Module 2: Traditional Literature
Bibliography
Taback, S. (1997). There was an old lady who swallowed a fly. Viking. 0-670-86939-2
Plot Summary
An eccentric old woman begins by swallowing a fly. She continues to swallow more and more animals that grow in size with each animal. At the end, she swallows a horse, which leads to her death-of course.
Critical Analysis
Simms Taback is the author and illustrator of There was an old lady who swallowed a fly. Taback’s illustrations are brightly colored on a black background. His illustration style is more cartoony with other pictures looking as if they were cut out of a magazine and added in. One side of the page is dedicated to the old woman and features her in her black dress with a yellow background. There is a cut out featured in the middle of her stomach that showcases what animal she is about to eat or what she has already eaten. Holes in pages are always very engaging and exciting for kids to look at. There are so many other small details on the pages that can hold the interest of the adults and children reading. The eye-catching colors and funny depictions of the animals can capture the attention of the children. The adults can be pulled into all the details and nuances Taback includes in each page.
The main characters are the Old Woman and the unfortunate animals that she eats. The animals provide a small comic relief by recognizing the absurdity of the woman swallowing all these outrageous and unbelievable things. The story progresses as the Old Woman swallows an increasingly large animals to the disbelief and amazement of the reader. It ends abruptly with the Old Woman dying after eating a horse leaving the reader with the moral “Never swallow a horse.”
The story repeats itself with each animal and adds on each new animal that is eaten. This repetition is engaging for kids and allows them to “read” along which is always entertaining.
Rhymes are used throughout as another device to make the story interesting to read. Taback adds commentary with the animals adding their own thoughts to the Old Woman. They speak in short rhymes that add to the hilarity of the book. The last page adds a blurb about the history of the “folk poem”. It originated in America with variations coming from different states. The original author is unknown.
Review Excerpts
Horn Book Guide- This version of the well-known folk poem includes additional comments (in rhyme) by the soon-to-be-eaten animals as they witness the zany old lady devouring progressively bigger and bigger animals until she, "of course," perishes. Bold, colorful artwork includes childlike cartoon drawings, detailed collages for individual perusing, and clever die-cut holes for gastrological peeking.
Caldecott Honor Winner 1998
Kirkus Reviews- Those accustomed to the streamlined version of this ditty won't know what to make of the comments scattered throughout the pages, little asides quipped by animals not yet swallowed; these rhyme with the "perhaps she'll die" line of the poem. Fortunately, these additions can be easily ignored or inflated according to taste, and full concentration given to the poem itself and the wild, eye-catching artwork: It is good fun to watch the old lady bulge and bloat, and the sheer corniness of the verse continues to be deeply gratifying.
Connections
Students could create their own version of this tale using different animals
Students could act out the story using costumes and props and create a way to have the different animals be “swallowed”
Bibliography
Marshall, J. (1989). The three little pigs. Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0-8037-0591-3
Plot Summary
The three little pigs are brothers that set out into the world to make it on their own. They are pursued by the Big Bad Wolf who wants to eat them. The first two pigs do not listen to the advice they are given and build unstable houses. The wolf takes advantage of this and destroys their homes and gobbles them up. The third brother is more clever and builds a house that withstands the wolf’s huffing and puffing. The wolf tries other tactics to lure the pig form his house so that he can eat the pig. The third pig outsmarts the wolf at every turn, much to the wolf’s frustration. Finally when the wolf resorts back to brute force to get the pig, the pig turns the tables on him and catches, cooks and eats the wolf in retaliation.
Critical Analysis
James Marshall is the author and illustrator of this version of The three little pigs. His retelling stays very close to the classic story. His illustrations are colorful and pleasing to the eye. His cartoon style of drawing is simple but eye-catching. Some pages are full color, some have boxes for the pictures, some have no backgrounds. The pages that do have backgrounds, set the scene with watercolor idyllic styles.
The three little pigs are the basis of this tale. The first two brothers don’t last long. Marshall is able to convey their naivety with added quips from the pigs in response to others attempts to guide them. The Big Bad Wolf is illustrated in a manner that portrays his inner feelings well. His face is very expressive.
The Three Little Pigs is a classic tale with multiple parts of the story that feature repetition. Marshall includes all these which makes the story engaging for children and adults. As an adult reader, it’s easy to find yourself getting into the characters and adding emphasis to the readings. It’s easy for children to catch on to the repetitions and read and interact with the story. The moral of the story is to be smart and be aware of what’s going on around you. Marshall portrays this well with his illustrations and characters in the story.
Review Excerpts
Horn Book Guide-When James Marshall rolls up his sleeves and reaches for a familiar tale, veteran readers should know by now to brace themselves for a round of hilarity
School Library Journal -Marshall brings his own brand of humor to both text and pictures in this retelling of the popular nursery tale . He retains the classic format of the tale, including all of the familiar phrases (`I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in''), but his own asides make the story fresh and lively.
Publishers Weekly-There are fairy tales, and there are Marshall's tales," said PW. "Readers can be forgiven for preferring his over all the rest."
