OH NO! (or how my science project destroyed the world)

Author: Mac Barnett
Illustrator:   Dan Santat
Publisher:  Hyperion
Publication Year:   2010
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   Kirkus & Publisher's Weekly starred reviews,
Summary:  This almost wordless book tells the story of a science project. The detailed diagram of the "Robot Unit Series-01" on the front endpaper tells the reader that this is going to be a series project indeed. The narrator is a  glasses-wearing girl who's walking through a ruined city being attacked by a giant robot. She addresses the reader directly with, "I never should have built a robot for the science fair." In a flashback, she wins a blue ribbon at the fair , but then in the future its still destroying the city. She bemoans all of the weapons she gave it while she didn't give it ears. Then she gets an idea and sends a giant toad after the robot. The toad pushes the robot into the ocean, but then the toad starts to attack the city.

Classroom Ideas: Since the narrator directly addresses the reader, this is 2nd person point of view. It's a good example of problem and solution. It would also be a great writing exercise for kids to write about what happens next. How will the narrator stop the giant toad?

Mustache

Author: Mac Barnett
Illustrator:   Kevin Cornell
Publisher:  Hyperion
Publication Year:   2011
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   Junior Library Guild Choice

Summary: King Duncan is so vain that his kingdom falls down around hm while he spends his time admiring himself (and putting up billboards "Remember: Your King is a Dreamboat!") His subjects demand that he does something to fix things. But instead he creates a large scroll that says "I'm Great!" which someone vandalizes with a mustache. Everything in the kingdom gets mustaches too and the king is perplexed. The reader gets let into the secret when we find out that everyone in the kingdom is drawing mustaches, so the king makes the whole kingdom into a jail for the people. At the end the king decides to join in on the fun and draws on his own mustache. The framed illustrations refer back to classic fairy tales, as do the illuminated initials and the scroll-like textboxes.

Classroom Ideas: This book will make kids giggle in glee at the silly king. A good compare and contrast could be done with Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, another vain character.

Chloe and the Lion

Author: Mac Barnett
Illustrator: Adam Rex
Publisher:  Disney Hyperion Books
Publication Year:   2012
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   featured on "Calling Caldecott" blog, Children's Choice Award, starred review School Library Journal

Summary:  Meta-picture book. A story about Chloe and a lion turns into an argument between the author and the illustrator. When the Adam the illustrator goes rogue and draws a dinosaur rather than a lion, he gets replaced with a new illustrator who can't draw the story that way Adam can. Mac tries to draw it himself and then realizes that he can't do it. He has to apologize and then save Adam so that they can finish the book.

Classroom Ideas: This book can start a discussion about the parts of a successful children's book and how the author & illustrator are a team.

Extra Yarn

Author: Mac Barnett
Illustrator:   Jon Klassen
Publisher:  Balzer + Bray
Publication Year:   2012
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   Kirkus Best of 2012, Caldecott Honor, Horn Book Award, EB White Picture Book Award, Booklist's Best Picture Book, School Library Journal Best

Summary:  Annabelle discovers a box full of unending yarn and knits for everyone she knows. She even makes a hat for Mr. Crabtree who would never wear even pants in the snow. An archduke comes and offered Annabelle millions of dollars for the box of yarn, but she refuses and he has it stolen. But the box is empty until he throws it away and tries to curse Annabelle. However, it makes its way back to Annabelle who is happy once more. Klassen's charming mixed media illustrations use muted color so effectively in this book, especially when depicting the dark shades of the archduke.

Classroom Ideas: This book's theme touches on the idea of greed and community and would be a wonderful conversation starter for a class discussion.There is also some repetition and a smaller theme of bullying.