"The Little Island" by Margaret Wise Brown and Leonard Weisgard

The Little Island is both a classic text and a Caldecott award winning picture book. Published in 1946, Margaret Wise Brown is also known for writing Goodnight Moon. Wise Brown and Weisgard begin The Little Island by introducing the main character, the island. The island is depicted as a living, breathing land that shares its days with the animals and plants that call the island a resting place. "The morning was very quiet on the Island with only the spiders sailing their webs against a gentle wind." The authors use an upper case "I" when referring to the island, giving the land a true character. The illustrations inform the reader of how the seasons influence growth on the island. The animals in and out of the water rely on the island for a foundation.  The descriptions of the wildlife are very beautiful. Giving identifications of various different plants, Wise Brown and Weisgard create many characters within the text that are, in reality, considered non-living. A visit from a cat and two human boaters is the arch of the book. Once reaching land, the cat begins to question the island's place in the world. The cat claims to be a part of the world because his feet are upon the earth. When the island claims to be an equal part of the world, the cat is doubtful. The cat then relies upon faith to trust a fish that supports the island's claim to be a part of the world. In a beautifully poetic and surreal moment, the cat flies into the air and views the small island from above. The book closes with the continued observation of seasons, long after the cat and his owners leave.

The chronology of the book is magnificent at creating a strong character out of the island. The visitation of the cat occurs in the middle of the text, surrounded by the quiet and slow seasonal changes. The Little Island is supportive of the idea that we are as much a part of the earth as the earth is a part of us. I find the surreal qualities of the book to be appropriate for young imaginations. The text is somewhat abstract at an adult level, yet with such powerful imagery I believe that children would be completely captivated. As timeless as Goodnight Moon, Wise Brown does not create an endpoint to the interpretation of this text. Welcoming imagination, The Little Island is a text that will never tire from re-reading. I will look to this book as a story to share through a read aloud and to encourage further exploration. The continuity of the Island will preserve this text for generations.

Here is a link to Wise Brown's approach to the creative process and the task of writing for 5 year olds :
http://www.margaretwisebrown.com/ideas%20for%205%20year%20olds.pdf