A Bus Of Our Own

A Bus Of Our Own

Written by Freddi Williams Evans

Illustrated by Shawn Costello

Zaner-Bloser, 2001

38 pages

Histoical Fiction

      This book was recommended to me by my CT. The main character is a little girl named Mable Jean who desperately wants to go to school. Black children con't have a bus to ride so it is a five mile walk to school. Mable Jean starts to inquire about a bus for them to ride. Her mother and daddy can't ask or they may "make trouble" and fear of getting kicked off the land. A cousin of theirs is able to buy two buses and has enough parts to make one of them run! They all work as a community to fix the bus up!

      The illustrations will break your heart! Mable Jean is so precious! The pictures are done in watercolors, I believe. They are very dream-like and the colors are soft and warm. They add to the story so much! If you couldn't see the emotion in this little girls face it wouldn't have the same impact!

      There aren't very many small communtities like this anymore, so you could talk to your students about what that would be like. What do they think it would be like? If I was using this book in my classroom, I would definitley talk about Brown vs. Board of Education. You usually don't learn about that until highschool, but I think that the older grades could handle that sort of discussion. 

Henry's Freedom Box

Henry's Freedom Box

By Ellen Levine

Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Scholastic, 2008

38 pages

Historical Fiction

      I chose this book because it is such an inspiring story. Henry was born a slave and as a young boy his mother explained to him that slave children are ripped from their families like the leaves are ripped from the trees. His mother was right and Henry was given to work in a factory after his master died.  He did find something happy though, he found Nancy, and they were married. After they had children of their own, Nancy started having the same fears that Henry's mother did. She worried that their children would be sold. She was right too. While Henry was at the factory he received word that his family had been sold on the slave market. After much sadness, Henry decided to get himself to freedom. His friend, a doctor, helped him mail himself to freedom! Henry has gone down in history as the most famous runaway slave. He is known as Henry "Box" Brown.

       The illustrations are done in pencil, I think. They are extremely integral to the story. Nelson shows all of the emotion into the characters faces and it is easy for you to try and imagine exactly what they are feeling. They are beautifully drawn in bright and sometimes somber colors, befitting the mood.

      When I was in elementary school we reenacted the under-ground railroad at a camp, but you could do this in your classroom, or school as well! You could also bring a wooden box in to let the students sit inside so they may gain a real-life perspective on what it must have been like for him to travel all that way in a box. Why not talk about how they would feel if they were separated from their family? 

Mama Went To Jail For The Vote

Mama Went To Jail For The Vote

By Kathleen Karr

Illustrated by Malene Laugesen

Hyperion Books, 2005

32 pages

Historical Fiction

      Wow, this is a powerful story! The title of this book and the cover art are why I chose this book. The turn of the twentieth century time period has always fascinated me! This is told in narrative form, and is told from the point of view of Susan Elizabeth, the main character. Where would we be today if not for the beautiful, strong-willed, made-of-steel women who came before us? I would hate to even peek a glimpse! This story is about one such woman, and her daughter. All little girls look up to their mothers and so does Susan Elizabeth, literally! She looks up at her while she rides a pretty white horse down Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House to protest Women's suffrage! In the story she compares her mother to an Indian Princess. Indeed! Susan's mother is a "modern woman" and dresses her in bloomers and takes her to parade rallies. I am partly amused and partly disgusted by the role her father plays in this story. First of all, they seem to be what would be considered "high society" and when her father returns home from work he condescendingly pats the mother and asks her "how many votes did she gather" that day? Sadly, there are still men today that think that women should be ornaments to men and only that. It amuses me because I know that we can overcome it today. They had to push against it back then. Susan's mother goes to jail for 6 months for protesting in front of the White House. At the end of the story, she is released from jail, but eludes to the many years that it took for women to receive the vote by the illustrations. You can see how Susan has grown and also how the fashions have changed as you see all of the women voting! One thing I learned is that every woman imprisoned for protesting for the vote was awarded a silver pin.

