This story is about a young boy who unsuccessfully resists the temptation to cover his entire body with paint. His disapproving mother warns him, “Ya aint a-gonna paint no more!”
In order to familiarize myself with this book, I read it with my students. The catchy rhymes of this book instantly grabbed their attention and kept them interested until the end. In terms of genre, this book is a zany, upbeat poem. After researching several editorial and customer reviews, I came to find that it is also modeled after a “familiar old folksy ballad, "Oh It Ain't Gonna Rain No More." In order to successfully engage the audience, this book must be read with an appropriate amount of expression in almost “singsong” manner.
This book was definitely FUN to read. It was amusing to watch the students’ reactions. Once they became familiar with the structure of the poetry, I had them read the repetitive lines. For example, they read “YA AINT A-GONNA PAINT NO MORE!” We discussed how the capital letters suggests to the reader that he/she read it loudly with an expressive tone. This element was certainly entertaining for them. Additionally, the rhyming nature prompted children to think about and subsequently chime in with the rhymes. For example, “So I take some red and I paint my…HEAD!”
Artistically speaking, this book contains a myriad of vividly colored illustrations that contrast starkly with the few predominantly black and white pages. I believe the illustrations are quite telling. The mother is portrayed throughout the book primarily in black and white, which depicts a certain element of boredom and monotony where as the paint is shown in full vibrant tones. The colored pictures exude energy and intense excitement. The pictures are certainly visually stimulating and adequately portray what I would perceive to be the emotions of this mischievous young boy.
I found the font choice to be very free-form and childlike; the perfect match for this whimsical poem. The endpapers contain thick, haphazard smears of paint which definitely provide foreshadowing of the “messiness” of this story! Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. Kim, I am interested as to your thoughts and perhaps how you envision using this in your classroom!
The Arrival, by Shaun Tan, is a wordless, picture book filled with realistic and surreal images that capture the true feeling of what it was like to be an immigrant in a new land. The hand drawn pictures allow the reader to connect with the main characters’ emotions and expressions as he makes his heroic journey. Tan created almost a “comic book” feel where each picture changes slightly to form the dramatic detail he was hoping for. As you are reading, you are immediately taken back by the incredible detail in the illustrations that allow you to visualize the text that would accompany the dramatic pictures. At first glance, the surreal images of buildings and animals seem to be out of place with the theme of the story. Once realizing the importance of these images and actually placing yourself into the characters shoes, you are able to see how Tan creates an immigration book unlike any other. He develops this fictitious, magical place with many unanswered hard to solve questions, which proved true to the immigrants initial reactions in a new country. Like the main character in the story, the immigrants were faced with the problems of finding shelter, work and friends. Tan proves how scary, difficult and unfamiliar it can be in an unknown place. Tan has designed an immigration book like no other that is a must read for people of all ages!
Although this challenging book requires students to spend much of their reading time making inferences; I am going to use part of it with my first grade class. I want my students to focus on the characters’ expressions and gestures and how using this information can help us improve our understanding of a story. Jen, how would you use this in your first grade classroom? Tan’s illustration of the man arriving at the new land and going through the medical checkup is perfect for that lesson. I look forward to using this text in the future. I hope it will help my students recognize the importance of studying the pictures to truly understand a story.
After reading this story for the first time last night, I also choose to read it today in my classroom. I thought it would be an exciting, kid-friendly, poetic, “song like” book that my students would really enjoy. Right away my students noticed several important components that came alive in the illustrations and text. My students commented on the vivid color used only where the child paints in order to make that part of the illustration stand out. They also noticed the unique rhyming pattern that added to the overall tone of the story. I was impressed when they addressed the ellipsis that was on each page, letting them know that there was more to come on the following page. They remembered studying this punctuation mark during writer’s workshop. Jen, just like you, I had my students join in when reading the large, bold print, “Ya Ain’t A-Gonna Paint No More.” This made the text come to life in my room. My students were excited to participate in the reading and were pretending they were the character using all those stunning, bright colors to embellish the classroom. For next year, I will integrate this picture book into a variety of reading and writing lessons including: poetry, rhyming as well as adding ellipsis to your stories to help create a sense of drama and suspense. I also thought this would be a beautiful book to integrate into morning meeting. I could have my students act out the parts of the story by pointing to each body part while I read. The illustrator David Catrow, draws your attention to the colors used to paint by leaving the remaining illustrations in a gray scale. Not only does he use an assortment of energetic colors but also a variety of patterns and shapes for your eyes to discover. Jen, I did not know the book came from a song although after reading it a second time I could hear the beat. Nice discovery! I will share this information with my class tomorrow.
