MILLIONS OF CATS by Wanda Gag (genre 1 book 3)

What are a very old man and a very old woman to do to cure their loneliness? Why get a cat of course!

This classic story follows the old man as he sets out to get a cat for his wife. What would be a simple trek to find just one cat turns into mayhem. As all the cats are proclaimed the prettiest, they cannot be left behind. Upon arriving home to his wife, a solution has to be found in lieu of keeping millions of cats!

This picture book was awarded the Newbery Honor Award in 1929. Black and white illustrations lead the reader along the path with the old man as he journeys. A predictable refrain greats the reader as the multitude of millions gather on the page.

Review Excerpts:
"Gag's woodcut art snowballs lyrically through the book, stealing your eye and telling it just where to go..." -Horn Book

"Considered by many to have ushered in the age of the modern picture book, this Newberry Honor winner is characterized by innovative design and a strong storyteller's cadence." - School Library Journal

Connections:
*Readers and listeners can repeat the refrain together to encourage participation.

*It can be discussed with listeners the logistics of the couple keeping millions of cats.

*Another discussion option is the subject of making choices. Have the listeners ever wanted one of everything, such as an ice cream flavor but only been able to choose one? What would have happened if they had been able to have every flavor of ice cream?

Bibliography:
Gag, Wanda. 1956, Millions of Cats.  New York NY: G. P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 0399233256.

A BALL FOR DAISY by Chris Raschka (genre 1 book 1)

A Ball for Daisy is a wordless picture book by award winning author Chris Raschka. The illustrations tell the story of a dog named Daisy and her much loved red ball. One day the ball is lost while playing in the park with another dog and Daisy must deal with the grief of losing her favorite toy.

The simplistic, yet colorful illustrations in this book tell the story without the need for words. The color scheme and painted lines will appeal to a child. As the pages progress you can feel Daisy's love for her ball and her loss when it is gone. a wordless picture book such as this enables a child to independently "read" the book and discern for themselves what is happening encouraging visual literacy. A child will be able to identify with Daisy losing her ball and find a satisfying resolution that no matter how terrible it was to lose something you love, the feeling will not last forever. In the resolution the book also hints at what a friend might do if they hurt another's toy.

Review excerpts:
"A story that is noteworthy for both its artistry and its child appeal." -Horn Book

"Rarely, perhaps never, has so steep an emotional arc been drawn with such utter, winning simplicity." -Kirkus Reviews

Connections:
*Wordless picture books such as this are great to start discussions with a child on topics such as dealing with loss.

*Analyzing the pictures in a book with a child can help them learn to infer meaning and to draw conclusions about what might happen next.

*Also by Chris Raschka, Yo! Yes?, a Caldecott Honor Book.  

Bibliography:
Raschka, Chris. 2011. A Ball for Daisy. New York, NY: Scwartz & Wade. ISBN 9780375958618

CAT COUNT by Betsy Lewin (genre 1 book 2)

Cat Count by Betsy Lewin is illustrated with a chaotic chorus of cats. As each page is turned, rhyming language introduces the number of cats and their antics from one to ten. The numeral is included in addition to the words to reinforcing simple counting skills. After five, addition is added inviting the reader to add the previous cats together. The counting then continues up to ten and a final count of fifty-five. But even those with no interest in math will be surprised by the ending as the fat cat, who was originally counted as only one, has new arrivals resulting in "too many cats!"

Lewin is renowned for her painterly illustration techniques like the ones in Click, Clack, Moo; Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin. Here her cat characters are drawn with crazy personality to spare. The lines convey the personality of the cats as they play, jive, and yowl. The color which was added in this addition of the book helps to make each cat its own feline. Kids will enjoy studying the cats and their antics.

