Because of Winn Dixie, a children's book and a feature film

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

I absolutely loved this book! The story is of a lonely girl, new to town, who adopts a stray dog and through the dog is able to make friends with a various assortment of townspeople. The character of India Opal is charming. The reader watches as Opal struggles through her sadness of the loss of her mother, who left her at a young age. We see Opal begin to question and seek answers from her father, who has been tight-lipped about her mother. But mostly, the readers see how Opal discovers through her friends that everyone has some sadness in their lives and friendship fills an empty heart.

When I watched the film, Because of Winn-Dixie I was somewhat disappointed in its portrayal of the book. The characters seemed richer in the book, more multidimensional. I didn't really feel Otis' terrible shyness when watching the movie. The preacher was a disappointment as the book portrayed his relationship with Opal as being much closer. The movie introduced a new character of a bumbling sheriff, which was probably added for laughs but was rather a flat, limited character who didn't fit at all. The character of Mr. Alfred was only discussed in the book as owning the trailer park, but in the movie he was the antagonist who did not want Winn Dixie to stay. The book did a far better job of introducing the character of Winn Dixie and how the dog helped Opal meet new friends as well as talk to the preacher. Perhaps I am a purist and I do not like a good story to be changed but I really feel that the movie would have been fine if it would have stayed more true to the story.

Because of Winn-Dixie is the second book I have read by Kate DiCamillo. I had already read The Tale of Despereaux. I was surprised by how different the two books are. Just like having children who are of different temperaments, DiCamillo has written two books that have different themes. The Tale of Despereaux is a story of courage, becoming brave when you are most fearful. Because of Winn-Dixie is about accepting the sorrow in your life and filling your heart with friendship and love. DiCamillo is definitely an author from whom I want to hear more stories.

Holes, A children's book and a feature film

Holes by Louis Sachar

What a very clever and enjoyable book! Sachar creates a story that is imaginative and far-fetched but yet simply believable. I know there could be no detention center for boys that would have such a strenuous "character building" program but Sachar paints a picture that is so believable. I enjoyed the way Stanley, Zero and "the Warden's" lives were connected in the story. You even start to blame Stanley's no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather for all Stanley's troubles. This story is a folk tale gone awry but still carries a strong message of friendship and responsibility.

I also enjoyed the movie, which stayed true to the storyline of the book. Only the slang used in the conversations between the boys was introduced to show a more current story. If given my choice between the book and the movie I would definitely say the book was better in that it treated the flashbacks of Stanley's great-great-grandfather in more detail as well as Zero's tragic life.

Sachar received the Newbery Award for Holes. He has written other books as well as the Marvin Redpost and Wayside School series. He has a new book about Armpit, one of the characters in Holes, entitled Small Steps as well as Stanley Yelnats' Survival Guide to Camp Green Lake. Obviously the readers of Holes would like to enjoy more adventures from the characters they grew to love in Holes.

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, A Caldecott Award Winning Book

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein

What a wonderful book that tells a tale which is true! This is the story of Philippe Petit, who walked on a wire stretched between the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center. Just looking at the first illustration of the twin towers brought such a rush of emotion for me. It makes me sad to think of how solid and massive these towers looked, buildings which were such a part of the New York skyline and now are gone.

I was unaware that someone had walked on a wire between the two towers so on the first reading of the book my focus was on the text of the story. I am afraid of heights but that does not stop my amazement that someone would look at those towers and want to walk on a wire between them. On my second reading of the story I saw illustrations that were detailed with lines drawn with ink and added color. The towers are in almost every illustration. I like how the perspective changes as Philippe reaches the top of the towers. You see New York as if you were on top of the towers. I especially like the insert in the middle of the book which unfolds to emphasize the massive height of the towers and how precarious that walk had been.

At the end of the story the towers are shown as a memory, just like the memory of that walk undertaken by Philippe Petit. I'm not sure readers will be inspired to walk on a wire after reading this book, but I am sure they will appreciate what a challenge this special walk had been!

Kitten's First Full Moon, A Caldecott Award Winning Book

Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

Kitten's First Full Moon is a simple tale of a tenacious kitten after an unobtainable goal, the moon resembles a bowl of milk! The reader sees the kitten try a variety of methods in order to reach that bowl of milk (the moon). Mishap after mishap occurs until Kitten finally returns home (where she finds a bowl of milk waiting!)

