Project Mulberry

Project Mulberry
Linda Sue Park

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: Realistic Fiction (Multicultural Literature)

Project Mulberry tells the story of two best friends, Julia and Patrick. They are both members of the Wiggle Club, which teaches kids about farming, and were just getting started on the annual project for the state fair. Julia and Patrick decided to do a project on Animal Husbandry, but were having problems deciding on which animal to use. Finally, it is Julia's mom who suggests the idea of raising silkworms. She told the kids her grandmother used to raise them in Korea and harvested their silk to use as thread to make things. While Patrick loves the idea, Julia has problems with it - she felt it was too Korean, that projects done for the Wiggle Club needed to be "American". Julia struggles internally with continuing with the project, trying to find secret ways to sabotage it without seeming suspicious. Ultimately, Julia learns the value of friendship, and just how American raising silk worms really is.

The element of this book that I really enjoy is the way Linda Sue Park actually incorporates dialogue between herself and the character of Julia. She does this in between each chapter, and lets the reader in on little bits of information about how she crafted the book, what parts of the book are biographical, and how important the role of Julia is in guiding the plot. Also, if the reader is not interested in that aspect of the book, they can totally skip it and it has no impact on the reading of the original story. I also think it is a powerful point when Julia learns that what she thought was "too Korean" really turns out to be something that is just as American as growing corn or raising cattle. It really shows the integration of ethnicity is the framework for what is American. I would recommend this book for reading in the fifth through eighth grade classrooms.

The Year of the Rat

The Year of the Rat
Grace Lin

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Fiction (Multicultural Literature)

The Year of the Rat is the sequel to Grace Lin's award winning, The Year of the Dog. In this story, Pacy is celebrating the Chinese New Year with her family and her best friend, Melody. Pacy and Melody learn that the Year of the Rat means that it is going to be a year of changes. The first change Pacy encounters is the possibility of her best friend moving away, then struggles with continuing with her life-long dream of being a writer and illustrator, and even learns that she has flaws of her own that she needs to change. In this novel, Pacy is forced to deal with prejudice, struggles with acceptance and learns to accept the changes that are inevitable.

Although I have never read The Year of the Dog, I really liked Lin's The Year of the Rat. I enjoyed all of the "stories within the story" which explained many traditions in Chinese culture; bringing a deeper understanding to some of the situations the characters face in the book. Students in fifth through eighth grade will easily enjoy this book, relating to some of the issues that Pacy has to face, while learning some interesting things about Chinese culture.

Grandfather's Journey

Grandfather's Journey
Allen Say

Genre: Non-Fiction (multicultural literature)

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Allen Say's story recounts his grandfather's life in both Japan and America. His grandfather moves to California from Japan and falls in love with the New Word's natural wonders. As his grandfather ages, he begins to miss his friends and family back in Japan and moves back. In Japan, he marries his childhood sweetheart and brings her back to San Francisco Bay and together they have a daughter. When his daughter is nearly grown, his longing for his homeland returns, and the family moves back to Japan. In Japan, the daughter falls in love and is married, and sometime later, Allen Say was born. Allen grows up in Japan, and loves to hear his grandfather tell his stories about life in California. When Allen is a young man, he finally travels to California and falls in love with the land of his grandfather's stories. Eventually, we learn that no matter which country he is in, Say becomes homesick for the other, and through this experience he comes to understand the struggles of a cross cultural existence.

I had to read this story a couple of times to keep track of who was who, and where the setting was. Despite the confusion, I really enjoyed Allen Say's story. Say carefully chooses words which capture his family's history, yet any person who has a shared experience can relate. The illustrations are reminiscent of an old family album and add to the personal element of the story. I feel children who have moved to this country from another can find a special connection with Allen Say and his grandfather in this book.

And Tango Makes Three

And Tango Makes Three
Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
illustrated by Henry Cole

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: Non-fiction (banned or challenged book)

And Tango Makes Three retells the true story of two chinstrap penguins who are residents at New York City's Central Park Zoo, Roy and Silo. This story introduces children to the concept that not all families are alike. What is unique about Roy and Silo is the fact that they are both males and in a penguin "relationship". Roy and Silo interact with one another in the same ways a male and female penguin would; the only thing that they couldn't do was to have a baby. One day, their keeper Mr. Gramzay, decides that Roy and Silo would make great parents for an orphaned egg. Roy and Silo do a wonderful job caring for the egg, and raising their baby, Tango.

While I don't agree with the reasoning behind challenging this book, I am not sure whether I would recommend this book for general use in the classroom. However, I think it would be a great addition to a school library's shelves. If a teacher has a student who is dealing with the familial issues prevalent in this book, I think And Tango Makes Three would be an excellent resource for that student. Overall, a wonderful retelling of true events that can be useful for sudents who are struggling with the concepts of "different" families.

My People

My People
Langston Hughes
photography by Charles R. Smith Jr.

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: Poetry (single poem illustrated)

The poem, My People, by renowned poet Langston Hughes has been a treasured piece of literature for generations. While the poem is simple, its simplicity is what gives it its powerful message. Langston Hughes wrote the poem in the 1920s, during the height of racism in this country. I think the goal of this poem is to convey the natural beauty of African Americans, and celebrate the diversity that exists within black people as it exists in nature.

