Cultivating an Imagination

Tutto Va Benne

2009-06-11T13:16:00.000-07:00

Granny Torrelli Makes Soup

Sharon Creech

published by Harper Collins 2003

Summary: "With the help of her wise old grandmother, twelve-year-old Rosie manages to work out some problems in her relationship with her best friend, Bailey, the boy next door."

The layout of the book with two separate sections and different chapters allows the reader to consider each story separately. Many children will relate to having problems with friends, jealousy, and having someone who helps make everything all better. The book is very well written and tells a great story full of Italian phrases and genuine charm.

Wood Carvings and Release from a Cage

2009-06-04T12:29:00.000-07:00

picture from amazon.com

The Tiger Rising
Kate DiCamillo
published by Candlewick Press, 2001

Summary: "Rob, who passes the time in his rural Florida community by wood carving, is drawn by his spunky but angry friend Sistine into a plan to free a caged tiger."

This beautifully written book shares a compelling story of two children experiencing loss. Students may relate to this feeling of loss or to the feeling of being picked on by other students. I literally laughed and gasped aloud throughout the story as I got to know each of the distinctive characters. Family and friendship are themes throughout the book. Some of the elements of loss may be a little touchy for younger students.

"of the humming and the thrumming of her purr"

2009-06-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

picture from amazon.com
title quote from page 112

Hate That Cat
Sharon Creech
Published by HarperCollins, 2008

Summary: "Jack is studying poetry again in school, and he continues to write poems reflecting his understanding of famous poems and how they relate to his life."

This book was another creative insight into the mind of a student learning poetry and dealing with meta-cognition. Learning about the character, his family, and his environment through his own poetry allows for a different perspective. I personally am more of a fan of cats than dogs and was surprised that this well-written and poetic book gave me a new outlook on cats and pets in general. Teachers could use this to teach different elements of poetry, such as onomatopoeia and alliteration. In addition, students can learn about other poems through this book or create their own journal of poetry.

What an Imaginative Dog!

2009-03-15T15:48:00.000-07:00

picture from amazon.com

The Adventures of Polo

by Regis Faller

published by Roaring Brook Press, 2002

Summary: "Polo the dog sets out from his home and enjoys many adventures, including sailing his boat on top of a whale, roasting hot dogs over a volcano, and taking a ride in a spaceship built from a mushroom."

Strengths: This book by a French author presents an imaginative story of a dog who travels to many interesting places. I like how Polo meets a variety of characters along the way who all return at the end of the book as he is reading a book called "Polo". All of the little things that Polo does, such as cooking hot dogs over lava and making his boat into a plane are all things that children could imagine doing. The pictures are bright and fun!

Concerns: I have no concerns about this book, as long as it is read by an appropriate age group. Older children may become bored of the book since it has many random elements.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: Teachers could use this book to introduce wordless books. Older students could write their own story to go along with the pictures. Ages 3 to 8 would enjoy reading this book.

A Glamorously Guilty Mouse

2009-03-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

picture from amazon.com

Lily's Purple Plastic Purse

by Kevin Henkes

published by Greenwillow Books, NY, 1996

Summary: "Lilly loves everything about school, especially her teacher, but when he asks her to wait a while before showing her new purse, she does something for which she is very sorry later."

Strengths: This fun fantasy about a great mouse teacher and his biggest fan, Lilly. Lilly's character is very strong and fun from her red boots with a star to her vibrant dresses.
I like that the pictures do not take up the whole page and that a series of pictures show her action. I also like the dialogue that takes place in the pictures and the way that the text is in a variety of places. The book has very funny parts and really shows different emotions.

Concerns: I have no concerns about this book as long as it is read by an appropriate audience.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: Children aged 4-8 would enjoy the book. Teachers could read the book to discuss apologizing, guilt, and other feelings.

Sea-like Celadon

2009-03-15T10:25:00.000-07:00

picture from amazon.com

A Single Shard

by Linda Sue Park

published by Yearling, 2001

Summary: "An orphan boy in a twelfth-century Korean potters' village... lives with Crane-man under a bridge, barely surviving on scraps of food. All of that changes when Tree-ear sees master potter Min making his beautiful pottery."

Strengths: This beautifully written book tells a lot about Korean culture and life in Korea in the twelfth-century. The friendship and bond between Crane-man and Tree-ear is apparent through their conversations and discussions of meaningful messages, such as taking things one step at a time. The messages of the problems with pride and the benefits of facing challenges is seen. The journey of Tree-ear as he works for Min and learns about making pots is also very fascinating. Tree-ear is a good character to whom readers can relate because of his optimistic and curious nature.

Concerns: The treatment of Tree-ear and Crane-man before Tree-ear begins working for Min may be a concern to some readers. The presence of death in the novel is also a concern.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This book is appropriate for ages 10 and up. Children would enjoy reading this on their own and teachers might read it to children in grades 4 and up. Teachers could use this book to examine Korean culture or the time period in which this book took place. The author's note at the end of this book provides a lot of useful information and the interview with the author is also very informative and interesting.

Watch Out for That NIMH Van

2009-03-15T09:31:00.000-07:00

picture from amazon.com

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

by Robert C. O'Brien

published by Aladdin Paperbacks, 1971

Summary: "Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children must move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma."

Strengths: This very interesting book of science fiction was entertaining, well-written, and captivating. The reader wants to continue reading to find out what will happen to Mrs. Frisby and her children. The very distinct characters have fun personalities that the reader gets to know very well. The sense of adventure and scheming makes this book a fun read. Importance of family, wisdom, and friendship are demonstrated throughout the book. The connection between the rats, mice, and humans adds an interesting twist that explains their intelligence and adds another level to the book.

Concerns: I wonder if children will be able to relate well to this book since Mrs. Frisby as the main character is older. I think that most children would be able to relate to her because she is an animal character. The ending of the book is not as conclusive as I would prefer, but leaves the ending up to the reader's imagination. The death of some of the rats may be a concern for some students.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This book would be appropriate for ages 8-12. This would be an excellent book to read aloud to a class or for students to read individually. Teachers could use this book to examine plot because of the interesting and straightforward plot.

Quite A Character

2009-03-14T17:14:00.000-07:00

picture from amazon.com

Stonewall

by Jean Fritz

with drawings by Stephen Gammell

published by Puffin, 1979

Summary: "A biography of the brilliant Southern general who gained the nickname Stonewall by his stand at Bull Run during the Civil War."

Strengths: I was not sure how I would feel about reading a book about a Confederate soldier. However, this book was very well written and presents Tom Jackson, later to be nicknamed "Stonewall" as an interesting and quirky character with an interesting life. A lot of the information is provided through contact between Tom and his sister, Laura, or his wife, Anna, as well as narration on the details of his life. Students reading this book will be interested to find out what happens next to Tom because of the descriptive way that the book is written. His oddities, such as following the same routine everyday at the exact same time, may be humorous to readers, but his behavior connected very well with some of the information I have learned recently in a psychology course. The setting of the book is also excellent for students to relate to if they live in Virginia or in areas in which Stonewall travels. The story of the Civil War is explained in an easy-to-understand manner and Stonewall's religious reason for supporting slavery provides a lot of insight into his character. Readers also learn a lot about other important people in the Civil War. How Tom approaches the challenges in his life will provide inspiration to readers.

Concerns: This book is about a war hero, so it may be considered violent for some children. However, the violence is not portrayed in a very morose way. There are some swear words in the book.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This book would be appropriate for children aged 9-12. Teachers could have students read this during a unit on the Civil War or students could use this to do a project on a significant person in the Civil War.

A Tale of the Meaning of Love

2009-03-14T15:59:00.000-07:00

picture from amazon.com

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

by Kate DiCamillo

illustrated by Bagram Ibatulline

published by Candlewick Press, 2006

Summary: "Edward Tulane, a cold-hearted and proud toy rabbit, loves only himself until he is separated from the little girl who adores him and travels across the country, acquiring new owners and listening to their hopes, dreams, and histories."

