Curriculum Laboratory Bill Glaister’s Picture Books For Older Readers The de&inition of a typical picture book is a book in which the picture is as important as the text. This is a genre based on a physical format, so it can contain titles from many of the other genres. It includes picture books, illustrated storybooks, wordless storybooks, concept books, and informational books. In picture books, both text and illustration are fused together, to provide more than either can do alone (the whole is greater than the sum of the parts). Illustrated story books are different from picture books in that the text can stand alone and the illustrations are secondary to the text, yet complements the text. These books are generally up to 48 pages in length. Believe it or not picture books are not just for small children. A well-‐written picture book skillfully blends great storytelling with outstanding pictures, which often add considerable depth and complexity to the written story. Many picture books are written at several different levels, so they can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. There are many reasons that can be used to justify using picture books with older students: 1) Picture books can present complex ideas in a concrete manner, so they can serve as a great way to introduce some of these complex ideas. 2) Picture books can introduce different cultural viewpoints or moral issues, so serve as a great way to start discussions on these topics. 3) Picture books are fun, so are a great way to lend a little humor to your teaching. 4) Many picture books can present complex literary or grammatical devices in a way students can understand, so they can be used as a launching board into more complex formats such as novels, etc. 5) As mentioned above, picture books are a format genre. Therefore picture books also Cit into all the other book genres, so can be a great way to introduce these other genres, and their conventions, to older students. 6) Picture books can be used as models for your student’s own writing efforts. 7) Wordless picture books can be great story starters for budding authors. 8) Because most picture books are great examples of artwork, they can also be an excellent resource for budding artists of any age. Initially, you may need to justify or “sell” the concept of using picture books with older students. Besides sharing some of the reasons above, I have often given the students a choice of starting with a very “thick” complex book (which looks like a great deal of work on 1 their part), or starting a unit with a thin, manageable picture book. At least in my junior high classes, the argument of reduced effort on their part means I have never had any major objections to using the occasional picture book. Glaister, B (2009) . Ten reasons to use children’s literature across the curriculum. Retrieved March 4, 2011, from the University of Lethbridge Curriculum Laboratory website: http://www.uleth.ca/edu/currlab/handoutsnew/litlinkshandouts/ integratingliteraturereasons.html. Kristie, K. (2004). Using picture books in middle school. Westminster: Teacher Created Materials. CURLB 813.5 Chr. Gives the user many practical graphic organizers that can be use Cirst with picture books, and then with more complex novels or non-‐Ciction titles. The organizers include: cause and effect, character analysis, characteristics, compare and contrast, fact or Ciction or opinion, main idea and supporting details, plot, predictions, setting, etc. Picture books for older readers. Retrieved March 18, 2011, from the Children’s Literature website: http://www.childrenslit.com/ childrenslit/th_picbkolder.html. Tiedt, I.M. (2000). Teaching with picture books in the middle school. Newark: International Reading Association. CURLB 813.5 Tie An excellent and comprehensive resource for using picture books with older students. Chapters include: Sharing our literary heritage, promoting reading development, stimulating thinking talking and writing, extending student knowledge about language and literature, understanding and appreciating diversity, and stimulating creativity. 