Photographer Charles R. Smith recently took the poem by Langston Hughes, and paired it with sepia photographs which he felt expressed pictorially the message Hughes expressed in words. The photos are exquisite and provide a dynamic juxtaposition with the simply stated poem. Smith states, "To me, the words celebrate black people of differing shades and age, so I wanted to show skin color as bright as the sun and as dark as the night; I wanted to show the newness of a newborn smile and the wisdom of the wrinkled skin. But, more than anything, I simply wanted to show that like any other group of people, black people come in all shapes, sizes, shades, and ages, and that each of us is unique."

I would recommend this illustrated poem for early elementary classrooms. It is a powerful poem that provides a positive message. Charles R. Smith has taken a timeless poem and modernized it for today's students. It is a wonderful piece to introduce students to African American poets like Langston Hughes and to the genre of poetry as a whole.

A Family of Poems

A Family of Poems
A Children's Poetry Anthology
comprised by Caroline Kennedy
illustrated by Jon J. Muth

Caroline Kennedy was inspired to publish her own collection of favorite children's poems after the success of publishing her mother's, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, best loved poems. In the introduction, Kennedy explains the importance of introducing poetry to children early on in their lives. There is the misconception that poetry is hard to understand, solitary and boring. Kennedy's collection of poems will appeal to the youngest of readers, and help them to connect feelings with words. She conveys that poetry is place to turn to understand the world, and out place within it. Kennedy categorizes the poems which reflect the important things at the center of child's universe: About Me, That's so Silly!, Animals, The Seasons, The Seashore, Adventure and Bedtime. Each section even has a personal introduction from Caroline Kennedy herself, explaining different elements and intricicies of poetry.

I highly recommend this anthology of poetry for any elementary classroom. Carolie Kennedy's love for poetry and the power if holds is boldly transferred into the pages of this book. These poems are ones that have stayed with her for a lifetime. There are over one hundred poems from five continents. Caroline Kennedy understand the profound influence poetry can have on a young life, which is why I value and respect her choices in this anthology. A wonderful piece of literature for any teacher to own.

Black Stars in a White Sky

Black Stars in a White Sky
Jon Arno Lawson
illustrated by Sherwin Tjia

Genre: Poetry (Single Poet Collection)

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Lawson's book of poetry, Black Stars in a White Sky, accomplishes just what the title suggests: a new perspective on the world and on life. In addition to exploring themes such as love, conformity and honesty, Lawson explores the boundaries of language. His ability to take words and virtually turn them inside out and upside down add dimension to his already humorous poems. The imagery Lawson uses is inventive and imaginative. He not only uses imagery in the traditional sense, he uses the actual structure of the poem to convey meaning. I also really enjoyed Lawson's explanation of inspiration for some of his poems in the back of the book. Students can read these poems and realize poetry is a free form of writing, that anything they think can be translated into poetry; that is can be fun and unstructured and still be effective. Students will devour these poems and may even learn some lessons along the way. I would recommend this book of poetry to students in sixth through eighth grade.

"The Snakes Advice, or Advice
from Snake to Protohuman"

Don't forfeit four feet
unless you get more feet,
no don't forfeit four feet
for two.

For once you're up and standing
the world's more demanding-
slide down on your turn
and glide through.

"Love"

She came round the corner and
all of a sudden
I understood it:

All love is sudden.

"Hummingbird"

Hummingbird's tumbling,
hummingbird's lunging,
sunlit fruit's luring-
humingbird's
P
L
U
N
G
I
N
G
!

My Side of the Story: Escape From War

My Side of the Story: Escape from War
James Riordan

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Historical Fiction/Secondary

Riordan's, My Side of the Story, is a specific type of book called a flip-book. It is two books combined together as one and the two narratives are parallel, telling interconnected stories of Frank, an English boy and Hannah, a Jewish-German girl. The stories chronicle the hardships both children face during World War II. When Germany begins to bomb London, and it is no longer safe for Frank and his sister Violet, their mother ships them off to the country-side to live with Mrs. Pattaway, a widowed woman who feels it is her Christian duty to take in the children and watch over them until the war has ended. Mrs. Pattaway also has taken in Hannah, whose mother has also sent her away from Germany and the danger of Hitler and the Nazi regime.

The two stories reflect the misunderstandings both children have about one another and their respective countries, especially Frank's latent antisemitism. While the characters play an important role in the movement of the stories, the actual historical events of World War II seem to drive the plot. Riordan crafts both stories rather well. The reader is instructed to read Frank's side of the story first, and he intentionally leaves holes in the plot which then are filled in when reading Hanna's side of the story. It works well to create one cohesive story after both sides are read. I would recommend this book to students in fifth through eighth grade studying World War II. While it cannot be used as a reference book persay, it does work well as a literary piece to accompany what students will learn from a text book. It also works well for language arts when discussing how authors use point of view. Overall, a great concept which provides srudents with a look into a historical time period from a point of view other than that of America.

Marching to the Civil War: Drummer Boy

Drummer Boy:
Marching to the Beat of the Civil War
Ann Turner
illustrated by Mark Hess

My Rating: 2 out of 5

Genre: Historical Fiction/Primary

Drummer Boy, is a story of a thirteen-year-old boy who is inspired, after the visit of President Abraham Lincoln to his town and listening to him speak, to join the military as a drummer boy. Even though he was two years too young, he was sent to training camp. Soon, he was alongside soldiers fighting in the Civil War and we follow him and his stories of battle.

