Georganna Pizanowski

Professor Kalas

ECE 260-Fall Semester

October 15, 2017

Modern Fantasy Book File

Evaluation for fiction-

Author: Ian Falconer

Title: Olivia

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Summary: Olivia is a little girl piglet who does so much stuff during the day that she wears

everyone out.

Evaluation-

Plot: Olivia is an outgoing and energetic piglet who spends her entire day doing things like

building sandcastles and painting. She does so much that her mother even tells her that she wears

her out.

Believability- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: There was not any sentimentality except for at the end when her mother tells her that

she really wears her out but loves her anyway.

Major Dramatic Question- Yes Yes (but slow emerging) No

Comment: From the beginning the book says she is good at wearing people out even herself.

Other Consideration- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The conclusion is very satisfactory because she finally goes to bed. There is clear

conflict because Olivia doesnt want to take any naps and she winds up in time out for painting

on the walls.

Style and Language- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: There was use of precise vocabulary and was not too wordy. The book was straight to

the point.

Pacing- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The book flowed nice smoothly. It would be a nice book to read to the children.

Character- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Olivia was the protagonist character of this story, she didnt go through any changes, she was

just who she was.

Setting- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: There was no major detail about where the things took place just the things that she

did. The pictures had good detail to show where the things were taken place.

Theme- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: There was no actual theme. It was just a book of what Olivia does every day.

Other considerations- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: The tone fit well with the story. The mood was playful.

Is it a well-rounded piece? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

I thought it was a good story and relatable. Everything blended together nicely.

Overall rating- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: This is a very good book for children beginning to read or to read to them. Not too

many words but also it teaches them something.

Evaluation for Fiction-

Author- Steven Kellog

Title- The Mysterious Tadpole

Publisher- Puffin Books

Summary- Louis got a tadpole from his uncle for his birthday. It was soon found out that it was

not a regular tadpole.

Evaluation-

Plot: Louis was waiting for his tadpole to turn into a frog. Louis soon finds out that his tadpole is

not an ordinary tadpole or frog. He outgrew everything that Louis put him in and Louis needed to

find a pool for Alphonse to live in.

Believability- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: There was plenty of sentimentality from Louis worrying about where Alphonse was

going to live.
Major Dramatic Question- Yes Yes (but slow emerging) No

Comment: From the beginning you knew that it was not a tadpole and it had to live somewhere

else but you dont find out exactly what the tadpole is until closer to the end of the book.

Other Considerations- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Has clear conflict with a lot of twists and turns. The conclusion was not satisfactory

because it left you wondering.

Style and Language- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Many unexpected insights in this story like the sunken treasure that was found to

build the pool.

Pacing- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The story was not too fast or slow so I gave it a five.

Character- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Had some cultural considerations of people from Scotland and how they have myths

of the Locness monster.

Setting- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

I gave the story a five because it is not where you would really keep a Locness monster.

Theme- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

The story has some good fantasy writing but not any big teachable moments.

Other Considerations- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: Great imagination of fantasy and myths of the Locness monster. Mood and tone were

playful.

Is it a well-rounded piece? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Between the mood and character everything blended well to make this a fun book for

children.

Overall Rating- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: I liked how it had the twist of the treasure. I didnt like how it left you hanging on at

the end.

Evaluation for fiction-

Author- Jon Agee

Title- Milos Hat Trick

Publisher- Michael Di Capua Books

Summary- Milo is not a very good magician and the theater manager gives him one last chance

to pull off a trick.

Evaluation-

Plot: When Milos theater manager gives him one last chance to pull a rabbit out of a hat for his

next performance he heads to the woods to find a rabbit. What Milo finds instead of a rabbit is a

bear and hopes it will save his magic act.

Believability- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: It was a coincidence that while milo was looking for a rabbit he finds a bear instead.
Major Dramatic Question- Yes Yes (but slowly emerging) No

Comment: The major question was, could Milo pull off the hat trick. It was slow getting to the

point because he had to go through all the twists of losing his hat.

