Chato and the Party Animals by Gary Soto Illustrated by Susan Guevara
Book Information: Chato and the Party Animals Written by Gary Soto and Illustrated by Susan Guevara, 2000, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, NY.
ISBN: 0-399-23159-5
Awards: Pura Belpre Award Winner 2002 for Illustrations,
Plot Summary: Chato and his friends attend a birthday party but his good friend Novio confides that he does not enjoy birthday parties because it reminds him that he doesn’t know his own birthday because he was adopted from the pound. Chato vows to host the best birthday party ever and invites everyone, except the Novio! A huge search ensues and the birthday cat surprises everyone else by showing up to his birthday party late. Using barrio vernacular, Chato and his friends exemplify the strong neighborhood ties and community strength in this fun and funny children’s story.
Illustrations:
Gary Soto’s text uses much barrio slang and features the cool cat Chato providing strength and friendship to his “carnal.” Susan Guevara illustrates the text to compliment the Latino street dialogue. She uses a stylized version of barrio murals with similar colors and even brush strokes to add dimension and enriches the already regional feel of the book. Even the clothes she dresses the characters in Chato in his backward hat and gold tooth, and Novio wearing a plaid shirt buttoned at the neck with a bandana pulled low over his forehead celebrates the barrio and Cholo feel to the book. The little details in the background like the swirling sun and angels along with the Spanish signs add authenticity to the work, while still maintaining the fun and whimsy in an otherwise serious artistic genre. The illustrations are exactly right for the story and regional dialect of the characters.
Children’s Programming Options:
Story Time – Chato and the Party Animals has been a favorite of story times because of the opportunity to employ accents and voices to the already detailed characters. The cats and other characters come alive and the rich colors of the illustrations make this a wonderful addition to story time. It is particularly great to add this book to the theme of Dia de los Ninos/Dia de los Libros, Mexican American Culture, Cats and Friendship.
One on One – Again in a One on One story time opportunity this is a great choice because of the interesting dialogue and beautiful artwork.
Classroom – Older children (6-8 year olds) would benefit from adding this title to a module discussing the artwork of muralists and introducing this book in conjunction with Diego Rivera’s work. Showing the similarities between the style of the Guevara’s illustrations and may famous murals of Rivera’s.
About the Illustrator: Susan Guevara is an illustrator who has worked on almost 20 children’s 
books and has had her work translated into Spanish and republished. She has won the Pura Belpre Illustrator’s Award as well as the ALSC (Association for Library Services to Children) to Promote Library Services to the Spanish Speaking. She studied painting at the San Francisco Art Academy and live in Soda Springs.
References:
Association for Library Service to Children. 2015. “Caldecott Medal & Honor Books 1938 – present.” Retrieved on March 17, 2015 from : http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecotthonors/caldecottmedal
Association for Library Service to Children. 2015. “The Pura Belpre Award Winners 1996 – present. Retrieved on March 17, 2015 from http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpremedal/belprepast
Soto, Gary and Susan Guevara. 2000. Chato and the Party Animals. G.P. Putnam’s Sons: New York, NY.
Susan Guevara Biography: Personal, Addresses, Career, Honors, Awards,Illustrator, Adaptations, Sidelights. Biography.org. Retrieved on March 17, 2015 from: http://biography.jrank.org/pages/2060/Guevara-Susan.html
The Patchwork Quilt Written by Valerie Flournoy Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Book Information: The Patchwork Quilt written by Valerie Flournoy Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, 1985, Dial Books for Young Readers: New York, NY.
ISBN: 0-8037-0097-0
Awards: Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award 1986 – Jerry Pinkney,
Plot Summary: The main character Tanya and her grandmother decide to make a quilt using all of the fabric that belonged to the family members. Everything from dresses to Halloween costumes Tanya’s grandmother begins sewing the scraps together to make a quilt that will tell the story and honor the family to which it belongs. Unfortunately on Christmas Tanya’s grandmother gets sick and may not be able to finish the quilt, however Tanya takes up the sewing to persevere and when Grandmother recovers she helps Tanya finish it. By the end of the story, the quilt becomes the symbol of the family and their love, dedication and resiliency.