      The illustrations are wonderful! I think that they are my favorite! The colors are so pretty and vibrant. The expressions on the characters faces are very telling and essential to the story. The illustrations brought me the closest to the mother, since I am probably the age that she is in the story. I would like to think that I would be that brave.

      This is best used in the classroom as a history lesson, probably for older grades I should think. Girls especially would adore this story. You could have a class discussion about how you think that you would react, feel, think if you were in this time period. This could evolve into a piece of writing. You could also have them do research and find out even more facts about the Women's Suffrage Movement. 

      

      

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise

Written by Jan Pinborough

Illustrated by Debby Atwell

Houghton Mifflin, 2013

38 pages

Non-Fiction

       I am in love with this story! This was recommended to me by a librarian and she obviously loves it as well! My paternal great grandmother was a librarian in Opelika, Alabama, so I felt a little bit of a personal connection to this story. My mother has many fond memories of visiting her library, and I have visited it too! I even have some of her books from her library! This is a story about a woman who was trail-blazer! She, along with a troop of other women, paved the way that changed the "status quo" in libraries when it came to the view of children in the library setting and children's literature. Anne Moore was a little girl from Maine whose father was a lawyer. At that time, little girls were not suppose to do much else but sit inside and sew. Anne wanted to travel ans see the world, but after her mother and father both died the same week of the flu, she had to stay behind and take care of her family. Eventually she was able to move to New York City, where she enrolled in a college for librarians. When she graduated, she got a job and was eventually promoted to oversee all of the libraries in NYC. At that time there were 36 different sections all over the city! A new library was to be built on Fifth Avenue to make one big library and Miss Moore vowed that the children's room was going to be fantastic! She planned it out herself and it was wildly successful!

      The illustrations are done in acrylic on paper, according to the inside cover. I really enjoy these pictures! They are very simply drawn and pleasing to the eye. The colors are bright and vivid. I feel like the pictures always add so much to the story, and for this story it is the same!

      This book is all about having a love of reading and learning! Making our classroom libraries more accessible and engaging for our students is the key and Miss Moore knew this! I would take a poll, or have the students fill out a questionnaire on how their classroom library, or even school library could be improved upon. Involving them not only makes them feel important and that their opinion is valuable, but if they see real change, the concept comes alive for them.

Sawdust and Spangles: The Amazing Life of W.C Coup

Sawdust and Spangles: The Amazing Life of W.C Coup

Written by Ralph Covert and G. Riley Mills

Illustrated by Giselle Potter

32 pages

Abrams Books, 2007

Non-Fiction

      I found this book at a Food World that was going out of business. I bought it for twenty-five cents! This is a story about a young boy named William Cameron Coup. The circus comes to his town and he falls in love! He ends up running away with the circus. He works really hard and eventually he is able to have a circus of his own! He came up with a really cool name with "style" that can be printed on posters, so that is where the "W.C" came from. With more hard work he created a successful circus, as well as a side show! He had a very famous clown in his act named Dan Rice. He even performed for President Lincoln! He loved to stand in the shadows of his circus amidst the piles of sawdust with sparkles, spangles and magic coming to life right in front of him! One day, he received a telegram from a certain gentleman by the name of P.T. Barnum. They became partners in New York City! Together they put together a circus with two rings and he had the idea to haul it all around the country by train so everyone could enjoy the show! Then, he came up with his best idea yet-an underwater circus! He spent many years looking for the most exotic marine life to have in his aquarium! He even transported a whale in the hull of a ship! When his aquarium opened in New York City, it was amazing! No one had ever seen any of these creatures and they were astounded!  His life really was amazing!

      I am pretty sure that the illustrations are done in watercolors. I think that they are essential to the story because they do a lot of the story telling, but the  pictures are very odd in my opinion. They just don't speak to me in the same way that others have. The colors are very pretty though. They saturated and very folk-arty.

      First I would tell my class that they better not get any ideas- no one is running away to the circus! I would give them the opportunity to "design" their own circus. They would have to decide what animals, and how many animals would they have in their show? How would they transport them? This would promote forward thinking and organization. You could start a discussion about why they think people ran away to the circus? How was life different at that time, than it is now? 

