Module 3: Owl Moon, Caldecott 1988

Citation
Yolen, J.  (1987).  Owl Moon.  New York: Philomel.

Summary
Jane Yolen's Owl Moon, illustrated by Caldecott artist Schoenherr, relates the story of a youngster who finally has the opportunity to go "owling," or walking about the woods at night looking for owls, with her father.  While I say "her," I would like to make it clear that one of the interesting things about the book is that the voice and illustration of the child remain somewhat androgynous, enabling readers to project themselves into the small adventure of a child venturing out for the first time on a "grown-up" excursion.  The father calls for a great horned owl, and the owl responds and seeks a glimpse of his forest guests.

Impressions
Owl Moon will have a longstanding role in my storytelling times.  The illustrations demonstrate an appreciation for the beauty, wildness, and mystery of the natural world.  The themes -- growing up, trying to keep up with parents, wonder of childhood -- speak today as well as they did in 1987, the year that the book won the Caldecott.  The anticipation, thoughtfulness, and quiet mood of the book resonate with this reader.

Review
Vandergrift, K.  (1987).  Owl moon [book review].  School Library Journal, 34(4), 78.  Retrieved from EBSCOhost

Excerpt: "Owl Moon is as expansive as the broad sweep of the great owl's wings and as close and comforting as a small hand held on a wintry night. . . . This is a loving book that readers, male or female, young or old, will want to make a part of their lives."

Suggestions for Use
Reflecting my own interest in birdwatching, I think that Owl Moon would be an excellent springboard for introducing a unit on urban wildlife for a science class.  I know that Plano's third graders do an extensive unit on urban, suburban, and rural settings, and I think that this book would dovetail well into investigating the environment around us with wonder and appreciation for its complexity.

Module 3: A Sick Day for Amos McGee, Caldecott 2011

Citation
Stead, P.  (2010).  A Sick Day for Amos McGee.  New York: Roaring Book Press.

Summary
In A Sick Day for Amos McGee, readers catch a glimpse of the friendship between Amos and his animal charges at the zoo as depicted by author Philip Stead and his illustrator wife, Erin Stead.  Amos spends his days caring compassionately for an elephant, a penguin, a tortoise, an owl, and a rhinoceros.  When they note his absence, Amos' friends decide to pay him a visit, and his kindness comes full circle.  The lovingly-rendered pencil illustrations, enhanced with color, communicate the simple affection between long-time friends.


Impressions
I think very highly of both of these books.  A Sick Day for Amos McGee is one of the best books for children that I have read in a long time, both for its sweet, compassionate verbal message and for its beautifully detailed illustrations.  I look forward to hearing more from the author and illustrator.  Far from being overly sappy, the book's simplicity in depicting the relationship between Amos and the animals warms the heart without being cloying.



Review
Flynn, K.  (2010).  A sick day for Amos McGee [book review].  Horn Book Magazine, 86(3), 72-73.  Retrieved from EBSCOhost

Kindly zookeeper Amos McGee is a creature of habit, much like his animal charges. Every day Amos follows the same morning routine; and when he gets to work, he "always | makes] time to visit his good friends." Amos has a special relationship with each one of his pals: he plays chess with the thoughtful elephant, races the tortoise "who never ever lost," quietly keeps the shy penguin company, has a handkerchief ready for the runny-nosed rhino, and reads stories to the owl "who was afraid of the dark." Erin Stead's attentively detailed pencil and woodblock illustrations reveal character and enhance the cozy mood of Philip Stead's gentle text. Wiry, elderly Amos has a kindly Mister Rogers air about him; the animals, while realistically rendered overall, display distinct personalities without uttering a word. When Amos stays home one day to nurse a cold, his friends have just the right medicine: they make time to visit their good friend. Two wordless spreads showing the animals (and one peripatetic red balloon) taking the bus to Amos's house have an almost surreal quality, which adds some low-key anticipation to the understated story.


Suggestions for Use
A Sick Day for Amos McGee would be an excellent theme for a library display or bulletin board.  After a reading of the book, K-3rd children should respond creatively by thinking of what kind of animal they would want to have as a friend and what they would do together.  Then, children should draw their own depictions of what that would look like.  Teachers and librarians would then display the artwork in a prominent area of the school.