Today I Will Fly!

Today I Will Fly!
Mo Willems

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Early reader, picture book, Monarch Award Nominee

Today I will Fly is just one of Mo Willems' s early reader books that introduce the lovable and funny characters of Elephant and Piggie. Although the two are best friends, they couldn't be more opposite: Elephant is a pessimistic nay-sayer while Piggie is a fun-loving and sometimes a bit reckless.

In this story, Piggie is determined to fly and excitedly relates his lofty goal to Elephant who, in turn, immediately bursts Piggie's bubble. Ever-optimistic Piggie disregards his friend's negative sentiments and eventually, through the help of a couple of friends, finds a way to fly. Mo Willems began his career as a writer and animator for the children's show, Sesame Street, and it is easy to see this connection in the writing and illustrations of this book.

This book begs to be read aloud in the pre-k and kindergarten classrooms, and also works well as a transitional piece for emerging readers (K-1st). I adore Mo Willems's work, and feel he echos the works of classic authors such as Dr. Seuss. I especially enjoyed Today I Will Fly becuase of the message it sends - to find a way to do what you want, no matter what. Mo Willems, while a relatively new children's author/illustrator, is quickly making his place in the annals of beloved children's authors.

Black and White

Black and White
David Macaulay

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Picture Book/Caldecott Award

Macaulay posts a warning on the title page of the book which advises the reader to pay careful attention to the words and illustrations, as they may indicate the events in the book take place at different times...or do they? In his book, four stories are told simultaneously; one about a child returning on a train to his parents, the second about a group of people on a platform awaiting a late train, the third about two children and their parents who come home acting slightly strange, and the fourth about Holstein cows, who if escape, are nearly impossible to find!

Black and White was a fun read for me mostly because of the dream-like and puzzling illustrations. I enjoy being able to go back to the book and find something new every time. On the most basic level, it tells four fun and interesting stories that would interest younger readers (2nd - 5th), while it's unique format and story-telling style can be used for middle school students in studying and analyzing the craft of writing - studying the way words and illustrations affect the ultimate meaning of a text.

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
Mordicai Gerstein

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: Picture book/historical non-fiction/Caldecott Award

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers is a beautifully illustrated book, earning the 2004 Caldecott Medal. It tells the true story of Phillippe Petit, a man who walked on a tightrope stretched between the space of the World Trade Center in New York City on August 7, 1974, and delicately approaches the September 11, 2001 tragedy in New York City.


Overall, I really enjoyed this beautiful piece of literature because it intertwines two significant events in American history - a day of joy and a day of tragedy, and emphasizes the importance of perseverance, courage and remembrance. The large, fold-out illustrations make it a fantastic read-aloud. Combining adventure, suspense and delight, it is an essential addition to the book shelf of any second through fourth grade teacher.

Day of Tears

Day of Tears
a novel in dialogue
Julius Lester

My rating: 4 out of 5

Genre: Historical Fiction/Coretta Scott King Award

Julius Lester's, Day of Tears, is a heart-wrenching piece of historical fiction which tells the story of Emma, a slave of Pierce Butler and caretaker of his two children. Pierce Butler is a poor gambler and manages to mount a sizable debt and decides the only way to pay off what he owes is to auction his slaves, thus hosting the largest slave auction in American history. Lester used the Library of Congress to research this actual event, a creates fictional characters to give the historical event a life of its own. The readers will embark on an emotional journey as families are torn apart, lives are lost, and the complexities of slavery and freedom are explored.

While the format of this book made it confusing to read at first, it ultimately added to the reality of the event. By addressing the viewpoint of all parties, Lester was able to do what textbooks are unable to do - humanize slavery. I would strongly recommend this book as a supplement to any history unit on slavery in grades sixth through eighth. Although Lester did not intend for the novel to be made into a play, it can easily be adapted into a play for classroom use. There are several important themes that Lester addresses: greed vs. human dignity, taking a stand for freedom, and inspiration for the future. It is an approachable text that will give students the opportunity to step into the shoes of those whose lives were torn apart by slavery.

The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book
Neil Gaiman
illustrated by Dave McKean

My Rating: 5 out of 5

Genre: Fantasy (Newberry Award Winner)

From the first few haunting lines of Gaiman's most recent novel, The Graveyard Book, you are hooked. Inspired by Mowgli's jungle adventures in Rudyard Kipling's classic, The Jungle Book, Gaiman creates a Newbery award winning tale of his own about a murderous and sinister man named Jack and his quest to murder an orphaned boy named Nobody. Living amongst tombstones, shadows and ghosts, Nobody is seemingly safe in his unusual graveyard home, until one day...

This book is a great read for the middle school student. I loved this book from the moment my eyes read the first words on the page. Gaiman immediately sweeps you into the action of the story and doesn't let go until the end. The plot of the story together with the illustrations would even appeal to the reluctant reader. Though a fantastical tale, the lessons Gaiman interweaves into Nobody's life are all powerful ones - fitting in (or not), making friends, courage, obeying rules and the value of education. This book comes strongly recommended as a staple on any teacher's bookshelf. It is a book that will find its place in a child's heart, and will live there like a ghost - forever.