Love and Family through Eileen Spinelli
This paper will be reviewing and analyzing six different books by Eileen Spinelli. Before analyzing these chosen titles in detail, here is a brief synopsis of each. First, In Sophie’s Masterpiece: a Spider’s Tale. Readers meet a spider named Sophie. As the reader soon finds out, Sophie is no ordinary spider. She is an artist who wants to spin beautiful creations all day long. One day, Sophie finally finds the home for which she's always yearned and the inspiration for the masterpiece of her lifetime. Second, is the book Hero Cat. This book is about a cat that gives birth to a litter of kittens in an abandoned building that catches fire while she is out searching for food. Determined to save her kittens, mama cat makes five trips into the burning warehouse to save each of her five kittens. Third, the book While You Are Away is a book that portrays three children whose parents are away in the military. Eileen Spinelli pays close attention to how the children feel and how they cope with a long separation. This book speaks from the children’s perspective and in the language a child might use. Fourth, Three Pebbles and a Song, is based on the fable of the ant and the grasshopper. A young field mouse named Moses is instructed by his mother, father, and sister to collect food and warm belongings for the family nest. Moses tries to comply, but he’s constantly distracted. The fifth book, When You Are Happy, Spinelli offers an unusual approach to helping children understand their fears and feelings. Using a comforting refrain “When you are . . .” each member of the young girl’s family reassures her that when she is cold, sick, lonely, tired, grumpy, lost, and happy: they are there to love and care for her. Lastly is the book When Mama Comes Home Tonight. With a soft, warm glow radiating from the pictures, this is a tender book that depicts a joyous reunion between a child and a working mother. Eileen Spinelli is...