Busy Farm

Fisher Price Little People book

Summary

This book goes through Farmer Jed's day on the farm, and by doing so chronicles his interactions with the animals. When he encounters each animal, the child is supposed to press the sound button on the right side of the book. Before the press the picture, the text asks "What does the _____say?"

Discussion

This is not what I would call high quality children's literature in the slightest. The text is big enough for children to recognize it is text, and it is a sturdy board book for young children, but the illustrations are not worthy of praise in the slightest. This book was created to help very young children learn their animal sounds through use of manipulative objects in a book, helping to familiarize them with literature. Though the book is not high quality, I feel it would be a helpful addition to a child's play area in a classroom, though definitely should not be used as a read aloud, or even as a nighttime story in one's household.

(2000). Fisher Price Busy Farm. Lincolnwood: International, ltd.

Papá and Me

by Arthur Dorros
illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez
*Notable Children's Book 2009
*Pura Belpre Honors Book 2008

Summary
This short picture book describes a boy’s day with his father, focusing on their relationship. The book uses short Spanish phrases in a way to relate to the readers of the book and connect to another culture. The boy sings with his father, walks across the street (holding his hand of course), spends time at the park, and finally ends up with his grandparents on the other side, showing the importance of family and love. The illustrations in the book are gorgeous, as seen below, and they truly succeed in making this book successful and well loved.

Discussion
I was very pleased with this book, both for its multiculturalism and the focus on the relationship of a boy and his father, instead of a boy and his mother. Many books focus on the mother/child relationship instead of the father/child. This book encourages the child to reach for their dreams, and be independent while using their parents’ guidance and help to grow (by way of scaffolding). The Spanish throughout the book could allow a parent to read this book to their child, even if they do not speak English, by allowing their child to read the English parts and they could read the Spanish parts. This book is a perfect at home book, as it is a story about a father and son.

Dorros, A. (2008). Papa and Me. New York: HarperCollins.

I Stink!

by Kate and Jim McMullan

*ALA Notable Children's Book 2002

*Boston Globe/Horn Book Honors Award 2002

* Nevada State Award

*New Hampshire State Award

*School Library Journal Best Books 2002

Summary
Narrated by the neighborhood garbage truck, this colorful book with just as colorful and engaging language immediately attracts the interest of children. The garbage truck narrates what he does at night while all the children are sleeping: "Eat your TRASH, that's what. See those bags? I SMELL BREAKFAST!" He uses alliteration and car terms to describe his movements throughout the night while picking up trash, acknowledging the loudness of the trucks: "Did I wake you? Too bad!" In the middle of the book he explains his "alphabet soup", filled with grimy things such as Dirty Diapers, Fishheads, Moldy Meatballs, and Ugly Underpants. On the last two pages he asks, "What's that? You think I STINK? WHOOOOO-WHEE! Do I ever!....But think about it-WITHOUT ME? You're on Mount Trash-o-rama!"

Discussion
This book will leave kids giggling and talking about gross smells. Though obviously fictional, it could open the gate to talking about the necessity of garbage collectors, and it makes the garbage truck less scary, and perhaps more comical. The illustrations paired with the language in this book make it engaging for both adults and children. This was definitely a favorite in my household growing up, and I believe that it will withstand the test of time. Below is a video of a the book being read aloud paired with the wonderful illustrations.

McMullan, J., & McMullan, K. (2002). I Stink!. New York: HarperCollins.

Yellow Umbrella

by Jae Soo Liu
*New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award

*Parent's Choice Silver Honors 1987

Summary
Originally published in South Korea, this book is beautifully illustrated, initially showing a gray page with one yellow umbrella leaving a home. This yellow umbrella is then joined by a blue, then a red, then a green, and so on, and although the grayness stays, the scenery changes. The people are traveling the city and more are joining them along the way. Illustrations are from above, as if someone were in a helicopter flying over the city and photographing the umbrellas. There are raindrops when going over the bridge of water, and though there is a large group of umbrellas, there is still the sole yellow one. The last page shows the umbrellas from a different view, as if the artist were behind all of them. By the height of the umbrellas and the view of the legs underneath, the readers can see that these umbrellas are held by children, and they are all going to school.

Discussion
As a parent I would love to see how my child would narrate this book. There is an accompanying CD with the sounds of gorgeous classical music imitating a rainy day, helping children to get into the mood of reading the book. The bright colors of the umbrellas and their contrast with the grayness of their surroundings helps them to stand out even moreso. This book can provoke discussions with young children about colors and rainy days, and if the child comes to the realization that the umbrellas are held by schoolchildren, families can talk about school. The illustrations really supplement for the lack of a written story, and I honestly believe that a written story would take away from the beauty of these large drawings.

Liu, J., & Sheen, D. I. (2002). Yellow Umbrella (New York Times Best Illustrated Books (Awards)) (New York Times Best Illustrated Books (Awards)). China: Kane/Miller Book Pub.

Goose on the Loose

Goose on the Loose
by Phil Roxbee Cox
illustrated by Stephen Cartwright

Summary
A goose rides through town on a red scooter, and as he goes he bumps into various farm animals (rooster, bear, toad, cows etc). The animals convene and decide that something needs to be done about the crazy "goose on the loose", but before they can do anything, the goose lands in the penguin's pool. Throughout the story, each animal says "stop that goose on the loose".

