International Literature #3: Lizette's Green Sock



Solving problems. That was the first teaching concepts that I thought of when reading this book. Lizette's Green Sock was one of the only books I could not find at my public library. I look a trip to Barnes and Noble to review the book.



Lizette's Green Sock
by Catharina Valckx
Originally published in France



This is a wonderful book about Lizette's finding a green sock on day while taking a walk. When two of her friends start to make fun of her because she only has one green sock, she begins on a journey looking for the other sock. After searching high and low at a pond and a tall tree, she heads towards home to wash the green sock because she could not find the other one. After her mom makes her a matching sock, she has one for a hat and the other sock now serves as a fish sleeping bag!

Lizette never gives up throughout the whole book. She is determined, caring and creative. These are qualities that children should read about in children's literature. Lizette came to a bump in the road but that did not stop her. She did not have to rely on anyone other than herself. She was motivated to find the missing sock.

I went to my public library and in the suggestion box I listed Lizette's Green Sock as a book to be added to the children's book section. Hopefully, in the near future I will see this title sitting on the shelf at the library.

International Literature #2: Delicious! A Pumpkin Soup Story

Delicious!  A Pumpkin Soup Story
written and illustrated by Helen Cooper
Originally published in England

In an old white cabin lives a cat, a squirrel and a picky duck. When the pumpkin patch leaves the three without a ripe pumpkin for lunchtime, they had to make something else. All they had ever eaten was pumpkin soup. They pulled out the recipes book and look for a nutritious and delicious soup. The duck is hard to please, and each time a new soup is made, he will not eat! He would not eat the fish soup, the mushroom soup or the beet soup.

After a terrible fight, the cat decides to trick the duck. He uses carrots, tomatoes, zucchini and corn to make a soup that looked like pumpkin soup. The cat tastes the soup..."This is not pumpkin soup!" yelled the duck, but he loved the soup!!

This is a wonderful book that could be used to discuss nutrition and compromising. The illustrations are wonderfully detailed. On the sides of the pages there are little bugs talking to one another. I had to go back through the book after I read it to look at all the illustrations. Even though the duck is certainly fussing throughout the book, the illustrators draws him adorably that I could not help but love him!

International Literature #1: "Let's Get a Pup!" Said Kate

"Let's Get a Pup!" said Kate
written and illustrated by Bob Graham
Orignially published in Australia

I am a dog saver, a dog lover and a dog book reader! This book was very endearing and follows Kate and her family while they are looking for the perfect dog. What I like most about this book was that the family went to an animal shelter to find the perfect dog. After searching through all the dogs, they come across Dave. Dave is everything they are looking for in a dog. As they are leaving the animal shelter, they see Rosie, an old, gray dog. They want to take Rosie too, if they could.

Dave cried all through his first night with Kate's family. The family could hardly sleep because they were thinking about Rosie. The next morning, without eating breakfast, they return to the animal shelter to get Rosie! Finally they are all together. Not only does Kate get a pup, but she gets two pups!

The characters are different in the sense that the mom has a tattoo and a nose ring, and the dad has his ears pierced. The book portrays another image of a family that makes up many children's families.

Children's Literature Awards Given in Other Countries

                      The Carnegie Medal (United Kingdom)

The Carnegie Medal is awarded annually to the writer of an outstanding book for children in the United Kingdom. It was established by in 1936, in memory of the great Scottish-born philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie. The medal is awarded by CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. First awarded to Arthur Ransome for ‘Pigeon Post’, the winner receives a golden medal and £500 worth of books to donate to a library of their choice.

Examples of books awarded the Carnegie Medal:

     

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The Crichton Award for New Illustrators (Australia)

The Crichton Award aims to recognise and encourage new talent in the field of Australian children's book illustration. It is administered by the Victorian Branch of the CBCA and the judging panel of three is nominated and elected by the executive of the Victorian Branch. The Children's Book Council of Australia is a national organisation with a branch in every state and territory. Its aim is to engage the community with literature for young Australians and foster in childrens' enjoyment of books.This award is given annually and is announced during Australia's Children's Book Week. The winners are given a presentation certificate and $1,500.00.

