Interrupting Chicken
by David Ezra Stein
ISBN 978-0-7636-4168-9
Summary:
It's bedtime for little red chicken. She can't wait for Papa to read her a bedtime story. He agrees, but only if she promises not to interrupt the story. She quickly agrees and says she will be good. He attempts to read Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, and Chicken Little, but little red chicken jumps into the story, gets involved, and interrupts. A tired Papa asks little red chicken to tell him a story and she obliges. The story puts Papa to sleep and little red chicken snuggles into bed with him.My impressions:
I think this is a cute, sweet children's book. It's short enough to keep the attention of younger children and all ages will be able to relate to the story. Familiar stories such as Hansel and Gretel and Little Red Riding Hood are mentioned which kids will recognize and relate to. I recommend this book for elementary school librarians.
Professional Reviews:
Preschool-Grade 3. At bedtime, Papa prepares to read an old favorite to the little red chicken, but before beginning, he reminds her not to interrupt the story. Reassured, he begins “Hansel and Gretel,” but just as the two children approach the witch’s house, up pops the little red chicken, exclaiming “‘DON’T GO IN! SHE’S A WITCH!’ . . . THE END!” Two more attempted bedtime stories end abruptly with the little red chicken saving Little Red Riding Hood and Chicken Little. The childlike humor of this wonderfully illustrated picture book will bring belly laughs from kids, particularly those who know the original stories. Stein uses page turns dramatically to build tension, which is released each time the chicken interrupts and amends a fairy tale. Differences in medium and style differentiate between scenes taking place in the folktales and in the main story. Created with watercolor, water-soluble crayon, and pen and ink, the illustrations are vivid and dramatic. Great fun for reading aloud.Phelan, C. (2010). Interrupting chicken. Booklist, 107 (2). Retrieved from www.booklistonline.com
Having fun in the library:
1. This is a great, fun way to help get the wiggles out of kids during story time. Read the book, Interrupting Chicken, then teach them the Chicken Dance!2. For older students, I would divide them into small groups. Group 1 would use the library computers to search and find the fairy tales mentioned in the book. Group 2 would discuss an alternate ending to the book and write it down. Group 3 would write a short paragraph describing "what happens next" and Group 4 would summarize the book on a Post it Note.
Stein, D. E. (2010). Interrupting chicken. China: Candlewick Press.
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The Giving Tree
by Shel Silverstein
ISBN 978-0060586751
Summary:
A young boy befriends a tree and the two become best friends. Whenever the boy is in need (of a place to swing, a house, a place to rest) the tree generously shares herself. As the boy grows into a teenager, a man, and an older man, his needs change and the tree offers to help him however she can. She gives up her apples, her branches, and eventually her trunk for the boy.
My Impressions:
I have always liked this book. I think the tree teaches us a lesson on how we should all live life: give to others. It's comforting to have something/one in your life who you can always rely on and count on to be there for you, as the tree does for the boy. She is so willing to give up parts of herself for the boy, and in the end, they get to sit together and enjoy each other.Professional Reviews:
Not so long ago, I bought The Giving Tree on a visit to a great NY bookstore. I’d seen it before but never read it and thought it might be nice to read to my children. I based my decision to buy it on two things–I had a notion that it was an important book in the canon of children’s literature and I really liked the cover: a simple line drawing of a boy and a tree on a bright green background. Fast forward a few months and it has become one of the three or four books that *must* be read before bedtime. So I’ve now read it some 60-70 times, but here’s the strange thing: I’m still not quite sure what the moral of the story is. I realize that in this Internet age with sites like Wikipedia and Amazon and any number of blogs and review sites, I *should* be able to figure it out. But I haven’t yet and this makes writing a review a little more difficult than usual.
The story is about a little boy who loves a tree and as he grows he asks for more and more things from the tree. The tree loves the little boy and gives everything she can. Although the tree willingly gives to the boy, he never seems to be fulfilled and she grows increasingly sadder. I won’t give away the ending but it’s poignant and tender and the more I think about it, really sad for a children’s story. What I take from the story, and what I try to subtly convey to my kids when I read it, is that giving is good and important. And we should give what we can because it makes us happy to do so.
At this time of the year, I think it’s important to emphasize the “giving” nature of the holidays and not so much the “receiving” part. The Children’s Book Review is taking the message to heart and our kind and generous leader has decided to take part in the Pajama Program (http://www.pajamaprogram.org/) a non-profit organization that provides new pajamas and new books to children in need in the United States.
LaFleur, L. (2009, December 21). [Review of the book The giving tree]. The Children's Book Review. Retrieved from http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/weblog/2009/12/the-giving-tree-shel-silverstein-a-story-about-giving-and-taking.html
Having fun in the library:
1. Have the kids make their own tree. On the leaves of the tree have the students write ways in which trees help us. Answers can include: food, shelter, shade, oxygen, products for people.
2. Sequencing. Have the students put in order (#1-#5) the gifts the tree gave to the boy.
Silverstein, S. (1964). The giving tree. USA: HarperCollins Publishers.
