SLIS 5420
Module 2
January 25-31

Corduroy

By Don Freeman

Freeman, Don. Corduroy. Viking Press, 1968. ISBN: 00670241334

Synopsis:
Corduroy is a bear for sale in a department store. Corduroy is sad because he is missing a button from his overalls. Corduroy crawls down from the display that night and goes about the department store trying to find his button. The night guard finds him and puts him back in his rightful place. Then a little girl named Lisa comes the very first thing that day and takes him home. She sews a button on his overalls, and they become friends.

My View of the World
Corduroy is very endearing as he searches for his button so that someone will want to take him home. The pictures are eye-catching and will capture students’ attention. Corduroy’s story will be something to which students can relate because everyone wants a friend growing up. Almost all children growing up have a teddy bear, and that is just one more reason that students are able to relate to Corduroy.

Book Reviews
Poor Corduroy, he has been sitting on the store shelf for a long time. A young girl named Lisa falls in love with Corduroy despite his missing button and shopworn look. It is a heartwarming story of the small stuffed bear's desire for a home and friends and his obtaining perfect fulfillment in the devotion of Lisa. Caldecott award winning illustrator Freeman created a book that has lasted for generations.
Children's Literature from BarnesandNoble.com

“Have you ever dreamed of being locked in a department store at night? The endearing story of Corduroy paints a picture of the adventures that might unfold (for a teddy bear at least) in such a situation. When all the shoppers have gone home for the night, Corduroy climbs down from the shelf to look for his missing button. It's a brave new world! He accidentally gets on an elevator that he thinks must be a mountain and sees the furniture section that he thinks must be a palace. He tries to pull a button off the mattress, but he ends up falling off the bed and knocking over a lamp. The night watchman hears the crash, finds Corduroy, and puts him back on the shelf downstairs. The next morning, he finds that it's his lucky day! A little girl buys him with money she saved in her piggy bank and takes him home to her room. Corduroy decides that this must be home and that Lisa must be his friend. “ Amazon.com Review


In My World
I would use Corduroy to help students develop a sense of story. You could have a stuffed teddy bear be Corduroy and have students write adventures of Corduroy. This could be used in helping students to write and inspire them to derive their own stories.

Caps for Sale

SLIS 5420
Module 2
January 25-31

Caps for Sale

By Esphyr Slobodkina

Slobodkina, Esphyr. Caps for Sale. Harper Collins Publishers,1968.
ISBN: 0060257784

Synopsis:
There is a peddler who sells caps in town. However, he does not sell caps like anyone else does because he wears them all on his head. One day, he could not sell any caps, and he didn’t have any money for lunch. The peddler went for a walk outside of town and decided to take a nap with all the caps on his head. When he awoke, all the caps, except for his own, had been stolen by mischievous monkeys. The peddler realized that the monkeys were imitating him, and he threw his cap on the ground. Then he was able to retrieve his cap from the monkeys in the trees and go back to town selling his wares.

My View of the World
This book has many nostalgic memories for me from my own childhood. This is a great book for early readers because it has suspense and comedy, but it also has a very simple plot. Children will take great delight in those mischievous monkeys and their imitation of the peddler. The drawings of the peddler with all the caps on his head will be fascinating for young readers.

Book Reviews

“From an old folk tale [the author] has fashioned this bright picture book, infusing it with a humor which seems to have sprung from her own hearty enjoyment of the troubles of a peddler with a band of monkeys. “ The New York Times

“This revised edition of the classic tale about a hat peddler and some mischievous monkeys has been slightly redesigned and enlarged.” Horn Book (Spring 2009)

In My World
In the library, I would use this with early readers in kindergarten or first grade. I would use this in a display with other books in a reading week for children’s literature and as a read aloud to be available for the teacher. It can help to teach younger children colors, counting, and animal behavior, in respect to the monkeys. It can also help younger children develop vital readings skills such as prediction.

Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnes

SLIS 5420
Module 1
January 19-24

Henry & the Buccaneer Bunnies

By Carolyn Crimi

Crimi, Carolyn. Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies. Candlewick Press, 2005.
ISBN: 0-7636-2449-7

Brief Synopsis:
Henry is the son of the fearsome pirate, Barnacle Black Ear Bunny. However, Henry is more interested in reading books than in pirating. When a storm wrecks the pirate crew on a deserted island, Henry is the only bunny who knows how to survive. All the pirate bunnies appreciate just how useful books can be because of Henry’s ingenuity, and they decide to read books too.

My Version of the World
This book captured my attention because I am fascinated with anything pirate in part due to the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean. I also just loved the thought of a sweet lovable bunny as a fearsome pirate! It seems like a contradiction in terms, but John Manders’ illustrations make it believable. The pictures were interesting and eye-catching. In addition, Henry is a very lovable character, who doesn’t seem to really fit in with the others aboard ship. He is very easy for students to relate to. If anyone has ever not fit in for any reason, they empathize with Henry.

*Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award, 2007

Book Reviews
“Henry is not a typical buccaneer bunny. Instead of performing his proper pirating duties, he would rather read the books that he took from other ships. His father, the captain, is not proud of his son and the rest of the crew makes fun of him. When they are shipwrecked on a deserted island, however, it is Henry and his "book smarts" that save the day. Although the plot is weak, the illustrations are fresh and comical, and send a clear message about the importance of reading.” Lisa S. Schindler, School Library Journal, December 2005.

“... Manders' watercolor, gouache, and pencil illustrations are the highlight of this effort. His rabbit pirates have huge buckteeth and look especially comical toward the end of the book, when they are elaborately decked out in eighteenth-century finery, including feathered hats and lace trim. Bookworm Henry is rather stereotypically portrayed with huge glasses hung from a string. A story on the joys and usefulness of reading is nothing new, but the funny Buccaneer Bunnies should provide some interest, even to children who are not inspired by the lesson.” Todd Morning Copyright 2005 Booklist. December 1, 2005, Booklist.

In My World
In a library setting, this book would be a great book to read aloud to encourage children to read. It is also a good book to be used to address issues of bullying and singling out others who are different than the rest of a group. I could also use this to appeal to younger age group if they were to do any sort of thematic unit on pirates.