Jan Brett By Melissa Lange and Peggy Cunningham RE 5140 Advanced Study of Children’s Literature Spring 2009

About Jan Brett  Born December1, 1949 in Hingham, MA  Decided as a child that she wanted to be a illustrator  Attended Boston Museum School  Painter, author, and illustrator of children’s books  Uses her love of hedgehogs in many of her books  Uses her travels as inspirations Pictures from

More about Jan Brett  Holds contests for children in connection with the books  Uses love of animals to connect with characters and  Draws from her daughter’s fascination with undomesticated critters  She furthers the main story lines through ornate pictures  Shows a sense of humor in her illustrations  She recreates the feeling that imaginary places really exists Picture from

Awards  National Education Association Educators' Top One Hundred Children's Books 2007, THE MITTEN  The New York Times Children's Picture Book Bestseller List September 22, October 7, 14, 21, 2006, HEDGIE BLASTS OFF!  Boston Public Library 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award  The New York Times #1 Children's Picture Book Bestseller List October 10, 2004, THE UMBRELLA  Publishers Weekly Children's Top Ten Bestseller List October 2004, THE UMBRELLA  North Carolina Book Award Nomination , DAISY COMES HOME  The New York Times Children's Picture Book Bestseller List October 19, 26, November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, December 7, 2003, ON NOAH'S ARK  Publishers Weekly Children's Top Ten Bestseller List October 2003, ON NOAH'S ARK  California Young Reader Medal Nomination , DAISY COMES HOME  Colorado Children's Book Award Nomination, 2003 DAISY COMES HOME  The New York Times #1 Children's Picture Book Bestseller List, WHO'S THAT KNOCKING ON CHRISTMAS EVE? December 8, 2002  Georgia Children's Book Award Nomination 2002, HEDGIE'S SURPRISE  The New York Times #1 Children's Picture Book Bestseller List March 10, 17, 2002, DAISY COMES HOME  National Teachers Association Top Ten Titles for Elementary Students 1999, THE MITTEN

Awards  Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year 1999, GINGERBREAD BABY  Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year 1998, THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS  American Booksellers Association, 1998 Abby Award - THE HAT  Publishers Weekly #1 Children's Top Ten Bestseller List November, December 1997, THE HAT  Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa Fitchburg State College, 1996  Association of Booksellers for Children 1995 Picture Book Award, TOWN MOUSE COUNTRY MOUSE  Parent Choice Foundation 1994 Illustration Award, TOWN MOUSE COUNTRY MOUSE  Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books of 1994, TOWN MOUSE COUNTRY MOUSE  Publishers Weekly, #1 Children's Top Ten Bestseller List October 1994, TOWN MOUSE COUNTRY MOUSE  American Bookseller Pick of the Lists Fall 1994, TOWN MOUSE COUNTRY MOUSE  Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Picture Book Award 1994, TROUBLE WITH TROLLS  David McCord Children's Literature Citation November 1993  Newsweek Magazine Best Children's Books 1991, BERLIOZ THE BEAR  New Yorker Magazine Best Children's Books 1991, BERLIOZ THE BEAR  American Bookseller Pick of the Lists Fall 1992, BERLIOZ THE BEAR  American Library Association Notable Book 1991, THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT  Parents Magazine Best Children's Books 1991 THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT  School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 1991 THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT  Publishers Weekly #1 Children's Top Ten Bestseller List December 1990, January 1991, THE WILD CHRISTMAS REINDEER  New Yorker Magazine Best Children's Books 1990, THE WILD CHRISTMAS REINDEER  Parent's Choice Award 1990, GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS  New England Booksellers' Association Artist Award Winner Bookweek New England 1990  American Library Association, Booklist Magazine Best Children's Books of the 1980's, THE MITTEN

