The Story of Miss Moppet by Beatrix Potter

First published December 1906
38 pages, 16 color illustrations

A tale of wits--who will best who, Miss Moppet or the mouse?

The History Behind the Tale (Linder 183-184):
The Story of Miss Moppet is the second of three books that Beatrix Potter wrote for younger children. Incidentally, the third story, The Sly Old Cat, was never published. Like The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit, The Story of Miss Moppet was originally published in panoramic format, but later changed to match the other books.

My thoughts: Miss Moppet is quite a humorous tale. It strikes me as a precursor to the cartoon Tom & Jerry as the mouse always triumphs over the cat.

Favorite Illustrations: Mouse looking down (18), Miss Moppet peeping at the moues through the duster (26), No mouse (35), Mouse dancing a jig (36)

Activities:
-Catch the mouse (tag)
-Mouse Toss (add a mouse sticker or picture to a ball and toss it around a circle)

Favorite Words: cupboard, duster, bell pull, jig

I hope you've enjoyed my discussion of The Story of Miss Moppet. I'll be back next week to talk about The Tale of Tom Kitten.

Butterfly Eyes & Other Secrets of the Meadow by Joce Sidman

Have you ever observed a meadow or an open field? What did you see there? In this collection of poems, Joyce Sidman explores what you would see in a meadow, both flora and fauna.

What I thought: What a beautiful collection. All the poems have the quiet murmur that meadows do. I loved the scratchboard illustrations. They reminds me of old-fashioned woodcuts. Sidman's wonderful language slips off the tongue in the most lilting manner. The collection reminds me of Disney's Bambi which was based on the book by Felix Salten. I also liked how the poems are riddles. There were some I couldn't solve. I enjoyed the extra facts Sidman included. They really brought the [poems to life.

My favorite poems were "In the Almost Light," "Shh! They Are Sleeping," "Ultraviolet," "Always Together," and "The Gray Ones."

(Illus. Beth Krommes. Houghton Mifflin, 2006)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling

Year 5 at Hogwarts
First published 2003
896 pages, 38 chapters
#45 on the Top 100 YA Novels poll conducted by Adele of Persnickety Snark

Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts is different from the previous four. Voldemort has returned and is more determined than ever to kill Harry. Dumbledore has re-founded the Order of the Phoenix, a secret society intent on defeating the Dark Lord. After seeing Voldemort return, kill Cedric, and attempt to kill him, Harry is angry about most things as this year starts. As the Minister of Magic refuses to believe that Voldemort has returned, the Order has hard going to convince anyone else.

Scenes I wish had made the movie: Harry at the Dursleys hoping for news, St. Mungo's

The Food: Fever Fudge, Nosebleed Nougats, Puking Pastilles (courtesy of Fred and George)

Reflection: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was a much anticipated book. It has the longest gap between the books. Three years passed after the publication of Goblet of Fire before The Order of the Phoenix was released. I still maintain this book marks a decided change in the series. We see a whole new side to Harry, he's angry and rebellious, and feels totally deserted by Dumbledore. The loss of the one person who loves him at the end of the book does not do anything to improve Harry's disposition. This book is the one where Harry begins to doubt himself and worry that Voldemort may triumph over him.

Sorry that this post was a week late. The series just gets better from here. I can't believe we only have 2 more books (plus Beasts, Quidditch, and Beedle) to discuss. See you next Tuesday as I discuss Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

Giveaway Winners!

Thanks to all who entered my blogiversary ARC giveaway. And the winners are....

Jackie H. of Ready. Set. Read! is the winner of Set #1. (Borrowed Names by Jeannine Atkins, Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin, and The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood)

Kathy of I Am a Reader, Not a Writer is the winner of Set #2. (A Field Guide for Heartbreakers by Kristen Tacy, Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine, and The Little Known by Janice Daughtery)

HoldenJ of Fertile Plots is the winner of Set #3. (Noonie's Masterpiece by Lisa Railsback, Smells Like Dog by Suzanne Selfors, and The Lost Children by Carolyn Cohagan)

Rubynreba is the winner of Set #4. (A Nest for Celeste by Henry Cole, Alchemy and Meggy Swann by Karen Cushman, and The Summer Before by Ann M. Martin)

Congratulations to all the winners who have been notified by email.

Thanks to all my readers who helped me celebrate by second blogiversary. I appreciate you all.

Wiggle by Doreen Cronin

Do you like to wiggle? Good. So do I. Let's wiggle together.

What I thought: A great book. The unnamed dog is a great character. Menchin did a great job with him. The simplicity of the text makes this book perfect for preschoolers. Though, I think older children will enjoy it, too. This book and the others (Bounce and Stretch) are great ways to incorporate movement into story time.

Story Time Theme: Dogs

(Illus. Scott Menchin. Atheneum, 2005)

Seymour & Henry by Kim Lewis

Two little ducklings, Seymour and Henry, don't want to stop playing. They run from their mother, playing as they go. When the rain comes, they hurry back to their mother. Safe with their mother, they are tucked up and warm.

What I thought: Delightful. The story is great. Kids will identify with Seymour and Henry. After all, who wants to stop playing? The onomatopoeia was good--it will make this a story time favorite. I loved the illustrations--soft and colorful. What a great idea to make the ducklings look like stuffed toys. It's very reminiscent of E. H. Shepard's illustrations for the Pooh books.

Story Time Themes: Spring, Easter

(Candlewick, 2009)

The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

First published in December 1906
15 color illustrations*

If you're a fierce bad rabbit. you might just lose your tail and whiskers.

The History Behind the Tale (Linder 183-184):
The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit was the first of three stories Beatrix Potter planned for younger children. The story was written for Norman Warne's niece Louie who complained that Peter Rabbit was too good. She wanted a story about a bad rabbit. The book was published in panoramic form that folded up into a wallet. This format was highly unpopular with booksellers as they unrolled easily and were troublesome to roll back up. In 1916, The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit was changed to the small bound format that all Potter's other books had taken.

My thoughts: The simplicity of this story is deceiving--it shows cause and effect and consequences without being didactic. Beatrix Potter definitely understood her intended audience--young children. The illustrations show exactly what the text says.

Favorite Illustrations: the nice rabbit with his carrot, the fierce bad rabbit taking the carrot, what happens, the fierce bad rabbit without tail or whiskers

Activities:
-Pin the Tail on the Rabbit
-Rabbit, Rabbit, where's your carrot? (like doggy and the bone)

Favorite Words: savage, creeps, peeps

I hope you've enjoyed my discussion of The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit. I'll be back next Thursday to explore The Story of Miss Moppet. Until then, happy reading!

(*This title was reviewed from A Giant Treasury of Beatrix Potter, published by Derrydale Books in 1984.)