Drummer Boy is, a picture book which introduces the Civil War to students. While students may enjoy the story the book tells, I think the concepts introduced are too complex for the intended audience, first and second grade students. The character development is jarring, the boy is excited and proud throughout the book, and suddenly on the last page he is a bitter Civil War Soldier. There is a mention of the boy's distaste for slavery, but it seems forced, and even the picture which accompanies the text is dark and muddled in contrast with the rest of the stories brightly detailed illustrations. Overall, the boy is very two-dimensional and is not developed very well.

Keeker and the Sugar Shack

Keeker and the Sugar Shack
Hadley Higginson
illustrated by Maja Anderson

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Primary

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Keeker and the Sugar Shack is book two in the Sneaky Pony Series by Hadley Higginson. The main character is spunky little Catherine Corey Keegan Dana - but everyone just calls her Keeker. Keeker is almost ten, and she owns a pony named Plum, who is almost nine. In this book, Keeker learns and old woman has actually moved into the old Crab Apple Hill Farm. Keeker just can't imagine why an old lady would want to move into the old, dilapidated building and feels she has to investigate. Keeker eventually decides the new neighbor must be a witch. Keeker winds up embarrassing herself in the process of her spying, and ultimately learns not to judge a book by its cover.

The Sneaky Pony series is ideal for first through third graders. The series is skewed towards girls, but the adventures are so comical that boys can enjoy them as well - they probably just wouldn't be seen reading them independently! Like the Junie B. Jones series, the Sneaky Pony series are great beginning chapter books, and will encourage reading for students who are growing out of picture books. There is nothing exceptional about these books, but young girls will love to read about Keeker and her silly adventures.

Poe Park

Poe Park
Agnes Martinez

My Rating: 3 out of 5

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Secondary

Martinez's novel, Poe Park, takes place in the Bronx, New York and is narrated by eleven-year-old Enoch. Although Enoch is surrounded by drugs and crime, he could not be happier with life: he has just finished fifth grade and is off to middle school, he is about to celebrate his eleventh birthday, and is planning how he and his best friend, Spencer, are going to spend their summer. Just as their summer is getting started, Spencer is shot and killed. Enoch spends the rest of his summer trying to cope with the pain and anger associated with the loss of his best friend. Compounding his anger and confusion is the realization his best friend was involved in drug running and his older half brother is coming from Puerto Rico to live with he and his mom.

The only element I did not care for in this novel was the lack of development in both the secondary characters and the subplots. The introspective narrative style of the story lead to a lot of "telling" by the author as opposed to "showing", and left a lot to be desired. Overall, an accessable piece of Hispanic American literature with which some students may find a connection.

The City of Ember

The City of Ember
Jeanne DuPrau

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: Science Fiction/Secondary

DuPrau's The City of Ember is post-apocalyptic story about the man-made, self-contained city named Ember. Ember was built 240 years ago by "builders," and its current residents view the city as "the only light in a dark world." Ember's supplies come from large store rooms and a few greenhouses, and they are running low. Its electrical system, providing the only light in the city, comes from an ancient hydro-powered generator below the city in the underground Pipeworks and it is worsening; the city is suffering from blackouts that begin to occur more frequently and for longer periods of time. The main characters, Lina and Doon think there has to be some way to escape the dying city. It is not until one day, when Lina comes across a hidden piece of parchment containing some sort of "instructions" that their adventures to find an escape begin.

The City of Ember, is an engrossing read recommended for students at the middle school level. The setting of the story, while dark and bleak in nature, is brilliantly illustrated through DuPrau's keen use of description. The main characters are appealing, and it is easy for anyone to become immediately attached to them. It is my opinion that this is a novel best used for introducing students to the science fiction genre. For students who read nothing but science fiction and post-apacolyptic novels, the premise of this story is nothing new, it is an accessable plot that can be enjoyed by the majority of students. It can be used in the classroom when thinking about utopian societies and the realities of such places. Also, students can be challenged to think about how they would set up their own ordered society if they were called to do so. Overall, a fun and fscinating read that will have students begging to read the sequel, The People of Spark.

Cinderella versus Cinderella Skeleton

Cinderella
Susan Jeffers

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: Fairy Tale

Cinderella is the classic fairy tale of a lowly servant girl who is magically transformed into a stunning princess through the help of her Fairy God Mother, just in time for the palace ball. Cinderella was originally forbidden to attend the ball by her evil step mother, and had to watch sadly as her evil step sisters got dressed up and left her alone to clean the house. Brought on by Cinderella's tears, her Fairy Godmother appears and magically provides Cinderella with all that she needs to attend the ball, with the warning that she had to return home by the stroke of midnight because the magic spell would break and everything would return to normal. In her haste to return home before midnight, Cinderella loses her glass slipper which the Prince promptly retrieves and uses to find his true love. He finds Cinderella and they marry, living happily ever after.

Cinderella is character whom students can look up to and admire as someone who is true to they are, no matter what the circumstances are. Cinderella treats everyone with kindness and understanding, no matter how mean and nasty they are. The tale is an obvious choice when introducing the genre of fairy tale to elementary age students. I liked this particular retelling because stays true to the original tale and the illustrations are beautiful and bring the story to life making it a perfect version to read aloud to students.

