Folktale retold by Ed Young

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Young, Ed. 2004. THE SONS OF THE DRAGON KING: A CHINESE LEGEND. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689851847

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Young retells the ancient Chinese folktale of the Dragon King. According to legend, each of the Dragon King's nine sons, at first seem lazy or participating in behavior improper as the son of a king. The Dragon King visits each of his nine sons, and at first is dismayed at what each seems to be doing. After reflecting and contemplating, however, the Dragon King recognizes the unique talents each son posesses, and how they can use their skills productively. For example, when the Dragon King visits his sixth son, Ba-Sha, he finds him frolicking in the Great Water rather than working. The Dragon King, realizing his son's strength in swimming, helps his son to recognize he can guard those using the Kingdom's rivers and lakes. Young then shows how Ba-Sha still watches by his image remaining in the architecture of the bridges. The other sons are still reflected as well in Chinese art and architecture.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This retelling of an ancient Chinese folktale contains strong elements important to folktales. Repeated patters and elements are in the story, such as the number nine, which is an important factor in the story and in many Chinese folktales. The story follows a repetitive pattern as each son is introduced, his theoretical shortcoming explored, and his strength uncovered. Many Chinese folktales reward gentleness and sacrifice, and this is the case in this story, as each son learns to serve the community. The setting also follows traditional folktales as the story occurs in the distant past, but time passes quickly as the Dragon King is able to visit each son without spending any obvious time traveling. Young's brush and ink illustrations are a gift to this retelling. Traditionally Chinese, the illustrations are primarily black and white, with a small amount of red. The effect is masterful; each illustration flows with thick brush strokes, giving the feel of melody to accompany the text. As each son's virtue is discovered, on the right of the double-page spread, the illustrations are made from cut paper, and are more sharp, distinct, and have the addition of more red ink. The story alone will be appealing to children, but the illustrations are what stands out and make this retelling a classic.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
BOOKLIST: "The ink-wash portraits of the exuberant young dragons are probably reason enough to buy this book; readers of any age will marvel at how much Young can accomplish with just a few sinuous strokes of his brush."

5. CONNECTIONS
* Find other retelling of the Dragon King and compare and contrast them to Young's.
* Practice painting dragons with ink and brush.
* Look at Chinese architecture for the son's legacies.
* Read other Chinese folktales including:
TWO OF EVERYTHING: A CHINESE FOLKTALE by Lily Toy Hong. ISBN 0807581577
MOUSE MATCH: A CHINESE FOLKTALE by Ed Young. ISBN 0152014535
THE JADE STONE: A CHINESE FOLKTALE by Caryn Yacowitz. ISBN 1589803590

Alvin Schwartz Folklore Connection

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Schwartz, Alvin. 1991. SCARY STORIES 3: MORE TALES TO CHILL YOUR BONES. Ill. by Stephen Gammell. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060217944

2. PLOT SUMMARY
This spooky and eerie collection of scary stories is folklore at its creepiest. Schwartz has put together his third edition of ghost stories, legends from around the world, and both ancient and modern folklore. There is also a detailed bibliography of books and articles related to the stories and folklore. Following the stories are comprehensive notes and sources explaining where each story originated from. Some stories such as "The Trouble", in which a teenage poltergeist was suspected of causing household disturbances, are based on existing records.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This collection of stories is an ideal collection of folklore, perfect for reading aloud, or to whisper in the dark. Some retellings may be familiar to young readers, but most will not be, and readers are bound to be enthralled with the varied assortment of stories. Most stories are short, with perfect surprise and unforseen endings. Stephen Gammell's black and white drawings match Schwartz' text perfectly. The drawings are macabre and ghastly, with bulging eyes, long pointy teeth, and exquisite depictions of ghouls and ghosts. The notes and souces section remains interesting even for younger readers, drawing them in to learn more about the origins of each story.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Perfect for reading alone or aloud in a dimly lit room."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Guaranteed to make your teeth chatter and your spine tingle."