Strengths: This beautifully, but simply written story tells an interesting tale with a wonderful message of the power of love. Children may be able to relate to both Edward, the rabbit, and Abilene, the girl who loves him. The simple pictures at the beginning of each chapter provide a clue to what will happen in the chapter. I also like the various full pages of color illustrations throughout the book. The dialogue and thoughts of the characters show some humor and show how Edward learns a lot from listening to the stories of the people he meets. I like that the book is wider than most books and that the text is very spaced out. The plot and how Edward moves from place to place keeps the story fast paced and keeps the reader's attention. I especially love the last chapter of the book and the coda.

Concerns: Edward learns about the lives of the people whom he meets, some of whom have very sad stories, such as death, homelessness, and abuse.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: Children aged 8 and up would enjoy this book. Teachers could begin with a picture walk to predict what will happen in the book. The simple text would allow upper elementary readers to read this by themselves and the book would also be excellent read aloud. Teachers could use this as an introduction to the journey of characters. A lot of interesting vocabulary is used in the book, so it can be used as a tool to expand vocabulary, with words such as "conquering (p. 61)" or "callused (p. 61)". In addition, as the number of days Edward is in each location is told, a math lesson could be incorporated in addition to discover how many days, weeks, months, and years have passed.

A Field Guide on Witches

2009-03-14T15:32:00.000-07:00

picture from amazon.com

The Witches

by Roald Dahl

illustrated by Quentin Blake

published by Puffin Books, 1983

Summary: "Read this story and you'll find out all you need to know......the most gruesome, grotesque gang of witches imaginable!"

Strengths: I love pretty much all books by Roald Dahl, but The Witches was one of my favorite books as a child. As I re-read my worn-from-love copy of this great story, I remembered why I liked it so much. I like the introduction stating that the book is not a fairy tale, which really gets readers into the mindset of believing the funny and interesting young narrator, to whom young readers can relate with his curious nature. The story has a lot of humor with imaginative characters and an interesting storyline. I like the simple sketches that are placed throughout the book that complement the text, but also like that the text is descriptive enough that you can picture what is occurring.

Concerns: Some readers may be concerned with the content of witches itself if they have certain religious beliefs. In addition, the ideas presented in this book may be scary to children if they do not understand that the book is a fantasy.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This book is great for children aged 8 and up. The book would be a great addition to a classroom library for individual reading or for a discussion on fiction. When looking for a picture of this book on amazon.com, I found that many of Dahl's books, including The Witches, have been converted into plays for children to perform. This would be a great way to work on fluency and presentation in the classroom.

Now I Know!

2009-03-14T15:26:00.000-07:00

picture from amazon.com

Don't Know Much About Thomas Jefferson

by Kenneth C. Davis

published by HarperCollins, 2005

Summary: Questions about the personal and political life of Thomas Jefferson are answered and explored in this book.

Strengths: I read another book about Thomas Jefferson to compare it with the other nonfiction book with more of a picture book feel about Thomas Jefferson by Cheryl Harness. The books are both excellent resources in different ways. This book has a lot of interesting information that may not be found in normal informational books about Thomas Jefferson. The question and answer format provides an interesting way for students to learn information. The book provides definitions to words that may not be understood by students, a timeline, and an index allows a way for students to look up specific information. Information about the general life of people during Jefferson’s time is also written, so readers can learn how Jefferson was a product of his time. The pictures, diagrams, and maps are simple because the focus is on the information.

Concerns: Some of the information may be inappropriate for younger ages, such as the fact that two of Jefferson’s siblings died young. Students learn Jefferson’s hypocrisy of having slaves and writing that “All men are created equal.” The topic of religion is also discussed, which may be against some parents’ beliefs.

Classroom Use: For younger ages, teachers can find specific questions that would interest students and discuss them in class. This book would be excellent to research the accomplishments and life of Thomas Jefferson when learning about great American citizens. Many interesting facts are found in this book. Children aged 9 and up would enjoy this book.

Traveling with Lions

2009-03-14T15:04:00.000-07:00

picture from amazon.com

LionBoy: The Chase

Book Two in the LionBoy Trilogy

by Zizou Corder

published by Dial Books, NY, 2004

Summary: "After saving the lions from evil Maccomo, Charlie, a boy with the ability to speak the language of cats, goes to Venice to search for his parents and solve the mystery of their kidnapping with help from Bulgarian King Boris."

Strengths: After reading the first book in the Lion Boy trilogy, I had to continue reading, not only because the reader is left on a cliffhanger, but because the books are written so well that I wanted to keep reading. I like that the book is placed in the future, but that a lot of the environment will be familiar to the reader, such as cell phones. It is interesting to consider how some things will change in the future, such as the removal of cars. Charlie travels to a variety of interesting places, which the reader learns a lot about. While reading this book, I could picture Paris, Venice, the Alps, and Morocco from travelling myself in these locations and from the beautiful descriptions by the authors. I love the maps and diagrams in the book, which allow the reader to clarify what is happening in the text. The use of science in this book through Charlie's parents is interesting and applicable to readers, especially those with asthma or allergies. The text was very descriptive and the plot was believable and interesting. I am glad that this book did not leave you on as much of a cliffhanger as the first in the series, but am still excited to read the third book when I get a chance.

Concerns: Some readers may be wary of the idea of the parents and Charlie being kidnapped. I think that the book moved a little slow in the middle before the lions and Charlie escaped from the doge, but that the rest of the book had an excellent pace.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This science fantasy book could be used by teachers of upper elementary grades as a read aloud book or as an independent reading book in middle school. Ages 8 and up would enjoy the story. Teachers can use the book to introduce different areas of the world and discuss maps.

Looking to the Future

2009-03-14T15:02:00.000-07:00

I read and commented about a great blog today about two children's books introducing a variety of fun and interesting jobs. One book involved poetry and the other was a nonfiction book.

Full of Life (Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness)

2009-03-12T19:15:00.000-07:00

picture from amazon.com

Thomas Jefferson
By Cheryl Harness
Published by National Geographic Society, D.C., 2004

Summary: “Harness combines lively narrative and vibrant illustrations to bring this extraordinary Founding Father to life.”

Strengths: This book has beautiful, detailed illustrations that provide a lot of insight into Jefferson’s life. The text has interesting information about the life and trials of Thomas Jefferson, but the illustrations really captivate the reader. The maps and illustrations of locations, such as Independence Hall, show a lot of information that is useful.

Concerns: This book is lengthy for a picture book, but the pictures make the text move along quickly. The text includes a lot of details that children may not find interesting or may not be appropriate depending on the age of the reader, such as the death of many of Jefferson’s children and wife.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: In a unit about Thomas Jefferson, teachers can read a bit of this book each day to students or select important information to read to students. Students can skim through these pages and look at the illustrations to learn more about Thomas Jefferson’s life. Older students would be able to read this book to learn about Thomas Jefferson. This book would be appropriate for ages 8 and up.

Thank Your Teachers!

2009-03-12T18:05:00.000-07:00

picture from amazon.com

Thank You, Mr. Falker
by Patricia Polacco
published by Philamel Books, NY, 1998

Summary: At first Trisha loves school, but her difficulty learning to read makes her feel dumb, until in the fifth grade, a new teacher helps her understand and overcome her problem.

Strengths: This book is based on a true story of the author's childhood. I like the realistic and beautiful illustrations in which you can really see the emotions in the characters' faces. Readers can relate to Trisha as she is made fun of by other students. Children also learn about learning disorders and the feelings students may have if they are left out.

Concerns: Older children and adults may understand the deeper meaning of this book better than younger children who may approach this book because of the beautiful illustrations. Younger children may not understand the use of italics and the connection between the author and the story. Some parents may be concerned with the issue of the grandparents passing away.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This book would be good for children in grades three and up. This would be a good book to read aloud and to discuss bullying or acceptance.

