Genre #1 Picture Books (Classic)

Millions of Cats

By: Wanda Gag

Bibliography: 

Gag, Wanda. Millions of Cats. New York: Penguin Putnam, 1928. ISBN: 9780571053612 

Plot Summary:

The book opens with a conversation between an elderly couple who determine that they are lonely, so in order to coop with their loneliness they decide to get a cat. The old man sets out to pick out a cat, and finds this hill where there are nothing but "millions and trillions" of cats to choose from. The old man has a very difficult time picking just one cat, and decides to take them all. There are some hints and clues along the way that this isn't going to work out well for the elder couple; for instance, the old man stops at a pond and each cat takes only one sip and the entire pond is empty. Again, the kittens each just one mouth of grass and the field becomes barren. Finally, the man makes it home and his wife is shocked that he has so many. That is where the man makes his fatal mistake of asking which cat is prettier; when they all answer "me" a cat fight breaks out and they all end up gone. Accept for one little cat who is scrawny and frightened, who has been hiding in the back. In the end, the couple take in the not-so-cute cat and make him their loving pet.

Critical Analysis

Wanda Gag has written a classic and timeless story of an adorable elderly couple. The couple is honest about their lack of companionship; therefore, they ironically decide to get a typically independent animal to complete their need for love and attention. Wanda's selection of a cat as pet helps develop the characters in the story, in that a cat is symbolic for independence, yet they want the partnership. Because of this, the reader gets a feeling that the loneliness the family experiences is not from a place of disdain, but rather a place of purity. However, through Gag's use of hyperbole the man takes in all the cats he sees on the fur covered hill. Ultimately, the couple determines that they cannot keep all these cats and yell out to them "who is the prettiest" and a fight ensues leaving them with only a small frail cat that they take in gladly. 

The simple black and white drawings help create the timeless feeling of the book. Gag does a splendid job showing the setting through point of view drawings, and cartoon like series drawings. Even the font is an indication of the delightful story told by Wanda Gag. 

Review Excerpts:

"This Newbery Honor winner (1929) is distinguished by innovative design and a strong storyteller's cadence." (School Library Journal's "One Hundred Books that Shaped the Century")

"A perennial favorite." (The New York Times)

Lewis Caroll Shelf Award 

Connections: 

Other Wanda Gag Books:

• The Funny Thing- ISBN:9780698300972
• Snippy and Snappy- ISBN: 9780816695386
• The ABC Bunny- ISBN: 9780698204652

Content Connections: 

• Children's Philosophy: use this book to teach how to care or think of others and animals
• Art: show perspective drawings. 

Genre #1 Picture Books (Caldecott Award)

This is Not My Hat

Bibliography:

Klassen, John. This is Not My Hat. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. 2012. ISBN:9780763655990

Plot Summary:

This is Not My Hat is about an unnamed "little" fish who steals a tiny hat from a "big" fish. In the story the little fish confesses to stealing the hat to the reader, is convinced no one will find him, and that in some ways he deserves this tiny hat because it fits him. Throughout the book the "little" fish acknowledges that he knows he should not take the hat, but is a little arrogant that no one will ever find him especially the "big" owner of the tiny hat. He even tells the reader where he plans to go, and is convinced that even though a crab saw him, he won't be found by the "big" fish. Unfortunately, for the "little" fish the "big" fish tracks down the "little" fish, and while we don't know what happens to "little" fish, we do see "big" fish swim away with his tiny hat. 

Critical Analysis:

This is a simple and fearless story of a small fish who takes big risk. The nameless fish's confidence is endearing when he states flatly that he took a big fish's hat. The plot of the story moves quickly as you discover that the daring fish has decided that he will never be found with his new hat; however, the illustrations are genius because we can see the duped fish following the thief closely. Klassen's diction and use of simple sentences keeps you turning the pages quickly trying to figure out what will happen in this tale of vigilance. As the reader turns to the last page, they are left wondering what happened to the little fish, as Klassen has simply illustrated the big fish swimming in the opposite direction with his hat. 

