Literature for Children and Young Adults by Darling Reads

Anansi Goes Fishing Author: Eric Kimmel Illustrator: Janet Stevens Published March 1st 1992 by Holiday House ISBN   082340918X Plot Summary Anansi the spider wants to learn how to fish as well as Turtle.   Turtle know that Anansi is notoriously lazy.   Turtle agrees to help Anansi build a net and go fishing if he agrees to help split the task.   Anansi is tricked into doing all the work while Turtle gets a free meal. Critical Analysis Anansi Goes Fishing is an African folktale.   This is the tale of how spiders learned how to weave spider webs.   Anansi is tricked into doing all the work while Turtle relaxes.   Then Anansi is tricked into sitting there while Turtle eats the fish.   The story is predictable and if this story was read aloud the reader could have young listeners guess what is going to happen.   The illustrations done by Stevens are a nice way to accompany the story. The cartoon-like pictures add humor...

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble By: William Steig Simon and Schuster, 1988 ISBN: 067166154X Plot Summary Sylvester likes to find pebbles.   One day he finds a pebble that he discovers is magical.   He tries it out a bit by changing the weather.   Sylvester, very excited about his discovery, races home to share his treasure.   On the way home, he was caught off guard by a scary tiger.   He panics and turns himself into the unexpected. Critical Analysis In this fictional picture book,  the animals are human-like as they live in homes, wear clothing and talk.   We follow Sylvester as he narrates the story that is told in the third person.   Sylvester acts consistent with how a reader could predict a child to act in the same circumstance.   Sometimes we don’t think before we act. The theme of family and the importance of kinship is evident in this story.   Sylvester was very excited to share his magic pebble with his ...

The Invention of Hugo Cabret: Book Review Bibliographic Information: Selznick, Brian. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. New York: Scholastic, 2007.   ISBN 0439819813786 Plot Summary: Hugo lives in the walls of a Paris train station in which he takes care of the clocks.   Stealthy Hugo must do what he has to in able to survive.   Hugo has one hope left: to repair an automated man that he believes may have a message from his late father.   With the help of a young girl, Hugo uncovers more secrets than he anticipated in this mysterious tale. Critical Analysis: The beginning of the book instantly takes you to a clear night in Paris.   The illustrations bring you to a bustling train station and introduce you to the stealthy Hugo.   Hugo sneaks his way around the station to his hiding place behind the walls.   The black and white illustrations set the mysterious mood and historical setting of 1930’s Paris.   The pictures help narrate t...