Awards  New Yorker Magazine Best Children's Books 1990, THE WILD CHRISTMAS REINDEER  Parent's Choice Award 1990, GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS  New England Booksellers' Association Artist Award Winner Bookweek New England 1990  American Library Association, Booklist Magazine Best Children's Books of the 1980's, THE MITTEN  New Yorker Magazine Best Children's Books 1989, THE MITTEN  London Sunday Times Books to Buy for Christmas 1988, GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS  New Yorker Magazine Best Children's Books 1988, THE FIRST DOG  American Library Association Booklist Magazine Editor's Choice 1987, GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS  Newsweek Magazine Best of Year 1987, GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS  Parent's Magazine Best of Year 1987, GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS  Redbook Magazine Top Ten Children's Books of the Year 1985, ANNIE AND THE WILD ANIMALS  University of Nebraska Children's Book Award 1984,FRITZ AND THE BEAUTIFUL HORSES  Parent's Choice Magazine Best of Year 1981, FRITZ AND THE BEAUTIFUL HORSES

Books Written and Illustrated  Gingerbread Friends 2008  Hedgie Blasts Off! 2006  The Umbrella 2004  Daisy Comes Home 2002  Christmas Treasury 2001  Hedgie’s Surprise 2000  Gingerbread Baby 1999  The Hat 1997  Comet’s Nine Lives 1996  Armadillo Rodeo 1995  Christmas Trolls 1993  Trouble With Trolls 1992  Berlioz the Bear 1991  The Wild Christmas Reindeer 1990  The First Dog 1988  Annie and the Wild Animals 1985  Fritz and the Beautiful Horses 1981 Book covers from barnesandnoble.com

Books Retold and Illustrated  The Three Snow Bears 2007  Honey…Honey…Lion! 2005  On Noah’s Ark 2003  Who’s That Knocking on Christmas Eve 2002  Town Mouse, Country Mouse 1994  The Mitten 1989  Beauty and the Beast 1989  Goldilocks and the Three Bears 1987 Book covers from barnesandnoble.com

Books Illustrated  The Night Before Christmas 1998  The Owl and the Pussycat 1991  Happy Birthday Dear Duck 1988  The Twelve Days of Christmas 1986  Scary, Scary Halloween 1986  Mother’s Day Mice 1986  Noelle of the Nutcracker 1986  Valentine Bears 1983  St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning 1980 Book covers from barnesandnoble.com

Hedgie Blasts Off!  This science fiction book takes Hedgie to space. The personification in the story is cute and easily accepted by the children. The dogs are the scientists who must find a solution to planet Mikkop's problem, “Big Sparkler is failing”. They come up with a solution that goes haywire and Hedgie comes to the rescue. Once he arrives on the planet he discovers the problem and comes up with a solution from something he observed in the lab (where he is a custodian). The children really like the page that opens Up (fold out) when they count to three. The moral of the story … everyone can help no matter how big you are or pay attention you never know when you will be asked to solve a problem.  Reading; connections to non-fiction space travel, this could be a fun introduction to a unit on space. Extend this story to what planet would you like to travel to and why.  Math; Why did Hedgie have to go to Mikkop (size of the rocket ship)? Compare/contrast the size and shapes of the characters in the story. How far are other planets from Earth? Use various sized balls and space them according to how far apart the planets are from one another (on the playground).  Science; Chose your favorite planet and write a short report to present to the class. Have animals ever gone into space? What kind and when?

The Hat  This animal fantasy would have you believe that animals can talk to one another. A curious hedgehog gets a stocking, that has blown off a clothesline, stuck on his head. He tries many ways to get it off, while all the time other animals laugh at him. He makes them think it is his new hat to keep him warm and dry. Of course this makes them think they are missing out by not having their own hats. Eventually they all go off to find pieces of clothing to wear as their hats. Finally the little girl who has hung out her clothes chases Hedgie to get her stocking back, reminding him that animals do not wear clothes, only to turn around and see all of the animals have taken her other garments to wear.  Reading; many of the students will know to watch the borders to make predictions, so take time to stop and ask for predictions. Have they ever seen animals wear clothes? What kind?  Math; what could the temperature be, in Celsius/Fahrenheit? How do they know?  Science; where do these animals live? Are they hibernating during winter? Do they co-exist or are they enemies in nature?

