Cat in the Hat

The Cat in the Hat was a book written by Dr. Seuss in 1957. In 2003 it was made into a motion picture. The book does not go into detail about what happens when the mom gets home, she only asks the little boy and girl what that had done that day and the book ends by asking "What would you do if your mother asked you." In the book the cat cleans up all of the mess before mom even gets to the door. The movie takes a different twist on the book by making it more modern day (the girl has a palm pilot and the mother is a real estate agent). The mother is even considering sending the boy (Conrad) to military school because he has been into so much trouble.

In my opinion the movie is a little too far out from the book. While I can see kids possiably enjoying it I do not think that it is a movie that both kids and parents would enjoy. The theme "It is good to have fun, but you have to know how," still exists in the movie as it did in the book.

Horton Hears a Who

Horton Hears a Who is a great book by Dr. Seuss. It was written in 1954 and was produced into a major motion film 54 years later in 2008. This is one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books. In the book Horton an Elephant hears a noise as a very small dust speck fly's by him. He puts the speck of "dust" on a clover because he is just sure that there is someone in it; although his friends think that he is crazy he decides that he is responsible for it and must protect it. As you read you find out that it is not only one person on that speck, but a whole town called Who-ville. The main point that Horton continues to make is "A person's a person, no matter how small."

The book and the movie are a lot alike with very few differences. One thing in the movie that was neat was that it had a narrator who read parts of the book from time to time. The movie focuses a little more on Who-ville and the people who live in it than the book does (I guess this helps to make the movie a little longer because it is a small book).

Because of Winn-Dixie

The book Because of Winn Dixie by Elizabeth Kennedy was first published in 2000. The movie was released in 2005. As a reader, I always enjoy reading the book before I see the movie. I feel like the book is almost always just a little better than the movie (which can be disappointing but if I don't read the book before seeing the movie...it isn't likely that I will still be interested in reading it). In the book there is more time spent on getting to know the characters and plot before the "action" even begins than in the movie. A few scenes are added to the movie because it is a rather short book.

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

The Lorax was written by Dr. Seuss in 1971. This book is didactic because it is intended to teach a lesson about the environment and the importance of preserving it. This was possibly Seuss' most controversial work because at the time it was written bad press was being released on environmental issues unfolding in the United States. The Lorax was actually banned in some schools and libraries in regions with timber economies for its anti-forest industry content.

The book is about two characters with different goals in mind one, the tree loving Lorax and one, the money loving Once-ler. The money loving Once-ler is cutting down trees to make money, he can not cut them down fast enough so he makes a machine that cuts several at a time. The tree loving Lorax is trying to convince the Once-ler of the damage that he is doing.

There are still didactic children's books today such as those that teach lessons about being kind to others and about being yourself and not always following others. Some examples are Have You Filled a Buket Today? by Carol McCloud and I DOUBLE Dare You by Dana Lehman. I believe that these types of books will continue to be popular in teaching children (and parents) lessons for years to come.

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

In The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss there are many exciting things taking place between Sally and her brother. Dr. Seuss is infamous for his rhyming stories. The eponymous cat appears in six of Seuss's rhymed children's books. First published in 1957 and then renewed in 1985, The Cat in the Hat has continued to be a popular children's book. Children love the silliness and rhyming that go on in Suess' books, they are also able to understand most of the vocabulary. There are contemporary books that have the tension presented in The Cat in the Hat, while I can not think of any that directly compare (poetry and theme)one that comes to mind for younger children is Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type, mainly because it is imaginative. For children who are a little older The Magic Tree House Series comes to mind because it is imaginative and adventurous.

The Bracelet by Yoshiko Uchida

Yoshiko Uchida published over thirty books over the course of her career. The author was interned in camps for Japanese Americans during WW II. She is known for creating a body of children's Japanese literature; a rarity for that time. Uchida was born in 1921 and passed away in 1992. She once quoted "I try to stress the positive aspects of life that I want children to value and cherish. I hope they can be caring human beings who don't think in terms of labels--foreigners or Asians or whatever--but think of people as human beings. If that comes across, then I've accomplished my purpose."

The Bracelet is a story about a young Japanese girl preparing to go to interment camp. Emi is forced to leave her best friend who brings her a bracelet to remember her by. Emi looses the bracelet as she is helping to clean out an abandoned stable that will serve as her families new home. Emi is very upset that she has lost the bracelet but she learns that she does not need things to remember her friend by. Emi discovers that she will never forget her best friend and the times that they had shared.

