Module 2: The Important Book

Summary:
The Important Book takes everyday objects and describes them by their most important qualities.  The book is deceptively simple in its game-like rhythm. It is sure to spark children's imaginations and have them creating what is important about other objects they see in their everyday lives.

Reference:
Brown, M. (1949). The Important Book. (n.p.) : HarperCollins.

Impressions:
I enjoy reading this book with young children because the objects in the book are such simple everyday objects and this book gets right to their most important qualities. It makes one think, what's important about me? What makes me...me? It has the reader think about the qualities of objects and people around their own worlds and think about their importance.

Professional Review:

"A perfect book for very small children, one that will go on long after the printed word has been absorbed, for the text establishes a word game which tiny children accept with glee. The text is a series of word songs, the child's first conception of poetry, dealing simply and repetitively with each object pictured, whether grass or sky, an apple, shoes, rain, or what have you. Children go on from there, picking out the important thing about other familiar objects around. The Weisgard pictures have that imaginative quality so characteristic of him. This is tops- with us." - Kirkus Reviews

[Review of the book The important book]. (May 1949).  Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/margaret-wise-brown/the-important-book/.

Library Uses:

Students can brainstorm important people around the school such as the principal, custodians, librarian, and art teacher (to name a few). After being divided into groups, students can list characteristics that are unique to the important person assigned to their group. Then, mimicking the text of The Important Book, students can create their own Important Book about the school. These groups of students can take digital pictures of these important people and add them to the pages of their book.  This would take more than one library visit to complete which could build anticipation for students to finish the project. This would also provide students time to think about their important person and re-evaluate if needed when they return to finish the book with their groups.