Reflection #2

My classroom library has been on my mind lately. I have thought about what books are staples, favorites from my childhood, as well as those that are of interest to children now. I have learned to take a very critical look at books and what they have to offer to those who read them. Do they request that reader thinks in a challenging way? Do they provoke questions? I have begun buying through book orders and looking at what I have at home for my future classroom and I feel that since taking this class, I want to have all of the books ever written in my room. Letting children decide for themselves what "good books" are is truly the most important thing. Reading, in any way is beneficial to the intellectual and emotional growth of children. I am so glad that I was able to blog about the books that I have read and to think about them and talk about them in my own words. Books keeps us thinking, they force us to ask questions and to wonder. I want all of my students to be able to do this. To question the world and not take everything at face value.

This class has offered so much in the way of literature as well as exciting class discussions. I have had such a great time thinking about what children's literature means to me and how I can create a text set for kids in my class. It was exciting to have my own opinion about books (considering I am by no means an "expert") and to share that and have it respected. I felt that the classroom environment that our section set up was one in which I felt comfortable and safe to share my thoughts. The projects force me to go out of my comfort zone - Glogster and the Blogging especially!- and to use new technology. Blogging especially has made me excited about using the Internet to my benefit as a teacher and I know that when I have my own classroom, I will want to set up a Wiki or a blog for my students to use. I will miss Tuesday night with Jen! I will continue to use what I have learned about evaluating and thinking critically about books when I begin building my own library in my classroom.

Come to the Great World

Selected by: Wendy Cooling

Poems from all cultures around the world, this collection gives insight to daily life in places that many children will never see. The poems are written in free verse and use traditional words from many of the cultures with in the poems. Poetry can be an amazing way to express feeling and thought and this book gives great examples of this. Some of the poems do rhyme, and others change shape. This is a great book for a classroom during a poetry unit and can help children to understand that poetry does not have to fit a mold, but can instead be many different things.

Ages: 4-8

Sol A Sol

by: Lori Marie Carlson

Bilingual poems that are written side by side in English and Spanish come together in a great collection. The poems are mostly about family and are composed in free verse form. This would be great to use in an ESL classroom and might inspire kids to write their own side by side poems. The illustrations in this book are especially vital to helping the reader figure out what some of the words in English or Spanish are - this would be a fun activity for a class that is not ESL - give them the Spanish side and see if they can figure out from the picture clues what the poem might be saying. I think that this would be fabulous for a poetry unit for young children because the poems are not complex and they can help children see how to write poetry that relates them personally.

Ages: 4-7

The Wall

by: Eve Bunting

How do we approach war with young children? Do we ignore it, especially now in the situation that our nation is in. The Wall tells the story of a son and his father that go to Washington D.C. to find the name of Grandpa, who died in the Vietnam War. It is a touching story that talks about the consequences that war has and how those who are left behind deal with a loss. It is important to not brush over subjects like war, but to instead deal with them in a way that pertains to young children and is appropriate for their age. Although it can be an uncomfortable subject, it should not be left out for that reason alone. Talking with children about current issues makes them aware of the world outside of their little bubble. For children who may have lost a parent in the war, this may be a wonderful book for them to see how others deal with a loss.

Ages: 4-8

The Unwedding

By: Babette Cole

This book discusses children who have parents that do not get along - in a humorous way. Although this is no situation to make fun of, keeping the tone light for a subject like this is important for children to not feel out of place or ashamed. It is unfortunate that we feel these type of "family matters" are private and should not be spoken about outside of the home. Who are these children to talk to? Part of my childhood was similar to the way the children explain their life in this book and thinking that I was abnormal for feeling the way the children do in this book was something I could have related to. I think that talking about these situations is essential in a world where divorce is much more common and where being able to express how you feel (especially as young children) should be encouraged.

Ages:6-12

Mommy, Mama and Me

by: Leslea Newman

Ages: 2-3

Much simpler and a hard bound book, short and to the point, this story is much like "Daddy, Mommy and Me," and once again explains the normalcy of having two moms. The main problem with people who think that teaching about Gay and Lesbian partners who have children is the fact that it does not prepare their children to accept those who are different from them. It makes these families out to be something other than normal, and it is apparent in our society, whether or not you agree with Gay marriage to be accepting of others and above all RESPECTFUL. No one person is better than another and hate does nothing but increase ignorance. Educating children on all kinds of parent is essential.

