Age Level: 5-8, Grade: K-3
Genre: Yo! Yes? is a picture book because it contains pictures/illustrations on all pages. The words and illustrations add to the overall message of the text.
Summary:Yo! Yes? is a story about two children that meet and begin to form a friendship.
Reflection:
This is a simple story of only two characters and approximately thirty words used in the story. Because of the limited words used in the story, the illustrations including the font are crucial to developing the story. The two characters appear lonely because they are the only image on the page. There is no background or other objects, so the emphasis is only on the two boys. The facial expressions on the characters' faces show their emotion. For example, on page 10, the child does not look at the other boy when asked, "What's up?" indicating his shyness. The illustrator uses a charcoal pencil for the outline and watercolor for the rest of the image. This use of texture along with the cartoon style of drawing gives the impression of youth and innocence, almost as if a child created the pictures. I also noticed the font as being large and with an exclamation point when the bold character is trying to talk to the shy character. The timid character's font is small in comparison to the other character, especially on page 14 when the shy character says, "No friends." (I actually felt sorry for him after reading that part.)
Yo! Yes? would be a good book to use in a friendship unit. Within the unit, it could be used to point out differences and similarities or diversity within one another. One character is black and one is white. One character is dressed in "street clothes" (sneakers, t-shirt, shorts) while the other is wearing pants and a sweater. The language spoken seems different as well with the use of one character saying, "Yo" and the other saying "you". After pointing out the differences a good discussion could conclude how people are alike on the inside and how friendship has no boundaries.
Big Question: There is a new student in your classroom. How can you be a friend to him/her?
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Fox, M. (1997). Whoever you are. San Diego: Hartcourt, Inc..
Age Level: 5-8, Grade: K-3
Genre: Whoever You Are is a picture book because it contains pictures/illustrations on all pages. The words and illustrations add to the overall message of the text.
Summary:
Whoever You Are is a story about children from around the world all having different cultures, customs, skin tones, and homelands, but inside all share the same feelings and emotions.
Reflection: This book is not an award winner, but it is a "Reading Rainbow Book" which to me is an accomplishment in its own right. The illustrator, Leslie Staub, uses folkart and vibrant colors to depict children from around the world. The illustrator also uses golden and jeweled frames on each page which gives each illustration an exotic feeling for the different countries represented in the story. She also has, on page 10, a picture of children of different nationalities, skin tones, hair color, and clothing holding hands around the globe which has become commonplace in representing multiculturalism, peace, and equality.
The writer, Mem Fox, uses second person point of view to narrate the story by referring to the reader as "Little One" and the use of "you" and "they." It is as if she is writing a letter giving words of wisdom to a child. Mem Fox literature lends itself well to read alouds in the classroom because she uses repetitive phrases ("whoever they are," and "wherever they are" is used on pages 1-2, 13, 16, 19, 24) and patterns throughout. After listening to the story, young children can easily determine the meaning and message of the text which is "on the inside we are all the same."
Big Question: Every person has special gifts to offer. What makes you special and unique?
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