OOBLECK!!!!! Dr. Seuss and Science!!!!!

1950 Caldecott Honor: Bartholomew and the Oobleck

By Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss!!!  Dr. Seuss!!  We know and love this man and the work he did!  There are tons of web sites that will give you info on this man.  I checked out a book from the library; History Maker Bios Dr. Seuss.  It is written for a younger audience but it was just fine for a quick read full of facts! 

ISBN: 978-0-7613-5206-8

Book Summary

Bartholomew, a young lad, is the King of Didd’s aid.  The selfish king is tired of the regular stuff falling from the skies.  He orders his royal magicians to create something new to fall from the sky.  Against Bartholomew’s warnings that this could go bad, very bad the royal magicians work their magic.  The next day green oobleck begins to fall from the sky!  In the end the King learns to say sorry!

Illustrations

Typical Dr. Seuss, fun and creative!  The only color in the book is green with black and white drawings.  It is very effective!

Special Notes

So I read this book last Sunday night, and when I was finished I was super excited.  You see this week in my second grade classroom our spelling list was the double O sound of oo as in oobleck!  I read this story to my classroom (it took three days).  Then on Friday we got to conduct a science experiment and create oobleck! 

I had never made oobleck before and was eager to see what it would be like.  I got the recipe from the internet.  The kids were super excited as was I!  I began by putting on my apron and that was all the kids needed to see!  I picked up a large mixing bowl and large plastic spoon and pretended to mix.  The kids all froze with excitement!  I then asked if anyone would like to make oobleck with me today!  The kids all very quickly stood up and yelled YES!!!!!  We started with 1 and a half cups of water and 2 cups of Corn Starch.  We ended up needing to use much more Corn Starch to make the Oobleck work correctly.  But in the end we have magical oobleck running thru our hands!

 I love that kids are not afraid to get their hands dirty to learn!  It was so fun to see reactions and laugh with the class!  This book will now be a regular event in my classroom each year!  I can almost guarantee that the kids learned the double o as in oobleck sound and won’t forget! 

If you are brave enough to make oobleck please share your experience with me I would love to hear how it went for you!

Here are some links to printouts I found online that I also used in my classroom!

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/vocabulary/printable/6959.html

http://fun-n-first.blogspot.com/2011/02/bartholomew-and-oobleck.html

Ingredients:

Corn Starch, water and green food coloring.

Final Thoughts:

1. Would this be a book I would pick up again? Yes Yes Yes

2. Would I recommend it to others to search out and take a look at? Yes

3. Would I spend my hard earned money on the book? Yes!!!

4. Where did I get the book? Pierce County Library, WA

Song of the Swallows=seasons change

1950 Caldecott Winner: Song of the Swallows

By Leo Politi

YEAH!!!!  Finally Mr. Politi wins big!  Mr. Poloti won Caldecott Honors twice.

1947: Pedro, the Angel of Olvera Street                 and                        1949: Juanita

If you would like more background on this artist please visit my previous posts.

Book Summary

From: http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=0689711409

Every summer, the swallows leave San Juan Capistrano and fly far away, to a peaceful green island — but they always come back in the spring, on St. Joseph's Day. Juan loves las golondrinas, and so does his friend, Julian, the gardener at the mission.

This year, Juan plants a garden in his own yard. There's nothing he wants more than for the swallows to nest there. And on St. Joseph's Day, his dream comes true.

Leo Politi is the beloved author and illustrator of Pedro, The Angel of Olvera Street, among many other books for children. Song of the Swallows won the Caldecott Medal in 1950.

Illustrations

These illustrations are very similar to the previous two books by the same artist.  If you liked those then check out this book.  I found these illustrations to have a bit more “heart.”  What do I mean by that?  Not sure, but when you look at them for some reason you can just feel the meaning behind them.  I enjoyed the story to accompany them and perhaps that is what brings the heart to the illustrations.  Or rather because they are working in perfect unison?  Who knows, certainly not me!

Final Thoughts:

1. Would this be a book I would pick up again? Great story of the seasons chaning!

2. Would I recommend it to others to search out and take a look at? Yes

3. Would I spend my hard earned money on the book? If I found a good deal yup!

4. Where did I get the book? Pierce County Library, WA

A trip to the Virgin Islands? What to go?