Abe Lincoln: The boy who loved books

Abe Lincoln: The boy who loved books

Written by Kay Winters

Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

Scholastic, 2005

36 pages

Non-Fiction

      I chose this book because I have always been fascinated by Abraham Lincoln. This book goes through Abe's, often tough, life. He is inspiring, because in a time when not many people put a big price on education, even as a young child, he did. In his day, they had to live off the land to survive, and surviving trumped learning how to read. Abraham Lincoln did both, and that is what makes him one of the most influential and famous of all the presidents!

      The illustrations are done in oil paints onto canvas, and I love that you can clearly see the canvas texture in the pictures! I knew what it was without even looking. I think that it gives it a very earthy, simplistic feel. The pictures themselves are very simplistic, but this goes very well with the subject matter. Nearly every illustration has Abe holding a book, or a book is somewhere nearby. I thought that was a nice touch and good attention to detail.

      If I were reading this book aloud to my class, I would be sure to excitedly emphasize that Abe loved books! He wanted to write on everything he could get his hands on! Challenge your class to be like Abe, because it is a good way to be! This book could also be used as a history lesson about his life! For a writing lesson for younger grades I would bring in those tiny chalkboards and let them see what it would be like to only have that to write on, like Abe did!

     

The Hello, Goodbye Window

The Hello, Goodbye Window

Written by Norton Juster

Illustrations by Chris Raschka

Scholastic, 2005

29 pages

Multi-Cultural

      I ordered this book off of Amazon, along with an arm-load of others. One night, I arrived home and it was waiting for me in its crisp, brown packaging on my kitchen table. I had to know which book it was (like Christmas!) so I ripped it open to find this precious little book. I instantly remembered seeing it on Amazon. However, I ordered stuff like a crazy woman, so I didn't remember actually ordering it, but I am so glad that I did! I opened it up and read it right there in my kitchen...and bawled like a baby! I had a very special relationship with my Dad's mother, my Ma-Ma, just like the little girl in the story has with her Nanny and Poppy. The Hello Goodbye Window is everything to her, the beginning and the end. As a child, you remember small moments, but they are so big at the time! The simplicity coupled with the symbolic nature of a window is genius in this book! Honestly, you have to read it, because no summary that I can write will do it justice! The child-like way it is written, just like a child who is so excited that they can't wait to get the words out, along with the illustrations-just fantastic! I would like to point out that the mom and dad as well as the grandparents are multi-racial. The mom and Nanny appear to be Black and the dad and Poppy appear to be white. I should also mention that this book won the Caldecott Medal in 2005, and it was the first Caldecott winning book to feature an interracial family and a multiracial child. One of my favorite parts of the book is when she is sitting in the kitchen watching the window and "waiting for people to drop by." Her Nanny told her that it is a magic window and that anyone could come by, so naturally she is waiting for a T-Rex, and the pizza guy, and even the Queen of England. She mentions that her Nanny is English, so "the Queen like to come for tea."

      The illustrations are, once again, my favorite!! This Chris Raschka is my kind of illustrator! They are all over the place, but is is great! The pictures, to me, seem like they are done in some watercolors, a little crayon and colored pencil, and maybe oil-based paints for the deep colors. I think that the illustrations are perfectly paired with the style of writing by Juster.

      Almost every child has a relationship with a grandparent, so this would be an easy way to get them writing! Have the students write a letter to their grandparents to tell them about their favorite things to do together. Show your students the illustrations and explain to them that an "adult" drew them. Have a painting day and encourage them to use all colors, and as well as pencils, and crayons. Every child is an artist! You could even talk about why and how you can see your reflection in a mirror for a science lesson!

      

The White Nights of Ramadan

 

Written by Maha Adddasi

Illustrated by Ned Gannon

Boyds Mills, 2008

25 pages

Multi- Cultrual

      Well, this was a very interesting book. I must admit that I didn't see myself liking it, but as the old saying goes, "Don't judge a book by its cover!" I didn't think that I would relate with the characters in the story, but I did!. The custom that they observe in the book is called Girgian, and it is a celebration much like Halloween, but it is religious based.

