How Chipmunk Got His Stripes by Joseph Bruchac and James Bruchac

How Chipmunk Got His Stripes review by Sarah Bartholomew

1. Bibliography

Bruchac, Joseph and Bruchac, James. How Chipmunk Got His Stripes. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2001.

ISBN 9780803724044

2. Plot Summary

Big Bear is a prideful mammal and believes he can do anything. Brown Squirrel decides to challenge Big Bear’s pronounced power and authority by telling Big Bear to command the sun not to rise. Big Bear, Brown Squirrel, and the other animals wait that night and the following morning to see if the sun will rise. Big Bear insists it will not while Brown Squirrel assures everyone that it will. When the sun does rise that following morning, Brown Squirrel decides to taunt and tease Big Bear about being wrong and even insults the bear’s intelligence. This infuriates Big Bear and he reacts by declaring his intentions to eat Brown Squirrel. Brown Squirrel runs as fast as he can, but Big Bear almost catches him. Big Bear claws Brown Squirrel on the back just before Brown Squirrel dives into his burrow resulting in stripes on his back. Time passes and the claw marks do not heal leading to Brown Squirrel now being known as Chipmunk. 

3. Critical Analysis

This Native American tale is a fun legend on why Chipmunks have stripes. It is also a great lesson to help children understand why it is important not to tease others or to brag about oneself beyond reason. Neither of the main characters is particularly kind to one another making it hard for the reader to route for either one. This can lead to a lack of investment in the characters and therefore plot. The illustrations are vibrant and help to draw the reader's attention. 

4. Reviews Excerpt(s)

From Publishers Weekly: “the dialogue is effective and invites audience participation--especially the repeated phrases with sound effects”

From School Library Journal: “While the story begs to be told, Aruego and Dewey's vibrantly hued trademark watercolors add significantly to the humor. A priority purchase for most collections”

5. Connections

Gather other books by Joseph Bruchac

Rabbit's snow dance. ISBN 9780803732704

The First Strawberries ISBN 9780140564099

Turtle’s Race With Beaver. ISBN 9780142404669

Gather other books about teasing

Berenstain, Stan. The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Teasing ISBN 9780679877066

Berry, Joy. A Children’s Book About Teasing. ISBN 9780881490107

Cook, Julia. Tease Monster: A Book About Teasing vs. Bullying. ISBN 9781934490471

Three Little Cajun Pigs by Mike Artell

Three Little Cajun Pigs review by Sarah Bartholomew 

 1. Bibliography

Artell, Mike, and Jim Harris. Three Little Cajun Pigs. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2006.

ISBN 9780803728158

2. Plot Summary

Three Little Cajun Pigs is a Louisiana twist on the classic folktale. Like the well-known story, The Three Little Pigs Mama Pigs sends her three sons off to build houses of their own. The first builds his out of straw, the second builds his of sticks, and the third builds his house out of brick. However, this story does not have a Big Bad Wolf who blows their houses down. In this version, the pigs’ houses must withstand the smack of an alligator’s tail. The house of straw and the house of sticks fall, but the house of bricks stands strong. The alligator then decides to go down the chimney and his tail is burned by not a stew but a roux! These three pigs are more forgiving than those of other versions because instead of eating the villain, they simply force him to leave. The first two pigs build brick houses of their own and presumably live happily ever after. 

3. Critical Analysis

This is a fun twist on a common folktale. There is a glossary in the front of the book with Cajun and French terms that are used in the story to help the reader with pronunciation and of course the definitions. The grammar and text of the book are written so that it must be read with a bit of tang to give the reader a better idea of how they speak in Louisiana. Rather than a Big Bad Wolf, there is a big gator named Ol’ Claude. There are Cajun elements sprinkled throughout the story to give it a unique revamping. The illustrations are done in watercolors to give it that classic Fairytale/Folktale tone. This is a fun retelling of the classic story. 