Connections
Students can compare and contrast this version with other versions of the story
Students could work together and create a play version of this to present to the school
STEM-students could use blocks or other building materials to create houses that they think could withstand the wolf
Students could come up with their own plans the defeat the wolf
Bibliography
Kellogg, S. (1997). The Three Little Pigs. Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0-688-08731-0
Plot Summary
Serafina Sow starts a successful waffle business. She decides to retire and leave her empire to her three children. The three pigs are leading great lives until one day when a bad wolf named Tempesto comes to town and decides to eat them. He goes after each pig, who is always just barely able to escape from him. Others try to help the pigs but they are never successful. When the two brothers make it to their sister's house, they work together to stop Tempesto, who doesn’t give up easily. At the last minute, Serafina comes back to rescue her three piglets. With their mom’s help, they are able to capture the wolf and “woofle” him into submission. They send him far, far away, where he lives peacefully with his change of heart. The three little pigs and their mom live happily ever after with a world wide family corporation.
Critical Analysis
Steven Kellogg is the author and illustrator of this reimagining of the classic Three Little Pigs story. While the core of the story remains the same, Kellogg adds many details and backstories to his version. The mother pig is given a whole history before the three pigs even come into the story. The pigs in this version already have homes and thriving business before the wolf. The traditional lines from the original tale aren’t in this version of the story but their spirit remains. The moral in this version is more about persevering, never giving up. The pigs band together to stop the wolf. There is also more of an ending of the version. The happily ever after is greatly expanded upon. The characters are greatly expanded and given much more depth in this version.
Kellogg has a unique illustration style which is in full effect in this book. His illustrations are beautifully drawn with an abundance of colors and details added into each picture. The reader could spend a lot of time getting lost in all the details on each page. The illustrations build the world of the story, rather than overwhelming it. Kellogg also adds to the story itself by adding many details to the simple origin story. The bones of the story are the same but he builds a fanciful world around them. Readers can follow the pattern of the original while enjoying the variations built on it. While the classic rhymes are missing, Kellogg does in part make up for it with the descriptive words he uses in their place. His style of writing is captivating and pair perfectly with the gorgeous illustrations he provides.
Review Excerpts
Booklist starred-Just as the pig family in this story soups up their old waffle iron with four wheels and various tanks, pipes, and hoses, Kellogg takes a favorite folk tale and adds his own inventive touches of character, plot twists, and humor.
Kirkus Reviews -As usual, Kellogg's illustrations add to the story; intrepid readers will have fun finding art on the wall by Pablo Pigasso, perusing the long list of waffle flavors (among them, baloney and bubblegum), and giggling at the wolf's shirt, which sports slogans--at first, "Say Yes to Thugs," and later, "Thugs Need Hugs Too." A talent-strewn retelling that only enhances the original.
Connections
Students can compare and contrast this version with the “classic” version of the story
Students can create their own ending to the story. What happens to the wolf once he’s in the Gulf of Pasta?
Bibliography
Bruchac, J. (1993). The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story. Ill. by Anna Vojtech. Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0-8037-1331-2
Plot Summary
At the beginning of time, there was a Cherokee man and woman. They lived happily until one day the man became angry with the woman. She leaves him and he realizes the error of his ways. The woman is too angry to listen to the man so the sun helps him try to win her back. The sun creates different fruits in an attempt to slow the woman down, to no avail. Finally the sun grows strawberries whose sweetness stops the woman. The man is able to catch up and apologize and the woman accepts and shares her strawberries in forgiveness.
Critical Analysis
Joseph Bruchac retells a Cherokee story of the creation of strawberries. Anna Vojtech illustrates the story. She uses beautiful watercolor illustrations to bring the story to life. Her illustrations portray the Cherokee characters beautifully as well as portray their lifestyle. They set the scene for the world these characters are living in. The words are simple and straightforward, and the illustrations enhance this and bring this tale to life. Some pages have no words, so Vojtech’s pictures convey more of this ancient Cherokee world. They make this ancient time seem idyllic to live in.
Bruchac’s retelling of the story is simplistic but it adds to the beauty of the story. You can imagine how this is a tale that has been retold and passed down for generations. It does a good job of relating a Cherokee story to readers and the world at large. The characters are engaging and relatable and this is done without too many details or speaking.
This story would be a great way to introduce the Cherokee culture to readers. You get to see the beginning of man and the creation of various fruits. The story also provides the moral to be kind to others. It makes the connection of eating fruit to being sweet and spreading that kindness to others. It takes a classic tale and makes it relatable to modern day.
Review Excerpts
Horn Book Guide starred- The brief, readable story, accompanied by strong and spare illustrations, carries a valuable message about friendship and respect.
Publishers Weekly-This legend explains the origins of strawberries, grown by the sun to help the first man and woman patch a quarrel. "Spare text, an uncomplicated story line and gentle illustrations keep this quiet but resonant tale accessible to even the youngest child,"
Connections
Students can compare and contrast modern life withe the Cherokee life depicted in the book
Students could create their own version of this story. They could pick something we have today and write their version of how it was created.