Gloria Goes to Gay Pride

A small child, Gloria explains going to the Gay Pride Parade with her moms. The story is incredibly normal, and is told from Gloria's perspective as she talks about the normalcy of her life without explicitly stating that she goes about her life like every other child. The book discusses hate towards Gloria's moms as well as support that the Gay community has for her and her family. Although there might be a huge problem taking this book into a classroom as far as many parents are concerned, I felt that it did nothing other than explain the situation that many children may find themselves in. Reading this to a young classroom would most likely get a positive response from children (I am assuming). We do not give kids enough credit for understanding situations. I would definitely have this in my classroom library, although I am guessing the principal would pull it or fire me after the first parent complaint - unfortunate because I feel that there is great value in exposing this to children at a young age.

The Middle Child Blues

by: Kristyn Crow

Talking about families is a pretty central theme is school - who takes you to school, where do you live, how many siblings do you have? There are some awesome books that talk about families and this is one that should be added to the collection. The Middle-Child Blues is a Malcom in the Middle - type book that talks about how tough it can be to be the middle child in the family. The middle child, Lee finds an outlet in music and playing his guitar that changes everything for him. He has an outlet to express how he feels and he is FINALLY getting some attention! Hilarious pictures and a story that will keep everyone laughing.

Ages: K- Grade 2

Sometimes We Were Brave

By Pat Brisson
"Being brave means doing what you're supposed to do even though you're afraid."
Jerome has a mom who is a Sailor and he explains what it is like when she has to leave for a long period of time to go out to sea. This book is a great way to talk about family situations and how everyone has a different and unique family. Military families are also something that could be talked about more in school - what is it like to not see your dad for a whole year? I really liked this book because it is Jerome's mother who is away a sea (instead of dad), which made this book that much more unique. A great pick for a classroom library.

Ages: 5-7

Fancy Nancy Every Day is Earth Day

The series, I Can Read! has always made me a little leery because I have felt that a specialized program is not best for individual learners who learn to read in different ways. This book is a "Beginning Reading Level 1" book and much like the others has a "theme" - Earth Day. It provides adequate information about the importance of conserving our planet, but other than that, I am not sure that this is the best approach for beginning readers. Fancy Nancy uses "fancyyy" words that she explains as she goes - sort of like a built in dictionary. This is problematic for me because I feel that this takes the whole idea of reading for meaning out of reading. There are plenty of text clues that would allow for a child to figure this out on their own. The pictures are cute, but Nancy is white, and her smart science teacher is Asian, not to mention that there is only one African American child in her classroom. This book does little for me, and would not be a recommendation for children who are learning to read.

Ages:4-8

Hey, Rabbit!

by: Sergio Ruzzier

Learning about sharing with young children can be difficult to teach. This book could prove to be a great aid - Rabbit gets back from a vacation and is sharing everything he brought back with him with all of his friends. Although he ends up with nothing left, his friends are generous enough to share with him what they have. It is an important (and acquired for some children) trait to have - selflessness. It is a hard thing to teach, but Hey, Rabbit is a great start. It would be great to read aloud to a group of students because the book is rather repetitive.
Grade: Kindergarten

Sunday Love

by: Alison Paul

Bruno the burglar has broken out of jail and he is on the hunt for Ice Cream, his one true love. Set up in a Graphic Novel type layout, this book is all in black, white and red and follows Bruno's adventure to find sweet and creamy sundaes through the town he has found after breaking out of jail. There are many similarities to comic books that include newspaper close ups and pleanty of action shot pictures. A really great book for Valentine's day (when he breaks out of jail) and also great for discussing different spellings of words - Sunday vs. Sundae.

Ages 3-8

The Malachite Palace: Author Study Alma Flor Ada

Whimsical pictures keep this fairytale-like story about the freedom of a little princess trailing along. Comparing the little princess's situation to a beautiful singing bird she has would be a great comparison to do with a class. There are significant parallels in the story that discuss how important freedom and choice is in life. The best part about the book are definitely the pictures that look as though light is shown on each one. Great for doing an author study of Alma Flor Ada because it is very different from the majority of books that she writes.

Ages: 4-8

With Love, Little Red Hen: Author Study Alma Flor Ada

The rewriting of fairytales are alway great to share with students and compare to the originals. With Love, Little Red Hen is a collection of Letters that were written to and from members of classic fairytales, including Little Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. It is an adorable tale that will make you laugh and rethink how fairytales can be arranged. The pictures are much like Jan Brett's book, rich and surrounded by beautiful boarders. Definitely a worth-while read and a great resource for a fairytale unit (with a little spice).

Ages: 5-8

Jordi's Star: Author Study Alma Flor Ada

A beautifully illustrated book that shows the gift of what life truly is, Jordi's star explains the importance of growth through nature. Jordi, a hardworking farmer, spends his days planting, and hearding sheep, when he sees a beautiful star in a pool of water after a storm, he is determined to keep the star by planing star shaped flowers. The discovery of beautiful flowers changed his perspective on life and he began to appreciate nature in a new way. A great book to talk about hard work and the beauty that the earth has to offer, Jordi's star would be great for a 1st or 2nd grade class.

