Module 2: Mr. Popper's Penguins & Caps for Sale

Mr. Popper's Penguins 

by Richard and Florence Atwater

Summary: House painter, Mr. Popper, receives an unexpected surprise at the end of his painting season from hero Admiral Drake.  In response to his letters, Admiral Drake send him his very own penguin.  Despite his efforts to make him feel comfortable in his new home, even the newly made icebox house doesn't seem to make Mr. Popper's new penguin, Captain Cook, happy.  Mr. Popper send a letter to a curator at an aquarium that has a solo penguin and they send their penguin to Mr. Popper so they can keep each other company.  After Greta arrives, both penguins return to their happy state and Greta soon becomes a mother of ten penguins.  Mr. Popper must turn his basement into a freezing plant in order to accommodate these Antarctic  creatures.  In addition to this, he has fish brought in daily for his pets.  Unfortunately, he and Mama don't have enough money to cover these expenses and they begin to worry. Mrs. Popper and Mr. Popper teach the penguins some impressive tricks and when a theater owner comes to town they take their penguin act to show him. The owner and crowd fell in love with the penguin act and Mr. Popper's penguins were hired to go on tour throughout the country.  They have several successful acts but run into some problems when Mr. Popper accidentally takes them to the wrong theater where seals are performing.  Ultimately, the penguins are having a hard time surviving in North America's climate. Admiral Drake comes back and ask Mr. Popper if the penguins can go to the Arctic to start a population of penguins there.  Mr. Popper agrees only because it is best for the penguins.  At the last minute, Mr. Popper realizes that Admiral Drake wants him to come with him.  Mr. Popper finally gets to follow his dream of traveling the world by going to the Arctic and Mama takes their earning from the shows home with Bill and Janie.

Atwater, R. and Atwater, F. (1938).  Mr. Popper's penguins.  New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

My Impression:  I give this book an A-. This is clearly a classic that has and will continue to stand the test of time.  Mr. Popper is a fun loving man.  Just like most kids dream of having a pet, including Mr. Popper's kids, he too dreams of having a pet penguin.  This is a great way for readers to connect to the story and it happens at the beginning to the readers get hooked quickly.  From making huge alterations in his home to walking Captain Cook on a leash while dressed like a penguin himself, this story is sure to have the reader laughing.    This lovable and humorous story is sure to keep readers entertained for generations to come.  Although all of the things stand true, readers might need a gentle nudge from a librarian or adult towards this book.  Once they give it a try, they are sure to love it.

Professional Reviews:

Book Links (2010)
(Gr: 1-4): A penguin named Captain Cook arrives at Mr. Popper's house courtesy of Admiral Drake.  The penguin is sad until the Poppers purchase a second penguin - Greta.  Captain Cook and Greta have 10 chicks.  "They were Nelson, Columbus, Louisa, Jenny, Scott, Magellan, Adelina, Isabella, Ferdinand, and Victoria."  The Poppers run out of money feeding the penguins and altering the house, so they become a traveling show - The Popper Performing Penguins.  This book made its first appearance in 1938.

Reid, R. (2010). Reid-aloud alert. Book Links, 19(4), 30-31. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/booklinks


Library Uses:  After collaborating with a teacher or teachers, plan to use a section of Mr. Popper's Penguins as a read a loud.  Working in conjunction with a teacher's polar unit or penguin unit, students could make a list of the different things Mr. Popper will need to do for Captain Cook in order for him to survive in America.

Caps for Sale 

by Esphyr Slobodkina

Summary:  A peddler travels around town trying to sell hats for fifty cents a piece from a stack which he wears on his head.  After an unsuccessful morning, he wanders off to find a nice place to rest.  After meticulously checking to make sure he had his own hat, in addition to all the gray caps, brown caps, and red caps he chooses a nice tree to lean against for a short nap.  When he awakens from his nap, he soon discovers that all of his hats are missing.  He looks all around the tree and can't find his hats anywhere.  Finally he looks up only to find that there are monkeys in the tree each wearing one of his hats.  He argues with the monkeys shaking his fist and stomping his feet.  The monkeys mimic him only creating more frustration for the peddler.  Out of anger he finally throws his own hat on the ground and all the monkey follow.  He happily gathered up all of his hats and went back into town to sell them.

Slobodkina, E. (1940). Caps for sale. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

My Impression: I give this book an A+.  This is a cute story that would be an easy read for beginning readers.  I found the story line to be very simplistic.   Kids will love mimicking the interactions between the peddler and monkeys as well as quoting the peddler as he say, "Caps, caps for sale.  Fifty cents a cap."  This book is a childhood favorite for many, including myself, but compared to titles today it might not be circulated as much as other titles.

Professional Reviews:

"Caps for Sale" was first published in 1938 and still sells steadily, as generation after generation of children demands that the cheerfully repetitive words be read and reread.

Goldman, A.L. (2002, July 27). Esphyr Slobodkina, 93, artist and author, dies. The New York Times. 

Pre S - Grade 3: Esphyr Slobodkina's classic tale (Scholastic pap., 1984) has been a long time story hour favorite in many communities.  In this familiar tale, the peddler gets his caps taken by the monkey in the tree and then, accidentally, gets them to return his merchandise when the peddler stomps his feet and throws his own cap down to the ground.  The cassette will provide the opportunity for many youngsters to listen to this tale again and again.  The lively introductory music gets reader attention immediately.  Once the reading of the story starts, the music dramatically stops.  The male narrator uses enough drama in his voice to make the reading interested but not stilted.  One can almost imagine being withe the peddler as he peddles his caps.  The read along sound track uses the sound of a page being turned to signal listeners.  This well produced package should have wide use in libraries and classrooms as well as for home circulation.  