The illustrations in this book are what makes this picture book engaging for the reader. Klassen really tells the story of the thief fish through the words in the book, and the story of the hoodwinked fish through the illustrations. Through the illustrations we can tell that what the little fish thinks won't happen, is actually happening. Klassen's combination of watercolor, paper, and double page spreads are pieces of art for the reader to enjoy with this charming tale. 

Review Excerpts:

• Winner of the 2013 Caldecott Medal 
• Amazon Best Book of the Year 2012
• "Simplicity is key in both text and illustrations."- School Library Journal 
• ALA Notable Children's Children's Book for Young Readers 2013

Connections:

Other books written and illustrated by Jon Klassen

• I Want My Hat Back- New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book 2011 (ISBN:9781406338539)

Other books illustrated by Jon Klassen

• Extra Yarn- Caldecott Honor 2013 (ISBN:9780061953385)
• The Mysterious Howling- Kirkus Reviews 2010 (ISBN:9780061791055)

Content Connections:

• Citizenship: Use this book to teach right and wrong
• Writing: Use as a introduction to a writing prompt on fairness
• Reading: Great book to teach inferencing  

Genre #1- Picture Books (Illustrations by Kadir Nelson)

Henry's Freedom Box

Bibliography:

Levine, Ellen. Henry's Freedom Box. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York: Scholastic Press, 2007. ISBN:9780545105606

Plot Summary:

Henry's Freedom Box doubles as a biography of Henry "Box" Brown. The story opens with Henry as a young boy, and begins to tell the story of the slave child and his family. Henry gets sold to another slave family after his Masters death, and he is separated from his mother. Henry then goes on to meet a nice young girl named Nancy, and her master and Henry's master allow the two to be married. 
Unfortunately,Nancy's master is facing hard financial times and sells Nancy and their children. Henry finds himself unable to live life without his family, and devises a plan with Dr. Smith, a man who is against slavery, to mail himself to Pennsylvania. And so he does, box himself up and Dr. Smith addresses the box to Pennsylvania. Henry travels 350 miles, and reaches Pennsylvania March 30, 1849 as a free man for the first time.     

Critical Analysis:

The first three sentences of this story break the readers heart. The author begins by stating common facts about slaves, but in a way that reminds us that simple celebrations like birthdays were nonexistent to slaves. As the story develops your heartbreaks again for Henry when his family is sold away; once more reminding the reader that slavery was a life of despair. Levine pays close attention to descriptive details, and her diction develops Henry as an innocent, ambitious, survivor of a regrettable manipulation of drudgery. 

Kadir Nelson's illustrations could tell the story of Henry "Box" Brown all on their own. Like Levine, his attention to character detail is exquisite. The paintings were inspired by lithographs, and give the book an authentic feeling. The painting on the first and last page of the book capture the growth and change that transformed Henry, and the pages in between illustrate how he empowered himself to persevere.

Review Excerpts:

2008 Caldecott Medal, Honor 

ALA Notable Book for Middle Readers 

CCBC Choices 2008

NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People 2008, 

Booklist Editor 's Choice 2007- "...it's the dramatic artwork that brings this emphatically to life." — Booklist, starred review 

Booklist Top 10 Black History for Youth 

From Publishers Weekly- "These powerful illustrations will make readers feel as if they have gained insight into a resourceful man and his extraordinary story."

Connections:

Other Ellen Levine Books to read:

• If You Traveled On The Underground Railroad.ISBN: 9781557448729
• A Fence Away From Freedom. ISBN: 9780399226380

Other Kadir Nelson:

• Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People To Freedom. *Caldecott Honor Book* ISBN:9781435256446

Content Connections:

• Science: Teachers could use this book as an introduction to astronomy by connecting the underground railroad to the north star, and how slaves used the stars to guide their way out through the underground railroad.
• Geography/Technology: Students could use Google Earth to map Henry's journey. 
• Writing: Students could create a Twitter account, and live tweet as Henry was traveling in his box to freedom.