THE LLAMA WHO HAD NO PAJAMA

Bibliography:

Hoberman, Mary Ann. 1998. THE LLAMA WHO HAD NO PAJAMA. ILL. By Betty Fraser. San Diego, CA: Browndeer Press, Harxourt Brace & Co. ISBN 0152001115

Plot Summary:

An illustrated collection of 100 favorite poems about all sorts of subjects including; Wishes, Ducks, When I Need a Real Baby, and Growing. Experiences of childhood are portrayed through the poems.

Critical Analysis:

Young readers of all grade levels will love this book.  The book is title after one of its poems, “The Llama Who Had no Pajama.”  It is one of the longer poems that the author, Mary Ann Hoberman suggests (YouTube video) “one should close their eyes as they listen to it, because it’s a kind of sleepy a poem.”   

Hoberman writes her poems using silly, repetitive verses that kids can memorize with ease.  She uses rhyming words that creates a fun pattern for readers to say out loud.    Readers will love to read and re-read all of them.

A lot of the poems are related to animals and experiences that children go through; like birthdays and school.  Poems are organized in different stanzas and unique displays.

The illustrations are simple, yet have vibrant watercolor paintings. The details of the animals and insects have a realistic feel.  The scenarios are fun, enjoyable, and match the poem perfectly.  

If you happen pick up this book, make sure to pay close attention to the illustrations, it states that they were done in Winsor & Newton gouache and watercolor on Bristol paper.  Another cool fact is that this book was printed on totally chlorine-free Nymolla Matte Art paper.

Review Excerpts:

• "Poems drawn from Hoberman's previous works…are packaged to delight a new generation of youngsters. Children may be reminded of A.A. Milne's poetry…but Hoberman's poetry goes deeper, offering children a new way to look at things."--Booklist
• Gold Award Winner - 1998 National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA)
• Best Books of the Year - Child Magazine 
• "This collection of some forty years of Hoberman verse is a charmer. The poems - peppy verses immediately identifiable as Hoberman's by their use of alliteration and repeated words and lines - seem to cover every subject under the sun; all are dependably child-centered."--Horn Book

Connections:

Click on the link to see and hear Mary Ann Hoberman give a glimpse of how to read her poems as she recites them from the book THE LLAMA WHO HAD NO PAJAMA, on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/CiaXfy5iri8

 

Also by Mary Ann Hoberman;
YOU READ TO ME, I’LL READ TO YOU:
 Very Short Mother Goose Tales perfect to read together.
 ISBN 0316144312

THE SURRENDER TREE

Bibliography:

Engle, Margarita. 2008. THE SURRENDER TREE: POEMS OF CUBA’S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 085086749

                           

Plot Summary: 

  It’s 1896 in Cuba, peasants were ordered to leave their farms and villages and given eight days to reach the concentration camps or risk being killed.  The camps are filled with illness and very little food.  It portrays the life of Rosario Castellanos, known as Rosa la Bayamesa.  Rosa, a nurse, grew up a slave child and taught about healing flowers by her grandmother.  She goes through three decades of war, hiding in the jungle caves, healing the wounded with medicines made from wild plants.

Critical Analysis:  

This is a very emotional, heartbreaking book.  Once the reader starts reading, it will be hard to put down.  This historical novel is written in free verse, easy to read and feels like a journal.  The book pages are typed on thick paper to have the feel of It is appropriate for older students junior high and up.  The author focuses on the horrific challenges the characters faced from different viewpoints on each page; Lt. Death, “But then my father chops each body into four pieces, and locks each piece in a cage…that way, my father tells me, the other slaves will be afraid to kill themselves,” “I hate to think what my father would say if he knew that I am scared,”  Rosa, “Secretly, I hide and weep when I learn that my owner has agreed to loan me to the slave hunter.” She uses Spanish words throughout the book.  

The main theme of the book is hope to gain independence, as Lt. Death writes, “I don’t understand why they never give up!  Why don’t they lose hope?”  This book succeeds in having the struggles, emotions, and passion of characters be felt by the reader. 

