Fleischman, Paul. Weslandia. Kevin Hawkes. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0756965662.
Author Website: http://www.paulfleischman.net/
Illustrator Website: http://www.kevinhawkes.com/home.htm
Awards: Arizona Young Readers’ Award Winner, Intermediate, 2001.
California Young Reader Medal, Picture Book for Older Readers, 2002.
Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award Winner, 2002. Rhode Island Children’s Book Award Winner, 2001.
Media: Acrylic Paint
Detailed Artwork Discussion: Hawkes’ rich acrylic paintings fill every borderless page of Weslandia and in some cases, tell all of the action, as some pages are text-free. At the beginning of the story, Wesley is excited about his plan to start a civilization and “his eyes blazed,” (p. 9). Hawkes covers the lenses of Wesley’s glasses with vibrant yellow, orange and red spirals to convey Wesley’s enthusiasm for his plan. As Wesley’s garden blooms, readers are treated to pages of lush grasses, flowers and vegetables. When Wesley fashions his own clothing, Hawkes’ paintings show the fibers of the cloth. Hawkes pays careful attention to the natural light in Wesley’s world, showing shadows cast through the windows of Wesley’s home. When Wesley invents a sundial, Hawkes opts for an aerial view that is captivating for readers and Wesley’s neighbor, who is shown peeking into Wesley’s yard over his fence. Hawkes has illustrated dozens of books and won many awards for his rich, colorful work.
Use of Simile: (p.4) “He sticks out. Like a nose.”
Use of Onomatopoeia: (p. 9) “his eyes blazed,” (p. 10) “set his curtains snapping.”
Curricular Connection: California Standards for Grade Six: World History and Geography: Ancient Civilizations: Students develop higher levels of critical thinking by considering why civilizations developed where and when they did, why they became dominant, and why they declined.
Special Notations: 2009 Students’ List, Detailed Artwork Discussion, Personal Top Ten
Annotation: Misfit Wesley hatches an ambitious plan to occupy himself during summer vacation: he grows his own crops and starts his own civilization. Wesley fits in somewhere for the first time and finds making friends in his new civilization a lot easier.
Personal Reaction: Wesley “was an outcast from the civilization around him,” and had “refused to shave half his head, the hairstyle worn by all of the other boys, despite his father’s bribe of five dollars,” (p. 5). I found Wesley, the main character in Weslandia, endearing from the beginning of this story by award winning author Paul Fleischman. Wesley is a little different than the other kids at school; even Wesley’s parents comment on the misfit tendencies of their son. After a lesson about seeds at the end of the school year, Wesley has a brilliant idea to grow his own crops and found his own civilization. Wesley’s crops are bountiful, and unique. When a curious neighbor asks if the plants are tomatoes, beans or Brussels sprouts, Wesley’s reply is humorously reminiscent of a multiple choice quiz, “None of the above,” (p. 15). Wesley invents his own alphabet, counting system and sports. The new civilization catches the attention of more than a few other kids and soon Wesley has made several friends. It turns out that Wesley isn’t a misfit in his new civilization or in his old one. Weslandia is a picture books that students of varied ages would enjoy. I would pair this book with a lesson for 6th graders on the elements of civilization and read the story as an introduction to the lesson. This mini lesson would be a nice precursor to the sixth grade social studies unit on ancient civilizations.