Cinderella Skeleton
Robert D. San Souci
illustrated by David Catrow

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: Fractured Fairy Tale

Cinderella Skeleton is virtually the same classic Cinderella story, only it is told in rhyme and from the point of view of a skeleton! The setting is vastly different in that it takes place in a decrepit graveyard, Boneyard Acres. Cinderella Skeleton faces the same woes as the original Cinderella; a servant girl living with an evil step mother and step sisters whose only wish is to go the ball. However, in this tale, the Fairy Godmother doesn't go to Cinderella Skeleton, Cinderella Skeleton seeks her out - and she isn't a fairy, she's a witch. The events following are the same as the original Cinderella story, except when she flees from the ball, the prince catches her by the foot and pulls her whole foot off, and not just the slipper! Prince Charnel makes the same vow that the original prince makes, and searches everywhere for the skeleton whose ankle would fit the slippered foot. Prince Charnel eventually makes it to Cinderella Skeleton's mausoleum and finds that the foot belongs to her! Prince Charnel and Cinderella Skeleton live happily ever after, and her three step sisters shriveled with envy and shrank to dust.

Cinderella Skeleton sends the same message as the original Cinderella, however, it is slightly hidden behind graveyards and skeletons. I recommend sharing this version with students for several reasons. First, it is a wonderful piece to show children how the same fairy tale can be retold in different ways and still contain the original elements of the traditional tale. This story can be used with older students as a basis for a writing assignment; students can write their own fractured fairy tale after a comparison and contrast activity with this book. The haunting illustrations make this a great read aloud, especially around Halloween! Overall, one of the better alternate versions of Cinderella that will appeal to boys and girls alike.

One-Eye! Two Eyes! Three-Eyes! A Very Grimm Fairy Tale

One-Eye! Two-Eyes! Three-Eyes!
A Very Grimm Fairy Tale
told by Aaron Shepard
illustrated by Gary Clement

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: Fairy Tale

Aaron Shepard's retelling if the original Brothers Grimm fairy tale, One-Eye! Two-Eyes! Three Eyes!, is a fun to read story about a girl named Two-Eyes and her nasty sisters, One-Eye and Three-Eyes. The three sisters live live alone in a cottage in the woods. Two-Eyes has a miserable life living with her sisters, who constantly make fun of her for only having two eyes. Two-Eyes couldn't help but feel despair and loneliness. However, through the help of a mysterious old woman whom Two-Eyes meets in a meadow, a goat, some magical verses and a handsome knight, Two-Eyes learns to accept herself and finds she is not alone as she once believed she was.

One-Eye! Two-Eyes! Three-Eyes! explores the thematic extremes which are frequently present in the fairy tale genre: want and reward, powerlessness and power, and reversal of fortunes. This tale is a great choice for the discussion of fairy tales in the elementary classroom. It makes a nice alternative to the story of Cinderella and a comparison with the Grimm brothers’ version of the same tale would bring up telling differences. The illustrations are comical and quirky which add to the pleasure of reading this tale aloud to students. Shepard does a great job updating this classic fairy tale and makes it relevant for today's students.

Annie Christmas

Annie Christmas
told by Virginia Hamilton
illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: African American Folktale

Annie Christmas is an African American Folktale, published in Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales and True Tales. Annie Christmas is a familiar figure in the state of Louisiana. She is larger than life, described as being coal black and tree tall, standing seven feet barefoot and weighing 299 pounds - the biggest woman in the state of Louisiana. She is a keel boat operator on the Mississippi and is as mean as they come.

This story begins with Annie and her friends enjoying a girls' night on the river, and ends with the broken heart of Annie Christmas herself. She falls in love with the captain of a paddle boat, and when she asks for a hug - she is rudely rejected. Angry and broken-hearted, Annie curses the captain, goes back out on the river and throws herself overboard. Annie was never heard or seen again. Consequently, neither was the captain of the paddle boat, but it is said he haunts the Mississippi River. To this day, you can hear him cursing the bad weather on nights full of rain and darkness. As for Annie, it is said that her sons found her body washed up on shore. Her sons boarded the barge with their mother in a coffin and vanished from sight forever. It is said Annie Christmas is still on the Mississippi River. The black barge emerges from the mist, with her twelve sons aboard and Annie is sitting atop her wooden grave, singing a river tune to the thundering sky.

I would recommend this story, along with the book it is published within, for fourth and fifth grade classrooms for the study of folktales and multicultural literature. Virginia Hamilton is a wonderful author, having won many awards for her literary work. The illustrations are beautiful and add so much depth to the stories. Annie Christmas is a wonderful example of an African American folktale, and demonstrates how the same character is seen across cultures. Students can compare and contrast the African American version of Annie Christmas with those of other cultures, the Irish version, for example. Overall, I think this collection would be a wonderful addition to any classroom library.

