Module 14: Tap Dancing on the Roof by Linda Sue Park

"Lightning jerks the sky awake to take her photograph, flash!

Which draws grumbling complaints or even crashing tantrums from thunder--

He hates having his picture taken, so he always gets there late."

goodreads.com

Citation

Park, L.S.  (2007).  Tap dancing on the roof:  Sijo (poems).  New York:  Clarion Books.

Summary

Linda Sue Park introduces a little known form of poetry known as sijo.  Originating in Korea, a sijo is composed in a syllabic structure.  It has three lines, each with fourteen to sixteen syllables.   True to its Asian roots, there is more emphasis on the number of stressed syllables than the number of all syllables.  To facilitate writing sijo in English, the three lines are sometimes shortened into six.  The fun of a sijo  lies in the third line, which usually contains an unexpected twist or joke.  The poems can be about any topic, which allows for greater creativity than the Japanese Haiku.  The sijo contained within Tap Dancing on the Roof are clever plays on everyday childhood occurrences, from long division to the seasons of the year, to daily routines.  A discussion of the poetry form and tips for writing sijos are included.

My Impression

As a somewhat hesitant poetry reader, I was immediately drawn in by the novel (to me!) form and the simplicity of each poem.  Offering an easy step into the world of more structured poetry, Park's sijos are easy to understand and fun to read.  She stays true to the form without the poems feeling forced and delivers an understated, but perfect, twist or playful conclusion to each.  The sketchy illustrations have a somewhat Korean feel, evoking the culture in which the sijo was born while still appealing to American children.  While I am no expert, I picked up on the stressed syllables every once in a while, and noticed they lent the poem a very subtle rhythm.  

Review

School Library Journal

"Gr 2-6 --Sijo is a traditional Korean form of poetry that can take two different shapes, three lines or six lines, using a strict syllable count as haiku does but with distinct differences. All of the lines have a purpose: in a three-line poem, the first one would be the introduction, the second would continue the theme, and the third and final line holds a sort of punch line, be it a play on words or a whimsical observation. Park's sijo, 28 in all, harmonize with illustrations that are deceptively simple at first glance, but have a sophistication and wise humor that will make viewers smile, and at second glance make them think. The selections are thoughtful, playful, and quirky; they will resonate with youngsters and encourage both fledgling and longtime poets to pull out paper and pen. The author's note includes historical background on sijo, further-reading suggestions, and a helpful guide to writing in the form. A smart and appealing introduction to an overlooked poetic form."

Moorhead, S.  (2007).  [Review of the book Tap dancing on the roof:  Sijo (poems) by L. S. Park].  School Library Journal, 53(11), 111.  Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com.

Suggested Library Uses

• Host a poetry writing workshop, for all ages or specifically elementary children.  Teach a variety of different poems that can be mastered by the attendees and invite them to write their own poems, whether they conform to any structure or not.  Short poems can be displayed around the library or entered into a poetry contest.
• Display with other poetry books.  A sijo can also be incorporated into a storytime or other children's activity to bring the group together and set the mood for the event.  
• The book could also be used to supplement an event teaching about Korean culture and/or literature.  

Find it @ Your Library - Albany County Public Library

J 811.54 P219T

Module 11: An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Aston

"An egg is quiet.  Then, suddenly...an egg is noisy!"

awildbirdoaisis.com

Citation

Aston, D.  (2006).  An egg is quiet.  San Francisco, Calif.:  Chronicle Books, LLC.

Summary

An Egg is Quiet serves as a simple, yet beautifully informative introduction to eggs.  The endpapers contain illustrations of almost 60 eggs, with each being identified and roughly to scale.  The book describes the diversity of eggs: their colors, shapes, sizes, and textures.  It also illustrates the development of the embryo inside the egg.  The book is sparse in text, but explanatory as it teaches about this remarkable feat of biology. 

My Impressions

What I noticed right away were the beautiful and detailed illustrations.  The text seemed simplified and too basic at first, but the message and lesson are conveyed easily, allowing the illustrations to show, rather than tell, about the little miracles of eggs.  Any time an egg is show, it is also identified, though many of the names might be unfamiliar to readers.  To help with this, the back endpapers contain illustrations of the products of each egg shown on the front endpapers and throughout the book.  Readers are able to turn back and forth to identify each egg and resulting creature.  I was somewhat disappointed that size and scale were not respected more, as eggs that were drawn larger than actual size only contained a general statement about the enlargement.  As someone who studied science, it would have been helpful for the artist to say an egg was 30000 times the actual size, for example.  I can see, though, how this might distract from the overall look and feel of the book.