The Trip of A Lifetime

2009-03-07T21:20:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963

by Christopher Paul Curtis

published by Delacorte Press, 1995

Summary: "The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963."

Strengths: This book involves many emotions, as the characters add humor and the story has sad elements. Through this story, you learn a lot about the time period and the effects of racism. The themes of friendship, family, bullying, and acceptance provide important messages. This book is extremely well written.

Concerns: This book involves violence, racial slurs, and swearing.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This story would be an excellent book to discuss the Civil Rights Movement. Children aged 10 and up would enjoy this book.

Touching the Hand of Lincoln

2009-03-07T21:06:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

Pink and Say

by Patricia Polacco

published by Philomel Books, 1994, NY

Summary: "Say Curtis describes his meeting with Pinkus Aylee, a black soldier during the Civil War and their capture of Southern Troops."

Strengths: Students can identify with the characters because of their young age, their dreams, and their friendship. I love the illustrations with beautiful strokes and lines. There is an excellent message of helping others and of history. I also like the connection that the author has with the story in the book.

Concerns: This book needs to be read to or by age appropriate students. There are many sad elements, including death and children having to carry a gun. There is also a religious element in the book, which some parents may not want their children learning.

Classroom Use/Other Concerns: This book is excellent for developing vocabulary, such as the word marauder. Teachers can include this book in lessons on the Civil War and slavery. This book is appropriate for ages 9 and up.

"It's the Rule"

2009-03-07T20:36:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

Rules

by Cynthia Lord

published by Scholastic Press, 2006

Summary: "Frustrated at life with an autistic brother, twelve-year-old Catherine longs for a normal existence but her world is further complicated by a friendship with a young paraplegic."

Strengths: This is a fun and interesting story that provides a mirror for students who have autism or students who have a sibling with autism and a window for all students. The themes of acceptance, family, diversity, and friendship are very significant and meaningful in this book. I really like the journey and progress that the main character, Catherine, makes as she meets a new friend. I also really like the incorporation of art and Frog and Toad quotes by Arnold Lobel.

Concerns: Students may need an introduction to autism and disabilities before reading this book.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This book would be appropriate for children aged 9 and up. Children can learn about acceptance, diversity, friendship, and family through this book that could be read aloud to students or read for fun. In a class, students can create their own rules. This book provides excellent opportunities to practice reading comprehension strategies, such as predicting and comparing.

Extra! Extra!

2009-03-07T20:03:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

The Landry News

by Andrew Clements

illustrations by Brian Selznick

published by Aladdin Paperbacks, 1999

Summary: "A fifth grader starts a newspaper with an editorial that prompts her burnt-out classroom teacher to really begin teaching again, but he is later threatened with disciplinary action as a result."

Strengths: This book provides another chance for one of Clement's fifth grade student characters to make a change in their environment. I like that the book involves issues that will interest students. The format of the book with chapter headings and pictures with captions is an excellent way for this book to be written because it is like a newspaper.

Concerns: I have no major concerns with this book as long as it is read by students of an appropriate age. Even the issue of divorce is approached in a meaningful, but uncontroversial way.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This book would be an excellent introduction to a newspaper unit. Students can create their own newspaper, like the students in this class. Teachers can also include a unit on freedom of speech while reading this book. Before reading the book, students can do a chapter heading walk to predict what will happen in the book. Students aged 9 and up will be able to relate to the characters in this book.

A Journey Through Feelings

2009-03-07T19:38:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

Walk Two Moons

by Sharon Creech

published by HarperCollins, 1994

Summary: "After her mother leaves home suddenly, thirteen-year-old Sal and her grandparents take a car trip retracing her mother's route. Along the way, Sal recounts the story of her friend Phoebe, whose mother also left."

Strengths: The story that Sal tells to her grandparents on their journey intertwines the past and present as Sal progresses in coping with her mother's death and departure. Sal's grandparents are very fun characters that make the story adventurous and humorous. The themes of family, love, death, friendship, and accusations provide a beautiful story of a journey.

Concerns: The concepts of death, underage driving, nudity, and swearing may be a concern for younger students.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This book would be an interesting way to examine characters and journeys of characters. This story also brings up many different ideas to which some students may be able to relate. Children ages 9 and up would enjoy this book.

True Bravery

2009-03-03T08:22:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

Number the Stars

by Lois Lowry

published by Dell Publishing, NY, 1989

Summary: A story of bravery, friendship, and family in Denmark during World War II.

Strengths: This very moving novel provides insight into the life of Danish citizens when the Nazis invaded. Readers can relate to the young girl, Annemarie, as she learns more about the problems Ellen, her friend who is Jewish, faces. The story is written in a captivating way that makes the reader want to continue reading. Re-reading this book after a visit to Denmark and Sweden provided me with a different perspective on the landscape as Lowry exquisitely describes it. Lowry provides insight into a lesser-known region affected by the Holocaust and shares stories of the courageous and compassionate people.

Concerns: The story has a sad overtone, as should any book taking place in the Holocaust.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: Children aged 10 and up can relate to the characters in this book. This book would be an excellent tie-in to a social studies unit on the Holocaust.

Breathtaking Unsung Heroes

2009-03-02T17:51:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

We Are The Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

Words and Paintings by Kadir Nelson

Published by Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, NY, 2008

Summary: "The story of Negro League baseball is the story of gifted athletes and determined owners; of racial discrimination and international sportsmanship; of fortunes won and lost; of triumphs and defeats on and off the field."

Strengths: The combination of beautiful, realistic pictures and interesting, informative text, this book provides an excellent introduction to a topic that is not well-known. The statement on the cover describing the pictures as "oil paintings- breathtaking in their perspectives, rich in emotion, and created with understanding and affection for these lost heroes of our national game." The word breathtaking really describes these illustrations full of action and emotion. I like that the book takes you through the story of these athletes and includes an index. I also like that the chapter headings are titled innings and that a quote is written under each chapter heading. The text is fast-paced and captivates the reader.

Concerns: This book is rather lengthy, but if the reader is interested in the topic, the fast-paced text and illustrations will allow him or her to stay interested.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This book can be used as a resource for students interested in baseball, as well as an excellent book for investigating segregation. Students can select chapters to read, look at the pictures, or look in the index for specific information. Ages 8 and up would enjoy reading this book.

I read and commented about this book on a blog with a mock Coretta Scott King Award.

Everyone Needs a Friend

2009-03-02T17:32:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship

told by Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff, and Dr. Paula Kahumbu

photographs by Peter Greste

Summary: A "true story of two great friends: a baby hippo named Owen and a 130-year-old giant tortoise named Mzee".

Strengths: This book is fairly easy to read as a nonfiction book. The photographs match the text well and provide insight into the reality of the story. The book has an inspirational message involving friendship, animals, and the effects of natural disasters.

Concerns: The book has some sad elements, such as the hippo losing his family.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: Children aged 7 and up will enjoy reading this book to learn more about animals and the effects of natural disasters.

This Little Light of Mine...

2009-03-02T17:22:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

Let it Shine

by Ashley Bryan

published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, NY, 2007

Summary: Illustrated versions of three well-known hymns.

Strengths: The amazing illustrations in this book are extremely colorful and intricate. The words go well with the pictures and the illustrations provide an interesting context for these classic songs. I like that the music of the songs are shown at the end of the book.

Concerns: The concept of religion is present throughout the book, although the book does depict a variety of places of worship on one of the pages.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: Older children can be introduced to the concept of "Spirituals" through this book. Art classes can learn a lot from the designs and cut outs used in this book. Ages 3 and up would enjoy this colorful book!

