The Art Lesson (1989)

     In The  Art  Lesson, we learn that Tomie dePaola needed to advocate for himself in school. Before he entered kindergarten, young Tommy aspires to be an artist. “He drew pictures everywhere he went.” His family honors his drawings by displaying them at home and at work. Grandma Fall River puts one in a  frame  alongside special family photos. But school is different.

    Kindergarten doesn’t have an art  teacher. When his first-grade teacher distributes small boxes of crayons, she says not to “break them, peel off the paper, or wear down the points”! So Tommy eagerly anticipates his first art  lesson with the school art teacher. But wait—the art teacher instructs the class to copy her drawings. “Copy? COPY?” Tommy must speak up. His talent and skill require special  consideration.

     I love how the pictures and text in this book complement each other. Story details are first implied and then revealed several pages later. My personal favorite is the realization that Tommy’s many drawings have colors only possible using the eight crayons in a  regular box. He doesn’t receive a box of 64 colors from his family until first grade.

 

This story is read aloud on Learn With Me Mrs. Sullivan.

My Picture Book Talk for this story is here. 

This lesson is read aloud on my YouTube channel.

In Coal Country (1987)

         Judith Hendershot’s In Coal Country has a matter-of-fact style that reads like nonfiction. There’s no plot, just memories of the land, the work, the play, and the family life in a coal camp in the 1930s.  Hendershot shares little emotion, so Thomas B. Allen’s illustrations cannot reveal them. Mostly, the people in each scene come in second to the landscape and the coal operation.

     I wanted this book to show childhood in a mining town from the perspective of youthful innocence and joy. It does not. Instead, the book presents scenarios with little warm nostalgia. As I searched for background knowledge, my hope faded. Consequently, there are two lessons for this book. Lesson 1 addresses only the explicit text. Lesson 2 challenges mature readers to ask questions about the life behind the text and face some harsh reality. Lesson 2 includes many links for background knowledge. This book is packed with opportunities for research and conversation. 

     This book is read aloud online by the Puskarich Public Library Coal Museum Videos

    My Study English lesson for this book is here.

Smudge, the Little Lost Lamb (1991)

     Smudge, the Little Lost Lamb by James Herriot (1991), takes readers on an emotional roller coaster ride. When little Smudge leaves his field, he encounters a snarling dog, enormous bull, speeding traffic, and bitter cold weather. A young girl saves the bedraggled Smudge at the end of his adventure, and the lamb learns that the world holds loving kindness. Ruth Brown’s gorgeous two-page spreads illustrate the countryside of the Yorkshire Dales, United Kingdom.

     Yet, Herriot invites deep thinkers to expand upon a superficial reading when he identifies Smudge as the kind of lamb who isn’t  “happy until they’ve found a way out of the field.”  Smudge plays with his peers just fine, but he becomes bored. He doesn’t run away from home; rather, he seeks the whole world to explore. “Oh, the sensation of freedom was wonderful. . .” Given Smudge’s exceptional nature, what do we make of the ending: “He would never ever try to get out of the field again.” ?

This story is read aloud online by Storytime with Will.

My Picture Book Talk for this story is here. 

Jake the Philharmonic Dog (2006)

     Jake the Philharmonic Dog, by Karen LeFrak, parallels environmental sounds with instrumental. In this way, Richie and his dog Jake build readers a bridge to the  symphony. Marcin Baranski’s illustrations of Jake will appeal to younger children. Since her only human characters are adults, this book is also accessible to older readers. LeFrak interprets the sounds in our surroundings as music. When Jake barks, he’s in conversation with these sounds, and he plays his part in a natural orchestra.  He associates the music of the woodwind section with birdsong he’s heard in the park. The percussion section reminds him of thunder and sends him running circles in fear. When the string section calms Jake, we realize the author has conveyed the emotional power of music.

This story hints at the narrative and evocative elements of classical music, which music teachers could expand upon. In the fall of 2022, the “grand concert hall” we see in this book reopened as the David Geffen Hall. The New York Philharmonic’s new space and updated programming give us all a new opportunity to enjoy the symphony.

This story is read aloud online by Morgan McWethy.

"Slowly, slowly, slowly," said the Sloth (2003)

      The book "Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," said the Sloth  by Eric Carle reminds us that slow is OK. The sloth is a slow-moving creature in a world where every other creature moves quickly. Even a turtle passes by, its gradual travel faster than the sloth. Yet the sloth is perceptive and self-confident. We’re pleasantly surprised and impressed with the sloth's answer to his neighbor’s question. Its usual silence conceals a wealth of knowledge and deep self-respect. Children who identify with the sloth will experience validation. Children who move quickly through the world will gain insight – seeing the world from someone else's perspective.

