The Misfits
Written by James Howe
Children's Novel Ages 10-14
Rating: 4.5/5

Four misfits ban together at school and become the "No Name" party running for school elections! Can the anonymous and unpopular gang make the cut and run the school?

Opinion: I really liked this book! I have to admit the idea seemed a little cliche at first: a group of "uncool" friends get sick of being mistreated and attempt to take down the "in-crowd." It just seems like I have heard the plot line many times before. Sort of good vs. evil middle-school version. Though the story line is cliche and some of the lines seem familiar, Howe is a very detailed and descriptive writer and makes up for it with the development of his characters. Bobby is a wonderful narrator and paints a true, down-to-earth picture of what it is like to live in his shoes. The language is great: EVERY single thing he describes is "show, don't tell." The Gang of Five's Friday Forum is a brilliant way to switch up the style and tone of the piece without over-engaging in heavy dialogue. It also really helps the reader get to know the characters, and it is funny! Howe lets us feel what it's like to be these characters, and get to know them in a way that is very touching. "And I'm thinking there's a lot more to all of us than the names we're called or what we show on the outside." Page 180 had me choking back tears: "Dad and me. Hammer and Skip. We have a good cry." Tastefully done, Howe!

Curriculum Connection: This would obviously be great to use in any middle school classroom, because its funny and relatable. It can also be a good example of character development and descriptive language in a Language Arts lesson. 5th and 6th graders could read it in preparation for middle school, and maybe brainstorm on ways to "survive" it or to respect each other. I think it can really open up some good dialogue because it does have some heavy topics squeezed in there: homosexuality, death, bullying, teen romance, etc. I would definitely recommend it for older kids, though.

The Jacqueline Woodson Experience

From reading If You Come Softly, some of her children's picture books in class, and hearing about other people's experiences with Woodson novels, it is apparent that she has some major themes that come through in her writings. In class we compared and contrasted If You Came Softly with I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This. In I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This, a Black girl and a White girl become friends, which causes issues. It tackles tough topics such as interracial relationships, income level, sexual abuse, death, and abandonment. If You Come Softly tackles many of the same issues: interracial relationships, death, abandonment, homosexuality, and police brutality. Here is what I have gathered about Woodson from discussing and reading her work.

-Common themes she likes to tackle are:
1. Tough/controversial topics
2. Power struggle between races (Specifically Black and White)
3. Conflict between races (Friendships, relationships)
4. Abandonment (Split families, mothers leaving, family members dying)
5. Sad endings! (Death, etc)
6. Death and its affects

That being said, I think she is a great writer and obviously is informed and understands the work that goes into writing about darker topics. It makes me wonder what her life was like growing up that made her decide to be an author of such controversial work. While I can appreciate her themes, I would like to read a story with a different tone and style, which I'm sure does exist. That is probably her trademark though so, what can I say? It was definitely an experience and I commend her for writing about things that are taboo or difficult to talk about.

Where the Wild Things Are
Written and Illustrated by Maurice Sendak
Children's Picture Book Ages 4-9
Rating: 4/5

Max chooses to play in his room instead of eating dinner, and before he knows it his bedroom turns into a magical forest where wild things live! They have a "wild rumpus" until it is time for Max to go home.

Opinion: I remember reading this when I was very little, but when I read it now all I can think about is the movie! The imagination and the illustrations are great in this book, although I do think the wild things might scare younger children. Max's imagination is very apparent in this book and the reader is taken on the journey with him, which is great. I love how Max makes himself the king of all of the wild things, it really shows how bossy and egocentric kids can be! Near the end there's a a couple of pages with no words and just pictures of their adventures, which i think is a nice change of pace and keeps the story fresh.

Curriculum Connection: This can be used as an opening to get children's imagination going for a writing project, or as an art project where they have to draw their own "wild thing," name and biography included. I think whatever it is used for kids will really like it because of the fantasy vibe it possesses.

One Fine Day
Written by Nonny Hogrogian
Children's Picture Book Ages 4-7
Rating: 4/5

A tale about a fox who drinks an old woman's milk and must journey through the entire forest on a "wild goose hunt" to get her the milk back, in exchange for his tail!

Opinion: The book is very good at building tension. The fox must get milk for the woman, but when he asks for favors they keep piling up until he has to get a bead for a maiden, an egg for a peddler, some grain for a hen, some grass for a cow, and so on. I feel very sorry for the fox who got his tail cut off! The illustrations really showed his emotions throughout the story, even though they are relatively simple. This book also won the Caldecott Medal, which is notable. At the end he got everything he needed and got his tail back, but the book never really reinforced what the moral was or had a clever punchline at the end...It just sort of ended!

Curriculum Connection: This book could be used in a lesson on borrowing or even stealing, as the fox drinks the milk that isn't his. The old man at the end is very generous and gives the fox grain without asking for anything in return, so generosity could be a topic. There are also a lot of parts to this story so it could be used in a listening activity, like "What did the maiden need?" "How about the hen?" And see how much the kids can remember.

If I Had a Dragon: Si Yo Tuviera un Dragon
Written & Illustrated by Tom & Amanda Ellery
Children's Picture Book Ages 3-7
Rating: 4/5

A little boy dreams about what it would be like if his "boring" baby brother were a dragon!

Opinion: This book is very humorous and has great illustrations that really show expression and detail throughout the story. The little boy lists all the things he could participate in if his brother were a dragon: Play hide and seek? Go for a swim? Go to the movies? The only problem is that the dragon is large, clumsy, and accidentally breathes fire, which messes with the boy's motives! The dragon and his mannerisms remind me of the book Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile by Bernard Waber, which I absolutely love. The thing that is great about this book is that underneath the English lines the book is written in Spanish, which is great for ELL learners or for children who only speak Spanish. As a reader, I very much enjoyed this book and the ending was satisfying: he'd rather play with the baby!

