Zara's Blog

  Carl Goes Shopping by Alexandra Day Fantasy  Grades: Pre-K - Kindergarten Awards: None Summary: Carl Goes Shopping by Alexandra Day is the story of a mom who leaves her baby with Carl, the dog, when she goes shopping for curtains. Carl takes the baby shopping in the toy section, reading in the book section, dressing up in the clothes section, and even to be on tv in the electronic section. Carl and the baby eat dog treats in the fine food section and visit other animals in the pet section but they race back downstairs before the mom returns. When she sees Carl and the baby waiting for her, she thinks they have been there the whole time and says, “Good dog, Carl”.  Evaluation: Carl Goes Shopping by Alexandra Day is an example of fantasy because the setting is unique and imaginative as Carl and the baby explore the different departments of a store. It is also fantasy because a dog would never take a baby shopping in the real world. Carl Goes Shopping by Alexandra Day is ...

  Little Pink Pig by Pat Hutchins   (Animal) Fantasy  Grade: Pre-K - Kindergarten  Awards: A Trophy Picture Book Summary: Little Pink Pig b y Pat Hutchins is a story about a little pink pig and his mother. It’s time for the little pink pig to go to bed but his mother can’t find him. Throughout the book, the little pink pig’s mom travels throughout the farm from animal to animal and asks if they’ve seen little pink pig. Each animal calls out to him with a “neigh” or a “moo” or other various sounds but the little pink pig does not hear them. The little pink pig calls out to his mother to wait but she cannot hear him either. At the end of the story, all the animals call out to the little pink pig and he is finally found so his mother can put him to bed. Evaluation: I would not use Little Pink Pig in my classroom because the reading level of Pre-K is not standard for second grade. Little Pink Pig by Pat Hutchins has really detailed illustrations and the creativ...

  Imogene’s Antlers by David Small Fantasy  Grade: 1st - 3rd Awards: A Parent’s Choice Award Book for Literature Summary: Imogene’s Antlers by David Small is a story about a young girl who grows a pair of antlers overnight. Imogene’s doctor and the principal had no solution to her problem. Imogene’s mother was not pleased with the antlers and she fainted multiple times. Throughout the story, Imogene uses her antlers to dry some towels and feeds the birds doughnuts until she is forced to wear a hat. Finally, Imogene fell asleep and woke up the next morning without antlers. Her family was overjoyed… until they saw her peacock feathers.   Evaluation: Imogene’s Antlers by David Small is a valuable story for children because it provides children with the opportunity to explore a “what if” scenario. A child growing antlers overnight is outside the realm of possibility and an example of a strange situation. I would read and use this book in my class because Imogene’s day is...

  Apple Trouble! by Ragnhild Scamell & illustrated by Michael Terry  (Animal) Fantasy  Grades: Pre-K-K, 1st & 2nd Awards: None Summary:  Apple Trouble! by Ragnhild Scamell is a story about a hedgehog who is preparing to hibernate for winter in her nest when a juicy red apple falls on top of her. Throughout the story, the hedgehog meets different animals that try to help her remove the apple but instead make it worse. The squirrel tried to push the apple off and dropped his nuts on her, the pig suggested she roll on her back but a pear got stuck to her, and the frog recommended she wash her back off in the lake but a pink water lily stuck to her. More and more animal friends tried to help but the number of fruits and nuts kept increasing until the hedgehog ran into a goat. He ate everything off of her except one crumpled leaf and finally the hedgehog could sleep in her nest.   Evaluation: Apple Trouble! by Ragnhild Scamell is a great example of fanta...

  Chicken Little by Sally Hobson Fantasy  Grades: Pre-K - Kindergarten  Awards: “Children’s Books of the Year” in 1994 by the Child Study Children’s Book Committee of Bank Street College Summary:  Chicken Little by Sally Hobson is a story about a chicken’s quest to tell the king that the sky is falling. On his quest to the king, Henny Penny the hen, Cocky Locky the rooster, Ducky Lucky the duck, and many other feathered friends inquire where Chicken Little is going and choose to join him. On their journey, Chicken Little and everyone traveling to warn the king meet a fox named Foxy Loxy who offers to escort them to the king. The king never receives the news that the sky is falling because Foxy Loxy takes the feathered friends into his lair and they are never seen again.  Evaluation: Chicken Little by Sally Hobson is a good example of fantasy because it features animals who go on a quest to see the king. This book seems outside the realm of possibility becaus...