75. The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen

Bibliographic Citation:
Diesen, Deborah. The Pout-Pout Fish. Illustrated by Dan Hanna. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008. ISBN 978-0374360962. 

Awards/Selection Lists:
Time Magazine's Top 10 Childrens’ Books of 2008

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:
The Pout-Pout Fish moves around the ocean with a pout on his face, and thinks it's his job to be dreary, until he learns a new lesson about the pout on his face.

Personal Reaction:
This book reveals that sometimes the things that might not seem so great about ourselves can turn out to give a lot of joy to others. The fish in this story was born with a pout, and so he thinks that it is his job to "spread the dreary wearies" all around the ocean. He meets other animals in the ocean as he swims along and they each try to cheer him up. It's not until he meets a fish who kisses him at the end of the book that he realizes that his pout can actually spread love and joy if he uses it for sharing love. 

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 4-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Grumpiness, self-acceptance, change of attitude, ocean life, love

Early Literacy Skill Value:

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


Narrative Skills: 
Children are invited to participate in the telling of the story through the rhyming text and the repeated refrain, "blub, blub, blub".


Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is addressed through rhyming, rhythmic text and alliteration.


Print Awareness:
The text of the story is printed in a small, simple font in the empty space in the illustrations.



Print Motivation: 
This is a fun story that children will enjoy hearing and participating in through the rhymes and sound effects that are a part of the text. The illustrations are cartoon-like, and invite children to enjoy the pictures as the story is read, or enjoy them on their own.


Vocabulary:
The vocabulary in this book is centered around different types of creations found in the ocean, as well as the moods of the Pout-Pout Fish.



Author/ Illustrator Website:
Author website: http://deborahdiesen.com/
Illustrator website: http://www.bluebellylizard.com/index.html

65. My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann

Bibliographic Citation:
Rohmann, Eric. My Friend Rabbit. Brookfield, Connecticut: Roaring Brook Press, 2002. 32 p. ISBN 978-0761315353.

Awards/Selection Lists:
Caldecott Medal, 2003
ALA Notable Children's Book, 2003
Parents’ Choice Recommended
National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Gold Award

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:
Rabbit is a good friend, but he always finds a way to get into trouble, even when he is trying to help rescue his friend, Mouse.

Personal Reaction:
Bold illustrations help tell the story of Rabbit, who accidentally throws his friend, Mouse, and his airplane, up into a tree. In order to help rescue his friend, Rabbit gathers up their friends and stacks them up, one on top of the other, in order to reach Mouse. The stack of animals fall into a heap, but somehow, the airplane and Mouse are freed.  

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 4 to 7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Friendship, mistakes, safety, rescue

Early Literacy Skill Value:

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


Narrative Skills: 
The details included in the illustrations of this book invite children to participate in the narration of this book.


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


Print Awareness:
Text is printed in simple, black font positioned to support the illustrations. Smaller text is included to enhance the story line by representing the words of Mouse as he is stuck in the airplane in the tree.

Print Motivation: 
This book is a humorous story of friendship that children will enjoy hearing and revisiting. The vivid illustrations will encourage young children to look at the book on their own, as well. 

Vocabulary:
The vocabulary in this story deals with conversation related to efforts to rescue Mouse, as well as the difficulties that Rabbit experiences.



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

59. The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson

Bibliographic Citation:
Swanson, Susan Marie. The House in the Night. Illustrated by Beth Krommes. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008. 40 p. ISBN 978-0618862443.

Awards/Selection Lists:
Caldecott Medal, 2009
Booklist Starred Review
School Library Journal Starred Review
Kirkus Reviews Starred Review
Publishers Weekly Starred Review

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:
Simple text combines with black, white, and gold illustrations that tell the story of a cozy house from sundown to bedtime.

Personal Reaction:
The use of black and white scratchboard art is combined with golden accents to portray a house as night comes. The text is simple and builds upon itself in a circular fashion. From a golden key, the reader enters the house with a child and her parents, and begins the nightly ritual of preparing for bed. The beauty of the night sky outside the house is shown through the illustrations, as well. The moon and the stars provide light inside the house as the child sleeps, and different aspects of life are highlighted in gold to symbolize the different things within the house that provide "light" to life.

