Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland

by Lewis Carroll (1865)

I’ve read this book when I was at the age of the kindergarten. Even though it was a simplified one, I wondered why I didn’t have so many confusing questions at that time and now in the Children’s Literature curriculum, amazingly, there are so many hidden massages in this well-published fantasy book. In my childhood, this book was my reader in the past time which was fun and enjoyable. As a matter of fact, I never had so many questions about the amazing Alice’s body change; so-called the tear pond; a rabbit running hastily all the time, etc. But after this class, I think, this book is deserved the Must Read Books reputation for children and adults in their life.

This book was hard to finish at once; I read it separately, again and again. But I often got lost in some chapters because this book used a large mount of wordplay. Unfortunately, I had a great difficulty in understanding them; then I gave up and move on to the next chapter. Therefore, I thought it would be easier if I took one chapter as a single story to read because each chapter could be regard as an event.

At the beginning when Alice fell into a hole, I think, she also fell into the starting point of adults’ world. When a girl/ a boy start to get into the adults’ world, obviously, the body size is the clearest feature. This period may influence children’s mind or perplex them that why their body became so weird. Who exactly I was?? Yes, this question occurred to me before. In the adolescent, my body changed gradually: became taller and needed to wear underwear. My mom told me that it meant you were going to be a woman. However, I had no idea about what the woman is and when I stood in front of mirror I thought who I was exactly. Is that still me?? There were some uncomfortable feelings in my mind which I didn’t know why. I think the habit of monology I started to cultivate at that period, so did Alice. She often asked herself some questions such as I can't understand it myself to begin with; and being so many different sizes in a day is very confusing. The body changing made her lost herself but afterwards; she quite got accustomed to it. This is one of themes: growth to adulthood which was left me an impression. It’s an inevitable progress but it’s a clear narration to children how their body would change.

In Alice’s adventures, she experienced the adults’ activity: a mad tea-party, the Queen’s Croquet Ground and the court. (Chapt. 11Who stole the tart?) I think those are the fastest way to learn what rules (or even not) exist in adults’ world. I recall one of my experiences at my elementary stage when I was at the dinning table after dinner. The adults were talking their matters and I was listening although I had no idea what they were talking about. But I wanted to say something which also kind off show off my knowledge. (Like Alice was proud of her vocabulary amounts are superior to her classmates) When I expressed my opinions to the adults, they glared at me and said: “do not speak anything while adults are talking matters.” OHOH…I shut up my mouth after I was scolded instantly. Because I was a good girl so I did what adults told me: did not speak anything while adults were talking their matters. It seemed that adults’ world existed some regular rules which must be obeyed. Ironically, they can disobey because the rules were designed by them as well. If I “insisted” my immature behaviors, I though soon the adults just like the Queen would say: Off with my heads!!! I thought Alice was braver than me because she dared to talk back to the Queen in the flower garden or in the court. Does the author Lewis Carroll tend to shape Alice as a tough girl or have guts while meeting something unfair??

The issue of growing into adulthood and the adult’s world gave me the most impression about this book. Alice experienced the adults’ complicated world in the dream and the problem of self identity before she grown up; I also experienced the world again she brought to me. There are pros and cons of being adults and need to face some unreasonable matters which may exist long time. Maybe after 5 years, I would read this book again to find solutions how to deal with the adults’ world.

Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook

Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook

by Michael Garland

From the front cover of this book, I think the illustrator reveals how it will be incredible because there are so many people, animals and some characters. (from some well-known storybook, i.e., little red riding hood.) This interesting scene triggers me perhaps I’ve already fall into the “pitfall” that made by the illustrator.

While I opened the page which are two big people occupied both pages. The left side was the student, Zack; the right side (whole page) was the new teacher, Miss Smith. At the first sight, I was drew attention by this fashionable teacher!! Not only is her figure of whole page, but also her eye-catching clothes. She had the red erinaceous hairstyle and wore the black leather jacket. Does it also match the button: CLASH in front of her chest?? Overall, she was an extraordinary teacher as I thought. Since Miss Smith wore so unusual that it may show she was going to do something different in this new school.

