Kathleen Hoffman

Professor Nicholle Goldstein

ECE 260

Picture Book File

Evaluation for fiction

1. Author: Audrey Penn

Title : The Kissing Hand

Publisher : Scholastic

Summary: The younger raccoon named Chester wanted to stay home with Mrs. Raccoon

because chester didn't want to go to school he just wanted to stay home with his mother and

hangout with her. So the mother raccoon explained to chester that we all have to do things we

don't want to do and that school isn't scary because he will make friends and do many fun things

at school. The mother then told him a secret about the kissing hand. That if he is ever lonely to

open up his hand and put it on his check and that kiss will be like his mom is giving him a kiss

and no matter what it won't wipe off. So that when he left for school the next day he would have

the kissing hand to help him throughout the day when he went off to school.

Plot: The raccoon was nervous to go to school so the mom gave him a secret to help her baby

raccoon with his worries and to show that she is always there for him with just having a hand and

that she loves him.

Believability: 6
 I believe if your child is scared and will miss you that it is a good secret to tell your child when

starting the first day of a new event. In this book some children might read it and understand that

raccoons don’t go to school their animals and some children might actually believe that animals

go to animal school.

Major dramatic questions : Yes

There were some but not a lot, I biggest one was “Please may I stay home with you?”

Other considerations: 7

One tension was wondering what the big secret was that she was going to tell him. And him

going to school the next day if he was going to go or keep the big secret with him.

Style and language and ect: 8

The language was very basic and acceptable for a kindergarten child. It had some words that

they might see often and some that they might not see every day or here over and over. I think

the child could understand what was going on in the book.

Pacing: 7

The pacing was in the middle they did wait to tell the secret and then the next page explained

the secret to chester. And throughout the book had a steady pace over all.

Character : 8

The mother, Mrs. Raccoon came off really loving and very mellow in this problem her son was

having. And you could tell she loved her son very much and you could see how much even if

there were no words to this picture book. The son, Chester came off as a nervous kindergartener

that needed his mom and her love to get him through going to school.

Setting: 9
 Setting was very natural with lots of trees, grass around them and other animals that also lived

in the grass and trees were in the book surrounded by them.

Theme: 9

I love the theme that is given in this book. They incorporated seperation between a mom and a

son for the first time, chester being nervous for the first day and included emotion/feelings along

with a lot of love.

Is it a well rounded piece? 8

I think is a very good theme/ story to read about for a child that might be experiencing

separation between leaving his mom to go to school where he has no friends yet and doesn't

know if he is going to like it.

Over all rating: 8

The conflict of this story got solved by a mother loving her son by just the kissing of a hand

that could warm him up if he got scared. This book had great characters for this situation because

nothing can come between a mom and a son and there love for one another.
Evaluation for fiction

2.

Author: Pat Zietlow Miller

title : Wherever You Go

Publisher : Little, Brown and Company

Summary: This bunny decides to go cross country on a bike with his animal friend that is an owl

and ride on the road and go on an adventure/road trip. They go all over from cities to oceans to

mountains. Along the way they just decide which road should they follow or if they should stay

or keep going. And after the adventure the bunny ended back at his home.

Plot: A bunny and a owl are looking for an adventurous journey so they go on a road trip to see

all the cool places to live at or see, and see what the world can offer to them. And even though

they saw all over they ended back at home.

Believability: 7

I say this because we do see them as animals that just live in our area but they do travel

everywhere that they can reach to a point or where they can survive best at. So they do travel and

do travel in groups but maybe not with a owl.

Major dramatic questions : yes towards the end

Throughout the whole book there was dramatic questions like to go? To stay? What path should

you choose?

Other considerations: 5

There wasn’t a conflict just wanted to go on a journey to see places and didn't run into trouble

just if they should stay there or keep going but they keep going.

Style and language and ect: 8

Darken the beginning of the word that should be capitalized, had complex words for older

children that read this book. Understanding was very clear and to the point that they are going on

a road trip.

Pacing: 8

Pacing was evenly spread throughout the book making two pages for each location they visit.

