Postmodern Picture Books Part Deux

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Part Deux of Postmodern Picture Books...

  

Help!  We Need a Title

By Herve Tullet 

Tullet, H. (2013). Help!  We Need a Title. Sommerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. 

 

Right from the get-go, the reader is part of this story. 

 

"Hey!  Someone's watching us!", says a golden-haired girl with a tall pointy hat (we later discover she is a fairy) says to her friend, who is a pig.

 

The characters, wanting to entertain their visitor, try to present the reader with some sort of story.  They try their best, but feel unable to provide a proper narrative.  They even ask the reader for some ideas, but don't get the response they require.

 

 

 

Eventually, the characters find they must call upon the author for help.  The author, represented in part-photograph, part-illustration form, does help out begrudgingly (he just isn't ready to tell his story yet).

 

I love the face the author makes when he is interrupted by the characters.

 

 

 

The tale the author weaves is a very short one, but it will have to do. 

Then, the author goes back to writing his book, the characters bid the reader adieu and return to playing a game.

 

 

 

This book is fun and bright and silly.  The short story the author tells in the middle of the book is very simple, but does contain all the elements of a story and I think this book could be useful in teaching students those concepts of character, setting, plot, etc. in an entertaining way that would be easy for students to understand.

 

 

 

 

 

The Incredible Book Eating Boy

By Oliver Jeffers 

Jeffers, O. (2006). The Incredible Book Eating Boy. London: Harper Collins Publisher Ltd.

 

Henry eats books.  But, when the books get all jumbled up inside and cause him some serious problems (plus it is awfully expensive to eat books and it deprives others of the chance to read them), he gives up eating and takes up reading.

It is the subject matter as well as some of the design elements of this text that makes it postmodern.  A bite has been taken out of the book and there are random pages from dictionaries, accounting books, etc. mixed in with the text of the story.

I would use this books with students as a way of opening up a discussion about reading, the love of reading, how reading a book is like eating a book, and reasons why we read.  Those types of discussions are wonderful ones to have at the start of a new school year and they absolutely have to happen in order to help students develop their metacognitive life as a reader. 

 

 

Instructions

Written by Neil Gaiman 

Illustrated by Charles Vess 

Gaiman, N. (2000). Instructions. New York: Harper Collins Children

 

 

Neil Gaiman, author of this book, has his pen in many pots!  He writes so many different sorts of books that I think there must be something for everyone amongst his body of work.  This book is an instruction manual for how to succeed as a character in a fairy tale!

Throughout the book, many fairy tales are referenced either through illustrations or words.  The author has taken his lifetime experience as a fairy tale reader (and adventurer) and jotted it all down as to be a benefit for future generations. 

 

Afterall, storytelling is quite often about the elder passing along hard-earned wisdom and insights to the younger so that the younger can ignore most of it and carry on to make her/his own mistakes and create her/his own wisdom to later pass along!

 

The illustrations work, but they are not the highlight of the book (in my opinion).  I do like the way the author writes in the format of "dos and don'ts" which makes the advice given easier to digest.  I may use this book as a fun way to enter into a discussion with my students on writing "How to" Manuals.  Non-fiction writing is so important for my students because it develops an array of skills and helps my reluctant writers in that doing pieces like manuals appeals to them because they see them as purposeful and therefore worth doing!  Helping students to connect a "How to" to something more fanciful (like this book), may  jumpstart their creative engines!

 

I know my students will also enjoy finding all the fairy tales referenced in "Instructions"...a delightful treasure hunt!
 

Changes

By Anthony Browne

Browne, A. (1990). Changes. London: Walker Books Ltd.

 

Back to Anthony Browne (see the first page..Postmodern Picture Books...for more on Browne).  I have this book in circulation in my classroom and my students are quite intrigued by it.  I wanted students to have access to this book because the text is large and relatively simple and the story is one that many students can connect to.  The images are surreal and they take my students by surprise! 

