Eloise
Written by Kay Thompson
Illustrated by Hilary Knight
1. Bibliography
Thompson, Kay. Eloise. Ill. New York
2. Plot Summary
Eloise is the story of an outgoing and energetic six year old girl who lives in the Plaza Hotel in New York City
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3. Critical Review
Eloise is written from the point of view of a six year old named Eloise and words are written as if she was speaking. Eloise likes to talk and the writer does not use periods at the end of the sentences, which give the reader the impression that Eloise is talking very fast and jumping from one subject to the next. The words flow of the tongue and are often spelled like a young child would pronounce them. The writer’s unique way of writing makes you feel as if Eloise is standing next to you talking very fast fast fast, as Nanny might say, in your ear.
The illustrator helps the reader to better understand all the interesting elements that are happening in the story. The illustrations are in black, white, red and sometimes pink. The writer describes the story from Eloise’s point of view but the illustrator often shows what is really happening such as the emotions of the hotel staff when Eloise bothers them in the lobby. When Eloise is playing pretend the illustrator draws what Eloise is imagining in her mind in red ink. The pictures are exquisite and sometimes comical and really add to Eloise’s character and show the reader the real story behind her stories.
Eloise is a delightful book that children of all ages will enjoy. Eloise has a reading level of 5.4 or fifth grade and might be too hard for young readers to read on their own. The big words, omission of periods and the length of the story also might create challenges for beginning readers. Eloise explains in the book that she does not see her mother very often and she lives alone with her nanny. The concept of living alone away from ones parents might be a sad and difficult subject for some children to grasp. Even though Eloise lives alone, she still has her nanny, pets, and hotel friends. This is a story about friendship, a little bit of mischief, and using your imagination.
4. Review Excerpts
Books In Print: "Ooooooo....I just love Eloise! Thank you, Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight. You're the bestest!" -- Judy Blume
Books in Print: "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." -- Maurice Sendak
New York Times: “Eloise is one of the most recognizable characters in children’s literature.”
Time: “She is a magnificent moppet.”
5. Connections
Imagine what it would be like to live with a nanny in a hotel like Eloise. Discuss the good and bad advantages to this and invite the children to share their own experience with hotels. Explain how many of the activities Eloise likes to do would not normally be allowed in a hotel.
Read one of the following books about other adventurous and outgoing little girls and compare and contrast the main character to Eloise.
Fancy Nancy
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans ISBN: 978-0140564396
Olivia by Ian Falconer ISBN: 978-0689829536
Talk about Eloise’s daily routine. Make a list of some of the things Eloise likes to do after waking up and what she does throughout the day. Let the students share what they do to get ready for school in the morning. Ask the students if their daily schedule is as busy as Eloise’s schedule.
Doña Flor
Written by Pat Mora
Illustrated by Raul Colón
1. Bibliography
Mora, Pat. Doña Flor.: A Tall Tale About A Giant Woman With A Great Big Heart. Ill. New York
2. Plot Summary
Doña Flor is a tall tale about a giant lady named Flor, who lives in a village in the American Southwest. Flor can speak all languages even the languages of the animals, and often asks them to help her with chores. She is called Doña or Mrs. in English out of respect. Doña Flor is very important to the people of her town. Every morning she makes humongous tortillas for the villagers to eat and use as roofs for their houses. She also grows giant flowers that the villagers use for musical instruments. One day none of the villagers show up at Doña Flor’s house to pick up tortillas to take home to their families. She finds out the villagers are hiding because they hear the roar of what they think is a giant mountain lion. Doña Flor goes looking for the mountain lion each day, but she cannot find him. The villagers hide in their homes and will not come out to see Doña Flor. Finally Doña Flor asks the animals for help and they tell her where to find the mountain lion or puma. Doña Flor soon discovers that the giant mountain lion is not what he appears to be.
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3. Critical Review
Doña Flor is a beautifully written tall tale rich with culture. The story follows the life of Flor, a very tall woman who can literally touch the clouds, and her dedication to the people of her village. Flor is a magical character not only because she is tall, but because she can speak all languages even the languages of the animals. Her singing also makes plants grow to an abnormal height.