1950 Caldecott Honor: Henry-Fisherman A Story of the Virgin Islands

By Marcia Brown

This is the second book we are looking at that is by Marcia Brown.  If you missed Stone Soup here is a Bio you can check out.  Bio from: http://www.powells.com/biblio/9780684922966

An interesting fact about this book was located on the back jacket cover.  Titled

How This Story Grew

“Many of her books have been inspired by trips abroad.  During two summers spent on the Island of St.Thomas, Miss Brown sketched, made friends with the children, and came back with beautiful pictures of Henry and his everyday doings.”

Book Summary

A young boy, Henry, is eager to grow up and help his father on the family fishing boat.  Henry is a good swimmer, diver and fisherman.  One day his father finally allows him to come out to see.  As Henry is in the middle of  his first dime a large dark shadow appears above him!  What is the dark shadow?  Read the book and find out!  J

Illustrations

From the book jacket, “Here in five colors, coral and dark green, turquoise and gold and brown, is Henry’s tropical home, the beaches, the sea, the fishing boats, the market and coconut groves of St. Thomas.”

Final Art. Five-color gouache, flat color (pink, dark greeen, chartreuse, green-yellow, turquoise blue, brown). From: http://library.albany.edu/speccoll/findaids/Images/HenryFisherman.htm

My thoughts!  I enjoyed the pictures. They are bright and bold.  There are sharp contrast in color and rough edges.  I have had the privilege of going to St. Thomas and remember it being bright, happy, and rough!  These illustrations capture that feeling.  It’s like being part of the tropics yet reality sprinkled on top.  I am gald that Ms. Brown did not feel it necessary to show the fantasy side of life rather she went in the opposite direction.  I enjoy the fact that the illustrations are bright and bold, no shading required.  Do remember I cannot shade art work to save my life! 

Overall I enjoyed the read and would suggest you take a look!

Final Thoughts:

1. Would this be a book I would pick up again?Probably not, it is dated but a fun read.

2. Would I recommend it to others to search out and take a look at? Just once, yup

3. Would I spend my hard earned money on the book? Garage Sale Price, sure!

4. Where did I get the book? Pierce County Library, WA

More Info:

http://www.albany.edu/feature/marcia_brown/

The Happy Day!!!!

1950 Caldecott Honor: The Happy Day

By Ruth Krauss                                  Pictures by Marc Simont

Illustrator Marc Simont was born on November 23rd in Paris, France. His childhood was spent in France, Spain, and the United States. Sickly, he taught himself to write by tracing the text of the Spanish picture book, El Ginesello. His schoolwork was also hindered by his travels and he never finished high school. He studied art at the Academie Julien, the Academie Ranson, and New York's National Academy of Design. Even at that, he considered his father, an illustrator for L'Illustration magazine, his most influential art teacher. Simont worked as a portrait painter, designed visual aids, and worked for magazines and advertising firms before becoming a children's book illustrator in 1939. His work had a characteristic loose line and saturated watercolor; his lively interpretations earning a Caldecott Honor in 1950 for The Happy Day by Ruth Kraus. He received the Caldecott Medal in 1957 for A Tree is Nice and again in 2002 for The Stray Dog. Happy Birthday, Marc, and many more returns!

http://www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org/birthbios/brthpage/11nov/11-23simont.html

Book Summary

Delightful forest creatures awake from their winter slumber to discover the arrival of a beautiful hint of spring!

So where does the title The Happy Day come from?  That is again one of the special surprises of this book!

Illustrations

The soft and friendly illustrations are done in black in white, with one BIG exception!  What is the exception?  Well it’s a special surprise at the end!  I wouldn’t want to ruin your surprise!  The illustrations seem to be done with pencil and perhaps charcoal.  This is of course a guess by someone who is not exactly an educated artist!  I found the pictures to be fun and easy!  My read this book to my kids and they both enjoyed it.  Funny how sometimes we think a book done in black and white will be less interesting, but I have always found that the opposite is true both for myself and for the kids. 

I also find it amazing that an artist can draw snow on a white page!  Not only is this amazing to me but in this book I found it very interesting to see snow covered mountain tops, one white pages!

Final Thoughts:

1. Would this be a book I would pick up again? Yes

2. Would I recommend it to others to search out and take a look at? Yes

3. Would I spend my hard earned money on the book? Yes

4. Where did I get the book? Milton Memorial Library

 More?  Here you go!
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/articles/2004/mar04_simontmarcus.asp