The True Story of the Three Little Pigs!

Scieszka, J (1989). The true story of the three little pigs!. New York, NY:Viking Penguin.

    The story of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs is a captivating story that puts a spin on the original version. It is narrated by the wolf as he recalls what he feels to be the true story of  what happened on that fateful day his life intertwined with the pigs. Students will enjoy reading the story and finding out how close his story is to that of the pigs. The illustrator, Lane Smith, uses framed illustrations that help set the mood in this story. The dark colors help keep the reader in suspense as the journey begans from one house to the next.The illustrations begin with a double spread frame that allows the reader to become engaged from the onset of the story.
     I feel that this is a wonderful book to read to all children. This book allows children to realize that there is more than one side of the story. This is an excellent way to introduce students to comparing and contrasting characters and adventures in stories and texts and also making predictions.

Big ideas/questions: The importance of being honest

No, David!

Shannon, David. N (1998). No, David! New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

     No, David!, is a must read picture book for young children. It gives a glimpse into the importance of rules and following directions. The author, David Shannon, holds the attention of the young audience in his book, No, David!.

     The main character in this book, David, is a young boy who is constantly getting into trouble. He continually tries the patience of his mother by constantly breaking the rules of the house. Will he ever hear his mother say anything besides, "No, David!"?

     David Shannon, author and illustrator, uses many traits to help the reader enjoy this picture book. The double spread pages allow the reader to understand the high energy level of this little boy as he is going room to room disobeying rules. His use of expressionistic art allows the reader to observe his disruptive behavior and non-compliance. The use of his acrylic paint illustration allows the reader to depict a more in depth look at the character and setting.

     Big questions/ideas: Classroom rules/procedures and the importance of following rules.

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

Steig, William.(1969) Sylvester and the magic pebble. New York, NY: The Trumpet Club.

     Sylvester and the Magic Pebble is a picture book with an unforgettable theme and captivating illustrations.William Steig is the author and illustrator of this young children's picture book. After reading this book, I had several ideas of how to incorporate this book into a lesson for my first grade students.
     Sylvester considers himself quite lucky when he discovers a magic pebble that can grant all of his wishes. When a lion frightens Sylvester, he soon realizes what happens when unexpected wishes come true. The jouney that Sylvester embarks on reveals the art of true magic.
      The illustrations depict the use of cool spectrum watercolors (blue, green, white) that complement the text and help the reader determine part of the story by giving a descriptive glimpse of the setting and the character's feelings. The double spread pictures help portray the character's helplessness and determination during his journey.
      After reading this book, several big questions would arise for the classroom. The importance of family and being happy with what you have in life would be great topics for a unit of study.