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 4-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Nighttime, light, home, bedtime, sleeping

Early Literacy Skill Value:

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


Narrative Skills: 
Children are invited to participate in the narration of this story through simple text that builds upon itself in a circular pattern.


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


Print Awareness:
The text is represented in simple, black font which appears in the white spaces on each page. This simple method draws the eye to the printed text.
   

Print Motivation: 
The beauty of this book invites children to look for details on each page, and encourages children to revisit the book. This is a book that children will enjoy reading together with parents as part of their own bedtime routine.

Vocabulary:
The vocabulary in this book represents bedtime rituals and the beauty of nighttime.



Author/ Illustrator Website:
Author website: http://www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org/aifolder/aipages/ai_s/swanson.html
Illustrator website: http://www.bethkrommes.com/

57. Feathers for Lunch by Lois Ehlert

Bibliographic Citation:
Ehlert, Lois. Feathers for Lunch. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace, 1990. 40p. ISBN 0-15-230550-5.

Awards/Selection Lists:
The Horn Book Fanfare Best Book, 1991

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:
A cat sneaks out and attempts to catch different types of birds for lunch, until he is caught by his owner.

Personal Reaction:
Text is interwoven into the illustrations on each page in order to identify flowers and birds through the story of a cat that sneaks out and is hunting for a bird for lunch. The cat misses each time, only getting a mouth full of feathers. The story ends with the cat being caught by his owner.

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 4-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Cat, bird identification, types of flowers

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 this book about a cat hunting different types of birds. Children are invited to participate in the naming of types of birds as well as flowers identified in the story.

Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is represented through the sound of the cat's bell ringing and bird calls throughout the book. Rhyming text also fosters phonological awareness. 

Print Awareness:
Birds and flowers are identified through small text printed in various colors along the edge of the corresponding illustration.

Print Motivation: 
This book identifies birds and flowers in a fun way that combines collage and text. Children will enjoy revisiting this book and exploring types of birds and flowers. 

Vocabulary:
Vocabulary connected to bird and flower names is embedded on each page through small text printed around corresponding illustrations. A brief glossary of bird names is included at the end of the book.

Author/ Illustrator Website:
No official website

               

51. Chocolate Me! by Taye Diggs

Bibliographic Citation:
Diggs, Taye. Chocolate Me! Illustrated by Shane Evans. New York, NY: Feiwel and Friends, 2011. 36 p. ISBN 978-0-312-60326-7. 

Awards/Selection Lists:
None

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:
This book, through the story of a young, African American child, represents differences in race, accepting one's own identity, and accepting others' for who they are.

Personal Reaction:

The combination of the rhyming text with the description of the child's skin color as "chocolate" from his own perspective offers a little levity to a serious issue.  Children who might feel different from other children around them will identify with the main character in this book. The ending of the story demonstrates how our differences can be a positive thing.

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 4-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Diversity, self-acceptance, self-esteem, self-identity

Early Literacy Skill Value:

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

Narrative Skills: 
Children are invited to become part of the narration of the story through the repetition of the title throughout the book, as well as through the rhyming text.


Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is demonstrated in this book through rhyming phrases that are a part of the story.

Print Awareness:
The text of the story is printed on each page in spaces that are open of illustrations. The color of the font is changed on pages where the print may be more difficult to see. The repeated phrase, which is also the title of the book, "Chocolate me" is printed in brown, larger text, drawing attention to the words each time.

Print Motivation: 
The rhythmic, rhyming text of this book make it a fun read. The method of telling the story from the perspective of a young African American child  who feels different from other children in his community provides a realistic view of the way that a young child might feel, and children who identify with this character will enjoy reading this book.  

Vocabulary:
Vocabulary in this book deals with skin color, physical attributes, and self-acceptance. 



Author/ Illustrator Website:
http://chocolatemetoo.com/

50. Tell Me About Your Day Today by Mem Fox

Bibliographic Citation:
Fox, Mem. Tell Me About Your Day Today. Illustrated by Lauren Stringer. New York, NY: Beach Lane Books, 2012. 40 p. ISBN 978-1416990062. 