Zack was excited while Miss Smith started reading her book which had brought with her. When Miss Smith said: “It’s story time,” every students including Zack wouldn’t believe their eyes. As the teacher told a story, its characters from the story book would all came to life. For instance, the pirates came out while Miss Smith told the pirate tale. Interestingly, when I turned the page, the scene turned into all the students and Miss Smith studied on the pirate boat; the plot of little red riding hood was threatened by the wolf vividly presented in front of the students. They all fascinated in the stories whatever Miss Smith told. However, one day Miss Smith was stuck in traffic; therefore the principal temporarily charged with the class. Miss Smith asked the principal to read those stories as before till she arrived at the school. As usual, the story characters jump out while principal read them out but no one knew how to ask those figures back to story while finished it. He ran out to ask for help and the other students were curious about what the next story it was. Gradually, as long as the student began reading other story, the classroom was crowed and no room for the rest popping up characters: three pigs, a knight, and the dragon!! Fortunately Miss Smith arrived just in time so that she seemed had a magical incantation that got those naught characters back to their own place where they should be. At the end, everything was settled down and all the students again surrounded with Miss Smith, looking forward to the next story, I thought. But there was a teddy bead hidden behind the bookcase. Did it all completely finish or was it just a toy of teddy bear??

I must say the using of color of this book gives me a joyful reading experience. All the characters are so vivid and bright because the illustrator mostly used pure color of each figure. It is too real to makes me afraid of all of them popping out instantly!! The more saturated colors the illustrator used, the more vibrant character it was. I think most people will love it because the lively pictures will help you get involved this amazing story as well!! Besides, I felt very comfortable and enjoyable while reading because of the proper placement of pictures and context. Most every page was occupied with a whole picture which makes me see not only clearly but also falls into the climax easily. The illustrator made tension and unexpected scenes successfully, waiting readers to experience each climax. In addition, most pictures are wider or bigger than narrative illustrations. Most of time, I spend much time on watching the lively pictures; therefore, such a page layout gives me focus on the quality of pictures and well matched with context. This incredible story book I think gives Miss Smith students’ strong desires to hear the next story and at the same time the book also makes me have an incredible reading adventure.

Walter Was Worried

Walter Was Worried

by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

At the first time I chose children books from Emily’s booklist, the category of alphabet is not always my taste. I have a stereotype that alphabet books would be simple or easy to understand. However, this book is my second alphabet book; the first one is an alphabet in art. Those two books use quite interesting way to embed letters into art works or an object. This book achieves not only alphabet purpose but also the delight of facial expressions.

The front cover shows no words and no titles on it but a little boy’s big face; on the other hand, the other side is the title of this book. Actually I didn’t know this is an alphabet book until I flip through the book. While I turned back to the front cover, I noticed that there are seven letters on the boy’s face; besides, the letters represents boy’s mood.

There are eight children in this book that string up the whole story. In the beginning a red kite is in the clear sky, but suddenly the kite fallen down. The kite symbolizes a group of children’s desire to go outside for playing. In childhood, children will be happy and exciting while a family has a trip or a picnic. Actually, children will be happy if they can play outside rather than at home. The reason why the kite fallen down was the weather started became dark then lightning, thunder, and rain followed up. Without doubt, those children felt worried, frightened, upset because the bad weather ruined their good mood. The author clearly put those feelings on each child's face, interesting but quite realistic. For example, I never thought that the word “frightened” can be accurately presented a person’s facial expression!! Similarly, author used this technique painting other children’s facial expressions.Soon, the rain was over, and the sun cleared up. At the end, all the children got together, one of children holding a red kite, happy and cheerful.

