Tutto Va Benne

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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

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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"

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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!

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!

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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

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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

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)

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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!

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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

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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

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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"

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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!

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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

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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.