Kim, I really enjoyed your integration of kinesthetic intelligence by having your students act out this book. I will definitely make a note of that for next year! My children even asked me to read this story to them again as they enjoyed it so much. I really did love this book and definitely plan on incorporating it into my poetry lessons.
As far as its poetic elements, I believe this book could be considered a “lyric poem.” Our text categorizes lyric poems as “melodic and songlike…it is descriptive, focusing on personal moments, feelings, or image-laden scenes” (p. 92). I definitely believe that the latter description contains a number of the elements we have been discussing. It is possible that this story contains some elements of “narrative poetry” as well. “Narrative poems tell stories. Children usually enjoy them because they are naturally attuned to stories and because they are easy to understand” (p. 92). I feel that perhaps this book could fall under both categories. I would love to hear your thoughts on this!
Jen, When first glancing at the book, I was not aware that it would be considered for the poetry genre. I then read the book paying close attention to the language of the text and understood why the story fits right into that genre. I do agree with you that this poem could be considered both a lyric poem and a narrative. I would use this to teach my students how poetry can be "songlike" and sometimes tells a story. I feel this book will lend itself to the wide variety of styles in poetry I try to introduce throughout the unit.
When researching the author and illustrator, I kept thinking their names sounded very familiar. I finally understood why when I came across the book, "I Like Myself," written by Beaumont and illustrated by Catrow. That text also has a rhyming pattern and fun rhythm, beat that creates a songlike feel when reading it with your students. I use that text for the start of a new school year to get students to understand all the wonderful things they like about themselves. Have you ever used it before? If you like I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More, you will love it!
This is the story of a little girl who goes to her grandparent’s house for a visit. At their house they have a special window called the "Hello, Goodbye Window." The entire story takes place surrounding the idea of this "magical" window because it is a way they can view the outer world from inside or the inner world from outside. The window almost represents a “magic getaway” for this little girl every time she takes a special visit to her grandparents. This book won a Caldecott Medal in 2006. After reading The Hello, Goodbye Window and really drawing my attention to the illustrations I can clearly understand why the illustrator deserved that award. The illustrator used vibrant splashes of color almost in a childlike format. The pictures are done with circular patterns with only a black line emphasizing a few components such as the outline of the person’s body parts or clothing. The pictures are somewhat abstract which create a magical feel while reading the story. One of the most memorable connections I can make to this book is the deep love the little girl has for her grandparents. This strong relationship continues throughout the book and is evident not only through the authors’ words but also in the detailed illustrations. The way her grandparents are portrayed looking at her with love, devotion and compassion make it more meaningful to the reader. When searching for book reviews I found two reviews that describe the illustrations the way they are beautifully revealed. "The artwork is at once lively and energetic, without crowding the story or the words on the page...this is the art of a masterful hand." School Library Journal "Raschka's swirling lines, swaths, and dabs of fruity colors seem especially vibrant, particularly in the double-page spreads." Booklist I discussed several of the components of the illustrations that I found intriguing- Jen, What did you find appealing?