The design of this book is clear: one page is context and the other is the picture. The placement of the each picture helps children connect the word with the next page quickly. Besides, to match the words for facial expressions, the whole face occupied the whole page so that children could find each letter that was separated. But they could reorganize letters easily because the author put the same color for each letter as well the letters on the face!! I consider that this book doesn’t have the clear book title for an alphabet book because the author used unusual way: children’s story gave this concept; however, the purpose that teaches the basic elements of vocabulary already gave me an incredible reading experience of an alphabet book.

What Daddies/ Mommies Do Best

What Daddies/ Mommies Do Best

by Laura Numeroff

Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

Can you image that you bought a children book but actually you bought two?? This book will tell you what is going on.
When I picked this book, I confused at once. Why does the cover of this book have two different titles? And why does it design to be upside down? I must admit that I don’t like two kinds of animals on the cover; however, I opened it because it represents a harmonious relationship in each picture--hugging and kissing that has a voice from my deep mind saying: Open it!!
What mommies do best—in this part, there are bears, pigs, mice, elephants and hedgehogs teaching daily matters for their children; likewise what daddies do best—there are hippos, goats, foxes, hares, and crocodiles. But the most important thing is that those animals accompany their children to play, to ride, to learn as well.

When I read this book, I also reflected something in common as this book depicted. My father taught me how to ride a bicycle while I was 5 or 6 years old; my mother took care of me when I was sick. She tucked a blanket for me, telling me it would recover soon. My father kept encouraging me stand up again and again while I fall down from a bicycle. With my parents’ encouragement and help, I was gradually overcame those obstacles. Then I am able to solve things by myself. Those animals just reflected some common domestic scenes as most children would do in their childhood. Besides, I think as long as they have love and support from their daddies and mommies in their young age, they will be stronger and happier in the future because they know their daddies and mommies stand by their sides forever.

The author painted those animals in watercolor that made me feel much real, cheerful and warm. In this book, it was mostly painted the bright color as background color and every picture has a light rounded shape surrounding them. In the last class I knew the rounded shape may symbolize the comfort, security, and stability. Shouldn’t they the most three important factors of a family have?? Family just likes a harbor after we finish a tire, long day. We rest, recharge at home and start a new day because the family offers us comfort, security and stability. In my opinion, the book is a family book so that the author chose this method to stand out each picture’s meaning.

This is a sweet book and it’s good to be used as bed-time story book. After children heard those animals behavior, they might also give their daddies and mommies a kiss and a hug before sleeping.

Dear Mr. Blueberry

Dear Mr. Blueberry

Simon James

When I was young about 6 or 7 years old, my parents didn’t believe I saw a snake and squirrel around our house until they saw it by themselves. Parents sometimes don’t respect or listen to children’s opinions and perspectives especially in the period of junior or senior high school. In this book, however, I think Emily was quite lucky because she met a sweet teacher, Mr. Blueberry, who was still willing to trust her imagination of a whale in her own pond.

The design of this book represents an exchange letter between a student and a teacher in a summer vacation. When I read it, I felt that I was reading a personal diary or letters making me read it more realistic. Throughout the vacation time, Emily met a surprising matter in her pond one night; therefore she wrote a letter to her teacher asking for help and got responses for her teacher. At the first time, the teacher didn’t trust what Emily seen: there was a whale swimming in her pond. Without a doubt, I was laughing when I read this paragraph. Dose a whale in a personal pond?? Is it a new born whale just got lost to his original route of sea? Using my common sense, it can’t be the truth!! Interestingly, although the teacher didn’t believe such a story, he still told her how to feed it and how to take care of it. The teacher kept telling his distrust of this whale but at the same time he kept giving some additional information to Emily. What an interesting interaction between an adult and a child!! Additionally, Emily was reading letters with the whale, hanging pictures of whales, and finally sent him back to his real home with her sadness.

