Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Category: Picture Book
Title: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
Author: Retold by Simms Taback
Illustrator: Simms Taback
Publisher: Viking : New York
Publication Date: 1999
Grade Level: preK-2
Genre: Traditional Literature
Theme: You can always make something out of nothing.
Number of Pages: 32 pages

Summary: Joseph finds a way to recycle his overcoat many times over in this Caldecott Medal winner.

Evaluation: This is a clever tale that brings readers along for the ride as Joseph smartly cuts his worn overcoat down multiple times to create other items. The plot is unique and fun for young children to follow. The illustrations are engaging, with bright colors that are done in a collage style that is folksy and offers a look of texture. The artwork would be appropriate for reading aloud, and it also would be welcome when reading to an individual child because of the many details in each spread that could be examined.

Compared to the multimedia version of the story (Scholastic : 2001), the picture book would be better for reading one-on-one, while the video would be good for a group of young children who would find the story and the accompanying musical score fun.

Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel

Category: Transitional
Title: Frog and Toad Are Friends
Author: Arnold Lobel
Illustrator: Arnold Lobel
Publisher: Harper Collins : New York
Publication Date: 1970
Grade Level: 1-3
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Theme: Friendship is something to be treasured.
Number of Pages: 64 pages

Summary: This Caldecott Honor Book features the friendship of Frog and Toad, who have fun together and take care of each other through many adventures.

Evaluation: This is an engaging story for transitional readers featuring the sweet friendship of Frog and Toad, who have an obvious unconditional love for each other. The language is simple for early readers, with large type that makes the book manageable for them and many illustrations that make it interesting. The beginning reader also is attracted to the very basic episodic plot, with the five chapters each consisting of their own adventure, which is appropriate for the reading level. The illustrations are done in soft, inviting watercolor, with cool greens and brown pictures nicely accenting the text throughout the book. The cover art, with Frog and Toad sitting together in the outdoors, shows their closeness and their friendship and would entice readers to read the book.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling

Category: Upper Elementary Chapter
Title: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Author: J.K. Rowling
Illustrator: Mary GrandPré
Publisher: Scholastic Press : New York
Publication Date: 2000
Grade Level: 4-8 (although this series is loved by young adults and adults, as well)
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Theme: Believe in yourself and you can do anything.
Number of Pages: 734 pages

Summary: As he continues to try to fit in at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry Potter finds himself chosen for a dangerous competition that will test his ability as a wizard. Additionally, his recurring battles with the evil Voldemort will once again test his meddle. His constant companions, Hermione and Ron, and his faculty support at Hogwarts stick by him. In the end, he is a better person for his struggles.

Evaluation: This modern fantasy is a quest story – a story about searching for something – that is popular with readers because of their desire to want the popular protagonist to find a solution, to find what he is looking for, and they are along for the ride. It is considered a high fantasy, an engaging, serious tale that centers around the conflict between good and evil. The main characters are well rounded and, as a result, are well liked by readers. The evolution of many of the characters, particularly Harry Potter, is obvious and a fulfilling aspect to the story; readers enjoy seeing a change in characters as a result of conflict. The magic featured in this story is written in a genuine style that allows readers to easily and gladly suspend disbelief. The cover illustration wraps around the binding and continues on the back, which is a nice layout style that visually gives the sense of a complete package. The images are done in an expressionistic style created with mostly dark pastels and soft lines that frankly would not attract readers on its own merits – Harry Potter’s facial expression is goofy and too young-looking – yet the story is so popular that the illustrations are not a deterrent. The small stars that appear in the outside corners of all the pages and next to the page numbers at the bottom of each page are a nice touch that serve as a constant reminder that the book is about magic.

The Three Pigs by David Wiesner

Category: Picture Book
Title: The Three Pigs
Author: David Wiesner
Illustrator: David Wiesner
Publisher: Clarion : New York
Publication Date: 2001
Grade Level: 2-5
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Theme: When you face difficulties in life, find a way to change the situation.
Number of Pages: Unpaged

Summary: This rendition of the traditional Three Little Pigs strays from the original story, allowing the characters to leave their own story and enter others, including a nursery rhyme and a fantasy tale complete with a dragon. In the end, they all proceed back onto the pages of The Three Pigs and into the indestructible brick house.

Evaluation: The cheekiness of this version of the classic story makes it a great read for children, and adults, as well. The new direction the characters take, leaving their story and finding themselves on the pages of other children’s tales, makes the story fresh and interesting. The dialogue that takes place “off the page,” as the pigs, followed by characters such a cat and a dragon, join together to physically separate themselves from their own illustrations to, first, blank white pages, then into other books. It is an interesting, original and effective idea. The book would be appropriate for reading aloud, giving the reader opportunity to use different voices, and the illustrations are large enough and simple enough to be seen easily from a distance. The illustrations pair color with black and white, as the characters venture from story to story. The medium seems to be a mix of watercolor, colored pencils, and pen and ink. The illustrations are almost more important than the text, with more of the story going on in the artwork than in the prose. The story itself, with the characters uniquely moving from one tale to another, could generate some discussion in a library setting about the originality, and to what other stories could this concept be applied.

Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss

Category: Picture Book
Title: Horton Hatches the Egg
Author: Dr. Seuss
Illustrator: Dr. Seuss
Publisher: Random House : New York
Publication Date: 1968
Grade Level: K-3
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Theme: Promises are important to keep, and the act of honoring them is rewarded.
Number of Pages: Unpaged

Summary: Horton the Elephant promises a bird that he will keep her egg safe by sitting on it in a tree until she returns. When she doesn’t, he continues to honor his promise and remains there through rain and snow. When hunters find Horton and move him, the egg and the tree to put them on display, he remains faithful to his pledge. As part of a circus, Horton is spotted by the estranged mother bird, who demands the egg back. As Horton unhappily begins to give in, the egg cracks open and surprises everyone.

Evaluation: This classic Dr. Seuss story provides readers with his much-loved rhymes and familiar illustrative style. The story is appropriate for young children who are being read to, exposing them to the rhythm of the story. It also would be well-liked by children who are just learning to read on their own. The plot, if taken literally, is too serious for young readers – a mother who abandons her unborn child, hunters who take the elephant out of the wild to exploit it – yet in Dr. Seuss’ hands, the story is sweet. Its theme of integrity and honoring a promise would be understood by children and readers of all ages. The illustrations are done in charcoal pencil and supplemented with bold areas of color. The choice of having Horton sit on the end of the bending tree creates a dramatic composition.

Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary

Category: Multimedia (Audio CD)
Title: Ramona Quimby, Age 8
Author: Beverly Cleary
Illustrator: Alan Tiegreen
Publisher: Random House : New York
Publication Date: 1991 recording
Grade Level: 2-5
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Theme: When facing tough times, or good times, family is everything.
Number of Minutes: 126 minutes

Summary: Ramona Quimby faces third grade, with its highs and lows. In addition to school, she is forced to spend time after school at a baby-sitter’s, whose persistent granddaughter demands attention. Ramona also silently worries about her family’s emotional and financial well-being. Her father quit his full-time job and works part-time while he goes back to college. Her mother supports the family as a physician’s secretary. The book was a Newbery Honor Book and an ALA Notable Children’s Book.

Evaluation: Readers of all ages will identify with protagonist Ramona Quimby, whose life contains common experiences everyone has lived through or can at least imagine. The plot is successful because of those instances, including Ramona being embarrassed in school and feeling anxious about returning. Conflicts between Ramona and a classmate, Ramona and a younger child at her baby-sitter’s, Ramona and her teacher all are interesting and make it difficult to turn off the CD. The effective plot line holds listeners’ interest. Many of the characters are fully described, with details that make them very real. That is desirable. The theme of family unity is genuine and a positive aspect for readers, some of how may not have the same situation in their own home. The style of writing is unique – warm and comfortable – and invites readers to enter into the story. The narrator, actress Stockard Channing, provides a voice that is easy to listen to, and injects great character voices. The cover of the CD case, the early 1990s book cover, is not entirely inviting for today’s kids, with pen and ink and watercolor stick-like figures depicting Ramona and some friends.

A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson

Category: Picture Book
Title: A Selection of 24 Poems from a Child’s Garden of Verses
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
Illustrator: Erik Blegvad
Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: 1978
Grade Level: 2-5
Genre: Poetry
Theme: Memories of childhood are pleasantly familiar, no matter who you are or how old you may be.
Number of Pages: Unpaged

Summary: This collection of poems brings to mind experiences of children everywhere through stories about nature, play activities and locations most readers would be familiar with, including a hay loft, a train and a backyard swing.

Evaluation: The selections in this book are narrative poems, telling stories of childhood memories that could be real or imagined. The range of ideas featured would make the book interesting to most readers. The majority of poems are made up of quatrains, with the first two lines and the last two lines rhyming in each. The rhyming would be appealing to readers. It sounds pleasant and is easy to read, particularly aloud. The illustrations are inviting, done in a surrealistic style with soft lines and pale colors, both cool and warm.

The Rough-Face Girl by Rafe Martin

Category: Picture Book
Title: The Rough-Face Girl
Author: Rafe Martin
Illustrator: David Shannon
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons : New York
Publication Date: 1992
Grade Level: K-3
Genre: Traditional Literature
Theme: Everyone is beautiful in their own way.
Number of Pages: Unpaged

Summary: In a lakeside Indian village, a mystical Invisible Being is sought after by all the young girls. To marry him, one must be able to see him, yet no one has been successful. A girl shunned by villagers and even her beautiful sisters because of her scarred face and body bravely ventures to meet the Invisible Being. Upon seeing him, and because he can sense the goodness and compassion in her heart, she wins his love. She is transformed emotionally and physically into a beautiful, happy woman.

Evaluation: This folktale is an enjoyable interpretation of the well-known Cinderella story, with the seemingly ugly sister mistreated for years but finally finding happiness as a result of her goodness and optimistic spirit. The theme is evident, simple and meaningful. Children would find the protagonist engaging. Her initial vulnerability forces the reader to root for her. Although folk tale settings are typically vague, the fact that this story occurs on the shores of Lake Ontario would make it appealing to readers learning about the Algonquin Indians or those living near the lake region. The illustrations add to the experience. Much of the imagery is dark and foreboding, which complements many parts of the story, but there also are pictures that depict beautiful scenes using soft lines and beautiful colors. The borders around the illustrations, which resemble wooden frames, give the images an appropriate rustic look.

Read any good books lately?

Are you looking for something to read? Not sure what to check out when you head to the children's section at your local library? There's a lot of great books out there, with more being added to the shelves every day. Some are interesting nonfiction, others are fiction stories with the power to transport the reader to other places simply by opening their covers. This blog will periodically list a bunch of books I have discovered and think are worth a look. I hope it helps you, whether you are parent or child.