Curriculum Connection: This book is great for both Spanish speakers and non-Spanish speakers. It can transfer both ways; Children learning English can compare the words because they are written right next to each other. Seeing it like this is very good for visual memory and can help the child process it step-by-step. The subtle hint of multiculturalism is just enough to get keep kids interested without overshadowing the plot line.

Anansi the Spider
Written by Gerald McDermott
Children's Picture Book Ages 4-7
Rating: 4/5

A retold folktale from Ghana about Anansi and his 6 spider sons that go on a treacherous journey. The story ends up explaining how Ghanaian people believe the moon came to be what it is today.

Opinion: The book is very rich in terms of culture and is interesting to read. It also won the Caldecott Honor award due to its simplistic yet colorful illustrations. Anansi's son's names are great: See Trouble, Road Builder, River Drinker, Game Skinner, Stone Thrower, and Cushion. Can you guess what they are going to do in the story? Their journey to save their dad is inspiring, and you kind of forget that they are just spiders!

Curriculum Connection: This book is a great multicultural book, mainly because it comes from Ashanti, an area in Ghana, Africa, and can give a lot of details about their culture and traditions. I used this book in a curriculum transformation assignment for social studies to use in a unit on Ghana and to have the kids write their own folktale and to understand the traditions on Ghana. It is very creative so I think the kids can glean a lot of ideas from it.

My Friends
Written By Taro Gomi
Children's Book Ages 3-6
Rating: 3/5

This book details how a little Japanese girl learned to do simple tasks from her friends in nature!

Opinion: This book is okay, pretty simple, most likely for toddlers. Every two pages there is one line of print that repeats: "I learned to ____ from my friend _____." Somewhat predictable and not entirely interesting, but for young kids it will be helpful for them in identifying what animals can do that is similar to us. It would be easy for them to finish the sentences after reading it a couple of times too. What I liked about this book is that the little girl in the book is Japanese and all of her friends at school are Japanese as well, so there is a bit of multiculturalism thrown in there.

Curriculum Connection: I almost brought this as my 'window' book for class, because all of the characters (besides the animals) are of an ethnicity other than my own, but it doesn't necessarily talk about Japanese culture so I was unsure. This could be in a discussion about animals and nature, or how we can learn from places outside of school. It could also be used as an opening or as a writing activity and the students could write their own sentence, "I learned how to ___ from my friend ____," maybe even using each other's names and write down what each of their peers has taught them. On the first day of class this could be read and the class could make a chart that says "My Friends" with pictures of everyone or of statements of what it means to be a friend to refer back to later.

The Giver
Written by Lois Lowry
Young Adult Novel Grades 6-8
Rating: 5/5

Jonas lives in a world with no pain, no memories, and no conflict. His world is seemingly normal, until he turns 12 and is given the assignment of being the Receiver of all that his community has been deprived of. His life will never be the same again.

Opinion: Love, love, love this book. An awesome example if a great science fiction book for young adults. It is beautifully written in a descriptive way that is completely believable as a plot. Jonas is a very dynamic character who is contrasted with the Giver in a very intriguing way that works. I didn't want to stop reading it once I picked it up! The tone of the book is very dark and detached, almost in a way that makes me want to curl up in my warm bed and be thankful we all have feelings and memories! Jonas' revelations are fascinating and make him a very sympathetic character. The book has a good message and is also relatable in a metaphorical way, because at some point in our lives we have all felt like we have had the world on our shoulders or have been asked to keep a huge secret! I refuse to believe that Jonas dies at the end! In my head he goes to elsewhere with Gabriel and they live happily ever after. I hate sad endings, although I do understand why Lowry left it up to interpretation. It fits with the whole mystery, science fiction vibe. I'm shocked that this book hasn't been made into a movie, because I would definitely go see it, although it probably wouldn't do justice to the book.

Curriculum Connection: For our presentation we used a clip off of YouTube of some 8th graders who made it into a movie trailer. It could also be used like we did in class, where every person is assigned a visual representation of a chapter. Not only will this book elicit good discussion, but it will get the kids thinking creatively and may even help them branch out into science fiction books or creative writing.

If You Come Softly
Written by Jacqueline Woodson
Young Adult Novel Grades 7-8
Rating: 4/5

Jeremiah "Miah" and Elisa "Ellie" start out attending a high-class private school and are nervous for what lies ahead. When they literally bump into each other, their head-over-heels romance buds. There's only one problem: Jeremiah is African-American, while Ellie is a Jewish white girl.

Opinion: This book was very well-written. It is descriptive and detailed without being too much. The character's are very dynamic and the reader really gets to know what it is like to live their lives on a daily basis. The interracial romance is well-crafted without being too cliche, however I do think they are too mature for 15-year-olds! Their personalities could be a result of their tough home lives, but it really was a modern day "Romeo and Juliet" because I'm not sure I know any youngsters that can have a love THAT deep. I also hate, hate, hate the ending! Cliche and unnecessary. Their love was proven throughout the whole book, the desperate killing at the end was just plain mean!

Curriculum Connection: This book addresses very controversial subjects, so that is why I would recommend it for older children, bordering on young adults. Police brutality, homosexuality, and interracial conflict are not something that younger children will or should understand. This could prompt very good discussion, or could be done in book groups like we did in class. Anything that is done with this book should be done with tact and careful consideration!