  

      The main character is a little girl about the age of 12 named Noor and she lives with her family in the Arabian Persian Gulf. Noor has two younger brothers, and they are all excited about the coming of Girgian. Girgian takes place in the middle of the ninth month when the moon is full. This is known as Ramadan. For three nights, children dress up in fancy clothes and go door to door for candy and prizes. At the beginning of the story, Noor and her brothers prepare for the celebration. Noor fasts with her family. They eat one meal a day at sunrise during Ramadan. Muslims believe that by fasting, it brings them closer to equal footing with those who are less fortunate. At the end of the story, Noor and her Grandfather walk to the mosque to deliver the basket of food her mother had prepared for the homeless.

      The illustrations are done in oils. They are beautiful! The colors are very warm and cozy feeling. I believe the heart of a children's books is its pictures. You could just flip through this book and maybe guess the storyline!

      I would definitely use this as a social studies lesson and a vocabulary lesson in one! There is a fantastic glossary included in the back, and I was thankful for it! I was googling the terms until I found it back there! You could put this book out for a center and have students make personal connections to the characters and the story. It would also be great for introducing how to use a glossary and why they are important. You could read the book aloud and have them go "Huh?" at the words. Direct them to the glossary and have them use it in their centers. You could observe Ramadan, bot by fasting, but your classroom could put together a food and essentials basket for the needy.

The Biggest Soap

The Biggest Soap

Carole Lexa Schafer

Pictures by Stacey Dressen-McQueen

Douglas and McIntyre, 2004

32 pages

Multi-Cultural

      I adore this book! It was chosen for me by a librarian, and she highly recommended it, and now I know why! The main character is a precious little boy named Kessy, and he goes with his mother and her cousins to wash clothes. He loves to sit and listen to their wonderful stories and play in the warm water, but when they run out of soap, it is Kessy that his mother asks! He is so proud to help them, but he doesn't want to miss all the good stories so he hurries to Minda's shop for a big piece of soap. Along the way he runs into friends, and family, but he says focused on the task at hand! His journey back to the washing tub is a different story! He comes across the same people, but at every stop, him and the biggest soap save the day! Of course, when he gets back he regales his tale and slightly exaggerates, but he makes it into a fantastical tale of heroism, smiling all the way! Kessy discovers that he is a story teller, just like his mom!

      The pictures are my favorite thing about this little book! Alright, I know I always say that, but it is true! The colors are phenomenal! There are beautiful patterns and designs, and I notices that they even mix patterns in their wardrobes! They are so stylish, those Truk Islanders! These pictures are done with pencil, acrylics and watercolors and have been separated.

      If I used this in my class, we would definitely make our own soap! They could see what it takes to make things yourself, and that some people in the world don't go to Wal-Mart to buy their soap. This book could be used as a language arts lesson. You could have the students think of a time when they were doing something very ordinary, and encourage them to use their imaginations like Kessy did, and make it into an exciting, fantastic story! This book could be used for an intro into a social studies lesson about communities. You could talk with your students about why they have such a tight-nit community on an island.

      

The Gift of the Crocodile

The Gift of the Crocodile

Written by Judy Sierra

Illustrated by Reynold Ruffins

Simon and Schuster, 2000

36 pages

Multi-Cultural

      I chose this book because the cover was so beautiful, and it intrigued me that the crocodile was being so nice to the girl. Then I saw that it was a "Cinderella" story and then it made sense. The story is about a pretty young girl named Damura who lives in the Spice Islands in Indonesia. Her mother teaches her all the things she needs to know to be a woman, how to cook, raise a garden, and most importantly, how to dance. Her mother falls ill, but before she passes away she tells Damura to always respect all the wild animals and they will help and comfort her. A woman in the village comes to Damura an offers her a doll. She says that in exchange for the doll, she must ask her father to marry her and Damura is able to convince her father to o just that. This is the only mention of her father in the whole story. Damura's new stepmother and stepsister treated her horribly and she became their servant. One morning while she is washing clothes, Damura meets a "Grandmother" crocodile. Damura asks the grandmother if she would retrieve her sarong that got swept away. She agreed and left her baby crocodile in Damura's care, and she was very kind to the baby, even when it bit her. The grandmother crocodile returned with a beautiful sarong that was not Damura's. Later, the step-sister would try the same thing, and she received the same sarong, until it turned to leaches when she wrapped it around her. She was not kind to the baby crocodile. At the end of the story, grandmother crocodile comes to her rescue again so she can go to the palace and dance for the prince. There is a twist at the end of the story, so you need to read it yourself to see what happens! They, of course, live "Happily Ever After".