The Legend of Slappy Hooper

The Legend of Slappy Hooper
Retold by Aaron Shepard
illustrated by Toni Goffe

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: American Tall Tale

Slappy Hooper is the "World's biggest, fastest, and bestest sign painter". In fact, his paintings are so good that people thought they were too good! The signs he paints come to life and wreak havoc on his little town. After a few of these incidents, people decided they weren't going to hire Slappy anymore and he decides to climb to the top highest bridge and throw his painting supplies into the river. Just as he was about to hoist his supplies over the bridge, an angel stops him and tells him The Boss likes his work and has a few jobs for him to do. First, Slappy is responsible for painting a rainbow in the sky. To his surprise, Michael said The Boss loves it and wants him to do a bigger job. The Boss wants Slappy to take over the responsibility of painting the sunrise and the sunset, as he had been doing it since the dawn of time and was growing rather tired. Slappy was more than happy to oblige, and has been up in the sky ever since - painting gorgeous sunrises and sunsets that are never too good.

I would recommend this tall tale to students in second and third grade. It is a great story to tell in leu of the traditional American tall tales such as Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill. Students will appreciate Slappy Hooper as loveable guy who just wants to paint, and eventually finds his place.

Magic Pickle

Magic Pickle
Scott Morse

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Graphic Novel

Magic Pickle is the hilarious tale of the accidental experiment by world-renowned scientist, Dr. Jekyll Formaldehyde, who one day (in 1951) drops a pickle from his lunch into the path of an experimental particle confabulator. The molecular structure of the pickle was altered and enhanced, and a new muscular, intelligent, talking pickle was created! At a failed attempt to recreate super-strength vegetables, Dr. Formaldehyde only creates super-strength veggies that are rotten and evil! The newly created brotherhood of rotten produce escape into the world, and disappear into hiding. Dr. Formaldehyde decides the only way to one day effectively combat the evil produce once they are found is to put Weapon Kosher into a cryogenic sleep so his powers can be supercharged. Over fifty years later, Weapon Kosher is awakened and crashes through the floorboards of preteen Jo Jo Wigman's room. JoJo is a typical school girl who has best friends and mortal enemies. Both are confused and surprised by one another's presence, but eventually come to accept one another, and work together to capture the evil produce.

Magic Pickle is first in a series of graphic novels by Scott Morse which chronicle the adventures of Jo Jo and her superhero pickle. I think Magic Pickle, is a great series for students in fifth grade through eight grade. The quirky dialogue and endless supply of puns in combination with the fun, elastic illustrations make this a fun read for middle-grade readers. The graphic novel is a relatively new genre to have in the classroom. It is appealing to readers of all levels because of it modern, comic book style along with limited words on the page. It is a great way to get reluctant readers interested in reading.

The Doorbell Rang

The Doorbell Rang
Pat Hutchins

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Picture Book
(lesson plan)

In Pat Hutchins's The Doorbell Rang, brother and sister Victoria and Sam find themselves in quite the predicament. Their mother bakes them a dozen cookies and tells them they can share them between themselves. Just as they figure out how many each will get, the doorbell rings and in walks their next door neighbors. Max and Victoria then have to share the twelve cookies equally between four people. This pattern continues until Victoria and Sam have to share the cookies equally among twelve people...and the doorbell rings again...and again! Nobody wants to open the door because there are no more cookies to share. They even thought about eating all of the cookies before opening the door! Finally, they decide the right thing to do is to open the door and share the cookies the best they can, and to their surprise, the person at the door turns out to be none other than their grandmother with more cookies!

I would recommend this book as a read aloud for Kindergarten and first grade. I liked it because it provides a great lesson in sharing and doing the right thing. I would also recommend this book for second and third graders as an introduction to division by equal sharing. The students can follow along with manipulatives of their own to represent the cookies, and as the teacher reads the book, students can be actively engaged in finding the answer to how many cookies each person would get. Hutchins' book can perform double duty in the classroom making a great addition to the classroom library.

Tuesday

Tuesday
David Wiesner

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: Fiction/Wordless Picture Book

Tuesday, by David Weisner, is a captivating picture book which relies solely on the imagination of the reader. The only words to guide the reader are the date and time of when the events take place.

It is around eight o'clock on Tuesday evening when the journey begins. Paneled pictures reveal it is nightfall on the banks of a sleepy pond. Turn the page, and suddenly frogs are taking flight on lily pads! With every turn of the page, the reader accompanies the frogs on their nighttime flying adventures through the neighborhood. Finally, around 4:38 in the morning, the frogs collide with a tree and come tumbling to the ground, managing to hop their way back to the pond. The next morning, police and ambulances are gathered in the streets, trying to make heads or tails of the mysterious lily pads littering the streets. The reader is left with this final image: Next Tuesday, 7:58 p.m. - a large barnyard reflects the shadow of a pig lifting off the ground and with a turn of the page, all of the pigs are taking flight!

I really enjoyed David Weisner's picture book, Tuesday, because it works on so many levels. I would recommend this book for students from kindergarten through seventh grade. First, it is great for early readers due to the minimal words. The beautifully detailed illustrations are enough to engross readers and challenge their imaginations. This book can also be used with older readers to encourage writing. Since there are no words, students can each make up their own stories to accompany the pictures. This is an especially helpful tool to use with students who struggle with coming up with their own ideas for writing.

Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth

Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth
Barbara Park

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Fiction/Beginning Chapter Books

In the third of Park's series, it's career day in Room 9! Junie B. and her class are excited to meet police officers and dentists, and even more excited when they get to pick their very own careers. Of course, Junie B. gets a little too excited and shoots of her mouth during the presentations and winds up getting in trouble. Thus, begins the beginning of a very rough week for Junie B. While all of her classmates seem to know exactly what career to pick, Junie B has no idea! On the way home, all of the kids on her bus that are in Room 9 chatter with excitement about their potential careers. Junie B. tries to join in, copying everyone else's job, until a boy named Jim calls her out for being a copy cat. Junie B. quickly makes up a job that doesn't quite make sense, and Jim continues to make fun of her. Junie B. gets angry at herself and her big fat mouth.

I highly recommend the Junie B series for first through third grade classrooms. Readers will have a blast following Junie B. on her adventures, and will even learn a few lessons along the way! The Junie B. Jones series is a wonderful series for readers of all level. Park's series is so funny that even older readers will get a kick out of reading Junie B. Jones.

Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business

Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business
Barbara Park

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Fiction/First chapter book

There is going to be a new baby in the family, and Junie B. is not thrilled. She thinks babies are stinky messes, and doesn't see what the big deal is. Junie goes to school and tells her two best friends, Grace and Lucille, about the new addition - causing a commotion Junie B. wasn't expecting. It's finally the big day and Junie B.'s mom goes to the hospital, leaving her with Grandpa Frank. Eventually, her grandma comes home from the hospital and exclaims how Junie B's new little brother is a cute little monkey, with long fingers and dark hair. Junie B. hears this and, like the impressionable kindergartner that she is, actually thinks her brother is a real monkey! Junie B. excitedly carries this information with her to school the next day, blabbing to everyone how her brother is a real-life monkey because she just can't keep her big, fat, mouth shut!

The second in Park's series, this book is great for readers who are transitioning from picture books to chapter books. The hilarious adventures of Junie B. will have readers laughing out loud and eager to move on to the next book in the series.

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus

Barbara Park

My rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Fiction

The first in her series, Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, introduces us to the precocious five-year-old who is about to enter Kindergarten, Junie B. Jones. She is excited and worried about her first day of school, but she is even more worried about riding the bus. On the morning of her first day, Junie hesitantly gets on the bus and immediately finds everything wrong with it that she can. From the moment we step on the bus with Junie B. we are transported into her crazy kindergarten world.

The Junie B. Jones series is great one for readers who are just starting chapter books. Park's use of humor makes reading Junie B. Jones a delight. Junie B. seems to come to life through her dialogue - both internal and external. I would recommend this series for second through fifth grade. While the reading level may be a little low for most fifth graders, they are great for readers who may not be reading on grade level. Junie B. Jones is truly "the world's funniest kindergatener" and students will enjoy sharing in her adventures.

Gobble Gobble CRASH! A Barnyard Counting Bash

Gobble Gobble CRASH! A Barnyard Counting Bash
Julie Stiegemeyer
illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Fiction/Picture Book/Counting

Four noisy turkeys are the center of this barnyard tale. Flying in uninvited to Mr. Farmer's barnyard, these turkeys cause a ruckus among the animals who were otherwise resting peacefully; beginning with one lonely mare nibbling on some hay, and ending with ten baby robins yodeling in their nest. With the turkeys waking the up the whole barnyard, eventually, Mr. Farmer is awakened too - and he is ANGRY! Things get heated when he threatens the them with a turkey feast and ambles out of the house to capture the turkeys. When the barnyard animals hear this, they vow to keep the turkeys safe by hiding them. As Mr. Farmer enters the barnyard, everything seems back to normal, starting with ten baby robins sleeping soundly in their nest and ending with the mare snuggled soundly with three fuzzy kittens and two baby cows.

I enjoyed Stiegemeyer's counting book and think it would be a fun read for kindergarten and first grade students to reinforce counting from up and down from one to ten. Gorbachev's watercolor illustrations refelct the calm of the sleeping barnyard as well as the chaos in the barnyard when the four turkeys arrive - and they are simply hilarious. The rhyming scheme also makes it fun to read aloud and students will have fun recalling the animals in the barnyard when counting back from ten. Students and teachers alike will love this book!

Just a Dream

Just a Dream
Chris Van Allsburg

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: Picture Book/Concept Book

Perhaps most widely known for his book, The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg confronts the issue of recycling and the protection of the environment in his book, Just a Dream. Walter is a boy who doesn't know much about protecting our environment, and doesn't care to. One night, we are transported through Walter's dreams into the future of a world where our Earth is consumed by pollution, waste and overcrowding. When Walter awakens to his present world, his ideals about saving the planet are changed along with his dreams. Van Allsburg's beautiful illustrations readers into the book and make them feel as if they are sitting in the bed, floating through Walter's dreams with him.

I enjoyed the sinple message of this book. This is a wonderful piece of literature to introduce an environmental study unit focusing on the concept of recycling and pollution. I would recommend this book for students in second through fourth grade. There are several lessons that can be created to accommodate both the lower levels and the higher levels. For the lower levels, a character analysis can be done as well as opening a discussion on recycling and pollution. For the higher levels, a "show, don't tell," writing lesson can be developed. Van Allsburg does an incredible job showing his readers what is happening rather than telling them. Frequently referred to as "seed stories" students can learn how to take a small moment and turn it into a highly detailed story.

