Easy Work! An Old Tale retold by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Andrew Glass

Bibliography:

Kimmel, Eric A. 1998. Easy work! an old tale. Ill. by Andrew Glass. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0823413497

Plot:

Kimmel takes a traditional Norwegian tale of a man and woman switching roles and sets it on America’s frontier. Mr. and Mrs. McTeague travel the Oregon Trail to a new life.  When Mr. McTeague comes home each night worn from his hard work clearing the land for their farm, he is doubtful that Mrs. McTeague’s responsibilities can cause nearly so much fatigue.  Mrs. McTeague’s suggestion that they switch roles for a day results in a predictably humorous disaster as he discovers that Mrs. McTeague’s jobs may not be such “easy work.”

Analysis:

As he describes in an author’s note at the end of the text, Kimmel was inspired to write this story by an anecdote from the life of suffragette Abigail Scott Duniway in which she listens to a farmer boast of the life of ease his wife enjoyed and discovers that the wife is at home chopping firewood. Kimmel found a connection between Mrs. Duniway’s experience and the traditional Norwegian tale “The Husband who Was to Mind the House” and set his version of the tale on Oregon’s frontier. Mrs. McTeague is portrayed in the story as hardworking like the farmer’s wife, patient in face of her husband’s complaining, and forgiving of the mess that he creates while the husband comes across as bumbling, boastful, and inept.

The American setting does not alter the tale much from the original.  Both versions challenge the concept of gender roles and “men’s work” versus “women’s work” in a way that may seem obvious to a modern reader but would have been more revolutionary when the tale originated.

Glass’s illustrations complement the story well especially capturing the comic aspects of the story in vivid colors.  The colloquialisms used in the dialogue by Mr. McTeague connect to the oral tradition of storytelling.

Awards & Reviews: 

From Booklist: “Kimmel’s version of a story that has become a staple of feminist folktale collections will be a cheery alternative to, say, P. C. Asbjornsen and J. E. Moe’s The Man Who Kept House (1992) and a good replacement for Wanda Gag’s out-of-print Gone Is Gone.”

School Library Journal review: “ . . . Easy Work would make an enjoyable addition to most collections.”

Connections:

• Use in a storytime with farm stories. 
• Use in conjunction with other texts both fiction and nonfiction about the Oregon Trail (especially Apples to Oregon by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter)
• Share the author note that details Kimmel’s inspiration for the story and make connections to women’s rights/suffrage.
• For older children, this story would be good to compare with its other versions and variants:

Asbjørnsen, Peter Christen, and Jørgen Engebretsen Moe. 1963. East of the sun and west of the moon and other tales. New York: Macmillan. 

Gág, Wanda. 1935. Gone is gone, or, The story of a man who wanted to do housework. New York: Coward-McCann, Inc.

Goode, Diane. 1992. Diane Goode's book of silly stories & songs. New York: Dutton Children's Books. ISBN 0525449671

Gurvin, Abe. 1968. The husband who was to mind the house. New York: Young Readers Press.

Littledale, Freya, and Molly Delaney. 1987. The farmer in the soup: retold from the Norse Tale, the husband who was to mind the house. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0590401947

The Three Little Pigs: The Graphic Novel Retold by Lisa Trumbauer

Bibliography:

Trumbauer, Lisa. 2009. The three little pigs: the graphic novel. Ill. by Aaron Blecha. Minneapolis: Stone Arch Books. ISBN 1434211959

Plot:

The plot of this graphic novel retelling of The Three Little Pigs stays true to the familiar premise of the tale.  The three pigs are sent out into the world to make their own way by the mother pig and construct dwellings of straw, sticks, and bricks.  When the big bad wolf visits the first two pigs he is easily able to huff and puff their houses away and capture the pigs.  When he is unsuccessful in blowing down the brick house, he invites the third pig on three different outings, but the wily pig is able to get home safely from each one. 

Fed up, the wolf climbs down the chimney into the kettle full of boiling water, scalding his tail and sending him running away.  The third pig rescues his brothers who have not yet been eaten and helps them build sturdier houses for themselves.  It seems as though the brothers will live happily after, but the book ends with the wolf cooling his tail, growing hungrier and plotting his revenge.

Analysis:

The story is told through a comic book/graphic novel format with an overall dark feeling to the artwork.  The artwork lacks the cartoon cuteness of many picture retellings with very messy piggish pigs and a sinister, toothy wolf.  The style may appeal to older audiences, but this selection still offers a faithful retelling of the traditional tale that is capable of drawing in younger readers who are new to the story as well.  The panels contain enough dialogue and transitional text to develop the characters, but the momentum of the story relies, as it should for this format, on the graphic elements.

The plot sequence involving the wolf attempting to lure the third pig out of his home to pick turnips and apples and attend the fair is one that is often left out of picture book retellings and may be unexpected or new to readers who are familiar with this tale, but it serves to further portray the third pig brother as a clever and resourceful adversary for the wolf.  The supposedly weaker animal who outwits the stronger villain is a common element in many folktales, and Trumbauer is able to develop these characters to fit the archetype.

