74. Stars by Mary Lyn Ray

Bibliographic Citation:
Ray, Mary Lyn. Stars. Illustrated by Marla Frazee. New York, NY: Beach Lane Books, 2011. 40 p. ISBN 978-1442422490.

Awards/Selection Lists:
Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
Starred Review, School Library Journal
Starred Review, Booklist

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:
This book encourages children to observe the stars in the night sky.

Personal Reaction:
Beautiful illustrations inspire children to notice the beauty of the stars in the night. The text also encourages children to create their own stars to keep in their pockets to help them remember that they are special. 

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 3-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Nighttime, stars, observation, self-esteem

Early Literacy Skill Value:

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


Narrative Skills: 
Narrative skills are modeled through simple lines of text. Children are encouraged to participate in answering questions posed throughout the text.


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


Print Awareness:
The text appears in a small, simple font against a white background, which draws attention to the words printed on the page.


Print Motivation: 
This book, with its beautiful illustrations of stars in the night's sky and simple text encourages children to observe the details of stars in the night sky, as well as to connect their observations to the story. 


Vocabulary:
The vocabulary of the story focuses on the descriptions of stars as they are observed in the sky, as well as physical attributes of real and created star shapes.



Author/ Illustrator Website:
Illustrator website: http://www.marlafrazee.com/

73. He's Got the Whole World in His Hands (DVD)

Bibliographic Citation:
Scholastic. (2010). He's Got the Whole World in His Hands [Animate motion picture]. United States: Weston Woods Studios, Inc.

Awards/Selection Lists:
None

Format Examined:
DVD

Annotation:
This DVD includes animated "read-along" versions of seven books for children, including He's Got the Whole World in His Hands by Kadir Nelson.

Personal Reaction:
In addition to the featured book, other animated stories included on this DVD are Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse, illustrated by Jon J. Muth; and Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp, illustrated by Erwin Printup, Jr.; and Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr. The Tale of Mandarin Ducks by Katherine Paterson, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon; Patrick by Quentin Blake; and A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog by Mercer Mayer. The DVD is part of the Scholastic Storybook Treasures children's DVD series, which features children's books in animated form, often narrated by the author. The original artwork of Nelson's He's Got the Whole World in His Hands is presented with movement from the camera in order to bring an animated representation to the story. The text of the story is based on the classic folk song, and the printed words appear across the bottom of the screen as the words are performed by singer, Crystal Taliefero. The illustrations are rich and vivid, bringing the words of the song to life for young children.     

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this DVD for children 3-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
The animated selections on this DVD represent stories that celebrate nature and the environment. 

Early Literacy Skill Value:

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


Narrative Skills: 
Narrative participation is modeled through the reading of each story on this DVD by a narrator, and accompanied by corresponding text across the bottom of the screen.


Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is fostered through rhyming and lyrical texts included in the stories on this DVD.


Print Awareness:
Print awareness is fostered through the inclusion of printed text along the bottom of the screen as each story is read by a narrator.


Print Motivation: 
Children will be encouraged to read along with the printed text on the screen, as well as to make connections to the printed books included on this DVD.


Vocabulary:
Vocabulary is modeled through the narration and printed text of each story included on the DVD. Vocabulary is centered around the main themes of nature and the environment.



Author/ Illustrator Website:
Author website: http://www.kadirnelson.com/
DVD website: http://store.scholastic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/LandingPageView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10051&jspStoreDir=SSOStore&pageName=StorybookTreasures

31. Who Put the Cookies in the Cookie Jar? by George Shannon

Bibliographic Citation:

Shannon, George. Who Put the Cookies in the Cookie Jar?. Illustrated by Julie Paschkis. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, 2013. 32 p. ISBN 978-0805091977. 

Awards/Selection Lists:

None

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:

Using the reverse of a familiar chant, the author tells the story of how many different people in different places it takes to make all the ingredients that make up a cookie.

Personal Reaction:
George Shannon uses a familiar chant used with young children to explain how a cookie is made, from the growing of wheat, to the delivery of the ingredients, to the person baking the cookies. Illustrations represent many different people, in different environments throughout the world, with many different cultures represented.

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children ages 3-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:

Multicultural, food sources, global awareness

Early Literacy Skill Value:

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

Narrative Skills: 
Rhyming text encourages child participation, and narrative skills are modeled through the reading of the text.

Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is represented through rhyming text.

Print Awareness:
The text of the story is placed within the illustrations to draw attention to the text in a way that makes the print a part of the story.

Print Motivation: 
Interesting multicultural, festive looking illustrations, coupled with the explanation of the real story of how a cookie is made make this an interesting book for preschool-aged children. 

Vocabulary:
The vocabulary in this book includes words that represent the ingredients that go into making a cookie, and the way they are formed and pulled together.



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