Many times during independent reading period, I have had students approach me with book in their hands just dying to discuss it!  They want to show me all the unusual pictures and explain to me what the author is trying to do through this book.  I love listening to my students talk about books...it is my favorite part of being a teacher.  This book provokes conversation, it is a book that turns readers into thinkers and thinkers into sharers.  I can't ask for more than that!

 

Joseph's dad has told him that "Things are going to change.".  Sure enough, lots of things around Joseph's house start to change.  Joseph's anxiety about change prompts his imagination to see things around him in unusual new ways!

 

 

 

Even his bedroom has turned into a facsimile of Van Gogh's!

 

 

You're going to have to read the book to find out the ending!  :-)

 

 

 

Into the Forest

By Anthony Browne

Browne, A. (2004). Into the Forest. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press

 

Anthony Browne, again.  More surreal illustrations and connections to traditional fairy tales, but with a twist.  The story is dark and there is a sense of foreboding.  A strange noise in the night, a missing dad, a sick grandmother and a trip through a scary forest.

 

 

 

We meet a few well known characters such as Hansel and Gretel, Jack of beanstalk fame, and a pig-tailed girl who could be Goldilocks. 

 

 

 

 

Oh, and the main character finds a red coat in the middle of the forest!

 

 

 

 

 



 

The story has an unexpected ending and it is that feature of the story that I would use with my students.  This book would be a good mentor text for lessons on how to write a great opening and closing for a story. 

 

 

Piggybook

By Anthony Browne

Browne, A. (1986). Piggybook. London: Alfred A. Knopf Inc.

 

One more Anthony Browne book and this one is a real treasure.  Want to talk to your students about family roles?  This book is perfect for that.  How about fairness?  This book ticks that box, too.  Stereotypes?  Yup, its got that.  And all with charming way of combining the ordinary with the surreal. 

 

 

Mum works hard to make a nice home for her family.  She gets no help from her little piggies (kids) or her big piggy (husband).

 

 

 

When mum has had enough, she leaves the piggies to their own devices and they are soon wallowing in their own filth.

 

 

 

Everything all turns out fine in the end and the family reunites with kids and hubby learning their lessons and changing their ways.

But there is no keeping Mum in the kitchen now and she takes up car repairs!

 

The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups

By David Wisniewski

Wisniewski, D. (1998). The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups.  New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books

 

 

 

This book is so subversive.  I love it!  The author has gone undercover to debunk all the reasons your parents tell you do or not do things like to drink your milk or not to jump on your bed.  Seems there is a grown-up conspiracy to drain all the fun out of childhood!

 

I love all the details the author (and his editor) have included in this book, from papers stamped with "Top Secret" in red ink to an author bio that reflects the irreverent tone of the entire text.

 

 

The author shares a common rule ("Drink plenty of milk."), the official reason grown-ups give about why you should do that and then...

 

 

He reveals the real reason behind the rule!  He follows this process for many rules children and former children everywhere will recognize.

 

 

 

This is such a funny book and one that is sure to entertain.  It is a very wordy picture book and has some text features that most people would equate with a non-fiction book.  I would use this book to inspire writing from my students as I think they would be quite motivated by the chance to explode an adult rule that is their own pet peeve.  It would provide an opportunity to do some research as well and lots of imagination!

 

 

Battle Bunny

Written by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett Illustrated by Matthew Myers

Barnett, M. & Scieszka, J. (2013). Battle Bunny. New York: Simon and Schuster

 

 

 

How can I not know about this book?  I came across it while looking for information on Postmodern picture books,and until it popped up on my library searching screen, I had never heard of it.  It is my new most favorite book of all time!  After reading it, I want to rush into my classroom, gather all my students around share it with them...it is THAT good!

 

 

 

 

Jon Scieszka is a well-known Postmodern picture book author (a number of his other books are found in my the other Postmodern Picture Books page found in this blog) and he continues to hit them out of the park with this remarkable tome.  On first glance, it looks like one of those old time books that anyone over 40 recognizes.  The cover is done in  muted colors with simple illustrations (think Golden Books covers, but without the gilt-colored spine).  However, it appears someone has defaced the book, and in fact, they have.  But in a twist, it is the authors and illustrator that have done the deed! 