The end of the book contains several interesting extras including a brief history of the three pigs folktale, discussion questions, writing prompts, and an internet site to enrich the book experience.  These elements offer both teachers and individual readers ways to extend the reading experience.

Awards & Reviews:

15 Best Illustrated Children’s Books 2009 honoree by Ashbooks Book Community

School Library Journal review: “The wolf is particularly menacing and its curved claws and glowing green eyes will remain in children's thoughts at the end of the tale as it lies in wait.”

Connections:

• Compare to other Three Little Pig variants and versions. This book will lend itself to conversations about artistic style because of the distinct comic book elements and creepy visuals.
• Explore the book extensions offered in the book such as discussion questions and writing prompts. 
• Encourage children to create comic books/graphic novels of other familiar stories. 
• More folk tales in graphic novel format:

Dahl, Michael, and Luke Feldman. 2009. Beauty and the beast: the graphic novel. Mankato, Minn: Stone Arch Books.  ISBN 143420765X

Hoena, B. A., and Ricardo Tercio. 2009. Jack and the beanstalk: the graphic novel. Mankato, Minn: Stone Arch Books. ISBN 1434207668

Powell, Martin, and Erik Valdez y Alanis. 2009. Rumpelstiltskin: the graphic novel. Mankato, Minn: Stone Arch Books.  ISBN 1434207684

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Bibliography:

Taback, Simms. 1999. Joseph had a little overcoat. New York: Viking.  ISBN 0670878553

Plot:

Based on a traditional Yiddish folk song, Taback’s tale follows the titular character as he takes his old and frayed overcoat and repurposes it into increasingly smaller garments as each one wears down.  In the end, Joseph loses the button, the smallest portion of the overcoat he has left, but he takes the nothing he has left and creates the book.

Analysis:

The text is simple and repetitive in structure as Joseph goes through smaller and smaller fragments of his overcoat, but the collage illustrations support it beautifully with bright colors and humorous and subtle details.  The book also incorporates die-cut holes in the pages that provide clues about what garment Joseph will create next.  This clever device is itself a type of recycling, utilizing the previous illustration to make the next and reinforcing Joseph’s actions in the story.  The illustrations also support the cultural roots of the source material, from the dress style of the characters to the Yiddish phrases in the background.

The cumulative nature of this folk tale will help younger readers to engage in the story by anticipating and predicting what comes next.  This pattern of refrain will be a familiar storytelling device to most readers which will likely increase its appeal.

Awards & Reviews:

2000 Caldecott Medal

2000 ALA Notable Children’s Book

From Publisher’s Weekly: “With its effective repetition and an abundance of visual humor, this is tailor-made for reading aloud.”

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

Booklist: “Taback's mixed-media and collage illustrations are alive with warmth, humor, and humanity.”

Connections:

·        Use in a storytime about clothing or getting dressed.

·        Since the story is based on a song, teach the children the English version included in the book.  Try to find a recording of the Yiddish version as well.

·        Use the book to introduce a discussion of reuse or recycling or for a craft program that repurposes used paper or fabric.

·        Other picture books that use die-cut pages to enhance the story or illustrations:

Carle, Eric. 1987. The very hungry caterpillar. [New York]: Philomel Books. ISBN 0399208534

Emberley, Ed. 1992. Go away, big green monster! Boston: Little, Brown. ISBN 0316236535

MacDonald, Suse. 2009. Shape by shape. New York: Little Simon. ISBN 1416971475

Taback, Simms. 1997. There was an old lady who swallowed a fly. New York: Viking. ISBN 0670869392

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog by Mo Willems

Bibliography:

Willems, Mo. 2004. The pigeon finds a hot dog! New York: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786818697

Plot:

The pigeon, a beloved character from Willems’s earlier book, finds a hot dog, as the title suggests.  Duckling comes along and is immediately interested in the find.  Through uncluttered illustrations, the story unfolds, with Duckling’s questions showing an ever-increasing desire for the hot dog and Pigeon demonstrating a rising frustration.  In the end, the two share the hot dog, just as it seems the Duckling intended all along.

Analysis:

As a sequel to the Caldecott Honor Book Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, this installment features the same emotive, wily Pigeon.  He may have met his match in the Duckling, whose sly questioning provokes but ultimately leaves the Pigeon with only once choice:  to share.  The simplicity of the crayon drawings, the pastel colors, and the lack of background scenery highlight these characters and complement the sparse dialogue that is the book’s only text.  Willems is able to convey much humor and expression despite the lack of complexity in both drawing and text. 

Awards & Reviews:
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, Editor’s Pick, and Starred Review:  "Readers of all ages won't be able to resist miming the sly conversation in this satisfying sequel.”

School Library Journal review: “Willems's deceptively simple cartoon drawings convincingly portray his protagonist's emotional dilemma.”

Horn Book Magazine review:  “Maybe the pigeon's shtick isn't as original this time around, but he's such an engaging character that it's still a treat to see him again.”

