You are asked to curate a list of 10 children’s literature books. This list could be based on a theme (ex. specific plot features, female protagonist, historical era…) or it could a list of favorite books you have encountered. Of the 10 books, 4 need to be an award winning book and 3 need to be chapter books. (If chapter book and award winning book requirements are not met then 24 will be deducted from your score, so make sure there are clearly stated in your write-up).

Bang, M. (1999). When Sophie Gets Angry–: Really, Really Angry. Scholastic.

This is a picture book, where a young girl, Sophie gets angry, when her sister seeks turn to play with a gorilla. In a fit of anger, Sophie runs to the woods, and eventually calms down to return home. Though the story has four main characters, Sophie is the main protagonist, whose woes and phases of anger are shared in this work through the use of colours by the illustrator and author, Molly Bang.

Through this work, the writer and the illustrator has very interestingly handled the concept of anger amongst the children. Through the use of the illustrations, the use of zooming in, in the craft is also evident where, the writer introduces the concept of anger through Sophie, but later focuses on the anger itself through a bird' eye perspective. 'When Sophie gets angry, really really angry, she explodes' (Bang, 1999, 12) Through this work the concept of morality and appearance of the anger is also interwoven by the author, when the mother said, 'It IS her turn now, Sophie' (Bang, 1999, 3), and the justification of Sophie' anger is brought to question for the readers. This depiction forms a good inner story for the work. This literary piece is intriguing, and has won Caldecott Medal and Charlotte Zolotow Award (2000). Through this work, the author has shared the phases of anger for a child who embattled sibling and sought a solitary time for herself. Though these feeling connectivity to Sophie with her initial anger through the use of the phrase, 'smash the world to smithereens' (Bang, 1999, 6). Is evident. Through the use of the word 'ROAR' in all capital letters with red colour and orange flares, stretched to depict her anger (Bang, 1999, 4), the author helped the readers visualize Sophie' anger (Bang, 1999, 9-10). The author has used, impressionistic style in the writing, and has used varied zigzag patterns and the coloured outline of Sophie throughout the book, where her anger was evident in her red outline, and her calmness was evident in yellow outline (Bang, 1999, 15).

Brown, M. (1997). Cinderella. Charles Scribner’s Sons.

This is a classic retelling of the story Cinderella written originally by Charles Perrault. This work gained the Caldecott Medal and ALA Notable Children’s Books for illustration, where the widower married a haughty woman with two daughters. Set in France, this is a tale of Cinderella who led a pitiful life, until she went to the royal ball with the help of her fairy god mother. Soon her world changed, when the prince finds her, and she gets her happily ever after.

Through this classic re-telling the author and illustrator Marcia brings to light the central theme of perseverance, positive attitude, hope and morality for the audience. Through the good ending, where the female protagonist not only gains a happy ending, but is able to forgive the step sisters and mother, the author has illustrated the moral positivity of her craft (Brown, 1997, 29). 'Cinderella who was as good as she was beautiful, gave her sisters a home at the place, and on the same day married them to the two great lords of the court' (Brown, 1997, 293-4). Through the use of the light and pastel colours in the book, the illustrator has been able to give a picturesque and idealistic setting to the work. As opposed to the other renditions of the work, this work spoke more vehemently to me, as the inner theme of kindness, which was often missing in many 2-dimensional representation of Cinderella was evident here. 'Cinderella went to sit near her step-sister and paid them a thousand courtesies' (Brown, 1997, 18-1, 2). The readers gained a new perspective about Cinderella from this work, where she showed a distinct central theme of coming-of-age growth, and despite her poor reception by the sisters in early life, she opened gates for her sisters in the palace (Brown, 1997, 29). Marcia left her readers with a perception of morality, compassion, forgiveness and kindness (Brown, 1997, 27). This was further made evident through, 'Someone else would have made nests of their heads, but not Cinderella. She was good. She dressed them perfectly' (Brown, 1997, 7-16-17).

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