Character : 5

Didn’t learn much about the owl just that he is on the road with the bunny. We didn't learn much

about the bunny either just what he looks like and that he is traveling in the book.

Setting: 10

Was not just in one setting it was all over that include water, cities, little towns, big town. It was

all different throughout.

Theme: 8

Traveling around with a friend learning what there is and then coming home to something your

use to and feel at home because its your home and that's where you belong was a good theme for

this story.

Is it a well rounded piece? 8

 Other than not knowing a lot about the characters I think the theme and setting really brought it

out along with the word choice for this story was great.

Over all rating: 8

I thought that the pictures and the word choice fit perfectly along with it being very inspiring to

young children to follow their dreams and go wherever you want to go when you get older and to

enjoy it with the people you love spending time with.

3. An evaluation Guide for Non-fiction

Author: Robert Munsch

Title: LOVE YOU FOREVER

Publisher: Firefly Books

Synopsis: A mother that loved her son and would hold him no matter what even when he gets

older and is heavy she would hold him. He moved out and then he was the one to hold his old

mother that did the same thing for him. And he was there for his mom because she was there for

him his whole life and would always love him even if he wasnt a baby. When the mother was no

longer there for him to hold it started all over when he started his own family and would love his

baby just like his mom loved him.

Evaluation

Style and language: 8

Personal voice from the mother was very strong because not only did she say I’ll love you

forever , she meant it and you can tell by the way she showed herself in the pictures. And the

language was very reasonable and had lots of words to a page, some pages had very few words

on it.

Compelling details: 6

The story had one quotation, no anecdotes. But did say one fact that the mother will always love

him as long as she is living.

Fascinating comparisons: 7

Compared him to when the child was a little boy and then to teenager then to a grown adult but

even when comparing it never took away from the fact that she would always love him

Unusual subjects or viewpoints: 8

There were two viewpoints in the story Love You Forever. One was from the mom where she

loved him throughout his stages of life and no matter what still loved him even if he drove her

crazy and then from the son viewpoint that the mom always loved him and took care of him so it

was his turn to take care of her when she needed him the most. And then he carried that on to his

baby.

Personalized Content: 7

It was the narrator that said the story, and showed the new perspective of how the son was an

adult and had to care for the mom and baby now.

Accuracy: 8

There was no mixing fact with fiction, because it was all real not fake. And there was no research

in this because it is straight love and feeling that apply to this book not research.

Attractive design: 8

Very detailed throughout the book adding small little drawing to really show without even

reading the words to understand what is happening.

Photo or artwork captions: 8

Each page had new small items to show us more than what we were reading. Like for example

when he was a teenager on the page it had a bottle, gum , hat , headphones. This showed us that

he was troubled teenager.

Is it a well rounded piece? 9

Yes when a book makes you want to read it over and over because it makes me think of my

mom and how I love her forever and that I want to read it to my future children. The book really

brings me in and I can totally relate to it which makes me love it even more.

Rating 9

Amazing viewpoint from a mother and son that love each other forever and a great story line that

shows from a baby all the way till the son starts his own little family too.
4. An evaluation Guide for Non-fiction

Author: Amy Krouse and Tom Lichtenheld

Title: I Wish You More

Publisher: Chronicles Books

Synopsis: A little boy that a parent is wishing the best for the child in all situation and not just

wishing for one thing for their child but multiply things for the child. And in the story they

compare what their wishing for their child and that they want the best for them always.

Evaluation

Style and language: 6

Only a sentences for each page along with a picture. Every page the word starts off with I wish

you more …The language is very basic with not complex words for the child to read.

Compelling details: 3

No quotations, no anecdotes, and no facts that were included in this story.

Fascinating comparisons: 7

Compared lots of things like wishing they had more up than downs or more hugs than ugh. But

always choosing the positive things over the negative things.

Unusual subjects or viewpoints: 7

The viewpoint is from the parents to the child and what there wishing for him in the future or

every situation.

Personalized Content: 7

Personal for the child and the parent and showing that the parents wants what is best for him.
Accuracy: 6

There is no need for accuracy in this book because it doesn't need to be updated for research.