2 Key: Books by Canadian Authors or Publishers Books with a particular Canadian Identity Author: Title: Date: Collection eBook Availability: Availability: Description: If you’re not from the prairie Bouchard, David 1993 811.54 Bou Visual and poetic journey across the prairies. “If you’re not from the prairie, You don’t know the sun. You can’t know the sun…” F Cro Caldecott Honor Book, 2001. Farmer Brown’s cows &ind a typewriter in the barn, so they start sending him demands he will not meet, which leads to a strike. It sounds plausible to me! What a great and quirky title to use to talk about the labour movement and animal/ human rights. Click, clack, moo: cows that type Cronin, Doreen 2000 3 BookFLIX Author: Title: Date: Collection eBook Availability: Availability: 1997 398.20954 Dem A simple peasant girl tricks the Raja into giving her enough rice to feed the people. She simply asks for one grain of rice, doubled each day for thirty days. If you are curious, it comes out to more than a billion grains of rice. The stunning artwork is inspired by traditional Indian miniature paintings. This title could be used in the grade 3 unit on India, as well as any mathematics lesson. For a lesson using Excel to plot the rice’s growth, see http:// jwilson.coe.uga.edu/EMT668/EMAT6680.F99/ Martin/instructional%20unit/ day4.exponential/excel/grainofrice.html. 2008 F Gai A treasure map, pirates, monsters, disgusting eating habits, and an alphabetic adventure. This title is sure to give younger readers nightmares, hence it is on this list! F Gai I put this book on this list, because I have hair envy now. I always wanted to have crazy hair, where gorillas sleep and tigers stalk. Alas, all I have now is a crazy, shiny globe up there, and no animals. Woe is me, but I will still live vicariously , through the wonders of literature. F Gai There are wolves in the walls, which is scary enough, but when they start to come out, it is up to Lucy to save the day. This title is sure to give the faint of heart a few nightmares. The illustrations by Dave McKean remind me of a graphic novel. One grain of rice: a Mathematical folktale Demi The dangerous alphabet Gaiman, Neil Description: Crazy Hair Gaiman, Neil 2009 The wolves in the walls Gaiman, Neil 2003 4 Author: Title: Date: Collection eBook Availability: Availability: Description: The man who walked between the towers Gerstein, Mordicai 2003 791.34 Ger 428.2 Hel Heller as written a series of titles which are all a fun way to introduce literary devices, including: Behind the mask: a book about prepositions; Kites sail high: a book about verbs; Many luscious lollipops: a book about adjectives; Merry-‐go-‐round: a book about nouns; Mine, all mine: a book about pronouns; Up, up, and away: a book about adverbs. These are all found in our collection under 428.2 Hel For more picture books recommended for teaching literary devices, see our website at: http://www.uleth.ca/edu/ currlab/handoutsnew/literarydevices.html. F Inn Mildred L. Batchelder Award, 1986. A young German girls curiosity leads her to discover horrors far worse than the privations the war is causing her friends and family. She discovers a concentration camp . Fantastic! wow! and unreal!: a book about interjections and conjunctions Heller, Ruth 1998 BookFLIX Caldecott Medal, 2004. A book that remembers the grandeur and tragedy of the twin towers in New York, as it celebrates Philippe Petit’s 1974 tightrope walk between the towers. This title could easily lead into a discussion of the engineering of the towers, and/or the terrorist attack on New York. Rose Blanche Innocenti, Roberto 1985 5 Author: Title: Date: Collection eBook Availability: Availability: Description: Actual size Jenkins, Steve 2004 591.41 Jen FollettShelf The author illustrates the actual size of animals, both large and small. Steve Jenkins is well known for his dynamic illustrations done in collage artwork. we also have many of his other titles in our collection, including Animal Poems, Prehistoric Actual Size, What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? The worm family Johnston, Tony 2004 F Joh They are squiggly and skinny, and like to sing loud worm songs, so they are unwelcome, wherever they go. Besides being weird, this book could be a great and quirky way to start talking about tolerance, celebrating our individual differences (or worms). Discover the glory of worm! F Jon A toy and movable, upside-‐down book where the &irst half of the story is read right-‐side-‐up and front-‐to-‐back, and the second half is read upside-‐down and back-‐to-‐front. Round Trip Jonas, Ann 1983 6 Author: Title: Date: Collection eBook Availability: Availability: Description: Black and white Macaulay, David 1990 Caldecott Medal, 1991. Four stories or one story? Readers must carefully look at all the clues to answer this question. One of the subject headings for this titles is Literary Recreations, which brings up many titles that encourage puzzles, games and activities involving language. F Mac The way things work Macaulay, David 1988 600 Mac 2008 612 Mac From zippers to elevators to toilets, David’s famous artwork deconstructs the mysteries and origins of the machines around us. He also has authored many titles dealing with buildings, tunnels, pyramids, etc. The way we work: getting to know the amazing human body Macaulay, David 7 FollettShelf A visual journey through the workings of the human body. Author: Title: Date: Collection eBook Availability: Availability: Piggie pie! Palantini, Margie F Pal Gritch the Witch wants so Piggy Pie, so she &lies off to Old MacDonald’s Farm, but there are no pigs to be found. Where could they be? Perhaps the wolf knows. This is another Twisted Tale. 2002 811.54 Pre The nonsense verse of Jack Prelutsky is combined with the pictures of Peter Sis in this fantastic adventure to Scranimal Island, where animals and plants are combined. What a great way to teach and write about animal adaptations. 