Armadillo Rodeo  Traditional literature in this case tells teaches the lesson of listen to your elders via an armadillo. Many young children are curious about their surroundings as is Bo. He wanders off following something pretty...he believes is a shiny red armadillo, and he wants to make friends. We follow him through his escapades of getting bucked off a horse, almost getting stepped on at a rodeo only to find himself enamored with a cowgirls new red boots. Good imagination on Bo's part extends this story to be interactive.  Math; count the rings/patterns on the armadillo, 5 armadillos = ? rings  Reading; predictions using the illustrators in margins, share a time you didn't listen to your mother, what happened  Social Studies: relative position on a map to NC, climate of Texas, terrain, compare/contrast living conditions, farming/ranching  Science: compare flora and fauna

Town Mouse Country Mouse  This fable is retold by Jan Brett with her illustrations. It is a simple story than has a very valuable lesson. It seems no matter what we have the grass always seems greener on the other side.This story is about two very different life styles and the characters that live in those settings. Neither is happy with what they have so they trade places with the other mouse couple. They both think they got the better deal. After experiencing city life of noise, soot and house cats the country mice can't wait to go home. In the country the city mice realize it is no picnic, getting rained on, blackbirds catching hold of their clothing, and hedgehogs blocking their door. They all learned things are not always what they appear to be, be thankful for what you have.  Reading/writing connection; where would you like to live and why? Describe, in detail using your five senses. Compare/contrast the environments.  Math; talk to someone who lives in the country (teacher, grandparent, etc.) how far away do they live, measure in miles/kilometers, round trip.  Social Studies; compare/contrast life styles of someone from another state or country.

On Noah’s Ark  The art in this book are done in watercolors and gouache. This is a historical fiction book as it talks about Noah's Ark from biblical days. It is told from a young child's point of view which keeps the student's attention. They don't want you to turn the page until they can find all of the animals that are intermingled. It shows a young boy helping the animals and using them as bedding. It gets the main idea of the story across and the children all want to tell the rest of the story.  Reading; students can choose to compare/contrast with what they have learned at home or elsewhere.  Another choice could be to add to the lesson by describing details they noticed about the animals. Predicting what might happen next, how?  Math; how many different kinds of animals were on the ark in the story? How many pairs? How many legs, tails, eyes, etc. Bring Social Studies in with the math and how many miles to where the ark started to where they live now? How far round trip? If you took one week (seven days) how many miles each day?  Science; what happens to soil that is underwater for a long period of time? What type of clouds produce rain?

Gingerbread Friends  This is a easy read about loneliness that any age child could understand. The Gingerbread Baby was a fore runner to this book so the stage is set for understanding. It starts out in his nice house that Matti made for him, but he is lonely when Matti goes out with his friends, so he goes in search for his own friends. He goes into town, sees gingerbread cookies in a bakery window and goes in to talk to them. He finds out none of the cookie figures in the bakery can talk and move like him. He falls asleep only to be awakened from nibbling on his pom pom. He runs home to find a great surprise, Matti has made him a whole house full of friends to play with. There is a repetitive verse that is a trademark of all gingerbread stories and the children love to help you repeat it over and over again. “Brett's signature artwork is intriguingly detailed and delightfully old- fashioned.” – Booklist.  Reading; connections; text to text, text to self, and text to world. The class/teacher can copy the directions from the borders to make gingerbread friends. Follow sequence, details, use illustrations to check for comprehension.  Math; make the recipe in class, students must read for detail and measure accurately, fractions, capacity, as well as temperature.

Activity for Gingerbread Friends Writing Extension  You are a friend of Gingerbread Baby, write a imaginative story of how you spent the afternoon together.  Story needs to include a beginning, middle, and end  Use your five senses to describe the afternoon  Stay focused/on topic  Illustrate a cover page after completing the story

Bibliography  Jan Brett's Web site, htt// (November 24, 2001).*  “Jan (Churchill)Brett.” Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2002  “Going on a Treasure Hunt.” Publishers Weekly (13 March 2000): p 34  “Bookbag.” Publishers Weekly (2 June 1997): p34.  Lodge, Sally. “On the road with Jan Brett: author gets ready to roll to promote latest book.: Publishers Weekly (25 August 2003): p23