Kitten's First Full Moon

Bibliographic Data:

Henkes, Kevin. 2004. Kitten's First Full Moon. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books. ISBN-13: 978-0060588281

Plot Summary:

In Kitten's First Full Moon, we meet a loveable kitten who thinks the full moon she sees shining in the sky is actually a bowl of milk. The kitten does everything she can think of to reach the bowl of milk in the sky, from stretching her neck and accidentally catching flies to climbing to the top of a tree. At the top of the tree, the kitten sees the moon's reflection in a pond and jumps into the even bigger bowl of milk. Wet and sad, the kitten returns home to find a real bowl of milk waiting for her. She laps the milk up and contentedly goes to sleep.

Critical Analysis:

Winner of the 2005 Caldecott Medal, Henkes uses simple writing with repetition to involve children in Kitten's plight. Children become part of the story as the writing seems to invite them to repeat the sentence, "Still there was the little bowl of milk, just waiting," which appears after nearly every attempt Kitten makes to get to the bowl of milk in the sky. My five year old began saying the sentence after we came across it the second time. She knew it was coming.

The language evokes emotions that young children can easily identify with and sympathize with Kitten. Throughout the book, phrases such as "poor Kitten" and descriptions like "she was wet and sad and tired and hungry" not only make the readers feel sorry for Kitten, but they also serve to build up the climax of the story and the happy ending as Kitten finds her own bowl of milk back at her house.

As the illustrator, Henkes evokes a nighttime setting with his black, white, and grey illustrations. Symbolically, these colors are usually associated with negativity, but for Kitten, it's simply part of the setting. There is no evil awaiting Kitten in the fields, just the bright white moon shining in the sky that she desperately wants to find. The depictions of Kitten convey her emotions so clearly. From Kitten's facial expressions, the reader can sense her determination, her desire, her cunning, her fear, and her happiness and contentment. The illustrations tell Kitten's story just as much of the words.

Review Excerpts:

"An irresistible offering from the multifaceted Henkes...Again and again, the feline's persistent attempts to reach her goal lead to pain, frustration, and exhaustion. Repetitive phrases introduce each sequence of desire, action, and consequence...The rhythmic text and delightful artwork ensure storytime success." -Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library --From School Library Journal

"*Starred Review* Henkes creates another winner in this simple, charming story about a naive little kitten who mistakes a round, shining moon for a bowl of milk. Henkes' text, reminiscent of Margaret Wise Brown's work in the elemental words, rhythms, and appealing sounds, tells a warm, humorous story that's beautifully extended in his shimmering, gray-toned artwork. Working in bold black lines and the silvery palette of moonlight, he creates a lovable, expressive character in the determined kitten..." Gillian Engberg Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --From Booklist

Award:
2005 Caldecott Medal

Connections:
Other books that use repetitive sentences or phrases would pair well with Kitten's First Full Moon. The classic children's book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? is one that could be paired as a responsive reading.

Kitten's First Full Moon is somewhat of an adventure tale as the Kitten goes on an adventure to get to the moon. Classroom discussions about adventures the students might have had could draw students into the book.

Discussion of why Kitten feels the way she does at certain points of the novel and how the readers know and for the readers to predict what they think will happen based off Kitten's facial expressions would allow young readers to practice the prediction and assumption skills that all good readers use as they read.