1999 On order Peter Sis and Prelutsky team up again in this poetic tribute to all the creatures that give us nightmares. 1995 Scranimals Prelutsky, Jack Description: The gargoyle on the roof Prelutsky, Jack 8 Author: Title: Date: Collection eBook Availability: Availability: Description: What really happened to Humpty?: from the &iles of a hard boiled detective Ransom, Jeanie Franz 2010 F Ran FollettShelf “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. Humpty Dumpty was pushed.” Can Humpty’s brother solve the mystery? The suspects include Little Miss Muffet, the spider, Goldie, and Chicken Little. Grandfather’s journey Say, Allen 1993 Caldecott Medal, 1994. A japanese man recalls his grandfather’s journey to America, and the love of two very different countries. This an interesting title to begin a discussion on cross-‐ cultural experiences in the classroom. F Say Summer, an alphabet acrostic Schnur, Steven 2001 508.2 Sch 9 Autumn, an alphabet acrostic is available on FollettShelf Schnur has also authored other acrostic poetry books on Spring, Winter, and (you guessed it) Fall. These are great examples for teaching this poetic form at any grade level. Author: Title: Date: Collection eBook Availability: Availability: Description: The frog prince continued Scieszka, , Jon F Sci A “twisted tale:” Search this term in your library catalogue if you want to &ind similar titles. The frog prince does not live happily ever after, when he is transformed into a prince. He keeps thinking of &lies, and other frogly thoughts. What can be done? 2004 F Sci “Mary had a little worm. She thought it was a chigger. But everything that Mary ate, Only made it bigger. It came with her to school one day, And gave the kids a fright, Especially when the teacher said, "Now, that's a parasite." This is great poetry! This is a great book for any science or creative writing class. It is very tastefully done. 1999 F Sci The three little pigs story is told from the wolf’s point of view. This is another “twisted tale.” 1991 Science verse Scieszka, , Jon The true story of the three little pigs Scieszka, , Jon 10 Author: Title: Date: Collection eBook Availability: Availability: Description: The cremation of Sam McGee Service, Robert W. 2006 811.52 F Sis A visual feast outlining Jan Welzl’s probable adventures in the Arctic, and the exploitation of the Inuit. The epilogue talks more about Jan, the writer of tall tales. This title is only marginally Canadian, in that it covers much more than just the Canadian north, but it is such a beautiful artistic montage of the north, I am giving a Canadian &lag anyway. 951.5 Sis Coldecott Honor Book, 1999. A father lost in Tibet and a small boy lost without his father. This history becomes a very personal tale of Tibetan adventures. A small tall tale from the far far north Sis, Peter 1993 The Yukon is brought to life, both in Robert Service’s famous poem, and Ted Harrison’s striking artwork. Tibet through the red box Sis, Peter 1998 11 Author: Title: Date: Collection eBook Availability: Availability: Description: The wall: growing up behind the iron curtain Sis, Peter 2007 943.704 Sis “I was born at the beginning of it all, on the Red side—the Communist side—of the Iron Curtain.” Sis uses illustrations, maps, and journals to share his experiences growing up behind the crumbling iron curtain. F Tan A wordless graphic novel, which instills in the reader the confusion and wonder of being an immigrant in a strange land. For more books of this type try searching your library catalogue for Graphic Novels, or Stories Without Words. F Uch The authors’s own story of being uprooted from her home, and placed in a Japanese internment camp in WWII. The afterword gives more information on this dark episode in our history. The arrival Tan, Shaun 2006 The bracelet Uchida, Yoshiko 2002 12 Author: Title: Date: Collection eBook Availability: Availability: Description: The widow’s broom Van Allsburg, Chris 1992 F Van A witchly tale about a magical broom, and how it deals with the bullies that attack it. Chris Van Allsburg is the master of the mysterious. His books are well known for their