Review Based on her childhood growing up in Nigeria, Atinuke has created the fascinating yet ordinary world of Anna Hibiscus, a young girl who lives in an African city in a big white house with her huge extended family. Each page features cheerful pencil illustrations, which support the simple text and encourage emergent readers. Some stories will sound familiar, like Anna’s sudden stage fright over singing for a large audience. Stories will be windows for some readers, and mirrors for others – Anna’s refusal to attend to her curly hair, which results in horrendous tangles. Although Anna’s daily life might seem exotic to Western readers, her emotions and actions are relatable and endearing to fellow children. The book is now only available directly from the publisher but is well worth the effort to obtain for a collection.
Spicy Reads: Interview with Atinuke Author Website: http://atinuke-author.weebly.com/
Illustrator Website: http://www.laurentobia.com/ References: Anna Hibiscus [cover image]. Retrieved from https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51w9z6n34FL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg Anna Hibiscus [Illustration). Retrieved from https://jillsbooks.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/anna-hibiscus-illustration-lauren-tobia-001.jpg Kane Miller/EDC Publishing. Anna Hibiscus. Retrieved from http://www.friends.kanemiller.com/anna-hibiscus.html Spicer, Ed. (2011). Spicy Reads: Atinuke [interview]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8NXmyZ20DE Taylor, I.[image]. Bishop Storford College Festival of Literature. Retrieved from http://atinuke-author.weebly.com/uploads/8/2/0/4/8204776/3851236.jpg
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Review Lobel’s timeless stories of friendship, patience, and compassion appeal to children of all ages. The vocabulary and simple sentence structure encourage young readers to read on their own. Watercolor pictures in muted greens and browns support the text and help cue early readers. The plots are brief but interesting, unlike many books in the early reader genre. Children connect to the multi-faceted nature of Frog and Toad’s relationship, which explores trust, anxiety, fear, empathy, humor, and intimacy. Link to an interview with Arnold Lobel
Themes Early Reader; Friendship; Animals; Toads; Frogs; Feelings Application Four years after publishing Frog and Toad Are Friends, the first of the Frog and Toad series, Arnold Lobel came out as gay. In 1987, he died at the age of 54, one of the first victims of the AIDS epidemic. Including his books in a LGBTQ celebration or LGBTQ family story time is a way to honor the contributions of authors and illustrators from this community. June is LGBT Pride month, a perfect opportunity to showcase this literature. Read-alikes: Hoban, Russell. (1960). Bedtime for Frances Erickson. Russell, E. (1976). Warton and Morton. Rylant, Cynthia. (1996). Henry and Mudge: The First Book. References: Common Sense Media. (n.d.). Frog and Toad are friends [book review]. Retrieved March 21, 2017 from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/frog-and-toad-are-friends Frog and Toad Are Friends [cover image]. Retrieved from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/91/Frog_and_toad_cover.jpg Frog and Toad Are Friends [illustration]. Retrieved from https://68.media.tumblr.com/0163323663a6ced92918ef8b0adafdb7/tumblr_o87pkq45Le1qav5oho1_1280.jpg Rollin, L. An interview with Arnold Lobel [transcript]. Retrieved from http://jonklassen.blogspot.com/2012/11/i-found-pdf-of-old-interview-with-arnol.html Stokes, C. (May 31, 2016). “Frog and Toad”: An amphibious celebration of same-sex love [blog post]. Retrieved from http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/frog-and-toad-an-amphibious-celebration-of-same-sex-love Titlewave. Retrieved from http://titlewave.com |
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