Pat Mora, the author, uses anthropomorphism throughout the story to give human characteristics to the sun, wind, and animals. The author incorporates and often substitutes Spanish words for English words in the story. The Spanish words might be a little confusing for some readers, but the author uses the English words interchangeably. This book has an independent reading level of 3.6 or third grade, but younger student would enjoy hearing the story as well. The authors writing is filled with similes and adjectives that make images dance in your head as you read the flowing words.
Pat Mora subtly promotes reading and literacy in her story. She writes about Doña Flor reading books outside of the town library and Doña Flor reading to the animals and children. Pat Mora is an advocate for multicultural education and often speaks about children’s literacy. She has written other books such as Tomas and the Library Lady that promote literacy as well.
Raul Colón, the illustrator, creates wonderful pictures throughout the story, which stretch the reader’s imagination. His artwork is created with watercolor washes, etching, and colored and litho pencils. The illustrations make the story come to life and help the reader to understand the culture of the villagers. His pictures help the reader see what the village looks like and the dress of the people of the town. He also uses bright rich colors with brush strokes and lines that add to the flow and movement of the characters.
The pictures and words of this story make the reader feel as if they were there. This tall but intriguing tale shows the friendship and love between the villagers and Doña Flor and the great lengths that Flor goes to in order to help the people of her pueblo.
4. Review Excerpts
WINNER 2006 Pura Belpre Illustrator Award
WINNER 2006ALA
SUBMITTED 2005 Golden Kite Award for Fiction
WINNER 2006
SUBMITTED 2005 Golden Kite Award for Fiction
Book Links: “Mora's poetic text is sprinkled with Spanish words and phrases, and Colon
Kirkus Review: “Doña Flor, beautiful giantess of the American Southwest, is so tall she plucks estrellas from the sky and grabs snow from mountaintops to wake herself up in the morning. Her tortillas are so big that her neighbors use the extra ones as roofs.”
School Library Journal: A charming tall tale set in the American Southwest. Doña Flor, a giant, is a benevolent presence in her pueblo. While at first kids teased the young and large Flor, she quickly became an asset to them, whisking them off to school when they were running late or making tortillas big enough to be used as rafts on the river. The action starts when a puma is heard howling in the vicinity; the villagers are terrified and even Doña Flor can't find it. The animals know where the "gato" is so she follows their advice and the situation is delightfully resolved. Colón uses his signature mix of watercolor washes, etching, and litho pencils for the art. There is great texture and movement on each page in the sun-baked tones of the landscape. With Spanish words peppered throughout, this is a welcome entry to the canon that includes other heroines like Sally Ann Thunder and Thunder Rose." -Linda M. Kenton, San Rafael
5. Connections
Discuss or make a list of the Spanish words in the story and talk about what they mean in English. Talk about how you can use context clues to figure out what the words mean even if you don’t speak Spanish.
Do an author study on Pat Mora. Research and read bibliographic information on Pat Mora to the students. Than read other books by Pat Mora and discuss her writing style and similarities in the books.
Other books by Pat Mora:
Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children's Day/ Book Day; Celebremos El Dia de Los Ninos/ El Dia de Los Libros ISBN: 978-0061288777
Gracias/ Thanks ISBN:978-1600602580
Tomas and the Library Lady ISBN: 978-0375803499
Yum! Mmmm! Que Rico! Americas' Sproutings ISBN: 978-1584302711
Other books by Pat Mora:
Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children's Day/ Book Day; Celebremos El Dia de Los Ninos/ El Dia de Los Libros ISBN: 978-0061288777
Gracias/ Thanks ISBN:978-1600602580
Tomas and the Library Lady ISBN: 978-0375803499
Yum! Mmmm! Que Rico! Americas' Sproutings ISBN: 978-1584302711
Compare and contrast the book Swamp Angel by Anne Issacs to Doña Flor.
Discuss the comparison and make a chart showing the similarities and differences.
Swamp Angel ISBN: 9780140559088
A Sick Day for Amos McGee
Written by Philip C. Stead
Illustrated by Erin E. Stead
1. Bibliography
Stead, Philip C.A Sick Day For Amos McGee. Ill. New York , NY
2. Plot Summary.
A Sick Day for Amos McGee is a beautifully drawn picture book that children will enjoy. The main character Amos is an older man and zoo keeper who makes time to visit his animal friends in the Zoo each day. He plays chess with an elephant, runs races with a tortoise, sits with a shy penguin, lends a handkerchief to a rhinoceros, and reads bedtime stories to an owl. One day Amos wakes up sick and is unable to visit the Zoo. The animals at the zoo wonder what happened to him and decide to visit Amos instead. When the animals visit Amos at his house they take care of him the same way he took care of them.