I am taken away by the tiniest detail each picture includes, necessary to teach us the entire story. I find it incredible that people left their families and loved ones in search of a better life. The introduction really shows a true portrayal of the events including the characters’ emotions and will to survive. It is amazing that from one picture to the next the smallest detail might change to guide us along on the journey. Looking at the first picture, I can’t help but think how amazed and yet also terrified each person must feel when they are viewing such a massive ship. In the next few pictures there are enormous amounts of people each holding only their most valued possessions awaiting the journey of their lifetime? The emotions on their faces prove the anticipation each awaits as the frustration of the entire process builds up. There were so many fascinating illustrations- I do not know where to begin. The pictures I found most interesting was the man going through the medical checkup. Each time they performed a new checkup, he ended up with a badge on his jacket signifying what they found. I also enjoyed the pictures of the buildings with the ‘dragon shadows.’ To me these almost resembled fear of the unknown, corruption and disaster. I thought Tan used his creativity at best when developing animals, buildings and people that were oddly shaped. As a reader I had to go back to study each picture slowly making sure I did not miss any important plot point that would help myself understand the story. I think Tan used these magical creatures and settings to have the reader dig deeper when reading to prove how challenging and different it truly was for the immigrants coming into a new land. This also brings me back to my sixth grade class when I was studying Ellis Island. I would have loved if my teacher had included this text as a part of our unit of study. It is extremely insightful and provides students the ability to envision, predict and see the world through the character's eyes. I feel connected to the main character where I yearn to assist him when he was unable to describe his family he was searching for. I could tell how completely frustrated he was by focusing on his body gestures and facial expression. He was running out of ideas to use to get his main point across. I can relate to this feeling and know how awful it is. I cannot however imagine going to a completely new place where everything is unfamiliar. That idea horrifies me so while I am ‘reading’ this story, I was feeling sympathetic for the main character.
This book is truly unlike any I have “read”. It requires multiple readings in order to fully absorb the complex, symbolic details Tan has included in every frame. Upon perusing the reviews printed on the back of this book, the following quote struck me: “Wordless, but with perfect narrative flow…” I totally agree with that statement in that after a while, the reader almost forgets that there are no words, becoming completely engrossed in this intricately depicted story.
It is quite evident that Tan did not want to this book bound by time, fantasy or realism as he incorporates a variety of the three elements into the story. The endpapers are rather striking evoking an eerily somber mood. I immediately took note of the ethnic variety he included in these black and white portraits. Despite this diverse representation, it appears as if all of the people depicted have the same solemn look upon their faces, creating a sense of uniformity among races. He is careful to maintain an anonymous, nonspecific setting (i.e. the city) perhaps so the reader is able to identify and make connections to certain scenes.
Throughout the story, Tan expertly captures the strong emotions of the characters. I noticed that upon first glance, this book might be considered black and white. However, the sepia tones create warmth corresponding to the strong emotions depicted throughout. Accordingly, Tan incorporates more stark black and white images to evoke fear and loneliness.
Kim, I wholeheartedly agree with the feeling of connectedness to the main character. It is amazing how a book without words could initiate such powerful feelings!
I had a difficult time finding a specific definition of a graphic novel and/or specific unifying traits so as to appropriately evaluate this book in terms of its genre. Upon conducting some research online, I found the following Wikipedia definition:
The evolving term graphic novel is not strictly defined, and is sometimes used, controversially, to imply subjective distinctions in artistic quality between graphic novels and other kinds of comics. It suggests a story that has a beginning, middle and end, as opposed to an ongoing series with continuing characters; one that is outside the genres commonly associated with comic books, and that deals with more mature themes. It is sometimes applied to works that fit this description even though they are serialized in traditional comic book format. The term is commonly used to disassociate works from the juvenile or humorous connotations of the terms comics and comic book, implying that the work is more serious, mature, or literary than traditional comics.
Based upon the latter definition, I believe this book certainly fits the term. It appears as if “graphic novels” are somewhat of a new and evolving genre, therefore making them particularly difficult to pinpoint. Personally, I find them to be one of the most challenging genres to “read” and interpret. However, I really enjoyed The Arrival. I am definitely interested in reading other books by this author to broaden my experience with the genre!
After reading this book, I am left feeling genuinely happy with a tinge of nostalgia. This book, told through the innocent eyes of a child creates an uncomplicated, carefree mood. In terms of the text, I found the bold lines of the font to be the perfect choice to convey the intended childlike persona. The language perfectly captures a young girl telling stories about visiting her Nanna and Poppy. For example, “Sometimes Nanna peek-a-boos me, which always makes me laugh.” The fabricated verb, “peek-a-boos,” creates the realistic and believable language of a young child. In reading this story, I felt as if I was actually having a conversation with the girl.