Review

Kirkus Reviews

"Worthy successor to Ruth Heller's Chickens Aren't The Only Ones (1981), this engrossing album pairs images of dozens of precisely detailed eggs and their diverse wild parents to basic facts presented in neatly hand-lettered lines. Nearly all depicted actual size (and those that aren't, are consistently so labeled), Long's eggs look real enough to pick up, whether placed in natural settings or suspended on white pages. All, whether from birds, insects, reptiles, fish or amphibians, are not only identified, but Aston adds both topical phrases--"Eggs come in different sizes"--to each spread and, usually, memorably presented additional facts: "An ostrich egg can weigh as much as 8 pounds. It's so big and so round, it takes two hands to hold one egg." A delight for budding naturalists of all stripes, flecks, dots and textures. (Picture book/nonfiction. 6-9)"

[Review of the book An egg is quiet by D. Aston].  (2006).  Kirkus Reviews, 74(6), 286.  Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com.

Suggested Library Use

• Invite a biologist to talk about eggs and development.  Ask him or her to bring along eggs, skeletons, or other specimens to show the children and their parents, if included. It would be especially exciting if a specimen from the book could be shared. This would be a great opportunity to talk about teaching science to children as they explore the world around them during a walk at the park or a visit to the mountains, beach, or lake. 

Find it @ Your Library - Albany County Public Library

J 598.6 AS86E


Notes
Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Young Children, 2007

Module 10: Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming

"'I have a box for Katje--a box from America!'"

friendsbalt.org

Citation

Fleming, C.  (2003).  Boxes for Katje.  New York:  Melanie Kroupa Books.

Summary

In a small Dutch town shortly after World War II, little Katje is surprised one day to receive a package from the United States.  It turns out to be a care package sponsored by the Children's Aid Society.  Inside she finds soap, socks, and chocolate, all of which are in short supply following the war.  She shares her gift with her mother and postman and writes a letter of thanks to Rosie, the American girl who sent the box.  Rosie and her mother are touched by Katje's letter and send sugar to Katje, which she shares with even more friends.  The cycle continues throughout the winter, each time the gifts from Rosie becoming more plentiful as her friends in America contribute to the boxes.  By the end of the winter, Katje's entire village has benefited from Rosie's generosity and Katje decides to repay her with a thoughtful Dutch gift:  tulips, straight from her mother's garden.   The story is based on the author's mother's childhood experience of sending a relief box to Holland and continuing the correspondence throughout the winter. 

My Impressions

Boxes for Katje tells a cheerful story about the joy that can be spread by a little generosity.  The text is simple, colorful, setting the scene for the story.  The dialogue is somewhat stilted, included mostly to provide context and advance the story, but does not distract from the main points.  Each new box repeats the cycle of opening the box, sharing the contents, and writing a letter that unintentionally reveals a new need.  This pattern is not obvious and helps children to follow along and know what to expect.  The illustrations, done in pencil, oil pastel, and acrylic, are bright and emotive, helping the reader to place himself into the story.  I especially enjoyed the inclusion of each letter, written in either Rosie's or Katje's handwriting.  Children will delight to see how the overseas correspondence grows, and might perhaps be inspired to share a little themselves. 

Reviews

School Library Journal

"Gr 1-4- "After the war, there was little left in the tiny Dutch town of Olst. The townspeople lived on cabbages and seed potatoes. They patched and repatched their worn-thin clothing, and they went without soap or milk, sugar or new shoes." Set in post-World War II Holland and based on an actual incident, this story illuminates a little-known episode in history. To offset the devastation left by the war, the Children's Aid Society and other relief agencies encouraged American students to send boxes of basic necessities to victimized children. When Katje in Olst receives such a box from Rosie in Mayfield, IN, the two begin a correspondence that eventually triggers a relief effort that enables this small Dutch town to make it through an unbearably frigid winter. Fleming does an estimable job of bringing time and place into focus, and presents endearing, fleshed-out characters with whom readers can easily empathize and sympathize. Dressen-McQueen's warm-toned colored-pencil, oil-pastel, and acrylic illustrations accurately reflect dress, architecture, and other details, and the facial expressions and body postures of the characters effectively convey their joy in these much-appreciated gifts. A good choice for storyhour as well as for independent reading and an excellent discussion starter."

