Cornbread and Poppy at the Carnival, the second in the Cornbread and Poppy easy reader series written and illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell, is a delightful book about friendship. The two mice usually go everywhere together but here Cornbread is reluctant to go with Poppy to the carnival. He’s afraid of the rides including the roller coaster named the Boneshaker! And he flat out refuses to get on the Nauseator, a ride that spins round and round.
Poppy is very disappointed. Then, Cornbread finally says he will go on the Ferris wheel. They climb into the gondola and pull their seat belts tight as the wheel turns and they go higher and higher. “Cornbread wasn’t afraid. The ride was smooth and slow, and he had never seen the town from this high up. It was amazing!” However, as the reader soon finds out Poppy is terrified by heights! So, Cornbread takes Poppy’s hand and tells her he will protect her.
The story is told in three charming chapters. The 80 pages of beautifully detailed illustrations are rendered in pen and ink and watercolor. The final chapter is full of visual fun as the two friends get into a wild argument about who should take possession of a peanut they find near Poppy’s bike as they are about to leave the carnival. First, they each scream and kick and stamp and shout about who owns the peanut. Then they work through the question of ownership by sharing ideas.
Cornbread and Poppy at the Carnival written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell is a perfect easy reader for children 6-10 years of age interested in the workings of a real friendship (Little, Brown and Company, 2022).
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Activity Questions for Cornbread and Poppy at the Carnival
Have you ever had a serious argument with a friend as Cornbread and Poppy do in Chapter Three? Think back: What was your argument about? How did you and your friend solve it? What did you learn about friendship from this experience? Draw a picture of your face during your argument and then draw a second picture of your face after it was solved.
Finding visual details: Find an illustration of each of the following three rides: the Gutbuster, the Brain tweaker and the Nauseator. By looking at the pictures and understanding the names, determine how each ride would move. Then find a safe space at home in which to move your body as each of the three rides would move. You can add sound for each ride also. Be careful not to get dizzy. Have fun!
Look at page 66 and page 67 where the author-artist vividly shows you how each friend looks when having a melt-down. Be either Poppy or Cornbread. Then follow the illustration of the five movements that the character of your choice uses during their melt-down. Get mad, yell, stomp and kick based on the illustrations.