I love Saturdays y domingos: Author Study Alma Flor Ada

To be like, "us" is something that teachers must address. We think about perfect familys wiht a father and mother that have some sort of European background and eat dinner at night around the kitchen table. We have to do our best as educators to change this perspective and allow our students to see that differences are what make us so unique and so perfect in our own way. This book talks about a child who has a set of Grandparents who are of European ancestry and the other set are Mexican-American. Abuelita y Abuelito are different from Grandma and Grandpa, but they have their own traditions with thier grandchild and prove that every family is different and has something unique to offer. This is a great book to discuss heritage and background with very young children
Ages: 4-7

Gathering the Sun: Author Study Alma Flor Ada

A wonderful book for a young ESL classroom, or a way to expand the horizons of English speaking students, Gathering the Sun is a beautifully illustrated book that travels through the alphabet in both Spanish and English. The book allows for students to see the hard work that many migrant families went through in a book of ABC poetry. I loved the deep colors that the illustrator painted each page with, rich warm and full of life, understand a journey and travel along with A B and C.
Ages: PreK- Kindergarten

Author Study Alma Flor Ada

Truly an inspiring author, Alma Flor Ada has grown up in Cuba, learned English and has committed her life to combining the two languages through literature that she creates. She is unique, respectable and has true talent for children's literature. In the sequel to her well recognized collection of memories in Cuba, Under the Royal Palms continues her story, explaining early memories of life in Cuba for Alma. Her personal relationships with those who inspire her (a dance teacher) and those relative who are so close to her heart are explained through beautiful chapters that give so much insight to how her life has been shaped. Alma Flor Ada recieved the Bel­pré Author Award for Under the Royal Palms which is a regconized award for Latino authors who are truly exceptional.
Alma's Website


Ages: 3rd grade and up

Year of Impossible Goodbyes

Japanese occupation in Korea can be seen from the perspective of a young girl, Sookan as she describes the sad and painful journey she made with her family to survive WWII. Everyone remembers things in their own way, they have their own story to tell. I think that for students to read Sookan's story, they can understand the different perspectives that people can have about one memory.

I found the story that Sookan told to be as painful and devastating to read as "So Far from the Bamboo Grove." I think that children will be able to read this book and understand some of the more difficult topics as I have. Although they may be difficult to approach (for instance death), teaching kids how to effectively and respectfully discuss these types of topics are essential to their growth as readers and people.

Ages: 5-6th grade

So Far From the Bamboo Grove

I thought that I knew all about WWII until I read this book. I suppose I did not fully understand the conflict that occured between Korea and Japan and based on the majority of literature about WWII, I too focused mostly on the European countries and The United States. I was amazed at the way this story had such persistance, much like the young girl in the story. From her point of view, she tells of her escape south out of Korea during WWII. She endured hardships and witness death. I felt that reading from a child's perspective seems to have a much more emotional impact on the reader. I found my heart aching for this girl and her family as I read her account of the tragedies that she suffered.

I find that it is important to expose children to this type of literature. Partly because this is a part of WWII that does not get as much exposure in the schools and also because understanding suffering is something that everyone will go through in their life. Children can understand things that we do not give them credit for and I believe that books like So Far From the Bamboo Grove can help to accomplish this. Children do understand suffering and from a child's perspective, they can relate this story to aspects of their own lives (much like I did).

Grades: 5-6th

Reflection #1

Getting used to blogging was the biggest challenge for me during the first part of this semester. I was not sure that I could write my opinion as freely as if I was turning in each book reflection for a "grade." I think that I have adjusted really well to being a "blogger," and it has given me a sense of accomplishment to see all that I have written on my own site. It is also really beneficial to be able to read what other people think about the same books I have read. Having our entire class connected makes it easier to share thoughts about different things we are reading and different perspectives that each of us have.

I do not think that I had any idea what "good" books were when I started reading for this class. I love books, but do not get enough time throughout the week to pick one up and read for pleasure. I think that after some of our class discussions, I thought about how I might want my classroom to be set up - for reading to be valued by all of my students and for everyone in my class to want to read. So often, required reading takes over school and students forget how amazing reading can be and how much it can offer.

The selections that we have read so far have really opened my eyes to what I can share with my students. I think that The Misfits was especially eye opening for me because I knew after reading the book, how much I felt like each of the characters at a time in middle school. Sharing these kinds of powerful novels force kids to think about tough topics that can be easily brushed over. I think that choosing books based on what they can offer (instead of purely what "should" be taught by anyone's definition) will give students different perspectives on otherwise taboo subjects. As a future educator, I am grateful that I have had an opportunity that opens my eyes to the rhelm of possibilities that books offer.

