Katee’s Comments (group member since Jan 19, 2010)

Katee’s comments from the LLED, Spring 2010 group.

Date: April 1, 2010
Mr. Max Lucado
UpWords
PO Box 692170
San Antonio, TX
78269-2170
Dear Max Lucado:
I am writing to you in order to fulfill the criteria of a college class assignment. In my LLED (Language and Literacy Education) class I had to make up a special award for a picture book. Once I had figured out what my award and the qualifications, the rest of my classmates were to nominate a book for my award. After they had selected some titles, I ended up with eight picture books to choose from. After reading all of the books that were nominated, I had a tough decision to make.
My award was titled “The Best Message Award.” The criteria that I gave to my classmates for this award were as follows: “This award will be given to the author of the children's picture book that sends the best message. As Lukens states in A Critical Handbook of Children's Literature, "Big ideas may appear in stories for the young" (p 142). For example, a book that shows that a brother and a sister shouldn't fight but be friends instead, or shows the values of responsibility, volunteering, etc. Lukens also says, "Even a simple story can make a significant point" (p 54). This idea will not be lost in my award. All stories, big and small, will be considered.” I really wanted to find a quality book that would send children a good message to learn from. A lot of children do not always get the best messages from their family at home, so I wanted to be able to bring some meaningful stories into my future classroom.
I chose your book “If Only I Had a Green Nose” because it sends the message that you don’t need to blend in with the crowd. Even if you try, by the time you’re caught up with one trend there’s a new trend already starting. So it’s good to just be yourself and be happy with who you are and the way you were made to be. I really think that this is an important message, especially now, because kids feel that they need to be like the popular kids in order to “be happy.” But really, they can be whoever they want to be and do whatever they want to do.
I hope that you accept this award on my behalf. You did a wonderful job at expressing a great message. The Illustrator also did a great job with the pictures. They really tie into your story. I commend you both on a wonderful book.
Sincerely,


Katee Budzinski

Nomination for Chelsea: Flotsam by David Wiesner

This is a great wordless picture book. David Weisner creates great illustrations for children to be able to explore their minds with whats happening on each page. A boy finds a camera lying on the beach. He discovers the different pictures on the camera and when he is done it throws it back into the ocean and the sea creatures carry it to another beach for some other child to find.

Nomination for Teeny: Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco

Pink and Say takes place during the Civil War. It tells a true story about a friendship between a young white Union soldier and a young black Union soldier. Pink rescues Say and brings him home. Say is nursed back to health. They then try to meet back up with the Union Army, but are captured by the Confederates. Say is released but Pink doesn't make it out alive.

Nomination for Jess M.: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

This book is about a very hungry caterpillar. It tells what the caterpillar eats throughout each day of the week in order to prepare to become a butterfly. But at the end of the week, he's still hungry. So he ate through a leaf and then he was a beautiful butterfly. This shows how a caterpillar grows and turns into a butterfly. It is a great example for a science lesson.

Nomination for Jess T: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

This story is about a boy named Max, a young, energetic, and mischievious kid. He gets sent to his room because of him misbehaving. When he closes his door behind him, his room suddenly transforms into a forest. He then begins a long journey by boat to a land of wild things. When getting on land he is quickly named king of the wild things. As the night grows longer, Max begins to realize how much he misses home and loved ones. He decides to make the long journey back home despite the wild things pleas and begs. When he gets home he found supper still warm waiting for him from the person who loved him best of all.

Nomination for Sarah: Romeow and Drooliet by Nina Laden

Is about "Romeow the cat and Drooliet the dog, two star-crossed lovers who meet by chance, marry in secret, and are kept apart by a snarling rottweiler, appalled owners, and the animal control warden. The clever details throughout the book belie the careful research behind this homage to true love won and lost and in the case of this book won again proving once and for all that dogs and cats can be friends."
Thanks to Barnes and Nobles!!

Nomination for Josh: Klondike Gold By Alice Provensen

This story was based on a true story of a young prospector. The book talks about the journey through the mountains and up the Yukon River to dig for gold.

I nominated "The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith." The book is about several different fairy tales told with a twist. The book takes these stories and shortens them to be about two to three pages. Most of the stories end with the opposite ending that we're familiar with, while others are completely different.

My award will be called the "Best Message Award." This award will be given to the author of the children's picture book that sends the best message. As Lukens states in A Critical Handbook of Children's Literature, "Big ideas may appear in stories for the young" (p 142). For example, a book that shows that a brother and a sister shouldn't fight but be friends instead, or shows the values of responsibility, volunteering, etc. Lukens also says, "Even a simple story can make a significant point" (p 54). This idea will not be lost in my award. All stories, big and small, will be considered. Nominations will be accepted until Thursday March 25, 2010




Winner- "If I Only Had a Green Nose" by Max Lucado

Nomination for Teeny: Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco

Nomination for Kevin: Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett

Nomination for Josh: Klondike Gold by Alice Provensen

Nomination for Tamera: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

Nomination for Jess M: The Very Hungry Caterpillar By Eric Carle

Nomination for Chelsea: Flotsam by David Weisner

Nomination for Sarah: Romeow and Drooliet by Nina Laden

Nomination for Jess T: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

My award will be called the "Best Message Award." This award will be given to the author of the children's picture book that sends the best message. As Lukens states in A Critical Handbook of Children's Literature, "Big ideas may appear in stories for the young" (p 142). For example, a book that shows that a brother and a sister shouldn't fight but be friends instead, or shows the values of responsibility, volunteering, etc. Lukens also says, "Even a simple story can make a significant point" (p 54). This idea will not be lost in my award. All stories, big and small, will be considered. Nominations will be accepted until Thursday March 25, 2010.