Some other books by Yoshiko Uchida are:
A Jar of Dreams, Journey Home, Invisible Thread, and Journey to Topaz

Auntie Tiger by Laurence Yep

Auntie Tiger is a children's book written by Laurence Yep. This book is a Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood. When their mother goes shopping two sisters are left alone. The big sister is always arguing with the little sister because she never does her chores; the little sister complains that all the big sister does is try to be bossy! When Auntie Tiger knocks at the door the little sister let's Antie Tiger in, big sister does not completely trust Auntie Tiger because there is just something suspicious about her. The girls set their differences aside to try to help one another to survive. This story shows that although siblings may not always get along, they still really do love and care for each other.

Laurence Yep is also the author of:
Hiroshima, Dragonwings, The Rainbow People, and When I Was Your Age

Day of Tears by Julius Lester

Day of Tears a novel in dialogue is a book written by Julius Lester. In 1859, the largest slave auction in the United Sates was held and this is where the book begins. This book is written in dialogue and monalogues. Mattie, the first person who speaks talks about that day and how rain was pouring down like regret.Will say's it ain't rain, it's God's tears. This book features the dialogue of a number of slaves who were sold to pay off their masters gambling debt. One particular moving sitiouation throughout the book is the planned marriage between two of the slaves; Jeffery and Dorcas. Jeffery's buyer bids on Dorcas until he decides that he can not afford to bid any higher to keep the two together. Another focus is on Samson, one of the slave owners. At the end of the book you read some thoughts that he has about his son and his life. This book loans itself to being acted out within a classroom.

Some other books by Julius Lester are:
To Be A Slave, Let's Talk About Race, and Gardian.

The Three Little Pigs by David Wiesner

David Wiesner puts a new twist on tale of The Three Little Pigs in this Caldecott Medal winning book. In the classic tale readers are used to the big bad wolf triumphing over the little pigs who did not build their houses out of stone. In this version, the pigs escape the wolfe by entering another world of other nursery rhymes and story books. Wiesner puts an interesting and exciting twist on an old story that makes everyone's day, well..... with the exception of the hungry wolf!

The Lion & The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

The Lion & The Mouse is a book written and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. The story/pictures tell one of Aesop's fables about how a mouse decides to risk his life to help a lion in need. This book is a Caldecott Medal winner and while it has very few words the vibrant pictures tell the story. Pinkney is well known for his illustrations in childrens books. He has received four New York Times Best Illustrated Awards. He is also a five-time recipient of both the Caldecott Honor and the Coretta Scott King Award.

Some other books illustrated by Jerry Pinkney are:

The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen and Jerry Pinkney, Aesop's Fables by Aesop, John Henry by Julius Lester, and Little Red Riding Hood by Jerry Pinkney.

Caldecott & Newbery Awards

Caldecott Awards are given to some of the most prestigious picture books in the United States. The Caldacott Medal was named in honor of an English illustrator, Randolph Caldecott. Books are judged by committees who choose what they consider to be the best books published each year. The medal was designed in 1937 and has the winners name and date engraved on the back.
The following is the criteria for a Caldecott Award as stated by Wikipidia ©:
Criteria for the award
• The book must be published in English in the United States during the preceding year.
• The illustrations must be original work.
• The artist must be a citizen or resident of the United States.
• The book must be considered for the artistic technique employed; pictorial interpretation of story; appropriateness of style of illustration to the story; delineation of plot, theme, characters, setting mood or information through the pictures; and recognition of a child audience
• The book must display respect for children's understandings, abilities, and appreciations.
• The book must be a self-contained entity, not dependent on other media for its enjoyment.


The Newbery Medal has been given since 1922. The Newberry Honor award has been handed out to books that have received runner up since 1971.
The following is the criteria for a Newbery Award as stated by Wikipidia ©:
Criteria for award• The book must be published in English in the United States the previous year.
• The author must be a citizen or resident of the United States.
• The book must be considered for its theme, presentation (clarity, accuracy and organization), plot, characters, setting, and style.
• The book must relate to a child audience.
• The book must contribute to literature.
• The book must stand alone and not as a part of a multimedia presentation.

While both the Caldecott and Newbery Award Criteria have a lot in common one main difference would be that the Caldecott Award focuses on picture books. Artistic technique is an important part of the judgment of books nominated for the Caldecott award while Newberry books need not have pictures. Personally, I do not believe that either award is more prestigious than the other. It is especially impressive when you find an author who is also gifted with the ability to illustrate his/her own books.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Stargirl, written by Jerry Spinelli is a Newberry Honor Book about a new tenth grader at high school named Stargirl Caraway. Everyone stares at Stargirl because she is dressed quite differently than the rest of the students and she sits at a table alone at lunch and does not even seem to notice that everyone is staring at her. She is very unique and lives in the moment not thinking about what others will say or think of her, which is particularly unusual for a high school student. Stargirl is friendly to everyone and people begin to like her until she begins cheering for the other team at a ball game. The school then begins to have a continuous losing streak in which they blame her for. Leo Borlock is fascinated with Stargirl and he continues to like her even though the rest of the school has begun to shun her. Leo soon finds that he will have to choose between her and his other friends. He tries to change her only to find that he is not sure that he really wants her to be like everyone else. Stargirl is a very colorful character and her actions will surprise you throughout the book!