Life Depicted Through Poetry

2009-03-02T17:08:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

Here's a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry

collected by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters

illustrated by Polly Dunbar

published by Candlewick Press, MA, 2007

Summary: "Here's a Little Poem gathers poems from various parts of the English-speaking world, including Great Britain, the Caribbean, Australia, and the U.S."

Strengths: This excellent collection of sweet and funny poems are depicted in beautiful illustrations. I like the diverse characters and the fun interpretations of poems about everyday topics.

Concerns: The bedtime poems may be more appropriate for parents to read to children before bed than for school.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: Children aged 3 and up will enjoy these poems. Students can select a poem to improve fluency and learn about language.

A Sporty Take on a Classic

2009-03-02T16:58:00.000-08:00

published by amazon.com

Jabberwocky

Poem by Lewis Carroll

Reimagined and illustrated by Christopher Myers

Published by Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, NY, 2007

Summary: An interpretation of Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky taking place on a basketball court.

Strengths: This fabulous interpretation of Jabberwocky has an interesting basis described in a note by the Myers. I think that the font and highlighting of certain words is excellent for this interpretation. The pictures are bright and exciting and bring the story to life in a way in which students can relate.

Concerns: If students are not introduced to this story and the concept of nonsense words, they may be very confused. I was also concerned by one of the illustrations that had a person with multiple arms, which made this realistic interpretation less realistic.

Classroom Use/ Other Comments: The students can read the poem without these illustrations, make their own interpretations, and then read this poem. Students could also read this book first and then look at the poem by itself without pictures to make it more clear. This book is an excellent introduction to nonsense words used in poetry. Children aged 8 and up would enjoy this interpretation and younger children may enjoy being read the book.

Trick or Triqui

2009-03-02T16:38:00.001-08:00

picture from amazon.com

Grandmother's Nursery Rhymes: Las Nanas de Abuelita

by Nelly Palacio Jaramillo

illustrated by Elivia

published by Henry Holt and Company, NY, 1994

Summary: "A collection of traditional South American nursery rhymes in both Spanish and English."

Strengths: These fun poems with flowing pictures provide insight into South American culture. Some of the poems provide explanations of their origins. The poems are also very diverse in length and type.

Concerns: Some of the poems involved figuring out an object or letter, which were at times somewhat confusing.

Classroom Use/ Other Comments: Children aged 3 and up would enjoy these poems. Children in elementary school can use these poems to improve fluency. Students who speak Spanish as their first language will be able to read the Spanish version of the poems and have a mirror to their experiences. Older students who are learning Spanish can use these poems to enrich their learning.

Simple Pleasures

2009-03-02T16:26:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

Sky Sweeper

by Phillis Gershator

pictures by Holly Meade

published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, NY, 2007

Summary: "Despite criticism for his lack of 'accomplishments,' Takeboki finds contentment sweeping the flower blossoms and raking the sand and gravel in the monks' temple garden. Includes a note on the art and beauty of Japanese gardens."

Strengths: Readers discover the message of finding pleasure in simple things and insight into Japanese culture through the beautiful illustrations and repetitive text. I really liked the double page spreads of how Takeboki takes care of the garden during the four seasons. The importance of nature is seen in the intricate Japanese garden.

Concerns: Some parents may be concerned if teachers introduce this book to young students because of the book's element of religion.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This book would be appropriate for ages 5 and up. Teachers can use this as an introduction to the Japanese culture or just as an interesting book to read aloud. If children live in New York, they could visit the Brooklyn Botanist Garden that is described in this book and compare it's garden with the Japanese garden in this book.

Peaceful Night in the City

2009-03-02T16:17:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

At Night

by Jonathan Bean

published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, NY, 2007

Summary: "A sleepless city girl imagines what it would be like to get away from snoring family members and curl up alone with one's thoughts in the cool night air under wide-open skies."

Strengths: The calming pictures and peaceful tone in the easy-to-read text provides readers with a fun read. Readers can relate to not being able to fall asleep. This can provide an insight to life in the city.

Concerns: Older children may find this book not extremely interesting, but I have no concerns if this is read by children for whom it is intended.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This book would be good for children aged 3-6. Older children can try to read this book on their own, but younger children would enjoy hearing the story.

Laughing with Moxy

2009-03-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little

by Peggy Gifford

photographs by Valorie Fisher

published by Yearling, NY, 2008

Summary: "With summer coming to an end, about-to-be-fourth-grader Moxy Maxwell does a hundred different things to avoid reading her assigned summer reading book."

Strengths: This hilarious book is full of charismatic characters with funny photographs. The chapter headings relate to the text excellently and add humor. Students can definitely relate to not enjoying summer reading and procrastination. The story also makes divorce and children's interest in the future commonplace ideas. Finally, I really enjoyed the funny scenes, like the dog pulling up the mom's garden, as well as the final scene of the book.

Concerns: Parents may be concerned that their children will learn to follow Moxy's bossy and procrastinating attitude.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: Teachers can introduce this book with a walk through the pictures and chapter headings. This story would be an excellent kick off for reading Stuart Little. Students can build their own lists of possible career paths. Children aged 7 and up would enjoy this fascinating piece of realistic fiction.

Love This Book

2009-03-02T15:46:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

Love That Dog

by Sharon Creech

published by HarperCollins, NY, 2001

Summary: "A young student, who comes to love poetry through a personal understanding of what different famous poems mean to him, surprises himself by writing his own inspired poem."

Strengths: Readers can relate to the narrator in this book through his discussion of school, teachers, poetry, his family, and his dog. The lyrical style of the text and the introduction to poetry styles captivates the reader while providing an instructional context. I like the way in which the narrator is speaking to his teacher throughout the book and students can definitely relate to the way her reacts to her assignments and suggestions for sharing his poetry. I was once again captivated by Sharon Creech's style and imagination.

Concerns: This book may confuse readers at first if they are not prepared for the poetic style. There are some very sad moments in the book, as well.

Classroom use/Other comments: This book would be excellent for grades 3 and up. Teachers can introduce the poems used in this book as they read the novel to the class or students can create their own poems like those of the narrator. Finally, students can create their own journal by writing through poetry, which seems to be how this book is formatted.

Underpraised Heroes

2009-03-02T09:27:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

Windflyers

by Angela Johnson

illustrated by Loren Long

published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, NY, 2007

Summary: The Tuskegee Airmen are introduced through the stories of a boy's great-great-uncle who loved to fly.

Strengths: This book has beautiful illustrations, especially of the sky and clouds, which is where the main focus of the book is. The story is fun and is not too straightforward, while sharing an important part of history. Children can relate to the story because it is told by a child. The uncle's passion for flying and his sacrifice for our country is clearly depicted.

Concerns: The story had some sad moments, such as when the reader discovers that not all of the Airmen made it home. However, it is written in such a way that this may not affect young readers. Readers may also be slightly confused that the narrator introduces the main character as his great-great-uncle, but later he just calls him just "Uncle".

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This story could be an introduction to war and to African Americans in the war effort. In addition, this book would be a fun way to introduce a writing prompt in which students can share a story from their own family. Children aged 5 and up would enjoy this book.

True Bravery

2009-03-02T09:08:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad

by Ellen Levine

illustrated by Kadir Nelson

published by Scholastic, NY, 2007

Summary: This book tells the true story of Henry "Box" Brown as he takes a heroic journey from slavery.

Strengths: Beautiful illustrations taken from a variety of perspectives with excellent texture connect with the easy to read text to tell this fascinating story. This book creates many emotions and makes the reader relate and empathize with Henry. I was brought to tears of sadness when Henry's family was sold and tears of happiness when he reached freedom. I like that the story shows how Henry grew and changed throughout his life.

Concerns: The topic of this story may be upsetting for younger children, especially when Henry's family is sold. I also want to know what happens after Henry becomes free!

Classroom Use/ Other Comments: This book could be used as an introduction to slavery and the Underground Railroad. Ages 7 and up would enjoy reading this book or having it read to them.

