Module 1: Picture Books

 

We Are Water Protectors 

Written by Carole Lindstrom

Illustrated by Michaela Goade

Bibliography: 

Lindstrom, C., & Goade, M. (2020). We are water protectors. First edition. New York, NY, Roaring Brook Press.

ISBN: 9781250203557

 Plot Summary: 

We Are Water Protectors written by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade is a lyrical picture book that tells about the need to protect Earth's water and the tribal nations that stand together against oil pipelines. Through colorful and detailed illustrations as well as powerful words, the story explains how water is sacred and present everywhere, and how the presence of oil pipelines, referenced as a "black snake" threatens the the land, people, and animals' way of life.

Critical analysis: 

The story, while seemingly simple at first, is a powerful and moving call to action, urging readers to stand together to be water protectors. While there are not named characters, the story follows a young girl who learns from her Nokomis, or grandmother, (there is a glossary at the end of the book explaining Ojibwe words that are threaded throughout the text) about the need to protect water. The setting becomes universal as the author highlights the importance of protecting water, as water is essential for all living things and we are all connected in this way. 

The text ends with more information about water protectors, including the history behind this story, further readings, a glossary, and an illustrator's note that explains how details of Ojibwe culture are embedded in the illustrations. 

The prose is lyrical and exceptionally moving, working together with the illustrations to capture the quietly powerful and urgent need to bring attention to the danger that water, Earth's resource that all animals, land, and people need to survive, is in due to leaking oil pipelines. The oil pipelines are referred to metaphorically as black snakes throughout the text, spreading their venom and destroying everything in its path. The author uses short, simple sentences that bring emotion and depth to convey to the reader how all living things are affected by sources of water, and this lyrical writing style along with the illustrator's intentional use of color and breathtaking imagery, create an unforgettable story of resilience and strength.

Awards and Recognition:

Winner of the 2021 Caldecott Recognition

2021 Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Text

Review Excerpts:

From School Library Journal: "An accessible introduction to environmental issues combined with beautiful illustrations, this book will both educate and inspire youth. First purchase for all libraries."

From The Horn Book: "It stands out among the books published this year for its importance in our shared culture and for its elegant beauty...Between the text, like a chanted poem, and the pictures, like a vision of what we could be, here indeed is a book that can influence minds and cultures, and shift how we see and treat our world."

Connections: 

This book ends with a powerful message to stand together and protect our Earth's water from pollution for the sake of all living things, so there are many related activities that can come after reading We Are Water Protectors. 

• The author includes a book recommendation for further reading, The Mishomis Book: The Voice of the Ojibway by Edward Benton-Banai.
• Readers may also be interested in reading more texts about the Ojibwe culture or other Indigenous tribes. 
• Readers can also extend their learning by reading about ways to protect the Earth from pollution, such as The Ocean Gardener by Clara Anganuzzi or The Water Princess by Susan Verde and Georgie Badiel. 
• Another extension activity includes writing opinion pieces about why it's important to protect the environment.

Sources:

Allen, A. (n.d.). We are water protectors. The Horn Book. https://www.hbook.com/story/we-are-water-protectors

Lindstrom, C. (n.d.). We are water protectors. School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/review/we-are-water-protectors

We are water protectors by Carole Lindstrom. Carole Lindstrom. (2024, March 29). https://carolelindstrom.com/books/we-are-water-protectors/

The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!

Written & Illustrated by Mo Willems

Bibliography: 

Willems, M., & Willems, M. (2022). The pigeon will ride the roller coaster! New York, Union Square Kids.

ISBN: 978-1454946861

 Plot Summary: 

The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster! written and illustrated by Mo Willems is an entertaining and engaging story of Pigeon getting ready to ride a rollercoaster. Pigeon has recently learned about rollercoasters and can't wait to ride one for the first time. Pigeon builds up the anticipation as he plans to get a ticket, stand in line, and imagines the twists, turns, loops, and drops that he will experience on this ride. Finally, after all of the waiting and imagining what the roller coaster will be like, Pigeon experiences the ride, which ends up being different than he imagined. 

