Georganna Pizanowski

ECE 260-Fall Semester

Professor Kalas

October 15, 2017

Folklore Book File

Evaluation of fiction-

Author-Barbra Shook Hazen

Title-Noahs Ark

Publisher- golden books

Summary- A re-telling of the bible story of Noahs Ark.

Evaluation-

Plot: A re-telling of the story where Jesus told Noah to build an ark and take two of each animal

so when it rained for forty days and forty nights they would all be safe.

Believability- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: You can tell that Noah trusted God and wanted to do what he was asked. You can feel

Noahs trust through the words by them saying that people were making fun of him but he

trusted God so he continued to build the ark.

Major dramatic question- Yes Yes (but slow emerging) No

Comment: I did not feel like there was any dramatic question because this story has been told

over many times before.

Other Considerations- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: There was clear conflict between the rest of the people believing why Noah was

building the ark. Also, there was conflict in in doubting if the rain would ever stop. The

conclusion was satisfactory because they found land.

Style and Language- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The language used was related for children to understand. The dialogue that was used

was perfect for children to understand what the story is about instead of the dialogue they used

back in the bible days.

Pacing- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: flowed nicely together and was not too fast for this age group.

Character- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Noah was the dynamic protagonist in this story. He overcame obstacles to get an ark

built in time before the rain. He didnt seem to have any help to build it. Then he had to fit all the

animals in it with his family.

Setting- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: There was missing detail of where or how the ark was being built.

Theme- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: I think there was an absence of didacticism because it was Jesus said, build it and

you did now get in and stay until the rain stops and you did. The Bible had a little harder lesson

to be learned from this story. The children might not get the same message from this book.

Other Considerations- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The mood and tone are good for small children. I believe they can understand the folk

stories better in this dialogue.

Is it a well-rounded piece? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: for children of this age group it is a well-rounded piece because they can relate with

how the words are spoken. They can have fun with the pictures and animals in the book.

Overall Rating- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Noahs ark is one of my favorite bible stories. I do believe that this version is better

for small children to understand more about it than reading from the bible.

Evaluation for non-fiction-

Author- Gerald McDermott

Title- Arrow to the Sun

Publisher- Puffin Books

Synopsis- This is a myth about a Native American boy whose father was the sun and he sets out

to find his father.

Style and Language- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Clear exposition on the fact that the sun was his father. Avoids didacticism just tells

of the story.

Compelling details- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Little known facts of why they say the boys father was the sun.

Fascinating comparisons- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: How they compared the sun to be a lord was very interesting. Also, how the boy had

to pass test so the sun knew that it was his boy was interesting.

Unusual subjects or viewpoints- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comments: Very unusual that a human would actually believe that the sun was his father.

Personalized content- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: There was some first-person accounts when the boy ws talking to the sun. Also when

the sun was telling him what he needed to do to pass the test so he knew that he was his boy.

Accuracy- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Myths always mix facts and fiction together, the same goes for this story. You know

that a boy doesnt just turn into an arrow and get shot up to the sky.

Attractive design- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The design is very Indian related and looks authentic.

Photo or artwork- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Very nice tribal artwork. Makes the story feel more real.
Is it a well-rounded piece? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: As far as myths go it was believable to a point. I did not feel that children would

believe that a boy turns into an arrow and shoots off to the sky.

Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: I am not a fan of myths and folklore but this story was pretty interesting.

Evaluation for fiction-

Author- Tom Roberts

Title- The three little pigs 4 5 6 78

Publisher- ABDO publishing company

Summary- Three little pigs leave home an encounter a big bad wolf this story tells how they take

care of him.

Evaluation-

Plot- Three little pigs left home to make their own way. Along the way each pig encountered

material to build a house and a big bad wolf. Each pig deals with the wolf in a different way.

Believability- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: This story is more detailed than your regular three little huff and puff and blow your

house down pig story. It has insight into what the wolf and pigs are thinking.

Major Dramatic Question- Yes Yes (but slow emerging) No

Comment: I think the dramatic question here is if the wolf will be able to outsmart the third little

pig.

Other Considerations- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: There was clear conflict between each pig and the wolf but in the end, it turned out

the pig outsmarted the wolf.

Style and Language- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: There was always the understatement that the pig would outsmart the wolf and it

turned out to be right. You could tell by how all the added dialogue of the wolf being clever and

how he was thinking of different approaches but none of them seemed to work.

Pacing- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Had a nice even flow to it. The story even rhymed a little.

Character- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The character of the wolf was portrayed how a wolf might be. They seem to be

lurking and waiting for their next meal and the story did great by showing that.

Setting- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: I am kind of mutual on the setting because it gives good detail of where they aare but

not so much of it is believable.

Theme- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The lesson here seems to be that some pigs are smarter than others. I look at it as

some have more time to plan than others do.

Other Considerations- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Mood and tone was playful for little children and while reading it to them they can

huff and puff with you. Makes the story interactive as well.

Is it a well-rounded piece? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: This version seemed to give more detail to the little pigs. It was relatable to children

for younger ages and you can be interactive while reading it to the children.

Overall rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: I like this version because you get to know more about the pigs instead of the whole

story being about the big bad wolf.

Evaluation for fiction-

Author- The brothers Grimm

Title- Rapunzel

Publisher- Clavis

Summary- A witch locks Rapunzel in a tower and she is the only one to visit her every day when

she climbs up her hair.

Evaluation-

Plot: When Rapunzel meets a prince, they plan an escape for her but when the evil witch finds

out she has other plans.

Believability- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Comment: Children can relate with this princess and feel sad when her hair gets cut off. There is

a lot of emotions in this story.

Major Dramatic Question- Yes Yes (but slow emerging) No

Comment: No dramatic question is present in the story. Just a fairy tale being told.

Other considerations- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Had a very satisfying ending because the princess got to finally go home to her

parents.

Style and Language- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: Dialogue was relatable to children and how they can perceive a story.

Pacing- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: They story came together nicely and was not too fast or slow.

Character- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The protagonist character is Rapunzel because she is the one who is stuck in the tower

and doesnt know what life is outside the tower.

Setting- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: The detail of the modern day seems accurate with princes and princess. They had

different towers and castles for the villagers.

Theme- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: I didnt feel that there was any lesson this story was trying to teach just telling a story.
Other Considerations- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: I felt that the mood and tone of this version of Rapunzel was dull. It didnt have much

excitement in it.

Is it a well-rounded piece? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Comment: I dont feel it was a bad book but I would not say it was well rounded either. I believe

it needed more excitement.

Overall rating- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

It was a good childrens book but I remember Rapunzel being more energetic and exciting.