Module 6: Picture Books-- Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds

Image retrieved from: http://www.amazon.com/Creepy-Carrots-Aaron-Reynolds/dp/1442402970

Book Summary:

Jasper Rabbit loves carrots and the ones in Crackenhoppers field are the absolute best. He picks them morning, day and night. Everything is fine until the carrot start following him. At least he think the carrots are following him. He starts seeing them everywhere. He finally decides that to save himself form the carrots he must build a fence around the field to keep the carrots in. At the end of the story the Carrots are seen celebrating as their plan worked. This fence made to keep them in, also keeps Jasper out. They are safe for another day

APA Citation:

Reynolds, A., & Brown, P. (2012). Creepy carrots! New York, New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Impressions:

This book was clever and fun. The art work is innovative using one color, to further the plot of the story. The images in this book are in shades of grey with the carrots or carrot like objects being shown in the color orange.  This gives this picture book an element of old time horror films. Creepy Carrots is just the right level of scary for young children. With Jasper becoming more and more paranoid as the plot continues. Thinking he sees creepy carrots at every turn.  The problem is resolved simply as Jasper builds a fence to keep the carrots in, then the child is introduced to the other side of the story. Jasper may love the carrots, but they do not appreciate him. In the end the Carrot's creepy plan is a brilliant plot point. Their plan works,  making it  Jasper's  idea to give the carrots peace by building a fence to keep the carrots in  and keep himself out. I really enjoyed this story and it works really well as a read aloud one on one or in a large group.

Professional Review:

 Creepy Carrots!

Aaron Reynolds, Author, Peter Brown, Illustrator

In a spot-on parody of a paranoid thriller, a hungry bunny senses “creepy carrots” watching his every move. Jasper Rabbit doesn’t think twice about plundering the carrots of Crackenhopper Field “until they started following him.” Jasper glimpses three jack-o-lantern–jawed carrots behind him in the bathroom mirror (when he turns around it’s just a washcloth, shampoo bottle, and rubber duck—or is it?), and he yells for his parents when a carrot shadow looms on his bedroom wall. Reynolds (Snowbots) makes liberal use of ellipses for suspense, conjuring the “soft... sinister... tunktunktunk of carrots creeping.” Brown (Children Make Terrible Pets) illustrates in noirish grayscale with squash-orange highlights and dramatic lighting, framing each panel in shiny black for a claustrophobic film-still effect that cements the story’s horror movie feel. Jasper’s grin grows maniacal as he constructs a fortress and moat to contain the offending carrot patch, giving the carrots a happy ending in this Hitchcock spoof (Brown even sneaks in a sly Vertigo reference). Watch out, vegetarians—these carrots have bite! Ages 4–8. Agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management. (Aug.)

Citation:

Rodeen, P. (2012). Children's Book Review: Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds, illus. by Peter Brown. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved October 13, 2015, from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4424-0297-3

Library Uses:

I would use it as an introduction to an art program where the participants would be given only black and an accent color. This book shows how only one color can be critical to illustration.