illustrations, which are great story starters for aspiring authors. F Van The crew of a ship bring a strange stone on board, which has a terrible transforming effect on most of the crew. Chris Van Allsburg is the master of the mysterious. His books are well known for their illustrations, which are great story starters for aspiring authors. F Van Caldecott Medal, 1986. A holiday classic, where a magic train transports a boy to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Chris Van Allsburg is the master of the mysterious. His books are well known for their illustrations, which are great story starters for aspiring authors. The wretched stone Van Allsburg, Chris 1991 The polar express Van Allsburg, Chris 1985 13 FollettShelf Author: Title: Date: Collection eBook Availability: Availability: Oversize F Van, F Van “For those who thought themselves as unimaginative, this book will prove the opposite. Even the most reluctant imagination, when confronted by these drawings, will not be able to resist solving the mysteries of Harris Burdick. Chris Van Allsburg is the master of the mysterious. His books are well known for their illustrations, which are great story starters for aspiring authors. This title is available in poster or picture book format. One of the subjects of this title is “Plot -‐your-‐own-‐ stories,” which will lead you to many more titles in our collection that encourage creative writing. Try also searching the subject heading Stories Without Words. F Van A dentist’s dreams come true, after he receives two magic &igs in payment for his work. He hopes to use the last &ig to become rich, but his dog may have other ideas. Chris Van Allsburg is the master of the mysterious. His books are well known for their illustrations, which are great story starters for aspiring authors. F Van Cadecott Medal, 1982. A game board brings everything that happens on it to life. Chris Van Allsburg is the master of the mysterious. His books are well known for their illustrations, which are great story starters for aspiring authors. The mysteries of Harris Burdick Van Allsburg, Chris 1984 Description: The sweetest &ig Van Allsburg, Chris 1993 Jumanji Van Allsburg, Chris 1981 14 Author: Title: Date: Collection eBook Availability: Availability: Description: Zathura: A space adventure Van Allsburg, Chris 2002 F Van 2007 F Wat On the last page of the book Jumanji, a boy is seen with a game tucked under his arm. It is a space adventure game, where each roll of the dice brings the events in the board game to life. Chris Van Allsburg is the master of the mysterious. His books are well known for their illustrations, which are great story starters for aspiring authors. Chester Watt, Melanie F Wie Caldecott Medal, 2007. A boy &inds a camera that has washed up on the beach. When he develops the &ilm in it, the pictures reveal many strange sights from around the world. This is a wordless picture book. For more books like this search your library catalogue for Stories Without Words. F Wie Caldecott Honor Book, 1989. A boy dreams of dangerous adventures inspired by the objects around his room. This is a wordless picture book. For more books like this search your library catalogue for Stories Without Words. Try all of David Wiesner’s books, even the ones with words! Flotsam Wiesner, David 2006 Freefall Wiesner, David 1988 15 Amelia Frances Howard-‐Gibbon Medal, 2008. Chester the cat keeps interfering, as the author tries to write a story about a mouse. Excellent title to teach point of view. Author: Title: Date: Collection eBook Availability: Availability: Description: Sector 7 Wiesner, David 2000 F Wie When a boy visits the Empire State Building on a cloudy day, he is whisked away to Sector 7 by a cloud, and he discovers the wonders in the sky. This is a wordless picture book. For more books like this search your library catalogue for Stories Without Words. F Wie “A visual burlesque of the improbable” in graphic novel style. “This is almost a wordless picture book. For more books like this search your library catalogue for Stories Without Words. 398.21 Wis Caldecott Medal Book, 1997. Four hundred years ago, according to legend, a Jewish teacher shapes a giant of clay, in order to stop those who are persecuting the Jews. This story warns us all about the dangers of unleashing power beyond our control. 398.20951 You Caldecott Medal, 1990. An ancient Chinese version of the European Red Riding Hood story. Ed Young has also created Yeh Shen, a Cinderella story from China. For some very unusual versions of well known tales, try the subject heading Twisted Tales in your library collection. Tuesday Wiesner, David 1991 Golem Wisniewski, David 1996 Lon Po Po: a Red-‐Riding story from China Young, Ed 1989 16 BookFLIX