Spring 09 LLED, Altoona discussion
Elissa
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The Zoe award for the Best Child-Like Illustrations
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Elissa
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Feb 05, 2009 08:54AM

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To nominate this award, the book must be appropriate for kindergarten through sixth grade, and have awesome child-like illustrations!
Nominations are due by March 5, 2009.
Work Cited:
Griffith, K. (2006). Writing essays about literature: A guide and style sheet. Boston, MA: Thomson Wadsworth Corporation.

I found one review that truly shows the amazing quality of this book, and this nomination would not be complete without adding it. "Taking his cue from terminally ill children who, an introductory note explains, often express their feelings by drawing a free-floating purple or blue balloon, Raschka depicts balloon characters using potato and wood prints rendered in watercolor. Through a few masterful strokes, they become an elderly dying person and those dear to him, or the subject of this narrative, a dying red balloon child and his family and friends. Faces, all focused on the child, express concern, tearful sorrow, and support. Balloon strings encircle child and parents in love, twist to join the youngster to those around him, and curve to become hands reaching out in comfort and reassurance. "Good help makes leaving easier," the text reads. Streaked watercolor background washes change color with the mood, moving from blue to yellow on the final page describing "what you can do to help." Raschka's brief text avoids sentimentality and didacticism and is a good choice for those who want to provide assistance to children about this difficult subject." Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT. This is from the School Library Journal.







I nominate "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus!" by Mo WIllems. This book was published in 2003 by Hyperion Books for Children in New York. The book was elected a Caldecott Honor Book. This book is perfect for the Zoe award because its simplicity reveals the artwork of a child. The lack of illustrations actually make the book more involving. The reader is able to feel more connected with the pigeon. The artwork uses the same simple colors throughout the story. You would be able to see these exact representations in a child's art work. I believe that these simple child-like illustrations leave a symbolic mark on the audience. It is almost as if the one dimensional pigeon is leaping out of the page trying to convince you to let him drive the bus. I had read this book to my niece. She was so engaged with the book that she was yelling at the pigeon to leave her alone and that he will never drive the bus. She actually loved the story so much that she would draw her own pigeons on her free time. The book is engaging for any child in the K-3 grades. It is a short book, but the involvement of this pigeon is enough to fill a novel! This book is a must in the early elementary literary classroom and a perfect nominee for the Zoe award.

This book has been given a grand review by The Center for Children's Books. It also won the 1997 Boston Globe-Horn Award. This reward clearly depicts the book as one of the finest written and illustrated which is why it should be chosen for the Zoe Award.
This book is for an early reader. It uses sight words which will help the young readers.




This book is for children ages 4 to 8, and it is a very easy read. It contains strong family values, yet it is diverse in the sense that it is a story about a single parent. The illustrations are very childlike. They seem to be a combination of black marker and paint. The great part about the child-like pictures with this book, is the context in which it is portraying. The children simply adore their father and each page seems to show a little piece of each child. This is definitely a heartwarming pick for this award.






Mo Willems
C/O Hyperion Books for Children
114 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10011-5690
Dear Mo Willems,
Congratulations, your Caldecott Honor Award winning book, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, won an award I created! Your book is perfect for my award titled, “The Zoe Award for the Best Child-Like Illustrations.”
I am an Elementary Education student at Pennsylvania State University, Altoona Campus. In one of our classes, for the Arts and Literacy Block, we had to create an award for a children’s literature book, to be nominated by another elementary education student. In order to nominate my award, the children’s book had to be appropriate for kindergarten through sixth grade and have awesome child-like illustrations!
Child-like illustrations have symbolism and meaning behind them. “Symbolism can enrich setting. In fact, symbolism bears on both characterization and theme as well” (Griffith, 2006, pg. 94). Symbolism can have many different meanings or interpretations, but I believe there is a high correlation between symbolism and the illustrations in children’s literature.
I really enjoyed reading your book, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Children of all cultures are able enjoy this interactive book. I really like your use of bubbles to create the dialogue, because children are actually talking back to the story, which makes it fun for them to read. The illustrations appear to be done in crayon and are simple enough that a child is able to relate to them. There is not too much happening on each page, which makes the reader stay focused; their focus is clearly on the dialogue, along with the illustrations. The pigeon symbolizes characterization, because we are able to see the emotions the pigeon expresses. The pigeon displays the theme of the story through its expressions, because it really wants to drive the bus!
Sometimes, the simplest illustrations are the best ones! Children are able to respond to child -like illustrations more so than adult-like illustrations, because they are not as intimidating.
Sincerely,
Elissa Fromknecht
Books mentioned in this topic
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Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (other topics)
A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms (other topics)
The Purple Balloon (other topics)
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