Picture Book-Review

Kitten's First Full Moon By: Kevin Henkes

A. Bibliographic Data

Henkes, Kevin. 2004, Kitten's First Full Moon. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books. ISBN: 0-439-80056-0

B. Plot Summary

The picture book titled Kitten's First Full Moon is a story about a brave little kitten who is trying to get to a big bowl of milk. The kitten is persistent but never successful in obtaining the bowl of milk, because the bowl of milk is actually a full moon in the night sky. After trying and trying the kitten finally falls into a pond after pouching on the moon's reflection. The poor wet little kitten finally gives up on its adventure and returns home to find a big bowl of milk waiting on the front porch.

C. Critical Analysis

Kevin Heneks uses simple black and white illustrations. However, it eye catching to notice how he uses the shape of a circle throughout the whole book. Circles can be seen everywhere. Also, the expression on the kitten's face is easy to understand and know what the kitten is feeling. The element of the character is very simple and easy to understand, it is just the kitten. The plot keeps the reader involved throughout the story, because the reader is wanting to know if kitten will ever learn the truth behind the "fake" bowl of milk. Kitten's First Full Moon is an engaging story that allows the young reader to use their inferencing skills. Never does the story come out and tell the reader that the bowl of milk is actually the moon, but it is through Henek's capturing pictures that shows the reader what the kitten is really after. Kitten's First Full Moon appears at first to be a simple story with a simple character and setting, but by taking a deeper look the adult reader can see that Kitten's First Full Moon contains deeper elements for children such as cause and effect and inferencing.

D. Awards Won

The Caldecott Medal

Bulletin Blue Ribbon (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books)

Charlotte Zolotow Award

ALA Notable Children's Book

Texas 2X2 Reading List

Book Sense Pick

Kirkus Review- "In a surprisingly new guise, Henkes turns his hand for his 34th book to a retro look, with rough-hewn, black-and-white illustrations that pair perfectly with this deceptively simply story. When Kitten mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk, ..."-Kirkus Review

E. Connections

* This is a great picture book for a read aloud.

* Prediction, cause and effect, and inferencing are great reading skills that can be taught using this picture book.

* For very young leaners this books would be great to teach the concept of a circle since the shape appears over and over throughout the book.