54. White is for Blueberry by George Shannon

Bibliographic Citation:
Shannon, George. White is for Blueberry. Illustrated by Laura Dronzek. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books, 2005. 40p. 978-0060292751.

Awards/Selection Lists:
ALA Notable Children's Book, 2006

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:
This book is about looking at things from a different perspective to see that additional colors can be associated with the objects.

Personal Reaction:
This concept book introduces color awareness in a way that suggests looking at things from a different perspective. Colors are associated with illustrations on a page, and the words do not match the pictures, until the reader turns the page to reveal how the color of the object changes  from a changed perspective. An illustration of a black crow begins the book associated with the word "Pink", which is revealed on the next page of pink babies hatched from eggs. 

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children ages 4-6 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Colors, looking from a different perspective, discovery

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge: 
Letter knowledge is not a direct focus if this book.

Narrative Skills: 
Children are invited into the narration of the story through color and object identification.

Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is not a direct focus of this book.

Print Awareness:
The text is part of the story as the words change colors to match the illustrations.

Print Motivation: 
The vivid colors of the book, paired with the discovery of the objects make this a book that children will want to revisit, even on their own.

Vocabulary:
The vocabulary in this book relates to colors and changing perspectives to see inside the objects on the page.



Author/ Illustrator Website:
http://www.georgewbshannon.comcastbiz.net/

23. Olivia by Ian Falconer

Bibliographic Citation:
Falconer, Ian. Olivia. New York, NY: Antheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000. 40 p. ISBN 978-0689829536.

Awards/Selection Lists:
Caldecott Honor, 2001
Children's Illustrated Winner, 2001
ALA Notable Children's Book, 2001

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:
Olivia is a precocious pig who knows what she likes, and what she doesn't. Olivia's abundance of energy often gets her into trouble, but her family continues to love her anyway. 

Personal Reaction:
Olivia is a four-year-old pig, who enjoys doing 4-year-old things. Her spunky attitude and love of life bring this story to life. The illustrations all appear in shades of black, white, and red, drawing attention to the most important parts of the page.While Olivia spends much of her story in trouble, the details of her day to day life, and her desire to enjoy life, make it so the reader cannot help but to pull for her, and so that children can't help but love her.

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 4-6 years of age.

Themes/Issues:

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge: 
Letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this book.

Narrative Skills: 
Narrative skills are modeled through the text of the story, and through dialogic reading (asking children to predict what will happen next, why things happen in the story, etc.)

Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is not a direct focus of this book.

Print Awareness:
The text of the story is printed in a small, simple, black font throughout the book, and is support through the illustrations. 

Print Motivation: 
Olivia is a likable character, which encourages children to want to read this book again and again.

Vocabulary:
New words such as: "prepared" and "bask" are paired with familiar words and phrases. A phrase that appears in this book repeatedly is that Olivia "wears" her mother out. This may be a n unfamiliar phrase for younger children before listening to this story.  



Author/ Illustrator Website:
http://www.oliviathepiglet.com/