Fiction Evaluation Form

(Picture Books, Folklore, Modern Fantasy, Contemporary Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Multicultural Books)

Your Name: Alma Gutierrez Perez Book Title: Zathura

Author: Chris Van Allsburg Illustrator: Chris Van Allsburg

Genre: Modern Fantasy Publisher/Year: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002

EVALUATE THE BOOK USING THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS

STYLE and Language​​: Using examples from the book, e​​xplain the following: word choices, dialogue,
rhythm, rhyme and sentence length. Also, explain unexpected insights or interesting information the reader
learns from the story. Give examples.

The dialogue is between two brothers. The youngest is Danny Budwing who seems to be between
the ages of five and six. The older boy’s name is Walter Budwing who might be between eight and
nine years of age. They fight as most siblings do over the youngest Danny demanding Walters
attention and time to play. (“Can me and you go out and play catch together?” Danny asked. “It’s
‘you and I,” said walter, “not me and you, and the answer is no.”)
The brothers will find themselves in an incredible adventure in outer space playing a game called
Zathura. This game has meteors, robots and much more with the potential to bring them closer
together.
A good size chapter depicts the adventure upon them, on a two page spread throughout the book.

CHARACTER – With examples from the book give the following: ​Who is the main character? Explain the
character’s personality traits.
How can the reader relate to the character, become involved in the story?
Who are the supporting characters?
The main character is Walter Budwing the oldest boy. He is frustrated by his younger brother
Danny, who always wants something from him and annoys him constantly.
Supporting characters are Danny the youngest brother who wants to be included in his brothers
life, by any means necessary.
(“Danny started it. Look what he did,” Walter yelled, picking up his walkie talkie. The antenna was
dangling by a wire. “See? He breaks everything.”)
Other character mentioned briefly are Mom and Dad, and nothing much is learned about them.

1. PLOT: ​summarize the major events in the story-

Danny and Walter Budwing did not get along, they spent most of their time fighting. Their parents
are out for the evening. The boy’s make their way across the street to a park where they continue
to fight. In the park Danny finds a game and takes it home with him. Eventually the boys find
themselves involved in a magical game called Zathura. A meteor comes throw their living room
leaving a huge hole, as they try to leave the house. They realize that they are trapped in outer
space. Both boys have to play the game there is no alternative.
 2.SETTING ​– Explain the place and time of the book.
​ hat is the story’s theme/message?
THEME- W

Setting: The story takes place inside Danny and Walters home, in their living room. Walter is
watching tv while Danny begins to play a game Zathura. This happens during the day but close to
dinner time because their mother left food for them to eat.
Theme: In life we will encounter difficult situations and it will teach us to appreciate the people
that annoy us like our siblings. The possibility of losing them has the power to change us
completely. (“You don’t want to play this,” he said. “Trust me, I tried it once.” He went over
to a trash can and jammed the box deep inside. “Come on, he said, “I’ve got a better idea.
Let’s go play catch.”Danny smiled. “You mean together, me and you?” Walter puts his hand
around his brother. “Yeah, that’s right, “ he said. “Me and you, together.”) In the end
Walter realizes that he loves Danny and should appreciate his brother and enjoy his
company.

ILLUSTRATION –​​Analyze the illustrations for the book you selected (see Chapter 4) with the categories
below:
Choose a 2-page spread in the book to answer the following:
What Style​​ ​(realism, surrealism, expressionism, impressionism, naïve, cartoon art)?
The style used in this book is surrealism. In this chosen spread you see two boys standing inside
their house, with their front door opened to the black universe, stars, three moons, and a huge
planet with a ring surrounding it. On the right side of the page you see a window and under it you
see three umbrellas inside a canister. Behind the children you see stairs.
Media choices (​ paints, oils watercolors, pencil, pen, charcoal, crayons, acrylic, chalk​​) :
In these two pages, and in all illustrations I see pencil and pen. Dark and gray giving the story a
blurred dream like feeling.
Give examples and describe how the following visual elements are used in the illustrations​​:
Line: The lines are dark and straight.
Shapes: A lot of squares and rectangles found in the shapes that make up the house. Also circular shapes of the planet
and moons.
Color: The colors gray, black and white blend make up the beautiful illustrations.
Texture: One of the moons has a bumpy circular outline that stick out. The two brothers Danny and Walter have pointy
wavy hair.

Explain how​​ ​illustration​​ and ​text​​ ​are combined to tell the story. What do illustrations show that text does not
explain?
In the illustration you are standing behind the stairs looking at the brothers Budwing with the front door opened and
instead of a front yard you see a black background with three moons and a huge planet with a ring around it. Both kids
frozen to the beauty of outer space.
The text mentions outer space but moves on to the living room where it mentions Danny and Walter are looking at the
board game Zathura. They realize their position in the game has them far from earth, and in order to get closer they must
continue to play the game. Walter the oldest takes his turn and the card that pops out of the game states; “The polarity
on your gravity belt is reversed” and Walter is gone. The illustration delivers you into outer space in the comfort of your
house in a blink of an eye, and the text delivers you a cliff hanger and you must turn the page to see where the story will
take you next. Where is Walter?

Page design: ​Summarize the following​:​ p​ lacement of illustrations and text; the use of borders and white/dark space; are both
pages designed the same or differently? ​The illustration takes up both pages to depict the scene​​ b
​ ecause of this both pages
are designed the same. The text is strategically placed to cover part of the staircase.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT THEORIES​​ – ​CHOOSE​​ 2 ​of​​ ​theories below and evaluate the book according to the
developmental theories. (How the book fits the developmental stage and age?)

