Kitten's First Full Moon-Book Review

 

 

Kitten's First Full Moon



BIBLIOGRAPHY
Henkes, Kevin. 2004. KITTEN'S FIRST FULL MOON. Ill. by Kevin Henkes. Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0-06-058828-4.

PLOT SUMMARY
When Kitten sees her first full moon she thinks it is a bowl of milk just waiting for her.  She tries many different ways to get to it, but with no luck.  In the end she goes home feeling sad, but then her luck turns when she finds an actual bowl of milk waiting on the porch for her!

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This picture storybook is written in a very simple style.  Henkes attracts the attention of young readers with his predictable phrases, such as "Poor Kitten" and "Still, there was the little bowl of milk, just waiting."  This is an action-packed adventure story with Kitten chasing, running, jumping, and climbing to reach the bowl of milk.  The surprise at the end reminds me a bit of "Where the Wild Things Are" when Kitten returns home to find a bowl of milk waiting for her.  That sense of "home is where the heart is" is brought alive in this book as well.

The illustrations in this book tell more about the story than just the words.  Even though they are just simple shaded pictures, they help add to the story.  Some pages have full pictures, while others show panels almost like a comic strip.  The pictures show emotion and action.  At one point, it looks to me like Kitten gets lost (because she looks scared) after she follows the moon (or the bowl of milk) "down the sidewalk, through the garden, past the field and by the pond."  My six year old daughter loved this book because she enjoyed looking at the pictures.  She asked me to read it to her three times in a row!  At the very beginning of the book before you get to the Title Page, there are Cover Pages that are gray with lots of white circles in rows.  Before we read the book aloud (which is the best way to enjoy picture books in my opinion!), she asked, "what are those circles?"  This was a perfect opportunity for me to say, "let's read the book and then you tell me, okay?"  At the end of the story, I asked her what she thought they were.  She said, "moons" and then paused and said, "no, bowls of milk!" 

AWARDS
2005 Caldecott Medal
ALA Notable Children’s Book
Charlotte Zolotow Award
Booklist Editors’ Choice
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon
Kirkus Reviews Editors’ Choice
Publishers Weekly Best Book
School Library Journal Best Book
New York Times Best Illustrated Book
Book Sense Top Ten Pick

REVIEW EXCERPTS
"The narrative and visual pacing will keep children entranced, and the determined young heroine and her comical quest will win them over." Publisher's Weekly

"The rhythmic text and delightful artwork ensure storytime success.  Kids will surely applaud this cat's irressible spirit."  School Library Journal

"Artful in its gracelessness and naivete, just like a kitten. Simply charming." Kirkus Reviews

CONNECTIONS
This books helps teachers connect with students through visualization and showing them to use their imaginations.  It also could lead to science and discovery lessons about what is in the sky and about how light reflects on water, for example.

Other books to consider if you liked this book are:
Carle, Eric. 1991. PAPA, PLEASE GET THE MOON FOR ME. Simon & Schuster, ISBN-13:978-0887080265

Gag, Wanda. 1928. MILLIONS OF CATS. Coward. ISBN-13:978-0142407080