Review Excerpts:
"The bouncy rhyme makes a fine and funny read-aloud, and both cat-lovers and compulsive young counters will linger happily over the ever-more-populous pictures." -Kirkus 

"The loose, pen-and-ink and watercolor cartoons perfectly match the lighthearted tone of the text." - School Library Journal

"Cat lovers and children just learning to count will be entranced by this colorful, energetic book." -Booklist

Connections:
*Beginning counters can count the cats from one to ten.

*Adults can point out the words and corresponding numeral on each page to reinforce language and math literacy.

*Counting the cats becomes a lesson in addition for older children using the reinforcing numerals on each page.

Bibliography:
Lewin, Betsy. 2003. Cat Count. New York NY: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 0805067477

THE THREE CABRITOS by Eric Kimmel (genre 2 book 1)

The "Three Billy Goats Gruff" are transported to the Texas-Mexico border in this original retelling of the traditional folktale.

The three musical cabritos (or young goats) decide to attend a fiesta across the bridge. As each takes a turn approaching the bridge, they are stopped by the mythical Chupacabra who proclaims that he is going to eat them up. Each brother barters for his life and outwits the hungry creature with a musical twist to rid the bridge of the Chupacabra forever.

Author Eric Kimmel weaves a story with a humorous tone that lends itself to reading aloud. Repetitive lines such as "Buenos dias, cabrito" and "Gracias, Senor Chupacabra" lend themselves to creating a voice for each character. This helps draw in young readers. The use of the Spanish language will make a connection with those familiar with the language. Audience participation can be incorporated by inviting listeners to speak along with the Chupacabra as he finishes each interaction by saying succinctly "That's Enough. You can go." This simple statement can add tone and action and will help them become a part of the story.

The illustrations by Stephen Gilpin are drawn by hand in graphite and colored in on the computer. The three cabritos are varied in size, as in the original tale, but are drawn here grinning with laid back confidence in varied colors of overalls. The potentially frightening Chupacabra is drawn to resemble a frowning blue fluff ball with tiny claws and feet. This delightful variation on the traditional folktale will will be a hit with readers of all ages!

Review Excerpts:
"There's something about Mr. Kimmel that can turn folktales, both classic and original into readaloud pleasures." -School Library Journal

"The story moves briskly, but the fat, blue chupacabra is far from frightening..." - Booklist

Connections:
*Intermingled Spanish language, along with the included glossary, make this a good story to help connect with bilingual audiences.

*Pair with other titles with a southwestern theme such as Amadilly Chilli by Helen Ketteman.

Bibliography:
Kimmel, Eric. 2007. The Three Cabritos. Ill. by Stephen Hilpin. New York: Marshall Cavendish Children. ISBN 9780761453437

THE LION & THE MOUSE by Jerry Pinkney (genre 2 book 3)

This 2010 Caldecott Award winner brings to life Aesop's fable The Lion and the Mouse with the stunningly simplistic illustrations that tell the story without any words. Pinkney started this project by first creating the illustrations to tell the story. What he discovered at the end was that no text was required. His illustrations were all ready telling the story for him.

Children will delight in studying the details on every page. Starting with the cover, every brush stroke flows with expression and emotion.While the lion and the mouse are the primary characters, each page unfolds as teaming with life on the African Serengeti. The lack of text allows for a vast array of discussion from young readers. Upon each reading a new detail or question can be found. This amount of depth allows this title to be one that can be used for a variety of ages and for many years to come.

Review excerpts:
"Pinkney has added a widening sense of family and community, where acts of kindness, even the smallest, will have a butterfly effect." -Kirkus

"Thanks to the close-ups, pull-aways, paneled insets, and double-page spreads, the reader is compelled into the eternal drama of the transactions between the strong and the meek." - Horn Book

Connections:
*Have readers go on a picture book safari by studying the cover and pages of the book and discussing what you find.

*Discuss why the mouse helped the lion. Discussions can include topics such as doing the right thing and the tiny mouse being able to help the lion and how that can translate into a moral for life.

