Review: The Three Little Javelinas

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lowell, Susan. The Three Little Javelinas. Hong Kong: Northland Publishing, 1992.  ISBN 0-87358-542-9

2.     PLOT SUMMARY
In this wonderful, southwestern adaptation of The Three Little Pigs, three javelinas part ways as they set out on a journey to find their fortunes. The first brother builds a house out of tumbleweed, and the second builds one out of sticks, but both get blown away by a hungry, tricky coyote who wants to enjoy them for dinner. The third javelina, the sister, build herself an adobe house and is soon joined by her brothers who have managed to scape the coyote. Her sturdy house is the only one to withstand the huffs and puffs of the coyote, even when he tries to "use his magic" to attempt going down the stovepipe, and he learns a lesson he will never forget. An the javelinas lived happily ever after.

3.     CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This tale starts and ends like most traditional tales often start, with "Once upon a time" and "lived happily ever after". It is a fun book to read aloud, not only because it is a variant of the familiar The Three Little Pigs, but also because of the repetition of the language between the characters - the coyote politely asks "little pig, little pig, let me in", and continually gets the same response, "not by the hair of my chinnny-chin-chin".

The Three Little Javelinas features fables told by southwestern Indians, where coyote is a trickster who is outsmarted by other animals. It takes place in the Sonoran Desert, where the three javelinas encounter dust storms ad extremely hot weather, with mentions of snakes and hawks floating above. In addition, the javelinas' houses fit with the theme because the Tohono O'Odham traditionally built temporary and permanent homes out of brush, sticks, mud and ramadas, as it is mentioned in the note upon completion of the story. Harris' illustrations support the southwestern theme, down to the last, little detail and showcase the javelinas wearing cowboy attire.

This tale of good and bad, shares a notion with readers that the good guys always win in the end. The javelinas were hard workers, who were following their dreams, when the "bad" coyote came along to ruin their plans. I personally enjoyed the female protagonist having the best outcome, not only because she was successful in her journey, but also because she was able to help her siblings and teach coyote a lesson.

4.     REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

From Publishers Weekly: "This clever and flavorful change of scene puts a diverting spin on an old favorite.”

From Booklist: “Harris' illustrations are appealing and humorous, and children who loved the original will enjoy this version.”

From School Library Journal: "Whether read aloud or in amused solitude, this is a picture book that will be enjoyed again and again."

Arizona Young Readers Award 1994

Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award Finalist

5.     CONNECTIONS

Gather other variants of the Three Little Pigs read such as:

•                      The Three Little Gators ISBN 080757824X

•                     The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf. ISBN 0439915015

Gather other Susan Lowell books to read such as:

•                      Dusty Locks and the Three Bears. ISBN 0805075348

•                      Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella. ISBN 0064438643

•                      The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit (Avenues). ISBN 0873585860

Lesson Ideas:

Compare and contrast the different variants of the Three Little Pigs

Use to learn about the Javelinas' habitat (desert)

Review: Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kimmel, Eric A. Reteller. Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock. New York: Holiday House, 1988. ISBN 0-8234-0689-X

2.     PLOT SUMMARY

Anansi is a tricky little spider who discovers a magical rock and uses it to her advantage in order to play tricks on her friends. One by one, she invites her fellow animals for a walk on a hot day and takes them to the rock that magically knocks out those who says the magic words "Isn't this a strange moss-covered rock". "KPOM!", down they go, and while her friends are passed out, Anansi goes back to their home and steals their food. Little did she know, Little Bush Deer had been watching all along and decided to do something about it. Little Bush Deer tricks Anansi into saying the magic words herself, and gathers all the animals to collect their stolen goods at her house. Somehow, Anansi still did not learn her lesson and was still playing tricks.

3.     CRITICAL ANALYSIS

From the very beginning, the reader is able to see that Anansi, the spider enjoys playing tricks on her friends. She has a selfish and greedy idea which she plans to carry out in order to take advantage of the other animals. Little did she know, there was someone watching. At first, readers can only speculate the reason for a sweet little deer to only show up in the background of Stevens' vivid and colorful illustrations, but it is not until the end that Little Bush Deer comes in to save the day and teach Anansi a lesson by outsmarting the spider and returning all the good to its rightful owners. Though readers would hope Anansi had learned the golden rule of treating others the way you  would want to be treated, in the end, she is still up to her old tricks.

