Brave Irene

Bibliographic Information: Steig, W. (2007). The One and Only Shrek! Plus 5 Other Stories. New York, NY: Square Fish.

Brief Annotation: Irene is a young girl who, during the middle of a snowstorm, is given the responsibility of bringing the duchess her dress, made by Irene’s mother. On her way to the palace a gust of wind sweeps away the dress, leaving Irene scared, cold, and worried for she has lost the dress-or has she?

Genre: Storybook

Grade: K-3

Readers who will like this: Anyone who has felt the weight of responsibility; children who enjoy winter; children who find joy enchanted palace-like stories.

Response/Rating: 4; This was such a fun little book. The illustrations are just as I remember winter storms, and the way in which Irene first loses the dress, feels bad, and then as it reappears before she is invited to the ball, makes anyone feel happy.

One question I would ask before a read aloud: What do you like to do in the snow?

Abel's Island

Bibliographic Information: Steig, W. (1976) Abel’s Island. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Brief Annotation: Abel is a mouse who one day, out with his wife, is lead far away. As he is in pursuit of his wife’s scarf he is sucked up into a horrible storm and brought many tail lengths away. He awakes after the storm to find himself alone, deserted, on an island that has no other civilized being. Abel is then put through a year of solitude trying to figure away off an island where he has learned to create a home for himself, and back into his wife’s arms. While venturing out into the wild, trying to return home he is met by dangers and complications he must overcome.

Genre: Story Book, Animal Fantasy

Grade Level: 2-5

Readers who will like this: Any beginner reader will love this book and its descriptions; anyone who has had to overcome a struggle; an independent child.

Response/Rating: 4, This book was an excellent, fast read! The descriptions were outstanding and the love that Abel has for his wife is adorable. It is a great way to show accomplishments through hard work and having dedication for something/someone. Love love love!

Question I would ask before a read aloud: How would you feel if you were on a deserted island? What would you want to do?

Abel's Island

Steig, W. (1976). Abel's Island. New York, New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

Brief Annotation: Abel and his wife are out one day for a picnic when a huge storm hits. He is swept away by the river and is washed up on an island with no one there but a crazy owl who is out to get him. Over a year passes before he finally come in contact with outside and decides enough is enough he must swim back to his beloved wife.

Genre: Animal Fiction

Grade Level: 2-5

Readers who will like this: A perfect book for the beginning readers of chapter books. Anyone who likes adventure and hope will like this book.

Response/Rating: 4; I really enjoyed this book and I really felt for the character of Abel and the lonliness he suffered. I thought it was very good read and kept me interested the whole time.

Question: What would you do on an island of your own?

Pete's a Pizza

Steig, W. (1998). Pete's a Pizza. New York, New York: Harpercollins Publishers Inc.

Brief Annotation: A boy named Pete is all upset because of the bad weather outhside. He would rather go play with his friends than sit inside. His dad tried to cheer him up by making him into a pizza with all the toppings and stretching that makes him laugh.

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level- Kindergarden

Readers who will like this: Children who love pizza and something that makes them laugh.

Response/Rating: 2; This book is entertaining and very cute but it did not really keep my attention despite the warm fuzzy feeling it gives off.

Question: How many of you love pizza and do you know how to make it?

Brave Irene

Bibliography: Steig, W. (1986). Brave Irene. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

Annotation: Irene volunteers to run an errand for her sick mother who just made a dress for the duchess at a ball. Along the way, through the fierce winter, Irene loses the dress as the wind blows it out of the box. Irene's luck doesn't get much better as it gets darker and she get buried in the snow. As she arrives in front of the palace, she sees the dress, gives it to the duchess and is invited to spend the night.

Genre: Fiction

Grade Level: 1-3

Readers who will like this: Anyone who is feeling brave and determined to do something for someone, and to get it done right. Or anyone who is having a bad day.

Response/Rating: I would give this book a 2 out of 4. I thought that the illustrations were very well done, I just wasn't wowed by the story. Its one of those stories that should be read on a dull day when someone is feeling like a lot is going wrong.

One question I would ask before a read-aloud: Have you ever had one of those days where everything seems to go wrong, and then suddenly gets better?

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

Bibliography: Steig, W. (1969). Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. New York, Ny: Aladdin Paperbacks

Annotations: Sylvester, the donkey, collects pebbles and one day comes across a flaming red shiny one. It will grant him any wish as long as he is holding it. When Sylvester is confronted by a lion and wishes to turn into a rock, he is left without the pebble and his parents for many months.

Genre: Animal Fantasy

Grade Level: K-3rd grade

Readers who will like this: Anyone who likes books that involve animal fantasy that excites readers, but couldn't happen in the real world.

Response/Rating: I would give this book a 4 because I liked the imagination and excitement that Steig put into this book. Though I was a bit sad, I think that any child would love to read about having their own wishes granted.

One question I would ask before a read-aloud: If you came across a pebble that could grant you any wish you want, what would you wish for?

Shrek!

Steig, W. (1990). Shrek!. New York, New York: Square Fish.

Brief Annotation: A nasty, smelly, ugly ogre named Shrek runs into a witch that tells him he will go on an adventure to find a princess in a tower and marry her. He sets off enjoying being the rudest thing in the land to all the people and creatures he comes across. A donkey takes him to the tower where he must fight and deafeat the worst of all creatures to get to the princess to marry her.

Genre: Fantasy

Grade Level: K-2

Readers who will like this: Children who like fantasy and books about princesses and fairy tale creatures.

Response/Rating: 4; I thought this book was way better than the movie and I thought the rhyme schemes were very clever.

Question: Who here has seen the movie and what are things you remember from it?