© 1997-2011 Barnesandnoble.com llc
Kitten’s First Full Moon
By: Kevin Henkes
Bibliography:
Henkes, Kevin. 2004. Kitten’s First Full Moon. Ill. by Kevin Henkes. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 978-0-06-058828-1
Plot Summary:
Kitten has quite an adventure while trying to get to the big bowl of milk she sees in the sky. She tries everything she can to reach it, yet it stays in the sky. When she climbs a tree to get to it, she get’s scared until…she sees the even bigger bowl of milk in the pond. She runs down the tree, and runs and jumps into the “bigger bowl of milk” and ends up cold and wet. Cold, wet and hungry she goes home and what does she find? She finds a big bowl of milk. This story tells readers about that sometimes the road to get what we want isn’t easy, but if you keep trying you might get there.
Kevin Henkes has introduced us to an adorable yet simple story of kitten and her first full moon, which she thinks is a big bowl of milk. Readers tag along with her as she tries everything she can to get the big bowl of milk in the sky. Although she is unsuccessful in her attempts, she doesn’t give up trying to get to her goal. When she ends up in a jam, she sees an even bigger bowl of milk and she overcomes her fear to get to a new goal. This story is simple to follow and easy enough to understand the importance of “keep trying” you always get rewarded in the end.
Henkes’ artistic style give this book elegance in black and white.
Kitten’s First Full Moon won the Caldecott Medal in 2004.
“His drawing style is rowdy, exuberant, equal parts late Arnold Lobel and early Maurice Sendak. His heroes are admirably tenacious, plucky and equal to whatever task, lesson or sorrow Mr. Henkes supplies for them. His writing has a concise wit that is rare in children’s books…There is also an emotional context to Mr. Henkes’s picture-book that is equally rare…His work rings true.”----The New York Times Book Review
From School Library Journal - PreSchool-K-An irresistible offering from the multifaceted Henkes. The spare and suspense-filled story concerns a kitten that mistakes the moon for a bowl of milk. When she opens her mouth to lick the treat, she ends up with a bug on her tongue. Next, she launches herself into the air, paws reaching out for the object of her desire, only to tumble down the stairs, "bumping her nose and banging her ear and pinching her tail. Poor Kitten." Again and again, the feline's persistent attempts to reach her goal lead to pain, frustration, and exhaustion. Repetitive phrases introduce each sequence of desire, action, and consequence, until the animal's instincts lead her home to a satisfying resolution. Done in a charcoal and cream-colored palette, the understated illustrations feature thick black outlines, pleasing curves, and swiftly changing expressions that are full of nuance. The rhythmic text and delightful artwork ensure storytime success. Kids will surely applaud this cat's irrepressible spirit. Pair this tale with Frank Asch's classic Moongame (S & S, 1987) and Nancy Elizabeth Wallace's The Sun, the Moon and the Stars (Houghton, 2003) for nocturnal celebrations.-Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
· Students can perform reader’s theater in groups giving their own interpretation of the story
· Students can create a storyboard
· students can retell the story
· As a class with student-led discussion, they can discuss the elements of the story and try to identify character traits and how they relate to their lives.
· Students can visit the author’s website to learn more about how the story was developed and illustrated. http://www.kevinhenkes.com/default.asp
Post a Comment