Abel's Island

This book won a Newbery Honor. However, that doesn't mean I have to like it. It wasn't terrible (how could it, I mean it did get a Newbery Honor, and even if I don't always agree with their choices, they never pick books with no value). It was okay. As a survival story there are so many better ones (The Hatchet, Brian's Winter, My Side of the Mountain, etc). The main character is pompous and after spending a year in isolation on an island, you would think he would change more than he did at the end of the book.

Summary: After a freak storm, Abel's foolish decisions cause him to be stranded on an island in the middle of a river. As an upper class mouse who has never held any sort of job, will he be able to count on himself to survive the island?

Other: The main character was so annoying that if I hadn't been reading it for a class, I wouldn't have finished the book (and I almost never stop in the middle of a book).

Favorite Parts:
1. Abel almost gets eaten by an owl.
2. Abel almost gets eaten by an owl again.
3. Abel is so afraid of the owl he doesn't leave his hollow log home for most of winter.

Dr. De Soto

Story: Dr. De Soto is a mouse with a dental practice. When, against his better judgement, he admits a fox, he must find a way to outwit the fox before he and his wife become dinner.

Pictures: I like these pictures a lot better than those in Steig's other books. They are more traditional, yet still have that unrefined quality that I like about Steig.

Thoughts: This story was one of my favorites as a kid. I could read so much into it, but just rest assured that it's a good book reassure kids that evil is easily spotted and outwitted. It's up to you whether you want to promote that message.

Shrek

Story: Shrek is an ogre making his way through the world. When a witch tells him that he will marry a princess more hideous than he is, he is determined to find her.

Pictures: They are a lot like Steig's other illustrations, although they do seem a bit more colorful. They're fun. Children will relate to them, because they look childlike.

Thoughts: I may be biased because the movies are so good, but I didn't really like it. I didn't think the story had much depth, but then again, it's a picture book. Just be warned. It's nothing like the movie, although the movie was based off the book.

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

Story: Sylvester finds a magic pebble, that will grant any wish you make when you are holding it. But he mistakenly turns himself into a rock. No longer able to hold the pebble, will he be stuck as a rock forever?

Pictures: William Steig is a pretty respected illustrator, but I'm not a huge fan. Even though they are not my style there is not denying that they are much better than a lot of the stuff that's out there.

Thoughts: William Steig is REALLY respected and has won all sorts of awards. However, I don't love most of the stuff he's done. A lot of the stuff that he has written is older, so I hope that's why I don't connect with it. It's not bad, it's just not for me. This book feels a bit didactic at the end, but overall, it's probably my favorite of all of Steig's work.