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Sally Dog Little: Undercover Agent
Bill Richardsonillustrated by Celine MalepartMy Rating: 5 out of 5
Genre: Fiction/Digital Text
http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/newbook_details.asp?category=New%20Books
The Littles are a normal, predictable family. Mom works at a gym and has a prized petunia garden, dad signs important papers all day, their daughter Twinkle is a good student, and they have a dog named Sally. Sally Dog rises each day, and knows exactly how to make each member of the family happy. Twinkle, the only child in the Little household, can't wait to grow up. But when Twinkle shares her “When I grow up” dreams with Sally Dog, Sally Dog gets to thinking. Sally decides she’d like to be an undercover agent, and so begins her new career. She spends breakfast spying on the secrets behind the Littles’ formal morning rituals. Her next assignment takes her to the backyard, where she discovers all kinds of secrets. Ultimately, Sally saves the day when she spies a dog catcher about to pounce on a dog, who's stalking a cat, who's staking a bird, who's stalking a worm, who is creeping along one of Mrs. Littles' pink petunias! Sally is worried the dog catcher will pounce all over the flower bead, so she lets out a few warning barks, and scares everyone off! Sally makes her way back inside the house, deciding an undercover agent is not the job for a dog.
I really enjoyed this story. I liked the predictable pattern it followed, and think students would enjoy it as well. It is a good story to get kids thinking about what they might like to do when they grow up. The digital text format, I thought, was very effective. As the narrator read the text aloud, the words were highlighted in red so the student could follow along easily. Also, I thought the illustrations with limited animation were effective. There was enough to make the story entertaining, but it wasn't too much to where it distracted from the story. I found this website on the Champaign Public Library. Tumblebooks offers many types of books and can be accessed easily.
Wayside School Gets a Little StrangerLouis Sachar Genre: Modern Fantasy/Primary
My Rating: 5 out of 5 A continuation of his original Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger does just that. Essentially, Wayside School was closed down due to a cow infestation and the kids were all sent to other schools. Now, 243 days later, Wayside School has reopened for business, and the kids and teachers are all reuniting. Everything is wonderfully abnormal until one teacher leaves the school to have her baby. A plethora of interesting substitutes take over Mrs. Jewls' class, and even STANGER things begin to happen!
The stories of the kids at Wayside School and their adventures are wacky and ridiculous, but just realistic enough to keep you wondering. Although I have never read any of the Wayside School series before, I found this book to be entertaining. There were a lot of characters to keep up with, and some things that you had to know before reading the book, but overall it was a fun read. I think this would make a really fun read-aloud and may be a good series to suggest to reluctant readers.
The House in the Night
Susan Marie Swansonillustrated by Beth Krommes Genre: Fiction/Illustrator Study My rating: 4 out of 5 The House in the Night tells the story of a young girl who is given a golden key to a house. The simple text continues to describe things that lie within the house, "In the house / burns a light. / In that light / rests a bed. On that bed / waits a book.” The text continues to build upon fantastical images such as a bird from the book carrying the girl through a star-lit sky and reaching its peak when the girl comes face-to-face with a grinning moon. The text then reverses itself and takes us back through the dark into the room where on the bed a book lies.
I enjoyed this story simply because of Beth Kromme's artwork. The story is simple, written in a familiar cyclic format. It is my opinion that the book's success comes from the artwork. Beth Krommes flawlessy uses her familiar scratchboard technique, using a limited palette of bold black and white with smatterings of shocking gold. Krommes’ illustrations expand on Swanson’s story, highlightiong the coziness of the home as well as the magnificent world that waits just beyond the bedroom window, in the song of a bird. My favorite illustration is one depicting the satrry dark. It covers two pages and details rolling meadows, trees, houses, barns, and cars casually motoring along the roads. I love the lack of color Krommes decided to use. In doing so, the sparse use of gold is especially effective, and adds a magical element to the night sky. I would definitely recommend this as a piece to read aloud in a kindergarten classroom.
The Lamp, the Ice, and the Boat Called Fish Jacqueline Briggs Martin
illustrated by Beth Krommes Genre:
Historical Fiction/Illustrator Study My Rating: 4 our of 5 The Lamp, the Ice, and the Boat Called Fish retells the true story of a1913 Canadian Arctic Expedition an a boat called Fish that became stuck in the Arctic ice. Among the people on board were Captain Bartlett and his crew, an explorer named Stefansson and accompanying scientists, a cat, forty sled dogs, Inupiaq hunters and an Inupiaq family consisting of two small girls and their parents. As the ship becomes one with the ice in the freezing Actic conditions, Stefansson and his crew leave the ship in an attempt to hunt caribou, and they never return. Captain Bartlett now becomes the leader, and together the ship's crew and Inupiaq family struggle for survival. Eight months pass, and just as things are looking bleak, they spot a ship in the distance and are rescued. This story was a very enjoyable and inspiring read. I love the details that Martin includes, such as arctic wildlife and habitat as well as about the Inupiat people themselves and think students will find them enjoyable as well. I also really liked the poetic form Martin uses to recount the tale; the language is intriguing and pulls the reader into the story. Again, illustrator Beth Kromme's scratchboard illustrations are beautifully crafted. Ice, artifacts and characters are delineated in bold black, and then muted with crosshatching and a muted palette of browns and blues. Perhaps the most endearing detail of the story is the effort to keep the cat and the dogs alive. It shows the love and compassion that is kept alive in a dire situation. The combination of art and narration create a story that make a perfect read aloud for the primary grades.
Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow
Joyce Sidmanillustrated by Beth Krommes
Genre: Nonfiction/Poetry/Illustrator Study My Rating: 5 of 5 In her book, Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow, Sidman combines poetry, riddles and prose to describe the sounds and sights of a meadow. Each poem in a creative riddle describing something commonly found in the meadow, and asks the reader to identify the poem's subject. Sidman describes everything from sunlight and dew to dragonflies and goldfinches. Sidman incorporates prose to explain the ecology and interaction of all the plants and creatures living in the meadow. Beth Krommes, the illustrator, uses rich, detailed, and vibrantly colored illustrations done in scratchboard and they are a perfect accompaniment to the text. This book is fun to read and the illustrations are absolutely breathtaking. I loved reading each poem, figuring out what secret of the meadow Sidman was writing about. This book is obviously a great accompaniment to a science lesson about ecology and habitats. Students will love opening these pages over and over again, poring over the sumptuous illustrations and beautifully crafted poems. Great for students in grades 2nd through 5th.
Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs
Tomie dePaola Genre: Realistic Fiction/Author Study My Rating: 5 out of 5
Drawing upon his own childhood experiences, Tomie dePaola tells the story of his grandmother and great grandmother whom he visited every Sunday afternoon. Nana Upstairs is his 94-year-old great grandmother who stays in bed upstairs, and Nana Downstairs is his grandmother who takes care of Nana Upstairs. Sunday afternoons are always the same for Tommy; running into the house saying hi to Nana Downstairs and then right up the back stairs to Nana Upstairs's room. The loving relationship between Tommy and his grandmother unfolds throughout the story, until its poignant turning point when Tommy has to deal with the death of Nana Upstairs. The book ends with Tommy as a grown up, and Nana Downstairs has died as well. Tommy is seen gazing out of the window into the night sky and thinks to himself, Now you are both Nana Upstairs. This book is perhaps one of the most memorable of my childhood. I believe this is because it was one of the first books I had ever read that talked about death, and the first time I really realized that people in my life were going to die just like people in Tommy's did. This was an impactful experience for me, and what I remember most about it was that I didn't feel scared or upset - it was just a realization. I believe that dePaola's calm and quiet approach to the topic helped me to understand the concept of death as something natural. I think that is the beauty of this book - to be able to approach the topic of death and still be able to come away from the story with a feeling of peace and comfort.
Now One Foot, Now the Other
Tomie dePaola Genre: Realistic Fiction/Author Study My Rating: 5 out of 5 Now one Foot, Now the Other tells the story of Bobby and his grandfather, Bob, who are very close. The title refers to the words Bob uses when teaching Bobby how to walk. One of their favorite activities to do together is to build a tall tower with old blocks kept upstairs in the sewing room. As they built the tower, Bobby loved to hear the story of how his grandfather taught him how to walk. One day, Bobby comes home to find his grandfather isn't there. His parents tell him he has had a stroke and is in the hospital. Bobby was upset and depressed for months. Finally, Bob comes home from the hospital, but he is not the same grandfather Bobby remembers and he becomes scared of him. Eventually, Bobby becomes less frightened of Bob and begins to bring the blocks into the room and built the tower for Bob. Little by little, Bob begins to recover from the stroke, ultimately ending with Bobby teaching his grandfather how to walk saying, "OK Bob. Now one foot. Now the other foot." I love this story. I think it dePaola does an exceptional job writing a sensitive story which provides an understanding portrayal of a common illness many grandparents experience, that proves difficult for children to comprehend. It is a heart-warming story of the power of love and encouragement. In an author's note, dePaola explains that this story was inspired from actual events in his childhood, providing an even greater truth and depth to his words.
26 Fairmount AvenueTomie dePaola Genre: Autobiograohy/Author Study My Rating: 5 out of 5 26 Fairmount Avenue is a departure from Tomie dePaola's usual picture books as it is his first chapter book. Tomie dePaola says that for a long time, he avoided the task of writing a chapter book becaase the task seemed too daunting. However, after many letters from fans combined with a suggestion from his assistant to write about his childhood, dePaola took on the task, thus resulting in 26 Fairmount Avenue. The book begins in the year 1938, and the reader finds out that Tomie and his family are waiting for their house on 28 Fairmount Avenue to finish being built. Over ther year, many things happen to Tomie and his family: a hurricane, flooding, Tomie's first day of school, and a funny experience at the movies as Tomie watches his favorite illustrator, Walt Disney's, first full length film, Snow White. The stories are humorous, heart-warming, and classically Tomie dePaola.
