Module 1: June 6-12 Into to Children's Literature/Classic Children's Literature and Authors

This is our Intro week & we're reading books from the following categories:
Books adults like that are not necessarily good books
Classic picture books and authors
Classic chapter books and authors

It was hard to pick just two to talk about (I have a feeling that's going to happen quite often!), but I settled on Eloise Takes a Bawth by Kay Thompson and Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater....so, here goes:

Thompson, K., & Crowley, M. (2002). Eloise Takes a Bawth. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing.

I have loved Kay Thompson's work (and Hilary Knight's illustrations!)since the first time I read Eloise. In Eloise Takes a Bath, which  was actually written 40 years ago and only recently resurrected thanks to Crowley, Nanny has asked Eloise to, what else, take a bath! Eloise, always one to take things to the extreme, fills the bath to the brim....and then keeps the water running. As she water skis, battles pirates, and romps about in her tub, the overflowing water trickles down through the floors of the Plaza Hotel and into the main ballroom. Mr. Salomone is beside himself till the guests declare that adding water to the Venetian Masked Ball is a stroke of genius.

Eloise is over-the-top funny as usual - very much a busy six-year old! The only thing I'm not crazy about in this book (or the other Eloise tales) is her use of the phrase "Oh my gawd!". When reading aloud with my kids, I always change that to "oh my gosh!" or "oh my goodness!". Other than that, it's hard to find fault with this funny little girl and her antics in the Plaza Hotel.

Here are some examples of reviews:

From School Library Journal

Grade 1 Up-Irrepressible Eloise continues to confound the staff of the Plaza Hotel with her imaginative and disaster-producing adventures. Nanny informs the mischievous child that she must take a bath as Mr. Salomone, "the sweetest old manager in this sweet old world busy busy busy with the Venetian Masked Ball in the Grawnd Ballroom tonight," is taking a much-needed break and coming for tea. The resulting elaborate pre-tub rituals and an endless soak full of pirates, motorboats, water skis, etc., create major plumbing problems that saturate the hotel and flood the ballroom. However, when Eloise is hauled off by the manager to confront the mess she has made, what do they discover but a highly authentic Venetian celebration complete with floating gondolas and wet but enthusiastic revelers. Knight's witty line drawings capture Eloise's wild imaginings and capricious personality and those fascinated with the underpinnings and plumbing of a huge hotel will find the myriad details fascinating. The two double-gatefold illustrations are awesome. The text and pictures wander all over the page in perfect imitation of this cantankerous heroine. As in her previous adventures, the language is quirky and sophisticated, sometimes difficult to follow, and probably more appealing to adults. A "rawther" necessary purchase where Eloise is wildly popular.
Carol Ann Wilson, Westfield Memorial Library, NJ
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 3. Eloise is back, this time in a story suitable to her fame and much better than the last book, which found her in Moscow, for goodness' sake. Apparently ready for publication way back in 1964, this was buried because of "artistic differences." Starting with sketches he originally made 40 years ago, Knight, working with Thompson's heirs and editors, has put together a sprawling, "rawther" amusing tale of Eloise and an ill-fated bath. Nanny tells Eloise not to dawdle in the tub, because the manager of the Plaza Hotel is coming to tea, despite fevered preparations for the Venetian Masked Ball in the "Grawnd" Ballroom. Oh, but Eloise does dawdle. She fills the tub to the "top of its brim, so that [the water] can slip over the rim," which is exactly what it does as Eloise flits in and out of the tub, splishing, splashing, and totally oblivious to the fact that water is seeping, then pouring down into the Grand Ballroom. Thompson's involved rhymed text is enhanced by Knight's inventive artwork, which views the wreckage from every vantage point. Kids will adore seeing Eloise in her room and the wreckage down below, and they'll love the foldout revealing the plumbing of the Plaza. The final spread, showing the Venetian Ball, now authentic because water is flowing everywhere, is an elaborate delight, quite worthy of Eloise. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. 

Atwater, R., & Atwater, F. (1938). Mr. Popper's Penguins. Boston, MA: Little Brown and Co.

I am so glad I read this book - the story is just delightful! I recall hearing of it, but I must admit it was the upcoming release of the movie version that really sparked my interest. (Update: movie is very different from the book, but maintains the integrity of the message of the story and is extremely funny!) The Atwater's wrote this during the recession following WWI. Mr. Popper is a painter who only works seasonally since he (and his customers) think it's too hot to paint in the summer. He spends his off-months reading about some of his favorite topics - Arctic explorers and penguins. He also writes letters to some of his favorite explorers and listens to their radio broadcasts detailing their adventures. One evening while listening to a radio broadcast, his favorite explorer mentions that he received a letter from a man named Mr. Popper and has sent him a gift. That gift turns out to be a penguin! One penguin soon turns into two (they do get lonely, you know!), and eventually the Popper's have an entire penguin family. The story follows Mr. Popper, his family, and his traveling penguin act all over the country, until their tour eventually ends and Mr. Popper has to decide whether to return home with his family or to head off with the penguins to the Arctic.

Much has changed in the world since this sweet tale was published, so it's probably hard for kids of today to believe (or understand) some of the things the Popper's do to make a living, keep their household running, etc. Even so, the idea of researching a topic you love, having personal contact with a professional in that field, and then being a special gift is quite charming. Mr. Popper is very creative, his penguins are quite funny, and his family is very supportive of him following his dreams - lots of good messages to share with young readers!

Reviews for this one were a bit hard to track down, but here are two:

Amazon.com Review

Mr. Popper, when not painting or papering his neighbors' walls, has a persistent penchant for penguins. A decorator by day, he's an intrepid Antarctic explorer by night--at least in his imagination. Mr. Popper resigns himself to quiet evenings at home with his family and his travel books, until one day a mysterious package arrives. Pretty soon the Poppers have a house full of penguins, an ice rink in the basement, and an ever-increasing bill for raw fish and canned shrimp. Time to take this show on the road!

The Atwaters wrote this unforgettable tale in 1938, but its timeless charm shows no signs of aging. Children are invited to imagine, dream, and believe that anything is possible. Robert Lawson, illustrator of The Story of Ferdinand, offers delightfully humorous pictures--as integral to this classic as the story itself. An ideal read-aloud book for all ages, Mr. Popper's Penguins will have any audience rolling in the aisles. (Ages 9 to 12) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Wikipedia

Mr. Popper's Penguins is a children's book written by Richard and Florence Atwater, originally published in 1938. It tells the story of a poor house painter named Mr. Popper and his family, who live in the small town of Stillwater in the 1930s. The Poppers unexpectedly come into possession of a penguin, then get a penguin from the zoo who mates with the first penguin to have 10 baby penguins. Before long, something must be done before they eat the Poppers out of house and home. This book is often included in the reading curriculum in grades 2, 3, or 4 of American elementary schools.

Both of these books would be great to use in mixed media/format displays in a library. There are several versions of Eloise movies, and it won't be long before Mr. Popper's Penguins is released on DVD as well. For a structured library talk using these books, it would be great to point out how different writers/artists interpret stories that we read and turn them into films. And, if alternate media versions don't appeal, book displays would work too - all of the Eloise titles could be shown together, including the early reader/chapter versions. Likewise, a display using Mr. Popper's Penguins along with non-fiction books about penguins, Arctic adventures, and other winter stories would be very appealing to young readers.