Love That Dog

By: Sharon Creech
Ages: 8-12 (Any age will love this book)

How do you start writing a poem? How do you share it with everyone? What if no one likes what you have composed? We all face these questions and Love That Dog looks at all of these questions by following a student's personal journal throughout the year in school. There are many stigmas that follow writing - it has to be long, it has to have a certain type of content, and even it has to be "good." How do we get past these false ideas? Sharon Creech uses the journal of one student to explain the struggle that many students have when writing poetry. If you think that you hate poetry, I can guarantee you that Creech's amazing novel will change your mind about what defines writing in the first place. The author drops hints in the book, like talking about how great the writing the student does would look if it were on yellow paper and in blue writing - the cover of the book is yellow and the title is in blue. The book itself is a novel - but what is a novel? How many paragraphs or what kind of structure should a novel have? Creech forces us to look at the way that we construct writing and how we define writing. What is really awesome about Love That Dog is that the author included all of the poems in the back of the book that are mentioned throughout the text. This book would be AMAZING for a classroom read aloud or for an introduction into a poetry unit. I fell in love with Love That Dog and I cannot look at poetry in any other way than individual. Read this book if you read anything at all the rest of your life, it will truly change your mind about everything you ever thought writing was.

Once I ate a Pie

by: Patricia MacLachlin and Emily MacLachlin Charest
Ages: 5-8

It's truly a dog's life through fabulous portraits of many different breeds and amazing poems that tell the stories that all dogs seem to want so badly to share. From Gus, Abby and Mr. Beefy (who once ate pie), the book takes the stories of dogs and expresses them through creative word play in poems. Each page shows an adorable illustration of a different dog along with a poem that describes what they have to share with the world. The words are big, small, colorful and are structured in a way that changes how the reader might "read them" aloud. It is a GREAT choice for a read aloud to kids and could be used by taking turns seeing how each person might read each page differently. I would highly recommend this book to beginning poetry writers because it makes poems more understandable and accessible to kids. Poetry does not have to rhyme (truly an epiphany that I had as a child) and it can be as creative as you (the writer) decide.

Purplicious!

by: Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann
Ages: 5-8

Deciding who you are? Afraid that others don't like who you are? Pinkilicious feels this way when all of her friends make fun of her for liking pink - although she feels sad about how her friends are treaing her, she finds an outlet through poetry. She writes in free verse and decides that she will take her own path regardless of what anyone thinks. She finds that someone much like her, "Purplicious" loves the color purple and decides that being yourself is the most important thing, even if others cannot accept who you are. A really cute story with vibrant pictures that emphasize how amazing an outlet like art and poetry can be for children. Definitely a good pick for girls who might feel left out or for girls who may be participating in excluding others.

Dogku

by: Andrew Clements
Illustrated by: Tim Bowers
Ages: 4-8

Introducing the idea of "poems" to kids can be overwhelming at times. Especially specific types of poems that are structured a certian way and are read a specific way. Dogku is an adorable take on Haiku poems and does a great job of taking a poem structure and making it accessible to children when Haikus in general can be overwhelming. Looking at poems in a less traditional way make them easier to teach and break down for students. The story follows an adorable puppy who needs a home, thoughout the story (in great Haiku form!) the family he stays with decides to keep him. Hopefully after reading this, students will try out Haiku poems in their own way - much like Clements did with "Dogku."

The Misfits

By: James Howe

I can rembember my middle school experience, and it seems to be full of many memories that I would rather forget. It is such a precious age when you begin to decide who you are and at the same time, you are acutely aware of how others see you. You pick friend, pick sides and are likely to be picked on. The Misfits submerges readers in the reality of middle school and how cruel kids can really be. I felt that Middle School could have been possibly the worst experience of my life. Besides the fact that I was overweight, I jumped groups of friends, begging for anyone to sit with me at lunch. It still amazes me that I have friends to this day because every day in middle school, I was sure that I would turn out to be the friend that noone wanted to have. The Misfits spoke to me - I was Addie - outspoken, always looking for everyone to recognize me for something that I did right, wanting so badly to not be alienated. This book is what every middle schooler, regardeless of the social group they hang out in, needs to read. I can't imagaine that middle school has somehow become any better than when I was there. It seems to have become worse with texting, blogging and technology in general. Bullying is so hurtful at that tender age, when you are so unsure of who you are and so afraid that anyone might call attention to you. Any person can find themself inside of one of Howe's characters - Skeezie the outcast, Joe - who is very sure he is gay, and Bobby who is slighly overweight. The way that they pull together to be who they are and stand up to those who make fun of them reminds me of the courage I wish I had in middle school. It is a must read for all middle schoolers, to know that they are not alone and that labels are only labels and are far from defining any person.