There isn't any illustrations in side this book except on the cover.  It's a simple black and red image on a bold yellow back ground of a hand holding what seems to be a delicate tree.  There's red on the roots of the tree giving the impression that even though it has gone through hardship, it has mended and risen.   Breath taking! 

I didn’t think I’d enjoy this book so much, Margarita Engle just became one of my favorite authors.   

Review Excerpts:

• -          Americas Award
• -          An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
• -          ALA Notable Book
• -          Amelia Bloomer book
• -          Kansas State Reading Circle
• -          A Bank Street College of Education best Book
• -          A New York Public Library Best Books for the Teen Age
• -          A CCBC Choice
• -          Newbery Honor Book- 2009
• -          Pura Belpre Award for Writing- 2009
• -          Jane Addams Children’s Book Award
• -          Claudia Lewis Award
• -          Michigan Great Lakes Great Books Award Master List
• -          Lee Bennett Hopkins Honor
• -          A bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon Book

o   “The moving poetry and finely crafted story will draw readers in and leave them in tears and in awe.”

• -          A Booklist Editor’s Choice

o   “Readers will hear the stories –and never forget them.” –Booklist, starred review

Connections:

The Spanish version of THE SURRENDER TREE/EL ARBOL DE LA RENDICION

The website “Vamos a Leer” has a complete guide available for download at no cost:

https://teachinglatinamericathroughliterature.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/vamos-a-leer-the-surrender-tree-educators-guide.pdf

You can also find the Spanish version: https://teachinglatinamericathroughliterature.wordpress.com/guia-educativa-el-arbol-de-la-rendicion-poemas-de-la-lucha-de-cuba-por-libertad/

BING BANG BOING

Bibliography: 

                  Florian, Douglas. 1994. BING BANG BOING. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace & Company.
ISBN 0152058605

Plot Summary:

An illustrated collection of over 150 poems featuring such characters as the Mad Magician, who cut someone just for a laugh; Rose, the old woman who carried a crab on her nose; and Silly Nelly, who slept on the leopard. 

  

Critical Analysis: 

This is a great poetry book to read for all ages with every topic imaginable.  There’s even a challenge to read on the inside cover; “This book is filled with brilliant verse…But you won’t get to any if you don’t turn the pages.” The author uses twisted humor mixed with alliteration and rhyme to catch the reader’s attention.  The poems are clever and brilliant; some are long and most are short.  This weird sense of humor keeps the reader hooked and giggling for more.  Readers can easily relate to its topics; a lazy man, a nose, and the school cafeteria. 

The pages of this book are thick, adding to the interesting feel.  It contains black and white cartoon drawings that seem to be sketches.  The thickness and the size of the book itself is unique and adds a creative aspect.  The reader must study the drawings to be able to visualize what the poem is expressing.

I enjoyed the humor and uniqueness of this book.  

Review Excerpts:

• -       A Society of School Librarians International Honor Book
• -       A Parenting Reading Magic Award Winner

Connections 

Other poem books that are fun to read:

      * A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms, written by Paul B. Janeczko and illustrated by Chris Raschka. ISBN 0763641324

-

       

    Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein 

ISBN 0060256680

Douglas Florian is best known for his picture book collections of animal poetry full of facts, humor, and clever word play. Some of them are:

-       ON THE WING is about birds ISBN 0152004971 

-       IN THE SWIM is about fish ISBN 0152024379

-       INSECTLOPEDIA is about insects ISBN 0152013067

-       LIZARDS, FROGS, AND POLLIWOGS. ISBN 015202591X

DOODLE DANDIES

   Biography:

Lewis, Patrick J. 1998. DOODLE DANDIES: POEMS THAT TAKE SHAPE. ILL. By Lisa Desimini. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN-10: 068981075X

Plot Summary:

Doodle Dandies is a collection of nineteen short poems that take the shape of the subject.  The topics include; footsteps in mud, the dachshund puppy, a giraffe, baseballs, tree, an umbrella, a butterfly, winter, and a skyscraper. 

