Module 1: Picture Books - KITTEN'S FIRST FULL MOON

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA:

Henkes, Kevin. 2004. KITTEN’S FIRST FULL MOON. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0060588292

PLOT SUMMARY:

When an adorable kitten sees a full moon for the first time, she mistakes it for a bowl of milk in the sky. After a series of mishaps trying to get to the bowl of milk in the sky, the poor kitten ends up wet, sad, tired, and hungry. But, readers will be overjoyed when kitten finally heads back home to find a great big bowl of milk waiting for her on the porch.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

As the only character in this story, Kitten has a lot of entertaining to do. But, Kitten easily meets the challenge and leaves readers not only entertained but cheering for her triumph as well. Henkes’ black and white depiction of Kitten is beautiful and endearing. Kitten’s facial expressions are perfect for each situation in the story, and the reader can feel her wide eyes imploring for help when she ends up in the pond and realizes it is not what she sought after. Kitten’s curiosity and persistence practically leap off the page, and readers will easily sympathize with this delightful character.

When Kitten sets out after the bowl of milk in the sky, she first tries simply opening her mouth and licking at it. Unfortunately for Kitten, this just results in a bug landing on her tongue. The shocked look on Kitten’s face as the bug rests on her tongue will certainly amuse readers. Her next attempt involves jumping off the top step of the porch, but this only results in a tumble down the steps for poor Kitten. After unsuccessfully chasing the bowl of milk and then climbing the tallest tree she could find, Kitten sees an even bigger bowl of milk as she gazes into the pond below. Readers will truly feel sorry for Kitten as she races to the pond and jumps right in, leaving her wet and without any milk. One look at Kitten’s wide-eyed, dejected face will leave readers wanting to pick Kitten up and deliver a bowl of milk to her themselves. Finally, with one final look at the full moon, Kitten heads for home. In a dramatic and satisfying twist, Kitten finds a big bowl of milk waiting for her on the porch once she gets home. The initial excitement on Kitten’s face gives way to sheer contentment as she curls up and falls asleep beneath the light of the moon.

The story takes place on the porch, field, and pond near Kitten’s house. While the setting plays an important role in providing Kitten with a place for her mishaps, it is Kitten herself who remains the true focus of the story.

Although the plot is not complicated, the theme of persistence and determination paying off in the end is prevalent throughout the story. Readers will admire Kitten’s bravery and curiosity, and they will feel reassured when she finally gets her milk in the end.

The style of this story combines a simple tale about one kitten’s adventurous night with beautiful and engaging black and white illustrations that draw the reader into the kitten’s world. Although the black and white illustrations, prepared with gouache and colored pencil, imply a level of simplicity, the illustrations are actually far from simple. A lot is going on in the fantastic artwork, and an enormous amount of Kitten’s emotions are portrayed through the illustrations. The thick outlines and sharp contrast between light and dark add an adventurous element to the story, and the cleverly designed illustrations enhance the reader’s desire for Kitten to get her well-deserved bowl of milk.

This book would make a great addition to any children’s collection. The basic plot combined with simple yet fascinating pictures make this an excellent book for a read aloud. Children will undoubtedly enjoy this book for both the story and the beautiful artwork.

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

From KIRKUS REVIEW starred (February 15, 2004):
“The style is reminiscent of Clare Newberry (Marshmallow, April's Kittens) without soft, fuzzy shapes, but artful in its gracelessness and naïveté, just like a kitten. Simply charming.”

From BOOKLIST starred (February 15, 2004 (Vol. 100, No. 12)):
“Henkes' text, reminiscent of Margaret Wise Brown's work in the elemental words, rhythms, and appealing sounds, tells a warm, humorous story that's beautifully extended in his shimmering, gray-toned artwork. Working in bold black lines and the silvery palette of moonlight, he creates a lovable, expressive character in the determined kitten, and his dramatic contrasts of light and dark capture the excitement of a nighttime adventure.”

From HORN BOOK starred (Fall 2004):
“The black-and-white forms in this sweet story about a kitten who thinks the full moon is a bowl of milk are larger and more solid-looking than Henkes's usual work. The kitten, whose white fur glows against the charcoal-gray sky, is sprightly and expressive as she fails repeatedly ("Poor Kitten!") to get at that milk. The rhythmic, action-oriented text is just right for small children.”

2005 Caldecott Medal Winner

CONNECTIONS:

*Activities:
Show students the story through illustrations alone. See how much of the story they can determine from visual literacy alone.

As the book is read aloud, stop frequently and ask students to predict what will happen next. The basic story plot and excellent illustrations will offer students a variety of clues to help them guess what is coming next.

Use this story for an interactive read aloud. Invite students to read the phrase “Poor Kitten!” out loud with you. This will give students a chance to be a part of the story.

This book would be an excellent introduction to a unit on the moon and phases of the moon.

*Websites:
http://www.harperchildrens.com/webcontent/teachers_guides/pdf/0688096999.pdf
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=1219