Creepy Carrots

 
 

Reynolds, Aaron, et al. Creepy carrots. New York: Weston Woods Studios, Scholastic, 2013. Audio.

ISBN:  978-0-545-62378-0

Audience: Ages 4-8, Grade PK-3

Summary:  Jasper Rabbit loves carrots and he eats them everywhere. Until the carrots start following him, or do they? He starts to see carrots creeping everywhere! But whenever a grownup gets near, it seems like it’s just Jasper’s imagination playing tricks on him. Then Jasper comes up with a plan to keep the carrots away from him by fencing them in, but in the end the carrots have the last laugh since Jasper finally stops stalking them! 

Strengths: The audio effects are masterful, including background sounds of spooky music, sinister laughter, and even a few sound effects that could remind the listener of the movie Psycho. James Naughton’s skillful narration brings a suspenseful mood to the story with a mysterious tone. The “thunk, thunk” of the carrots creeping along is sinister enough to put a tingle down the listener’s spine. Any child who enjoys a scary, but not terrifying story, would love this audiobook.

Weaknesses:    The story could be too scary and dark for some children who are extra sensitive to these things. The print book is accompanied by amazing illustrations that earned the book a Caldecott honor, so my suggestion would be to purchase both the book and the recording.

Uses: Audiobooks can be used with ESOL students, learning disabled students, and struggling readers for support so that they can read the same material or similar material as their peers.  They also provide an example of fluent reading and appropriate phrasing, intonation, and articulation, as well as practice for critical listening. Many teachers use these books in reading centers, book backpacks, and book clubs. Students can answer questions about key details in the text (CCSS ELA:SL.2 Grades K-6). For this book, upper grade students could listen to it and begin discussion about mood and tone (CCSS ELA: RL.7 Grades 4-6). 

Read-alikes:

·      Leonardo, the Terrible Monster – Mo Willems (a monster who can’t seem to scare anyone)

·      Joey Fly Private Eye in Creepy Crawly Crime – Aaron Reynolds (Joey Fly is trying to find a stolen pencil box for his butterfly customer, same author)

·      Where the Wild Things Are CD  -  Maurice Sendak & Tammy Grimes (audio of Sendak’s books)

·      The Halloweener – Dav Pilkey (Oscar the Weiner dog becomes the hero in this pun-filled story)

·      Monster Hug – David Ezra Stein (two monster kids have a sleep-over and playdate)  

Awards:

AudioFile Earphones Award

Odyssey Honor

Audies Finalist

Other:  Starred review in Booklist

Matilda

 

Dahl, Roald, and Kate Winslet. Matilda. New York: Penguin Audio, 2013. Print.

ISBN:  9781611761849

Audience: Ages 9-12, Grade 3-6

Summary: Matilda is an precocious, intelligent preschooler whose parents are self-centered and crass. They make Matilda’s life horrible until she discovers the joys of books and reading. When Matilda starts Kindergarten, she has a wonderfully sweet teacher named Mrs. Honey and a bully of a school principal Miss Trunchbull. Matilda enacts some sweet revenge on her horrid parents and The Trunchbull by using her amazing cleverness and some supernatural powers that she discovers along the way. 

Strengths: The audio edition of Matilda was recorded in order to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of its publication. Award-winning actress Kate Winslet’s narration of this book is masterful. While she uses British accents, her pace is slow enough and her dictation careful enough that she is never difficult to understand. Her characterization of each person in the story is completely unique – the naivity of Matilda, the brash Mr. Wormwood, the ignorance of the Mrs. Wormwood, the sweetness of Miss Honey, and the brutality of Miss Trunchbull, as well as the other minor characters (her Hortensia is particularly delicious).  There aren’t any special audio extras, but the listener won’t miss them as they are transported to Matilda’s world.

Weaknesses:    This book has been challenged and banned in some places because of the perceived negativity. Some readers see the actions of the adults in Matilda’s life (her parents and The Trunchbull) as mental and physical abuse, and Matilda’s actions as vengeful.

Uses: Audiobooks can be used with ESOL students, learning disabled students, and struggling readers for support so that they can read the same material or similar material as their peers.  They also provide an example of fluent reading and appropriate phrasing, intonation, and articulation, as well as practice for critical listening. Many teachers use these books in reading centers, book backpacks, and book clubs. Students can answer questions about key details in the text (CCSS ELA:SL.2 Grades K-6). For this book, the characters are sketched broadly and could be discussed (CCSS ELA:RL.3 Grades K-6). Dahl’s use of point of view (CCSS ELA:RL.6 Grades 3-6) and tone are both incredibly distinctive (CCSS ELA:RL.4  Grades 4-6).

Read-alikes:

·      The Roald Dahl Audio Collection – Roald Dahl (five abridged Dahl stories told by the author)

·      The Chronicles of Narnia Complete CD – C.S. Lewis (the classic novels on a 7 volume CD)

·      The BFG  -  Roald Dahl (another of Dahl’s classic fantasies)  

·      The Wizard of Oz – L. Frank Baum (a Kansas girl goes to a magical world, another classic fantasy)

·      Pippi Longstocking – Astrid Lindgren (Swedish story of a girl who lives alone and has adventures)

Awards:

AudioFile Earphones Award

Odyssey Honor

Audies Finalist

Other:  Starred review in Booklist, School Library Journal