Critical analysis: 

Mo Willems creates an engaging narrative with simple words and illustrations that will capture a young reader's eye. With the use of facial expressions on the Pigeon, he is able to show that Pigeon is determined to conquer the roller coaster ride, and the speech bubbles through the story show how Pigeon imagines the ride will go. Willems uses onomatopoeia to bring each moment to life, such as when Pigeon imagines himself riding a roller coaster full of dips and loops. While the text is limited to a few sentences per page, there are some high-level vocabulary words included, such as "anticipation" and "exemplary". 

The illustrations pair well with the text to demonstrate what Pigeon is imagining the roller coaster will be like. Similar to his other Pigeon books, the illustrations are drawn as cartoons and sometimes feature only Pigeon and a speech bubble on the page. The illustrations are colorful and engaging to the eye, and, along with the text, convey Pigeon's emotions. When Pigeon is about to finally ride the roller coaster, the text becomes in all-caps and highlighted, along with multiple pictures of Pigeon jumping around in excitement. 

Awards and Recognition:

Winner 2023 Eisner Award for Best Publication of Early Readers

Review Excerpts:

From Kirkus Reviews: "Though the ride itself isn’t quite what the Pigeon expected, it will delight readers. Wearing his feelings on his wing and speaking directly to the audience in first person, the Pigeon describes realistic thoughts and emotions about waiting and guessing about the unknown—common childhood experiences. No sentiment is misplaced; kids will relate to Pigeon’s eagerness and apprehension."

From New York Journal of Books: "The ending won’t be revealed here, but young readers will certainly finish the book and immediately ask for it to be read again. And again and again. That is the sign of a brilliant picture book."

Connections: 

• Mo Willems is the author/illustrator of many children's books, so an author study of Mo Willems' books would be an engaging connection activity for young students. These books include Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!, and The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!
• Readers can conduct a STEM challenge and create their own rollercoaster using everyday materials.

Sources:

Willems, M. (2022b, September 6). The pigeon will ride the roller coaster!. a book review by Marissa Moss: The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster! https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/pigeon-will-ride-roller-coaster

Willems, M. (2022c, September 6). The pigeon will ride the roller coaster!. Kirkus Reviews. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/mo-willems/the-pigeon-will-ride-the-roller-coaster/

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

Written & Illustrated by William Steig

Bibliography: 

Steig, W. (1969). Sylvester and the magic pebble. Little Simon.

ISBN: 9780590980661

 Plot Summary: 

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, written and illustrated by William Steig, is the story of a young donkey named Sylvester Duncan who learns an important lesson about being careful what you wish for--and how you wish for it! Sylvester finds a beautiful red pebble one day and quickly discovers that it is a magic pebble; if he wishes for something while holding the pebble, it will come true. However, he soon crosses paths with a lion and, without thinking it through, wishes that he were a rock so he can stay safe from the hungry lion. Sylvester turns into a rock and is unable to pick up the magic pebble to wish himself back to being a donkey. His family is frantic with worry and search for him for a whole year. The seasons change, and Sylvester remains a rock, losing hope with each passing day. Eventually, Sylvester's parents go out for a picnic right where Sylvester has become a rock, and, after setting the magic pebble on top of Sylvester (as a rock), Sylvester is able to wish himself back to being a donkey. Sylvester and his family go home, put the magic pebble in a safe, and are thankful to have each other back again.

Critical analysis: 

William Steig crafts a compelling story with descriptive language and beautiful imagery. The reader is able to feel Sylvester's despair after making a thoughtless wish when he is panicked about the lion. Steig describes how the seasons change, from summer, to fall, to winter, to spring, and yet Sylvester remains stuck as a rock. Through this journey, readers can understand Sylvester's loneliness and his parents' desperation in their attempts to find him.

The illustrations are colorful and detailed, and the mindful color choices reflect the passing of the seasons throughout the story. Readers can understand the progression of the characters' worry about Sylvester by studying the facial expressions on the different characters. Notably, when Sylvester finally turns back into a donkey and is reunited with his parents, the sun is seen shining in the corner of the page. Even these small details add to the overall plot of the story. 

The imagery and word choice stand out in the story as being intentional and captivating to the reader. There is dialogue peppered throughout the story so the reader is able to understand not only Sylvester, but also his mother and father as they try to find him and then attempt to come to terms with Sylvester being lost. 

