The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater
This is a great book for encouraging individuality. Mr. Plumbean (is that a great name or what) lives on a street where ever house is the same. When a passing seagull spills orange paint (which no one knows why it is carrying) on his house, Plumbean repaints it with wild colors and pictures. The neighbors pressure him to conform leading the the book's refrain: "My house is me and I am it. My house is here I like to be and it looks like all my dreams." In addition to the awesome lesson, the text is peppered with such amazing phrasing as the above quote. It has a simple elegance that really speaks to me. The illustrations are rough and quirky. I've found that some kids don't relate to Pinkwater's illustration style. Luckily, this book is easily adapted to a felt board. I've presented it thus several times and it generally will received.
No comments:
Post a Comment