It is clear to see how this book won a Caldecott medal. The thick black outlines and vibrant, haphazardly painted colors are reminiscent of a child’s drawing. The illustrations clearly enhance the text. I have to say I was a bit disappointed by the somewhat lackluster solid “mustard yellow” endpapers. I believe the illustrator could have utilized the space in a more spectacular way.
Perhaps my favorite line of the book occurs on the last page: “When I get my own house someday I’m going to have a special Hello, Goodbye Window too. By that time I might be a Nanna myself. I don’t know who the Poppy will be, but I hope he can play the harmonica.”
I very much enjoyed this book as did my students when I read it to them. This is a story upon which numerous meaningful connections were forged. Almost all of my students had a story to share, thus heightening their engagement and personal relationship to the book. I am thinking I might use this story next year as a way to introduce memoirs and discuss the importance of adding details relative to the significant people and/or events of their lives. Kim, how might you incorporate this story into your classroom?
I agree that this Caldecott honor could be used as a lead in to significant people or events my students can personally connect to. I not only will have my students make text to self connections but also reach farther beyond to text to world and possibly text to text. I feel this text lends itself well to the variety of relationships students have growing up. I thought of even incorporating this picture book into my writer’s workshop units by modeling how authors revise their work by changing various parts. My students could write an additional part to the text or even go back and create a new ending.
Since my first post, I too read this book to my class for the second time this year. I was amazed at the complete engagement, discussion of the vibrant illustrations and connections each student shared with the class. I must admit that the last line of the book was also at the top of my list because it was so innocent yet truly meaningful coming from a young girl who cared so deeply for her grandparents. I know most of my first graders understood that the young girl was thinking about her life in the future. Others may have just smiled and enjoyed the happy ending thinking about the many ways their personal lives were similar to the young girls.
This traditional fantasy picture book definitely had an unusual story line to match the different almost creepy illustrations. The story is about a farmer who has three sons but only one out of the three who will be able to get his farm. The sons are set on missions to prove their worthy for the farm. During the quests, one son finds a "castle of the cats" where he continues to return bringing the Queen Cat gifts and receiving the supplies he needs. This story definitely fits right into the traditional fantasy category and meets all of the necessary story elements for that genre. For example, the cats are illustrated to look almost like real people, wearing clothes, wigs, shoes, etc. When one of the sons goes to the castle, the cats dance and talk to him. At the end of the story, the Queen Cat turns into a beautiful princess and lives happily ever after with the son. Portions of the story remind me of a fairy tale, yet I was left with a lot of unanswered questions even after several reads. My personal opinion is that I would not use this in my classroom because I did not agree with some of the language and illustrations. I would not want my students to hear the words, “the cats danced until their buttons popped open so their clothes all came off and their wigs popped off.” I think I can find another traditional fantasy story that is a little more tasteful. How did you feel about the overall language and text the author used?
In terms of genre, I consider this book to be realistic fiction. I am wondering if the story is based upon the author’s relationship to her grandparents as she captured the child’s devotion from a seemingly personal level. After reading the title of this book, I predicted that the Hello, Goodbye window might contribute an element of fantasy and magic to this story. However, it is clear that this was not the case. My students also predicted that the window was magical. This led to a wonderful discussion about how one’s predictions, although however reasonable during a picture walk, might change after reading the text.
Our text defines contemporary realistic fiction as, “the most popular. People are interested in their own lives, and this genre is about “my life.” This is my world. This is how I live. This story is about a girl like me. Because the characters in contemporary realistic fiction are similar to people in my town, I get to know them quickly and feel as if I’ve known them a long time. The main character in particular becomes a kindred spirit” (p. 128). I definitely believe that this fabulously touching story appropriately fits this genre.
I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More!
ReplyDeleteThis story is about a young boy who unsuccessfully resists the temptation to cover his entire body with paint. His disapproving mother warns him, “Ya aint a-gonna paint no more!”
