Irene Gach Lá

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Isaacs, Anne. 2010. DUST DEVIL Ill. By Paul O. Zelinsky. New York, NY: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN: 978-0-375-96722 2.  PLOT SUMMARY Who can make it rain “ milk by the bucket?” Streaks of white flow down the page for Angelica Longrider, the heroine of SWAMP ANGEL. In DUST DEVIL, Isaacs and Zelinsky’s beloved character moves on from Tennessee and conquers Montana. “Dust devil, it’s time to stop horsing around,” Isaacs writes. So Angel rides Zelinsky’s dust devil, grabbing onto the gray storm which seems to swirl right off the page. The art panels frame not only the art, but the story. When the dust cleared and wind died down, a giant horse was the culprit. Angel dubs him Dust Devil and soon they face the true culprits of this story, Backward Bart and his Flying Desperadoes. “Cash your gimme!” rolls right off the reader’s tongue, along with other favorites, like “Yap-giddy!” and “Pee-yip!” But the Desperadoes meet their match when Angel tricks them to...

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY Davis, Donald. 2004. THE PIG WHO WENT HOME ON SUNDAY: AN APPALACHIAN FOLKTALE Ill. By Jennifer Mazzucco. Little Rock, AR: August House Little Folk. ISBN 0-87483-571-2 2.  PLOT SUMMARY In this Appalachian folktale, based on the three little pigs of fairytale fame, Mama Pig sends her three boys into the world, one-by-one. “It is time for you to go and learn to take care of yourself,” she tells the first two. The illustrations paint their faces with worry. Their cheeks are tinged white and their eyes droop a sad sight. Mama Pig reminds each one: “If you have to build a house, build it out of rocks and bricks. And please come home to see your mama on Sunday!” Alas, the first two are tricked by the wolf to build weaker houses. Mazzucco’s wolf is harsh, with a long snout and sharp teeth. It is no surprise they meet a sad fate and do not return home on Sunday, " Gulp!”  Meanwhile, the third pig is a bit wiser and takes what he needs to care for himsel...

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Kimmel, Eric. 2010. MEDIO POLLITO Ill. By Valeria Docampo. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Corporation. ISBN 978-0-7614-5705-3 2. PLOT SUMMARY Medio Pollito is a spunky, little half-chick! Born with “ one-leg, one eye, one wing, with half a comb and half a beak ,” Medio Pollito's story begins. Near the barnyard, he discovers a road which leads all the way to Madrid, a big city where the king lives. He is discouraged from traveling this road by the other barnyard birds, but his own mother hen says, “ Don’t mind them ,” and encourages him to travel the road: “ You can do anything if you put your mind to it. ” So off Medio Pollito goes with a hop and a step. Along the way, Valeria Docampo brings the story to life with colorful acrylic illustrations of his journey. Medio Pollito helps the water by plucking the weeds. Then, he brings life to the dying fire by adding more twigs. Finally, he frees Docampo’s swirling wind from the trees. Later, after he arrives in Mad...

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Viorst, Judith. 1972. ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY . Ill. By Ray Cruz. New York City, NY: Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. ISBN 0689300727 2.  PLOT SUMMARY Ever have a bad day? Then join Alexander on his romp through the terrible. From gum in his hair when he wakes up to a burned out Mickey Mouse nightlight when he returns to bed, Alexander suffers through a very bad day. He endures an uncomfortable carpool ride to school, no dessert at lunch and a cavity discovered during a trip to the dentist. Throughout this sad and lonely day, he declares that he’s moving to Australia. At the end, tucked into bed with no nightlight, his mom tells him “some days are like that. Even in Australia.”  3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS This is an honest description of a universal truism: sooner or later, everyone has a bad day. Alexander is refreshing in its embrace of the awfulness of a terrible day. Contrary to contemporary pict...

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Willems, Mo. 2005. LEONARDO THE TERRIBLE MONSTER New York City, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786852941 2.  PLOT SUMMARY Fans of Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak will fall for Leonardo, the terrible monster who is decidedly unscary. The premise of the story is Leonardo’s lament at his failure to scare. He goes on a quest to find “the most scaredy-cat kid in the whole world.” His research brings him to Sam, who responds with a tear after Leonardo’s best monster fits. Success! But was it Leonardo who made Sam cry? Indeed, no. In response to the unscary scare, Sam lets out a torrent of his own; when Leonardo hears about Sam’s horrible day, he gives up his scarequest and chooses friendship instead.  3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS What a treat for kids of all ages! Mo Willems does it again by bringing a character to life who is both funny and endearing. This is Mo at his best - capturing the heart of the reader as we journey along with Leonard...

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Smith, Lane. 2011. GRANDPA GREEN . New York City, NY: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9781596436077 2.  PLOT SUMMARY Grandpa Green is a journey through a topiary wonderland. Lane Smith is both author and illustrator and paints the poignant picture of one man’s life as seen through the eyes of his great grandson and the topiaries. As the great grandson narrates the story, we learn that Grandpa Green grew up on a farm, long before computers or other electronic gadgets. A bout with chicken pox in fourth grade led to a lengthy stay at home, where Grandpa read about secret gardens and began a love of horticulture. During World War II, he met his wife in Paris and together they enjoyed their life and children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. And just like a secret garden, there is a treasure awaiting the reader at the end of this book in the form of a double-page foldout which will delight both kids and adults. In the end, we learn that grandpa forgets things, but...