 

 

This is actually two stories in one.  You can read the original story "Birthday Bunny", a rather lacklustre retelling of the clichéd "it's my birthday and none of my friends remember, but then oh yes they do and it is just a big surprise" tale.  Then, you can re-read the book, but this time it is "Battle Bunny" with all the intrigue, adventure and shenanigans that title conjures up.

 

 

I have a plan to use this book as a mentor text for an activity my students are going to love!  I am going to find all the simple storybooks of the "Birthday Bunny" type genre that I can find (and there are lots of them at second hand stores...I usually overlook them because their literary value is a bit weak).  Then, I am going to have each of my students choose one and have them go "Battle Bunny" on it!   Of course, there will be lots of discussion, planning and modelling as part of the lead up.  I think it is a great way to discuss topics like editing and revision, writing for an audience, voice, etc.

 

I can't wait to try this out! 

 

Previously

By Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman

Ahlberg, A. & Ingman, B. (2007). Previously. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.

 

 

 

 A book that tells what had been happening previously to a variety of fairy tale characters.  Cute!  Fairy tales make great fodder for Postmodern picture books.  Because the characters, storylines and motifs of fairy tales are so well known, it is easy to use them in a Postmodern format, to deconstruct and reconstruct those stories that are so familiar, accepted and beloved. 

 

It is also a play on so many television shows that start off the next in a series with the words "Previously on..."

 

 

The story starts with Goldilocks and runs through numerous fairy tales finally ending up with the Gingerbread Boy being wheat, the prince being a baby and the frog being a tadpole.

 

 

I would use this book to help my students understand how time can sometimes jump around in a narrative.  It is an explicit skill that needs to be taught to readers who are in the transitional stage of reading development.  For students to understand that authors don't always write in a straight timeline is important for their comprehension.  This is also a good text to use to discuss how previous events can affect characters in the present.

 

The Jolly Pocket Postman

By Janet and Allan Ahlberg

Ahlberg, A. & J. (1995). The Jolly Pocket Postman. London: William Heinemann Ltd.

 

 

Allan Ahlberg who wrote the book "Previously" which I previously wrote about in the previous entry, previously wrote this book with his wife, Janet. 

 

The Ahlbergs are a well-known writing team from Great Britain.  Janet died in 1994 at the age of 50 and Allan now partners with other writers including his daughter, Jessica.

 

This book was a miniature version of the Ahlbergs' greatest success The Jolly Postman  which was published in 1986.  It makes use of pages which are actually envelopes to include letters, cards, small books and even a tiny magnifying glass so the reader doesn't strain his/her eyes.  I

 

 

 

 

In the book, the postman delivers letters to several famous storybook characters such as Alice of Wonderland fame and Dorothy who ended up in Oz.  

 

 

 

I love this book because it is wonderfully written and has great illustrations.  The moveable parts of the book are an added bonus and make it feel more like you are a participant in the tale than just a reader.

 

 

I would like to try having my students create a book like this with moveable parts that accentuate the story.  I have to give it some thought in terms of just how to go about it.  Should the story be written and then once it is complete, add the moveable parts or should the story be written with the parts in mind?   I will have to do one for myself before I assign it to my students.  I usually do the writing pieces I am going to assign so I can prepare myself for any problems my students might encounter (not that I solve them for them, but I want to know about them in advance).

 

 

What's Wrong with this Book?

By Richard McGuire

McGuire, R. (1997). What's Wrong with this Book? London: Penguin.

This is a simple book and not amongst my favorites of this genre, but it does work well for readers in the early stage of reading as the text is relatively easy to read and the illustrations are helpful.

The book is bright with lots of interesting illustrations and I like how to makes the reader aware of how things are not always what they seem and that our eyes can play tricks on us.

 

I would use this book in a guided reading session.  I think it would be a good book for students to practice some of their word decoding skills and also prompts lots of discussions.  Talking about books is very important for readers.  It assists with development of vocabulary and builds community.  It also provides students with access to the experiences of other students and helps them make their own connections.

