Hansel and Gretel

Hansel and Gretel

Written by: Cynthia Rylant

Illustrated by: Jen Corace

Hyperion Books for Children, 2008

40 pages

Picture Book – Traditional Literature

            I chose Hansel and Gretel because I remember reading it as a child. This book retells the original story of Hansel and Gretel, but this book places more of an emphasis on the courage of the children. Like the original Hansel and Gretel, this book has the same creepiness and darkness. This story is pretty similar to the original. Hansel and Gretel are left in the woods because their stepmother is tired of them eating her food. The father is sick and can’t help the children. The children are left in the woods, and they stumble upon a house made of sweets. A witch tricks them and captures them. She is preparing to eat them, but the children outsmart her. 

The children return home to find the stepmother dead and their father feeling much better. 

            Jen Corace is the illustrator of this book. Jen’s medium of choice is a pen and ink. For this book, it was not ink, but rather concentrated watercolor, acrylic, and watercolor paint on watercolor paper. The illustrations have rich, warm colors, but the pictures still have an eerie feel to them. The children’s faces are not detailed, and they look scary. 

            This book says that it is appropriate for ages 4-8, but I think it should be 8 and up. I don’t think that discussing cannibalism is appropriate for a four-year-old. I would use this book for a 3^rd grade science lesson about survival in the woods. This would be a great book to read when teaching 3^rd grade students about the woods and how to survive there. You could discuss how Hansel left crumbs to try to navigate back to his house. If someone wanted to read this book to a younger age group, they could use this book in a 1^st grade math lesson. The teacher would read the book and discuss the part where the boy left white stones on the ground to lead him back home. The teacher could have the students lay rocks down on the ground from their classroom to the lunchroom and let them count them. This book could also be used as a character education book. This book talks a lot about having courage and being brave, this would be appropriate for any grade.

Rose Red and the Bear Prince

Rose Red and the Bear Prince

Adapted from The Brothers Grimm by: Dan Andreasen

Illustrated by: Dan Andreasen

Harper Collins, 2000

40 pages

Picture Book – Traditional Literature

I chose this book because I like The Brothers Grimm. I was curious as to how the author adapted this story. Rose Red lived in a cottage with her widowed mother. One day, a bear came to the cottage and asked to warm himself by the fire. The widow and her daughter welcomed the bear. He became a regular visitor. The bear had a dark secret. The bear would only tell the daughter that a wicked dwarf had stolen his three treasures. The girl retrieves these treasures for the bear. The bear reveals himself for who he really is. He had a spell cast upon him, but the girl broke the spell by retrieving the treasure. The bear is really a prince, and they live happily ever after.

Dan Andreasen adapted this story from The Brothers Grimm, and he also illustrated the story. Dan’s medium for his illustrations is oil paint. He uses rich, earth tone colors in his pictures. The illustrations are detailed and beautiful. They give the impression that the texture is smooth.  

This book is appropriate for kindergarten and up. I would read this book aloud to a 1^st grade class, introducing a science lesson on seasons. The bear leaves the girl when it is spring again, and students could discuss with the teacher why animals hibernate in the winter. This book could also be read to a 3^rd grade class. If I were reading this book to a 3^rd grade class, I would give them this writing prompt, “If you were the girl in the story, would you have helped the bear?” Students would be able to discuss why or why they would not have helped the bear. I would read this book to my practicum students in the 1^st grade because they are learning about tame and untamed animals. 

How I Became a Pirate

How I Became a Pirate

Written by: Melinda Long

Illustrated by: David Shannon

Harcourt, Inc. 2003

44 pages

Picture Book – Fantasy

I chose this book because I love pirates! Everybody loves pirates, especially children. This book tells how a little boy became a pirate. The pirates find him on the beach and make him part of their crew. They want the little boy to dig a hole for their treasure. The little boy thinks it is great to be a pirate, until he realizes that the life of a pirate is not what he thought it would be. The pirates’ green teeth, lack of books, and the “no tucking in” rule made the little boy miss home. The little boy convinces the pirates to take him home, and he shows them the ultimate place for burying treasure. 

David Shannon’s illustrations for this book were done using acrylic paint on an illustration board. These pictures will demand the students’ attention because of the bright colors and vivid, real life pictures. Shannon is able to capture the spirit of a scoundrel pirate and yet capture the spirit of an innocent child. Every last inch of each picture is covered with amazing, intricate detail.

How I Became a Pirate is appropriate for preschoolers and grades K-3. I would use this book to introduce a lesson about the ocean to my 1^st grade students. The book has several vivid pictures of the ocean and the beach. I would also incorporate this book into a history lesson for 2^nd graders. I would read the book and show the students the picture of the map at the end of the book. I would teach my students about maps (directions- north, south, east, and west). This would be a great book to read aloud to 2^nd grade students and provide a writing prompt. The writing prompt would be, “Would you enjoy being a pirate? Please explain your answer.” How I Became a Pirate received the Booksense Best Picture Book in 2003. 

Otis

Otis

Written & illustrated by: Loren Long

Philomel Books, 2009

40 pages

Picture Book – Fantasy

            I chose Otis because I thought this book would be a great fantasy book to read to a younger age group. Otis is a small, red tractor who enjoys his days on the farm. He befriends a baby calf who misses its mother. The tractor and cow become the best of friends. Soon after, the farmer buys a big, yellow tractor and no longer needs Otis. Otis and the calf remain friends. The calf finds itself in some big trouble, and Otis is the only one who can save the calf.

            Loren Long, the author and illustrator of Otis created her illustrations in gouache and pencil. Long uses dark, warm colors in her illustrations. It seems as though  Otis’s red color is the brightest color in the book. Otis stands out among the dark grays, greens, and charcoals. The gouache and pencil seem to be the perfect mediums to use when portraying a farm.

            Otis is appropriate for preschoolers and kindergarteners. Since this book is geared more toward younger ages, I would use this book to teach the difference between realism and fantasy to a 1^st grade class. Otis could also be used for a 1^st grade science lesson. I would use this book to teach my 1^st graders about farms and the machines and animals that work on the farm. I love the story of friendship that this book conveys. I could also read this book to my 1^st grade students when giving a mini-lesson on how to be a good friend.

Zen Shorts

Zen Shorts

Written and illustrated by: Jon J. Muth

Scholastic Press, 2005

40 pages

Picture Book - Fantasy

            When I came across this book, I immediately noticed the beautiful illustrations. The front cover intrigued my curiosity, and I was compelled to blog about this book. Addy, Michael, and Karl meet a very special panda named Stillwater. Each of the children spend time with Stillwater. He teaches each child a valuable lesson that they will never forget. This mysterious panda bear provides the children with friendship and wisdom.

           

            The author and illustrator of this book, John J. Muth, used watercolor and ink to create his illustrations. The soft, warm colors and smooth lines give the book a calming effect. When Stillwater tells a story, the soft, warm colors change to black and white pictures with a solid background color. The illustrations in these passages look much different than the illustrations in the rest of the book.

           

           This book is appropriate for preschoolers and grades K-3. I would use this book for a character education lesson for 3^rd graders. One of the lessons Stillwater teaches is that you should not remain angry after someone has done you wrong. I would read this book if my 3^rd graders were holding grudges against their peers. I think this book could be used to introduce a science lesson for 3^st graders as well. I would read this book before my lesson bout panda bears and discuss what they look like and the culture they are most associated with. This book could also be used as a history lesson for 3^rd graders. I would read this book to introduce the Japanese culture. This book has many pictures and words that describe key elements of Japanese culture. Zen Shorts was a Caldecott Honor Book in 2006.