Picture Book Review #1

Henkes, Kevin. 2004. KITTEN’S FIRST FULL MOON. Green Willow Books. ISBN 0-06-058828-4

PLOT SUMMARY

In a sweet and naïve way, a little white kitten, ventures around the night trying to chase after a full moon thinking that it is a bowl of white milk. Believing it to be near, she tries to taste it with her tongue only to end up with a bitter bug in her mouth. Determined to get her paws on some of the milk she attempts to jump at the moon and fall down into a tumbled, hurt mess. Kitten’s unwavering desire for the “milk” challenges her to chase after the moon. Since moving horizontally doesn’t offer her any progress, she then begins to climb a tree making headway vertically, but ultimately gets stuck and frightened. Only to realize she was gazing down at a pond that made the moon’s reflection in the water offer an even larger bowl of milk. Eager to indulge, she forgets being afraid and climbs down and darts toward the bowl of milk, ending up a soaked and wet kitty. After experiencing disappointment after disappointment to try and drink the bowl of milk that doesn’t really exist, the kitten wanders home, but is pleasantly surprised to have a big bowl of milk waiting for her on the porch.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Henke uses short and concise sentences throughout this story. He tells the story from the Kitten’s point of view. The setting begins and ends on the porch of a home, which shares a familiar place for young eyes. The timing of the story taking place at night is what makes the whole story to exist because of the siting of the moon. Anything left up to the reader/listener to figure out can be solved from personal experiences with a kitten and/or through the book’s illustrations. The plot is very predictable once the story begins, but engages readers and listeners from start to finish.

The talented Henke has also illustrated this book using gouache and colored pencils. The pictures are limited in color to gray, black and white which immediately divulge nighttime imagery. Each page’s illustrations contain parts that are large and thick in lining, while thin and curvy lines are also added in places to add depth and detail to the picture. The balance of shading involved on each page defines the shadows cast throughout from the moon. Although this book is limited in the amount of colors used the dramatic differences between white verses gray to black scales, literally make the pictures “pop” on each page with a 3-dimensional effect.

Facing disappointments in life is a reality and kitten definitely has her fill of them in this story. She avoids giving up until she knows deep within that she has given it her all. The honest approach of trying your very best in all you do and not giving up is what’s important. Although kids, especially when young, are mostly exposed to winning, this book helps paint a more realistic picture of not always getting exactly what you want (winning) and still being content.

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Book Sense Book of the Year Award, 2005 Honor Book Children's Illustrated United States
Books of the Year, 2004 Winner Ages 2 to 4 United States
Borders Original Voices Award, 2004 Finalist Picture Books United States
Charlotte Zolotow Award, 2005 Winner United States
Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award, 2005 Winner United States
New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year, 2004 Winner United States
Parents' Choice Award, 2004 Gold Picture Books United States
Randolph Caldecott Medal, 2005 Winner United States
White Ravens Award, 2005 Winner United States International

Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Kids will surely applaud this cat's irrepressible spirit.”

CONNECTIONS

*Kindergarten students could be introduced to the circle shape and color white by reading this book aloud. Students could be encouraged to look around the classroom and locate as many different sized circles as they can find. White items could also be noted in the classroom. Students could also think about other places beyond the classroom where circles exist, for example the wheels on a car. Or where they have seen something white, for example the clouds in the sky.

*To encourage freedom of expression, each student could be supplied with a paper that already has a circle drawn on it and asked to create something out of the circle.

*Discussing the emotions that the kitten experiences along her journey of finding the bowl of milk is an example of how we as humans also experience “up” and “down” times in our lives. Life is not always the way we want it to be, but keeping our chin up and staying determined will take us a lot further in our journey.

*Students could ultimately practice thinking about possible reactions to scenarios that the teacher creates and verbally decide the best plan of action.