3. Critical Review
A Sick Day for Amos McGee has gently flowing text that is enjoyable but might be difficult for young readers to read on their own. The reading level of this book is a 3.6 or third grade level. The author shows the reader the importance of friendship and dedication to ones friends through the relationship between the main character, Amos, and the animals. The animals in this story are given human characteristics such as being a shy penguin or an owl that is afraid of the dark, which young readers can relate too.
The author stresses throughout the story that Amos makes time each day to visit his animal friends. The author shows the reader how Amos seems to know just what the animals need to make them happy. When Amos is sick the animals travel to Amos’s house to take care of Amos the same way that Amos took care of them. The animals are childlike in thinking that Amos has the same needs that they have when he is sick.
The text is enjoyable but it is the illustrations that really make this book special. The illustrations in A Sick Day for Amos McGee are beautiful black and white pictures with different elements drawn in color. Erin Stead uses a woodblock print technique and sketches, to create the elaborate pictures that are unique to the world of picture books. Throughout the story the illustrator draws the reader’s attention to the relationship between Amos and the animals by highlighting them in color and by making the background mostly black and white. The colors help the reader focus on the characters and what is happening in the story before viewing the toned down but intricate background drawings.
The illustrator always shows the main character Amos wearing the calm and natural color of green. Perhaps the color represents the character's calm manner and his love of nature in working at the zoo. The last two pages of the story take place in Amos’s house with a bright yellow background, colorful animals, and a blue bedspread. These pages have more color on them than most of the pages. The colors that the illustrator used combined with the animals all cuddled up next to Amos, give the impression of happiness and love between friends.
This book is a great children’s book that I would recommend to any parent, teacher, or librarian. The pictures and words are geared toward young and early elementary children, but the message speaks to any age. The way that Amos and his friends take care of each other reminds the reader that we should be kind to each other, spend time with our friends, and take care of them when they need it.
4. Review Excerpts
American Library Association Notable Books for Children-Winner
Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
Caldecott Medal-Winner
Capitol Choices Notworthy Titles for Children and Teens
Charlotte Zolotow Award-Honor Book
NYPL Book for Reading
Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book-Winner
STARRED review, Publishers Weekly: “Newcomer Erin Stead's elegant woodblock prints, breathtaking in their delicacy, contribute to the story's tranquility and draw subtle elements to viewers' attention.”
STARRED review, Kirkus Reviews: "Erin E. Stead’s beautifully wrought woodblock prints and pencil work create almost painfully expressive characters...This gentle, ultimately warm story acknowledges the care and reciprocity behind all good friendships."
STARRED review, Kirkus Reviews: "Erin E. Stead’s beautifully wrought woodblock prints and pencil work create almost painfully expressive characters...This gentle, ultimately warm story acknowledges the care and reciprocity behind all good friendships."
Horn Book Magazine: "Erin Stead's attentively detailed pencil and woodblock illustrations reveal character and enhance the cozy mood of Philip Stead's gentle text."
5. Connections
This book can be used to teach students about the importance of friendship and taking care of each other.
Other books about friendship:
Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel ISBN: 0064440206
Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Isabella Hatkoff ISBN: 0439851130
Marshmallow by Claire Turley Newbrerry ISBN: 0060724889
Help!: A Story of Friendship by Holly Keller ISBN: 0061239135
This book can be used to help teach young children about the order of events in the beginning middle and end of a story and could also be used to make text to self connections about the order of events in ones day.
Lesson Idea:
Separate a poster board into three columns beginning, middle, and end. Using index cards the teacher writes what Amos does throughout the story. (Ex. Wakes up early and eats breakfast. Rides the bus. Plays chess with the elephant.) Then together the class reads and puts the index cards in the right columns. The teacher could also talk about the daily routines of the class and make a list of all the activities the students do each day.
This book could be used to discuss healthy habits and being sick. Discuss a time when you stayed home sick and a friend or family member took care of you.
Other Books About Sick Days:
The Berenstain Bears: Sick Days by Mike Berenstain ISBN: 0060573929
The Sick Day by Patricia Maclachlan ISBN: 0440417716
When Vera Was Sick by Vera Rosenberry ISBN: 0805068325
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