Bibliography:
Pinkney, Jerry. 2009. The Lion & the Mouse. New York,NY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780316013567

THE THREE LITTLE PIGS by James Marshall (genre 2 book 2)

In this version of the traditional folktale three pigs go out into the world to seek their fortunes but an encounter with a wolf will change their lives forever.

Each individual pig builds his own house. The first two pigs are warned of the poor quality of their building materials but they refuse to listen. When the wolf comes knocking, there is little to keep him outside. On approaching the third little pig's house, the wolf is stumped  by the brick construction and proceeds to try to talk the pig out of his safe haven.

James Marshall expands on this traditional tale of  the three little pigs by extending the final battle between the third pig and the wolf. Each continues to try and outsmart the other until the pig is almost caught. In the end the wolf is outsmarted and the pig doesn't go hungry.

Repetitious phrasing will be familiar for those who have heard the story before while drawing in those who have not. Marshall's cartoon-like illustrations fill the story with detail. From the book's cover, where the pigs appear to be bowing on stage, to the big bad wolf holding a pink balloon, each illustration helps to add to the depth of the text.

[spoiler]
While this tale is often touted as being violent, Marshall does not shy away from allowing the wolf to eat the first two little pigs. But the allusion to the pigs' successful stage play on the exterior cover gives a nod to the pigs telling their own tale. The conclusion helps support this theory since the third little pig succeeds in serving up the wolf for supper, inside a closed stew pot of course!

Review Excerpts:
"Familiar fare, infused with jaunty cartoon illustrations that add a generous helping of sly humor." - School Library Journal

"For pure, lighthearted fun with the essential tale intact, James
Marshall’s pigs take the cake." - Horn Book

Connections:
*Have listeners repeat the repetitious phrases to help include them in the storytelling.

*Use problem solving and critical thinking to discuss what children might have done if they were the third little pig.

*Older children can come up with their own version of this classic tale.

Marshall, James. 1989. The Three Little Pigs. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780803705944

WE ARE AMERICA by Walter Dean Myers (genre 3 book 1)

Who is America? We Are America: A Tribute From the Heart by Walter Dean Myers and illustrated by his son, Christopher Myers is a thought provoking text. With the iconic Statue of Liberty on the cover, the award winning pair weave poetry and art to create a book not about America's icons but about the people who create her. Inspired by 9/11 and quotations from many historical documents, both Myers wanted to create a book together exuding patriotism.

Each page includes Walter Dean Myers' free-verse poetry on the ideals, events, and people that have impacted American history. "We were willing to die to forge our dream..." expresses the emotion that many Americans have committed to in the ongoing fight for their ideals. Many of these verses can be open to interpretation and allow for discussion of historical topics such as the protestation of taxes by Britain or the Civil War. Christopher Myers' painterly art creates a montage of images of famous and ordinary Americans. The striking brush strokes evoke emotion and thought with images of unknown protesters, known figures such as Mark Twain, and historical events like the Battle of Wounded Knee. Further provocation is provided by the addition of quotations on each page from a variety of historical persons or documents. These include excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, past presidents, the Treaty of Paris and many others. At the back of the book the quotes are given context to help further discussion. Art notes are also included to help shed light on the source of inspiration for illustrations.

On the surface the book is a patriotic read of history. Older readers will find that with more study and discussion the depth to the story of America is one worth exploring. All who open the pages will be touched and moved on their own level.

Review Excerpts:

"Widely inclusive and full of passion and pride..." -Booklist

"Stunning." -Kirkus

"A thought-provoking and largely accomplished work for students of American history." -School Library Journal

Connections:

*Special section discussing the origin of each quote and the theme behind each illustration can lead to multiple discussions regarding each page.

*This book can be a starting point for discussions about poetry, art, history or a culmination of all three.

Bibliography:

Myers, Walter Dean. 2011. We Are America: A Tribute From the Heart. Ill. by Christopher Myers. New York: Collins. ISBN: 9780060523091