 

 

 

The Dumb Bunnies

Written by Sue Denim

Illustrated by Dav Pilkey 

Denim, S. & Pilkey, D. (1994). The Dumb Bunnies. New York:  Scholastic.

 

 

This book is just plain dumb.  And that makes it perfect for lots of kids (and some adults)!  This is the kind of book that can hook a kid into reading.  It makes them realize that reading can be fun, silly, full of laughter and something that you can share with others.  That is how I would use this book...as a fun reading experience.

I love having a student read this book with me.  There is so much foolishness on every page which engages students and brings the giggles, smiles and AHA! moments.  This book can be read at lots of levels from enjoyment of the slapstick to the more sophisticated humor that can be found if you know enough to get all the references.

I know some teachers balk at using this kind of book with students because it is considered low culture.  They want to expose students to classic literature and I want that, as well.  However, these books have a place in classrooms, too, because they have the ability to turn a child into a lifelong reader.  We need to provide books that appeal to the wide range of students we teach so that we can make sure we capture all students in our reading net. 

A Book

By Mordicai Gerstein

Gerstein, M. (2009). A Book. New York: Roaring Book Press.

Everyone has a story.  What's yours? 

 

 

This book provides that prompt and so it is useful for getting writers writing.  It also addresses the various genres of stories there are such as fairy tales, mysteries, etc.  It would be a great book to use to introduce a study on genres.  And because the book offers up different stories for the girl to join, there is a little something for everyone in this book in terms of subject matter.

 

I like this book a lot.  The characters in the story speak directly to the reader and I enjoy that interaction.  As the little girl searches for her story, she realizes all the types of stories she doesn't want to be a character in.  

She meets up with the world's greatest detective!

In the end, she decides to create her own story.  While her family settles down to watch television, the little girl grabs her notebook and pencil and a spot on a rug and begins her creation.  No scene warms a teacher's heart more than that!

Beware of the Storybook Wolves

By Lauren Child

Child, L. (2000). Beware of the Storybook Wolves. New York: Scholastic.

 

Yet another Postmodern take on fairy tales. 

There are so many of these! 

Some are better than others and this is a very good one!

 

 

 

 

I love that the kid's name is Herb.  And I love how he is great at problem solving, thinks outside the box, but is still afraid of the dark.  When a fairy tale wolf escapes from a book, Herb has to use all his know how to survive which he does and lives happily ever after (of course).

One thing to consider if you are planning to let students read this book on their own, there is some cursive type text which may be challenging to read for some students.  I might actually use the book to discuss with students what strategies they might use to deal with text that is cursive. 

Doing a character study on Herb might be another way to use this book.  He is a very strong character and there is much that can be inferred about him by his behavior throughout the book.  This book put me in mind of Sendak's "Where the Wild Thing Are" in the sense that the child is the hero of the story and he successfully faces the creatures of his imagination.

 

There Are No Cat in This Book

By Viviane Schwarz

Schwarz, V. (2010). There Are No Cats in This Book. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.

 

 

A bunch of cats are packing to take a trip, trying to remember the can opener and their wee toys when you, the reader, interrupts. 

 

 

 

 

They are happy to have a visitor, but they must be going.  They want to see the world!

 

 

They jump and push their way out of the book and...

 

 

Things don't go so smoothly and they get stuck inside the book for a while.  But with the help of the reader, they manage to get sprung and go off on their travels.

 

 

They do send a post card...very polite cats!

 

This is a sweet book.  If you have a student who loves cats, they will really enjoy this book.  It is important for teachers to know about the interests of their students so you can use those interests to enhance student learning.  Intrinsic motivation is the best motivator.  Students will do their best work and be more engaged when their learning is connected to something meaningful to them.  More importantly, teaching is all about relationships. Getting to know your students helps you create a relationship that makes you a better teacher.