Alice the Fairy
Written by David Shannon
Picture Book Ages 4-7
Rating: 4/5

Alice is a self-proclaimed "temporary fairy," and chronicles all of her fairy adventures in this book! From wands and magic to eating broccoli for dinner, Alice has decided that she will probably be a "temporary fairy" forever.

Opinion: This is by David Shannon, the same author that wrote the "No, David!" books. The storyline and the illustrations are very similar, but in a good way. It is very relatable and downright humorous at times. Shannon really paints a picture of this curly-headed little girl who loves to make-believe and has a wonderful imagination! Her narration and descriptions make it feel like you are listening to a real child talking. Though the print is written in child-like font it is deceiving. It has larger words and also child-like grammar, so it might be hard for children to read aloud or understand.

Curriculum Connection: This book would be good for writing a story on make-believe, or could be an opening for a unit on journal writing. It could be used for a discussion on adventures to get to know the kids, or just as a good old anticipatory set.

The Hello, Goodbye Window
Written By Norton Juster and Chris Raschka
Children's Picture Book Ages 3-6
Rating: 3/5

A little girl's narrative about what it is like to hang out with her Nana and Poppy for the day!

Opinion: This book won the Caldecott Honor Medal, which to me is sort of confusing. The illustrations and the coloring of the book is obviously very creative and has many different styles and textures, but to me it is a little much. It can come off looking smudged, juvenile, and a bit mushy and confusing in my opinion. It looks as though it took a lot of work to make it, but it doesn't quite fit. The plot is sweet and brings back memories of childhood, but is a little blase. Kind of list-y, like "I do this, I do that." It is worthy to note though that the little girl's grandparents are an interracial couple; Poppy is white and Nana is African-American. This is nice to see in a children's picture book and can reach a wide variety of audiences.

Curriculum Connection: This could be good for a writing activity about family or your favorite memory from your family's house (Not everyone has grandparents that are alive). It could be used to talk about different kinds of families because they are two different races, if you are working at a particularly diverse school.

Actual Size

Written by Steve Jenkins
Picture Book Ages 5-10
Rating: 4/5

A great non-fiction book that includes illustrations of different animals that are drawn to scale their actual size.

Opinion: This book is really interactive and is great information for kids. I like that even though it is nonfiction it is still really interesting. It has pictures done in an Eric-Carle-collage sort of way, but they take up two pages, some of them even having fold outs to show the actual size of whatever animal is being talked about. This includes a Goliath frog, a giant squid's eye, a gorilla's hand, and a giant anteater's tongue. It also gives the exact measurements and stats of the animal that is on each page, which incorporates knowledge into all the fun!

Curriculum Connection: Kids will really enjoy this no matter when it is read. Because the pictures are actual size, they will feel really engaged and a part of the book. This could be in a math unit on measurements, a unit on exotic animals or exceptionally large animals, or a project where the children find things around their house and trace it to their "actual size" and then come together to make a class booklet.

Pancakes for Supper!
Written by Anne Isaacs, Illustrated by Mark Teague
Children's Picture Book Ages 4-8
Rating: 4/5

Toby and her parents set out on a wagon ride, but the wagon hits a bump and Toby flies off! She encounters many egotistical forest animals who take her clothing to be "the grandest animal in the forest." When they all start fighting over who is the grandest, Toby notices maple syrup coming out of a nearby tree and they collect it in time for dinner!

Opinion: This book has amazing illustrations. The expressions on Toby's face as well as on the animal's faces really paint a vivid picture of what is happening in the story. The animals taking Toby's clothes and sauntering away is very humorous, mainly because of the pictures. The story has a nice rhythm to it with repetition in just the right places, although the ending is a bit random, as a search for maple syrup was never really in the plot to begin with.

Curriculum Connection: This would fit well into a lesson on vanity, and how all the animals are so obsessed with how they look that they eventually fight each other and forget what they were really aiming for! This would also be good to do as a class play, where the kids can act out the different animals while Toby hands over her articles of clothing. It could be incorporated into a listening activity where kids have to name all of the animals that were mentioned in the book.

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile
Written by Bernard Waber
Children's Picture Book Ages 3-8
Rating: 5/5

Lyle the Crocodile is doing pleasantly well at his home on East 88th Street, but Mr. Grumps and his cat Loretta will do anything to make sure that Lyle is out of the neighborhood for good!

Opinion: This book is hilarious. The character's are so developed for it being a picture book! Lyle tries to convince Mr. Grump's skeptical feline that he really is nice, but his sheepish attempts only make Loretta more angry. Mrs. Primm takes Lyle antique shopping for a couple of days to give Mr. Grumps time to settle down, when a whole mess of circumstances happen. Lyle ends up getting lost in the department store, performing a show with Signor Valenti, getting shipped off to the zoo, and saving Mr. Grump's life in a house fire. Nevermind the fact that Lyle plays hide-and-go-seek with the children and wears a red scarf. He is a friendly household crocodile who will hold a place in everyone's hearts!

Curriculum Connection: This is a nice, pleasant book to read as an opening or use when the children are getting anxious or bored. It could be in a lesson on language arts as well because there is a lot of rich vocabulary and rhyming in it, or it could be used in a writing activity about an imaginary pet the kids could have (that is not conventional like a dog or cat). It could also be acted out as a class because there are many characters that have their own personalities. However it is used, I think kids will love it!

The Higher Power of Lucky
Written by Susan Patron
Children's Novel Ages 9-11
Rating: 5/5

Lucky is in search of her higher power. After her mother died her father's previous wife, Brigitte, comes to take care of Lucky until she gets a new family. When Lucky figures out Brigitte has plans to leave, she makes her own plans to leave...for good!

