Caldecott Winner & Picture Book

 

Book 1: Caldecott Winner

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

Bibliography:

Klassen, J. (2012). This is not my hat. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick Press

Summary:

A small fish has stolen a hat from a larger fish while it was sleeping. He’s not worried because even if the big fish wakes up soon who won’t know who stole it or where they are going. The little fish is going to hide in the plants and a crab sees him but promises not to tell on him. The picture differ from the text because it shows the crab pointing. The fish makes it to the grass then the pictures show the big fish right behind him and there is no more text. The last picture the readers are left with is the big fish with his own hat back.

My Impression:
Simple and fun pictures that express a funny story. If there had been only the text the readers would have thought the little fish did get away with his devious plan but the pictures make this story a much more interesting. When the reader take a look at the pictures they understand that the little fish is being a little too confident.

Reviews:

“A tiny fish steals a blue hat from a big fish. It's a bold move, and he shows no remorse for what he has done. As he is describing his thoughts about getting away with the theft, the illustrations show he is disillusioned in his apparent success. A crab saw where the little fish escaped to, and the crab points the way to the tiny fish's hiding place. The reader is left to interpret the result of their interaction through the final wordless pages. The narrative parallels the illustrations as the reader deduces the facts of the actual theft. This story, similar to Klassen's previous tale, I Want My Hat Back (Candlewick Press, 2011), is told from the perspective of the thief. This would make a remarkable read-aloud for students to interpret the ending in various ways.” – Library Media Connection (PreK - Gr. 3)

Wright, L. (2013). This Is Not My Hat. Library Media Connection, 31(4), 63.

“In this darkly hilarious picture book, a small fish—the most unreliable of unreliable narrators—assures readers he will get away with stealing a big fish’s hat. Well,“probably.” Slyly and subtly humorous illustrations belie each of the narrator’s claims, letting readers in on the joke from the very start.– Horn Book Magazine (Primary)

This Is Not My Hat. (2013). Horn Book Magazine, 89(1), 12.

Use in Library Setting:
Read This Is Not My Hat aloud without having students view pictures. Then read the story again allowing students to view pictures and focus on the slight cues displayed in the pictures that told a different story than that relayed in the text. Have them explain what changed and how they came to a different conclusion than the first time.

After reading This Is Not My Hat students discuss why people wear hats. They will research various cultures different from their own within this lesson and uncover different reasons for the origin of the practice.



Book 2: Picture Book

Verdi by Janell Cannon

Bibliography:

Cannon, J. (1997). Verdi. San Diego, Calif: Harcourt Brace.

Summary:

This book is about a young yellow snake Verdi, who loves being young and reckless he does not look forward to the time when he will be like his big green, grumpy, lazy, and older counterparts. When he starts seeing the green coming out on his skin he tries anything to stop the change. He ends up having to be saved by the wiser older snakes that reminisce about how reckless they use to be before they changed their ways. In the end Verdi takes some time to think and decides he may look different but that doesn’t have to change him.

My Impression:
I really liked this book at first I thought the pictures in the book were going to be photographs the cover of the snake looked so real I thought it was a real live photograph of a snake. The right hand side would have the text that was encased in black and white drawn vines and accompanied by a small black and white drawing that would correlate with the text. I loved these little pictures because they would get my attention and then take it over to the right side to a beautiful, vibrant looking picture that made the text come to life.

Reviews:

“Cannon (Stellaluna) is on a roll, her gift for creating memorable characters and scenes on glorious display in this tale of a feisty python hatching. Vowing never to turn"lazy, boring, or green" like the older pythons, Verdi zips through the jungle, launching himself from tree branches in an attempt to outpace the inevitable and keep his bright yellow skin and sporty stripes. His elders fear Verdi's recklessness will be his undoing ("At this rate, he'll be lucky to make it to his first molt," bemoans one) and they watch his antics with alarm-and with a drop of nostalgia for their own glory days. Adulthood eventually catches up with the young hothead, of course, but in a resolution that is both wise and funny, Verdi comes to terms with maturity while maintains his zest for life ("I may be big and very green, but I'm still me!"). Cannon's finely tempered prose is as exquisite as her luminous artwork. Here, each jewel like vista is marked by careful attention to detail and brilliant use of color-Verdi's jungle world is a symphony of green, from the delicate shade of a newly unfurled fern frond to richer tones of emerald and pine. Sharply focused fore ground objects fade into slightly hazy backdrops, giving the acrylic-and-colored-pencil illustrations and almost three-dimensional depth. As a bonus, the book includes a graceful two-page not on snakes .” – Publishers Weekly (Gr. 3 - 5)

Devereaux, E. (1997). Forecasts: Children's books. Publishers Weekly, 244(7), 219. Retrieved from http://fx7aq9lm5s.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8&rfr_id=info:sid/summon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Verdi&rft.jtitle=Publishers+Weekly&rft.au=Devereaux%2C+Elizabeth&rft.au=Roback%2C+Diane&rft.date=1997-02-17&rft.issn=0000-0019&rft.eissn=2150-4008&rft.volume=244&rft.issue=7&rft.spage=219&rft.externalDocID=11118067&paramdict=en-US

“Verdi, a python hatchling, is born a splendid, vibrant yellow with zig-zagging stripes and is determined not to turn green, as all his folk eventually do. His jungle-green elders seem boring and lazy to Verdi, who loves flinging himself from the treetops. He gets himself out of one scrape and into another, until a bad injury sobers him. He comes to enjoy the camouflaging green that eventually creeps over him, but he's still "Verdi"?maybe a little more sedate, but never dull. Cannon's layout and illustrations are similar to those in her popular Stellaluna (Harcourt, 1993), with stunningly realistic and vibrant pictures in acrylic and pencil that feature bright greens and yellows. Each full-page, color illustration faces a white page with text and a black-and-white spot drawing and border. Some double-page spreads provide breaks in the generally well-paced story. Verdi is an easy-to-like character, and the pictures convey his exuberance and carry the story where the text occasionally falters. A page of "Snake Notes" at the end provides background information. A great read-aloud or read-alone.” - School Library Journal

 

Lindsay, N. (1997). Verdi. School Library Journal, 43(5), 93.

Use in Classroom Setting:
After reading Verdi explore the pictures with a class focusing on the rain forest setting and the animals that inhabit it. Have students research information about different rainforest animals  that would live in the same ecosystem as the python.

Students read the book Verdi for use in a language arts lesson. The class discusses differences and similarities among Verdi and the older snakes. Students complete a Venn Diagram using points made in the discussion. In the end students explain why certain characteristics were placed in the different section of the diagram.