Awards/Selection Lists:
Publisher's Weekly Starred Review

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:
A boy and his stuffed animals enjoy a bedtime ritual which includes the recounting of the events of the day. 

Personal Reaction:
Mem Fox uses traditional language, paired with soft illustrations, to tell the story of a young boy who loves the rituals of bedtime. The boy and his stuffed animals take turns telling about their day, until they share a hug, and drift off to sleep.

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 4-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Retelling the events of the day, bedtime rituals, turn-taking 

Early Literacy Skill Value:

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

Narrative Skills: 
Narrative skills are modeled by the main character in this book as he takes turns recounting the events of the day with each of his stuffed animals. The format for retelling the events of the day remains the same for each of the stuffed animals, as well as for the little boy, in a repeated series of lines each time. 

Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is modeled through repeated rhyming text.

Print Awareness:
Each line of text is printed in white, on a dark blue background, in position around each of the illustrations in order to draw attention to the connection between the illustrations and the printed text on each page.

Print Motivation: 
The soft illustrations and gentle bedtime story make this a book that children will enjoy embedding into their own bedtime ritual each night.

Vocabulary:
The vocabulary in this book is connected to the repeated line spoken to each of the animals and the boy recounting the events of the day ("the who, the what, the why, and the way").



Author/ Illustrator Website:
Author website: http://www.memfox.net/welcome.html
Illustrator website: http://www.laurenstringer.com/Home.html

33. Peter's Chair by Ezra Jack Keats

Bibliographic Citation:
Keats, Ezra Jack. Peter's Chair. New York, NY: Puffin Books, 1998. 40 p. ISBN 978-0140564419. 

Awards/Selection Lists:

None

Format Examined:
Paperback

Annotation:
The main character, Peter has to learn how to come to terms with the fact that he has a new baby sister, and his parents are painting his old baby furniture pink for his sister to use.

Personal Reaction:

This classic book tells the story of Peter, a boy who has a new baby sister. He has to learn to be quiet while she sleeps, and notices that his parents are passing all of his old baby furniture to his baby sister-- and painting it all pink. Peter sees his favorite small chair, and grabs it before it can be painted pink, too. He decides to run away (just outside the house), with his baby chair and his dog, until he realizes that he has gotten too big to fit in the chair. In the end, he decides that the chair should be painted pink for his sister. This story provides a powerful message for children who have new siblings.

Age Recommendation:

I would recommend this book for children 4-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
New baby, sharing, growing up, siblings, family

Early Literacy Skill Value:

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

Narrative Skills: 
This book provides an opportunity for dialogic reading and modeling of narrative skills through the reading of the text aloud.

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

Print Awareness:
This book incorporates environmental print, such as the print of a newspaper on the floor as Peter's father paints.

Print Motivation: 
Children who have new siblings will identify with this story, and want to revisit this book.

Vocabulary:
Natural language is used throughout the text to describe how Peter feels and how his feelings change.



Author/ Illustrator Website:
http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/

16. Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

Bibliographic Citation:

Feiffer, Jules. Bark, George. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1999. 32p. ISBN 978-0062051851

Awards/Selection Lists:

• Florida Children’s Book Award
• Georgia Children’s Picture Storybook Award
• Arizona Young Readers’ Award
• Flicker Tale Children's Book Award (North Dakota)
• Keystone to Reading Book Award (Pennsylvania)
• Buckeye Children’s Book Award (Ohio)
• Maryland Children’s Book Award
• Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book
• ALA Notable Children’s Book
• ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice
• Parents' Choice Silver Honor

Format Examined:

Hard cover

Annotation:

A dog's mother repeatedly tells him to bark, but each time he makes a different sound, including meowing, quacking, oinking, and mooing. George recovers his bark after visiting the vet.

Personal Reaction:

With its bright cartoon-like illustrations and humorous text, this is an enjoyable book for children and adults alike. Young children are tested on their knowledge of animal sounds as they are also encouraged to repeat the refrain, "Bark, George!". George makes the sounds of various animals, which are pulled out one by one by a vet. After the last animal is removed by the vet, George barks at long last. One last humorous problem arises when George and his mother walk home past people, and George says, "hello", rather than barking.   