Opinion: I loved this book! I thought it was well-written and developed. I loved the idea of Lucky trying to find her "higher power," which i think a lot of young kids can relate to, just trying to find themselves and where they fit in. The characters are phenomenally developed: Brigitte and her naive French ways, Lincoln and his knots, and Miles and his cookie fetish. Each character has a "claim to fame" that makes them lovable and easy to understand. And don't forget HMS Beagle! I love how he dutifully follows Lucky everywhere, and has so much to say without even speaking. The language is descriptive and really paints a picture. I love how Lucky describes herself as "sand colored." The symbols in the book really add to the meaning as well. Her mother's urn being a symbol of letting go and moving on, Brigitte's red dress as a symbol of becoming a woman, even the parsley grinder and Lincoln's knots. Lucky's search for herself is also showed throughout the story, rather than told. This includes her eavesdropping on A.A. meetings and constantly adding to her "survival kit." It is very easy to empathize with her because she really is a dynamic character. The ending is of course, satisfying too. The plot moves along smoothly while building tension: Brigitte's suitcase, the phone-calls, etc. Even the little pictures add meaning to the book and contribute to the mood. I am glad I got to read this award-winning book!

Curriculum Connection: This could be used in a number of different ways with older children. They could each be assigned a chapter and create a visual representation of the chapter, sort of what we did with The Giver, or this book would even be fun to do a book report on I think. It is a good book to teach children about literary elements such as tone, plot, style, themes, and symbols, which this book is full of. I think the book is good enough to just have a basic discussion on, and the children can talk about their favorite character or scene in the book, because they are all so relatable. It's an easy read but is full of so many teachable moments and good information, so it would be perfect for a unit or lesson.

Space Case
By: Edward Marshall
Picture Book Ages 4-8
Rating: 5/5

A robot called “the thing” takes a trip to Earth to see what is going on, and it happens to be Halloween! Buddy and his friends are trick-or-treating and mistake the thing for a fellow trick-or-treater. When the thing spends the night with Buddy, it becomes clear that he is not a human...Shenanigans follow.

Opinion: I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was cute and witty, with realistic humor that tugs at your heartstrings. The drawings really remind me of "Pac-man" or some type of video game from the 1980's, which makes sense because the book was written in the 80's. It made me want to have a alien come visit me!

Curriculum Connection: This would be good for an opening or an attention-getter, or it could be read right before Halloween to get kids excited about it and discuss what they are going to wear. Other than that, it doesn't have a deep message, it's just a randomly good book!

Nova's Ark
Written & Illustrated by David Kirk
Picture Book Ages 6-10
Rating: 4.5/5

When Nova the robot goes on a class field trip to the space center he finds himself in the Glax Cruiser, where he takes off in search of his father, who has been gone searching for alternate fuel for the planet Roton. The Cruiser breaks down and Nova finds himself alone on a foreign planet. He uses the old parts of the Cruiser to build new robot animals and an ark, which comes in handy when his father comes crashing down on the planet! 

Opinion: I very much enjoyed this book. It has colorful pictures and is very well-written. It has a lot of “show, not tell” vocabulary and paints a detailed picture of Nova and his planet. The plot-line flows and ends very happily, which is satisfying. I was intrigued from the start about how Nova was going to escape his predicament! Very good science fiction book for older children.

Curriculum Connection: This good be used in a unit about space or robots, or any science unit for that matter. It could also be used to talk about safety and how wandering off can lead to unusual and scary predicaments! The relationship between Nova and his father would be great to use to lead a discussion on family or a get-to-know-you activity.

Sad!

The Ugly Duckling
Retold & Illustrated by Rachel Isadora
Picture Book Ages 4-8

Rating: 4/5

A duckling is born to a mother, and while healthy and capable, he doesn't look like any of his siblings! All of the animals tease his for being ugly, until he finally runs away in search of a new life!

Opinion: This book is so sad! The whole time everyone is literally calling the duck ugly, he cries himself to sleep, and he thinks nobody wants him because everyone is so mean to him. He runs away and freezes in the winter until a nice farmer finds him, but I was depressed the entire time I was reading it! A book that gives you that strong of a reaction means it is well-written, in my opinion. The pictures are very reminiscent of Eric Carle, with collage-like tissue paper illustrations. In the end I'm glad the duckling turned into a beautiful swan and everything was okay!

Curriculum Connection: This could be used in a lesson on respect and friendship, and what it means to be nice to your classmates. It is not nice to call someone "ugly" and it can have serious effects on people! It has a good moral of "treat others how you want to be treated" and "its whats on the inside that counts" I think kids can really understand and appreciate that concept.

The Fisherman And His Wife
Illustrated by Alan Marks, Translated by Anthea Bell
Picture Book Ages 8-12
Rating:  3.5/5

An updated version of the children's fable. A fisherman is fishing one day when he catches a flounder, who begs him to spare his life for he is a Prince. When the fisherman's wife hears this she commands her husband to go to the flounder and have him grant wishes. Soon the wishes become out of control- the wife is still not satisfied, and her wishes escalate until her greed lands them back at square one.

Opinion: I had never heard this fable before so I was actually eager to read it and see what happens. There is definitely a climax when the wife keeps demanding more and more things, like being a King, an Emperor, the Pope, and then finally like God! The illustrations are realistic and there is a lot of writing on each page, so I recommend it for older children. The story itself is entertaining and the language is very detailed and really creates a visual, almost better than the pictures themselves. I did not picture the wife as obese though, and I felt really bad for the fisherman!