A Girl's Best Friend...

2009-03-01T18:24:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

Fred Stays with Me!

by Nancy Coffelt

illustrated by Tricia Tusa

published by Little, Brown and Company, NY, 2007

Summary: "A child describes how she lives sometimes with her mother and sometimes with her father, but her dog is her constant companion."

Strengths: This simple book with earth-toned illustrations has a message of constancy through divorce. Children learn how parents can work with their kids to problem solve or compromise if there is a situation. This is an excellent introduction to divorce and may provide a mirror to children with parents going through a divorce.

Concerns: I think that the font used in this book would make it difficult for children to read by themselves. The letter, k, for example looks like the cursive letter k.

Classroom Use/ Other Comments: This book is an excellent book to read aloud to children aged 4 and up. Students may be able to make self to text connections through the narrator's love of her dog and through her experience with divorce.

A Buzzing Outlook on Bees

2009-03-01T17:35:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

clan Apis

by Jay Hosler, Ph.D.

published by Active Synapse, OH, 2000

Summary: The life of bees is examined with humor and science in a graphic novel context.

Strengths: I began reading this book hesitantly because it looked like common comic books, which are book in a genre I do not tend to enjoy. Fortunately, this book surprised and captivated me! I was wary that the pictures had no color, but began to realize that color would make the pictures too busy. The characters were all very funny and the book added a lot of humor and characterization to science. Readers learn about metamorphosis, different insects, prey, and camouflage, as well as the message of individualism and trying new things. This book also provides information about the author that will be comforting to children with allergies to bees.

Concerns: Some parents may be concerned with the way the book starts with the relation to the creation of Earth, but teachers can have students begin reading the book after that part if it is a problem. There are some large words that students will need to look up in the dictionary and some of the jokes will not be understood by students unless they have background information on the topic. Finally, the aspect of death is present in the novel.

Classroom Use/ Other Comments: This book would be great for children 10 and up. Teachers can use this in lessons on metamorphosis and insects. There are neat ways for students to remember things about bees, such as the word "pupa", through the witty statements of different characters. Information at the end provides In addition, teachers could teach a lesson on math based on pages 94 and 95 about the shape and size of the combs. Finally, teachers can incorporate dance into instruction through this book based on the dance the bee describes.

No Need For Words!

2009-03-01T16:43:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

You Can't Take a Balloon Into The Metropolitan Museum

by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman and Robin Preiss Glasser

published by Dial Books for Young Readers, NY, 1998

Summary: "In this wordless story a young girl and her grandmother view works inside The Metropolitan Museum of Art, while the balloon she has been forced to leave outside floats around New York City causing a series of mishaps that mirror scenes in the museum's artworks."

Strengths: This beautifully illustrated, wordless picture book in comic format captivates readers of all ages. The important characters and pieces of art are brought to the readers' attention with color, while the background illulstrations are black and white. The connection between art and life are exquisitely portrayed through the traveling balloon and the art that the girl sees in the museum. Children reading the book may relate if they have been to the museum or the different places in New York.

Concerns: My only, very minimal, concern is that some aspects of the background, such as the plants, are illustrated in color, while other equally important elements are black and white. Although this is not a huge criticism, it does take away the consistency in the illustrations.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This would be a fun book to have in any elementary school classroom for children aged 5 and up. Teachers could have students learn more about the different art pieces portrayed in the book. Children could also select a piece of art and create their own representation of it in today's society. Because this is a book without words, students could practice story telling and writing by writing their own text. Finally, if a class is close enough to this museum to visit, teachers could use this book as a basis for a field trip to the museum or zoo.

Flashlights Work Wonders!

2009-03-01T16:26:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com (different language)

Scary Godmother

by Jill Thompson

published by Sirius Entertainment, NJ, 1997

Summary: "While trick-or-treating on Halloween night, Hannah Marie meets her ScaryGodmother and a host of creepy creatures."

Strengths: I liked the fun costumes and pictures that are combined with easy to read text. Children would be able to relate to both Hannah as the younger child who gets to be the hero and to the older children who either help or pick on Hannah. The characters are very funny and the comic book feel makes the story quick and easy to follow. Children who are scared of different elements of Halloween will find comfort in this fun story.

Concerns: Some parents may not approve of teaching about or emphasizing Halloween in school. In addition, I thought that it was sometimes difficult to see who was speaking based on the word bubbles. Finally, I thought it was a little strange that part of the book was very scientific with information about bats, but other parts were very imaginative with made-up monsters.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: If there is no problem with Halloween celebrations in your class or school, teachers can read this to their class as part of a science lesson on bats and bones. Through the book, a lot of information is given about bats and the skeleton sings the bone song, which is a fun way to add music to the lesson. Children ages 7 and up would identify with the older kids not being patient of the younger girl or with the younger child trying to be brave.

How To Get Out of Chores

2009-03-01T16:06:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

Meanwhile...

by Jules Feiffer

published by Harper Collins, 1997

Summary: A comic book lover escapes into adventures using the word meanwhile.

Strengths: Interesting, colorful, and dynamic illustrations combine with a very funny story to create a captivating piece with a comic-book feel. I find it interesting that the same motion of line depicting swords and bullet fire are used to depict the mother's yelling. This is a great book in which children can escape and use their imagination. Children will get very excited about what will happen next and can predict ways in which Raymond can write "meanwhile".

Concerns: Younger children may not understand the changes that occur with the word "meanwhile". Parents may be concerned with the violence portrayed in space, in the West, and on a pirate ship. (Parents also might be concerned that their children will write "meanwhile" on the walls where they can't see it!)

Classroom Use: This book would be great for children aged 7 and up. Teachers can use it as a way to introduce transition words. Children can also imagine their own story and write their own similar book.

A Calming Collection

2009-02-22T14:37:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

'Til All the Stars Have Fallen

selected by David Booth

illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton

published by the Penguin Group, England, 1989

Summary: A collection of poems about a variety of subjects for children.

Strengths: The diverse selection and beautiful illustrations create a excellent selection of poems to share with children. A wide variety of poems written in different styles are presented. Some of the poems are in different shapes and some include repetition. This provides an introduction to these styles for students and there is a wide selection of poems from which to choose. The illustrations are wistful and the combination of black and white illustrations with colored illustrations add to the fun and calming nature of the book. The students can relate to many of these poems.

Concerns: Some of the poems seem randomly assorted. For example, in the section titled "In Silent Snow", there is a poem about mosquitoes. However, in the introduction, Mr. Booth said that his poems were organized in a unique way. Some children may consider the pictures abstract because they are not like picture book pictures complimenting the text.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: Teachers can use these poems in the classroom by sharing them with students. My practicum teacher has been giving her class a poem a day as part of fluency practice. She reads the poem as they read along and then the whole class reads chorally. They look at different aspects of the poem. Teachers can have students pick a poem from this book and present it to the class or illustrate it. Children can also read this book for fun. Ages 8 and up.

Swirl and Whirl Away a Bad Day

2009-02-22T08:12:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

Mrs. Biddlebox

by Linda Smith

illustrated by Marla Frazee

published by Harper Collins, 2002

Summary: " With baking magic, Mrs. Biddlebox uses fog, dirt, sky, and other ingredients of a rotten day to transform it into a sweet cake."

Strengths: The dynamic illustrations and rhyming text make this book a memorable tale sure to change any bad day into a day full of laughter. Younger children will enjoy finding Mrs. Biddlebox's duck that is along for the adventure. The imagery and delightful pictures make this story a fun read. Children can imagine following Mrs. Biddlebox's actions in order to improve their own bad days.

Concerns: Students may not understand at first what exactly is being baked. Readers will need their imagination hats on!

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This book would be a great book to read aloud and to discuss rhyme. Only the second and fourth lines have an end rhyme, which is something that students can discuss. Children aged 4 and up would enjoy listening to the book and older students would be able to read this book on their own. This book could be a good introduction to imagery and figurative language. Children can write their own story about making something into a cake without using tangible, normal ingredients.

