Module 2: Harold and the Purple Crayon - Classic Children's and Young Adult Literature

Book Summary:

 

One night Harold decides to go for a walk in the moonlight.  He discovers that there is not a moon to light his way, so he draws one with his purple crayon.  Harold creates many adventures for himself which also lead to him having to draw the solution to his problems that his drawings have created.  After his encounter with a dragon, his boat ride and mountain climb, he wants to go home.  He has to remember how to locate is own window.  He is finally able to recall his own window with the help of the moon.

APA Reference:

Johnson, C. (1955). Harold and the purple crayon. New York: NY, Harper Collins.

Impressions:

The illustrations are simple and childlike.  There are only three colors used in the book, purple, grey and black against a white page backdrop.  This is still a favorite book with adults and children.  How great would it be if we could just drawn the next thing that we wanted to happen in our lives.  Harold uses his imagination as he begins his journey on a straight path, but then he decides he wants to go another route.  He drew what he thought he needed for his walk: A forest, with an apple tree with a dragon to protect the apples until they are red.  He ends of in the ocean, but he is able to think fast and solve his problem by drawing a boat.  He has other adventures of climbing and falling and being lost, but Harold always uses his purple crayon and his quick mind to come up with a solution to the problem.  This is a wonderful tale about being able to overcome difficult situations and find a safe place to rest in the end.

Professional Review:

Kirkus  Review - August 1, 1955

A clever little volume and pint sized- like Harold- contains the story of how he drew himself all over the place one evening with his purple crayon. Deciding to go for a walk in the moonlight, Harold draws a moon, then a path, and starts off. Then by mistake there's an ocean, a city, and more, until Harold wants his own window again and finally hits on drawing it around the moon. Johnson's picture are purple. You'll laugh at this. Good stitches.

Harold and the purple crayon. (1955). Bulletin from Virginia Kirkus' Service.

Library Uses:

This book could be used  for teaching Utah Library skills. Kindergarten students should engage and extract information from a book. They could recall concepts and details of the story by listening, viewing and reading the story. What were some of the things Harold drew with his crayon?

Module 1: We are in a Book - Intro to Youth Literature

Book Summary:
 

Piggie and Gerald are back and have just found out that they are in a book.  They are super excited about being in a book especially when they realize that a “reader” is watching them and reading the book.  Piggie has a brilliant plan to get the reader to say a word.  He had the reader say “Banana”.  This is repeated with much laughter.  Then when the book ends, they want to do it again, which is what all kids want to do.  Read it again.

APA Reference:

Willems, M. (2010). We are in a Book. New York, NY: Hyperion.

Impressions:

Mo Willems has done it a again.  He has brought back Piggie and Gerald to delight and entertain children and adults.  He has used his humor, simple illustrations and text to engage the reader in the story line.  Students prek - 2  grades will laugh and be involved in the story as they repeat the word banana displayed by Piggie.  Students will want to read and reread this story, even when they know the outcome of the plot.  This is a wonderful story to being laughter and humor into the library. ELL and non readers can still enjoy the story through the simple use of conversation dialog boxes and simply vocabulary.

Professional Review:

Stalwart friends Piggie and Gerald the elephant push the metafictive envelope in a big way when they realize that "someone is looking at us." Is it a monster? worries Gerald. "No," replies the squinting Piggie. "It is... / a reader! / A reader is reading us!" How? wonders Gerald. Piggie drapes herself on a word bubble to demonstrate: "We are in a book!" "THAT IS SO COOL!" Joy leads to a little bit of clever practical joking—Piggie figures out how to make the readers say "banana" out loud, and hilarity ensues—which gives way to existential angst: "The book ends?!" exclaims an appalled Gerald. Emergent readers just beginning to grapple one-on-one with the rules of the printed codex will find the friends' antics both funny and provocative: Just who is in control here, anyway? As always, Willems displays his customary control of both body language and pacing even as he challenges his readers to engage with his characters and the physicality of their book. The friends' solution to the book's imminent end? "Hello. Will you please read us again?" You bet.(Early reader. 4-8)

We are in a book. (2010). Kirkus Reviews, 78(17), 870.

Library Uses:

This book can be used to teach conversation or dialog writing.  This is a simple way to demonstrate who is talking with the use of colored speech or conversation bubbles.  When Gerald is talking they are gray and when Piggie is talking they are pink.