Race you to Bed

By: Bob Shea

Reading a bedtime story tends to result in the phrase, "just one more book!" - sound familiar? "Race you to Bed" could possibly the best way to bribe your child to bed, the last sentence reads, "Race you to Sleep!" The adorable fluffy bunny (which seems to be a blog theme of mine) races all over creation to his own bed for a good night sleep. The illustrations are not anything exciting to talk about, but the text is in rhyme with a slight reminiscence of Dr. Seuss. I would recommend this book for little readers who might have a hard time getting to bed. I could see this book quickly becoming a favorite "last book" read of the night.

Ages: 3-5

The Three Little Tamales

By: Erick A. Kimmel
Illustrated by: Valeria Decampo

By the looks of the cover, you probably would not guess that "The Three Little Tamales" was a fractured fairytale. Based on "The Three Little Twigs," with a Texan twist and a Spanish flare, this book tells the survival of three very hot tamales. With many Spanish words throughout the book that help to support the ambiance of the story, "The Three Tamales" ends well as all fairytales do with the tamales surviving because of the strong and prickly cactus they have for a house. The way this book is influenced by Spanish culture allows for students to use the language as a way to support the text and the region of the United States that the book describes. A definite read for a unit on Fractured Fairytales and a great way to explore Spanish with a class.
Ages:K- Grade 3

Earth - Feeling the Heat

By: Brenda Z Guiberson
Illustrated by Chad Wallace

Life cycles become a very exciting topic for young children who are beginning to understand all forms of life and how they continue to reproduce. From the African Savanna deep down in the great Oceans, Guiberson explores the many animals that are affected by global warming. Each open double page features a beautiful illustration that is done in a chalk-like way. The book poses questions to the reader, "Who can help these animals?" The book helps readers to critically look at the way our planet is functioning and the effect that pollution, global warming and other factors has on the many different species that cover the Earth. The beautiful creatures that live on this Earth are slowly beginning to disappear - Who can help? Be sure to look at the Orangutan page - the thunderstorm illustration is absolutely exquisite.
Ages: K-3

The Terrible Plop

Ursula Dubosarsky
Illustrated by: Andrew Joyner
Run! Quick! Here comes the Plop! Although the characters (a cute little bunny and his friends) do not find out that the Plop is only a little splash made by an apple in a nearby lake until the end of the story, the exciting PLOP gets all the forest animals running. Although the story is a little corny and slightly ridiculous, there is a cute rhyming scheme that follows along as the little bunny tells his friends about the great PLOP that is on its way. I did not think that this book had much more than a decent rhyme and found it to be tedious at times to read... I suppose very young readers may like this, but past 1st grade would be a stretch. To be completely honest, I am amazed this was published - I am not too sure where the author was going with this book, but it sure ended in a great FLOP.

Ages: 3-6

First Family

By: Deborah Hopkinson Illustrated by: AG Ford

Why is it that what the things that we do not know about tend to be among the most interesting topics to investigate? "First Family" explains the daily life of President Obama, the First Lady, Michelle and their two daughters, Malia and Sasha. The Pictures are by far the most fascinating - illustrations that capture perfectly the many expressions that the general public has seen the First Family express on Television. Even the dog, Bo gets a page all to himself. It is a great way to begin talking about government with the class, or just to explain how the President goes about his important daily activities. Even as an adult, I found out incredibly interesting facts about what the President does and how the White House functions on a daily basis. A fun read that all children will likely be fascinated by.

Ages: 4-7

Where Do Polar Bears Live?

By: Sarah L. Thomson
Illustrated by: Jason Chin

Another note about Earth Day coming up - What about the Polar Bears! We couldn't possibly leave them out! "Where do Polar Bears Live?" is a non-fiction piece about the life that polar bears lead and how they have learned to survive in the Arctic. What is so appealing about this factual book are the great illustrations that bring the polar bear close to students - even into a doctor's office! The book also discusses Global Warming and how the habitat that polar bears survive in is slowly melting away - nothing like pulling at the heart strings with some cuddly polar bears! I think that this would be a great book for a unit on the Arctic or cold climate animals - definitely a good pick with great information that is delivered in style for young readers.

Ages: 5-9

Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I don't)

by: Barbara Bottner Illustrated by Michael Emberley

"I hate reading..." we hear this from early readers who have a difficult time reading or getting in touch with their inner literary side! With a great echo of "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-good, Very Bad Day," "Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I don't)" reminds us of the hostility many of us had as young children for something that just didn't click with us. For me that was math - it became my "and I don't" part of my own story. This book in particular would be awesome for children who don't click with reading. One child that I have been working with in Iowa City does not like to read, but he loved this book - hmmmm... very interesting. For kids to understand that they are not alone, that others have felt or do feel the same way that they do offers comfort and helps them to comeout of their shell. As Miss Brooks says, "anyone can find something funny and fantastic and appalling in the library." - this book might just be your ticket.