Curriculum Connection: This would be a good story in a lesson on greed. It has a really good moral that I think children will appreciate. It could also be used in a literature unit because there is a lot of distinct vocabulary that older children might have fun sorting out.

Jack and the Beanstalk
Retold and Illustrated by Steven Kellogg
Picture Book Ages 6-10
Rating: 4/5


A retelling of the classic children's fairy tale, "Jack and the Beanstalk!" Jack trades his cow and his only source of income for some magic beans. They grow into a beanstalk up to the sky where Jack travels and meets an Ogre who eats little boys! Jack starts stealing gold from the Ogre until his mother and him have enough to live on and they live happily ever after!

Opinion: This is a good book. I always loved the Jack and the Beanstalk story; I love when the giant yells, "Fee-fi-fo-fum!" It brings back a lot of fun childhood memories. The storyline is basically the same, with no twists, but the pictures are very detailed and colorful, more realistic-looking than cartoon, so I suggest it for older children, especially because the Ogre might scare the young ones! The font is outlined in a gold box which believe it or not adds a lot to the book, including that "fairy tale" vibe. The only thing I don't get is why he calls the Ogre's wife "mum" and I dislike  how quickly it ends: "Jack and his mother became very rich, and Jack married a great princess and they all lived happily ever after." Cliche but had to be done.

Curriculum Connection:  This would be a great book just to have as an anticipatory set, because I think the kids will really get into the "fee-fi-fo-fum!" part. They could even say it with you and it would be a very theatrical sight. It could also be a good book for a fairy tale literacy unit, or it would be a good activity to have them make up the ending or write their own fairytale.

Controversial?

Happy To Be Nappy
Written by Chris Raschka
Picture Book Ages 5-9
Rating: 3/5

A little girl explains her hair type and all of the cool things she can do with it!

Opinion: I don't see this book as all that controversial. I think the most uproar about this book would probably be the title, and the use of the word "nappy" as being misconstrued as negative. To me this book takes that word and uses it in a more positive way: what it means to the little girl and how she is proud of her hair and her origins. "It can be kinky or not..." I think it's cute the way the book is written in small, short sentences and the pictures are very colorful. I think it can be helpful to any little girls, but especially African American girls who are finding themselves and possibly comparing themselves to other children.

Curriculum Connection: This could be used in a cultural unit, a unit on racism, a community builder on how maybe using terms like that is not respectful, or even a language arts unit, by talking about different slang and dialect and what it means to certain groups of people! I would definitely be careful using it in a classroom because of parents and that sort of thing, but if I worked in a school with many different ethnicities I think it could be very helpful if used in the correct way.

I will never use this in a classroom. EVER.

Where Did I Come From?
Written by Peter Mayle, Illustrated by Arthur Robins
Picture Book ages 4-8
Rating: 2/5

A  "no nonsense" book explaining reproductive parts, how sex happens, and how babies are made.

Opinion: Maybe I am just not used to this, but this book was graphic, even for me. The pictures are disturbing and uncomfortable and the explanations of sex are raunchy and go into way too much detail. If I may quote the book, "Some people calls these 'titties' or 'boobies'" "Being inside her..." "Sex is like scratching an itch...only better." It explains an orgasm as " a tickly feeling in your stomach that goes all throughout your body." It literally has a play-by-play of sexual intercourse like "he pushed his penis inside her vagina and moves back and forth." I was not comfortable reading this book, and I wouldn't expect children to be either. There is a difference between a logical explanation of sex and then there is detail-by-detail that gets borderline pornographic.

Curriculum Connection: I personally would never use this in a classroom, unless I was told to or was teaching sex education, and even then I would get a book that is less graphic, illustrations wise and words wise. I do not feel comfortable subjecting 5-year-olds to that type of language. The parents can teach them that all they want, but I'm a teacher to teach them other things besides their reproductive glands. This book is somewhat disgusting and I cannot imagine a child reading it!

> This picture is even too graphic for the INTERNET! It is not censored in the real book.

Focus Question

How does knowing about literary elements impact understanding a story?

I think it helps to think they contribute greatly to understanding a story. With perspective, you can tell alot about the story depending on the viewpoint, because you are able to construct meaning about the characters and the storyline easier. Reading a story about an ant would be completely different if it was told from the ant's perspective as opposed to a person's perspective. It affects the other literary elements as well.

Time can have also a huge effect on the understanding of a story. A story that flashes back and forth adds depth and gives insight on characters, which makes it easier to understand the story from their viewpoint. The idea that time can be psychological or chronological helps the reader understand other literary elements, like perspective.

Plot is of course important, because the action of the story is what moves it along. You don't want to be reading a book and then think, "Why am I reading this? What is the point of the story?" Things like mood and symbols help the reader understand the author's viewpoint on certain subjects, and help them tie the story together without actually being told the meaning. I think these are very important to evaluate after reading  a text, because then you understand the motive in having those things in the story in the first place. Without these, the story has no depth and can be rather shallow. Understanding what these are and what they mean to the reader helps them put the story into context and learn something from it in the end.

Grab the tissues!

Hair For Mama
Written by Kelly Tinkham, Illustrated by Amy Bates
Picture Book ages 6-9
Rating: 4/5

Marcus' mother is sick with cancer. When she loses all of her hair, Marcus sets out on a journey to find her some new hair, eventually cutting off his own and offering it to her!