In order to familiarize myself with this book, I read it with my students. The catchy rhymes of this book instantly grabbed their attention and kept them interested until the end. In terms of genre, this book is a zany, upbeat poem. After researching several editorial and customer reviews, I came to find that it is also modeled after a “familiar old folksy ballad, "Oh It Ain't Gonna Rain No More." In order to successfully engage the audience, this book must be read with an appropriate amount of expression in almost “singsong” manner.
This book was definitely FUN to read. It was amusing to watch the students’ reactions. Once they became familiar with the structure of the poetry, I had them read the repetitive lines. For example, they read “YA AINT A-GONNA PAINT NO MORE!” We discussed how the capital letters suggests to the reader that he/she read it loudly with an expressive tone. This element was certainly entertaining for them. Additionally, the rhyming nature prompted children to think about and subsequently chime in with the rhymes. For example, “So I take some red and I paint my…HEAD!”
Artistically speaking, this book contains a myriad of vividly colored illustrations that contrast starkly with the few predominantly black and white pages. I believe the illustrations are quite telling. The mother is portrayed throughout the book primarily in black and white, which depicts a certain element of boredom and monotony where as the paint is shown in full vibrant tones. The colored pictures exude energy and intense excitement. The pictures are certainly visually stimulating and adequately portray what I would perceive to be the emotions of this mischievous young boy.
I found the font choice to be very free-form and childlike; the perfect match for this whimsical poem. The endpapers contain thick, haphazard smears of paint which definitely provide foreshadowing of the “messiness” of this story! Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. Kim, I am interested as to your thoughts and perhaps how you envision using this in your classroom!
The Arrival-
ReplyDeleteThe Arrival, by Shaun Tan, is a wordless, picture book filled with realistic and surreal images that capture the true feeling of what it was like to be an immigrant in a new land. The hand drawn pictures allow the reader to connect with the main characters’ emotions and expressions as he makes his heroic journey. Tan created almost a “comic book” feel where each picture changes slightly to form the dramatic detail he was hoping for. As you are reading, you are immediately taken back by the incredible detail in the illustrations that allow you to visualize the text that would accompany the dramatic pictures. At first glance, the surreal images of buildings and animals seem to be out of place with the theme of the story. Once realizing the importance of these images and actually placing yourself into the characters shoes, you are able to see how Tan creates an immigration book unlike any other. He develops this fictitious, magical place with many unanswered hard to solve questions, which proved true to the immigrants initial reactions in a new country. Like the main character in the story, the immigrants were faced with the problems of finding shelter, work and friends. Tan proves how scary, difficult and unfamiliar it can be in an unknown place. Tan has designed an immigration book like no other that is a must read for people of all ages!
Although this challenging book requires students to spend much of their reading time making inferences; I am going to use part of it with my first grade class. I want my students to focus on the characters’ expressions and gestures and how using this information can help us improve our understanding of a story. Jen, how would you use this in your first grade classroom? Tan’s illustration of the man arriving at the new land and going through the medical checkup is perfect for that lesson. I look forward to using this text in the future. I hope it will help my students recognize the importance of studying the pictures to truly understand a story.
I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More-
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this story for the first time last night, I also choose to read it today in my classroom. I thought it would be an exciting, kid-friendly, poetic, “song like” book that my students would really enjoy. Right away my students noticed several important components that came alive in the illustrations and text. My students commented on the vivid color used only where the child paints in order to make that part of the illustration stand out. They also noticed the unique rhyming pattern that added to the overall tone of the story. I was impressed when they addressed the ellipsis that was on each page, letting them know that there was more to come on the following page. They remembered studying this punctuation mark during writer’s workshop. Jen, just like you, I had my students join in when reading the large, bold print, “Ya Ain’t A-Gonna Paint No More.” This made the text come to life in my room. My students were excited to participate in the reading and were pretending they were the character using all those stunning, bright colors to embellish the classroom.
For next year, I will integrate this picture book into a variety of reading and writing lessons including: poetry, rhyming as well as adding ellipsis to your stories to help create a sense of drama and suspense. I also thought this would be a beautiful book to integrate into morning meeting. I could have my students act out the parts of the story by pointing to each body part while I read.
