UP!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

George, Kristine O'Connell. 2005. UP!. Ill. By Hiroe Nakata. New York : Clarion Books. ISBN: 0618064893

PLOT SUMMARY

“Up? Up! / Wake up, Daddy! / Up the back / Lift Me up! / Giddy up! …../Up in a tree” If we read this, we can find this book has a rhyme effect in which every first line has ‘up.’ The little cute baby likes hopping, bouncing, climbing, and swinging up with her daddy. But, the last page shows that her favorite is ‘up in a tree, I’m safe and snug-tucked inside my daddy’s hug.”

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This is a single poem picture book. Kristine wrote in a little girl’s voice playing with daddy by using cheerful and vivid expressions. Children may feel the rhythm easily if parents read this along with a song. Repetitive use of ‘up’s makes this poem rhythmical and playful. Poems are placed on the perfect locations and well paired with illustrations. Hiroe used bright red, yellow, green, and blue colors for the illustrations. The watercolors make the paintings soft and natural, and the perspective for the illustrations makes the book real and vivid.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Horn Book Guide (October 1, 2005)
"Lift me up! / A flying feeling. / I can almost / touch the ceiling." A toddler describes her day spent in the arms (or within easy reach) of her loving father. The book will have great appeal for the littlest readers, who will enjoy its rhythms, energy, and spring-hued watercolors. Readers-aloud will appreciate its merciful brevity.”

Booklist (March 1, 2005)
“With remarkably few spare words, George conveys a vivid sense of a toddler's-eye view--from the flying feeling that comes when Daddy lifts her up to the thrill of swinging high: Pumping-stretching-Hello, Sky! Nakata's airy, spirited watercolors beautifully expand on the words' carefree, physical elation with skewed angles, glorious fruit-juice colors, and leaping, tumbling toys and figures.”

CONNECTIONS

Activity
*Find a rhythmically matching song (e.g., twinkle, twinkle little star or ling a round a rosy) and sing this poem with the song.

Other books of Kristine O'Connell George
*George, Kristine O'Connell. Toasting marshmallows. Illustrations by Kate Kiesler. ISBN: 061804597X
*George, Kristine O'Connell. Little dog poems. Illustrations by June Otani. ISBN: 0395822661
*George, Kristine O'Connell. Old Elm speaks. Illustrations by Kate Kiesler. ISBN: 0395876117