Discussion
The repetition in the story, and the constant rhyme help children to independently read and participate in the story. The back cover of the story analyzes each word in the book and explains a phonetic way of pronunciation, also including the irregular words (comes, everywhere, I, I'll, into, welcome etc). Also, each page has a different farm animal on it, reinforcing knowledge. The bear is named Ted, forcing children to determine what kind of animal it is by looking at it instead of being told directly. The pages fold out, which categorizes this book as an engineered book, as well as the participation part when the children can chant, "goose on the loose!"


Cox, P. R. (2001). Goose on the Loose (Usborne Easy Words to Read). London: Usborne Publishing Ltd.

Brown Bear Brown Bear

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
by Bill Martin Jr
illustrated by Eric Carle

Summary
This book cycles through different colored animals, beginning with a brown bear. The reader asks "Brown bear brown bear what do you see?" and the brown bear fills in "I see a red bird looking at me." Each page of the book has a new animal, sometimes an odd color (blue horse), and the literacy is constructed in a participation friendly way: "______ _______ what do you see? I see a ______ looking at me." Ultimately, the goldfish sees a teacher looking at him, and the teacher sees children. When the children are asked what they see, they go through all of the animals, thus giving children the opportunity to recall all of the animals they saw during the read aloud.

Discussion
This repetitive entertaining book is a favorite in classrooms and among most young children. When I was in preschool I can remember loving to chant this book with my teachers. The foreshadowing on each age about the upcoming animal allows children to "predict" what animal picture is coming next. This book is perfect for a real aloud, and tests children's memory, imagination, and sequencing ability. The illustrations by Eric Carle are inviting for children, and the odd colored animals provide humor for children (purple cat, blue horse). Children are able to see their own participation in the book as the children on the penultimate page. One could springboard off of this book with felt animals for each animal represented in the book, making puppets, or helping children to construct their own book about things they see.

By clicking on the picture above you can listen to a child reading Brown Bear Brown Bear.

Carle, B., & Martin, E. (. (1992). Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?. New York: Henry Holt & Co.

Cat's Colors

Cat's Colors
by Jane Cabrera

Summary
This book chronicles a cat, named Cat, when he tries to get readers to guess his favorite color. He asks about green first, noting that it is the color of the grass. Next he asks about pink, the petals of his favorite flowers. Black is explained as the color of the night. Each set of pages is dominated by that color, and the cat is present as well as another animal (cow, bee, bat etc). On the red page the cat is sleeping by the fire in a pose most children recognize as a sleeping kitten. Yellow is described as the sand on the beach. As cats usually get their claws stuck on many things, the purple page is used to address purple yarn. Brown is the color of the earth, where the cat dig holes among worms. Blue is the sky, and white are the clouds. The cat says his favorite color is orange because it is the color of his mother.




Discussion
For children, this book is very helpful when working on color recognition. It can also be used when talking about animals. Since Cat turns out to be a kitten, parents can discuss with their children how Cat is just like them, because cats snuggle just like humans snuggle. Parents can also address the different animals present on each page, and ask their children if they know a bee, a cow, a mouse etc. These animals are seen in a naturally comfortable place for them, so the parents are able to acknowledge an animal's natural habitat. This book could be used for read aloud, but would be much better in a family setting. It should be read to younger children to establish acknowledgment of colors and animals. There is no rhyming in the book, but the bright pages are very attractive to the younger eye.



Cabrera, J. (1997). Cat's Colors. New York: Dial.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault
illustrated by Lois Ehlert

*ALA Notable Children's Book 1989

*Boston Globe/Horn Book Honors Award 1989

*Kentucky State Award

*Parent's Choice Silver Honors 1989

Summary
Using rhyming, the authors tell an interesting story about the various letters of the alphabet all meeting at the top of a coconut tree. As each letter goes to the top of the tree, the question is raised "Chicka chicka boom boom! Will there be enough room?" The letters race to the top of the tree in order (A-B-C etc). As the letters go onto the tree, the illustrations show bright and colorful bolded letters surrounding the tree or on the trunk, helping children to imagine the story. As the last few letters (X-Y-Z) make it up the tree, all the letters come tumbling down in a jumbled mess on the page. The following pages show capital letters with lowercase letters, referring to them as "mamas and papas and uncles and aunts." The letters help each other out of the jumbled mess while the children read the alliteration and onomatopoeia: "M is looped. N is stooped. O is twisted alley-oop. Skit skat skoodle doot. Flip flop flee." as the sun goes down all letters are safely away from the tree, but then the letter A starts the cycle over again.

Discussion
This book is written by Bill Martin Jr, one of the most well known picture book authors. It uses rhyming and alliteration as well as bright and colorful pictures to appeal to young children, even those who cannot read. Children just learning their letters are able to participate with their parents when reading this book if they can recognize the colorful letters on the various pages. The concept of letters racing to the top of a tree amuses many children, and I have never seen this book read with anything less than an overall positive response. On a page where the letters are all tangled, the alliteration and language used coincides with the letters, as they are visibly malformed.

A potential springboard for this book is creating some sort of activity where children are able to be around the letters, perhaps drawing a tree and a few letters on it or, as seen above, using felt or velcro to create a tree trunk and allowing children to stick letters on it.

Archambault, J., & Jr, B. M. (1989). Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.