Module 5- Won Ton (Hopkins Award Poetry)

(Credit)

Wardlaw, Lee, Won Ton: Henry Holt and Company: New York, 2011.

ISBN: 978-0-8050-8995-0

What fun little book of poetry with one heck of an attitude! Won Ton is ‘a cat tale told in haiku”. Won Ton or Haiku, the cat, is selected to be a boys pet from the animal shelter. We read as Won Ton becomes accustomed to his new home and learns the right and wrong way of doing things.

Visually, Won Ton is a great read for younger students, as the illustrations aren’t busy and difficult to follow. The poetry itself is in a large, basic font. You read a few stanza’s per page. Overall, I like this book for haiku for young readers and old!

The language of this book really gives great emotional impact. As I mentioned previously, this book has a lot of attitude! Won Ton goes back and forth with his attitude of being wanted and not needing anyone! I really like that this is a consistent mood throughout the entire book. The reading never loses the character of Won Ton! We can always depend on his silliness! This is also a very relatable familiarity to this story. Many children’s pets come from the pound or shelter and also, many children want to adopt pets. When the material is easily related to, the reading comprehension is more successful!

Overall, I can definitely see why Won Ton was award the Hopkins award. This book is a lot of fun, attitude, and quality literature. I would recommend adding this to any collection! 

Poem:

Help! I've been catnapped,
dressed in frillies, forced to lap
tea with your sister.


Letmeoutlet
outletmeoutletmeout!
Wait-- let me back it!


This book gives great opportunity to discuss character traits. Students could extend this book by creating a list of character traits about Won Ton. How is he conflicted? From the book, what are examples of Won Ton being torn between his old life and his new life?