Attractive design: 7

Very to the point drawing, not much added just enough to give a picture and see the meaning

that goes with the picture and words.

Photo or artwork captions: 5

The art did not add any more information it just gave a good even amount of information.

Is it a well rounded piece? 6

Yes it is a good book for younger children like infants/toddlers because its short to the point a

sweet to share with a child.

Rating: 7

Overall with pictures, language and everything it is a decent book for infants/toddlers.
5. Evaluation for fiction

Author: Mike Wu

title : Ellie

publisher : Disney* hyperion

Summary: A Zoo that is closing down, and all of the animals come together to bring it back

together. And all the animals had some sort of talent to provide to help but an elephant named

Ellie. The owner of the zoo named walt was fixing up the zoo too. The elephant picked up a paint

brush and painted a flower, the ownered loved it so ellie painted more pictures on the wall. Ellie's

talent was painting, walt then spread the news and everyone came to see her talent and not just

ellie showed her talents but the other animals did their talent too and the zoo stayed in business.

Plot: Zoo was getting shut down so they had all the animals come together with gerard the one

with good ideas, the giraffe that is good for reaching things, the geralia that has big muscles , and

then ellie the elephant that found out her talent is painting .

Believability: 6

Zoos are real just the fact that they are painting and doing human things that would make it hard

for children to believe

Major dramatic questions : 7

Ellie would question if her painting was good or if she was useful to saving the zoo. And the big

question if the animals would save the zoo. Which made it really question if they were really

going to save it.

Other considerations: 7
The conflict was that the zoo was getting shut down and they had to do something about it fast.

So there was a lot of tension on the animals putting in work to save it.

Style and language and ect: 6

Had lots of complex language for older children and more problem solving and understanding

what was going on or predicting what is going to happen.

Pacing: 8

Pacing went very normal not too fast not too slow. Too time to explain characters and what is

going on and then the ending how the problem was going to be fixed.

Character : 9

Love all the characters because they each had a different part in the story that helped save the

zoo. And I like how they had a strong one a tall one and a shy outgoing one.

Setting: 8

Takes place at a zoo , with all the natural surroundings that would be in a zoo but these ones are

rooming around instead of locked up.

Theme: 8

That everyone animal has a talent it just takes time to really find it and embrace it.

Is it a well rounded piece? 8

Its a cute book that shows working together you can achieve a goal and that they can all save the

zoo together.

Over all rating: 8

With the characters, the theme and the pictures and everything else I loved the meaning to it and

story.
6. An evaluation Guide for Non-fiction

Author: Jean Reagan

Title: How To Babysit A Grandma

Publisher: Hodder’s Children books

Synopsis: A little girl gets to babysit a grandma instead of the grandma babysitting her. Where

the little girl does all these fun events and activities with the grandma and just having a fun day

with her and hanging out. And then after there fun day it all come down to saying goodbye and

she has a hard time saying goodbye to her grandma for the day.

Evaluation

Style and language: 8

Style is having tons of pictures on each page of some events her and the grandma are doing. The

little girl is putting all her voice and energy into her personality.

Compelling details: 7

The words have what she she should do with her grandma and then her doing it. Its like a little

checklist for what she should with her grandma.

Fascinating comparisons: 6

Not much of comparing in this book more just like and then and than this sort of style.

Unusual subjects or viewpoints: 7

The view point is from the child taking care of her grandma for the day making it seem like she

is babysitting her.

Personalized Content: 8
They really bring out the little girls personality when she is playing and also for the grandma

because she is going along with what the little girl wants.

Accuracy:6

They don't need to do any updating because I do the same thing with my grandma and it hasn't

changed at all.

Attractive design: 8

Very attractive photos, this book is very colorful and has tons of photos on each page.

Photo or artwork captions: 8

Each page has new information provided to show us every little thing she is doing with her

grandma.

Is it a well rounded piece? 9

Yes its a awesome book for maybe a grandma and a child to read together on one of there play

dates as well get really into this book.

