The Chronicles of Mrs. Major

  Rapunzel BIBLIOGRAPHY Zelinsky, P. O. (2002). Rapunzel . Puffin Books. ISBN: 978-0-14-230193-7 PLOT SUMMARY In this traditional fairy tale, Zelinsky changes the subtly changes the plot but keeps to the integrity of the tale. Rapunzel’s mother  the queen craves rapunzel from the entrantress’ garden. The king climbs over the wall to steal some. The queen says she’ll die if she doesn’t have more. This time, the king is caught by the enchantress. She spares him when he agrees to give the baby to her after she’s born. The enchantress makes good on her promise, names the baby Rapunzel, and raises her at her home. At 12, the enchantress takes her to a tower with no doors. For years the enchantress calls up to Rapunzel to let down her hair so she can come up through the tower’s window. A prince rides by and hears Rapunzel singing to the birds but can’t find a door to enter the tower. He watches when the enchantress calls up and does the same the next evening. Rapunzel is taken aback...

  The Three Pigs BIBLIOGRAPHY Wiesner, D. (2001). The Three Pigs. Clarion Books. ISBN:  978-1-42873-774-7 PLOT SUMMARY Author David Wiesner says he wanted to give the pigs a book of their own after writing Caldecott winner Tuesday . Beginning as the traditional fairy tale of The Three Little Pigs , this Caldecott winner takes a pivot when the wolf blows the first pig out of the picture and the story. The other pigs also leave their story and visit other fairy tale stories. Chaos ensues with each turn of the page until the pictures no longer match up. They bring the friends they made back to their repaired story into the brick house to eat soup and live happily ever after.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS This version of The Three Pigs is a North American fractured fairy tale will with a happy ending. The pigs are portrayed as the good guys and the wolf clings to his usual role of the bad guy. The fractures begin when the wolf blows the first pig out of the pages and they fly the paper ...

  There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly BIBLIOGRAPHY Taback, S. (1997). There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Viking. ISBN: 978-0-670-86939-8 PLOT SUMMARY The old lady swallows a fly followed by the rhyme, “I don’t know why she swallowed that fly, perhaps she’ll die.” Each page has a hole in her stomach to show what she has eaten, which subsequently makes her stomach bigger and bigger. The final animal she eats is a horse, which in fact seals her fate and kills her. The last pages shows the animals in mourning and her headstone . The whimsical pages offer readers a hilarious warning of your fate if you eat a horse.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly is based off the poem of the same name. This book falls under the category of cumulative tales. The repetition builds on each page for the items that the old lady swallows. Readers will be able to recite the pages because of the repetitive nature. The Caldecott Honor illustrations of mixed media ...

  Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins BIBLIOGRAPHY Kimmel, E. A. (2014). Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins. Holiday House.  ISBN: 978-0-8234-3194-6 PLOT SUMMARY Hershel of Ostropol travels through a village on the first night of Hanukkah. To his surprise, there are no menorahs in the window or celebrations. He learns that goblins have taken over the synagogue and forbidden Hanukkah celebrations. Hershel takes on the challenge to outwit the goblins until the Goblin King is summoned on the last day of Hanukkah. Hershel defeats the king and Hanukkah can celebrated once again.    CRITICAL ANALYSIS Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is a trickster tale. Not only does he trick the smaller goblins into lighting the menorah each night, he also tricks the strongest Goblin King into lighting the last candle. This folktale has a folk hero of Yiddish descent. Good vs evil is evident with Hershel as the good hero, and the goblins as the evil entities who have banished Hanukkah in the t...

  Knight Owl Bibliography: Denise, Christopher. (2022) Knight Owl. Little Brown and Company. ISBN: 978-0-316-31062-8 Summary: In this picture book, Owl has always dreamed of becoming a knight. When many knights mysteriously disappear, the knight school is recruiting new knights. Owl sees the advertisement and applies. After making it in, he works hard to graduate with honors even though he is small in stature. He is given the night watch shift since he stays awake all night. One night a dragon shows up ready to eat him but he is clever and convinces the dragon to eat pizza. Thus, saving the knights from becoming the dragon’s next meal.  Critical Analysis: Author uses simple sentences in this picture book which is great for lower elementary students. This book will remind readers of medieval tales of knights and dragons. The audience roots for the good guy and the overcoming of obstacles.  Christopher Denise  used Adobe Photshop, a Wacom tablet, Procreate, and an i...

The Snowy Day Bibliography Keats, E.J. (1962) The Snowy Day . Puffin Books.  ISBN-13: 978-0-14-050182-7 Summary: Peter wakes up to discover it had snowed overnight. He puts on his snowsuit and heads outside. He walks making patterns with his feet, then drags his feet, and grabs a stick to make new tracks. More adventures ensue until he returns back to his warm home with a snowball in his pocket for tomorrow. He reflects on the day and then dreams that the snow is melted by the sun. He wakes up and the snow is still there so he ventures out with a friend.   Critical Analysis: The story provides a sense of adventure and wonder. Younger readers will enjoy this picture book which shows all the snow activities Peter enjoys. Children of color will identify with Peter as this was the first full-color picture book to have a young black primary character. The sentences are simple so that younger elementary readers will enjoy reading it.  As an illustrator, Ezra Jack Keats...

  Knuffle Bunny Bibliography: Willems, Mo. (2004) Knuffle Bunny . Hyperion Books for Children. New York.   ISBN:   0-7868-1870-0 Plot Summary: Trixie goes with her dad to the laundromat. Mistakenly she leaves her beloved Knuffle Bunny there. She realizes on the way home and attempts to tell her dad, but doesn’t have the words to tell him. Frustration builds when Dad assumes he knows what she is saying each time until they reach home. Mom asks where Knuffle Bunny is which prompts them all to retrace their steps until they find the missing bunny back at the laundromat. This led to Trixie’s first words, “Knuffle Bunny!” Critical Analysis: The words by Mo Willems are easy sentences that match the simplicity of the plot. Children giggle at Trixie’s attempt to speak when she says, “Aggle flaggle klabble!” “Blaggle plabble” “Wumby flappy?” and “Snurp.” The picture story resonates with the audience who has most likely lost a treasured stuffed animal or toy The illustrations by Mo...

              Hot Dog Bibliography            Salati, D. (2022). Hot Dog . Knopf Books for Young Readers. ISBN:9780593308455 Plot Summary            The “hot dog” is at the end of his leash with the heat, noise, and crowds. His owner takes him to someplace new where he can calm down. At the island beach, he plays in the waves and collects rocks for his owner. He chooses a prized rock which he carries proudly in his mouth. In the evening they return to the city where it has cooled down to blues and greens and the intensity of the day is forgotten. Upon returning home he eats dinner and then settles down to dream about swimming with seals all while his favorite rock is resting beside him.  Critical Analysis             Doug Salati as an author uses a simple free verse on each p...