4. Review Excerpt(s)

From Kirkus Review: “This retelling of the traditional story is Cajun both in language and lesson. Emphasizing devotion to family and extending others the benefit of the doubt, it also conveys the very Cajun notion that there are few situations that cannot be improved with a big pot of gumbo among friends.”

From School Library Journal: “A hilarious version of the familiar tale.”

5. Connections

Gather other works by Mike Artell

Petite Rouge ISBN 9780142500705

The Really Weird Jungle ISBN 9780991089475

Gather other versions of The Three Pigs

Laverde, Arlene. Alaska’s Three Pigs. ISBN 9781570612299

Lowell, Susan. The Three Little Javelinas. ISBN 9780873585422

Schwartz, Corey Rosen. The Three Ninja Pigs. ISBN 9780399255144

Gather other Cajun retellings

Artell, Mike. Petite Rouge ISBN 9780142500705

Fleming, Candace. Gator Gumbo. ISBN 9780374380502

Kadair, Deborah Ousley. The Was an Ol’ Cajun. ISBN 9781565549173

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat review by Sarah Bartholomew

 1. Bibliography

Taback, Simms. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. New York: Viking, 1999. ISBN 9780670878550 

2. Plot Summary

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is the story of a man with an overcoat that is old and needs several patches. He is so in love with the coat that he simply turns the coat into a jacket. After time passes, the jacket soon becomes worn out, so he turns it into a vest. Once the vest is worn out, he uses the fabric to make a scarf for himself. Joseph then turns the worn-out scarf into a necktie. As time goes on the necktie grows worn and he must turn the tie into a handkerchief. He still cannot bear to part with the fabric when the handkerchief is worn, so he uses it to fasten his suspenders. One day, Joseph loses the button. This left him with nothing to remember his overcoat. Joseph decides to write a book about his overcoat and all that he created from that one overcoat so that he can always remember it. 

3. Critical Analysis

This book has elements of Jewish culture sprinkled throughout the illustrations. The religion of Joseph is never mentioned, nor is it part of the storyline. However, on each page, the reader can see elements of Joseph’s culture whether it be a menorah on the table, a yamaka on a man, Hebrew letters and writing, subtle references to the critically acclaimed musical Fiddler on the Roof, and pictures of famous Jewish figures. The story is simple and a bit predictable, but it is fun to see just how far Joseph is willing to go to salvage what remains of his overcoat. The illustrations are colorful with some photographs within the drawn illustrations. There are holes in the pages that become the new article of clothing Joseph has made. There is a bit of repetition in the story as well as the lesson to be learned that you can always make something out of nothing. 

4. Review Excerpts(s)

2000 Caldecott Medal Winner

From Publisher’s Weekly: “This diverting, sequential story unravels as swiftly as the threads of Joseph's well-loved, patch-covered plaid coat. A flip of the page allows children to peek through to subsequent spreads as Joseph's tailoring produces items of decreasing size.”

From School Library Journal: “A book bursting at the seams with ingenuity and creative spirit”

5. Connections

Gather other Caldecott Medal Winners

Kenkes, Kevin. Winter is Here. ISBN 9780062747181

Maillard, Kevin Noble. Fry Bread. ISBN 9781626727465

Underwood, Deborah. Outside In. ISBN 9781328866820

Gather other works by Simms Taback

Kibitzers and Fools ISBN 9780670059553

Noisy Barn ISBN 9780061074059

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly ISBN 9780525623878

Gather other works about recycling 

Ghigna, Charles. Recycling is Fun. ISBN 9781404872295

Green, Jen. Why Should I Recycle. ISBN 9780764131554

Spiro, Ruth. Made by Maxine. ISBN 9780399186295

IMAGINE! by Raul Colon

 IMAGINE! review by Sarah Bartholomew

1. Bibliography

Colon, Raul. IMAGINE!. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018. ISBN 9781481462730

