Title: Little Swan

Author: Jonathan London

Illustrator: Kristina Rodanas

Publisher: Two Lions

Publication Date: February 19, 2013

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Plot Summary:
Ko-hoh, the little swan opens his eyes for the first time to see his mother, father, and siblings. As he and his siblings grow, they learn to swim, and dive. When afraid of the predators around them, they would climb onto their mother’s strong back where it was safe. They lost their feathers, but as the summer came and went, they gained them back; they were ready to fly. They flew to many different places, trying to beat the winter cold. Koh-hoh had a near death experience with a grizzly bear, but his parents saved him! They eventually flew off from there and learned how to form a perfect V formation. Koh-hoh then knew he would one day have a family of his own.

Character Analysis:
Koh-hoh:
• Young
• Adventurous
• Well taken care of
Koh-hoh’s parents:
• Loving
• Protective
• Brave

Critique:
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Personal Evaluation:
This book is not something I would read as a bedtime story to my children, but it is very educational. The drawings were very well done and entertaining. It was very realistic and the drawings helped me visualize what swans actually go through from birth to adulthood. ( )

Baby Ko-hoh cracks through his eggshell and sees his father and mother for the first time.
Book come from Pierce College.
for ages 1 and 3

While fictional, author includes brief natural history. Good book. ( )

This book is an excellent example of INFORMATIONAL genre because it explains a subject and gives information. The author uses a little swan named Ko-hoh to explain part of the life cycle of a swan as well as characteristics of swans (they migrate, they loose their flight feathers...).

Age Appropriateness: primary
Media: colored pencil over watercolor wash