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis is a Corretta Scott King Award Winner. Curtis is also the author of The Watson's Go to Birmingham-1963 which also won him many awards. The author bases the book on a young orphan named Bud during the Great Depression. Bud's mother passed away when he was six years old and he is moved from foster home to foster home with no luck in finding anyone who really cares for him. Bud packs a suitcase with clues that he thinks will lead him to his father. He finally reaches the man that he believes to be his father only to find out how mean and scary the older man is. Bud soon discovers, along with the man he thinks to be his father, that he has stumbled upon his grandfather who did not even know that his mother had passed away (she had ran away from home as a teenager). Bud knows that after his grandfather has some time to heal that he will have a home with people who love him. This book is difficult to put down and sure to bring joy to the reader!

So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George

So You Want to Be President by Judith St. George is a Caldecott Medal Book. This book is really neat to read to younger children, especially around election time. I personally like it because it packs in so much history about many of the presidents. It also has funny and fun facts about some of our past presidents! At the end of the book it tells some facts about each president (as a reference). This particular version needs to be updated to include the current president; it is a revised version so this makes me think that the author will update the book in the future (if she hasn't already).

Judith St. George is the author of more than forty books, ranging from mysteries to histories. Her children's books have earned her several awards.

If your child enjoyed this book here are a few other books that are written by George that they may also enjoy; So You Want to Be an Inventor and The Ghost, The White House, and Me.

OLIVIA by Ian Falconer

Olivia is a very cute book written by Ian Falconer. This is the author's first children's book. Falconer is an illustrator who lives in New York City. This book does not have an overall theme or moral but is more of a snapshot into the life of the piglet Olivia. She lives with her mother, father, brother, dog, and cat. She is a strong willed "little girl (uhm...or shall I say piglet?)" with a vibrant personality. This Caldecott Medal Winner is sure to be a success with your little girl!

If you like the first book written by Ian Falconer there are more in this series based on none other than....OLIVIA!

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen

Hoot is a Newberry Award Winner and a great book to read with older elementary students. I read this book with my sixth grade reading students. The students really enjoyed the book. Pre-teen students love to debate and share their opinions and this book opens itself to those opportunities. It also loans itself to discussing some environmental issues (which can tie into science).

A young boy named Roy moves from Montana to a new town with his mom and dad. He is not very happy about the situation because he is being picked on during the bus ride to school by a bully named Dana. While Dana has Roy's face pushed up against the window Roy sees a young boy running down the block with no shoes on. Roy's curiosity runs wild and he makes it his goal to find out about the boy and why he has never seen him at school. Roy soon meets a very strong willed young lady named Beatrice. Beatrice begins to slowly unravel the mystery behind the boy that Roy was so curious about. Roy finds himself getting into a lot of trouble by trying to help the shoeless boy. Much of the drama that unfolds throughout the book has to do with a new Pancake House that is being built in an area where owls are burrowing.

If you enjoy this book you may also enjoy Flush, another book written by Carl Hiaasen.

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Taback

Simms Taback, the author, lives in the Catskill Mountains in New York State. There was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly is a nursery rhyme that Taback turned into a brightly illustrated children's book. This book went on to become a Caldecott Honor book.

One reason that this book is so neat to read with young children is because of the repetitiveness and sequence that it offers. Each time the old lady swallows something it is so that it can catch the previous thing that she has swallowed. It is also a neat way for younger children to look at some basics of the food chain, so not only can this book be used for english to demonstrate repetition, but it can also be used in science!

Here are a few other books by Simms Taback that you and your child might enjoy reading together:
City Animals andJoseph Had a Little Overcoat

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type is a Caldecott Honor Book that is written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewin. This book is the authors first picture book. She later wrote Duck for President which is also a book that I enjoy reading to young students (especially around election time).

The book begins telling the reader about Farmer Browns problem. His cows like to type and all day long he hears "Click, clack, moo." The farm animals begin typing requests of Farmer Brown and leaving them on the barn door. One request is for electric blankets because the animals type that the barn is very cold at night. They also leave notes telling him that they are closed for the day (no milk, no eggs)! Farmer brown wises up to their tricks and the story ends with a funny note from the ducks.

If you enjoy this story the Caldecott Honor Winner also has a few other children's stories that you may want to check out such as:
Giggle, Giggle, Quack; Wiggle; A Busy Day at the Farm; and Stretch, just to name a few.