I found this book at first to be a very simple tale until I read it again. I began to wonder what Henkes message to his readers may be. Is it the "Don't give up!" message, or is it deeper than that, "What you are longing for most in the world can be found at home." Whatever the message, the young reader will enjoy the antics of Kitten as she continues to get her milk.

The illustrations in the book are devoid of color, only black, gray and white are used. These colors reinforce the setting of the story; it is nighttime, hence why the moon would become so alluring to the kitten. Not much detail is given to other objects in the illustrations, your eyes are drawn to the main character and the moon.

Kevin Henkes has written and illustrated over thirty children's books. He has received a Newbery award for Olive's Ocean. Most know him best for the book, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse.

The Hello, Goodbye Window, A Caldecott Award Winning Book

The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster illustrated by Chris Raschka

The Hello, Goodbye Window is located right where you need it - where Nanna and Poppy live. This story is about a girl who visits with her grandparents and all the fun things they do together. The window is located near the back entry and looks right into the kitchen, where her grandparents can always be found. The child points out how different things can be seen from each side of the window. You can see who is coming and say "Hello" and of course blow kisses and say "Goodbye" to Nanna and Poppy through the window.

This story reminded me of the happy times I would spend at my grandparents house. The young girl truly enjoys spending time with her grandparents and when she leaves she feels "happy and sad at the same time . . . it just happens that way sometimes." Many of us can relate to those simple feelings.

The illustrations are very colorful and almost childlike. They are rendered in a somewhat impressionistic style with watercolors and given some detail with lines with that appear to be made with crayon. On each page the illustrations are the focus as they capture your attention. I would like to see more illustrations by Chris Raschka, I wonder if he uses the same medium and style in other children's books.

Children will enjoy this story and will probably begin to look at windows in an entirely different way, especially the windows at their grandparents' home.

My Friend Rabbit, A Caldecott Award Winning Book

My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann

How many times have we heard from a child, "I've got an idea"? Rohmann creates an entertaining story of a rabbit who has an idea. While Rabbit and Mouse are playing with their plane one day the plane becomes stuck in a tree. Rabbit states that he has an idea to get the plane out of the tree. Of course, according to Mouse, whatever Rabbit does, wherever he goes, trouble follows. What a great point this would be to stop and ask children, "What might Rabbit's idea be? How could there be trouble? What would you do?"

I absolutely loved the page where we, the reader, get an inkling of what Rabbit's idea could be. The wonderful illustration shows the tail and backside of an animal. What animal could this be? You read on to see Rabbit create a tower of animals to reach high enough to retrieve the plane. (What a strong rabbit he is!) Of course, trouble does follow!

The story is presented with minimal text and rich, vibrant illustrations. I enjoyed the expressions of the animals and the action shown in the pictures. The illustrations are strong enough to carry the meaning of the story, even without reading the text. I enjoyed the character of Rabbit and his creative approach to problem solving. I am sure young readers will appreciate his ideas as well.

Flotsam, A Caldecott Award Winning Book

Flotsam by David Wiesner

This beautifully illustrated book is a true picture book as only the illustrations tell the story, there is no text. The title page of the book made me smile as I saw the illustration of all the "beach junk" the boy had collected. This reminded me of my travels to the beach and all the items I love to collect. The boy in the story is quite the curious beach visitor as he brings a microscope, binoculars and a magnifying glass as well as the ever needed shovel and pail.

In the story the boy is surprised to find an underwater camera in which he develops the film inside to find a new world beneath the ocean's surface. The boy sees pictures of a world filled with ocean animals that sometimes curiously behave as people, living in homes and cities, riding in hot air balloons, even communicating with aliens! (Some pictures are very imaginative!) The most incredulous picture is that of a child holding a picture of a child holding a picture of a child (and so on). The boy knows he must take a picture of himself holding that picture. He sends the camera back into the ocean so the ocean animals can take more pictures. At the end we see another child retrieve the underwater camera as it washes up on a different beach and you know the story will continue.

I enjoyed the story and the illustrations were beautiful as well as creative. Weisner challenges the reader to question, "What sort of lives do the animals of the ocean live?"