I Went Walking

I Went Walking
Sue Williams
illustrated by Julie Vivas

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Picture Book/Predictive Pattern

I Went Walking, is a fun, cumulative tale about a small boy who sets off on a walk and spies different types of animals along the way. By the time the reader gets to the end of the book, the little boy has quite a funny little parade going. The illustrations in this book are vibrant water color pictures that make the animals come to life. The only thing that I don't really like about the illustrations is the boy himself - and the only reason I know it's a boy is because of the book's description on the back cover.

In spite of the slightly grotesque boy, this is a great picture book to read aloud in the Kindergarten classroom. The predictive text gives the students the chance to read chorally with the teacher, teaching inflection and fluency. At the end of the book, there is even an opportunity to practice identifying all of the animals and have some fun practicing their animal sounds. Overall, a fun and lively book to read aloud, and I don't think the kids will mind the little boy as much as I do.

Alphabet City

Alphabet City
Stephen T. Johnson

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Picture Book/Alphabet Book

Johnson's approach to the ABC's is truly imaginative in his book, Alphabet City. Using New York City as his inspiration, he has created a virtual urban alphabet. While some of the letters are clearly identified, there are others that take some careful analyzing to see.

While I enjoyed the artistry of this book, I wouldn't recommend it as a resource for actually teaching the alphabet. This picture book will capture the imaginations of young and old alike, and encourage the reader to see another side to the ordinary things in life. The paintings are so realistic, they appear like photographs. Johnson says, "I hope my paintings will inspire children and adults to look at their surroundings in fresh and playful way. In doing so they will discover for themselves juxtaposition of scale, harmonies of shadows, rhythms, colorful patterns in surface textures, and joy in the most somber aspects of a city, by transcending the mundane and unearthing its hidden beauty." Students of all ages will begin to see that there is art in everything, and in everything in art.

Horrible Histories Handbooks: Pirates

Horrible Histories Handbooks: Pirates
Terry Deary
illustrated by Martin Brown

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: Non-fiction/informational

Just one in Deary's Horrible Histories series, Pirates offers a wealth factual information on pirates and the lives they led. Written in a quirky and humorous manner, Deary dispels myths and legends, ranks the "top ten putrid pirates" of all time and gives a short biography of each one, describes weapons, tactics, punishments, ships, flags, language, rules, and even gives the biographies of wicked women pirates. The illustrations are cartoon-style, with clever dialogue bubbles that will leave the reader laughing and wanting more.

In an age where the popularity of pirates has soared thanks to Johnny Depp and Pirates of the Caribbean, many students are interested in pirates, and dare I say, want to be pirates. Deary does a great job of packing a large amount of information into a small, nonthreatening, handbook-style, book. I would recommend this book, along with the rest of the Horrible Handbook series, for 5th through 8th grade classrooms. It is a non-fiction text that students will become engrossed in thanks to Deary's witty writing style and the comic book-like illustrations. While students may be disappointed to find most pirates never made their enemies walk the plank, or that they never made treasure maps, they will find out more than what is offered in movies and cartoons. It is a great source of reference for students that will provide factual information without being the ever-feared, "boring reference book".

Our Earth

Our Earth
Anne Rockwell

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Non-fiction/informational

Our Earth is a picture book full of general information about the planet Earth. Rockwell, whose favorite subject in school was geography, takes the reader on an adventurous trip around the world, exploring its natural wonders such as islands formed by volcanoes, coral reefs, streams, rivers, oceans and the creatures which inhabit those places. The illustrations are bright and bold and capture the reader's attention.

Our Earth is a great introduction into the many features of our planet. It makes learning about Earth accessible and understandable. I would recommend this book for first and second grade classrooms. It would make a great literature piece to introduce a lesson on our planet.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Brian Selznick

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: mystery/fiction/picture book/graphic novel
Rebecca Caudill Award 2009 nominee

It is the year 1931 in Paris when we first meet 12-year-old Hugo Cabret. He lives all by himself in a tiny apartment located in the attic of a huge train station. At the center of Hugo's world are two precious things which remind him of his happier days when his father was alive, a broken down, mechanical robot and his father's notebook full of sketches. Living a life of secrecy, Hugo manages to live alone and undiscovered in the train station; his only mission is to figure out how to put the mechanical robot back together using the sketches his father left in the notebook. It isn't until the day he gets caught and his precious notebook is confiscated that his life gets shaken up and adventures begin. The robot, the shopkeeper, mysteries and unlikely friendships make this a novel that just can't be put down.

I would recommend this novel for 3rd grade classrooms as a read-aloud, and for fourth and fifth grade classrooms for students to read independently. I think The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a wonderful novel because of its unique composition. Selznick adds over three hundred, full page, black and white drawings within the chapters of this book. The pictures are not simply illustrations of what has already been described by the words, rather they are used in place of words. The size of this book would make any fourth or fifth grader proud, and the story is so intriguing it is a fast read. If reluctant readers can get through this book, they will feel like they can get through any book. Overall, a fascinating story, an intriguing composition, and an enjoyable read.