Opinion: This one's a tearjerker! I actually found it on the website for Notable Trade Books of 2008 for my social studies class and brought it with me. It is sad yet touching, informational yet engaging. Marcus doesn't understand why his Mama is so tired and he wants her to have her hair back, because that will mean she is "better." When he shaves his own head his mother is touched but says she is fine just the way she is. I like that the characters in this book are African-American, because it brings culture to the book and can be more relatable for children of different races. All I have to say is, thank GOD she didn't die. Too sad. My concern is that this is a touchy subject and I don't want to scare kids and make them think their parents are going to get sick with cancer. It might be too complicated for younger kids. Around age 7 kids start to fear natural disasters and losing loved ones, (as opposed to monsters under the bed and animals), so I wouldn't want to "add fuel to the fire," so to speak. When I was little I had fears of things I couldn't control, and cancer for Mommy would definitely be one of those fears.

Curriculum Connection:  This would probably go into a discussion on health, even cancer for the upper elementary grades, but it could also be involved in a unit involving families and how they express love for one another. I might read it around Mother's Day before they make a present for their moms and say, "Marcus cutting his hair was his way of telling his mother he loved him. How would you do that for your mom?" You know, make it a little lighter.

"Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I think I'll eat some worms..."

Diary of a Worm
Written by Doreen Cronin, Illustrated by Harry Bliss
Picture Book ages 5-9
Rating: 4/5

Welcome to the world of a worm, where hopscotch equals being killed, "My brother ate my homework" can be a true statement, and the hokey pokey is done only with your head!

Opinion: The personification of the gross creature we all know as an earthworm is heart-warming and entertaining. It is funny, absurd, and written in just the right way to make you wonder about what an insect's life really is like. In this worm's world they use mushrooms as tables, bottle caps for chairs, and paperclip boxes as beds. Original and innovative, this book will make you appreciate your life a little more!

Curriculum Connection: I also used this book with my 2nd grader at Grantwood, and I prefaced it by asking her what a diary was and if she kept one or knew anyone else that kept one. She really enjoyed the pictures and the storyline of the book and the idea that the worm had to hold the pencil with his tail! How silly! After we read it I told her to pick her favorite insect, which was a butterfly, and write a diary entry of what it would be like to live as a butterfly for a day. This activity is good because it gets kids thinking outside of the box in a critical way and also helps them to be creative. This would also go well in a science unit about insects of any kind.

Loose teeth creep me out...

Samantha Loses Her Sweet Tooth
Written by Charlie Callahan, Illustrated by Brien Spanier
Picture Book ages 5-10
Rating: 4/5

Samantha has what adults call "a sweet tooth," but when it becomes loose, she has nightmares about losing her love for sweets and fears that she will start to love *gasp* vegetables!

Opinion:  Well-written and relatable, because most kids I know love sweets and despise vegetables, only for the label put on them as "yucky!" In preparation for her to lose her sweet tooth she practices eating vegetables and ironically, ends up liking them AND sweets at the end! Very colorful pictures that add energy and zest to the book, while the words "show" how Samantha is afraid of losing her tooth, instead of "tell." The dialogue, both internal and external, adds a lot to the story line.

Curriculum Connection:  This could tie into many different lessons. It could tie into a vocabulary lesson, such as a discussion on what a "sweet tooth" is and how there are phrases that people say that don't need to be taken literally, like Samantha did in this case. It could tie into science and nutrition, like naming the vegetables that she tries and why they are good for you. It is a fun enough book where it could also be a warm-up to get the kids going in the morning.

How many animals does it take to mess up a story?

The Surprise Party
Written and Illustrated by Pat Hutchins
Picture book ages 4-8
Rating: 4/5

Rabbit is having a surprise party tomorrow. When he tells Owl his secret, Rabbit's "secret" is spread all over town! The only problem is that a secret can get pretty jumbled after going through multiple sources, which causes confusion for Rabbit and the entire town!

Opinion: Cute book. The drawings are very detailed and are all colored in a way that reminds me of a couch from the 70's. Lime green, yellow, and different shades of orange give the pictures and the book a very vintage vibe. (The book was written in 1969). The owl reminds me of the owl in the commercial with the boy and Tootsie Pops, when the boys asks him "Mr. Owl, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?" The storyline is also simple and satisfying: a written, animal version of the game we all know from childhood as "telephone." I'm having a surprise party turns into going to the sea, climbing a tree, writing poetry...which makes the story funny and relatable.

Curriculum connection: Before reading the ending, you could close the book and ask the class what they think is going to happen, since everyone is confused about what Rabbit is actually doing. Will they make it to the party? It could also tie into a lesson on communication, and how things we say can get misinterpreted and it's important to talk to each other directly. A classroom activity could be playing the actual game "telephone" or an exercise on listening skills.

Happy, disappointed, jealous, and everything in between.

The Way I Feel
Written and Illustrated by Janan Cain
Children's Picture Book ages 3-8
Rating: 4/5

A basic list and explanation of some of the emotions we might experience, what they mean, and what they look like to children!

Opinion: I think this book is very put-together, if that makes sense. It has amazing colorful pictures that go perfectly with the words. The pictures are relatable, even "goofy" as my 2nd grader puts it. It is well-written and each emotion is described in an rhyming poem. (Ex): Sometimes I feel so very sad and really don't know why. Instead of playing and having fun, I cry and cry and cry. It would really be useful for primary grades and would be a very helpful book for a parent as well.

Curriculum Connection: I used this with my 2nd grader at Grantwood and she really enjoyed the pictures, even getting hung up on how all the people's shoes in the book were "elf shoes." For the writing activity I said she should pick an emotion from the book and either draw or write what that looks and sounds like to her. It was a pretty easy concept for her to grasp. This would fit into a Pre-K or early elementary lesson very well, including what emotions are, how they can be complicated, and what they look like and sound like to us. It also helped me get to know my student because I learned about what makes her happy and what doesn't, etc. I think it encourages dialogue about feelings and how we need to communicate them instead of acting on them, like most children tend to want to do.