Illustrations: The illustrations in a Patchwork Quilt are by far the most influential to the subtlety of the story. This is the story of an African-American family, however their is nothing within the text to signify this story is about African American family life. The illustrator greatly contributed to the significance of the story through the artwork. The soft elegant artwork is of pencil, pastel and watercolor as is much of Jerry Pinkney’s style. The composition of the illustrations pays homage to the intimacy and dedication of this family with one another. Specifically, the picture of Tanya with her chin resting on her grandmothers shoulder as she looks at her sewing the patches of fabric together, shows a quiet respect, love and admiration for her grandmother. In each illustration, Pinkney highlights one piece of clothing, a sweater, a blouse, a dress with pattern visually earmarking in the illustration that these items will one day be a part of the quilt and therefore part of the history that the family shares. The following are not illustrations from The Patchwork Quilt (none to be found except the book cover), they are excellent examples of Pinkneys beautiful work.
Children’s Programming Options:
Story Time – The Patchwork Quilt is a great book for story times or class visits with older children 6-8 year olds. It is a long book, and has more mature themes of death and perseverance may be too subtle for a younger child to grasp. Presenting this book alongside other books containing African-American artists and illustrators to read during Black History Month.
One on One – Terrific book to read with slightly older children and discuss the significance of the quilt to the family and why it was so important to include a piece of grandmothers old quilt into the new one.
Classroom – I would recommend this book be included in a classroom All About Me theme so that students could create a unique quilt patch to represent themselves just like in the quilt. This is a great exercise in fitting their uniqueness into a bigger picture, or quilt, to create something bigger.
About the Author: Jerry Falconer is an artist and illustrator that has been working and creating beautiful children’s books for almost 50 years. His first contribution was The Traveling Frog published in 1966. Since his first book, he has been nominated for Caldecott Awards over 5 times. He continues to work and his recently published The Lion and the Mouse also won a Caldecott Honor.
References:
Association for Library Service to Children. 2015. “Caldecott Medal & Honor Books 1938 – present.” Retrieved on March 17, 2015 from : http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecotthonors/caldecottmedal
American Library Association. 2015. “Coretta Scott King Award Recipients: 1970 – present.” Retrieved on March 17, 2015 from: http://www.ala.org/emiert/coretta-scott-king-book-awards-all-recipients-1970-present
Flournoy, Valerie and Jerry Pinkney. 1985. The Patchwork Quilt. Dial Books for Young Readers: New York, NY.
Wikipedia. “Jerry Pinkney”. 2015. Retrieved on March 17, 2015 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Pinkney
Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales
Book Information: Viva Frida Written and Illustrated by Yuyi Morales. 2014, Roaring Book Press, New York, NY.
ISBN: 978-1-59643-603-9
Awards: Pura Belpre Illustration Award 2015, Caldecott Honor Book 2015
Plot Summary: Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales is textually simple bi-lingual book, made rich and vibrant through its beautiful illustrations. In fact, “I am,… I search, I see…Ah-ha! I play, I know, I dream, and I realize that I feel and I understand that I love and create and so…I live!” is the totality of the story. It is a self-affirming, empowering statement of the importance of celebrating yourself and the joy of being alive.
Illustrations: While the text is simple, the illustrations are rich and complex. They offer a rich subtext that compliments the overall story and adds dimension and subtlety. Also, through the three dimensional mixed media of photography and art, the pages have depth and vibrancy utilizing colors and themes from Frida Kahlo’s own artistic style. For example on the second page we see a Frida Kahlo doll in traditional dress with flowers in her hair, propped on a cobbled stone pathway looking into the jungle with a Diego Rivera doll walking away from her holding paint brushes. Additionally illustrated images are combined with photography on the “I dream” page showing tiny drawn images of herself dancing around the Frida doll’s head. And the most compelling page is the “And Create” page as the illustrations is of the doll in the process of a self-portrait that Frida Kahlo was so known for. All of the illustrations contain elements from the over 55 self-portraits Kahlo painted in her lifetime depicting herself with her pet monkey, her parrot wearing traditional Mexican clothing.
Children’s Programming Options:
Story Time – Viva Frida is a wonderful book to introduce young minds to the beauty and artistry of a great Mexican artist. The text is quite simple so much time would be taken observing the pictures and discussing the elements inside the illustrations. While the text is sparse, this book would be more suited to pre-school aged students and older. In particular students coming in for a class visit studying art would be a great book to compare with a short non-fiction biography about Frida Kahlo.
One on One – This book is fantastic for the one-on-one reading experience particularly between mother and daughter. It almost works as an I Spy book with so many elements hidden within the illustrations and prompts much individual discussion about Frida Kahlo and her life. Also in the back of the book, Morales describes Kahlo and her influence on her as an artist, a Mexican and a woman. All great talking points between girls and women today.