Other Considerations- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: This book had a satisfactory ending because Milo learned how to do the hat trick with

himself, just like the bear had taught him.

Style and Language- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: It was a bit wordy for younger children of three years of age. This book seemed like it

would be better suited for older children around five and up.

Pacing- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: This book was too fast paced for children three years of age.

Character- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

There were no cultural considerations. The children could relate to the magic tricks though.

Setting- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: There was not a description of a setting but the pictures related well with the words.

Theme- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: I believe it was trying to teach a message but it was not very clear as to what that

message could be.

Other Considerations: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: The mood and tone seemed defeated like Milo was giving up at one point. It was

almost sad.

Is it a well-rounded piece? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: It would be difficult for a child of three to try to understand the underlying message

of this book. A better book for older children.

Overall Rating- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Older children will relate more to the magic tricks and understand the message this

book was trying to put out there. I gave it a six because it says that the book was recommended

for three-year olds but I think it might be too old for them.

Evaluation for fiction-

Author- Doreen Cronin

Title- Click, Clack, Moo

Publisher Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Summary- Cows type all day long and then start asking Farmer Brown for things like electric

blankets because they are cold.

Evaluation-

Plot: The cows begin asking Farmer Brown for things and when he doesnt respond the Hens get

involved and when he responds no they go on strike.

Believability- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: You can fel the farmers frustration from the notes he is receiving from the cows. Then

you can tell he gets really upset when the animals begin to strike.

Major Dramatic Question- Yes Yes (but slow emerging) No

Comment: I didnt recognize any major dramatic questions in this story.

Other Considerations- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The ending was not resolved because even though he bargained with the cows and

hens, the ducks started demanding for things in notes.

Style and Language- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: A little wordy. Used the phrase clickety clack too much. There was the

understatement of cows are there to just do their jobs not ask for things.

Pacing- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Good flow, easy to read.

Character- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: No cultural considerations. Cows do not really type but they are the demanding

character.

Setting- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Took place on a farm and could feel they were on the farm.

Theme- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

There was didacticism on how to write a letter to someone.

Other Considerations- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Mood and tone were funny and playful.

Is it a well-rounded piece? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: There was no dramatic question and the ending was left unresolved so I gave this

book a 7.

Overall Rating- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: It was funny and made me laugh because of the cows demands and how they went on

strike until they got what they wanted.

Evaluation for fiction-

Author-Catherine Hapka

Title- Winnie-the-pooh: Poohs Secret Garden.

Publisher- Disney Press

Summary- While Pooh is talking to Rabbit he learns about some things that bees need to survive

so Pooh decides to plant a secret garden.

Evaluation-

Plot: Pooh tells his friends about his secret garden and they help him find the perfect spot. While

all his friends helped him plant his garden he waited patiently for his honey. The bees started to

come but he couldnt find the honey. He had some help finding the honey.

Believability- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: The sentimentality of this book was all of Poohs friends helping Pooh to find and

make his Garden.

Major Dramatic Question- Yes Yes (but slow emerging) No

Comment: If Pooh planted a Garden then he would have Bees that he knew would have Honey.

The Question was where was the honey the entire time.

Other Considerations- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The conclusion was very satisfactory because Pooh not only found his honey but had

a garden full of food for his friends as well.

Style and Language- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The author used precise vocabulary and got straight to the point of what the story was

about.

Pacing- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Was a good pace and flowed smoothly.

Character- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Characters are animal fantasy does not really ring true to humans. I believe the way

each character is portrayed is the cultural considerations.

Setting- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The word did not tell you much about the setting but the pictures helped to know

where the secret garden was to be planted.

Theme- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: Had a little lesson in how bees need honey and plants need bees to survive.

Other considerations- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Mood and tone was a learning experience on how bees need different things to

survive.

Is it a well-rounded piece? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The other had a good conclusion at the end and also had some educational

experiences for the children in the book.

Overall rating- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Many children enjoy reading the Winnie-the-pooh books because they can relate to

the characters from the television show that they watched.