2. Summary

IMAGINE! is the story of a young boy living in New York City. He travels via skateboard to the Museum of Modern Art where his imagination is able to take off. As he wanders through the museum, he imagines the art is coming to life. He interacts with these characters that have removed themselves from the wall where they were displayed. They sing and dance throughout the museum with the main character and he continues to make his way through the exhibits and even follow him right out of the museum into the streets of New York. Through Times Square, onto Coney Island, to the Statue of Liberty, and Central Park, these characters journey together exploring all the city has to offer. Eventually, they make their way back to the museum where they return to their homes on the walls. The young boy makes his way home but stops to draw a mural of his adventures on the side of the building. He finally returns home and continues to dream of the day he spent with art in New York City. 

3. Critical Analysis

Early in the story, it is evident that the main character of IMAGINE! has an active imagination. By creating a wordless picture book, Colon has encouraged those reading his book to channel their imagination just as the main character has. There is a clear storyline that can be followed but still allows for the reader to “fill in the blanks” so to speak. The watercolor and pencil drawings are vivid and help to bring the story to life. This book does a fantastic job of showing just how active a child’s imagination can be in a unique way. Even though the main character never speaks, his intentions and personality are still clear. The setting is a large part of the plot and Colon does a wonderful job of utilizing the famous landmarks of the city to show how much exploring the characters accomplish in one day. Overall, the illustrations allow the reader to really imagine along with the main character. 

4. Review Excerpt(s)

From The New York Times: “This fine book provides not only exposure to art…but also an example of a boy—a boy of color, a boy in America—with a passion for fine art.” 

From The Wall Street Journal: “The prosaic world of the city boy we meet…is transformed into a realm of wonder not by a quirk of quantum physics but by exposure to fine art.”

From School Library Journal: “Captures the drama of a personal artistic experience and the lasting impact it can have…compelling…an irresistible invitation to creativity.” 

From Publishers Weekly“Colón’s vibrant scenes make it clear that visiting works of art can breathe magic into every day and inspire further creativity afterward.” 

5. Connections

Gather other books illustrated by Raul Colon such as

Draw! ISBN 9781442494923

Light for All ISBN 9781534457270

Gather other books featuring Latinx characters such as

Morales, Areli. Areli Is a Dreamer. ISBN 9781984893994

Aponte, Carlos. Across the Bay. ISBN 9781984893994

Diaz, Junot. Islandborn. ISBN 9780735229860

Gather other books about art such as

        Smith, Keri. How to Be an Explorer of the World: Portable Art Life Museum. 

        ISBN 9780399534607

        Johnson, Crockett. Harold and the Purple Crayon. ISBN 9780060229368

                    Rhodes-Pitts, Sharifa. Jake Makes a World: Jacob Lawerence, a Young Artist in Harlem.

                    ISBN 9780870709654

Eloise by Kay Thompson

Eloise review by Sarah Bartholomew

1. 
   Bibliography

Thompson, Kay. Eloise. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1955. ISBN 9780671223502

2. Summary

Eloise follows the life of six-year-old Eloise who lives at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. She is a very busy child, always finding things in the hotel to explore, employees to pester, and trouble she can get into. Eloise has a very curious mind and an active imagination. This allows her to fill her day with an abundance of adventures and experiences. Nanny helps to raise Eloise as best she can, but Eloise is more often than not alone exploring the Plaza. Eloise explains what a typical day at the Plaza looks like for her. She plays with her pet turtle and dog, enjoys rides on the elevator, interacting with guests and employees, driving her nanny and tutor insane, as well as the more typical antics of an average six-year-old such as playing with dolls and pretending. Eloise’s life is far from commonplace, but her mind works just like every other six-year-old. 

