Module 1
“Classic” Picture Books
SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Steig, William. 1969. SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0671662694

2.  PLOT SUMMARY
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble is about a young donkey that collects pebbles as a hobby.  His problem began when he found a red pebble.  While sitting in the rain holding the pebble he wished the rain would stop and it did.  Then he wished the sun would come out and it did.  HE tested the pebble asking for the rain to start and stop again.  When this happened Sylvester decided the pebble was magic.  Excited, he started for home, but met a lion.  Nervous and frightened he wished he would turn into a rock.  As a rock Sylvester could not hold the magic pebble to wish himself a donkey again. So, he slept through the fall, winter, and spring.  Mother and father searched everywhere and after so long they decided they would never see Sylvester again.  On a summer day they went on a picnic on Strawberry Hill.  They placed their lunch on a rock and father picked up the pebble and placed it on the rock.  Then Sylvester wished to be himself again.  Mother and father were so happy they had their son back.  They went home and locked the rock in a safe.  

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is easy to follow, but had a big lesson behind it.  I like how the author uses animals because that is one way to really get kids attention.  Every time I ask my class about fiction story elements their favorite thing to tell me is that animals can talk.  This is another story that shows us the importance of family.
 
4. REVIEW EXCERPT (S)
Good Reads- “Beautiful watercolor illustrations. Meaningful story about what matters most in life, family. A must read for all!”
Caldecott award

5. CONNECTIONS
This story really shows you that you cant take things for granted.  It would be good to read to a child who is using something too much or not spending enough time with family and friends.

Module 1
“Classic” Picture Books
MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
McCloskey, Robert. 1941. MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS.  New York, New York: Puffin Books. ISBN 0140564349 

2.  PLOT SUMMARY
This picture book is about two ducks finding the perfect home for their family.  They are flying and checking out all their options.  They find what they think is the perfect place, Public Garden, but then a bike almost hits one of the ducks, so they decide to look elsewhere.  Then, they really do find the perfect place.  It is a little ways from the Public Gardens, but it was going to be the best place to have her ducklings.  After she has her ducklings she trains them to be the best.  Next, they start to travel to Public Gardens and it was an adventure.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is very simple, yet detailed.  The pictures are not in color, but tell the story so perfectly.  McCloskey illustrations are so expressive that they tell the story by themselves.  This book is perfect to show children how much our mothers care for us because she wants to find just the right place.  It shows that we should put others before ourselves.  I like how McCloskey uses the community to take care of the ducks.  

4. REVIEW EXCERPT (S)
Boston Globe- Caldecott Award 
From Good Reads- “ “Make Way for Ducklings” is a Caldecott Medal award-winning book by Robert McCloskey and it is about how a family of ducks tries to live in the city of Boston. “Make Way for Ducklings” is a brilliant classic book that children will read over and over again.”


5. CONNECTIONS
This would be a good book to read if you were explaining finding a home for your family.  I think you could also talk about how family is very important and always will be.  This is a book that will always be around and be read.  It is important to show children how books are passed down from generation to generation.    

 

Module 1-Picture Books
Mo Willems
THE PIGEON WANTS A PUPPY

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Willems, Mo. 2008. THE PIGEON WANTS A PUPPY! New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 1423109600 

2.  PLOT SUMMARY
In this picture book a pigeon wants a puppy even though he doesn’t really know much about having a puppy.  He says, “Everybody knows that puppies need plenty of sunshine and water!” Well, the pigeon gets a puppy and doesn’t like anything about it.  Then, he changed his mind and didn’t want a puppy he wanted a walrus.    

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Willems writing is the thought process of a child or someone that wants something yet doesn’t really know what it’s all about.  The pigeon gets upset when he doesn’t get the puppy right away, then he gets the puppy and figures out that it is going to be a lot of work.  Even the writing and the way the words are really big reminds me of the works of a child.  I do like how the illustrations are all emotions.  Which is another way a child tells us things. The author shows how the pigeon feels through the illustrations. 
  
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
From GoodReads “He really, really, REALLY wants one. He'll take really good care of it! What's the matter--don't you want him to be happy? The latest book in the best-selling Pigeon series is the funniest one yet.”
From New York Times “In “The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!” the reader is encouraged to argue with the Pigeon, who tries everything from syrupy charm to hissy fits in hopes of persuading us to buy him the pet of his dreams. As with all the Pigeon volumes, from “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” onward, the ending involves one of those twists that seems obvious only in retrospect, and the artwork has Willems’s trademark deadpan hysteria. This pigeon is really going places — although not, sadly, to the pet store.

5. CONNECTIONS
*This would be a good book to read if you were talking about how we need to research things before we buy them.  
*Another good reason would be to show responsibility.  You could talk about how the puppy was going to be a lot of work.  
 

Module 1- Picture Books
Caldecott Award Medal

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mattick, Lindsay. 2015. FINDING WINNIE: THE TRUE STORY OF THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS BEAR. Ill. by Sophie Blackall. Toronto: HarperCollins. ISBN 0316324908 

2.  PLOT SUMMARY
In this picture book Lindsay Mattick tells a story to her son about his great-great-grandfather, Harry Colebourn who saved a bear from a trapper.  Harry lived in Winnipeg, so he named the bear Winnie.  He was in the service and going to care for the horses and found the bear at one of the train stops.  This bear did everything with Harry and the other soldiers until one day they had to go to France and the bear could not go with him because he was concerned about the safety of the bear.  Harry decided the best place for the bear would be the zoo.  This was the end of Harry and Winnie’s story, but the beginning of Christopher Robin and Winnie.  Christopher Robin had a stuffed bear and named him Winnie.  Christopher would visit Winnie at the zoo and then go on adventures with his stuffed bear.  Harry visited Winnie at the zoo and saw how happy he was.  When he saw how happy he was he knew he had to leave him there and return to Winnipeg.  
  
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Mattick’s writing is such a sweet true story.  I like how she explains where her sons name comes from.  It shows that everyone has a special name.  This book shows the character to have a caring nature by listening to his heart and buying the bear.  “You have to let one story end so the next one can begin.”  I love when she tells her son this because sometimes this is what children need to hear.  This is even what adults need to hear sometimes.  

I love that at the end of the story it show real pictures and explains who they are where they are from.  I like this because you can also discuss some history when reading this book.  Also, kids don’t get to see photos like this.  
  
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
From GoodReads  “This book. That bear. Quotable, full of love and history, and a feat of story within story.”
From School Library Journal “Children everywhere will enjoy this tale for years. A must-have.”–Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA
From USA Today, “The prestigious Caldecott is awarded to the artist who illustrates the most distinguished picture book of the year. Sophie Blackall illustrated Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear, written by Lindsay Mattick (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers).”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Caring enough about something to take it on even though it is going to alter your life because it might alter your life for the better. 
*It also explains how things are going to come to an end in our life, but something else is going to begin.