Ages:5-8

When Jack Goes Out

by: Pat Schories

You, as the reader will have to fill in the pages and decide what happens to Jack the dog when he goes outside. This picture book has no words, but tells a very exciting story about a puppy who sees a group of aliens come down from outer space after he is let out by his owner. What is so great about this book is the fact that dogs cannot actually tell us what they see or what they think, much like the way this book is written. I think that this would be a great class activity to constuct a text that would match each picture in the book and decide what happens to the puppy. I really enjoyed "reading" or viewing, rather this book and I would recommend it for lower elementary students.

Dodsworth in London

By: Tim Egan

A perfect chapter book for younger readers - Dodsworth in London is great for those who are beginning to read slightly longer chapter books. At the same time, the pictures of historical markers in London are great to keep the attention span of the reader. In this series, there is a Dodsworth in New York and a Dodsworth in Paris - both of which are set up in the same short chapter form. What I like about this book are the adorable characters - Dodsworth and his friend, Duck. They travel about London in this particular book and sight see, cause a little trouble and get separated from each other! After finding their way back to each other, the pair adorably set out on another adventure. This book is a great way to introduce a new topic to students (travel, London, etc.) or one I would recommend to 2nd -3rd grade students who are progressing to more difficult chapter books.

Ages: 6-9

Princess Pigtoria and the Pea

By: Pamela Duncan Edwards and Illustrated by:
Henry Cole

Get ready for endless "P -letter" words! This adorable fractured fairytale about a Princess named Pigtoria has fantastic words that are sure to get a roaring laugh as well as an expanded vocabulary to any child who reads through the pages! There are multiple scenes on each page and the text is broken up in a way that would allow for multiple students to read together. The pictures are very vibrant and help to support the text for readers that may not know all of the "P-letter" words. What I like so much about this book is the way that the author used fabulous vocabulary to enhance each page and the story itself - words like "prickled and parlor and pity." I think that this would be a great way to help students expand what they know about how words are used - it might be fun to go through the book again but with a different letter in mind and try to think of words to substitute that have the same general meaning (for older students). Pick this book up for a fractured fairytale unit - you will not be disapointed, just pickled!

Ages:PreK- 2nd Grade

This Tree Counts!

April 22nd is Earth Day! This Tree Counts! by Sarah Snow is a great way to begin talking to young readers about the importance of taking care of our beautiful Earth. The book goes through a Tree and explains each living thing (animals and organisms) that need the tree to survive. The students in the book quickly become attached to the tree and begin to understand how they can help to preserve the Earth themselves. The pictures are layered and look as though they were cut out of a magazine and taped to the page. There are also numbers that follow through the book which would help very young students - incorporating this book into a math lesson. This book would work as a great introduction to a new "Earth Unit!"

Dogs by: Emily Everett

This might be my favorite picture book that I have read - possibly ever. To start off, the book has amazing pictures of detailed dogs of all different breeds. The book is perfect for young readers who are not yet very confident in their reading skills. The book is repetative, "I love big dogs and I love small dogs." Although the text is simple, the adorable pictures of the different breeds being compared to eachother keep the reader engaged and excited as to what dog is going to come next. I cannot rave enough about the illustrations particularly because they have such finite detail that takes such a simple piece of literature (text wise) and makes it something extraordinary. I have enjoyed many of the books this semester but this was has something special about it that you can only understand through going to the library and checking it out!

Grades: PreK- 3rd grade (adults will love it too!)

Glogster

In the Night Kitchen

Written and Illustrated by: Maurice Sendak
Much like "Where the Wild Things Are," Sendak takes the reader on a wild journey where a boy named Mickey travels into the night kitchen and is baked up into a cake and down in a big milk gallon. It is imaginative and creative with illustrations that look much like the very small beginnings of graphic novels at times. The pictures are abstract and include great detail in the background especially Many may see the book as controversial because Mickey is naked and exposed in a few of the pictures. It suffered great critisim in 1970 when it came out and was taken out of many libraries. I suppose this could stir up controversy, however as educators, it is important to ask ourselves if this book is really about a naked boy? In truth, it is about great adventure, dreaming and abstract thinking. There are so many types of literature that children are exposed to daily that are much worse and inappropriate - do we blindfold them? In truth, Sendak created an amazing book that all children should love and do love for reasons other than being naked.

