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.