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.