Text
1. The text of a children's book is usually organized into simple
sentences and short paragraphs. How is the text organized in the book
that you have chosen to review? Explain whether this organization was
sufficient for the story that this book is telling.
The text design, words printed in clearly spaced bubbles, there are blue text boxes and conversations in pink speech balloons.This particular type of text helps the students see who is talking; the author or the characters in the book.
2. Children's book authors often employ literary tools to help make the
story more vivid in the readers minds. Commonly used literary tools are
rhythm, alliteration, repetition, refrains, onomatopoeia, simile,
personification, rhyme, and imagery. Identify three different areas in
the text where a literary tool has been employed. For each example you
identify, state the type of literary tool that is used and how the
employment of the tool helps support the story.
Personification is used all throughout the picturebook Personifcation is when you assign the qualities of a person to something that isn't human, which is the explains the main character in the book, Lucy---a bear, but talks, acts, and wears clothing like a human. This is what makes the book humorous because the author is switching the roles (the bear is human- like and the boy is a pet to her).
Repetition is used by (the pet) boy all throughout the story. The sound that Lucy hears from the boy is "squeak." Just like humans don't understand what animals are saying--- Lucy didn't understand what the boy was saying.
Onomatopoeia is the imitation of a sound. When Squeaker disappeared there was a moment where she gave up all hope of finding him and she sat on a log and began to cry and her speech bubble said "Snif Snif"-- which students would associate with crying.
3. Identify two areas in the text that use a question or other device to help move the reader to the next page.
(Lucy followed Squeaker's scent this way and that, across the entire forest until finally...)
Images
1. Some picture books have an images on the front cover that presents
the main conflict or point of the story. Identify two or more elements
from the front cover of the book you are reviewing and explain how they
relate to the story.
In the image on the cover of the picture book I chose, you can clearly see by the smile on the bears face and the hearts beaming above her head that she clearly loves the boy she is holding in her hands. The confused look on the boys face clearly shows that the boy might not quit understand why a bear is holding him.
2. What is the primary medium (collage, drawings, photographs, etc.) used in the images?
The primary medium used in the images were drawings.
3. Identify the image that in your opinion is the most effective in
developing the story as a whole. Explain how two or more elements in the
illustration help support and develop the story. If you can, insert a
screenshot of the image into your blog.
In this image Lucy's mom finally gives into her, letting her keep the pet (boy). "Oh, alright, you can keep him on ONE condition: Squeaker is YOUR responsibility. I will not take care of him for you."--- this a phrase that you hear many human moms say to their children. I chose this image because from this point on you knew that the little girl (bear) was going to be in over her head trying to take care of the boy on her own.
4. Identify two elements that are repeated throughout a majority of the
images. Explain how these elements support the story. If you can insert
a screenshot into your blog.
One element repeated throughout most of the story is the characters being in nature... green grass, plants, trees etc.
The second element repeated throughout most of the story wooden like framing around the outside of the pages.
5. Find an example of how the images and text work together to create
irony,metaphor and/or metonymy. If you can insert a screeenshot of the
image into your blog.
Irony- The little girl (bear) is so excited to tell her mom about what she had found (the boy). It is ironic because humans are normally the one finding animals and wanting to keep them as pets, not the other way around.
Characterization
1. What is the easily identifiable dominant trait of the story's main character?
She is a very friendly and cheerful bear.
2. Identify a character trait of the main character that is established through the text.
She is a very "girly" bear-- in the opening of the book the text stated "she was practicing her twirls and singing."
3. Identify a character trait of the main character that is established through the images.
You can clearly tell that Lucy is bigger than Squeaker so he’d look even more like a
pet.
4. Identify two character traits of the main character that young children identify or sympathize with.
Lucy wants a pet (much like all young children do), and when the boy goes missing the girl is terribly upset--- students my identify with this because one of their pets may have ran away.
5. What was the main problem that the main character faces in the book?
How is this problem similar to a problem that most children have faced
before?
The main problem that Lucy faces is having the responsibility of of owing a pet. It shows children in a child like manner that pets are fun, but a lot of work and they need to think about those things before they decide they want a pet.
6. Sometimes a children's book character will solve the main conflict
on his or her own. How did the character in the book you selected turn
to self-reliance to solve the main conflict of the story?
Once Lucy picked up the boys scent and followed him clear across the entire forest, she came to an opening where her "pet" and his family where having dinner--- Lucy then realized that he was better of with his family even though she knew she would miss him she said her goodbyes.
Resources
Brown, P. (2010).
Children make terrible pets. New York: Little, Brown.