3. Critical Analysis

Having the book written from Eloise’s perspective was a wonderful artistic choice. The reader is better able to see just how this six-year-old’s mind works. The text reads just as if it was written by an actual child. There are some parts that are extremely random, but that is exactly how a child’s mind works. This helps to create a relatable character for children. It also works to keep the reader’s attention as there is very little that can be assumed. One never quite knows what Eloise will do next. Even though the book simply follows a day in the life of Eloise at the Plaza, there is a large amount of entertainment to be found in Eloise’s antics. She is constantly exploring and finding ways to keep herself entertained. The use of red and pink as accent colors adds just enough variety to the pictures. The use of red pencil drawings to illustrate what is part of Eloise’s imagination allows the reader to better see into the thoughts of Eloise and understand just how active and vivid her imagination is. Although there are parts of the story that signify that it was written in the 1950s, this book has managed to stay relevant due to the accurate portrayal of a six-year-old girl. 

4. Review Excerpt(s)

From former New York City Mayor Edward I. Koch "Eloise is one of the more delightfully fiendish literary heroines of our time."

From artist Maurice Sendak "My first happy response to Eloise was entirely due to the brilliant, iconic images. That brazen, loose-limbed, deliciously little girl monster is Hilary Knight at his best."

5. Connections

Gather other Kay Thompson books to read such as

Eloise in Paris ISBN 9780689827044

Eloise at Christmastime ISBN 978-0689830396

For other books about independent females

O’Connor, Jane. Fancy Nancy. ISBN 9780060542092

Harrison, Vashti. Dream Big, Little One. ISBN 9780316475099

Chen, Eva. A is for Awesome!: 23 Iconic Women Who Changed the World.          

ISBN 9781250215994

Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall

 Hello Lighthouse review by Sarah Bartholomew

1. Bibliography

Blackall, Sophie. Hello Lighthouse. New York: Little, Brown Books, 2018. ISBN 9780316362382

2. Summary

Hello Lighthouse follows the life of a man as he begins his job as the keeper at the lighthouse. His life is simple and lonely until his wife is brought to the lighthouse. Together they face all that life in a lighthouse brings. They aid sailors who have shipwrecked. When the husband falls ill, she takes care of both him and the lighthouse. The seasons pass on and the wife and husband are blessed with a baby. The family grows together tending to the lighthouse until the day they are informed a keeper is no longer needed. The lighthouse is now run by a machine and stands empty and alone. Across the way, the family that once kept the lighthouse lives, admiring the lighthouse from afar. 

3. Critical Analysis

The illustrations for Hello Lighthouse are colorful while still creating a calming effect that reminds one of the seas. Each page allows the reader to truly feel like they are watching the story unravel right before their eyes. The reader is a part of the story as the illustrations have an immersive element to them. 

Being able to see the personal struggles of the keeper, the readers are invested in his well-being. This story is not one of excitement or twists and turns. The overall tone is more tranquil just as the ocean surrounding the lighthouse often is. There are times when the sea is less than kind, and the illustration draws the reader into the moment of chaos. The traditional “plotline” with rising action, conflict, climax, and resolution is not found in this particular piece. Rather, it merely follows the life of a lighthouse and its keeper. We see the day-to-day events as the years pass on. 

4. Review Excerpt(s)

2019 CALDECOTT MEDAL

From Caldecott Medal Committee Chair Mary Fellows: “Children will delight in immersing themselves in the captivating discoveries each new look at ‘Hello Lighthouse’ will bring

From School Library Journal: “a jewel of a creation”

From New York Times Bruce Handy: “I will be surprised if a more exquisite picture book is published this year.” 

5. Connections

Gather other Caldecott Medal books to read such as

Alexander, Kwame. The Undefeated. ISBN 9780358057611

Cordell, Matthew. Wolf in the Snow. ISBN 9781783448548

Gather other Sophie Blackall books to read such as

If You Come to Earth ISBN 9781443181938

Are You Awake ISBN 9781448645251

Use with The Game of Light and The Dark to learn more about how light can help when it is dark and the 

Handler, Daniel. The Dark. ISBN 9781408330036

            Tullet, Herve. The Game of Light. ISBN 9780714861890