      

      The illustrations are gorgeous! They are done in acrylic on watercolor paper. The colors the illustrator used are very bright and saturated. There is beautiful scenery of mountains, beaches, and the swamp. You can look at every picture on every page and it will tell you a story all its own! There are things you won't see if you just glance over it, so take a good look!

      Using this book as an introduction to a character development lesson is what first comes to my mind. You could talk to the students about why you should always be kind, not just to gain something that you want. This book would also be great for a science lesson about crocodiles. What is the difference between crocodiles and alligators. Where do crocodiles live? You could talk about the far away places they live. You could also use this book for a social studies lesson. You could talk about the way of life in the Indonesian islands and how it is different and/or the same as our lives.

      

Little Doe

Little Doe

Written by Angela McAllister

Illustrated by Tina Macnaughton

Paragon, 2012

32 pages

Fantasy

       This is really cute book, and I just happen to stumble upon it. I have always loved anything involving deer, so that is why I bought this book. It is about a little doe who is very timid and scared of everything. At the end of the story, she ends up saving the day from the Giant Shadow Bird!

       The illustrations are done in watercolor and are just lovely. I did a mini-lesson with this book last week with my RITE child and she love the pictures! They are very soft and delicate. The night scenes are especially beautiful.

       If you were using this book in the classroom, you could use a character development strategy. You could also talk about windmills and the alternative energy sources we are in the process of developing now with the win turbines for a science lesson. You could also talk about deforestation to build on that topic.

The Velveteen Rabbit

The Velveteen Rabbit

Written by Margery Williams

Illustrated by Allen Atkinson

Armand Eisen, 1983

40 pages

Fantasy

       This is one of the most precious possessions that I own. My personal copy of the Velveteen Rabbit. I can't talk for to long about this story without getting teary. Pictured above is my copy of the Velveteen Rabbit that was bought me when I was a baby. My Dad wrote mine and my sisters name in the front.

It is worn and loved and used, just like the Velveteen Rabbit. 

       The artwork is fantastic. It is done in mostly colored pencils and some watercolors, I think. I could just look at these pictures all day. Not without getting teary though.

       I believe that the only justice that you can do for the spirit of this story, is to just leave it be and appreciate it for what it is. It is a wonderfully beautiful story about a boy who loved a toy with all his heart, even though it was not beautiful and had nothing to offer him. Every little girl and little boy should be read this story, and have discussions about the story.

The Invisible Moose

The Invisible Moose

Written by Dennis Haseley

Illustrated by Steven Kellogg

Dial Books, 2006

39 pages

Fantasy

       To be perfectly honest I chose this book because of this fella...

...his name is Moose. Well, I fell in love with this little book! It is about a girl Moose and a boy Moose and they are precious, I tell you! I mean, just look...

I just love the left picture! They are looking at each other so sweetly! Anyway, back to the story. They really like each other. Then, some hunters come and take her away to the big city-to New York City! Moose goes on an adventure to rescue her, but he goes invisibly! The owl gives him a potion to make him invisible so that the hunters won't see him. This is such a cute story! I am so glad that I found it at the thrift store, and for only 75 cents!

       The illustrations are my favorite part! That is usually how it happens. If I love the pictures, then I will love the book. They are done in watercolor washes and acrylics. They are so vivid and bright, and I see something different every time I look at them.

