Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman
1996 ALA Children's Notable Book
Rathman, P. (1995) Officer Buckle and Gloria. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.
Officer Buckle and Gloria has a regular spot in my life, nightly. My 4 year old enjoys Gloria's antics and has them committed to memory. This picture book has wonderful teaching tools, specifically inferring. Aside from the direct teaching of safety tips, the body language for both Officer Buckle and Gloria would work well in a Language Arts class, as well as a social studies class. When submerging into a new culture, body language and facial expressions provide the non-verbal content needed to convey meaning to words and expressions that are otherwise unfamiliar. The fantastic illustrations that contain poignant placements of inferences in the book's lay-out ensures that the overall theme-always respect and support your friends in a safe manner-get transferred to the reader.
Black Swan, White Crow by J. Patrick Lewis, woodcuts by Chris Manson
1996 ALA Children's Notable Book
Lewis, J. (1995). Black Swan, White Crow. New York, NY: Antheneum Books for Young Readers.
Haikus are a gift of poetry from the Japanese cultures. The 3-lined, 17 syllable poem is a great way to introduce poetry and teach the importance of syllables (especially for new language learners) and the natural rhythm in words. The abstract edges in the woodcut illustrations echoes the brevity needed in creating Haikus--short and to the point of a knife. In haikus, every verbal usage must carry the meaning back to the natural state of earth. The usage of one page for the haiku and the matching spread for the illustrations allows the reader to focus attention on each for its own importance.The vast usage of white-space denotes the simplicity that is the fung shui (translated as "wind-water") that is prominent in Asian culture. Fung shui in its own meaning is a Haiku, for it asks for the balance of energy between humans, nature and the universe. This Haiku picture book is poetry for the minimalist and an even-handed balance between words and illustrations in the most natural and simple manner.
The Lightship by Brian Floca
2008 ALA Children's Notable Book
Floca, B. (2007) Lightship. New York, NY: Antheneum Books for Young Readers.
Upon opening the book, the reader’s attention transfixes on the end-pages. The illustration of all the components of the lightship immediately announces to the reader the importance and many facets of a lightship. Furthermore, the anticipation is set for the historical value the lightship once provided. The chosen illustrative format of watercolors compliments the boat’s anchored position out at sea, lighting the way home for ships big and small. The simplified text communicates how sailors relied heavily on lightships, before the creation of the National Coast Guard and especially when lighthouses weren’t available. The crew and cat guide the ship against torrents and chills. I would use this book in a science class when we discussed weather elements. The movement in the pictures and words will provide the visuals needed to reinforce the constant change in the environment.
Twist with a Burger, Jitter with a Bug by Linda Lowery with pictures by Pat Dypold
1996 ALA Children's Notable Book
Lowery, L. (1995). Twist with a Burger, Jitter with a Bug. New York: Houghton Miffling Company.
This picture, concept, colors and dance book creates a lively and culturally acceptable environment to move and groove to similes, metaphors and scenery galore! The felt background gives a crafty and homeliness to the storyline. The freedom to get up and boogie is a great way to circulate the blood and re-energize the body. I would use this book during a lesson over figurative language. However, to incorporate the dance moves, I would use it towards the end of the day, preferably the last 10 minutes. We would read the story and note the exaggeration, artistic elements and figures of speech. Then, I would play a few seconds of some mambo/Latin beat at the end, concluding the day on an uplifting moment and allowing heart-racing moment of DANCING! It would be a cross-curricular assignment: art, analysis, creativity, exercise and spontaneity. This picture book screams fun and so should the lesson used along with it!
Dimity Dumpty: The Story of Humpty's Little Sister by Bob Graham
2007 ALA Children's Notable Book
Graham, B. (2006). Dimity Dumpty: The Story of Humpty’s Little Sister. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.
Upon opening this picture book, the stars denote the idealism of fantasy and fairy-tales. The revered nursery rhyme of Humpty Dumpty has a sequel through a sibling. Still holding to the storyline of Humpty falling down, it’s his flute-playing sister that rescues him. This wonderfully illustrated book varies the sizes of the drawings to emphasize the symmetry in the storyline and page-turns. The white space is effective in drawing the readers focus to the significance of the events in the story. For example, when describing how Dimity’s brother, mother and father performed their acrobatic feats in the circus, Graham used ¾ of the spread to illustrate how “her mother looked beautiful, transformed like a butterfly…” This is a great story to answer the question, “What happened next?” From the book-cover, the line of continuity establishes root and tells the story of a heroine. The pinks and pastels subtly lay the foundation for readers of the female prowess. Go Dimity!!
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