The illustrator David Catrow, draws your attention to the colors used to paint by leaving the remaining illustrations in a gray scale. Not only does he use an assortment of energetic colors but also a variety of patterns and shapes for your eyes to discover.
Jen, I did not know the book came from a song although after reading it a second time I could hear the beat. Nice discovery! I will share this information with my class tomorrow.
I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More-
ReplyDeleteKim, I really enjoyed your integration of kinesthetic intelligence by having your students act out this book. I will definitely make a note of that for next year! My children even asked me to read this story to them again as they enjoyed it so much. I really did love this book and definitely plan on incorporating it into my poetry lessons.
As far as its poetic elements, I believe this book could be considered a “lyric poem.” Our text categorizes lyric poems as “melodic and songlike…it is descriptive, focusing on personal moments, feelings, or image-laden scenes” (p. 92). I definitely believe that the latter description contains a number of the elements we have been discussing. It is possible that this story contains some elements of “narrative poetry” as well. “Narrative poems tell stories. Children usually enjoy them because they are naturally attuned to stories and because they are easy to understand” (p. 92). I feel that perhaps this book could fall under both categories. I would love to hear your thoughts on this!
I Ain't Gonna Paint No More-
ReplyDeleteJen,
When first glancing at the book, I was not aware that it would be considered for the poetry genre. I then read the book paying close attention to the language of the text and understood why the story fits right into that genre. I do agree with you that this poem could be considered both a lyric poem and a narrative. I would use this to teach my students how poetry can be "songlike" and sometimes tells a story. I feel this book will lend itself to the wide variety of styles in poetry I try to introduce throughout the unit.
When researching the author and illustrator, I kept thinking their names sounded very familiar. I finally understood why when I came across the book, "I Like Myself," written by Beaumont and illustrated by Catrow. That text also has a rhyming pattern and fun rhythm, beat that creates a songlike feel when reading it with your students. I use that text for the start of a new school year to get students to understand all the wonderful things they like about themselves. Have you ever used it before? If you like I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More, you will love it!
The Hello Goodbye Window-
ReplyDeleteThis is the story of a little girl who goes to her grandparent’s house for a visit. At their house they have a special window called the "Hello, Goodbye Window." The entire story takes place surrounding the idea of this "magical" window because it is a way they can view the outer world from inside or the inner world from outside. The window almost represents a “magic getaway” for this little girl every time she takes a special visit to her grandparents.
This book won a Caldecott Medal in 2006. After reading The Hello, Goodbye Window and really drawing my attention to the illustrations I can clearly understand why the illustrator deserved that award. The illustrator used vibrant splashes of color almost in a childlike format. The pictures are done with circular patterns with only a black line emphasizing a few components such as the outline of the person’s body parts or clothing. The pictures are somewhat abstract which create a magical feel while reading the story.
One of the most memorable connections I can make to this book is the deep love the little girl has for her grandparents. This strong relationship continues throughout the book and is evident not only through the authors’ words but also in the detailed illustrations. The way her grandparents are portrayed looking at her with love, devotion and compassion make it more meaningful to the reader.
When searching for book reviews I found two reviews that describe the illustrations the way they are beautifully revealed. "The artwork is at once lively and energetic, without crowding the story or the words on the page...this is the art of a masterful hand." School Library Journal
"Raschka's swirling lines, swaths, and dabs of fruity colors seem especially vibrant, particularly in the double-page spreads." Booklist
I discussed several of the components of the illustrations that I found intriguing- Jen, What did you find appealing?
The Arrival-
ReplyDeleteI am taken away by the tiniest detail each picture includes, necessary to teach us the entire story. I find it incredible that people left their families and loved ones in search of a better life. The introduction really shows a true portrayal of the events including the characters’ emotions and will to survive. It is amazing that from one picture to the next the smallest detail might change to guide us along on the journey.
Looking at the first picture, I can’t help but think how amazed and yet also terrified each person must feel when they are viewing such a massive ship. In the next few pictures there are enormous amounts of people each holding only their most valued possessions awaiting the journey of their lifetime? The emotions on their faces prove the anticipation each awaits as the frustration of the entire process builds up.
