Module 2/SLIS 5420: Classic Children's and Young Adult Literature

Misty of Chincoteague

Written by Marguerite Henry, Illustrated by Wesley Dennis

1948 Newbery Honor
1961 Lewis Carrol Shelf Award
1948 Horn Book Fanfare Best Book


Bibliography

Henry, Marguerite. Misty of Chincoteague. Aladdin Paperbacks, 2006. ISBN: 1416927832

Summary

Two siblings share the desire to own and tame the elusive Phantom, one of the wild ponies living on Assateague Island. The brother-sister team must work non-stop and save enough money to purchase her, if she is captured in the annual Pony Penning roundup. However, things are complicated when the Phantom appears with a new colt; will the children find a way to keep the mother and her baby? If so, will they truly be able to tame the wild and free Phantom? This classic tale is a coming-of-age story that reveals the best of human nature while capturing the local flavor of coastal Maryland. The children prove that they can win "a piece of wind and sky" through their determination.

My Impressions

Misty of Chincoteague captures the reader with an abundance of local language, exciting scenes, and deep characterization. Paul and Maureen Beebe are portrayed as normal children who are willing to work and sacrifice to achieve their goals. They are not described as being extraordinary in any way, but the reader will not be surprised when the children perform heroic feats (like leaping into a whirlpool to save a pony). It is expected that the children will do anything to have the Phantom as their own. The grandfather's simple lessons and gentle encouragement greatly add to the story, as well as the patience and wisdom of the townspeople.

Reviews

Originally written in 1947, the dialogue in Misty of Chincoteague may be a little dated. But don't let that deter you from a delightful story of a brother and sister who yearn for a horse of their own... Readers feel like they are part of the island round up. They see the wild horses struggling against the tide to get from island to the next. they feel Maureen's pain when she learns that someone had already purchased Misty. Misty of Chincoteague is a great read-aloud book as well as a great story book. Animal lovers will not be able to put the book down. Ed Goldberg (Librarything.com, aug 19, 2009)

Marguerite Henry's Newbery Honor book has captivated generations of boys and girls both with its thrilling descriptions of true incidents from the tiny island of Chincoteague, and its realistic yet wonderfully magical atmosphere. This story of an animal brought into captivity poignantly reveals the powerful opposing forces of humans and nature. Wesley Dennis's pen-and-ink ponies are masterfully depicted with rippling muscles, shaggy coats, and free spirits. Emilie Coulter (Amazon.com, accessed Sept. 12, 2009)

Suggested Activities

Supplement the reading with discussions about the Assateague Ponies. Include the the history of the island and the Park Service's current endeavors. Utilize discussions with maps, videos, books, and/or pamphlets provided by the Park Service.

Play a game that simulates the Pony Penning process (adjust according to room size, access to outdoors, etc.). Instead of playing "Red Rover," the children could play "Wild Ponies" and be split into ponies and cowboys. "Duck, Duck, Goose" could be changed to "Horse, Horse, Pony."

Younger children could do a craft where they make horse ears out of construction paper, or horse tails out of yarn.

Mouse Soup

Written and Illustrated by Arnold Lobel

Bibliography

Lobel, Arnold. Mouse Soup. HarperCollins Publishers, 2008. ISBN: 006179435X

Summary

A hungry weasel captures a mouse and throws him into a pot for dinner. The clever mouse convinces the weasel to "put stories in his soup." The mouse tells four tales: "The Bees and the Mud," "Two Large Stones," "The Crickets," and "The Thorn Bush." The mouse escapes while the weasel is preoccupied with finding "ingredients" from each of the stories to flavor his soup.

My Impressions

Mouse Soup is a classic children's book that presents four tales seamlessly within a larger story. The clever mouse tricks the weasel by entertaining him with four tales, then convincing him to go out into the woods to find physical elements that were present in the story to put into his soup. The language and dialog are very entertaining and keep the reader engaged. The illustrations are well-done and do much to add to the appeal of the stories. Mouse Soup is an excellent book to read out loud, and offers many opportunities for creative character voicing.

Reviews

Four amusing brief tales. Genial, artless nonsense, all contained in the snug, imaginary world of a Lobel I Can Read book. (The Horn Book)

Arnold Lobel weaves four tales-within-a-tale that demonstrate a classic theme of great children's stories-- the triumph of a small creature over a larger one by not just physical quickness but verbal wits. (Newsweek)

Suggested Activities

Give each of the students paper and crayons, and encourage them to draw an "ingredient" from their favorite story. For example, if Cinderella is their favorite story, have them draw a glass slipper or a pumpkin. After they are done drawing, have them each bring up their picture and put it into a pot. Mix the papers in the pot, and bring out three or four ingredients. Have the children make up their own story based on the chosen ingredients.