Our Old House

by: Susan Vizurraga
Illustrated by Leslie Baker

Ages: Pre-K - 3rd grade
I find that some of the most loved books have a story that uses description with in the text to bring to life such simple pictures. This book is about discovering history within a house that dates back many years. The descriptions that the author writes about the simplest things draw in the reader and allow the reader to create their own attachment to the house that the author depicts. Knowing where home is can be a difficult topic for children who might not feel that sense of belonging. At the same time, being able to create a home from an "Old House" that needs alot of work can give a sense of home to everyone. This may be a book that could be problematic to students who may not beable (or are afriad) to describe their home. Even so, it would be a great book to use to talk about description and the way that using all of the senses can take a reader into the story you are trying to explain to them. I would use this as an example for a writing lesson in my own classroom.

Brave Charlotte and the Wolves

By: Anu Stohner
Illustrated by: Henrike Wilson

Brave Charlotte and the Wolves is a sequel to the NY Times Best Illustrated Book, Brave Charlotte. Charlotte, a brave sheep has a mind of her own and sets out to find out where the howling is coming from in the forest, despite warning from her flock. Charlotte is not phased by those to love to tease her, she continues to do what she knows to be right and her brave spirit inspires the rest of the flock of sheep. This book expresses how important it can be to not always be just one of the herd. There is something to be said for individualism. I found growing up that it can be hard (especially in middle school) to express yourself without feeling ridicule from others. This book does a great job of emphasizing how great it is to be who you are, even if you don't fit in.

Ages: Kingergarden - 3rd grade

Hurricane!

By: Jonathan London
Illustrated by Henri Sorensen

Talking about extreme weather seems to be a very strong interest for many kids. Considering the earthquakes, hurricanes, and Tsunamis that have recently devastated parts of the world over the last few years, I think that talking about these kinds of weather can give great knowledge to kids who might not understand these types of extreme weather. Hurricane! Is a beautiful personal account of what it is like before, during and after a Hurricane that hits eastern Puerto Rico. It is difficult to decide if the vivid oil paintings or the lyrical descriptions of each moment are more exciting for the reader. I think that this book would be great for a weather unit and helps to bridge the gap between what extreme weather really is and how it actually affects those who are involved and caught inside of it.
Ages: 1st - 3rd grade

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

By: Judith Viorst
Illustrated by Ray Cruz

A true classic in many home and classroom libraries all over, reading this book as an adult made me remeber why. Besides the way that absolutely everything goes wrong for Alexander during his Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, the way that the author finds such funny things to include captures the way in real life these sort of days happen to all of us. It is important for children to understand that although they may think that the end of the world is coming when they happen to have a bad day, in reality everyone has bad days. The black and white pictures are my favorite part of the book. I think it reinforces how awful Alexander's day is because of the lack of vibrance it has. And you know as the reader that when you flip the page, it will be black and white and more terrible things will happen to Alexander. Still a classic, still a favorite. Reread it and love it as much as I do.

Ages: K- 4th grade

Big Cat Pepper

By: Elizabeth Partidge
Illustrated by: Lauren Castillo
Ages : Pre-K - 2nd grade


Although you may not be able to tell from the adorable chalk-like, colorful cover of the book, Big Cat Pepper is very much about loss. After the death of a beloved Cat, a young boy explains his feelings of loss and hurt from losing his favorite pet and best friend. It is an interesting example of how children deal with death and what it is like to feel sad and upset about losing a friend. I feel that many children and adults would be able to relate to the themes that this book brings up. How do we deal with the death of a pet? How do children understand death? The story tells of the memorial that is made for Pepper and how he is buried in the backyard. Even though not all families do this with their pets, this is just one example of how a family dealt with the feelings that come along with loss.

The Pet Dragon by: Christoph Niemann

It seems hard to find good books that are diverse without being stereiotypical or cheesey. I think that it is important to incorporate true culture in ways that go beyond just giving skin color to an imaginary character. For children especially, it is important to celebrate different cultures instead of avoiding it and staying mainstream with phrases like, "Holiday Break." Books that help to explain culture for children are a fantasitc way of celebrating that difference instead of shunning it.
The Pet Dragon does just this by celebrating Chinese culture in a multitude of creative ways. The most striking thing about the book is the Chinese characters that are on every single page of the book. They describe what is going on alongside the english text of the book and are placed in a way that actually look like the chinese character (for example the symbol for river is placed along the river in the picture). There are many historical aspects of China that are included such as the Great wall and traditional Chinese attire. I also enjoyed the celebration of the Chinese dragon in a way that children could relate to (having a dragon for a pet!). Celebrate Chinese culture with kids ages 4-8!

