Week #7 – Picturebook Review

Literary review of Frederick by Leo Lionni

Text:

1. 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? Explain whether this organization was sufficient for the story that this book is telling. 

The text used in Frederick is mostly simple.  There are a few “advanced” words (e.g. “granary,” “reproachfully,” periwinkles”) that provide exposure to an expanded vocabulary for younger reader; however, the majority of the text is simplistic and accessible for all ages.  The text is presented in paragraph form; it is not broken up, and it is always placed (except for Frederick’s poem) in the upper left hand corner of the right page.  This allows for each of Lionni’s images to be the focus of each page turn.  The font is simple (without embellishment) which allows the reader to focus on the images. 

2. Children's book authors often employ literary tools to help make the story more vivid in the readers’ minds. Commonly used literary 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. 

Personification: This is one of the main tools used in Frederick as the mice are gathering crops for their long winter’s hibernation.  The mice complain at Frederick, who is perceived as an individual who refused to help for the common good.  The mice talk amongst themselves, chiding Frederick for his seeming laziness.  The idea that the mice have personalities, conflict, and the ability to communicate on a higher level (i.e. judge each other’s contribution to the larder) are all examples of personification.

 Imagery: One of the most pervasive tools that Lionni employs is imagery.  One of the strongest examples of this is when Frederick the mouse describes the “supplies” that he has gathered to his family:  while the clan shivers in their winter hiding space, Frederick tells them to imagine “the rays of the sun… [and] their golden glow.”  This makes the mice feel warmer!  Lionni describes, vividly, the colors of the flowers and field plants for his reader as well; his words make the text come alive.

Onomatopoeia:  This tool is employed to emphasize certain characters’ personalities and traits:  the cows are grazing (a languid word), whereas the horses ran(a short, staccato word).   

3. Identify two areas in the text that use a question or other device to help move the reader to the next page. 

The first question that helps the reader move to the next page occurs when the hard-working mice ask, “Frederick, why don’t you work?”  They are frustrated that Frederick appears to be lounging, doing nothing to help the greater good of the mouse family.   The reader receives Frederick’s answer with his response:  “I do work… I gather sun rays for the cold dark winter days.”  This compels the reader to go on and discover how Frederick’s supplies will be used.

Another question that helps move the reader along the story occurs when the family of mice runs low on supplies and is cold, they ask Frederick “what about your supplies, Frederick?”  This entices the reader to turn the page and find out just what Frederick will do with the “items” that he has collected.  The reader discovers how poetry and imagery can help bring light into even the dreariest of situations.

Images

1. Some picture books have images 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.

Some picture books have images 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. 

The front cover of the book relates to the book in several ways:  first, the main character, Frederick, is portrayed on the cover.  In addition, his expression is one of relaxed, almost sleepy, indicating that he may not be the most energetic of characters.  Lastly, Frederick is holding one of his cherished flowers; this relates to the “supplies” that he gathers for the long, cold winter.

 

2. What is the primary medium (collage, drawings, photographs, etc.) used in the images? 

 

The primary medium is collage; Lionni is well-known for tearing shapes out of various mediums and creating pictures from these bits of material.  He also utilizes realistic/natural colors found in nature. 

 

3. Identify the image 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. If you can, insert a screenshot of the image into your blog.

 

 

The image that is most effective in developing the story as a whole is one where Frederick is seen staring off into the distance while his other family members are busy gathering supplies for the winter.  Frederick is perceived as lazy and as someone who is not contributing to the groups.  The reader can see one of the mice eyeing Frederick, appearing to wonder what Frederick is doing and why Frederick is not helping. 

 

4. Identify two elements that are repeated throughout a majority of the images. Explain how these elements support the story. If you can, insert a screenshot into your blog.

 

Two elements repeated throughout this book are position and color.

 

Position:  Frederick sitting away from his family in each of the book’s images.  This suggests that Frederick is different and may feel isolated as such. He is an artists (a poet), and the other mice do not understand him and his view of the world. Some of the images have Frederick sitting below the other mice; however, at the end, when Frederick’s art is recognized and appreciated, Frederick sits in a position above the other mice.  This implies that he contributions are now valued.

 

 

Color:  In Frederick, Lionni uses color to enhance the moods that Frederick is creating with his imagery.  For example, the yellow of the mentioned sun creates a feeling of happiness and warmth; the reds, greens, and blues of the page when Frederick talks of the flowers, creates a serene, warm, happy mood to push out the dreariness of the winter.

 

5. Find an example of how the images and text work together to create irony, metaphor and/or metonymy. If you can insert a screenshot of the image into your blog. 

 

I think that the text and image on the page where the family of mice recognize Frederick as a poet work together to identify Frederick as unique and different; this is an example of metonymy.  Frederick exemplifies the idea that being different is okay and that one’s uniqueness can make a valuable contribution to society as a whole.

 

Characterization 

 

1. What is the easily identifiable dominant trait of the story's main character? 

 

Frederick is rather laid-back and is willing to let others do the daily tasks of gathering food supplies.  This establishes the main character as someone removed from those who are working hard towards the common good of the family. Others do not understand Frederick; however, at the end of the story, the family realizes Frederick’s talents and contributions.

 

2. Identify a character trait of the main character that is established through the text. 

 

The character traits of appreciativeness (of nature), commitment (to his art), and imaginative (being able to create images from words) are the character traits are established for Frederick through the text. 

 

 

3. Identify a character trait of the main character that is established through the images. 

 

The images of Frederick establish the character traits of loneliness (as he sits removed from his family), thoughtfulness (as Frederick gazes around, seemingly oblivious to his family’s hard work), and steadfast (to his commitment to his art).

 

 

4. Identify two character traits of the main character that young children identify or sympathize with. 

 

I think that young children often feel different than their peers; they feel like they don’t’ fit in, and they often feel alone in an adult’s work-filled world.  I think that Lionni’s book reminds the older reader to recognize the value of creativity while encouraging the young reader to be true to whom they are and to follow their dreams, no matter how much others don’t understand it.

 

 

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? 

 

Frederick, the main character, finds that his creativity and art is unappreciated; his family members view him as lazy and as non-contributing.  He finds that his family members don’t understand him and that they cannot see how his “supplies” can be used. 

 

Children are often seen as non-industrious (that what they do to learn is, literally, “child’s play.”  Oftentimes, adults fail to recognize the value in a child’s imagination.  In addition, children are often seen as people who cannot help (they may be too small or may not know how  to help their families).  Like Frederick, children may feel isolated, alone, and unappreciated. 

 

6. Sometimes a children's book character will solve the main conflict on his or her own. How did the character in the book you selected turn to self-reliance to solve the main conflict of the story?

In the case of Frederick, I do not believe that he necessarily used self-reliance to solve the main conflict; however, I do believe that his perseverance, commitment to his craft, and his belief in himself to stay true to what he believed contributed to the resolution. 

 

 

 

References

 

Leo Lionni. (2014, January 7). Wikipedia. Retrieved July 4, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Lionni

 

Lionni, L. (1967).  Frederick. New York: Dragonfly Books. 

 

Serafini, F. (2014). Reading the visual: an introduction to teaching multimodal literacy. New York: Teachers Collage Press.