Critical Analysis: 

 This book is an attention-getter, with concrete poems that include animals, sports and the outdoors.  While some of the poems rhyme, other are only one sentence long, making it is easy and fun to read.  It is great for introducing a lesson on shape poems.   The author writes the poems in ways that create imagery.    The poem, “Weeping Willow” for example is written in the shape of a tall tree with long, flowy branches.  The reader feels the saddens especially with the dark colors on the illustrations.

Author Lisa Desimini uses the words for the illustrations.  They are beautiful and vibrant making it fun for the reader. 

I enjoyed this book.  My favorite poem is the shape of a snake and titled “Creep and Slither.” The poem is about a snake who slithered down to Pepper Pond for a midnight snack, ate a bull frog and felt mighty jumpy!  Third through fifth grade students can get an idea of arranging their words to form a concrete poem of their own.    

Review Excerpt:

- Mockingbird Award, 1999-2000; Nominee; Texas

- Prarie Pasque Award, 2001; Nominee; South Dakota

- Young Hoosier Book Award, 1999-2000; Nominee; Picture Books K-3; Indiana

“The interplay between words and pictures effectively conjures images form seasons, to sports, to the jungle.  From endpaper to doodled endpaper, this mix of clever language and visual delights makes a dandy treat for all ages.” –Publishers Weekly

“Lewis, who has long been a master of a variety of poetic forms, has created an inventive collection of concrete poems….Doodle Dandies captures the joy that wordplay can bring.  It deserves a place on every library shelf.” –School Library Journal

Connections:

Other books that use Concrete Poetry

-          Burg, Brad and Rebecca Gibbon.  OUTSIDE THE LINES. ISBN 0399234462

-          Janeczko, Paul B. A POKE IN THE I: A COLLECTION OF CONCRETE POEMS. ISBN 0763623768

 Check out this websites as another way to instill a love for poetry for children. 

-          Poetry for Children (  http://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com/) is a valuable resource that has information on newly published poetry books and poetry activities. 

             

-          Giggle Poetry (http://www.gigglepoetry.com/) like J. Patrick Lewis also uses concrete poems.  Here you can find a wide variety of topic poems such as animal, family, school, and silly poems. 

 Spanish/English Poetry:

-          ¡Pío Peep!: Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes by: Alma Flor Ada and Isabel Campoy ISBN 0688160190

-          FROM THE BELLYBUTTON OF THE MOON AND OTHER SUMMER POEMS/DEL OMBLIGO DE LA LUNA: Y OTROS POEMAS DE VERANO by Francisco X. Alarcon, ISBN 0892392010

THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY

 Taback, Simms. 1999. THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY. New York, NY. Scholastic. ISBN 0590632647

Plot Summary

This story is about an old lady who swallows a fly, spider, bird, cat, dog, a cow, and last a horse. The old lady's stomach grows each day as she swallows animals, each to catch the previously swallowed animal. In the end, when she swallows a horse, it causes her to die, of course.

Book Review

 "There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly" is a comical cumulative tale.  The storyline follows the lyrics of a song and is  better suited for younger students, but it’s the older ones that will get the weird humor.  It is based off the traditional catchy song about a woman who swallows a whole lot of different animals. It includes a spider that wiggled and giggled and tickled inside her, making the readers addicted to the words. It is great for teaching poems showing repetitive lines like; “Perhaps she’ll die.” It’s lures readers to engage in the all so popular upbeat song. The author helps the reader predict what will eventually happen, she dies, of course.

The author, Simms Taback uses detailed and entertaining pictures that show a crazy old lady eating large animals. As she eats, the author illustrates what’s inside her stomach. The illustrations are so animated and goofy it gives the impression that they are for a scrapbook. Half of the pages have black background color and the other half are a dark yellow making the artwork pops out to the reader. The words look like they been cut out of magazines and glued onto a ransom note. Allowing you time to study the busy pages is a must, so you do not miss any of the rib-tickling illustrations.