Oliff, G., Jones, T. E., Charnizon, M., Grabarek, D., Larkins, J., & L. Toth.  (2003). [Review of the book Boxes for Katje by C. Fleming].  School Library Journal, 49(9), 177-178.

Horn Book Magazine

"Amidst the deprivations of life in post-WWII Holland, young Katje receives a care package from an American girl. Katje writes a thank-you note to Rosie, who, when she hears about Katje's generosity with the handful of gifts, begins recruiting friends and neighbors to help send bigger and bigger packages to Katje, who shares the bounty with her friends and neighbors. Fleming has carefully shaped her story so that Katje's heartfelt letters unintentionally inspire further gifts from Rosie (a clothing drive at Rosie's church results from Katje's innocent mention of how the box of food made everyone so happy they forgot about the holes in their shoes). The opening endpapers show Rosie's Indiana neighborhood in 1945; closing endpapers feature the same scene two years later, each yard overflowing with color--from the tulip bulbs Katje's community sends to express their gratitude. First-time illustrator Dressen-McQueen keeps the sentimentality of the story at bay with artwork that matter-of-factly presents Katje's poverty and Rosie's relative prosperity while, like the text, emphasizing their similarities: the secure warmth each experiences at home and their desire to help others. Reflecting the story's theme about friendship's ability to bridge long distances, the multimedia illustrations often overlay a scene from Katje's hometown with one of the girls' handwritten letters and a snapshot-like picture of Rosie's home. An author's note provides further information on the actual events that inspired Fleming's story."

Brabander, J. M. (2003). [Review of the book Boxes for Katje by C. Fleming]. Horn Book Magazine, 79(5), 596-597.

Suggested Library Uses

• A great choice for a storytime about sharing or gift-giving. 
• Use the story as inspiration to participate in a similar community effort, such as Operation Christmas Child or a Red Cross response to a natural disaster.

Find it @ your library - Albany County Public Library

E F629BO

Module 6: A Bad Case of the Stripes by David Shannon

"She had no idea what to wear with those crazy stripes."

barnesandnoble.com

Citation

Shannon, D.  (1998).  A bad case of the stripes.  New York:  Scholastic Inc.

Summary

Camilla Cream is very concerned with what other people think of her.  She loves lima beans, but no one else does, so she pretends to hate them.  When her skin suddenly becomes rainbow-striped on the first day of school, she doesn't know what to do.  Her doctor cannot figure out what's wrong with her, so he sends her to school, where her skin changes colors and patterns as her classmates laugh and shout out different ideas.   The Specialists and Experts don't know what to do and the TV news has even become interested.  Finally, a little old shows up at the Cream household with a new rememdy:  a handful of lima beans.  Could the lima beans be the key to bringing back the real Camilla Cream? 

My Impressions
Richly colorful paintings and creative text make A Bad Case of the Stripes an excellent book to teach children the importance of being themselves.  Shannon's imaginative illustrations show the humor of Camilla's affliction, as her skin goes from bright stripes to a myriad of patterns to sprouting plants and fuzzy viruses until she "becomes one with the room," featuring windows for eyes and a bed for lips.  Children will giggle as they see how Camilla changes and her family tries everything to figure out what's going on. 

Reviews

Camilla Cream wants to fit in, so she conforms, denying herself the things she craves--lima beans, for example--if the other kids frown upon them. She wakes up one morning covered head to toe with party-colored stripes--not the state of affairs aspired to by a conventionalist, but it's only the beginning of her troubles. Her schoolmates call out designs and Camilla's skin reacts: polka dots, the American flag--"poor Camilla was changing faster than you could change channels on a T.V." Specialists are called in, as are experts, healers, herbalists, and gums. An environmental therapist suggests she "breathe deeply, and become one with your room." Camilla melts into the wall. It takes a little old lady with a handful of lima beans to set Camilla to rights. Shannon's story is a good poke in the eye of conformity--imaginative, vibrant, and at times good and spooky--and his emphatic, vivid artwork keeps perfect pace with the tale.

[Review of the book A bad case of the stripes by D. Shannon].  (1997, December 15).  Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com.