Crocodiles are the Best Animals of all! by: Sean Taylor

Being the best! (so important to many children) Mister Croc reigns supreme in this book, telling all of the animals about how wonderful he is and how he can do their own special talents better than they can. Set up in a poem style with 2-3 lines a page, this book has funny inside jokes that adults may only understand (a play on Wellington Boots). It is a fun read aloud because of the silly words that are used and the bright colors in the illustrations. Each pages is full of Rainforest landscape and background paper that has hints of what may lay beyond the scene on that specific page. The pictures have vibrant animals and plants that contrast the dark text. I would recommend this book to kids ages 3-8yrs.

SNOW! SNOW! SNOW! by: Lee Harper

SNOW! The perfect day for sledding (or reading this simple, but charming book). SNOW SNOW SNOW is great for younger children who are just learning to read on their own. With beautiful pictures of white snow and winter, the reader gets caught up in the story quite easily. The best aspect of this book is what the author does with the text. As the characters go down the hill, so does the text. This happens throughout the story along with increase in size of the text to explain something exciting. Because the text is a very simple black font, these small enhancements have a great effect on the way that the story is understood and the importance of this very special snow day. Ages 3-8yrs

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - A Graphic Novel by: F. Scott Fitzgerald

Being unfamiliar with Graphic Novels, this book turned out to be much more interesting than I had first anticipated. The pace of the book is quick and the beautiful pictures help to explain what is going on. Without the pictures, so much would be left out of this book and graphic novels in general (hence the name, Graphic Novels). What I enjoyed more than anything was the humor in this book, which is enhanced and understood more thoroughly through the pictures. Taking place at the turn of the 19th century, the pictures are in black and white, but are incredibly detailed. They are funny to look at and will be sure to pull a laugh out of anyone reading this book. The story of Benjamin Button is about a boy who lives his life from this oldest age to when he was born. It is an interesting concept and would be great to use in class for a teacher who is not too sure about using graphic novels. It would be a great way to have students understand stories beyond what is written on the page and to dig deeper into the pictures that tell the story. I would highly recommend this book for 4th grade and older.

The Giver by: Lois Lowry

Imagine a world that is perfect. Mistakes are instantly corrected and everyone has a role to play in a community that thrives on being alike in nearly every way. The Giver, by Lois Lowry creates this world and gives insight to what life would be like if choices were non-existant. Lowry does an amazing job of captivating the reader. As you turn each page, you become trapped in "The Community" and you want to follow the rules just as all of the memebers do. What is so haunting about the book is the fact that the reader becomes caught up in the functions of the community and the journey that the main character Jonas (12yrs old) makes as the next Reciever (a role chosen for him by the community). The reader feels Jonas's physical pain as he trains to take over this highly regarded role in the community. Jonas is the reciever of all of the memories of the world. Jonas is able to see color, something no one else in the community can do and experience things that no one else would understand. As he lears from the previous Reciever he discovers this ability more. The Giver has short, concise chapters that are perfect for upper elementary students. There are new words that help create and understand Lowry's community and will keep children interested in the story. I cannot rave enough about the insight that The Giver gives to children about what life would be like if freedom of choice was not an option. It is an amazing book that I read as a 6th grader and still enjoy today.

Ages:5th-6th Grade

Twilight

Age :6th Grade and older
If you have only seen the Twilight movies, you have not done the story justice. It is essential to read Twilight and enjoy the story from the original perspective that Stephanie Meyer created. This romantic love story is much different from a classic fairytale and has dark and enticing text that will capture the reader into the world of vampires. The love that the main character, Bella expresses for Edward, a vampire is forbidden in more ways than one. As she falls for him, the reader will find herself/himself captivated in their relationship. The twisting plot line is almost as intense as the feelings that Bella and Edward have for each other. I would highly recommend this book to older readers because there are a few scenes that include intense romance and kissing that may be inappropriate for younger readers.

I, Trixie who is dog

I, Trixie who is dog

by: Dean Koontz

Illustrated by: Janet Cleland

Ages:3-8

There are plenty of reasons to envy a dog, or so Trixie thinks! What would it be like to live a dog's life? I, Trixie who is dog explains all of the perks through exciting free verse text that sits, at times like a poem. It sounds like a Dr. Seuss poem at times with twisted text and subtle rhymes. The book flows quickly and keeps the reader's attention. The generous amounts of text fill the pages and sit in paragraph form. The rhymes are funny and the author uses typical things that dogs do to explain how wonderful it is to be a dog. The illustrations are not an essential part of the story, but they take the free verse to the next level with colorful watercolor pictures. On some pages, the picture is the page, while others have medium sized images and include more than one scene. There are a lot of physical signs in the illustrations that include text which would be helpful to children if they cannot read on their own. This would allow for them to recognize what is being discussed in the poem because the images support the text almost word for word (or word for image). I, Trixie who is dog would be great to read to Kindergartners and 1st graders.