September’s Children’s Literature Review

September
Author: Chris Van Allsburg

1.)The Garden of Abdul Gasazi by Chris Van Allsburg
2.)Two Bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg
3.)Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
4.)The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
5.)Probuditi! by Chris Van Allsburg
6.)The Z Was Zapped: A Play in Twenty-Six Acts by Chris Van Allsburg

Yes, I’m running…..late again. It’s the second week of October and I haven’t posted my review of last month’s children’s literature. This past month we went through our selection rather quickly, so we made a second trip to the library and picked up whatever our hearts desired. I make a point of always letting the girls pick out at least one book they want to read, but usually the other books are the ones we are focusing that month. So the second trip to the library this month, which was pick whatever your heart desires, were mostly Halloween and seasonal books about apple growing and such- basically the girls raided the library’s, ‘Month of October’s Suggested Reading Table’.

As I wrote before, about reading Chris Van Allsburg this month, I was worried these stories might be too advanced. This was true to some degree, but then there were some aspects I was surprised about, for instance: Van Allsburg’s artwork is so fun to look at, even if you aren’t reading the story, it’s just fun to look at the pictures!

Youngest, being youngest, had the most trouble with the month’s selection. But of the books she liked and asked to hear again were: The Garden of Abdul Gasazi and The Z Was Zapped: A Play in Twenty-Six Acts. She also liked Two Bad Ants, but I think this is in part that her sister LOVES this story and has been read it at least twenty times! Youngest has been truly forced to like it. Youngest hates bugs too!

The Garden of Abdul Gasazi is about a little boy taking care of a naughty dog that runs away. The dog is probably the reason this story captured Youngest’s attention. But Allsburg puts a little twist in the last page that makes the story really fun for everyone and asking: do you believe? I'm sure both of the girls didn’t really understand this last part, but it still was enjoyable for them.

The Z Was Zapped: A Play in Twenty-Six Acts was good for both girls. They know their alphabet and enjoyed this book’s pictures and statements under each letter. In college I had read this story while taking a Children’s Illustration course and found this book strange. I remember thinking that Allsburg had just gotten a little fame under his belt and probably decided to try and write something for a younger audience. Reading this years later, I know this isn’t true, but that it has adult humor- or more advanced humor, probably just for those adults that might get bored with children’s books (I really don’t think this is possible if you research good book though!) and for the children that are very advanced.

Two Bad Ants always reminds me of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, a 1989 comedy film. This is probably just because it’s in the ant’s perspective. But this book gives children a chance to think about what it must be like to be an ant, and then a little humor when the ants are ‘Bad’ and stay behind in their euphoria of a sugar pot. I guess an endless supply of sugar is something most children can relate to, like James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl.

Probuditi!- This one surprised me! Oldest really understood that the little sister had played a big trick on her older brother and his friend. I don’t think she understood getting hypnotized, but she did understand that the little sister had tricked them and eaten his ice cream. I liked this story because it really brought back that feeling of being a kid again and the troubles you might get into with your siblings and parents. The illustrations are really beautiful and not the normal lithography technique most of his illustrations are done in.

Jumanji also surprised me in the fact that both girls hated it. They were too young to follow it. The idea of a board game coming to life, they just couldn’t get the concept I think. But again, the pictures are beautiful if you just want to look at jungle animal. Personally, I’m surprised that of all of Chris VanAllsburg’s books, that this is the one they made into a movie. It must have been the adventure part they thought would make a good movie.

We did not read The Polar Express. The library didn’t even have a copy! But I know that when we visit G&B at Christmas, I have a copy there, and we will read it them! Which will be the perfect time.

This month-October will be Dr. Seuss!!! This will not be hard at all, the girls love his books already. It will be hard for me though, his books are on average, VERY LONG!!! And then I’ll be rhyming all day long at work.


Take care,

Julia