The moral of this tale is being careful what you eat, “Never swallow a horse". Heehee.

My students and I loved to see the old lady eat the animals and get bigger and bigger. The song was so catchy that we sang it for days. What a great classic book!

Review Excerpts

• Literary Awards
• Caldecott Honor (1998)
• New York Times Best Illustrated Book

Connections

It would be exciting to have students sing along to the song

“There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly,” here’s the link:

  http://bussongs.com/songs/there-was-an-old-lady-who-swallowed-a-fly.php


Love Spanish? Check this version out:

¡Un día una señora se tragó una mosca! by Lucille Colandro and illustrated by Jared D. Lee ISBN 0545795435



Another one of Simms Taback books that will have kids rhyming and laughing along the way is "This is The House That Jack Built" ISBN 0142402001

THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS

Scienzka, Jon. 1996. THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. Ill. By Lane Smith. New York. NY. Puffin Books. ISBN 0140544518

Plot Summary

Alexander T. Wolf has been sent to jail and is trying to set the story straight as to why he has now become the Big Bad Wolf. He states that he needed sugar to make his poor old grandmother a cake for her birthday. He has 3 pigs as neighbors, so naturally he goes to ask them. Unfortunately, he his cold made him sneeze after the pigs refused to give him a cup of sugar. His sneezes were so strong that he knocked down two poorly constructed houses. Death came with the destruction of the houses. He doesn’t like to let food go to waste, so he had to eat the pigs. So lastly, he comes to the 3rd pig, it just so happens he lives in a brick home. Again, he is refused a cup of sugar and does admit however, that he only pounded on his door because the pig made unpleasant remarks about his grandmother. By the time he realizes, he is surrounded by police officers and reporters and is taken to jail. The 3rd pig is alive and well, but his grandmother is left without a birthday cake. From behind bars he claims that the reporters obviously changed what truly happened.

Critical Analysis

This great weird funny picture book is mostly suitable for 1st through 3rd grade, although everyone should enjoy a different perspective on an old favorite. Jon, Scienzka who uses humor to try to encourage boys to read, gives the traditional version of the Three Little Pigs a twist. The story is told from the point of view of the wolf, Alexander T. Wolf, and is portrayed as a white color individual who is explaining his side of the events. Scienzka gives details of what Al, the Big Bad Wolf felt like, highlighting a great big misunderstanding and how he was framed. He leaves the reader with questions as to which version of the story is true.  Moral of the story, don't believe everything you hear.


As soon as you see the newspaper illustration on the cover of this book, the reader wants to read all about it. Lane Smith paints the wolf in every page as a sophisticated, well educated character. This kind individual wears high dollar a suit, an appealing sweater, a bow and a pair of reading glasses. Lane Smith’s detailing of the characters show clearly how innocent he is and through the 3rd pigs peephole we see how angry the pig looks as he is being asked for some sugar. He uses soft light and dark earth tones throughout the book as a clever way to make the reader feel they are reading an old newspaper.

I love the twist to this story, but the little ones, not so much.  When the group of 1st graders heard that the wolf had eaten two of the pigs, they were horrified.

Review Excerpts

• Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award for Picture Book (1992)
• “Older kids (and adults) will find very funny.”—School Library Journal
• It was one of the "Top 100 Picture Books" of all time in a 2012 poll by School Library Journal
• Based on a 2007 online poll, the National Education Association named the book one of its "Teachers” Top 100 Books for Children.
• Caldecott Honor Award for illustrations
• ALA Notable Children’s Book

Connections

Extend your read aloud with this math activity by MathStories.comTM

http://www.mathstories.com/Book_17_3pigs_grades23.htm



                                                                                                                                                                                   Lane Smith wrote other weird funny books such as THE STINKY CHEESE MAN ANDOTHERSTUPID TALES and MADAM PRESIDENT. ISBN 067084487X

The Stinky Cheese Man is a favorite here in South Texas for High School Kids, they’ve acted out scenes from the stories to encourage reading at elementary schools.

