Monday, February 20, 2012

Module #3—Caldecott Winners- Kitten's First Full Moon




Kitten’s First Full Moon
by Kevin Henkes

Book Summary: 
Beautifully illustrated and written by Kevin Henkes, this 2005 winner of the Caldecott medal is about a little kitten that thought the moon was a bowl of milk and the adventures she encounters in attempting to obtain a drink.

Henkes’ simple black and white illustrations emphasize contrast and highlight certain features, such as the white, fullness of the moon, which Kitten thinks is a full bowl of milk, compared to the darkness of the night.  Children are drawn to these visual comparisons and find empathy for Kitten in his search. 
APA Reference:
Henkes, K. (2004). Kitten's first full moon. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.

My Impressions: 
With black and white pictures and very simple text, story tells a wonderful tale in which very young children can relate, the trial and error of attempting to get what is simply out of reach and the consequences that may occur.  Problem solving is a learned skill, as children will find along with Kitten; from eating bugs to getting down from a tree which she has climbed.

Professional Review:
A summary is included after the description of Kitten and her irresistible first impression of licking her paw.  This charming  scene opens a “fetchingly simple story [that is] quite irresistible.”  After depictions of her adventures, artistry is cited; “cinematic use of the spreads, rendered in variegated hues of black and white, in gouache and colored pencil” will endear Kitten to readers and listeners ages 3 and up.

[Review of the book Kitten’s First Full Moon by K. Henkes]. (2004, Feb. 16). Publisher’s Weekly. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/. 

Library Uses: 
Problem solving skills can be enhanced with the use of this story in a parent/toddler program session.  Using the kitten as an example, toddlers can reason that how something appears is not always real.  Like playing Peek-a-Boo, a subject does not disappear because it is hidden.

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