by Michelle Hand for TWU Course Literature for Children and Young Adults
Raschka, Chris. 2011. A BALL FOR DAISY. New York, NY: Random House. ISBN 978037585861
This is a wordless picture book that shows Daisy, a dog, playing
with a red ball. When her owner takes her for a walk in the park with her ball,
another dog plays with the ball and busts it. Daisy is very sad about her ball
but when she goes back to the park for another walk, the other dog brings a blue
ball to the park to play with and lets Daisy take it home.
Critical Analysis
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka invokes imagination and emotion
through detailed watercolor brushstrokes. He does an outstanding of job of
telling a story without words and draws the audience in with color, facial and
body expressions of humans and dogs alike.
The first time I looked at the book I was a little disappointed there was no text. I had to give
each page a second look and study the artwork closer to completely understand
the nuances of the story. The pages turned in the right places and Raschka made sure of that by cropping pictures on a page without sacrificing the storyline. The overarching theme is a great springboard for talking to young children about sharing toys and expressing emotions in a healthy way.
The artwork is not refined and an adult may not appreciate it but to a child it seems more relatable.
Review Excerpt(s)
"Rarely, perhaps never, has so steep an emotional arc been drawn with such utter, winning simplicity." - Kirkus Reviews
"Raschka's genius lies in capturing the essence of situations that are deeply felt by children." - School Library Journal
"Noteworthy for both its artistry and its child appeal." - The Horn Book Magazine
Recipient of The Caldecott Medal
Best Illustrated Children's Book Awards - The New York Times Book Review
Connections
A wordless picture book allows students to create their own narrations.
It allows students to infer the over arching theme and to allow the artwork to aid with the emotional connection to a pet and/or the joy of giving.
Other books for children about friendship and emotions:
Eastman, P.D. BIG DOG...LITTLE DOG. ISBN 978-0375875397
Wise Brown, Margaret. THE GOLDEN EGG BOOK. ISBN 978-0375827174
Patricelli, Leslie. BABY HAPPY BABY SAD. ISBN 978-0763632458
This is a wordless picture book that shows Daisy, a dog, playing
with a red ball. When her owner takes her for a walk in the park with her ball,
another dog plays with the ball and busts it. Daisy is very sad about her ball
but when she goes back to the park for another walk, the other dog brings a blue
ball to the park to play with and lets Daisy take it home.
Critical Analysis
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka invokes imagination and emotion
through detailed watercolor brushstrokes. He does an outstanding of job of
telling a story without words and draws the audience in with color, facial and
body expressions of humans and dogs alike.
The first time I looked at the book I was a little disappointed there was no text. I had to give
each page a second look and study the artwork closer to completely understand
the nuances of the story. The pages turned in the right places and Raschka made sure of that by cropping pictures on a page without sacrificing the storyline. The overarching theme is a great springboard for talking to young children about sharing toys and expressing emotions in a healthy way.
The artwork is not refined and an adult may not appreciate it but to a child it seems more relatable.
Review Excerpt(s)
"Rarely, perhaps never, has so steep an emotional arc been drawn with such utter, winning simplicity." - Kirkus Reviews
"Raschka's genius lies in capturing the essence of situations that are deeply felt by children." - School Library Journal
"Noteworthy for both its artistry and its child appeal." - The Horn Book Magazine
Recipient of The Caldecott Medal
Best Illustrated Children's Book Awards - The New York Times Book Review
Connections
A wordless picture book allows students to create their own narrations.
It allows students to infer the over arching theme and to allow the artwork to aid with the emotional connection to a pet and/or the joy of giving.
Other books for children about friendship and emotions:
Eastman, P.D. BIG DOG...LITTLE DOG. ISBN 978-0375875397
Wise Brown, Margaret. THE GOLDEN EGG BOOK. ISBN 978-0375827174
Patricelli, Leslie. BABY HAPPY BABY SAD. ISBN 978-0763632458
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