There were so many fascinating illustrations- I do not know where to begin. The pictures I found most interesting was the man going through the medical checkup. Each time they performed a new checkup, he ended up with a badge on his jacket signifying what they found. I also enjoyed the pictures of the buildings with the ‘dragon shadows.’ To me these almost resembled fear of the unknown, corruption and disaster. I thought Tan used his creativity at best when developing animals, buildings and people that were oddly shaped. As a reader I had to go back to study each picture slowly making sure I did not miss any important plot point that would help myself understand the story. I think Tan used these magical creatures and settings to have the reader dig deeper when reading to prove how challenging and different it truly was for the immigrants coming into a new land.
This also brings me back to my sixth grade class when I was studying Ellis Island. I would have loved if my teacher had included this text as a part of our unit of study. It is extremely insightful and provides students the ability to envision, predict and see the world through the character's eyes.
I feel connected to the main character where I yearn to assist him when he was unable to describe his family he was searching for. I could tell how completely frustrated he was by focusing on his body gestures and facial expression. He was running out of ideas to use to get his main point across. I can relate to this feeling and know how awful it is. I cannot however imagine going to a completely new place where everything is unfamiliar. That idea horrifies me so while I am ‘reading’ this story, I was feeling sympathetic for the main character.
The Arrival-
ReplyDeleteThis book is truly unlike any I have “read”. It requires multiple readings in order to fully absorb the complex, symbolic details Tan has included in every frame. Upon perusing the reviews printed on the back of this book, the following quote struck me: “Wordless, but with perfect narrative flow…” I totally agree with that statement in that after a while, the reader almost forgets that there are no words, becoming completely engrossed in this intricately depicted story.
It is quite evident that Tan did not want to this book bound by time, fantasy or realism as he incorporates a variety of the three elements into the story. The endpapers are rather striking evoking an eerily somber mood. I immediately took note of the ethnic variety he included in these black and white portraits. Despite this diverse representation, it appears as if all of the people depicted have the same solemn look upon their faces, creating a sense of uniformity among races. He is careful to maintain an anonymous, nonspecific setting (i.e. the city) perhaps so the reader is able to identify and make connections to certain scenes.
Throughout the story, Tan expertly captures the strong emotions of the characters. I noticed that upon first glance, this book might be considered black and white. However, the sepia tones create warmth corresponding to the strong emotions depicted throughout. Accordingly, Tan incorporates more stark black and white images to evoke fear and loneliness.
Kim, I wholeheartedly agree with the feeling of connectedness to the main character. It is amazing how a book without words could initiate such powerful feelings!
The Arrival-
ReplyDeleteI had a difficult time finding a specific definition of a graphic novel and/or specific unifying traits so as to appropriately evaluate this book in terms of its genre. Upon conducting some research online, I found the following Wikipedia definition:
The evolving term graphic novel is not strictly defined, and is sometimes used, controversially, to imply subjective distinctions in artistic quality between graphic novels and other kinds of comics. It suggests a story that has a beginning, middle and end, as opposed to an ongoing series with continuing characters; one that is outside the genres commonly associated with comic books, and that deals with more mature themes. It is sometimes applied to works that fit this description even though they are serialized in traditional comic book format. The term is commonly used to disassociate works from the juvenile or humorous connotations of the terms comics and comic book, implying that the work is more serious, mature, or literary than traditional comics.
Based upon the latter definition, I believe this book certainly fits the term. It appears as if “graphic novels” are somewhat of a new and evolving genre, therefore making them particularly difficult to pinpoint. Personally, I find them to be one of the most challenging genres to “read” and interpret. However, I really enjoyed The Arrival. I am definitely interested in reading other books by this author to broaden my experience with the genre!
The Hello, Goodbye Window-
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this book, I am left feeling genuinely happy with a tinge of nostalgia. This book, told through the innocent eyes of a child creates an uncomplicated, carefree mood. In terms of the text, I found the bold lines of the font to be the perfect choice to convey the intended childlike persona. The language perfectly captures a young girl telling stories about visiting her Nanna and Poppy. For example, “Sometimes Nanna peek-a-boos me, which always makes me laugh.” The fabricated verb, “peek-a-boos,” creates the realistic and believable language of a young child. In reading this story, I felt as if I was actually having a conversation with the girl.
