Picturebook Literacy Analysis

REVISED
Due: Week 5, 9-22-16
Submit to Blog and to Assignments in Canvas
Define/describe Picturebooks: images and ideas join to form a unique
whole; illustrations are as much a part of the experience as the written
text; provides the reader with an aesthetic experience that is more than
the sum of the books parts. (Huck 2014, pg. 65).
Describe each genre below using a picturebook format, list two books for
each that you have read and analyzed according to Hucks Guidelines on
pg 82:
1) Fiction/Fantasy picturebooks: Fiction with strange or outside of Earth
settings or characters; fiction that creates suspense; fiction that
depends on magic or the impossible or the un explainable.
The Polar Express By: Chris Van
Allsburg (1985)
Where the Wild Things Are By:
Maurice Sendak (2000)
2) Multicultural picturebooks: increase readers appreciation of persons of
various cultures and help them overcome stereotype views
Henrys Freedom Box: A True Story
from the Underground
Railroad By: Ellen Levine (2007)
Snowy Day By: Ezra Jacks Keats
(1976)
3) Contemporary Realistic Fiction picturebooks: Accurately depicts life
as it could be today; themes are contemporary and may be
controversial; current political and social issues and kids problems
may be explored; contemporary means that by its nature the genre
is always changing.
Owl Moon By: Jane Yolen (1987)
A Letter to Amy By: Ezra Jacks Keats
(1968)
4) Nonfiction/Informational picturebooks: Factual presentations of
documented knowledge; deals with an actual, real-life subject;
nonfiction picture books can serve as models for student content
reports.
If You Decide to go to the Moon By: Faith McNulty (2005)
Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the
Puppeteer of Macys Parade By: Melissa Sweet (2011)
Teaching with Picturebooks:
The idea behind teaching picture books is to help build comprehension
strategies. The number one strategy is think alouds. Thinking out loud can

seem unnatural at first but it is the best model of comprehension. Some

topics that should be thought about OUT LOUD are asking questions,
making predictions, drawing inferences, visualizing the plot, using
background knowledge, and determining what is important in the text.
Picturebook Analysis
Name of book, author (include first and last name of author), and year
published
The Polar Express By: Chris Van Allsburg (1985)
Name genre using a picturebook format: Fiction/Fantasy Picture Books
Age range book is intended: 4-7 years old
Brief description or synopsis of book:
On Christmas Eve, a young boy lies in bed, listening hard for the bells of
Santas sleigh. Later that night he hears a very different sound. He looks
out his window and is shocked to see a train parked in front of his house!
The conductor invites him to board the Polar Express, a train filled with
children on their way to the North Pole.
The train takes the children to the center of the North Pole, where Santa
and the elves have gathered for the time-honored tradition of giving the
first gift of Christmas. The boy is chosen to receive the first gift. While
knowing he can choose anything in the world, he chooses one silver bell
from Santas sleigh. Santa cuts a bell from a reindeers harness and the
overjoyed boy slips it into his bathrobe pocket as the Santa and the
reindeer pull the sleigh into the sky.
When the children return to the train, the boy realizes the bell has fallen
through a hole in his pocket. Heartbroken, he is returned home. The next
morning, his little sister finds one small box with the boys name on it
hidden behind the Christmas Tree. Inside is the silver bell! The boy and his
sister are enchanted by its beautiful sound, but their parents cannot hear
it. The boy continues to believe in the spirit of Christmas and is able to
hear the ringing of the bell even as an adult.
Book awards received, if any: 1986 Caldecott Medal Winner, New York
Times Best Illustrated Book, and New York Times Bestseller
Discuss how the books features could engage readers to promote
literacy growth:
The book is filled with vivid settings that will help the students visualize the
setting. There is a clear beginning, middle, and end which would help the
students draw inferences and make predictions.
Discuss format and page layout: The book is sold in a hardcover
format. The pages are thick and hard to rip. The words are all in one area