The Velveteen Rabbit

The Velveteen Rabbit
Margery Williams
illustrated by William Nicholson

My Rating: 5 out 5

Genre: Fantasy/Classic Children's Book

The Velveteen Rabbit is a classic children's tale about a stuffed rabbit who once comes to live with a boy in his nursery one Christmas morning. At first, the rabbit is adored and admired by the boy, but is soon forgotten once more presents were unwrapped and there were new, more exciting things to play with, the rabbit became lost in the shuffle - eventually finding a home, forgotten in the nursery toy cupboard or floor. Rabbit eventually forms a kinship with the oldest toy in the nursery, Skin Horse. Skin Horse and Rabbit have a deep and meaningful conversation on what it means to be "real," and leaves Rabbit with yearning to become real. It is not until the boy's Nana cannot find the china dog the boy normally sleeps with that Rabbit is reintroduced into the boy's life. Nana grabs Rabbit out of the cupboard and tells the boy to sleep with it, "Here, take your old Bunny! He'll do to sleep with you!" From that night on, the boy and Rabbit are inseparable, thus beginning Rabbit's journey to becoming real.

The Velveteen Rabbit has been a favorite, and my personal favorite, children's classic since its publication in 1922. I love how Williams interweaves a lesson about individuality, and how being true to and loving yourself allows others to love you unconditionally. As Skin Horse says, "It doesn't happen all at once....you become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real, you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

Children up to 3rd grade will adore the story of The Velveteen Rabbit, more than likely connecting with the surface level message of the book; loving a toy so much it becomes real in your own heart and mind. This is a wonderful fantasy story that delicately tells a tale of the wisdom of love and the magic that it can hold.

A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time
Madeline L'Engle

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: Science Fiction (book to movie)

A Wrinkle in Time, is the story of Meg Murry, Charles Wallace and Calving O'Keefe. Meg is regarded by her teachers and classmates as babyish and dumb. Her little brother, Charles Wallace is seemingly telepathic and their friend, Calvin O'Keefe, who is a popular basketball player at school but feels out of place within his own family. Together, the three find themselves facing an adventure involving space and time travel, angels and aliens that will test the bonds of love, family and friendship.

This book is truly a childhood favorite of mine. I love this book because it takes your mind away from the confines of reality and allows you to fantasize about lands and life beyond our planet. Their characters make us feel as if our own faults and quirks are our strengths, and that we are not the only ones who have them. Madeline L'Engle earned the Newberry award for this 1962 novel for her ability to combine science fiction elements with realistic themes and characters that children can relate to and from which they can learn. Prevailing themes in this novel include the importance of family and the continuous victory of good over evil. This novel is a magical piece of literature that is effective in the middle school classroom. As students finish reading A Wrinkle in Time, they will be clamoring to devour the following three books of the "Time Quintet."

A Year Down Yonder

A Year Down Yonder
Richard Peck

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Historical Fiction/Newberry Award

Richard Peck's, A Year Down Yonder, offers a lively picture of life in the Midwest in 1937, after the brunt of the Great Depression is over but an economic recession is prevalent. Mary Alice, the main character, is sent to live with her grandmother in Chicago after her father loses his job and cannot afford to keep their apartment. Mary Alice is unsure about the move to Central Illinois, "I had to go down to live with Grandma Dowdel, til we could get on our feet as a family again. It meant I'd have to leave my school. I'd have to enroll in the hick-town school where my grandma lived. Me, a city girl, in a town that didn't even have a picture show." With her cat, Bootsie, a sandwich in her pocket and a small trunk containing all of her belongings, Mary Alice heads off on the train to embark on one of the most adventurous, life-changing years of her life.

I was pleasantly surprised when I read this book and found it wasn't a heart-wrenching tale of a family barely scraping by and the sacrifices they had to make to survive in the post-Depression era. This book had many laugh-out-loud moments, wild adventures and highlights how a small town unites in the face of adversity.

I would recommend this book for 6th through 8th grade classes studying the depression, especially in the Illinois area. This book is actually a sequel to "A Long Way From Chicago," but I do not believe one has to be read before the other for understanding. While I would not use this text as a replacement for books which show the more devastating effects of the depression, I would incorporate it as a lighter piece of literature that shows another side to life during those difficult times. It is also a great piece to use for character study - the transformation of Mary Alice, Grandma Dowdel and her two sides, along with the numerous townspeople who keep the town buzzing with gossip. Overall, this is a great light read that will keep students interested from the first page to the last.

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
An African Tale
John Steptoe

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: Folk tale/Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award

John Steptoe's Caldecott award winning book, Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, is an African Cinderella story. It was inspired by a folktale collected by G. M. Theal published in his book, Kaffir Folktales.

This modern fairy tale tells the story of Mufaro and his two daughters, Nyasha and Manyara, who are known throughout their village for their beauty. Mufaro is happy and excited for both of his daughters when the king decides to be married, and calls upon the most beautiful women of the land to appear before him. While the girls are equally beautiful, their personalities are opposite. While Nyasha is kind and even-tempered, Manyara is spoiled and mean-spirited. It is Manyara's greed and pride which lead her in her desire to beat her sister to the King's palace to become his wife, and ultimately to her demise.

The story is a great alternative to the hackneyed Cinderella fairy tale. The lessons learned are paralleled: generosity prevails over greed, as well as the Golden Rule - threat others how you want to be treated. While the story is a familiar one, I especially enjoyed this book's rich and warm illustrations. Steptoe's inspiration for his illustrations stemmed from the ruins of an ancient city found in Zimbabwe and the plants and animals of that region; his paintings seem to transport you to the mystical lands of Africa. I would recommend this story for 3rd graders when dsicussing morality - does it matter how you act when no one is looking? It is also a great piece of multicultural folklore from which students can benefit.