It is clear to see how this book won a Caldecott medal. The thick black outlines and vibrant, haphazardly painted colors are reminiscent of a child’s drawing. The illustrations clearly enhance the text. I have to say I was a bit disappointed by the somewhat lackluster solid “mustard yellow” endpapers. I believe the illustrator could have utilized the space in a more spectacular way.
Perhaps my favorite line of the book occurs on the last page: “When I get my own house someday I’m going to have a special Hello, Goodbye Window too. By that time I might be a Nanna myself. I don’t know who the Poppy will be, but I hope he can play the harmonica.”
I very much enjoyed this book as did my students when I read it to them. This is a story upon which numerous meaningful connections were forged. Almost all of my students had a story to share, thus heightening their engagement and personal relationship to the book. I am thinking I might use this story next year as a way to introduce memoirs and discuss the importance of adding details relative to the significant people and/or events of their lives. Kim, how might you incorporate this story into your classroom?
The Hello, Goodbye Window-
ReplyDeleteI agree that this Caldecott honor could be used as a lead in to significant people or events my students can personally connect to. I not only will have my students make text to self connections but also reach farther beyond to text to world and possibly text to text. I feel this text lends itself well to the variety of relationships students have growing up. I thought of even incorporating this picture book into my writer’s workshop units by modeling how authors revise their work by changing various parts. My students could write an additional part to the text or even go back and create a new ending.
Since my first post, I too read this book to my class for the second time this year. I was amazed at the complete engagement, discussion of the vibrant illustrations and connections each student shared with the class.
I must admit that the last line of the book was also at the top of my list because it was so innocent yet truly meaningful coming from a young girl who cared so deeply for her grandparents. I know most of my first graders understood that the young girl was thinking about her life in the future. Others may have just smiled and enjoyed the happy ending thinking about the many ways their personal lives were similar to the young girls.
The Castle of the Cats-
ReplyDeleteThis traditional fantasy picture book definitely had an unusual story line to match the different almost creepy illustrations. The story is about a farmer who has three sons but only one out of the three who will be able to get his farm. The sons are set on missions to prove their worthy for the farm. During the quests, one son finds a "castle of the cats" where he continues to return bringing the Queen Cat gifts and receiving the supplies he needs.
This story definitely fits right into the traditional fantasy category and meets all of the necessary story elements for that genre. For example, the cats are illustrated to look almost like real people, wearing clothes, wigs, shoes, etc. When one of the sons goes to the castle, the cats dance and talk to him. At the end of the story, the Queen Cat turns into a beautiful princess and lives happily ever after with the son. Portions of the story remind me of a fairy tale, yet I was left with a lot of unanswered questions even after several reads. My personal opinion is that I would not use this in my classroom because I did not agree with some of the language and illustrations. I would not want my students to hear the words, “the cats danced until their buttons popped open so their clothes all came off and their wigs popped off.” I think I can find another traditional fantasy story that is a little more tasteful.
How did you feel about the overall language and text the author used?
The Hello, Goodbye Window-
ReplyDeleteIn terms of genre, I consider this book to be realistic fiction. I am wondering if the story is based upon the author’s relationship to her grandparents as she captured the child’s devotion from a seemingly personal level. After reading the title of this book, I predicted that the Hello, Goodbye window might contribute an element of fantasy and magic to this story. However, it is clear that this was not the case. My students also predicted that the window was magical. This led to a wonderful discussion about how one’s predictions, although however reasonable during a picture walk, might change after reading the text.
Our text defines contemporary realistic fiction as, “the most popular. People are interested in their own lives, and this genre is about “my life.” This is my world. This is how I live. This story is about a girl like me. Because the characters in contemporary realistic fiction are similar to people in my town, I get to know them quickly and feel as if I’ve known them a long time. The main character in particular becomes a kindred spirit” (p. 128). I definitely believe that this fabulously touching story appropriately fits this genre.