As a long-time fan of Tomie dePaola's picture books, I was unsure how well I would receive his forst chapter book. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the autobiographical account of this year in dePaola's life. It is simply told in a conversational tone, and characters from his picture books make appearances that readers will appreciate. dePaola was able to translate the charm and simplicity of his picture books into an easy read chapter book that fans will certainly apreciate. I would recommend this book for 3rd through 5th grades, especially in conjunction with a lesson about writing autobiographies, or writing from personal experience and memory.
The War on Terrorism:
Combating the Global Terrorist ThreatThomas StreissguthGenre: Nonfiction/Informational TextMy Rating: 4 out of 5
The American War Library is a compilation of books that offer juvenile readers an inside look into the victories and tragedies of America's wars. This book, Combating the Global Terrorist Threat, is one of a multi-volume set entitled, The War on Terror. It describes the U.S. strategy for dealing with countries that provide support or a safe harbor for terrorist groups. It begins with a foreword which explains how America is a nation forged by war and leads into an introduction that opens with a recounting of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The book includes information about counterterroism, allies, the targeting of sponsor states, the preemptive war on Iraq and the Missions of al-Qaeda. The book is illustrated with photpgraphic images which provide the reader with more detailed information about just how the United States is combating terrorism.It is amazing to me that we have been at war now for eight years. It is hard to say I enjoyed reading this book, but I did appreciate the amount of information presented. I belive that this war is the hardest one to explain to students, and literature is a great resource to use for understanding. I think this book, together with the rest of books in the War on Terrorism series, provide a detailed, accurate account of the war America is currently involved in, and is a great resource to provide to students who have questions about it. I would recommend this book for students in grades 8-12.
In Their Own Words: Paul Revere
George Sullivan
Genre: Nonfiction/Informational Text/BiographyMy Rating: 4 out of 5
Sullivan brings to life the legendary story of the "midnight ride of Paul Revere". The biography also reveals Revere's activity in many of the events which ultimately lead to the Revolutionary War. We learn that Revere, among other interesting things, was a famous artist, was at the Boston Tea Party, was a member of the Sons of Liberty, had sixteen children and designed and made money. The biography also includes information on other historical figures of the time, such as John Hancock and Sam Adams and even includes historic prints, maps, photos, a chronology of events and even a bibliography for further reading.
I actually enjoyed reading this biography of Paul Revere. When it comes to reading about history, I am somewhat of a reluctant reader. However, this book was able to hold my attention becuase of the incorporation of Revere's own drawings, writings and photos. The author took only the most interesting and important information from the life of Paul Revere to incorporate into this novel. For a reader looking for a detailed, flowing narrative about Paul Revere, this book would surely fall short. However, I would reccommend it for reluctant readers who just need to know the most basic information.
Thoreau at Walden
John Porcellino
from the writings of Henry David Thoreau
Genre: Non-Fiction/Biography - Graphic Version
My Rating: 5 out of 5
John Porcellino uses the writings of Henry David Thoreau to tell the story of his two years spent in Walden. For the reader who is not familiar with Thoreau and the background of Walden; or, Life in the Woods, Porcellino includes an introduction which summarizes the motivation and inspiration behind Thoreau's decision to live a solitary life in the woods resulting from struggling with what he wanted to do with his life after college graduation. Porcellino uses only Thoreau's words in the book, but pares them down in order to create a graphic representation of the novel. The drawings are simple, cartoon depictions of Thoreau's words, thoughts and ideas.
I enjoyed this version of Walden for several reasons. First, I enjoyed how Porcellino takes the underlying concept of Thoreau's work (living life as simply as possible) and mirrors it with the simplicity of the book. The lack of words actually allow the reader to focus on the most reflective ideas. I also enjoyed this book becuase its simplicity makes it accessable to students of varying reading levels. Walden is one of the most influential and important pieces of American Literature, teaching the reader that simplification is the key to true success. Being able to introduce students to his work at an early age through the use of a graphic novel is fanstastic. I would recommend this book for students in grades 3-5.
Project Mulberry
Linda Sue ParkMy Rating: 5 out of 5Genre: 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
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
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 ThreePeter Parnell and Justin Richardsonillustrated by Henry ColeMy Rating: 5 out of 5Genre: 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 PeopleLangston Hughesphotography by Charles R. Smith Jr.My Rating: 5 out of 5Genre: 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 PoemsA Children's Poetry Anthologycomprised by Caroline Kennedyillustrated by Jon J. MuthCaroline 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 SkyJon Arno Lawsonillustrated by Sherwin TjiaGenre: Poetry (Single Poet Collection)My Rating: 5 out of 5Lawson'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 feetfor 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 andall 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
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My Side of the Story: Escape from War
James RiordanMy Rating: 4 out of 5Genre: Historical Fiction/
SecondaryRiordan'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.
Drummer Boy:Marching to the Beat of the Civil WarAnn Turner
illustrated by Mark Hess
My Rating: 2 out of 5Genre: Historical Fiction/
PrimaryDrummer 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.