Connections:

•  Use with preschool children in storytime or lesson about sharing.  Ask if they can predict what the Duckling’s idea is before the last page.  Eat hot dogs as a snack.
•  For older children, use in conjunction with comic strip collections and compare to Willems’s cartoonish characters.  Have children write their own comic panels.
• Allow children to visit www.mowillems.com or www.pigeonpresents.com to find out more about the author or to play Pigeon games.
• Other Pigeon books by Willems:

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus ISBN 078681988X
Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late ISBN 0786837462
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy ISBN 1423109600
The Duckling Gets a Cookie ISBN 1423151283

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith

Smith, Lane. 2011. Grandpa Green. New York: Roaring Brook Press.

Plot:
A young boy tells the story of his great-grandfather's life from his childhood on a farm through war, marriage, and family to his current, sometimes forgetful old age.  The boy's tale is illustrated with  topiaries that depict the stages and events of Grandpa Green's life, and in the end, readers see that Grandpa is creating these living memories in his garden.

Analysis:
This inter-generational story benefits both from the authentic voice of the young narrator and the vivid and whimsical illustrations.  The characters and background scenes are pen and ink drawings, largely black and white with pale green accents which highlight the topiaries on each page.  Each textured sculpture represents a stage or description of the grandfather's long life.  Bits of red highlight certain of the topiaries.  Each page is full of rich detail in both the topiary trees and the young narrator as he interacts with the scenery and collects all the lost items that his grandfather has forgotten.  The gatefold illustration at book's end may show the visual representation of Grandpa Green's life, but it's clear by the poignant narration that more than just the garden will remember these details and stories. 

Awards & Reviews:
Caldecott Honor Book

Junior Library Guild Selection
Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book & Starred Review:   "It's a rare glimpse into Smith's softer side--as skillful as his more sly offerings, but crafted with honesty and heart."
School Library Journal Best Book & Starred Review: "There is harmony in the overall design yet each page surprises and delights . . .  With each subsequent reading, it offers new layers of meaning and visual connections."

Kirkus Reviews: "Readers who slow down will be rewarded by this visual feast that grows richer with each visit."

Connections:

• Explore the world of topiaries through nonfiction and websites (http://gonewengland.about.com/library/blgranimals1.htm,  http://www.ladewgardens.com/HOME.aspx)
• Plan an inter-generational program that involves older family members helping children create illustrations for a grandparent biography or a family history.
• Other multi-generational and family stories:

Stewart, Sarah. 1997. The gardener. Ill. by David Small.  New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. ISBN 031236749X

Say, Allen. 1993. Grandfather's journey. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395570352

DePaola, Tomie. 1973. Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs. New York: Putnam. ISBN 0399203001

Juster, Norton, and Christopher Raschka. 2005. The hello, goodbye window. New York: Michael di Capua Books/Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786809140

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Keats, Ezra Jack. 1962. The snowy day. New York: Viking Press. ISBN 0670654000

Plot:

Peter wakes up one morning to find his world covered in a blanket of snow.  He sets off in his snowsuit to explore and experience, bringing home a snowball souvenir in his pocket.  He dreams that all the snow is melted but wakes to find more snow falling and sets off on another adventure at book's end, this time with a friend.

Analysis:

The Snowy Day has long been considered a classic of children's literature.  Were it written today, it would still be notable for its illustrations, a mixture of watercolor and collage accompanying the text that captures the day with both wonder and realism.  Fifty years ago when the book was originally published, its depiction of Peter, an African-American protagonist, was nothing short of revolutionary in the world of children's books and gave a generation of African American children a book character who looked like them and lived where they lived. 

The illustrations depict an urban landscape in bright colors that is obscured by mountains and drifts of snow.  Keats's city snow is no pristine or pastoral white but rather washed with hints of pale colors against which Peter's bright red snowsuit boldly shines.  The simple text is brought to life by the pictures that follow the words of the story faithfully.  The dilemma of the melted snowball from his pocket is one that will resonate with young readers, while the ending promises Peter and readers another chance to experience a snowy day.

Awards & Reviews:

1963 Caldecott Medal

New York Public Library’s 150 most influential books of the 20th century

Publisher's Weekly review: "pays homage to the wonder and pure pleasure a child experiences when the world is blanketed in snow."

From Book Links:  "The author brought bold, bright color and collage to the forefront of children's literature."

Connections:

• Share this book with other Keats books featuring Peter (Peter's Chair, A Letter to Amy, Whistle for Willie, Hi, Cat!, Pet Show, and Goggles) to show children how the character grows and develops over time.  Ask children to pick out elements or events that show Peter is maturing.
• Explore the Ezra Jack Keats Virtual Exhibit at the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at The University of Southern Mississippi (http://www.lib.usm.edu/legacy/degrum/public_html/keats/main.html)
• Study other books and illustrators who use collage such as  Eric Carle, Lois Ehlert, Leo Lionni.
• Other books about winter/snow:

Briggs, Raymond. The Snowman ISBN 0241100046

Fleming, Denise. The First Day of Winter ISBN 0805073841

London, Jeremy.  Froggy Gets Dressed ISBN 0670842494