       This would make a great writing prompt for upper grades. You could ask the students to write about where they would go and what they would do if they were invisible. Also, you could talk about geography since he travels down from Quebec to N.Y.C. Character development is another thing you could talk with your students about concerning this story. Moose has a strong character and goes to save his lady friend which shows bravery

       

The Sleeping Beauty

The Sleeping Beauty

Retold by Jane Carruth

Joshua Morris, 1984

15 pages

Traditional Literature

       This story is my all-time favorite! I love the Aurora verison that is Disney's. A baby daughter is born to a King and Queen. They have a big celebration, but forget to invite the oldest and most powerful fairy. At the celebration, this Fairy shows up and curses the baby. The youngest fairy still has a gift to give the child, so she reverses the curse to where the princess will not die, but just fall asleep. In the end, the handsome prince comes and finds her, kisses her, and everyone lives happily ever after!

       I enjoyed looking at these pictures to see how they were different from the images I have seen since I was a little girl. I think that these drawings were done exclusivley with colored pencils. They are very pretty and delicate looking. I paticularly love how "Maleficent" looks in this verison!

       Every classroom needs Fairy Tales, and this is one of the best ones. Children need to be exposed to this type of traditional literature because sadly, parents don't seem to be reading it to their children anymore. You could talk about what makes a book fiction. You could also research to see if there are any vines in the world that could actually cover a castle, like in the story. 

Rumpelstiltskin

Rumpelstiltskin

Retold and Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

Penguin Group, 1986

31 pages

Traditional Literature

       I have hear this story since I was a little girl, so that is why I chose this paticular book. Rumpelslitskin is a little man who comes out of thin air to the beautiful miller's daughter's aid. She has been given over to the king by her father to spin straw into gold. Her father bragged to the king about this, and she was told she would be sentenced to death if she didn't produce gold. So, Rumpelstiltskin comes and turns it for her and she ends up promising her first born child in return. The miller's daughter becomes queen and eventually outsmarts Rumpestiltskinl in the end.

       The illustrations are gorgeous! I think that they are done on watercolor. They are extremely life-like. The colors are so vibrant they look like they could be animated to me. The expression and details in the pictures is amazing.

       As far as using it in the classroom,you could have a discussion with your class about gold and how it is formed in the earth. It could also be a history lesson where you showed your stuedents how people used to spin fabric together to make clothes. You could use the name "Rumpelstilskin" to teach muli-syallabic words. This book recieved the Calecott Medal in 1986.

Mrs. Fox's Wedding

Retold by Sara and Stephen Corrin

Illustrated by Errol Le Cain

Doubleday and Company, 1980

29 pages

Traditional Literature

              This story is a Grimm fairy tale that I had never heard of before. I found book at a thrift store, and the foxes with many tails caught my attention. I stood right where I was and read it cover to cover. It was not what I was expecting. When Mrs. Fox's husband dies, who had nine tails,suitors come from all over to marry Mrs. Fox. At first, they are all different sorts of animals, and she rejects them all. Then other foxes come that have 7 tails, or 10 tails. She rejects them all because they are not like her husband was. One day, a fox comes who has nine tails and she falls head over heels!

       The illustrations are the best thing about this book! They are so classic looking, and I mean that in the best way possible. I believe they are done in watercolors and maybe some sort of pencil. The left picture is in color and the left is in black and white. This is the same on every page.

       The first thing that I think of when trying connecting it to the classroom is character development. Mrs. Fox will not even see someone who is not just like her, a fox. They have to have nine tails just like her husband. You could ask the students what they notice about Mrs. Fox's behavior. This is a little bit of a stretch, but you could use it with lower grades and have them count the different number of tails. Also, the pictures and their dress appears to be turn of the century. You could hook it into a history lesson by pointing out how differently they are dressed. Ask, "Why did people dress differently back then?"

Giant Children

Written by Brod Bagert

Illustrated by Tedd Arnold

Scholastic, 2002

27 pages

Poetry Collection

      This is a collection of poetry that I borrowed from my CT. The eyeballs of these "Giant Children" took me back at first. It was the first thing that I noticed. The collection starts out with a poem talking about the giant children. Turns out, the point of view of this poem came from the class hamster! One of the funniest poems in the collection is called "Booger Love", and it has a disclaimer at the top warning children to never recite it to a "grown-up" because it is so disgusting, and it is disgusting!