McElmeel, S. (1998). Recordings [Review of the sound recording Caps for sale by Esphyr Slobodkina]. School Library Journal, 34(6), 54.  Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/

Library Uses:  Great for use in the library with young readers.  The length of the text makes it a great book to read aloud and have students reread the text with you.  It could also be used to reiterate color words that kindergarten is learning and math lessons could be incorporated as well.  Ask the students questions such as, "How many hats would the peddler still have if the monkey only took the red hats?"  This would also be an easy story for students to retell through acting out.
 

Module 1: Miss Brooks Likes Books (and I Don't)

Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I don't)

by Barbara Bottner 

Book Summary: First grader Missy's librarian, Miss Brooks, loves books, and she doesn't.  Miss Brooks announces the worst thing Missy could ever imagine, they are going to have book week.  Each child will choose his or her favorite book to share with the class.  While the other kid shave no problems finding a book to share, Missy can't seem to find a books she loves.  Miss Brooks relentlessly tries to find a book that Missy will love.  While Missy and her mom are going through the books Miss Brooks has sent home, Missy discovers that she wants a book about warts.  She finds the perfect book to share with her class Shrek.

Bottner, B. (2010). Miss Brooks loves books (and I don't). New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

My Impression:  I give this book an A.  I think author Barbara Bottner and illustrator Michael Emberley were a perfect pair for this title.  I love the story line and Emberley does a great job portraying this story through his funny illustrations.  I personally like this book because I can connect to the librarian who loves books.   The image of Miss Brooks sitting amongst stacks and stacks of books is engrained in my mind and I am envious of this fictional character.  Missy is a character that many students can relate to.  I feel that often times we focus on students or characters that do the right thing.  Not that Missy is doing the wrong thing, but we are focusing on a kid in the library who doesn't like books.  I love the way Miss Brooks doesn't give up on her and recommends book after book after book in an attempt to find the perfect book for Missy.  What a great lesson this teaches our students.  If we keep trying, we will eventually find something we like.

Professional Reviews:

Booklist (March 1, 2010)

Preschool-Grade 2. A scowling first-grader in spectacles, a knitted hat, and overalls cannot stand her bubbly librarian, who dresses up in costumes for reading circle, where she introduces books about dragons, Pilgrims, presidents, and Groundhogs, even! For Book Week, everyone in class has to bring a favorite story, and the young girl has only grouchy comebacks for the other kids, who enthusiastically share books about trains (too clickety), fairies (too flowery), cowboys (too yuppity), and dogs (too furry). When the librarian sends the little rebel home with a bagful of books, she does not like any of them––until she finds a story about a stubborn, smelly, snorty ogre with warts, William Steig’s Shrek, and that makes her grab more books about ogres, just like her. The cartoon-style illustrations extend the comedy in images of the expressive girl and her librarian, who dresses in wild miniskirts, boots, and flowers and is far from the usual stereotype. Lots of fun for avid and reluctant readers alike.

Rochman, H. (2010). Miss Brooks love books! (And I don't) [Review of the book Miss Brooks loves books! (And I don't), by Barbara Bottner]. Booklist, 106(13), 78. Retrieved from   http://www.booklistonline.com

Kirkus Review (February 15, 2010)

Guaranteed to be warmly welcomed by librarians everywhere, this paean to the joys of reading will find an enthusiastic audience among kids and parents as well. The first-grade narrator is clearly an iconoclast--and a curmudgeon. She wears the same scruffy overalls and striped hat (pulled down to her eyes) throughout, turns away from reading circle to pursue her own interests and doesn't even bother with a Halloween costume. She looks askance at Miss Brooks, the tall, lanky (and, in her opinion, overenthusiastic) librarian who dresses up for storytime and urges her listeners to share their favorites with the group. After the narrator rejects her classmates' picks, Miss Brooks sends yet another pile home, with similar results. When her remarkably patient mother opines that she is "as stubborn as a wart," however, a seed is planted. A book with warts (Shrek) is found, loved and shared with great success. Bottner's deadpan delivery is hilarious, while Emberley's exaggerated illustrations, executed in watercolor and pencil by way of computer, bring her charmingly quirky characters perfectly to life. In a word: lovable. (Picture book. 5-8)

Miss Brooks love books! (and I don't). (2010). [Review of the book Miss Brooks loves books! (and I don't), by Barbara Bottner]. Kirkus Review, 78(4), 138. Retrieved from   http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/barbara-bottner/miss-brooks-loves-books-and-i-dont/

Library Uses:

This would be an excellent book to read to first graders on the first day of library.  I always review the parts of the book (spine, front cover, back cover, title page, and what information you can usually find on the front cover) with each book we read.  After reading the book, have to students identify the characters, setting, problem and solution.  Focus on the fact that it is okay if you don't like books, but this year I would like to help you find a book that you do like just like Miss Brooks helped Missy.  Have the students brainstorm a list of topics they would like to read about this year.  They could either compile a written list or draw representative pictures.  If they get stuck, tell them to draw things that they like and that can help them decide what type of books they might also like.  It would also be fun to tie in a book week like the one that is conducted in the story.