Rating: 9

I would read this with my grandma and would read it to my classroom as well I like it for older

children as well.
7. Evaluation for fiction

Author: Deborah Guarino

Title : Is Your Mama A Llama?

publisher : Scholastic

Summary: it's where this Llama is going around asking different animals what their mother looks

like and he wants to know what his mom looks like because he cant find her so he keeps looking

and asking and then ends up finding his mom and he looks just like her.

Plot:

Believability: 6

Because children will say animals don't go around and talk and think it is silly.

Major dramatic questions : 7

The Llama kept asking are you my mom ? And kept asking till he found out who his mom is.

Other considerations: 8

The tension was great because you're wanting that baby Llama to find his mom so he can say he

found his mom and look just like him.

Style and language and ect: 8

Style is great because he kept asking is your mama a Llama and then they would say no and that

was the style/language throughout the story.

Pacing: 8

When asking a question you always ask and it’s short and sweet so when he asked each animal it

was short and sweet and he moved on. The pace In this story was very normal and steady.

Character : 8
There were many characters in the book but the main character which is the Llama and him

finding his mom. The picture that was in the picture book was very descriptive and gave us a

good understanding on what he looks like too.

Setting: 7

The setting was near the ocean and land, it was perfect because each animal he asked lived in

different areas

Theme: 7

The theme was good, it was showing that some animals have different mama and are different

animals.

Is it a well rounded piece? 8

Yes my mom read this to me when I was younger and I enjoyed it when she read it to me. It has a

good theme, good setting and its a cute book to ready to a kindergartener.

Over all rating: 8

Would definitely read this to my family and classroom.

8. Evaluation for fiction

Author: Michael Bond

Title : Paddington

publisher : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers

Summary: where a bear called paddington gets left at a train stop that is need of some one to take

care of him now then meets these lovely couple the Browns. They ran into him when they had to

be there to pick up their daughter. Where that’s when they decided to take him back to there

house. Paddington gives them a lot of trouble but they love him dearly.

Plot: A bear that is younger and needs to be provided by and the lovely parents named the

browns and one daughter take him and care for him.

Believability:5

It's not common for a bear to live with a family because in reality bears are not pets they are

animals and belong outside not inside.

Major dramatic questions : 5

Didnt have many questions that made us think.

Other considerations: 6

Tensions were sort of there between paddington causing trouble for the browns

Style and language and ect: 7

The style in this story is very smooth and not too much vocabulary but just enough to give them

a little bit of a challenge.

Pacing: 8

Pacing was good in the story there was many pages to explain the book and not rush it.
Character :7

Just enough characters I think if there was any more it would be a harder story to understand

with too many characters it's hard to follow but not for this story.

Setting: 8

The setting was in the Browns home and where the rest of the story is at but at first it was at the

train station, it was a perfect place for them to run into each other.

Theme: 8

Just because he doesn't look like them or act them they still love him like no other and treat

paddington really nicely even if he is a troublemaker.

Is it a well rounded piece? 8

Yes I love the background of this book, I even watched the movie when it came to theaters it

made me cry.

Over all rating: 8

With the setting, theme, language and overall I liked it a lot.

8. Evaluation for fiction

Author: Mercer Mayer

Title : Just Me and My Dad

publisher : paw prints

Summary: a dad and a son go camping, they run into trouble due to the son but end up fishing

any ways. Then a bear comes and eats the fish they just caught so they end up having a bad

night. They end up hugging and telling each other stories and then end up falling asleep.

Plot:

Believability: 6

Animals do live outside but don't sleep in tents.

Major dramatic questions : 4

No dramatic questions in this story.

Other considerations:7

Tensions were good due to the son having a bad day and nothing going right for him at the time.

Style and language and ect:6

Language was basic and to the point not really complex.

Pacing:.6

Pacing was evenly good throughout the story.

Character :6

Didn't find out too much about the dad only that he was camping with his son. But you could tell

the son only wanted the dad to have a good time and be proud of him.

Setting: 7
Was all woods, trees, and campfire all great natural surroundings

Theme: 6

The son wanted to please dad and get loved on and have a great time with just his dad and bond

with nature.

Is it a well rounded piece? 7

Yes I enjoyed reading it, just wish there was more to the story

Over all rating: 7

Good book, short and sweet just long enough for children to keep interested in it.