Here’s another great book to show students yet another version of the Three Little Pigs with ironic characters and altered viewpoints:

· THE THREE LITTLE WOLVES AND THE BIG BAD PIG by Eugene Trivizas ISBN 068981528X



Can’t leave out the Spanish version of this book:

· La Verdadera Historiade los TresCerditos ISBN 0142414476

LOS GATOS BLACK ON HALLOWEEN

Montes, Marisa. 2016. LOS GATOS BLACK ON HALLOWEEN. Ill. By Yuyi Morales.  New York, NY. Square Fish. ISBN 1250079454

Plot Summary

It’s Halloween night and los monstrous (monsters) are having a ball in the Haunted Hall.  Los muertos (dead) rise one by one from their coffins under the October luna (moon).  By the magic of the night, the monsters crowd the Haunted Hall.  There’s dancing witches, skeletons hopping, and music that only the dead can hear.  Then suddenly every creature gasps as there’s a knock at the door then run for cover when they realize it’s the scariest creatures of them all…KIDS!

Critical Analysis

This is an easy to read bilingual tale great for Halloween in October and Dia de los Muertos in November.  It is a great poem picture book for ages 4-8.  It is both entertaining and instructive.  The author incorporates Spanish words throughout the book, making the Mexican culture shine through, “The brujas come on their broomsticks,” even if you don’t speak either language you can make a connection to what the author is writing about. The Spanish words help the ELL students expand their English vocabulary.  The rhyming aspect makes the story fun to read especially for Spanish speaking students.  It is not a scary story, although it has brujas (witches), esqueletos (skeletons), fantasmas (ghosts) and other Halloween characters. 

The glossery is awonderful idea to help students with unfamiliar words.  The text is written in curved lines that seem to follow each illustration.

The illustrator, Yuyi Morales paints traditional Latino culture with whimsical Dia de Los Muertos images.  It has a dark color scheme that brings the story to life and gives it just the right amount of scare.  The words illustrate the spooky scenes that seem to always be dancing and having a ball.   

The award-winning illustrations are chilling with sharp teeth and glowing eyes that celebrate a Mexican fiesta. The characters are dressed in traditional Mexican clothes and the setting seems to be in a pueblo down south. Morales has taken a traditionally scary image and transformed it, so that the reader sees how beautiful death and the Mexican culture trully are.


I love reading books with both English and Spanish words! I tried to read this book to 1st graders, but only got to the end of the 2nd page. It was too creepy for them. Second grade however enjoyed it very much. We discussed the Spanish words meanings, what Dia de los Muertos is, and I even introduced the students to onomatopoeia words; “Rap! Rap! Rap!” This is great to include in there writing assignments.

Review Excerpts

• Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award (2008)
• Pura Belpré Medal for Illustration (2008)
• Pura Belpre Author Award
• Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year 2007
• ALA Notable Children’s Books
• CCBC Choice (Univ. of WI)
• “Just right for children who are beginning to find typical Halloween fare a bit too tame.” —School Library Journal

Connections

Scholastic has a great lesson plan to use with this book:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/westonwoods/study_guides/LosGatosGuide.pdf

For some great fiction and non-fiction resources to use in the classroom check out this cite:

En la Clase: Dia de los Muertos and Halloween-A Roundup of books

https://teachinglatinamericathroughliterature.wordpress.com/2013/10/23/en-la-clase-dia-de-los-muertos-and-halloweena-roundup-of-books/?relatedposts_hit=1&relatedposts_origin=6764&relatedposts_position=1

Take a look at these kinds of books, spooky things aren’t so scary after all.

The Dead Family Diaz by P.J. Brace girdle and illustrated by Poly Bernadine ISBN 0803733267