39. The Story of a Story

The Story of a Story. Deborah Hopkinson. 2021. [November] 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: This is the story of a story. You arrive with a pencil or two, a big eraser, your favorite pencil sharpener, and a snack (a healthy one).

Premise/plot: This picture book celebrates WRITING STORIES. It is written in the second person. The protagonist 'you' is a young child who experiences a bit of writer's block... but inspiration comes at the end of the picture book.

My thoughts: Lovely illustrations, interesting premise. I can't say that I love, love, love the second person narration. I think it probably works better here than in most other cases. I can see this one being used as a read aloud in an elementary classroom. I think the text lends itself well to a read aloud. The book concludes with writing prompts for the beginning, middle, and end of "your" stories about bird "you" spot outside the window.

My favorite quote is "But other people's stories aren't exactly yours."

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Hooray for Birds!

Hooray for Birds! Lucy Cousins. 2017. Candlewick Press. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Can you imagine...just for one day...you're a busy bird? Yes, a bird! Hooray!

Premise/plot: This book celebrates imaginative play...and birds. It asks little ones to imagine that they are birds. This is a story that they can choose to act out.

Scratch the ground with your feet.
Catch a fly with your beak.
Stand very tall on just one leg.
Say "cluck cluck!" and lay an egg. 

My thoughts: It is bright, bold, colorful--in terms of illustrations. The text is silly, exuberant, a bit over the top. Your little one may LOVE it--you may love it for that matter. Some of Lucy Cousins' books I just love. I do. But I didn't personally love, love, love this one.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

How Rocket Learned to Read

How Rocket Learned to Read. Tad Hills. 2010. July 2010. Random House. 40 pages.

Rocket loved to play. He loved to chase leaves and chew sticks. He loved to listen to the birds sing.
Every fall morning, after chasing leaves, Rocket would lie down in his favorite spot under his favorite tree. There he'd sniff the neighborhood smells and settle in for a good nap.

One day--while Rocket is happily snoozing--he is interrupted by a small yellow bird. A bird who proclaims herself a teacher. A bird who says that his favorite favorite napping spot is her classroom. Rocket never meant to become so interested in reading--in learning--but he finds the stories Bird reads to be irresistible. He can't help but want to learn to read after hearing her read such great books. So the instruction begins...

I loved How Rocket Learned to Read. I thought it was adorable. Not adorable in the oh-how-precious way. But in the that was so fun, so charming way. I found Rocket and his teacher, the little bird, to be a charming pair. I loved the bird's enthusiasm and passion. Like Rocket, I see how this teacher-bird would be difficult to argue with! I loved Rocket's growing enthusiasm as well. I loved how bird was able to gently tease him into her classroom. (That spread was my favorite.)

I loved the illustrations for this one as well.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers