"A Charlie Brown Christmas"
Text
1. What is the Theme, message, what does the reader learn about self?
Christmas is an enjoyable holiday. Charlie Brown has many good friends.
2. How is the quality of writing, use of language, literary style?
Not easy. This is from animation, so sometimes it uses difficult English.
3. Is the Character and plot development clear and well done?
Yes, the character and plot development are clear and well done.
4. How is the Reading level, appropriateness for target audience?
From 5th or 6th grade to elementary.
5. Strengths, weaknesses, comparison to other similar titles, originality, creativity, controversial elements.
Strength; big pictures and easy to understand the characters' emotions.
Weakness; sometimes difficult words appeared.
6. The text of a children’s book is usually organized into simple sentences and short paragraphs. How is the text organized in the book that you have chosen to review? Do you think the organization is sufficient (hood enough)?
The text was not so big, but easy to read.
7. Children’s book authors often use tools to help make the story more vivid in the readers’ minds. Common tools are rhythm, alliteration, repetition, refrains, onomatopoeia, simile, personification, rhyme, and imagery. Identify three different areas in the text where a literary tool has been employed. For each example you identify, state the type of literary tool that is used and how the employment of the tool helps support the story.
・Use "" when someone speaks.
・Use different font.
・Use ?/! to emphasize.
8. Identify two areas in the text that use a question or other device to help move the reader to the next page.
There is no device to help the readers to move next pages.
Illustration/ layout
1. What is the primary medium (collage, drawings, photographs, etc.) used in the illustrations? Type of illustrations?
Drawing.
2. Do illustrations support the story?
Yes, the illustration support the story.
3. Size and shape of book appropriate to audience and content, binding quality, durable?
The shape of this book is a little bit oblong.
4. Some picture books have an illustration on the front cover that presents the main conflict or point of the story. Identify two or more elements from the front cover of the book you are reviewing and explain how they relate to the story.
・Charlie Brown tried to decorate the small tree after he heard his friend's speech.
・He gave up decorating the tree, but his friends try to decorate the tree beautifully. He thought Christmas is a nice holiday.
5. Identify the illustration that in your opinion is the most effective in developing the story as a whole. Explain how two or more elements in the illustration help support and develop the story.
Color (the color shows characters' emotions)
6. Identify two elements that are repeated throughout a majority of the illustrations. Explain how these elements support the story.
In many pages, Charlie Brown was disappointed. We could guess his emotion from his facial expression. His sadness or disappointment was important in this book, so repeat his disappointed face was effective for us. We will guess how he would be happy.
Characterization
1. What is the easily identifiable dominant trait of the story’s main character?
Charlie Brown's feeling for Christmas.
2. Identify a character trait of the main character that is established through the text.
At first, Charlie Brown didn't understand Christmas, but through his friends, he felt better for Christmas.
3. Identify a character trait of the main character that is established through the illustrations.
At first, his face was mostly confused, sad and disappointed. However, gradually, he smiled.
4. Identify two character traits of the main character that young children identify or sympathize
with.
・Charlie Brown -> negative
・Lucy -> strong-willed
5. What was the main problem that the main character faces in the book? How is this problem
similar to a problem that most children have faced before?
Charlie Brown couldn't think Christmas is an enjoyable holiday. He thinks many people try to earn money using Christmas.
Audience
1. Who would enjoy reading this?
From 5th or 6th grade students to elementary school students.
2. Usefulness to introduce a particular life lesson or new concept.
We can enjoy Christmas. Christmas is unrelated to commercialism. And also, don't think in negative way.
3. Would this be useful to teachers, parents, librarians for a particular reason?
Yes. Through this book, adults can teach meaning of Christmas.
Text
1. What is the Theme, message, what does the reader learn about self?
Christmas is an enjoyable holiday. Charlie Brown has many good friends.
2. How is the quality of writing, use of language, literary style?
Not easy. This is from animation, so sometimes it uses difficult English.
3. Is the Character and plot development clear and well done?
Yes, the character and plot development are clear and well done.
4. How is the Reading level, appropriateness for target audience?
From 5th or 6th grade to elementary.
5. Strengths, weaknesses, comparison to other similar titles, originality, creativity, controversial elements.
Strength; big pictures and easy to understand the characters' emotions.
Weakness; sometimes difficult words appeared.
6. The text of a children’s book is usually organized into simple sentences and short paragraphs. How is the text organized in the book that you have chosen to review? Do you think the organization is sufficient (hood enough)?
The text was not so big, but easy to read.
7. Children’s book authors often use tools to help make the story more vivid in the readers’ minds. Common tools are rhythm, alliteration, repetition, refrains, onomatopoeia, simile, personification, rhyme, and imagery. Identify three different areas in the text where a literary tool has been employed. For each example you identify, state the type of literary tool that is used and how the employment of the tool helps support the story.
・Use "" when someone speaks.
・Use different font.
・Use ?/! to emphasize.
8. Identify two areas in the text that use a question or other device to help move the reader to the next page.
There is no device to help the readers to move next pages.
Illustration/ layout
1. What is the primary medium (collage, drawings, photographs, etc.) used in the illustrations? Type of illustrations?
Drawing.
2. Do illustrations support the story?
Yes, the illustration support the story.
3. Size and shape of book appropriate to audience and content, binding quality, durable?
The shape of this book is a little bit oblong.
4. Some picture books have an illustration on the front cover that presents the main conflict or point of the story. Identify two or more elements from the front cover of the book you are reviewing and explain how they relate to the story.
・Charlie Brown tried to decorate the small tree after he heard his friend's speech.
・He gave up decorating the tree, but his friends try to decorate the tree beautifully. He thought Christmas is a nice holiday.
5. Identify the illustration that in your opinion is the most effective in developing the story as a whole. Explain how two or more elements in the illustration help support and develop the story.
Color (the color shows characters' emotions)
6. Identify two elements that are repeated throughout a majority of the illustrations. Explain how these elements support the story.
In many pages, Charlie Brown was disappointed. We could guess his emotion from his facial expression. His sadness or disappointment was important in this book, so repeat his disappointed face was effective for us. We will guess how he would be happy.
Characterization
1. What is the easily identifiable dominant trait of the story’s main character?
Charlie Brown's feeling for Christmas.
2. Identify a character trait of the main character that is established through the text.
At first, Charlie Brown didn't understand Christmas, but through his friends, he felt better for Christmas.
3. Identify a character trait of the main character that is established through the illustrations.
At first, his face was mostly confused, sad and disappointed. However, gradually, he smiled.
4. Identify two character traits of the main character that young children identify or sympathize
with.
・Charlie Brown -> negative
・Lucy -> strong-willed
5. What was the main problem that the main character faces in the book? How is this problem
similar to a problem that most children have faced before?
Charlie Brown couldn't think Christmas is an enjoyable holiday. He thinks many people try to earn money using Christmas.
Audience
1. Who would enjoy reading this?
From 5th or 6th grade students to elementary school students.
2. Usefulness to introduce a particular life lesson or new concept.
We can enjoy Christmas. Christmas is unrelated to commercialism. And also, don't think in negative way.
3. Would this be useful to teachers, parents, librarians for a particular reason?
Yes. Through this book, adults can teach meaning of Christmas.