Henny Penny

Many of us remember the cry—“The sky is falling, the sky is falling”. Paul Galdone retells this classic story in his own definitive manner. In Henny Penny, the unfortunate character has been hit in the head by a falling acorn and thinks that her cry is true. She makes the decision to run off and tell the king and meets several “fowl” friends along the way—Cocky Locky, Ducky Lucky, Goosey Loosey and Turkey Lurkey. Henny and her friends head on toward their end in more ways than one. The ending of this tale is not the happily ever after that some readers might expect, but Galdone explains the ending with an endearing family picture of Foxy Loxy, his wife and seven cubs—they were only feeding themselves.

The simple text in this book is wonderful for younger students. The bright, action filled illustrations draw the eye and keep readers anxiously awaiting the next stop on Henny Penny’s cumulative journey. Although readers may find Henny Penny’s version of reality impossible (who would really think the sky is falling), the characters she meets along the way have no problem believing her. As with other traditional literature, Henny Penny “reflects society, providing insight into the human condition as well as representing the good, the bad, the strengths, and the flaws in all of us” (Murphy, Lecture Notes, 2007). This cumulative tale will be a favorite among readers of all ages, despite its less than ideal ending. Galdone’s retelling and illustrations make this a great choice for a folk tale unit or for a read aloud.

I would recommend this book for students in grades K-2.

Keywords associated with this book: folk tale, traditional fantasy, hen, bird, humor, fox, and trickery

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses

Once there was a girl who loved wild horses. Her family loved her enough to let her live with the creatures that she loved. In this Caldecott winning Native American folk tale, Paul Goble tells the story of a girl who understands horses in a special way. One day, she falls asleep just as a terrible storm approaches. She is awaked by thunder and lightning and jumps on the back of her horse as the entire herd attempts to outrun the storm. When they finally stop running, the horses are lost. The next morning, they are greeted by herd of wild horses who welcome them all to live with them. Readers will be enthralled by the tale of the girl who becomes part of the world that she loves more than anything.

The brilliant illustrations that accompany Goble’s simple text draw the reader into the Native American culture most effectively. Though simplistic in appearance, the drawings express the movement of horses, the violence of the thunderstorm and the beauty of the world we live in. The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses shows the way a family loves their daughter enough to let her go and live the life she dreams of. This amazing story will give readers of all ages the courage to believe in the fantastic and to live their dreams.

I would recommend this book for students in grades 2-4.

Keywords associated with this book: Native American, horse, legend, folk tale, picture book, Caldecott