5. CONNECTIONS
* Turn off the lights in the room, light candles, play spooky music and read some of these tales.
* Pretend to have a campfire; sit around it eating marshmallows, and read some of these.
* Take turns changing the stories slightly to make them more spooky.
* Read other spooky tales including:
IN A DARK, DARK ROOM AND OTHER SCARY STORIES by Alvin Schwartz. ISBN 0064440907
SPOOKY CAMPFIRE STORIES by Amy Kelley. ISBN 1560448679
STORIES FOR AROUND THE CAMPFIRE by Ray Harriot. ISBN 0961765305

Genre 2 Traditional Literature: Cinderella variant

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
San Souci, Robert D. 1998. CENDRILLON: A CARIBBEAN CINDERELLA. Ill. by Brian Pinkney. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689848889

2. PLOT SUMMARY
San Souci and Pinkney collaborate for this Cinderella variation, set on the Caribbean island of Martinique. Told from the godmother's perspective, with pepperings of French Creole, this version incorporates, but alters somewhat, the traditional elements of a Cinderella story. The godmother, a poor washerwoman, is left a magic wand, and discovers she has the power to help her goddaughter. Cendrillon's mother dies, and Cendrillon is forced into a miserable life of servitude for her mean stepmother and stepsister. The godmother evokes magic from her wand to transform many objects for the ball, including turning breadfruit and agoutis (rodents) into a coach and horses. In traditional Cinderella fashion, the lost slipper fits only Cendrillon, the prince loves her for who she is, and they are married in a lavish wedding.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This story utilizes many traditional elements found in folktales, such as single-faceted characters who are either good or evil. The plot is satisfying and logically sequential. The story also lends itself to being read orally,and magic elements and transformations are successfully incorporated into the style. Pinkney's vibrant, overflowing scratchboard, luma dies, gouache, and oil paints with their rich, colorful hues, and many beautiful borders encompass the text. This story should have a wide appeal to young listeners who will enjoy a different Cinderella variant from another culture.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "The result is an outstanding Cinderella variant for any collection."
BOOKLIST: "A vital rendition of an old favorite."

5. CONNECTIONS
* Compare and contrast this Cinderella version to other Cinderella variants.
Look to compare such things as:
Cinderella's name
Prince Charming
Fairy Godmother
Country of origin
Are magical numbers used?
How does good triumph over evil?
Are there lessons or morals to each story?
* Look on a globe to see where other Cinderella variations take place.
* Have students write their own Cinderella story, perhaps taking place in another time or place.
* Other Cinderella variations include:
THE ROUGH-FACE GIRL by Rafe Martin, illus. by David Shannon. ISBN 06898116267
SOOTFACE: AN OJIBWA CINDERELLA STORY by Robert D. San Souci, illus. by Daniel San Souci. ISBN 044041363X
BIGFOOT CINDERRRRRELLA by Tony Johnston, illus. by James Warhola. 0698118715
PRINCE CINDERS by Babette Cole. ISBN 0698115546

Creation of Children's Picture Books

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cummings, Pat. 1999. Talking with Artists. New York, NY: Clarion Books.
ISBN 0395891329

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In the third volume of the series, Pat Cummings interviews thirteen children's book illustrators. Each conversation with an artist follows the same format. First, the illustrator talks about their childhood and how they became interested in becoming an artist. They then answer questions about their everyday life and their work. Each artist also includes tips or advice for aspiring young artists.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Cummings presentation of each artist is done in a way which most children will find appealing and approachable. Each artist including Peter Sis, and Paul O. Zelinsky have pictures of themself and artwork from their childhood. There is also a present day photograph and a recent illustration from each artist. Many of the artists have included photographs of their children or pets as well. Children who are interested in artwork or illustrating will find this title interesting, and will enjoy features such as what a normal day is like to the artist, and how they were able to get their first artwork published. The text is conversational and reachable for children. Some of the artists may not be familiar to the readers, and they therefore may not be interested in reading about these less familiar names. This book lacks information for children doing research on particular illustrators, such as how many books they have illustrated or the titles of each one.

4. REVIEW EXERPTS
School Library Journal: "While many readers will find the artists' tips that conclude the volume useful, all will appreciate these insightful conversations."
Booklist: "A special treat for budding artists and wonderful for teachers."

5. CONNECTIONS
* Pair a book written or illustrated by one of the featured artists with the corresponding information about the artist.
* After learning about the specific artistic techniques an illustator prefers, compare multiple books by that illustrator to see if their techniques vary. Compare earlier to later works to see if changes in techniques can be observed.
* Have the children try out some of the artists' secret techniques, such as Kevin Hawkes method for drawing an eye, or Peter Catalanotto's way to make an object look like it's moving.