which leaves room for those amazing illustrations. The binding of the book
is also very sturdy.
Content:
Describe characters: A young boy is the main character in the book. His
name is never shared with the readers but he plays a significant role in the
book. He is the one who knows that there is a Santa when so many people
that surround him do not believe in Santa.
The conductor is another character in the book. He is the one who leads
the children to the North Pole. He shows them the way to the North Pole.
The conductor plays a significant role because he is able to lead the
children on an adventure to help them believe.
The little sister of the young boy is another character in the book who
doesn't appear until the end. She plays an important role because the
young boy realizes that he isn't the only one who can hear the silver bell
ring.
Santa is also a character in the book. The significance of his character in
the book is huge. He is what the children need to see to believe in.
Other characters in the book are the rest of the children on the train. Some
of them believe in Santa and so this ride is a special treat for them and
others do not, making the ride on that will save their childhood innocence.
Illustrations/Style & Color: This book is filled with vibrant illustrations.
The illustrator uses watercolors to make the pictures flow and add life. The
illustrations are bright and seem to be alive with the fluidity of the colors.
Describe how you would you use this book in a classroom to
promote literacy learning?
My favorite part about this book is the silver bell. The bell brings out many
questions such as: How did Santa know that the boy lost it? or Why cant
the boys parents hear the ringing of the bell? All of these help strengthen
the students comprehension skills.
Include picture of book cover:

Hyperlink: https://www.amazon.com/Polar-Express-anniversary-ChrisAllsburg/dp/0544580141/ref=sr_1_1?
s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474685240&sr=11&keywords=the+polar+express
Rate book on a scale of 0 to 5: I would give this book a 5. The
illustrations alone bring the story to life. Not only does this book help
students with their comprehension strategies, it also puts your class into
the Christmas spirit. I also see the life lessons that can be taught using this
book; friendship and believing in the Christmas Spirit.
Provide a reference page that includes a list of all books you used
for this assignment listed in APA format.
Keats, E. J. (1968). A letter to Amy. New York, NY: Harper & Row.
Keats, E. J. (1962). The snowy day. New York, NY: Viking Press.
Kiefer, B. Z. (2013). Charlotte Hucks childrens literature: A brief guide (2nd ed.). New York,
NY, United States: McGraw Hill Higher Education.
Levine, E. (2007). Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad. New
York, NY: Scholastic Press.
McNulty, F., & Kellogg, S. (2005). If you decide to go to the moon. New York, NY: Scholastic.
Sendak, M., & Sendak, M. (1963). Where the wild things are. New York, NY: Harper & Row.
Sweet, M., Newborn, R., & Paquette, C. (2011). Balloons over Broadway: The true story of
the puppeteer of Macy's Parade. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.

Van Allsburg, C. (1998). The polar express. London: Andersen Press.

Yolen, J., & Schoenherr, J. (1987). Owl moon. New York, NY: Philomel Books.

Rubric follows
Rubric for Picturebook Literacy Analysis
2.5

The student defined/described picturebooks and listed four genres

(specified above) that used a picturebook format. The student also
provided two examples of books that fit under each genre listed after
the student read and analyzed these texts using Hucks Guidelines, p.
82. Further, the student analyzed one picturebook in depth, discussed
the books features, how it could engage readers to foster literacy
growth, critiqued its format, illustrations, described potential uses for
the book in the classroom, included hyperlink/s to a book talk, video,
and/or other book analysis/critiques for the book (if available), rated
the book according to specific criteria listed for this assignment, and
provided a reference page using APA format for all books listed in the
assignment. All directions for the assignment have been followed and
important details were included in order to present a clear
understanding of picturebooks in the students analysis. The paper is
organized with no spelling or punctuation errors.

2.0

The student has met most of the criteria described above. However,
the student is missing minor pieces of information and did not follow
one of the directions.

1.5 1.0

The student has met most of the criteria described above. However,
the students is missing several pieces of information and did not follow
two or more of the directions.

The students assignment was missing significant criteria described

above, was incomplete, and did not meet the objective.