Awards and Recognition:

Winner of the 1970 Caldecott Medal

Review Excerpts:

From Kirkus Reviews: "Sylvester's "only chance of becoming himself again was for someone to find the red pebble and to wish that the rock next to it would be a donkey"—surely the prize predicament of the year and, in William Steig's pearly colors, one of the prettiest. How Mother and Father Duncan (donkey), despairing of finding their son, do eventually break the red pebble's spell and bring back Sylvester is a fable of happy families of all breeds."

From Horn Book Magazine: "A remarkable atmosphere of childlike innocene pervades the book; beautiful pictures greatly extend the kindly humor and the warm, unselfconscious tenderness."

Connections: 

• Readers can explore more of William Steig's picture books, written with similarly eloquent prose and colorful pictures, such as Doctor De Soto and Abel's Island.
• Readers can explore other books that have won the Caldecott Medal.
• Readers can have a discussion about books that feature animals as the characters.
• Readers can create a story mountain, plotting the events of the story as they learn about the setting, rising action, climax, and falling action.

Sources:

The Horn Book Guide. (n.d.). https://prod.hornbookguide.com/site/?reviewDetail=sylvester-and-the-magic-pebble-87147

Steig, W. (1969b, March 1). Sylvester and the magic pebble. Kirkus Reviews. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/william-steig/sylvester-and-the-magic-pebble/

This is Not My Hat

Written & Illustrated by Jon Klassen

Bibliography: 

Klassen, J. (2012). This is not my hat. Candlewick Press.

ISBN: 978-0763655990

 Plot Summary: 

This is Not My Hat, written and illustrated by Jon Klassen, is a clever and surprising story about a little fish who thinks he is getting away with stealing a hat from a big fish. The story expertly weaves between the little fish's perspective, showing of his confidence that he will not be caught, and the beautiful pictures that contradict everything the fish is saying. The little fish says that the big fish didn't even see him and probably won't even wake up for a while after he stole it, however the pictures show that the big fish did notice and is immediately on his tail, ready to get his hat back. The little fish is on a journey to hide in the tall plants, however the little fish doesn't realize that the big fish is aware he took it and is coming after him to get his hat back. Eventually, the big fish follows the little fish into the tall plants and emerges with his little hat back on his head.

Critical analysis: 

This story is written in an amusing and entertaining manner, as the words on the page are reflecting what the little fish is thinking, yet the pictures must be analyzed carefully for the reader to understand the clever hints Klassen drops about how the big fish is wise to the little fish's antics. Klassen tells the story in subtle details, such as when the little fish is narrating, assuring the reader that the big fish won't even guess the he was the culprit, yet the big fish's eyes are narrowed and looking in the direction the little fish went, indicating that he is very aware of who took his hat. 

The colors are muted and the background is black, focusing the reader's attention on the two characters: the little fish and the big fish. The movement of the fish are shown through tiny bubbles behind their fins, indicating that they are swimming in a forward direction.While the text is simple, this is a story that cannot be rushed through, for in order to appreciate every nuance and comprehend each contradiction, the reader must study the words and pictures carefully. 

This book may be challenging for younger readers to catch on to the subtle differences between what the little fish is saying and what the big fish is showing in the illustrations, so it may be better suited for intermediate elementary students.

Awards and Recognition:

Winner of the 2013 Caldecott Medal

Review Excerpts:

From Kirkus Reviews: " Sublime book design exploits the landscape format, with dogged movement from left to right across the double-page spreads."

From Horn Book Magazine: "The central idea here is clever, but it's the pacing that is impeccable. Like a classic comedy routine, the interplay of text, art, and page turns allow any adult reading this aloud to make it a hit. Some books rely on speedy page turns to keep their flow, but this one works at any speed."

Connections: 

• Readers can find comparisons between this book and its predecessor, I Want My Hat Back, also by Jon Klassen.
• Readers can explore nonfiction texts about ocean animals.
• Older readers can have a discussion about how the words and pictures contrast each other with different perspectives.

Sources:

Klassen, J. (2012b, August 28). This is not my hat. School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/review/this-is-not-my-hat

Robinson, L. (2012, September 27). Calling Caldecott: This is not my hat. The Horn Book. https://www.hbook.com/story/this-is-not-my-hat