Camilla, who loves lima beans but won't eat them because it's not cool, finds that deferring to others isn't all it's cracked up to be. In fact, her desire to please and be popular causes her some spectacular problems: she suddenly breaks out in stripes, then stars, then turns "purple polka-dotty" at the behest of a delighted classmate. Her weird mutations, which stymie doctors and send the media into a frenzy, become more and more extreme until she finally blends into the walls of her room--her lips the red-blanketed mattress on her bed, her eyes the paintings on the wall. Will she never be herself again? Shannon's over-the-top art is sensational, an ingenious combination of the concrete and the fantastic that delivers more than enough punch to make up for the somewhat heavy hand behind the story, and as usual, his wonderfully stereotypic characters are unforgettable. The pictures are probably enough to attract young browsers (Camilla in brilliant stripped glory graces the jacket), and the book's irony and wealth of detail may even interest readers in higher grades.

Zvirin, S. (1998, January 1).  [Review of the book A bad case of the stripes by D. Shannon].   Booklist, 94(9).  Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Suggested Library Uses

• Read as part of a family storytime.  Best if the children are at least 5 years old.  Have each family member paint or draw a self-portrait expressing what is unique or special about him- or herself.  Family members can help each other come up with qualities or traits.  
• Include in a display about differences, being yourself, or self-confidence.

Notes
Buckaroo Book Award, 2001, 2nd Runner Up (Grades K-3, Wyoming)

Find it @ your library - Albany County Library

E PB S

Module 6: Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester

"Poor Wodney.

Wodney Wat.

His real name was Rodney Rat, but he couldn't pronounce his r's."

openlibrary.org

Citation

Lester, H.  (1999).  Hooway for Wodney Wat.  New York:  Houghton Mifflin Company.

Summary

Wodney Wat can't pronouce his r's, something for which his "wodent" classmates tease him mercilessly.  Wodney Wat hates speaking up in class.  Camilla Capybara, the new, show-off, mean student in class, makes everyone afraid of her.  And so, when Wodney Wat is chosen to lead the class in a game of Simon Says, he is terrified of what Camilla Capybara will say when she hears him speak.  Wodney's unique way of talking is misunderstood by the class bully, causing for some hilarious "Wodney says" moments that put Camilla Capybara in her place.

My Impressions

Hooway for Wodney Wat is an adorable story about how a speech impediment doesn't have to be embarassing.  The colorful language used to tell the story really brings it to life, as characters gnaw, their fur prickles, and they squeal with laughter.  The illustrations, by Lynn Munsinger cleverly show the events in the story and fill Wodney Wat with personality.  It is wonderful to see an entertaining story about being different that isn't contrived or requires the character to change to be accepted by his peers.  Wodney Wat is a loveable little wodent that will delight all children, regardless of how the speak.

Review

This author-artist team's latest foray into celebrations of differences (Tacky the Penguin, etc,) brings us Rodney Rat, a small rodent who can't pronounce his rs. His classmates' taunting has turned "Wodney" into the shyest, most miserable kid in school. "His squeak could barely be heard in class. He gnawed his lunch alone. And while the other rodents scurried and scooted about at recess, Wodney hid inside his jacket." Along comes salvation in the unlikely form of a new rodent, the mean and disruptive bully Camilla Capybara. Because she doesn't know about Wodney's speech impediment, she takes his orders in "Simon Says" literally, weeding instead of reading, waking leaves instead of raking them, and, crucially, going west instead of taking a rest. Having vanquished Camilla, Wodney is now a hero. Wodney's transformation is beautifully underscored in Munsinger's humorous, expressive illustrations: he gradually changes from hunched-over and cowering to tall and empowered, shouting instructions "in a voice so strong he had to hold his own ears." It's particularly nice that Wodney doesn't have to overcome his speech impediment to be liked; in fact, it's the impediment itself and Wodney's clever use of it that foils the villain and earns his classmates' admiration.

Parravano, M. V. (1999). [Review of the book Hooway for Wodney Wat by H. Lester]. Horn Book Magazine, 75(4), 457. Retrieved from http://www.hbook.com.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-- Poor Rodney Rat is teased mercilessly by all the other rodents because he can't pronounce his R's in this beginning to read title by Helen Lester (Houghton, 1999). When Camilla Capybara joins the class and announces that she is bigger, meaner, and smarter than any of the other rodents, everyone is afraid, especially Wodney. One day he unwittingly catches Camilla out in a game of Simon Says, and surprises himself and saves his classmates from big bully Camilla. This retelling nicely reflects Wodney's transformation from shy rodent with a speech impediment to hero of the class.