PIAGET-COGNITIVE-INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT
Name the stage Stage Preoperational and the age 2-7 years of age

Explain the cognitive development from the stage:

Cognitive skills develop and their imagination takes off through play.

Give examples from the book show how the book fits the cognitive stage:
This cognitive development fits the story because Walter might have made up this story and played
with his brother. Or his imagination got creative while he was sleeping and made him conscious of
his love for his younger brother.

ERIKSON – PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Name the stage __________________________________ and the age_____________________

Explain the social development for this stage:

Give examples from the book that support the social development of this stage:

Emotional DEVELOPMENT
Identify the Age: 7-11 years of age
Explain the emotional development for the age​​:
During this time children begin to understand and practice empathy, because now they can
consider multiple ways as to why people feel the way they do.

Using examples from the book, explain how the book fits the emotional development of the age:
We see this in Danny when his Brother Walter loses his gravity and is being pulled towards a whole
in the roof of the house that would suck him into outer space. No more fighting between the boys.
Danny helps his brother into safety.

2. Overall Rating of the book (3 highest - 1 lowest) 3

Comments: (Support your overall rating)

The illustrations to me feel like a dream, the grays, white and black colors accomplish this feeling.
The story is fast paced and full of action and excitement that brings the Baldwin brothers closer
together and I can relate to this having two younger brothers that have driven me away in the same
way, but the hard times we have shared always bring us back together even now.
Short Form ​(All Genres)
Your Name: Alma Gutierrez Perez
Title: The Garden of Abdul Gasazi Author: Chris Van Allsburg
Illustrator: Chris Van Allsburg Publisher/Year: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1979
Genre: Modern Fantasy

Summarize the content of the book –

For Fiction Form Genres—Explain the characters, the setting, theme and plot of the
book.
● The main character in this story is Alan Mitz a boy who is to care for a dog by
the name of Fritz.
● Dog named Fritz is off on his afternoon walk with Alan Mitz and the dog run
into Mr. Gasazi’ garden.
● Miss. Hester is Fritz’ owner. She is visiting her cousin Eunice, so she leaves
her dog in the care of Alan Mitz
● Mr. Gasazi is a retired magician that dislikes dogs.
● Cousin Eunice is visited by Mrs. Hester
Setting:
This story takes place in Mr. Gasazi’ garden. Alan Mitz is suppose to take the dog Fritz on an
afternoon walk. They go through a bridge that leads them into Mr. Gasazi’ garden. The dog
snaps out of his collar and so Alan Mitz, needs to keep up with the dog and get Fritz back.
The dog is too fast for Alan Mitz so he is forced to go up to the magicians home and inquire
about the dog Fritz. Mr. Gasazi invites him in and agrees to give Alan the dog back. Only
now the dog is a duck because Mr. Gasazi has changed Fritz. Alan begged the magician to
turn Fritz back into a dog, but Mr. Gasazi informs him it must run its course on its own. It
could last a year or maybe just one day.
Theme:
Anything is possible. (“Do you know what I do to dogs I find in my garden?’ I turn them
into DUCKS!”) but then when Alan finds his way back to Miss. Hester’s home to explain
everything that happen the dog Fritz runs into the room. Maybe he was fooled by Mr.
Gasazi’ explains Miss. Hester. The duck had taken Alan Mitz hat, which the dog Fritz now
has in his possession.
Plot: Alan loses sight of the dog Fritz, when he trips and falls. He goes over to Mr. Gasazi’
home in search of Fritz. Mr. Gasazi dislikes dogs because they ruin gardens and so he turns
them into ducks.
Explain how the book appeals to children, their interests, developmental levels, fun
illustrations etc. Give specific examples from the book:
The book is appealing to children in many ways. First you have a young boy caring for a
dog. Imagining losing a dog is an easy stressful situation for a child to imagine. Dogs can be
difficult to keep under control. Chasing the animal to get it back can be a stressful event
especially when done alone.

Rate the book 2

Explain your rating. This book is a 2 for me because I would have liked more details as to
what happened with the dog Fritz. It would have been fun to read as to how he was turned
into a duck.
 BOOK EXTENSION ACTIVITY - LESSON PLAN

Your Name: Alma Gutierrez Perez Genre of the Book: Modern Fantasy

Book Title: Zathura Author: Chris Van Allsburg

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company Date: 2002

nd​​
1. Pre-K/ CCSD K-2​​ Grade Core Standards:
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
E5B Students understand that there are many components in the Solar
System including Earth

2. Objectives:
Students will be able to draw our solar system, which is made up of the sun and everything
that orbits around it.

3. Materials/Equipment:

1. Black paper
2. White crayon
3. Pencil

4. Teaching​​:
A. Reading the book:
● Class today we will be reading a book called Zathura.
● Children will read the book out loud together as a class.
● What are your predictions from the illustration from the book cover?
● Why do you think Danny and Walter fight so much?
● How many moons do the boys see?
 ● How many planets do the boys see?
● Will the boys get back home?
B. Extension activity:
● Children will draw Our Solar System and everything that orbits around it.
● Children will name everything that is drawn.

5. Closure:
Children will trade with the person to their right and will be graded by the detail and effort
put into their Solar system design.