Annie in Action

2009-02-16T13:32:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

heartbeat

by Sharon Creech

published by Harpers Collins, NY, 2004

Summary: "Twelve year old Annie ponders the many rhythms of life the year that her mother becomes pregnant, her grandfather begins faltering, and her best friend (and running partner) becomes distant."

Strengths: I love the rhythm used in this book that definitely portrays the feeling of running and of a heart beating. The way this book is written makes it very unique and very catchy. The imagery used in Annie's class assignment of depicting an apple over time is very symbolic and adds a lot to the book. Students who have aging grandparents and students who will soon have a baby sibling can definitely relate to the main character. The relationship between Max and Annie as they run and help each other adds another interesting story line. I really like that this book encourages one to stay true to oneself, just as Annie stayed true to herself by not running on a team. (I also enjoyed that I could relate to the character through my name and passion for running!)

Concerns: Elementary school aged students may have difficulties relating to this book. The main character is 12 years old, so middle school aged students would probably really enjoy this book. Students need to be prepared to read this book in a different way because it is written as poetry. Without preparation, students may be very confused.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: Ages 9 and up. Teachers can use this book in the classroom to introduce footnotes through the parts of the book about learning footnotes. Students could read this book for fun or as a way to learn about use of poetry in books.

Relax in the Meadow

2009-02-16T12:59:00.000-08:00

pictures from amazon.com

Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow

written by Joyce Sidman

illustrated by Beth Krommes

published by Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 2006

Summary: The meadow is explored in the form of poetry and illustrations.

Strengths: The scratchboard illustrations in this book are intricate and unique designs that depict the meadow very well. I really like that the layout of the book gives children the opportunity to guess which animal is being described and that the layout of each poem is different. The illustrations also provide clues to the reader. Some of the poems, like those about the snake and the toad, are in the shapes of the animals, which adds a very fun twist. A few of the animals in the book may be unknown to students, so these poems and pictures are excellent ways of learning more about nature.

Concerns: Children may be confused reading this on their own without guidance of pronunciation and how to guess the animals. They may not want to read the information about the elements of the meadow and may just stick to reading the poems.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This book is an excellent tool in the classroom. Not only does it provide excellent examples of poetry, but it has information about animals and other elements of a meadow. The poetry also gives children an opportunity to guess which animal the poem is describing. Teachers can add art to lessons by learning more about the technique of scratchboard illustrations, which many students may enjoy. The book also includes a glossary, so that children can learn scientific terms and practice looking up words that they do not know. (Ages 8 and up)

A Day In Nature

2009-02-16T12:37:00.001-08:00

picture from amazon.com

Fireflies at Midnight

by Marilyn Singer

pictures by Ken Robbins

published by Atheneum Books for Younger Readers, NY, 2003

Summary: This is a collection of poems about animals depicted throughout one day.

Strengths: This collection provides a great connection between illustrations and text. I like that the book uses different types of poetry and does not consist only of rhymes. This book is very fun to read aloud and really tells a lot about each animal through poetry. The pictures are unique and provide different perspectives, like a close up image of a robin with a dog in the background at the bottom of a tree. My favorite poem in this selection is Otter, which provides a vivid depiction of an otter.

Concerns: My only concern was that I thought that some of the pictures were a little unusual and had grainy textures.

Classroom Use/ Other Comments: These poems would be great to read when teaching about animals. Each student could pick an animal and write a poem. A lot of vocabulary is also introduced and I think that the poems would be useful for teaching different parts of speech. Young children would enjoy hearing this book and older children would enjoy reading these poems. I think it is appropriate for ages 7-10.

More Travel Through Traditional Literature

2009-02-14T19:58:00.000-08:00

Paul Bunyan

retold and illustrated by Steven Kellogg

published by Morrow and Company, NY, 1984

Summary: Recounts the life of the extraordinary lumberjack whose unusual size and strength brought him many fantastic adventures.

picture from amazon.com

The tale of Paul Bunyan is well known to me after countless summers spent visiting Paul and Babe in Bemidji, Minnesota and screaming in a log chute on the Paul Bunyan ride at the Mall of America. The dynamic illustrations of this book provide details and compliment the easy-to-read sentences. This story would be great for teaching geography by giving students the opportunity to follow Paul's path and discover the tall tales of how different landmarks are made. For example, students could find the Grand Canyon when reading that it was made by Paul dragging his ax.

picture from amazon.com

Cendrillon

by Robert D. San Souci

illustrated by Brian Pinkney

published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, NY, 1998

Summary: A Creole variant of the familiar Cinderella tale set in the Caribbean and narrated by the godmother who helps Cendrillon find her true love.

The colorful and bright illustrations of clothes, landscape, and architecture in this book provide insight into the culture and landscape of the Caribbean. I really liked reading this traditional story from the perspective of the godmother and learning the history and connection between the godmother and Cendrillon. The French Creole words and phrases are explained and defined at the end of the book.

picture from amazon.com

The Way Meat Loves Salt
by Nina Jaffe
illustrated by Louise August
published by Henry Holt & Company, NY, 1998

Summary: In this Eastern European Jewish variant of the Cinderella story, the youngest daughter of a rabbi is sent away from home in disgrace, but thanks to the help of the prophet Elijah, marries the son of a renowned scholar and is reunited with her family. Includes words and music to a traditional Yiddish wedding song.

I love the use of white space on the pages of this book with blurry borders of different colors on white pages. I also really liked the patterns on the traditional clothes of the people in the story. The illustrations and words share a lot about traditional Jewish customs and traditions. I liked that this story was very different from the "Disney" version of Cinderella and that the boy left the wedding first.

Crossing the Wadi While Building Vocabulary

2009-02-10T11:37:00.000-08:00

Picture from amazon.com

Hosni the Dreamer

by Ehud Ben-Ezer

pictures by Uri Shulevitz

published by Harper Collins, Canada, 1997

Summary: "Hosni, a shepherd living in the desert, finally realizes his dream of traveling to the city where he spends his gold dinar in a way which changes his life forever."

Strengths: The beautiful illustrations in this picture book describing an Arabian tale provide a beautiful color palette of warm colors to remind the reader of the setting and culture. The illustrations, especially those in the city, provide insight into the lives of the people in the story with beautifu designs. I like that the story encourages individualism, travel, and adventures. The story also relays the important message that material things are not essential and that listening and knowledge are more important. In addition, the message that making fun of people leads to unfortunate circumstances.

Concerns: The story starts off with the word, sheikh, which students may not know. If they are reading on their own, they may be confused and concerned that they will not understand the story. Teachers should be sure to go over any of these vocabulary words before starting or make sure the students know that they can use context clues or a dictionary to look up any unknown words. In addition, some of the characters in the book drown, which may be a touchy subject in class, depending on the maturity of the students.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This book would be great for younger children, aged 4-8 as a book to which to listen and to possibly compare the city and the country. Older children, aged 8-10 could read this on their own as an examination of different traditional tales, as an exploration of different cultures, or just for fun. The story also introduces different vocabulary, like sheikh, pilaf, halvah, wadi, and dinar, which will expand the childrens' vocabularies.

Learning About the World Through Folktales

2009-02-10T09:47:00.000-08:00

I read a variety of traditional stories from different cultures around the world in addition to the other traditional literature books I described in other posts. The messages in these stories are universal, but the characters, settings, and illustrations provide a glimpse into different cultures, times, and places.

picture from amazon.com

The Rooster Who Went to His Uncle's Wedding
Retold by Alma Flor Ada
Illustrated by Kathleen Kuchera
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons, NY, 1993

Summary: "In this cumulative folktale from Latin America, the sun sets off a chain of events which results in the cleaning of Rooster's beak in time for his uncle's wedding."