 

This story can be found at Art with Ms. Steratore.

This is a revised version of a previous lesson for this book.

Square (2018)

     Square is a brilliant drama about artistic process. Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen display combined genius in this compelling story. Square is an earnest character who exerts a whole lot of effort at his simple, repetitive job. In contrast, Circle floats on air (notice the shadow beneath her shape). Circle looks at Square’s work and sees art. She asks him to sculpt a block in her image. Square is not at all sure he’s up to the challenge.

     As we might expect, Square has a preconceived process and outcome in mind. He works with the fervor, diligence, and vulnerability of an artist. Alas, he despairs at the outcome. Square does not think outside the box, but his work ethic invites imagination to manifest. And we get to witness the dynamic nature of creativity! Square’s finished product is dazzling! Circle confirms his genius, but Barnett and Klassen are not finished. Before we close the book, they offer a fruitful topic for conversation.

     This story is read aloud online by Shon’s Stories. 

    My Picture Book Talk for this story is here. 

     This lesson is read aloud on my YouTube channel.

A Boy and a Jaguar (2014)

     A Boy and A Jaguar by world renowned Alan Rabinowitz is a true story. While Alan’s stuttered speech is a significant part of this autobiography, “the promise” is highlighted on the cover. The young Alan promises to serve as the voice for big cats everywhere. As an adult, one way he does so is with this book.

     Many children and adults who stutter will identify with Alan’s struggle to speak. First, Dr. Rabinowitz’ memories remind stutterers that they are not alone. Then, he transforms his struggle to speak into a world-wide mission to save jaguars and other endangered big cats. CáTia Chien’s illustrations capture the intimacy of Alan’s interactions with people, animals, and his surroundings. Most especially, the illustration and text at the end of this book will take your breath away.

      Lexile AD670L

     This story is read aloud online by Read Alouds.

      My Picture Book Talk for this story is here. 

     This lesson is read aloud on my YouTube channel .

Once A Mouse . . . (1961)

 

        Once A Mouse: A Fable Cut in Wood by Marcia Brown, earned a Caldecott medal. Her stunning wood cut prints illustrate this story. She successfully captures the characters’ actions and emotions. The hermit’s face is thoughtful and compassionate. The animals transform from terrified prey to ferocious predators.

At the beginning of this Indian fable, we meet a hermit, who sits  “thinking about big and little”.  Suddenly, he hurries to save a mouse, and we admire his compassion.  When a cat approaches, the hermit magically changes the mouse into another cat. No longer little, the cat can defend itself. That night, a dog barks, and the hermit changes his cat into a dog. When the mouse becomes a handsome, royal tiger, it swells with pride. The hermit chides the tiger. “There is no need to give yourself such airs.” After the hermit defends himself against the ungrateful tiger,  we wonder what he thinks about big and little at the end of the story.

This story is read aloud on KidLitTV.

My Picture Book Talk for this story is here. 

This lesson is read aloud on my YouTube channel.

Elizabeti's Doll (1999)

 

     Elizabeti’s Doll by Stephani Stuve-Bodeen is the story of a young girl who mimics her mother’s the maternal care through symbolic play. There are no baby dolls in her village in rural Tanzania, so a rock fills in. Christy Hale’s illustrations have a rich warmth that reinforces the care expressed in this story. Elizabeti’s Doll won the 1999 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award.

    Elizabeti’s relationship to the rock develops over the course of the story.  As Elizabeti imitates her mother’s tender care for her baby brother, the rock-doll undergoes a transformation. First, Elizabeti hugs her rock-doll, kisses it, and names it Eva. Second, she copies basic caretaking: washing and feeding. Third, Eva becomes a constant companion. Elizabeti carries Eva on her back while doing chores and takes Eva to visit a friend. Fourth, Elizabeti ordains Eva with emotion by placing it with other rocks, so it won’t be lonely. Fifth, when Eva is lost, she can’t be replaced. Any other rock “is just a rock.”  Finally, at the end of the story, the rock thinks that Elizabeti will make a fine mother.  Elizabeti’s Doll is read aloud by  Janice Sneller. This lesson is read aloud on my YouTube channel.