Examples of books awarded the Crichton Award:


  

Book to Movie #3: The Mouse and the Motorcycle

The Mouse and The Motorcycle
written by Beverly Cleary

I have always been a fan of Beverly Cleary's books, and this book was no exception. I ordered the movie from Scholastic Storybook Treasures, which is a wonderful collection of movies based on children's literature. Many of the boys and girls in my class have read The Mouse and The Motorcycle, but I have never made time to sit down and read the book. I was hooked from the very beginning of the book, and I was excited to watch the movie.

The movie originally aired on ABC as a weekend special in 1991. Scholastic took this same version and made a wonderful DVD full of extras. I was amazed at the movie! Even though it is an older movie, it stays true to the book. Out of the three books I read that have been made into movies, The Mouse and The Motorcycle was the most accurate. It was refreshing to not be disappointed at the end of the movie. Of course, there were a few small modifications, but each event in the book was portrayed in the movie.

My favorite part was when Ralph (the mouse) had to find Keith (the young boy) medicine for his fever. Since Ralph had lost the motorcycle during a vacuum cleaner incident, he used Keith's toy ambulance to retrieve  a fever reducing medicine. This event was the climax in the book and also in the movie. I am happy I purchased this DVD so that I can use it in my classroom. I am now thinking about using this title as a read aloud activity with my class. Following the completion of the book, we can watch the movie and do comparisons and contrasts.

Scholastic Storybook Treasures also provides a DVD for the book Ralph S. Mouse, which is a sequel to The Mouse and The Motorcycle. I will certainly be reading that title and watching the movie!

Book to Movie #2: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
written by Jodi Barrett
illustrated by Ron Barrett

I have never been so disappointed in a portrayal of a book. I was amazed at the difference between the book and the movie. I understand that some events needed to be added or changed for a theatrical experience. I was sad that the movie did not start with a grandfather telling a bedtime story to his grandchildren. That was always my favorite part of the book! I can see how a scientist was needed for the movie, and the character had his funny moments.

As I sat and stared at my computer screen at the end of the movie, I began thinking about the differences in the movie. For example, in the book the ending had the towns people building boats out of food (which was also in the movie); however, in the movie the towns people were able to return to the town and in the book they did not return to the town. This is one of those movies I wish had an "alternate ending" selection.

I am very critical because this was one of my favorite books as a child. I could almost recite it word for word! I was so excited when the movie came out and then astonished by the end. Since it was a picture book and not a chapter book, I agree that the story needed more "meat". I intend to continue loving the BOOK and I am so glad I did not purchase this movie!

Book to Movie #1: Ramona and Beezus

Ramona and Beezus
written by Beverly Cleary

I found it humorous that on the front of the book Romona and Beezus, it has a spot saying "Read it before you see it". The movie is more of a compilation of several of the Romana and Beezus books. When I watched it, I was happy to see many of the same situations portrayed in the chapter books to be accurate throughout the movie. Although, the movie is true to several Romona and Bezzus books, if someone only had read the book Ramona and Beezus, they would have been confused during the movie, I believe.

 

Differences that I found:

• Bezzus' birthday was not in the movie.
• The room addition to the house is a different Romona title.
• All characters are portrayed older in the movie than in the book.
• Aunt B. does not have a love interest in the book, nor is she getting married and moving to Alaska.
• Ramona was not beginning her first day of school in the movie.
• Henry's dog was not locked in the bathroom during the movie.
• The family does not yet have another child.

Overall, I would suggest that a reader read several of the Ramona titles if they wanted a true picture of where all the ideas for the movie came from. Also, reading all the titles will be very enjoyable. I enjoyed both the movie and the original Ramona and Beezus title. If the movie producers would have stayed true to the original title, I think there would be chances for sequels following the other titles including, Ramona Quimbly Age 8, Ramona and Her Mother, etc.