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

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

71. No Two Alike by Keith Baker

Bibliographic Citation:
Baker, Keith. No Two Alike. New York, NY: Beach Lane Books, 2011. 40 p. ISBN 978-1442417427.

Awards/Selection Lists:
Booklist, Starred Review

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:
Two red birds play in the snow as rhyming text describes how snowflakes, nature, and people are all unique. 

Personal Reaction:
Individuality is represented through this story of two red birds who play together among the falling snow. Rhyming text describes how different the birds are from one another, as well as how snowflakes are each different, as are people and parts of nature. 

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 3-6 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Individuality, winter, birds

Early Literacy Skill Value:

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


Narrative Skills: 
Narrative skills are modeled through the rhyming text being read aloud.


Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is presented through rhyming, rhythmic text.


Print Awareness:
The text on the pages appears in small, black print on light blue and white backgrounds within the illustrations. 


Print Motivation: 
The gentle, rhyming text reads almost like a poem, and the digitally produced images provide often humorous illustrations for children to enjoy with an adult or on their own.  

Vocabulary:
Vocabulary deals with things seen in winter, as well as individuality, in nature and among people.



Author/ Illustrator Website:

http://www.keithbakerbooks.com/