Mandell, P., & Yusko, S. (2004). [Review of the book Hooway for Wodney Wat by H. Lester]. School Library Journal, 50(2), 74. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com.

Suggested Library Uses

•  Read in a storytime and play Simon Says with the children, changing w's for r's, as Wodney does, for a fun listening and direction following activity.  Talk about speech impediments and encourage children to be kind to others who speak differently.
• Include the book in a display about diversity.

Notes
Buckaroo Book Award, 2000, Winner (Grades K-3, Wyoming)

Wodney Wat and Camilla Capybara meet again in Wodney Wat's Wobot (Lester, 2011, Houghton Mifflin Books for Children)!

Find it @ your library - Albany County Libray
E L5673h

Module 5: Jazz by Walter Dean Myers

"There's a steady beat walking,
and the melody's talking, too
If you ain't moving,
there must be something wrong with you"

www.goodreads.com

Citation

Myers, W.D.  (2006).  Jazz.  New York:  Holiday House, Inc.  

Summary

This picture book is a collection of fifteen lively poems and vibrant, expressive paintings to tell the story of jazz in America.  The book begins with a two-page introduction to the history and essence of jazz by the poet.  There is also a glossary and timeline at the back of the book to place the poems in their proper context.  The poems highlight the roots of jazz music, as well as its influence on American music.  The most popular instruments are given personalities and moods, including the piano, slide trombone, drums, horn, clarinet, and bass.   Select words are strategically emphasized in a colorful, dancing script, while the majority of each poem follows free verse in a old-fashioned, yet clean, typewriter font on bright backgrounds.

My Impressions    

This book practically hums with the "thum, thum, thumming" of the bass in a jazz song.  It begs to be read aloud, as each poem has its own rhythm, pulse, and cadence.  The poems truly capture the feel and mood of jazz, everything from loud and proud, to low and mournful.  Each painting brings the poem to life, with colors suited to the mood of the song, and curving, flowing portraits of jazz musicians, singers, and dancers.  The book makes for a valuable educational tool, as well, as the introduction, timeline, and glossary provide background for the poems.  Jazz is a work of art in words and images, both of which combine to create a book that exemplifies a culture that is generally very difficult to capture on paper.  

Review    
Kirkus Reviews

It takes a poet to reveal the complexities of jazz within the confines of a picture book, and with Jazz, Walter Dean Myers certainly fits the bill. "Jazz, for me, is people finding ways of sharing their passions and their stories through rhythm, melody and improvisation," he says. The author improvises with great dexterity here, deploying the syncopated rhythms and expressive freedom of early jazz, unfurling the brilliant harmonic complexities of bebop and releasing the intuitive shifts of swing. Myers gives each historical jazz moment due time, and his son, Christopher Myers, gives them exquisite artistic interpretation. "When painting the images for Jazz, I was thinking primarily of the community of artists that this music has brought together," says Christopher. "I sought to portray the way in which the nuanced and powerful language of jazz creates a community in much the same way a book does." Myers the father provides that language, while Myers the son links the various jazz styles with his emphatic, color-blasted brushwork. "Jazz has redefined the artistic landscape of not only music, but also literature, dance and the visual arts," says Christopher.


Jazz.  (2006).  Review of the book Jazz by W.D. Myers.  Kirkus Reviews, 74(15), 15.  Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com/

Suggested Library Uses

• Host a jazz night for families.  Play jazz music (or invite a local jazz group), read Jazz to the audience, invite dancers to demonstrate or teach.  The timeline in the back of the book, in addition to the glossary, can be enlarged for patrons to peruse.  Other books, such as biographies of famous musicians, can also be read or highlighted.

Find it @ Your Library - Albany County LibraryE M9922J


Notes
Illustrator, Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Book Award, 2007
Notable Children's Book, 2007 

Module 3: Tuesday by David Wiesner

"...there is always another Tuesday."

www.goodreads.com

Citation
Wiesner, D.  (1991).  Tuesday.  New York:  Clarion Books.  


Summary
On a seemingly ordinary Tuesday evening, toads take off from their swamp, flying through the air on lily pads.  They spend the night exploring the neighborhood, with surprises for both the toads and the few residents who are awake.  When morning comes, the frogs must return to the swamp, leaving their lily pads behind as puzzling evidence of their excursions.  What will happen next Tuesday, around eight o'clock?  Winner of the 1992 Caldecott Medal.


