Module 1: The Big Winners-- Picture Books

Kasza, Keiko. My Lucky Day. New York: Puffin Books, 2003.

Summary:

When a piglet arrives on foxes doorstop, fox thinks it is his lucky day. He is ready to eat piglet, when piglet outfoxes fox by having fox give him a bath, a massage, and fix him dinner. When fox passes out exhausted, piglet makes his getaway, chuckling that it is his lucky day! At the end, piglet plans which animal will be the next victim on his list. 

Impressions: A true crowd pleaser, this book contains all of the elements to make it not only award-winning, but loved by all! Subtle and not so subtle humor is interspersed, with a great surprise ending. The illustrations are vivid and bright, with the animals having wonderful expressions on their faces. This book was nominated for (and won) the California Young Reader Medal in 2007. When I read it to all of the students at my school, it was far and away the favorite! Laugh out loud funny and enjoyable for even the youngest of listeners, and older ones alike.

Reviews:

School Library Journal:

 A good choice for storyhours as well as one-on-one readings.

Booklist:

 Reminiscent of her earlier Wolf's Chicken Stew (1987), this well-paced, delightful book plays on traditional story patterns, enhanced byasza's lively illustrations. Children will relate this tale to the humor of a child outwitting a grown-up. 

Publisher's Weekly:

Kasza's gouache art is as buoyant and comical as her narrative, and she skillfully uses multiple vignettes to convey the fox's arduous preparations. The animals' facial expressions alone could carry this tale. 

Horn Book Magazine:

The text, with its lively dialogue and effective repeating scheme, is pitched perfectly to preschoolers; the illustrations are some of the most expressive Kasza has ever done (and that's saying a lot), full of narrative propulsion and humorous detail.