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 4-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Humor, animal sounds, repetition, imagination

Early Literacy Skill Value:

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

Narrative Skills:
Children participate in the telling of this story through the repeated refrain, "Bark, George!", as well as through participation in the animal sounds and naming of animals throughout the story. The story also lends itself to a dialogic reading experience as the reader asks listeners what they think will happen and why George isn't able to bark.

Phonological Awareness:
Animal sounds are phonetically represented for each of the animals in the story.

Print Awareness:
The type representing the sound of each animal is displayed differently in order to draw attention to the words on each page.  

Print Motivation:
The humor used in the story, along with comic-style illustrations, animal sounds, and repetition of text make this an enjoyable book that easily holds the attention of children, and encourages interest in reading.

Vocabulary:
Vocabulary represented in this book is connected to animal sounds and identification of animal types. The introduction of a vet (animal doctor) also encourages discussion of what a vet does.

Author/ Illustrator Website:

No current official website

14. All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon

Bibliographic Citation:

Scanlon, Liz Garton. All the World. Illustrated by Marla Frazee. New York, NY: Beach Lane Books, 2009. 40p. ISBN 978-1-4169-8580-8

Awards/Selection Lists:

2010 Caldecott Honor
A New York Times Best Book of 2009
A Publisher's Weekly Best Book of 2009
A Kirkus Best Book of 2009
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2009
A Parents' Choice Gold Award
A 2010 Indies Choice Honor Award

Format Examined:

Hard cover

Annotation:

A family goes through an entire day experiencing the beauty of the world through different surroundings.

Personal Reaction:

Hand-lettered text and water colored illustrations tell the story of a family throughout a summer day. First, at the seaside, then a garden, and a restaurant in the rain-- beauty is all around them. The children are next shown climbing onto a tree branch, where they see small birds and the vast world around them. At the end of the day, there is a setting sun as they warm themselves at home by the fireplace together. A simple phrase represents the gist of the book: "all the world is you and me". 

Age Recommendation:

I would recommend this book for children 4-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:

Family, beauty, summer, community, world

Early Literacy Skill Value:

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

Narrative Skills:
The detailed illustrations prompt discussion between the reader and listener.  

Phonological Awareness:
The rhyming lines of text highlight the similar sounds in the words.

Print Awareness:
Hand-lettered text is printed to accent illustrations throughout the book. The text is sometimes curved around and above the illustrations, and to add to the reading on the story, it is also in various sizes to represent the activities taking place in the illustrations.

Print Motivation:
The beautiful illustrations and hand-written lettering have a soothing effect, which invite children to view the book on their own. 

Vocabulary:

This book uses familiar and unfamiliar words for children to identify objects and activities within the illustrations.

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

12. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Bibliographic Citation:
Keats, Ezra Jack. The Snowy Day. New York, NY: Puffin, 1962. 40p. ISBN 978-0140501827 

Awards/Selection Lists:

Caldecott Medal, 1963

Format Examined:

Paperback

Annotation:

A young boy wakes up to freshly fallen snow and spends the day having adventures outside.

Personal Reaction:
Ezra Jack Keats created a true classic with this story of a young child enjoying the day in the snow. The magic that a child feels at the wonder of snow, and all the new ways to play in it, come to life for children and adults who read this book. Keats quietly introduced the picturebook world to an African American main character for the first time in 1962 through Peter and his exploration of the snow.

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 4-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Winter, snow, adventure

Early Literacy Skill Value:

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

Narrative Skills:
This book would work well in a dialogic reading setting. Children would be able to help tell the story through answering open-ended questions about what they think will happen, and why certain things happened in the story (such as when Peter puts the snowball in his pocket).

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

Print Awareness:
The text is printed on each page in a simple, black font. The position of the words accentuates the illustrations, such as the words being printed on the bottom of the hill when Peter slides all the way down. The word "slowly" is written with dashes to draw the word out ("s-l-o-w-l-y") when Peter drags his feet to make tracks in the snow. These techniques draw attention to the print in connection to the illustrations to help tell the story.

Print Motivation:
This book inspires reading through a story that is easy for children to identify with.

Vocabulary:

Words pertaining to the consistency of snow are included in the text, including firm, heaping, and crunching.

Author/ Illustrator Website:
http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/