Module 2: James and the Giant Peach; Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

James and the Giant Peach 

Book Summary 

This book is about a young boy, James, whose parents died in a freak accident. James goes to live with his two aunts, who abuse him and treat him poorly. James meets a stranger who gives him a bag of magic beads. The stranger tells James to boil them and then drink the juice and he will be happy for the rest of his life. James accidentally drops them near a peach tree. The beads make several critters as well as a peach grow larger than life. James goes into the peach and meets the creatures. This begins a great adventure that changes James life forever. 

Citation 

Dahl, R. (1961). James and the giant peach. London, England: Penguin Book, Ltd. 

My Impressions 

I absolutely loved this book. I liked the creativeness of the book and the story as well as the illustrations that were placed throughout the book. I really liked that the book starts out with a young boy who has a not so great life, but ends with him in a much better situation. I like that the author presents several garden “pests” such as spiders, grasshoppers, worms, centipedes, etc in a way that makes them likeable and makes you feel a little bad for how you might treat them. I was glad that I picked this book to read and that I gave it a chance. It made me laugh out loud several times and that is a rare thing these days. 

Review Excerpts 

Bateman, T., & Mandell, P. (2003). James and the Giant Peach (Book). School Library Journal, 49(11), 72. 
(This review is for the audio book version): “Magic crystals change his humdrum existence, and soon he is off on a great adventure on a giant peach with new friends…. There are sharks, seagulls, and irate cloud people to add interest along the way and, of course, Dahl’s irreverent poetry…. Fans of Dahl will not be disappointed in this briskly paced tale that is a delight from beginning to end.” 

James and the giant peach. (1997). The Reading Teacher, 51(2), 138. 
(This review is for the picture book based on the movie):” “Never have centipedes, spiders, evil aunts, and, of course, James and his giant peach seemed so delicious.” 

Suggestions for Use in a Library 

This book could be the basis for an activity where students create adventures. They could create posters and advertisements for places and things that they could do. We could use it to talk about how the most ordinary things could be adventurous and exciting if you give it a chance.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom 

Book Summary

This book is about the lower case letters of the alphabet climbing a tree. They then fall down and injure themselves in various ways. They run to their parents, the capital letters, and get comforted. The book ends with a climbing back up the tree. 

Citation

Martin, Jr, B., & Archambault, J. (2000). Chicka chicka boom boom. New York, NY: Beach Lane Books. 

My Impressions

I really didn’t like this book too much. It is very repetitious and I found that slightly annoying. However, I can see how it would be a good book for young children who are learning their alphabet and/or learning to read. It also would be a very good book for young children to use to match up the lower case and capital versions of the letters. Children love books with repetition, so, while it may be annoying to me, I think many children would love it. 

Review Excerpts

Crum, S. (2007, 03). Chicka chicka boom boom. Book Links, 16, 59. 
“In this rollicking ABC classic, the letters of the alphabet are personified as they climb up the tree and get into trouble. After their cuts and scrapes are bandaged, will they be able to resist doing it again?” 

Philbrook, J., Jones, T. E., Toth, L., & Suhr, V. J. (1989). Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (Book). School Library Journal, 35(15), 89. 
“Martin and Archambault have produced an engaging rhyme with restless, exciting rhythms to convey the humorous adventures of the letters of the alphabet and a coconut tree…. Ehlert’s bright, primary color illustrations add to the fun … This goes further in making arid print more friendly and comfortable than other books of this genre.” 

Suggestions for Use in a Library

I would use this book in an elementary school library, maybe in a corner dedicated to kindergarteners. Pre-K and K level children are learning their alphabet. My idea would be to create a large coconut tree out of paper and attach it to the wall. I would have the Pre-K and K level children create letters based on the book and color and illustrate them as they desire to add to the tree on the wall.

 

Module 1: Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O'Malley

Book Summary
This book is about a brother and a sister who are asked to write a fairy tale for a school library project. The two cannot decide on what to write about, so they each tell part of the story using their ideas. The two combine into one story 

Citation 
O'Malley, K. (2005). Once upon a cool motorcycle dude. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc. 

My Impressions
I really enjoyed this book. Dare I say that I loved it?? I enjoyed that the book shows the disagreement between siblings, specifically a boy and a girl. I also like that is showed them each coming at the story from their own perspective and incorporating their own likes and beliefs. In the end, the two stories merge to create one story that actually does make sense, at least for a fairy tale. It is exciting to find that a boy and a girl with very different ideas can work together to create a story that would appeal to both young boys and girls. This book is a keeper that I will enjoy reading to my children one day. 

Review Excerpts
Coats, K. (2005). Once upon a cool motorcycle dude. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 58(9), 398-399
"This battle of the sexes, which recalls the similar urban legend about writing collaboration gone awry, is cleverly rendered by three illustrators with three different styles-the princess is a purple and pink fantasy-art creation, the muscle dude roars onto the scene amidst garish orange flames and lurid greens, and the kids themselves are rendered in a classic comics style, complete with stipple for stylized shading. The story does what fairy tales are supposed to do-the arguing kids project themselves into the arguing princess and muscle dude and work together to banish the evil assignment-er-giant. The result is canny as well as funny, and it offers inspiration for a clever, outside-the-box way to attack a pesky group project where the members of the group don't see eye to eye."

Morning, T. (2005). Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude (Book). Booklist, 101(14), 1294-1295.
"The fun in this picture book comes in the contrasting styles of the illustrations, which include contributions from Carol Heyer and Scott Goto. The girl's story features bright colors, flowers, and long golden locks, while the boy's story is done in the dark, taut-muscled style of comic books. Throughout, O'Malley depicts the girl and the boy reacting to the twists of the plot. A funny take on the age-old battle of the sexes, with an ending suited for the new millennium." 

Suggestion for Use in a Library
My suggestion for this in the library would be to have a fairy tale writing/telling contest. I would want students to work together in groups of 2-3 students to come up with a clear, cohesive fairy tale, one that makes sense and is entertaining. I would encourage them to try working with someone they may not normally choose. I would read this book and use it as an example of how two very different viewpoints can come together to make an entertaining story.