Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku

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Recipient of Peach’s Picks Award

Top Ten Favorite Books

Summer 2011

Author: Lee Wardlaw

Illustrator: Eugene Yelchin

Peach’s Picks Rating:

 

 

Year of publication: 2011

City of publication: New York

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

ISBN: 978-0-8050-8995-0

Author website: http://www.leewardlaw.com/

Illustrator website: http://www.eugeneyelchin.com/ and http://www.eugeneyelchinbooks.com/

Media used for illustrations: Graphite and gouache on watercolor paper

Annotation: A heartwarming story told in haiku of a shelter cat that is adopted, adjusts to his new home, and is loved by a boy.

Personal reaction to the book: This lovely, heartwarming picturebook tells the story of a cat named Won Ton. It begins in an animal shelter where Won Ton awaits adoption. Several people pay attention to him, but ultimately, he is chosen by a boy who rubs his chin. Won Ton makes the journey to his new home in a car. He is not sure that he wants to leave the familiar shelter and during the trip he thinks “Letmeoutletmeoutletmeout” (page 9). Once in his new home, Won Ton gradually adapts and forms a trusting relationship with the boy. Won Ton tentatively explores the house and seeks security by hiding under a bed. After a time, he feels more comfortable and takes a trip outside, but quickly decides that inside is more secure. He watches “his boy” and finally has the opportunity to lovingly curl up on the boy’s tummy for a nap. The story is told through a series of senryu poems that create an interconnecting story. An author’s note informs readers that senryu is a type of poetry similar to haiku that focuses on “the foibles of human nature – or in this case, cat nature…expressed by a narrator in a humorous, playful, or ironic way” (copyright page). The poetry and illustrations work perfectly together catching the essence of cat. An example of this is found on page 14 when the cat decides to play with a string if it will “make you happy” (page 14). Though the cat gives in to his feline tendencies, he will not relinquish his cat pride by admitting that he actually wants to play. Readers unfamiliar with the actions of cats will be introduced to their idiosyncrasies and perhaps even fall in love with a cat. The book reads aloud well and the clear illustrations can be viewed by a large group. There are chapter-like breaks that are titled which allow the action to transition smoothly. The dual image cover is eye-catching. Won Ton, a thin gray cat with large blue eyes peers sideways from the cover’s bright yellow background on the front of the front cover. The back cover shows Won Ton with his mouth wide open in a delightfully happy cat yawn. The interior illustrations use a soft color palette of repeating blues and purples. Red is occasionally used for emphasis; for example, the red car (pages 9-10) and a red lamp (page 20). The illustrations have a Japanese-like tone that is emphasized by the title of the book and the use of senryu. In particular, the illustrations found on pages 9-10 look like a Japanese landscape painting and the illustrations found on pages 23-24 are reminiscent of Japanese cherry blossoms. Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku is a delightful book.

General curricular connections:

• Poetry
• Creative writing
• Cats
• Relationships
• National Poetry Month

Specific example of curricular connection matched to Standards:
Subject: Language Arts
Grade level: 5-6

Standards:

California State Standard:

Reading Standards for Literature K-5

10. By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry, at the high end of the grades 4–5 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Common Core Standard:

Common core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects, Appendix A: Research Supporting Key Elements of the Standards, Glossary of Key Terms

Narrative Writing

“Narrative writing conveys experience, either real or imaginary, and uses time as its deep structure. It can be used for many purposes, such as to inform, instruct, persuade, or entertain. In English language arts, students produce narratives that take the form of creative fictional stories, memoirs, anecdotes, and autobiographies. Over time, they learn to provide visual details of scenes, objects, or people; to depict specific actions (for example, movements, gestures, postures, and expressions); to use dialogue and interior monologue that that provide insight  into the narrator’s and characters’ personalities and motives; and to manipulate pace to highlight the significance of events and create tension and suspense . . . (page 23).”

“The narrative category does not include all of the possible forms of creative writing, such as many types of poetry. The Standards leave the inclusion and evaluation of other such forms to teacher discretion (page 23).”

Recommended grade levels:

School Library Journal recommends this book for use with grades 2-5

Booklist recommends this book for use with grades K-3

Peach’s Picks recommends this book for use with grades 2-6

Awards/Recognitions:

Booklist starred review

Kirkus Review starred review

Library Media Connection starred review

Publishers Weekly starred review

School Library Journal starred review

Note: This book applies to the assignment criteria - books published in 2010-2011

Repetition: “letmeoutletmeoutletmeout” pages 10, 22, and then on 26 “letmeinletmeinletmein”

Alliteration: Page 24; “Crickets crunch” and “…meat on a moth”

Alliteration: Page 27; “pesky pencil”

Onomatopoeia: Page 25; “Ssscat”

Simile: Page 30; “Your tummy, soft as warm dough.”

Book cover picture retrieved from http://www.leewardlaw.com/Won-Ton-A-Cat-Tale-Told-in-Haiku.htm