 

 

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

By Mo Willems

Willems, M. (2003). Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!. New York: Hyperion

 

 

 

A former resource teacher at my school used this book as part of a lesson on pre-thinking before you read a book.  She had students think about all the words they might see in the book based on the predictions they made about its content. 

 

 

She wrote the words on a chart and the students talked about them as a group.  Then she started reading the book and drew connections to the words they had brainstormed.  She demonstrated how thinking about a book before you read helps you once you start reading it.  They reason I relate that episode is because this is a very silly book, but it can be used to teach students a variety of reading skills. 

 

 

 

Plus, the students are highly engaged and interested because the book has an interesting subject matter, cool illustrations and a main character who directly addresses the reader.  It is a great book and there are a number of follow-up books done by Willems which are equally appealing to students. 

 

 

 

I would also use this book to start a discussion about persuasive writing.  The pigeon tries to convince the reader to let him drive the bus using a variety of approaches and arguments.  This is a good lead into using language and words to express yourself and get your point across.

 

 

Zoom

By Istvan Banyai

 

Banyai, I. (1995). Zoom. New York: Puffin.

 

 

 

This is a wordless book.  It is a book of images and of perspective.  There is a narrative, but in a way it keeps changing.  Just when you think you know what is going on, the author changes the frame.  It is a great book for talking about perspective.

 

 

This is the first page.  What is that?  It looks like some sort of bacteria or maybe the top of a funny hat or a dinosaur.    Big time use of imagination!  Gets those little grey cells humming!

 

 

 

This is the second page.  AHA!  It is a rooster's comb.  This story must be about a rooster.  Maybe it is a book about birds.

 

 

Third page.  It takes place on farm.  These are the kids who live there.  What are those strange lines on the boys hat and jacket?

 

 

Fourth page.  Look at all those barnyard animals.  I wonder why all the animals are running around free.  Shouldn't they be in pens?  Maybe it is a free range farm.

 

 

Fifth page.  It is a whole village!  But what are those yellow things underneath the trees?  And the buildings look a little too close together.

 

 

AHA!  Now I see.  It's a model.  Someone is creating a village using these toys.

 

And, so the book goes.  It is great for developing student ability to make predictions, ask questions and use their imaginations to try to figure out just what is going on.   And all without worrying about words.

 

Re-Zoom

By Istvan Banyai

Banyai, I. (1995). Zoom. New York: Puffin.

 

 

Same concept as Zoom by the same author. 

I am going to let these first 6 pages of the book speak for themselves. 

Scroll down slowly and let your imagination take flight!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trust Me, Jack's Beanstalk Stinks!

Written by Eric Braun

Illustrated by Cristian Bernardini

 

Braun, E. & Bernardini, C. (2012). Trust Me, Jack's Beanstalk Stinks!. Minnesota: Picture Window Books

 



One more entry about fractured fairy tales.  This is a series I have in my classroom and my students love to read them whenever they have free time to read.  There are 10 books in the series and they are available through Scholastic or Capstone Publishing.  They are written and illustrated by a variety of people who I assume are freelancers. You can find out more about these books by clicking here to be directed to Capstone's website.

Home of the Brave

By Allen Say

Say, A. (2002). Home of the Brave. Boston: Houghton Mifflin

 

 

It is very rare to find a Postmodern picture book that crosses over into the social justice/historical fiction genre, but this one does just that.  It is considered Postmodern because of the untraditional narrative and the surrealism in the illustrations and the storyline. 

 

 

Say tells the story of the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II through a dream-like narrative.  He does not focus on facts, but rather on the emotional aspects of that traumatic event and painful moment in American history.

 

 

 

The pictures of the children are most impactful, their faces full of confusion and hurt. 

 

 

Children crying out to go home, to have their freedom.

 

I like this book very much.  It can be used at any time during the year, but around the Remembrance season is a good time because of its connection to WWII and so the students are thinking about the events of that war.  The illustrations are remarkable...they are so good in fact that I want to cut the book apart and frame each page.  And, they are powerful because it is in the pictures that students see the haunting images that help them think about freedom, how we sometimes take it for granted until its loss shows us how devastating life can be without it.