From this story, Emily had regarded the whale as her one of family members. She stayed with him, took care of him and sharing things to that whale. Besides, the pictures on this book are very clearly and sweet because I was touched by those pictures. It’s easier to understand with those large pictures. In addition, the words of this book are simple, big and appropriate for beginning readers. For me, it is not only a story of a whale and a girl showing an intimate relationship, but also a lesson teaches how human beings get along with animals. The teacher may not still believe Emily’s story at the end, but I think he had came through this experience which was full of imagination, devotion and adherence.

Tuesday

Tuesday

David Wiesner

When I first read through this book, actually, I had no idea what author were talking about. Perhaps there is one reason that this is a wordless book except for three short sentences. This wordless book is my first children book to read, and when I read it first time, I felt uncomfortable. Because I have to rely on the pictures to tell me what the context are. It is the first time I felt that I cannot read without words!! Words are indeed important elements for a book. However, do words are indeed crucial part for a book?

In this book, Tuesday, I use my imagination to connect those pictures. There are no many words so pictures become my biggest sources to follow the story. In the beginning of the book, the scene of night is the key element because there is something going to happen. The illustrator created a scene that differs from ordinary people thought, including me. I never thought that a night could be so “bustling” because of a “flight” of frogs!!! Do you still think the night only belong to owls?? From now on, there were other animals started joining this field but they appeared on Tuesday only. The frogs were flying with lotus leaves through the night, playing with a dog, accidentally bumping the bed sheets of one’s home. I felt that they enjoyed the night and the night for them was a huge playground. No one could interfere with the enjoyment and Tuesday was the day they were most looking forward to!! Unluckily, one witness ever had seen this scene and a dog. Next day, street was crowded because there were so many lotus leaves left on the ground. The policeman came to investigate what happened and asked the only witness. Apparently he didn’t believe what he saw and of course no one would believe him as well. This weird event left a mysterious and unsolved matter in the town.

In the last page of book, the character became pigs!!! Why? Where were the frogs?? However, this time as a reader I guess, next Tuesday is happy time for pigs to play in the night. Will pigs have the same acts as frogs? Perhaps they’ll have another plan for this Tuesday!! Tuesday, for people, maybe it is a common day in a week; but this day is a big day for some animals. The illustrator subverts my stereotype of a night, tranquil and untroubled. The frogs like naughty children who are playing without parents’ supervision. When sun raises, they hide or pretend nothing happened. Perhaps when people are ready to sleep, there is a special occasion or event is about to start for animals only!!!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

This book used a large, vivid and creative method to intrigue children’s interests. First I think, the pictures in this book are so large that may catch children’s attention. Those pictures did not paint very perfectly; however, this may show its realism. In my opinion, this book is for preschool age children. Because it likes the children’s scrabble, imperfect but pure. For example, the face of the sun was not smooth on its surface. This kind of picture could also happen on those children who are not good at drawing, but they would recall the age of scrabbling on paper.

About the design of this book, it is very creative and useful for children. It has the concept of number on various fruits and each one has a hole on those fruit. While I read it, I touched those holes. At that time, I could image I were that caterpillar, creeping the holes one by one. After I finished, it meant I ate all fruits and I couldn’t eat anymore. The caterpillar’s mouth is so small that the small holes represent caterpillar’s mouth. Using this idea to convey an eating process of a caterpillar is vivid and make children exciting. Besides, they can use their hands to follow the caterpillar’s steps, step by step, and finally the caterpillar became a beautiful butterfly! Through touching the book it would leave children a profound impression about this book.

The final page, the big beautiful butterfly gave me a big surprise. Actually, I didn’t expect this result, but while this butterfly came out, I knew what was going on. Although I knew the butterfly is from caterpillar molting, I think illustrator used eating food as a process of a butterfly can add many interests in it. Why dose a caterpillar become a beautiful butterfly after it eating so much food? Does it mean every caterpillar become a butterfly through eating so much food? This also can help parents teach children the process of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly!! I think this book teach meaningful story with vivid illustrations, and the most important thing is I learn the life of a butterfly with joy once again!!