Picture Book illustrated by Chris Raschka

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Juster, Norman, 2005. The Hello, Goodbye Window. Ill. by Chris Raschka. Michael di Capua Books.
ISBN 0786809140

2. PLOT SUMMARY
A little girl's Nanna and Poppy have a special "Hello, Goodbye Window" in the kitchen of their home. Life happens on both sides of the window; family stories are shared along with giggles, stars are counted, and good mornings are said to the garden. The little girl and her grandparents experience everyday happy moments including making breakfast and gardening, until the girl's parents pick her up to go home. The little girl imagines a time when she might be a Nanna herself, and she envisions her own special Hello, Goodbye Window.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Juster's writing flows well in this story, with simple yet expressive text. Reaching its youngest listeners, the text allows readers to think about their own pleasant experiences with grandparents. Feelings come alive through the words and the use of language, such as Poppy saying in a real loud voice out the window, "HELLO, WORLD! WHAT HAVE YOU GOT FOR US TODAY?"
Raschka's loose and colorful watercolors help to bring the story to life. The illustrations are playful and joyous, and they encompass the text, enhancing the story. The looseness of lines and details in the illustrations correspond directly to the happy text, allowing readers to think of a simpler time.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred Review from The School Library Journal: "The artwork is at once lively and energetic."
Starred Review from Booklist: "Raschka's swirling lines, swaths, and dabs of fruity colors seem especially vibrant..."

5. CONNECTIONS
* Talk about the role grandparents play in our lives and the special things we do with them.
* Read other picture books about relationships with grandparents, including:
Uslnader, Arlene. That's What Grandparents are For. ISBN 0939217600
Hamanaka, Sheila. Grandparent's Song. ISBN 0688178529
Gritz, Ona. Tangerines and Tea, My Grandparents and Me: An Alphabet Book. ISBN 0810958716

Caldecott Winning Picture Book Review

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Wiesner, David. 2001. The Three Pigs. New York, NY: Clarion Books.
ISBN 0618007016

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Wiesner's retelling of the classic story, The Three Little Pigs, takes a decidedly different twist. The story begins the way we remember, with the three pigs building their houses, and the Big, Bad Wolf blowing down the houses to eat the pigs up. This time, however, the first pig gets blown right out of the story; he then gets the other pigs to follow him. The three pigs then travel, having their own adventures outside the confines of the book. Adventures abound, as the three pigs meet up with the cat and the fiddle, and a dragon, both who join them in their trek.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Wiesner's retelling of the story is fresh, witty, and enthralling. His illustrations unfold using a multitude of techniques and medi, including watercolor, gouache, colored inks, and colored pencils. A feast for the eyes, the characters lifelike expressions are both comical and endearing. The use of shadowing further enhances the illustrations, allowing the pigs to look more realistic. From their wrinkled pig noses, to their raised eyebrows and opened mouths for speech bubbles, the colors, lines, and details are Caldecott deserving.
This is not simply a book with amazing illustrations though. The story is delightful, superbly complementing the illustrations. As the pigs travel through the story, meeting other storybook characters, the reader is easily caught up in this world. Wordless double page spreads continue the story effortlessly through the illustrations. The pigs gleeful exhuberance is contagious, as Wiesner plays successfully with the text, enabling the pigs to catch stray letters the cumbersome dragon bumps from the story. This new version of the age-old story is sure to be a classic for generations to come.

4. REVIEW EXERPTS
Starred Review in School Library Journal: "Witty dialogue and physical comedy abound."

Starred Review in Booklist: "Wiesner has created a funny, wildly imagined tale that encourages kids to leap beyond the familiar..."

5. CONNECTIONS
* Look at other Caldecott Medal and Honor books by David Wiesner including:
Sector 7 ISBN 0395746566
Tuesday ISBN 0395551137
Free Fall ISBN 059045983X
Compare and contrast the illustrations and media used. Discuss different types of media that may be unfamiliar to children such as gouache.

* Compare this retelling of the Three Little Pigs to other versions of the story:
Seibert, Patricia. The Three Little Pigs. ISBN 1577683676
Scieszka, Jon. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by A. Wolf. ISBN 0140540563
Trivizas, Eugene. The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig. ISBN 068981528X