Finding Winnie…’s Butt
Since it won the Caldecott Medal last week, I’ve been reading Finding Winnie to all of my classes (I work with students in grades K-4). I love the book, and it’s been getting a great reception from kids.
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Especially the furry butt cheeks.
What? You don’t see them?
Now, don’t be ashamed if you don’t – I didn’t either. That’s because there aren’t any butt cheeks, of course. But when I’ve shown the cover, about 1 out of every hundred or so students have giggled. The first time or two, I had no idea why. Then the third kid just came out with it. They think Winnie’s knees are Winnie’s butt.
Through the butt see-ers’ eyes, Winnie is facing toward the boot, not away.
So, if you ever want to spice up your read aloud, tell kids some readers don’t see Winnie’s knees, but…
Are you a butt see-er, or a knee see-er???
Filed under: Articles
About Travis Jonker
Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.
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Amazing.
Best post ever.
Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
Gotta admit I didn’t notice Beekle’s behind either – until the first kid giggled. If the government ever needs top-notch behind-spotters, they should look to the second grade. As with so many things it seems to be a skill that deteriorates with age.
Great post!
This is true
For more on Beekle’s behind- see this post. http://bit.ly/1S2eMU7
Thanks to Travis for the inspiration.
I have never read Beekle aloud without having a reaction from a child to the Beekle butt in the tree.
Exceptional visual breakdown. I will be sharing this with my students immediately. You sir, are the people’s scholar.
Thank you, sir
Hilarious!!! And yes… Now I can’t unsee!!
Ha! I still have the hardest time seeing the butt. I’m a knee see-er through and through.
That’s funny. I saw the butt at first and it took me a long time to find the knees. I thought, there’s no way she’d paint a voluptuous butt like that on a children’s book… there *must* be something more to this illustration. That’s when I found the knees.
I’ve definitely always seen it as a butt. Now that I’m looking at the crook of the closer knee, I’m feeling pretty uncomfortable! How did I not see it before?
Hahahahahaha. I think I’ve always seen the butt!! (Not afraid of what this says about me.) 🙂
I have a theory:
butt see-er = genius
Have you taken an IQ test lately?
Bahahahahaha. That must be it. 🙂
Butt see-ers of the world unite! I didn’t actually realize those were actually knees until this post. So I’ll gladly subscribe to the butt see-er = genius theory.
The number of butt see-ers is amazing to me.
This is literally the greatest blog post ever written on an SLJ sponsored blog.
I never saw the butt. Now it’s all I can see.
I’m putting this comment on my resume
I didn’t see the butt at all until one of my students pointed it out to me. Now that I think about it, I’m amazed that only one student said anything about it (read it to every class).
Fellow butt see-ers unite! I still have a hard time seeing the knees, but this gif makes up for it. 🙂
My eyes have been opened.
Now, here’s the next question… how many Caldecott Medalists have butts (or faux butts) on their covers?
Get on that question, Travis!
Best read of the day! As someone who sees the butt, I couldn’t figure out why it was highlighted (because of course it’s a bum)…until I finally saw the knees. Very Duck!Rabbit! of Sophie Blackall 🙂
Seriously….I saw the butt right away. It was days before I saw legs instead.
Well, he’s just a little bare. Thanks for the best post ever on SLJ!
Oh no, you’ve ruined it for me. I thought they were butt cheeks all along. Knees? No!
Is this one of those visual tests like “Is this a picture of an old lady or a pretty girl?”
I always saw a butt; didn’t have the faintest idea those were knees. Oh dear.
I had NO IDEA that wasn’t a butt!!!
Always a butt-seer here. Just didn’t want to say it out loud ?
There’s no one gutsier than a butt-seer.
Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned from an 8 Year-Old
I didn’t realize they were supposed to be knees until this instant!
It is amazing what kid’s see that we don’t!
I would never have seen that.
Knees were what I saw, but I totally get why people see the other. Too funny.
Just thought I’d add my name to the “butt” side of the scale. I’d always thought it was bear buns too and will very lovingly continue to do so.
p.s. man, I love this.
Gasp! I have always seen the butt.
My eyes! My eyes!
eyes on the buns!!!!!i know we all see em’
i cant stand you guys
i cant stand you guys
to bad they arnt buns. that would be funny