This book would be a great book to read aloud to children aged 4-8. They will be able to catch on and help read as the rooster meets all of the different elements of nature in the story. The beautiful illustrations provided a glimpse into the colorful, bright, and tropical landscape of Latin America, possibly in Cuba, where the author first heard the story. The liveliness, dress, and props of the characters also show the reader some of the cultural traits of Latin America.

The Wise Old Woman
retold by Yoshiko Uchida
illustrated by Martin Springett
published by Macmillan Publishing, NY, 1994

Summary: "An old woman demonstrates the value of her age when she solves a warlord's three riddles and saves her village from destruction."

picture from amazon.com

The simple, but meaningful illustrations of this story show the reader the mountainous landscape and provides images of the people, animals, architecture, and nature of Japan. The story reveals the important Japanese message of respect for your elders and for wisdom. I really like how the pages are illustrated not only with a one page colorful illustration, but also with a solid color and black illustration of something else happening on that page of the story.

Picture from amazon.com

Mr. Semolina-Semolinus
retold by Anthony L. Manna and Christodoula Mitakidou
illustrated by Giselle Potter

published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, NY, 1997

Summary: Areti, a Greek princess, makes a man fit for her to love from almonds, sugar, and semolina, but when he is stolen away by a jealous queen, Areti searches the world for him.

The author includes in her note about the story information about similar stories from Mediterranean countries and explains that Areti means "virtue" in Greek. I loved the unique illustrations in this book that added a sense of comedy, while matching the words in a lovely way. The moon, sun, and stars whom Areti visits are beautifully illustrated and show the importance of astrology to Greek culture. The landscape and buildings show the diversity of Greece. The use of certain phrases seem to be unique and may be Greek translations, such as "One time in a time" and "...she took roads, she left roads, until she wore out the first pair of iron shoes." Finally, I really liked how the character of Mr. Semolina-Semolinus was more important than his beauty because his kindness was ten times above all others, but his beauty was only "five times above all others".

Storytelling Revival of the East Coast

2009-02-10T09:18:00.000-08:00

picture from amazon.com

Grandfather Tales: American English Folk Tales

collected and retold by Richard Chase

illustrated by Berkeley Williams, Jr.

published by Houghton Mifflin Company, Massachusetts, 1948

Summary: This book is a collection of traditional stories from North Carolina and Virginia meant to be read aloud and shared with children and adults.

Strengths: The stories in this book are very funny and provide a lot of information about the people of North Carolina through the dialect, dialogue, and story. The tradition of storytelling is emphasized throughout this book as an important way of sharing a culture. The characters in the stories are very distinct and have unique characteristics that make the stories exciting and interesting. I also like how the story includes some songs including the music, which can help students who are auditory learners and can add something different to a story.

Concerns: . I noticed that some of these illustrations do not fit with what is going on on that page. Beacuse it is not a picture book, it is not a huge concern, but may add some confusion to students. In addition, some of the words were written in a dialect, which may confuse students if it is not discussed and addressed properly before reading. I was also concerned with the content of some of the stories. Although the stories are not inappropriate, some, such as "Old Christmas Eve" may be considered too religious for school.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: I think that this book would be appropriate for older students, aged 10 and up, because of the dialect and unique stories told. This would be an excellent book to practice fluency. Students could work in groups to rehearse telling one of the stories and then present to the class. Teachers could also develop these stories into Reader's Theater, especially if there are stories with more than one character. For example, "Gallymanders! Gallymanders!" includes dialogue with the old woman, the two girls, the cow, the horse, and the peach tree. With practice, the students can put much expression and feeling into their presentations. This would also be an appropriate collection to compare traditional literature of different regions and to show how traditional literature provides insight into different cultures.

Building a Multicultural and Poetic Bridge

2009-02-03T06:43:00.000-08:00

I read and commented on a blog with information on a few books that received multicultural awards. I plan on reading these books along with the related books that the blog author recommends!

I was also greatly saddened by Ms. Vardell's posting of a moving poem and link to another blog commemorating two librarians, Kate McClelland and Kathy Krasniewicz, who passed away in a car accident in Denver. I would like to offer my condolences for the families and friends of these women, specifically Kyle Stetson and Lauren Glover. Take a moment to reflect on the impact librarians, family members, teachers, and friends have had on you.

School Librarian

By Kristine O’Connell George

Mrs. Thompson knows I love sad stories.

The books she lends me

come with

hidden bookmarks—

folded tissues tucked into

the sad parts.

From: George, Kristine O’Connell. 2002. Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems. New York: Clarion Books, p. 35.,

found on http://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com/

Do You Have Any Advice for Those of Us Just Starting Out?
Ron Koertge

Not surprisingly, libraries are a good place to write.
And the perfect place in a library is near an aisle
where a child a year or two old is playing as his
mother browses the ranks of the dead.
Often he will pull books from the bottom shelf.
The title, the author's name, the brooding photo
on the flap mean nothing. Red book on black, gray
book on brown, he builds a tower. And the higher
it gets, the wider he grins.

You who asked for advice, listen: When the tower
falls, be like that child. Laugh so loud everybody
in the world frowns and says, "Shhhh."

Then start again.

From: Koertge, Ron. 2006. Fever, 2006. California: Red Hen Press,

found on Carol's Corner and Poetry180

A Twist of Darkness in a Light Fairytale

2009-02-03T06:06:00.000-08:00

Picture from Amazon.com

Zel

by Donna Jo Napoli

published by Dutton Children's Books, New York, 1996

Summary: "Based on the fairy tale Rapunzel, the story is told in alternating chapters from the point of view of Zel, her mother, and the prince, and delves into the psychological motivation of the characters."

Strengths: This novel puts a definite twist on the story of Rapunzel by adding a variety of perspectives, enhancing the readers' insight into the events of the story. I thought that the story was very well written with much imagination. This is a story to which some students can relate if they feel they have an overbearing parent, feel suicidal or psychologically mad, feel trapped, or feel locked out of love. The nature of the story also urges the reader to continue reading to find out what will happen. For an appropriate age group and with guidance, this book can provide insight into the psychology and thoughts of different characters.

Concerns: This book had a dark and morose feel, with many religious, suicidal, and sexual overtones. I did not personally care for the change in tenses throughout the story because it seemed to put more emphasis on Mother, who was presented in first person and less emphasis on the Zel and Count Konrad, who were presented in third person.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This book would only be appropriate for older students, at least eighth grade or high school, depending on the maturity of the children. This story could be used as an individual reading activity or involve lessons on writing from different perspectives and points of view, as well as lessons on the difference between first and third person. Parents could possibly read this story with their older children to bring up conversations on feeling protective or on suicidal or sexual feelings.

Growing Plant Vocabulary

2009-02-02T19:01:00.000-08:00

Picture from Amazon.com

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf

by Lois Ehlert

published by Harcourt Inc, Florida, 1991

Summary: "A child describes the growth of a maple tree from seed to sapling."

Strengths: This book is beautifully illustrated with very unique depictions of nature. The pictures are very well coordinated with the words and show unique perspectives of the tree as it grows and moves. This book offers a unique perspective of how the tree grows from seedling and then is moved to the nursery. I think that children would be able to relate to the child narrator and the word choice is great for children learning to read. Many of the pictures are labeled with words describing parts of the picture, such as maple tree roots, garden glove, and Black-capped Chicadee, which promotes science vocabulary development. I also liked the bright background colors used on each double page spread. I also like how the illustrations involve different mediums, such as string, foil, twigs, and cut outs, which allow the pictures to stand out.

Concerns: The book does not have a very moving plot, but does have a story described by a child to whom the student can relate.

