1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Henkes, Kevin. 2005. KITTEN’S FIRST FULL MOON. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0060588284
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Kitten has a night of adventure when she sees the moon up in the sky. Thinking it is a bowl of milk, she jumps and reaches for it only to end up tired, wet and hungry.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Henkes’ writing is simple and sounds like the voice of a small kitten or young child: “There’s a little bowl of milk in the sky and she wanted it.” The challenges the kitten goes through are playful and daring. Henkes ends each misguided attempt with an easy repetitive line, “Poor kitten!” This is an easy line for children to join in saying aloud.
Henkes’ illustrations are very straightforward. He used only black charcoal for the night sky and white for the kitten, milk and moon. Many of the pictures are large and take up the majority of the page. This adds to the feeling of action and adventure. As the kitten leaps, the reader can sense the action. The use of shadowing also enhances the feeling of nighttime. The reader can feel that kitten is scared when she is stuck up in the tree by looking at the size of her eyes. Young readers’ eyes also open up wide while reading this page. Students are relieved when kitten arrives home to find a bowl of milk sitting on the porch. Readers will agree that the kitten is indeed a lucky kitten.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Starred review in BOOKLIST: “Henkes creates another winner in this simple, charming story about a naive little kitten who mistakes a round, shining moon for a bowl of milk.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The rhythmic text and delightful artwork ensure storytime success. Kids will surely applaud this cat's irrepressible spirit.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*For older students, highlight the use of action verbs Henkes uses. The cat does not just walk, she wiggles, tumbles and springs. This book could inspire students to use better descriptive verbs in their writing.
*Show a large picture of a full moon. Discuss theories early scientists believed about the moon.
*Have students write the next chapter of Kitten’s adventure. If she thought the moon was a bowl of milk, can other household things easily confuse her?
Henkes, Kevin. 2005. KITTEN’S FIRST FULL MOON. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0060588284
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Kitten has a night of adventure when she sees the moon up in the sky. Thinking it is a bowl of milk, she jumps and reaches for it only to end up tired, wet and hungry.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Henkes’ writing is simple and sounds like the voice of a small kitten or young child: “There’s a little bowl of milk in the sky and she wanted it.” The challenges the kitten goes through are playful and daring. Henkes ends each misguided attempt with an easy repetitive line, “Poor kitten!” This is an easy line for children to join in saying aloud.
Henkes’ illustrations are very straightforward. He used only black charcoal for the night sky and white for the kitten, milk and moon. Many of the pictures are large and take up the majority of the page. This adds to the feeling of action and adventure. As the kitten leaps, the reader can sense the action. The use of shadowing also enhances the feeling of nighttime. The reader can feel that kitten is scared when she is stuck up in the tree by looking at the size of her eyes. Young readers’ eyes also open up wide while reading this page. Students are relieved when kitten arrives home to find a bowl of milk sitting on the porch. Readers will agree that the kitten is indeed a lucky kitten.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Starred review in BOOKLIST: “Henkes creates another winner in this simple, charming story about a naive little kitten who mistakes a round, shining moon for a bowl of milk.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The rhythmic text and delightful artwork ensure storytime success. Kids will surely applaud this cat's irrepressible spirit.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*For older students, highlight the use of action verbs Henkes uses. The cat does not just walk, she wiggles, tumbles and springs. This book could inspire students to use better descriptive verbs in their writing.
*Show a large picture of a full moon. Discuss theories early scientists believed about the moon.
*Have students write the next chapter of Kitten’s adventure. If she thought the moon was a bowl of milk, can other household things easily confuse her?
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