1. Bibliography
Henkes, Kevin. 2004. Kitten’s first full moon. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 9780060588281
2. Plot Summary
In this simple picture book, Kitten mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk. In her desire to get the milk-bowl moon, she ends up with a bug on her tongue, tumbles down the steps, chases it but never gets closer, and jumps into a pond. But when poor Kitten returns home, she finds a real bowl of milk waiting for her on the porch.
3. Critical Analysis
Kevin Henkes provides a naïve but persistent character in Kitten. She tries, unsuccessfully, various methods to reach the bowl of milk in the sky. After each attempt, Henkes writes “Poor Kitten!” and “Still, there was the little bowl of milk, just waiting.” Kitten continues to try until finally “she was wet and sad and tired and hungry.” Readers are drawn to Kitten for her tenacity but feel sorry for her as she returns home finally giving up. Henkes uses simple, repetitive text to further draw the reader in.
The simple black and white illustrations are created using gouache and colored pencil. The bold strokes provide a dramatic contrast between the night sky and the white of the kitten, the moon and the milk. Henkes uses horizontal illustrations to portray Kitten’s chasing of the moon and multiple panels to show Kitten racing down the tree to the pond as well as returning home defeated. In addition he uses full page and vertical half page illustrations to depict the story. The variety of illustrations gives the reader many views of Kitten.
4. Review Excerpts
Caldecott Medal Winner
ALA Notable/Best Books
Starred review in Booklist: “Henkes creates another winner in this simple, charming story”
Starred review in School Library Journal: “An irresistible offering from the multifaceted Kenkes”
Starred review in Horn Book: “The rhythmic, action-oriented text is just right for small children.”
5. Connections
· Compare Kitten’s travels and the ending with those of Max’s from Where the Wild Things Are.
· Gather other books illustrated by Henkes and compare the illustrations, noting line, color, and style.
· Other books about nocturnal adventures and celebrations:
Asch, Frank. Moongame. ISBN 0671664530
Wallace, Nancy Elizabeth. The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars. ISBN 0618263535
Henkes, Kevin. 2004. Kitten’s first full moon. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 9780060588281
2. Plot Summary
In this simple picture book, Kitten mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk. In her desire to get the milk-bowl moon, she ends up with a bug on her tongue, tumbles down the steps, chases it but never gets closer, and jumps into a pond. But when poor Kitten returns home, she finds a real bowl of milk waiting for her on the porch.
3. Critical Analysis
Kevin Henkes provides a naïve but persistent character in Kitten. She tries, unsuccessfully, various methods to reach the bowl of milk in the sky. After each attempt, Henkes writes “Poor Kitten!” and “Still, there was the little bowl of milk, just waiting.” Kitten continues to try until finally “she was wet and sad and tired and hungry.” Readers are drawn to Kitten for her tenacity but feel sorry for her as she returns home finally giving up. Henkes uses simple, repetitive text to further draw the reader in.
The simple black and white illustrations are created using gouache and colored pencil. The bold strokes provide a dramatic contrast between the night sky and the white of the kitten, the moon and the milk. Henkes uses horizontal illustrations to portray Kitten’s chasing of the moon and multiple panels to show Kitten racing down the tree to the pond as well as returning home defeated. In addition he uses full page and vertical half page illustrations to depict the story. The variety of illustrations gives the reader many views of Kitten.
4. Review Excerpts
Caldecott Medal Winner
ALA Notable/Best Books
Starred review in Booklist: “Henkes creates another winner in this simple, charming story”
Starred review in School Library Journal: “An irresistible offering from the multifaceted Kenkes”
Starred review in Horn Book: “The rhythmic, action-oriented text is just right for small children.”
5. Connections
· Compare Kitten’s travels and the ending with those of Max’s from Where the Wild Things Are.
· Gather other books illustrated by Henkes and compare the illustrations, noting line, color, and style.
· Other books about nocturnal adventures and celebrations:
Asch, Frank. Moongame. ISBN 0671664530
Wallace, Nancy Elizabeth. The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars. ISBN 0618263535