H.A. Rey and the world of Curious George

From what I have gathered from learning and reading about H.A. Rey, I think he seemed like a fun, caring man that I wish was still making books today!

Here is a little splice of biographical info that I put on my brochure:

Hans Augusto Rey was born in 1898 in Hamburg, Germany.  He grew up near the famous Hagenbeck Zoo where he cultivated a passion for animals. Hans married Margret Rey, his wife and co-author of many of his books in 1935. The couple moved to Paris and Hans wrote his first children’s book called Raffy and the Nine Monkeys. Out of this, came the character we all love and know to be Curious George! Shortly after starting the Curious George series, Hans and Margret were forced out of Germany due to the Nazi regime (Hans and Margret were both Jewish). They took off with nothing but some food, warm clothing, and manuscripts of the adventures of Curious George. They moved to Brazil and later New York City, where they began their careers as children’s book authors. Today these books have sold over 25 million copies, and have been made into board books, books for toddlers, and even have bilingual versions.


He has a really cool story, actually. It was very inspiring and made me more interested in the Curious George books, which I absolutely adored as a child.


Here's a link to the website:  Curious About George?
Another fun website from PBS kids:  PBS Kids: Curious George


I think that H.A. Rey's books are great, especially because they do come in a series, so if a child gets into them it will be easy to keep bringing them new ones. They are well written and have awesome, simple pictures.

They can connect to curriculum very easily, mainly because George gets into so many adventures that curious kids can get into these days! The book list is enormous. Curious George's First Day of School, Curious George Rides a Bike, Curious George Goes to the Hospital...Any of his adventures would do. We could bring it into a unit on monkeys, or even a unit on getting into trouble and obeying parents and teachers alike!

It's raining trees!

If A Tree Falls at Lunch Period
Written by Gennifer Choldenko
Children's Novel Grades 4-8
Rating: 4/5

Kristen and Walker ("Walk") are experiencing a new school year in junior high through their own eyes, each struggling with their own personal demons and internal battles.

Opinion:  Pretty good book. Has spots of humor that I think junior high kids will really appreciate, or at least understand. The story alternates in chapters from one of two character's points of view: One, Kristen, whose parents are constantly fighting and whose best friend won't talk to her anymore because she gained 30 pounds over the summer, and Walk, the "only black kid in the entire school." I can appreciate each child's struggle to see where they fit in in the world. Middle school was a scary time! Hearing Kristen talk about the cliques and her best friend ignoring her brought back memories of middle school mean girls. Its hard to remember that this is a children's novel and not a novel I would read, because the language is a bit simple and juvenile. The differing perspectives switches it up and keeps the plot moving.

Curriculum connection: Obviously this is for older kids, but I think its very good to fit into a lesson about kindness and respect, even on bullying in the classroom. I think it can be focused around a good community building activity. In the book Walk struggles with being one of the only African Americans at his school, which could be very beneficial to address. This could lead into a discussion on what racism is, how it affects others, or maybe go into a history lesson about the origins of racism and what it means to respect people from all different backgrounds. Discussions would probably be easy because it is a very relatable book, even if they don't struggle with the same exact problems.

Another turtle book!

The Dancing Turtle: A Folktale From Brazil
Written by Pleasant DeSpain, Illustrated by David Boston
Picture book ages 5-9
Rating: 4/5

A recreated folktale about a clever (and talented!) turtle who tricks his captor in order to avoid becoming turtle soup!

Opinion: This overall is an enjoyable book. The pictures are awesome- realistic and colorful, depicting the tropical rain forests of Brazil. The text is printed right on the picture in a smaller font, which suggests that the picture is what's most important in the book. I would have to agree. I find it interesting that the turtle is drawn with much detail and color, but the Brazilian children who let him escape are not. Tactfully done. The idea is cute, and the little dancing turtle make a very lovable character. The fact that it is an actual folktale gives it a little more history.

Curriculum Connection:  This would be great to do in a Multicultural unit for social studies if the children were learning about different countries such as Brazil. It would fit into a geography lesson as well. I could also take it a different route and discuss different folktales, use this in a language arts lesson about how a story can be told many different ways, or even how folktales fit in to some people's cultures. Or, if I wanted to go the obvious route, use it in a unit about turtles.

...A time to kill?

To Every Thing There is A Season
By: Leo & Diane Dillon
Picture book ages 9-12
Rating: 3/5

Summary: An inspirational book using Multicultural drawings from around the world to give the basic idea that there is a time for everything, and that it is just part of life!

Opinion: First of all, let me just say that the illustrations in this book are amazing. Seriously. In the back it gives a summary of the drawings from every page, which are from a different part of the world. They mostly depict families or life-altering events, from Ireland to Egypt to Japan and to Europe. Every page is different and can teach children a ton about different countries and their customs. The pictures are sort of mural-like and were created in many different techniques: ink, acrylic paint, watercolor, etc. The only problem for me is that the words are taken from the book of Ecclesiastes, which has a religious connotation to it that I would probably not like to delve into. The idea of the book is fabulous, "to every thing there is a season" but some of the words shock me. The word heaven is used, followed by, "a time to kill, and a time to heal" and the picture is a bit disturbing, primal almost. I think its a mature topic, especially for a picture book. Its good to talk about things like war, death, etc. if need be but I'm not sure I would go about it this way. Maybe I need to get over myself and tackle these types of issues, I don't know. There are also some intricate and/or religious words that even I don't know the meaning of, let alone a 2nd or 3rd grader.

