Book Review: KITTEN'S FIRST FULL MOON

Caldecott Award Medal Book Review

Bibliography
Henkes, Kevin. 2004. KITTEN’S FIRST FULL MOON. Greenwillow Books. ISBN: 0-06-058828-4

Plot Summary
This story is about a kitten who sees her first full moon, but does not realize what it is. The reader knows that it is a full moon, but the curious little kitten is just sure that it is one of her very favorite things, a bowl of milk! This story tells of the adventure that the kitten goes on in search of the bowl of milk in the sky.

Critical Analysis
This story is a very unique children’s book in that it does not try to grab the reader with bells and whistles and colorful illustrations. It simply pulls the young reader in with its simple story and plot and easy to follow illustrations. The mood is set by the black and off-white pictures and text. The pictures are drawn in charcoal black, and give us a good feel of the night time setting. The language is playful and easy to understand. Through the author/illustrator’s creative use of language and interesting illustrations the reader is drawn into the story. As the reader sees the determination in the young kitten they start rooting for him to get that milk!

Review Excerpts
School Library Journal: “The rhythmic text and delightful artwork ensure storytime success. Kids will surely applaud this cat’s irrepressible spirit.”
Booklist: “Henkes creates another winner in this simple, charming story about a naïve little kitten who mistakes a round, shining moon for a bowl of milk.”

Connections
Students can draw pictures of a similar story using a favorite animal and sending them on an adventure, and can dictate their stories to the teacher.
Teachers can read other books by the same author – Kevin Henkes