Fortunately (1993)
Remy Charlip
Ned flip-flops from good to bad fortune at each page turn in this whimsical story. The colors alternate to show the changes in this series of full page spreads, with bright pastel backgrounds showing the good fortune and black and white illustrations that show the negative turns in the story. Illustrations add depth to the simple narrative in this imaginative tale.
Dear Mrs. LaRue, Letters from Obedience School (2002)
Mark Teague
This postmodern story is told from the perspective of Ike, a dog who has been sent to a canine academy for “behavioral problems.” This tongue-in-cheek story is introduced through a cutout of a newspaper article from the “Snort City Register.” The contrast between Ike’s letters and the images depicted in the acrylic illustrations create a comical experience for readers.
This text would be a great way to introduce point of view while offering students examples of letter writing format. Students will point out the differences between the despairing tone of the letters and the story that the pictures tell. Ike’s exaggerations are depicted in black and white to reflect his perspective.
Blackout (2011)
John Rocco
The shiny word “Blackout” stands out against the matte blue background of the night cover, just as the experience of a power outage reminds characters and readers to appreciate each others’ company.
This story from the perspective of a young girl starts on a hot summer night. The illustrations view characters from outside their windows, showing the normal routines of urban family life. The blackout gets people outside and interacting, and images depict a variety of activities going on just outside the apartment complex, such as children playing in the water from a fire hydrant and an ice cream cart giving away free ice cream. Families of different ethnicities are pictured in this book.
Rocco’s illustrations during the blackout feature colorless images representative of our loss of color perception with the absence of light. The yellow tone of the flashlight provides a reminder of the glowing light emitted by the electric applicances that are useless for these few moments. This contrasts with the joyous interactions that occur during the power outage.
Students will enjoy sharing their own tales of power outages and other occasions when they found themselves enjoying the company of loved ones.