Curriculum connection: If I were solely going off of the pictures, this book is awesome. It could be done in a social studies class, a multicultural unit, a time to educate them on art from around the world, even. The theme of the book is a good one, which suggests that there is a time for everything good and bad, so I could have a discussion on that as well. If I were in the mood to tackle the issue of religion, I would definitely take the time to explain what the book of Ecclesiastes is and maybe talk about spirituality, but that is just getting a little too controversial for me!

Gruffalo = Goat + Buffalo?

The Gruffalo
Written by Julia Donaldson, Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Picture book ages 4-8
Rating: 5/5

A clever mouse escapes being eaten by all the forest animals by inventing the tale of the "gruffalo." When the mouse ironically meets this beast, he tricks the gruffalo himself and is free from the jaws of death.

Opinion: Very entertaining book. Not hard on the ears, with rhyming and repetition at just the right places. Mouse meets predator, predator attempts to lure mouse, mouse insists he's eating lunch with a made up character called the gruffalo. Mouse meets gruffalo. The plot is suspenseful and fresh, with a satisfying ending. The pictures are also very colorful and intriguing; Some pages have a full picture, and some are just smaller ones, which is a nice alteration. Very well-written, nice rhythm, and the irony is pleasing and humorous.

Curriculum connection: I actually read this with my second grader at Grantwood, and she really enjoyed it. She was very intrigued by what was going to happen next- her face was almost glued to the page. After each time the mouse tricked a forest animal, she'd say "he's lying!" Though she could guess what would happen with each animal, she was very surprised that the gruffalo actually existed. This could fit into a lesson about mythical creatures, or I could have the kids make up their own animal and draw it and share it with the class. It would be a good warm-up and would stimulate their imagination. The possibilities are endless.

How turtles came to be.

One Tiny Turtle
Written by Nicola Davies, Illustrated by Jane Chapman
Picture book ages 7-11
Rating: 4/5

Davies and Chapman paint a picture of the life of a Loggerhead turtle, from conception to life and death!

Opinion: I liked the book. It was very informational but not in an overly dry way. The vocabulary was pretty rich so I wouldn't suggest it for very young children, but it was written in a way that is sonically pleasing and flows pretty well. The illustrations are realistic but still catch one's attention. Every other page or so there is smaller, wavier print that has a fact about turtles which ties into the flow of the story. I actually learned a lot of unique things about turtles through reading the book! The idea that it is specific to one species of turtles (Loggerheads) makes the topic more focused and interesting.

Curriculum Connection: This would be a great book to read if we had a unit on turtles, sea creatures, or animals of the sort. It could introduce students to the kinds of facts and ideas I might be looking for in a report or a project. It could even lead into a discussion on the circle of life: animals are born, some die and some don't, and soon enough they have their own babies and the cycle continues. Because the book is full of unique vocabulary I could use it for a language arts unit and have them look up the definitions to the words and use them in their own way: (Ex): "pinprick" "squidgy" "wriggle" "skitter", etc.

Kindergarten is awesome.

Kindergarten ROCKS!

Written and Illustrated by Katie Davis

Picture book ages 4-6

Rating: 3.5/5 

Dexter Duncan is very nervous for his first day of kindergarten, and uses his stuffed animal Rufus to express his feelings about it. His sister Jessica convinces him that kindergarten is rather fun, in fact, it rocks!

Opinion: This book in my opinion is fun-loving and cute without being too corny. The illustrations are purposefully simple and looks like they have been colored in with crayon, although they are definitely not juvenile. I like that it is realistic in terms of the little boy, Dex, being nervous about going away to school for the first time, but trying to pretend that he is not nervous to look cool in front on his big sister. His personification of his stuffed dog, Rufus, is well done in that it "shows" the reader that he is nervous with dialogue and behavior, instead of just saying "Dexter was nervous." An example of this is when Dexter says, "My dog Rufus is an eensy teensy bit scared about kindergarten." My concern is that the language can be condescending at times, most likely because it is for a lower age group.

Curriculum Connection: I picked this book out in the first place because I am interested in teaching primary grades more than the upper grades. I think this can be a good book specifically for kindergartners, maybe to read even on the first day of class as an introduction. It can show kids that it is normal to be nervous about coming to school for the first time and can create an atmosphere to discuss these healthy fears that children have. It is also relatable in that it has sibling interaction throughout the book; This can go into a conversation about siblings or family and become a get-to-know the students portion of the lesson. If I did use this with a higher age group, I might have them write down a memory from kindergarten and ask if they had the same fears that Dexter did. I might plan a lesson around "being a friend" and how to help a kindergartner around school if they look lost, which could help build a sense of community and respect.

Favorite Children's Book

My favorite book as a child was "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein.

 

""I wish that I could give you something------ but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump." "I don't need very much now," said the boy. "just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired." "Well," said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, "well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest." And the boy did. And the tree was happy.

For some reason, I just loved it. Simple pictures and a simple message- I didn't have to work too hard to have that "aww" feeling that you usually get from children's books. No advanced rhyming or difficult and complex sentences.

Looking back on this, I wonder why I loved such a sad, solemn book. It's kind of in the same genre as "Love You Forever." I enjoyed nature and animals and personification as a child, so I think I imagined myself as the little boy, making friends with this old tree. I guess I was drawn to the realistic nature of the book, that people and trees alike, do at some point grow old. The happier endings seemed more of a fantasy to me: I could see right through them. I remember feeling sad for the tree that the boy cut down every part of her to attain these material things. I wanted them so badly to be friends again, and was happy that they were finally re-united! :)