My Impressions
Words are nearly absent in this book, allowing Wiesner's whimsical illustrations to take charge of the storytelling.  Each picture invites the reader to step into the story and enjoy even the smallest of details.  I enjoyed the different perspectives and the use of comic book-like panels on some pages.  The story sparked my imagination and had me dreaming about flying frogs the night I read it.  


Review
School Library Journal
"K-Gr 4--As the full moon rises over a peaceful marsh, so do frogs on their lily pads levitating straight up into the air and sailing off, with surprise with some laundry, hovering briefly before a TV left on. A dog chases one lone low coasting frog, but is summarily routed by a concerted amphibious armada. Suddenly the rays of the rising sun dispel the magic; the frogs fall to ed but gratified expressions. Fish stick their heads out of the water to watch; a turtle gapes goggle-eyed. The phalanx of froggies glides over houses in a sleeping village, interrupting the one witness's midnight snack, tangling the ground and hop back to their marsh, leaving police puzzling over the lily pads on Main Street. In the final pages, the sun sets on the following Tuesday--and the air fills with ascending pigs! Dominated by rich blues and greens, and fully exploiting its varied perspectives, this book treats its readers to the pleasures of airborne adventure. It may not be immortal, but kids will love its lighthearted, meticulously imagined, fun-without-amoral fantasy. Tuesday is bound to take off."


Dooley, P. (1991). [Review of the book Tuesday by D. Wiesner]. School Library Journal, 37(5), 86. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com.


Suggested Library Uses

• Read/present the book to children.  Have them take turns narrating each page, each providing a sentence or two.  Have an assistant write down the story as the children tell it.  Re-reading the story with the new narration is a possibility.  
• Alternatively, read the book to the children, and have them draw, paint or describe what they think will happen "next Tuesday," based on the last image.  In either case, emphasize to parents or teachers the literacy skills taught by having children supply the narration or create their own story. 

Find it @ Your Library - Albany County Library

E W6373TU

Notes

Winner of the Caldecott Medal, 1992

Module 2: Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

"Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk!"

indiebound.org

Citation
McCloskey, R.  (1976).  Blueberries for Sal.  New York:  Viking Press.

Summary
Little Sal and her mother head to Blueberry Hill to pick blueberries for canning for the winter.  On the other side of the hill, Little Bear and his mother are eating blueberries to prepare for hibernation.  Both little creatures become separated from their mothers while eating blueberries and end up following the wrong one!  Both mothers go home with their children and full bellies and pails for the winter.

My Impressions
The cover for this popular children's book had never really appealed to me, but I wanted to read it this week because many of my friends fondly remember the story.  I was immediatly drawn into this charming tale about a little girl and her mother picking blueberries.  The black and white illustrations are realistic, but not overly detailed.  Both the setting and characters come to life, with landscapes that stretch across both pages and an overall strap that can't seem to stay atop Sal's shoulder.  It is easy to imagine any little preschooler carrying that tin pail. There is little to show the age of the book, as only the mother's clothing and hairstyle indicate the time period in which the book was created.  The language is simple but fun, as Little Bear hustles after his mother while munching berries and Sal drops berries in her pail with a "kuplink!"      

Review
"And School Library Journal’s starred review said, 'All the color and flavor of the sea and pine-covered Maine countryside.'"

Bird, E.  (2009, April 30).  Top 100 Picture Books Poll Results #13 [Web log post].  Retrieved from http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/2009/04/30/top-100-picture-books-poll-results-13/.

Suggested Library Uses

• For a storytime for 4-6 year-olds, discuss animal safety and the importance of not wandering too far away from parents/guardians.  Have children share any experiences in the outdoors.  Play a "Hi-Ho Cherry-O"- style game with blue beads and pails, encouraging the children to drop their "blueberries" and enjoy the "kuplunk" sound.  Ensure the beads are large enough to be safe for younger participants.
• Host a berry-picking party at a park or nearby outdoor recreation area.  Prepare a simple recipe using the berries, emphasizing steps that children can perform.  Read the book before picking berries or during a lull in the food preparation.

Find it @ Your Library - Albany County Library
E M1326B


Notes
Caldecott Honor Book, 1949
Original illustrations were done in blue ink, adding to the blueberry experience! (see Bird blog posting cited above)