about strong bonds between family members, such as the grandmother and grandson, and how they are able to cherish a day together and share experiences with one another while little CJ learns how to look at the glass half-full instead of half-empty.
*Other similar books that portray community and family relationships are as follows:
- Castillo, Lauren. NANA IN THE CITY. ISBN: 0544104439 (2015 Caldecott Honor Book)
- Barnes, Derrick. CROWN AN ODE TO THE FRESH CUT. ISBN: 1572842245
Bibliography:
Willems, Mo. 2004. KNUFFLE BUNNY: A CAUTIONARY TALE. III. by Willems, Mo. New York, NY: Hyperion Books. ISBN 0439801982
Plot Summary:
Mo Willems writes this adorable “cautionary tale” of a small toddler who takes a trip to the laundromat with her father and her cherished stuffed animal she calls Knuffle Bunny. As they leave the laundromat, Trixie realizes that she lost her Knuffle Bunny. The expressions and use of “babble” such as “AGGLE FLAGGLE KLABBLE!” are the words she uses to communicate, and the problem for the character begins to spiral. On their loud, but eventful journey home, her cautionary father carries her past the black and white images that are the backdrop of New York. Once home, Trixie’s mother right away realizes that Trixie is not holding her stuffed animal. Thus, the solution to the story starts to appear, and once Trixie is reunited with her stuffed animal her first words are “Knuffle Bunny!” The story line is simple and easy for a young audience to follow. This picture book is easy to fall in love with, because of the relatable problem as most all children have a tendency to cling to a security blanket.
Critical Analysis:
Mo Willems’ writing in this picture book is very simplistic but very animated through the uses of big bolded font that is typed in speech bubbles for the characters to have dialog with one another. The storyline has a very simple sequence of events, along with characters, setting, problem and solution.
This is a relatable cartoon picture book is visually unique with real black and white images of New York City. It has a humorous tone that allows for attention to the characters expressions on their faces as they go through a roller coaster of emotions with Trixie’s problem. The color scheme of the characters are very bright compared to the contrast of the grey and black background.
Review Expert(s):
- Caldecott Honor Book 2005
- KIRKUS REVIEW: "The natural audience for this offering is a little older than its main character: they will easily identify with Trixie’s grief and at the same time feel superior to her hapless parent—and rejoice wholeheartedly at the happy reunion."
- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: …”seamless and supremely satisfying presentation of art and text….”
Connections:
- Willems, Mo. KNUFFLE BUNNY TOO. ISBN 9780545103558
- Willems, Mo. KNUFFLE BUNNY FREE. ISBN 9780061929571
Bibliography:
Keats, Ezra Jack. 1962. THE SNOWY DAY. III. New York, NY: Vicking Press. ISBN 9780670867332
Plot Summary:
Ezera Jack Keats writes about a little boy named Peter who starts an adventure on the first snowy day of the season. The author takes us through what Peter encounters in the snow such as creating footprints in the snow, different types of tracks, making snow angels, sliding down mountains of snow, and in the end even trying to save a little snow in his pocket for later. As little Peter ponders about his adventures he had in the snow before getting into bed, he checks his pocket for any remains of the snow. Sure enough, his pocket was empty due to the snow melting. The next morning even more snow had fallen and he went out in the snow again but this time with a friend.
Critical Analysis:
Keats’s writing uses basic sentence structures, with brief sentences, but vibrant descriptions of the snow that the character interacts with. “Snow had fallen during the night. It covered everything as far as he could see.” The story unfolds through a sequential order of events. Onomatopoeias are used throughout the text for the reader to understand the sounds that the character is interfacing with such as, “Crunch, crunch, crunch…” and “plop!” The way the text is written in some parts of the story such as, “s-l-o-w-l-y” can be intriguing to young readers as well. There are no hidden messages or complicated themes. The plot is very easy to follow.
The illustrations work seamlessly to portray the textures, sounds and feelings that you experience in the snow. The water color pictures and color scheme that is used are very bright and happy. In the foreground of many of the pages is the white snow, but Peter’s bright orange snow suit stands out.
Review Excerpt(s)
- Randolph Caldecott Medal 1963
- Virginia Haviland, THE HORN BOOK: “....-Perfect for a snowy day’s preschool story hour.”
Connections:
*This book can be connected to an author’s study about Ezera Keats where students can read about the same main character Peter, in other relatable texts such as:
*This book can be connected to an author’s study about Ezera Keats where students can read about the same main character Peter, in other relatable texts such as:
- GOGGLES. ISBN 0140564403
- A LETTER TO AMY. ISBN 9780140564426
- KEATS’S NEIGHBORHOOD. ISBN 9780670035861
- PETER’S CHAIR. ISBN 0140564411
- Tresselt, Alvin. WHITE SNOW, BRIGHT SNOW. ISBN 9780688082949
- Brett, Jan. THE MITTEN. ISBN 9780399219207
- Ehlert, Lois. SNOWBALLS. ISBN 9780152162757
Bibliography:
Steig. William. 1969. SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE. III New York, NY: Windmill Books : Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781416902065
Plot Summary:
This classic award winning book starts off with a donkey named Sylvester who finds a magic pebble. In a moment of panic he wishes that he was a rock in order to confuse a lion that spotted him on his treck back home. Unfortunately, Sylvester can not wish himself back into a donkey because the magic pebble is laying beside him in a field about a mile away from his family home. Sylvester’s parents search and search for him, but lose hope that Sylvester is long gone. Eventually, Sylvester’s parents take a picnic right on top of Sylvester and notice the beautiful shiny pebble. They place the pebble on Sylvester (not knowing that he is the rock) and Sylvester wishes that he is himself and instantly to everyone’s surprise he is reunited with his family.
Critical Analysis:
The storyline is simple and the sequence of events is easy to follow. There are strong themes of the importance of family, losing, and longing for someone. The text on each page is lengthy and has many thoughts of the main characters such as Sylvester and the Duncan parents. “I wish I were myself again, I wish I were my real self again!’ thought Sylvester.” The characters establish relatable feelings of loss, when they are mourning over Sylvester but also portray feelings and glimpses of happiness once reunited with their son. Magic does play a crucial role in the plot, but is only used in subtle ways such as turning the rain on and off, and the transformation of Sylvester into a rock.
The illustrations are also created by William Steig. The medium that is used is watercolors with an outlining technique of all the objects on the page in dark bold outlines to perhaps make the characters stand out. Each page has pictures that collaborate with the text and are all filled with many bright colors and textures. The characters are very much cartoon-like and give the illustrations a bit of humor.
Review Except(s):
- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY “...his tale of a donkey who wishes on a magic pebble has charmed a generation of readers and will no doubt go on to attract a new one…” Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
- KIRKUS REVIEW: “...surely the prize predicament of the year and, in William Steig's pearly colors, one of the prettiest. How Mother and Father Duncan (donkey), despairing of finding their son, do eventually break the red pebble's spell and bring back Sylvester is a fable of happy families of all breeds.”
- Caldecott Medal (1970)
- Lewis Carroll Shelf Award (1978)
- National Book Award Finalist for Children’s Books (1970)
Connections:
*This picture book could be used for very evident cause and effect relationships when Sylvester must accept the consequences of his wishes.
*Children can make connections to events in their own lives when they were frightened and had to make difficult decisions.
*Other relatable stories that deal with wishes and the use of magic and the consequences:
- Thurber, James. MANY MOONS. ISBN 9780152518738
- Steig, William. THE AMAZING BONE. ISBN 9780374403584
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