This title, as well as many other books about this little African folktale figure is very well know for always having a valuable lesson to be learned. The story reflects a culture where there is an abundance of animals and land, a beautiful and colorful forest with fruits and vegetables on which to feed, to teach the reader about the surroundings and climate of Africa. In many instances in this tale, Anansi and other characters mention how "terribly hot" the day is, making the offered "walk in the cool forest" sound appealing to her friends. This story is fun, great for a read aloud, and leaves readers on the edge of their seats as the suspense builds of what is to come between the protagonist and the other animals.

4.     REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

From School Library Journal: “Although no specific source is given, Kimmel has retold a West African tale (said to be known in Caribbean culture). The text is rhythmic, nicely building suspense to the inevitable conclusion.”

From Bulletin of the Center of Childrens Books: "This book combines Stevens' knack for drawing funny animals with Kimmel's sense of rhythmic storytelling. . . . Stevens has cleverly avoided cartooning the spider's face and opted instead for emphasizing his very expressive set of eight black legs. The stylized exaggeration of words and pictures is just wry enough to avoid cuteness and maintain the mischief of a true trickster tale."

5.     CONNECTIONS

Gather other Anansi books to read such as:

•                      Anansi and the Talking Melon. ISBN 0823411672

•                      Anansi Goes Fishin. ISBN 0823410226

•                      Anansi and the Magic Stick. ISBN 0823417638

Gather other Eric A. Kimmel books to read such as:

•                      The Runaway Tortilla. ISBN 1941821693

•                      The Three Little Tamales. ISBN 0761455191

•                      Even Higher!: A Rosh Hashanah Story. ISBN 0823422984

Use when learning about spiders, their bodies, habitats and how they survive

Use when learning about soil and rocks in Science
Find more ideas for activities using the Anansi collection HERE

Review: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

1.     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Taback, Simms. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. New York: Penguin Group, 1999. ISBN 0-670-87855-3

2.     PLOT SUMMARY
Joseph proves himself to be very resourceful and creative as his worn overcoat takes many different shapes throughout the story, ending with a simple button, which he looses. He then "makes something out of nothing" by writing a book about it.

3.     CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book, wonderfully illustrated using watercolor, gouache, pencil, ink and collage, tells the story of Joseph, who wore a coat for a long time until something happened to it. As readers follow the  "Joseph had....it was old and worn. So he made a ..... out of it" pattern of this tale, they are able to go along on Joseph's journey of creating something new out of something old. With every flip of the page, readers see the cutout that transforms the old coat into a vest, the old vest into a scarf, and so on, as he interacts with his animals, family and community. Once Joseph looses the very last bit of what is left of his overcoat, a button, he decided that he would make something out of nothing, and write a book about it.

As Taback mentions in the back of the book, he adapted  this tale from a childhood favorite Yiddish folk song called "I Had a Little Overcoat". Not only does Taback provide this connection for readers, along with the song, but he also shows the Jewish cultural background of his character through his illustrations. Throughout the book, we  interestingly see real pictures in frames and books, as well as newspapers and letters written in Yiddish, and a menorah on a table in his home, just to name a few. Taback uses the colors, style of the characters' clothing, scenery/setting and small details throughout the book (details that could possibly be missed on the first read, as reader are intrigued with the cutouts), to introduce the reader to Joseph's culture.

4.     REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2000 Caldecott Medal

From Publishers Weekly: “With its effective repetition and an abundance of visual humor, this is tailor-made for reading aloud.”

From School Library Journal: “Taback adapted this tale from a Yiddish folk song and the music and English lyrics are appended. The rhythm and repetition make it a perfect storytime read-aloud.”

From Booklist: "This newly illustrated version of a book Taback first published in 1977 is a true example of accomplished bookmaking--from the typography and the endpapers to the bar code, set in what appears to be a patch of fabric. Taback's mixed-media and collage illustrations are alive with warmth, humor, and humanity. Their colors are festive yet controlled, and they are filled with homey clutter, interesting characters, and a million details to bring children back again and again."

5.     CONNECTIONS

Gather other folktale books to read such as:

•                      Stevens, Janet. Tops & Bottoms. ISBN 0152928510

•                      Muth, John J. Zen Shorts. ISBN 0439339111

Gather other Simms Taback books to read such as:

•                      There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. ISBN 0670869392

•                      This Is The House That Jack Built. ISBN 0142402001

•                      Postcards from Camp. ISBN 0399239731

Use as an introduction to an art piece on how to make many items out of one thing

Use with a unit on problem solving