Classroom Use/Other Comments: This book would be great for children aged 4 to 8, depending on the use of the book. Younger children could use this book as they are learning to read, as they develop their vocabulary, and as they learn about plants and seasons. A recipe and directions for making a bird treat is located at the back of the book, which would be a fun activity for children. Older children can use this book to learn about the process of tree growth and observation, as a lesson integrating literature with science. The end of the book also has a lot of information about different elements of maple trees, which can be useful for older students.

Patterns Galore

2009-01-27T08:16:00.000-08:00

I read about a great book about animals, shapes, and patterns on another blog, check out my comment!

A Tear for a Red Balloon

2009-01-26T19:28:00.000-08:00

Picture from Amazon.com

My Red Balloon

by Eve Bunting

illustrated by Kay Life

published by Boyds Mills Press, Pennsylvania, 2005

Summary: "A young boy waits with both excitement and apprehension for his father to disembark from the aircraft carrier returning to port after many months at sea."

Strengths: This picture book is full of emotion and provides realistic images that correlate with the realistic story. I liked that the people in the book were diverse and that the story explicitly stated that a father was waiting for a daughter as opposed to a son, which helps children understand that both men and women serve in the military. Children who are read this story that are at the same age as the boy will definitely relate to the way he talks and how he is feeling.

Concerns: The topic of this story could be a touchy subject for children whose parents are serving in the military and are not coming home very soon. The story may create sad emotions, which is okay if the class is mature enough to have a discussion of that nature.

Classroom use/ Other comments: Teachers could read this story for children to consider the military and the lives of families in the military. Teachers can suggest this book to older children who have parents in the military to read individually or with a parent at home. This book could be used as a tie into a community service project of writing letters to men and women in the military. This book is useful for children ages 4-8.

Chuckles for the Chicken Chaser

2009-01-26T18:27:00.001-08:00

Picture from Amazon.com

The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County

written by Janice N. Harrington

pictures by Shelley Jackson

published by Farrar, Straus and Girous, New York, 2007

Summary: "A young farm girl tries to catch her favorite chicken, until she learns something about the hen that makes her change her ways."

Strengths: This picture book contains beautiful illustrations with a hilarious, but thoughtful message to which children can surely relate. I enjoy the variety of materials, such as cloth, buttons, paper, and letter cut-outs, used in the illustrations. This variety of materials provides texture and depth to the page which draws in the reader. The storyline in this book has an obvious plot of the "Chicken Chasing Queen" trying to catch her favorite hen. The ending adds a surprise and lesson that will delight readers. The characters have very distinct personalities and their thoughts and ideas provide much amusement. One of my favorite parts of the story is when the main character of the story pretends that she is a chicken so that they will not notice her and shares her thoughts of what a chicken thinks.

Concerns: Although I really enjoyed the story because of the unique illustrations, children may have difficulties reading the words that are cut-out and colorful, like some of the chicken sayings, because they do not standing out over the illustrations.

Classroom use/Other Comments: This book can be read to children as a fun and silly story to teach students about why things may not be as they appear. The students can also discuss self to text connections about when they discover something and then change their behavior or when they don't do what their parents tell them to do. The story uses many noises that the chickens "say", like "pruck", "squawk", and "pee-o", which can help students learn the relationship of sounds and words. I think this story would be good as a Reader's Theater project for children to create with the characters of the main character and Big Mama. This story could also be used as an art project and lesson for practice using different types of fabric and material in illustrations. Children aged 4-10 would enjoy this book.

Warmth in a Grimm's Classic

2009-01-25T10:51:00.000-08:00

Picture from Amazon.com

Little Red Riding Hood

by Jerry Pinkney

Published by Little, Brown and Company, New York, 2007

Summary: "A sweet little girl meets a hungry wolf in the forest while on her way to visit her grandmother."

Strengths: This picture book is beautifully illustrated with warm colors and detailed, delicate depictions. The people, animals, and nature in the book are presented with many colors and the pictures lure in the reader. Although the story of Little Red Riding Hood is well known, this book enthralls the reader with the illustrations, which correlate well with the words. I like the way that the illustrations are drawn from a variety of views: above, close up, far away, and looking into the house. The descriptive words in this book are a great introduction to new vocabulary, such as "cunning wolf", "frail voice", "crafty scoundrel".

Concerns: This classic story has some complicated or considerably negative elements, such as the grandmother and Little Red Riding Hood being eaten and the wolf being killed. In addition, students may be bored with the book if they already know the story.

Classroom use/Other Comments: This story can be compared to other versions of Little Red Riding Hood and spoofs on Little Red Riding Hood or can be used to teach about the importance of not talking to strangers. In addition, this story could be read and then acted out by the students to practice sequence of events. Teachers can also have students learn about adjectives through this book and have students write their own descriptive sentences. Children aged 4-8 would enjoy this book for these purposes, but all ages can appreciate the illustrations.

So Much Learning, So Few Words

2009-01-25T08:54:00.001-08:00

Picture from Amazon.com

Anno's Counting Book

by Mitsumasa Anno

Published by Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York, 1975

Summary: "Introduces counting and number systems by showing mathematical relationships in nature."

Strengths: This wordless, but simply and meaningfully illustrated book provides a wonderful visual and basis for learning or reinforcing number knowledge. Each spread shows a scene on a hillside with different objects, such as children, buildings, and trees, which are all in sets of the number on which that page focuses. I like that all of the sets of objects are not placed together, but that you need to look around and count all of the objects in each set. Each number also is expressed numerically and then with blocks, so that children can count the blocks and visualize how many a certain number is in comparison to a larger number. The book also shows the changing seasons and the development of a town throughout a year. Children may even notice that the number also corresponds to the month in which the picture takes place. I also really like how the clock on the church steeple shows the time based on the number of the page, so when there are sets of three on the page, the clock shows that it is three o'clock.

Concerns: This book needs to be used in a specific context because it does not have words or a plot. Children may wonder about certain things not being in sets of the number on the page, like the number of windows not corresponding to the number because the focus is on the number of buildings.

Classroom Use/Other comments: This is a great book to learn about "one to one correspondences", which the author mentions at the end of the book along with other instructional information. Children will enjoy finding each set of objects and this is a great integration of math. Teachers can have children write a story to go along with the story in order to provide a context for writing. Children can read this individually to practice counting and to work on their observation skills. This book would be enjoyed by all ages, but would be great for children learning to count, around ages 3-7.

A Japanese Lesson of Keepsakes, Helping, and Listening to Your Parents

2009-01-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Picture from Amazon.com The Silver Charm

by Robert D. San Souci

illustrated by Yoriko Ito

published by Random House Children's Books, New York, 2002

Summary: "In this folktale from Japan's Ainu people, a pet puppy and fox retrieve their young master's good luck charm from the ogre who has stolen it."

Strengths: This beautifully illustrated picture book has drawn from the Ainu culture and has realistic, but mystical pictures that emphasize nature. Each page has an intricate border on the top of each page, which brings all of the pages together. I like how the story integrates Japanese words and designs, so children reading the book can learn about a different culture. The pet puppy and fox and their new friend the mouse are a great part of the story that provide an element of protection and fun. The story delivers a good message about following directions, losing keepsakes, and the nature of helping. I especially enjoyed the part of the story when the fox and puppy don't eat the mouse and then the mouse helps them to get the charm for the boy using a magic spell. The combination of fantasy and reality allows children to use their imagination.

Concerns: The children, teachers, and parents reading this story should be aware that when the child, Satsu, goes out on his own, he meets a fairly scary-looking ogre and then gets very sick with the threat of death. Children may be confused about the animals talking and the animals changing to human form if they are not aware that the story is a folktale.

Classroom use/Other comments: This story would be a great way to learn about the Japanese culture, through the illustrations, story, and Japanese words. Culture can be taught through the word choice in the story, as can be seen in the sentence "The charm was a tiny silver ship, with masts no thicker than a bamboo sliver and sails as thin as rice paper (n.p.)". This book could also be used to teach about family heirlooms and keepsakes. Children aged 4-8 would enjoy this book.