Groups – Viva Frida is a book that would be a wonderful addition to bi-lingual story time as well as groups of students coming from a Spanish Immersion class for a visit. It is short, but offers an opportunity for Storyteller and children to connect to the artist and discuss how these elements are represented in her own art.
Classroom – Any module on Mexican culture, Famous Women, and/or Art would greatly benefit from the addition of this book. Tying a biography to this book creates the opportunity to treat each page into a fun exercise in symbolism and art appreciation.
About the Author: Yuyi Morales is an author and illustrator of children’s books, an artist and a puppet
maker. She was born and raised in Veracruz Mexico, and much of her artwork has been influenced from her childhood. She has won several awards and Viva Frida won both the Pura Belpre Illustrators Award as well as a Caldecott Honor Award.
References:
Association for Library Service to Children. 2015. “Caldecott Medal & Honor Books 1938 – present.” Retrieved on March 17, 2015 from : http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecotthonors/caldecottmedal
Association for Library Service to Children. 2015. “The Pura Belpre Award Winners 1996 – present.” Retrieved on March 17, 2015 from : http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpremedal/belprepast
Morales, Yuyi. 2014. Viva Frida. Roaring Book Press: New York, NY.
Publisher’s Weekly. 2014. “Yuyi Morales: PW talks with the Award Winning Illustrator.” Retrieved on March 17, 2015 from: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/63359-yuyi-morales.html
Olivia by Ian Falconer
Book Information: Olivia written and Illustrated by Ian Falconer, 2008, Antheneum Books for Young Readers, New York, NY
ISBN: 0-689-82953-1
Awards: Caldecott Honor Book 2000,
Plot Summary: Olivia is a high energy little girl with a big imagination that often wears her mother out. Her family keeps her occupied by visiting many fun places from the beach to museum, but even then Olivia has too much energy for her mother to manage. She ends up receiving a time out before bedtime, but all is well when she and her mother read her favorite stories together.
Illustrations: Ian Falconer wrote and illustrated this hilarious story about a precocious little pig. His illustrations are simple and, with the exception of the color red used for impact, are done all in black and white. Some pages are filled with Olivia dressing in various clothing outfits trying to decide on what to wear for the day, while other pages are dominated by a single large illustration of a sand castle or painting. The illustrations compliment the text as they are both sparse and contain a quirky deadpan comedy. Especially at the end of the book when Olivia’s mother tells her “‘…you wear me out. But I love you anyway'” to which Olivia responds “‘I love you anyway too.'” The story is funny and sweet without being overly done just as the illustrations are, which makes it a great choice for adults and children to share.
Children’s Programming Options:
Story Time – Olivia is a wonderful book that can be used for story times for children as young as 3 years old. The reason for this is the sparse text and graphic images. This book is also appropriate for children in Pre-school story times, as it introduces themes about art and good decision-making that older children preparing for Kindergarten understand. The story time themes this book would be appropriate for are Pigs, Art, Imagination and Behavior.
One on One – When reading Olivia to a child one on one, the illustrations are graphic and interesting, especially the pictures of Olivia in various clothes and costumes. It sparks much discussion about what each costume or uniform represents and even allows for the child’s own imagination to soar just as Olivia does in the book.
Classroom – Ian Falconer and his books could be highlighted in the classroom during an educational module on authors and illustrators. His distinctive style is a great representation of simple, monochromatic art and is a great foil to illustrators such as David Shannon and David Kirk who’s artwork is so colorful. This book would also be a great compliment to a lesson on Art as Olivia visits a museum then produces her own “artwork” at home much to the dismay of her mother.
About the Author: Ian Falconer is a painter and illustrator and Olivia was his first children’s book. Since 
the debut of Olivia in 2000, Ian Falconer has gone on to write and illustrate more than 10 books in the Olivia series. Falconer has also illustrated for The New Yorker magazine and designed costumes and sets for the theatre. The characters of Olivia and Ian who appear in this book are based on Falconers own niece and nephew.
References:
Association for Library Service to Children. 2015. “Caldecott Medal & Honor Books 1938 – present.” Retrieved on March 17, 2015 from : http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecotthonors/caldecottmedal
Falconer, Ian. 2008. Olivia. Antheneum Books for Young Readers. New York, NY.
Ian Falconer. Wikipedia. 2015. Retrieved on March 17, 2015 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Falconer
Publishers Weekly. “Olivia.” Retrieved on March 17, 2015 from: http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-689-82953-6
Book Review: Illustrator's Awards 