      The illustrations are not very life like, but are very funny. I am, of course, referring to the giant eyeballs! The pictures all have circular, uniform marks all throughout them, and the colors are mostly primary colors.

The illustrations were done with colored pencils and watercolor washes.

      This book would be appropriate for middle grades, starting with 3rd grade. The students would identify with all the silly situations these characters get into. You could use this to do a poetry study. "Giant Children" would also be good for character development-what not to do! You could turn some of these rhymes into songs for the students to memorize.

      

The Frogs Wore Red Suspenders

Rhymes by Jack Prelutsky

Pictures by Petra Mathers

Scholastic, 2002

63 pages

       This is a book that I borrowed from my CT's classroom. I wasn't instantly drawn to it like I have been others, but I enjoyed the poems and pictures.Most of these poems are either about animals or different places around the country. There is even a poem entitled, "Tuscaloosa". That's right- Tuscaloosa, Alabama! I was a little disappointed that there was no mention of a certain football team, or a guy name "Bear". There were just chickens dancing around at a barbeque.

       The illustrations are very cute. They are mostly made up of primary colors with some grayed out backgrounds.My favorite illustration is of an otter in the ocean. The illustrations are done in watercolors.

       This collection of poetry would be appropriate for all ages! These poems could just be enjoyed for what they are, or you could pull out all these great places that he writes about. You could use it for a hook into a history lesson about Mount Rushmore, or the Grand Canyon. There is a also a counting poem called "Seven Snails and Seven Snakes" that you could use for a counting/adding lesson. 

What A Day It Was At School!

Wriiten by Jack Prelutsky

Illustrated by Doug Cushman

Scholastic, 2006

39 pages

Poetry Collection

     This is a precious little book of poems. The cat on the front cover is on each page, in each illustration. It is infered that the poems are all about him, and I thought that was a neat thing to do for a poetry collection. This is a book that I borrowed from my CT. Every poem deals with a situation at school from the point of view of a student. One of my favorite my favorite poems is called "Teacher's Pet". 

     The illustrations are adorable! As I said before, the little kitty in the blue overalls is in each illustration for each separate poem. The pictures are fun to look at because there are a lot of things going on in them that aren't mentioned in the actual poems. The colors are soft and very pleasing to the eye. The illustrations were done acrylics.

     This poerty collection is approprate for all ages! I love it and laughed all the way through it! This collection has a lot of classroom connections! There is a poem talking about being in math class and the students struggling to learn about fractions! There is also a poem called, "I'm Learning Our History". The end of the poem says that we are making history now! I think the best thing that a teacher could pull from this collection is that the little kitty tries really hard at everything he does, even though he may not always succeed!

Hallowilloween Nefarious Silliness

Written and Illustrated by Calef Brown

 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010

32 Pages

Poetry Collection

     The cover of this book jumped out at me! I thought it was so cute and colorful, and obviously a Halloween theme. You don't even have to see the title to know that! This is considered non-sense verse, and it is hilarious! I think I laughed the most at the back inside flap where it talks about the author, Calef Brown. It says, "Calef Brown is a blue phantom elephant. He wrote these poems in a moldy mausoleum on the coast of Maine." What a description! These poems are full of nonsense, but it is so fun! They are all one page long or shorter. My favorite poem in the collection is "Cat Battle". It talks about two cats fighting and that you better not "get in the middle, or you'll end up covered in cat spittle."

     The illustrations are quite dream-like, but have a noticeable geometric quality about them. The colors are mostly very vibrant and are contrasting, however some are quite dark. The colors are a lot of yellows, oranges, and greens, very Halloween-like. The illustrations were done in acrylic.

     I think that this poetry collection is appropriate for all ages! I would read these poems to my class around Halloween. As I said earlier, the pictures are very geometric. You could pull out certain poems and try to see how many the students could find in each picture. There is a poem entitled "Mummy Unhappy" and it is about a mummy that wasn't mummified correctly. You could use this for a hook into a history lesson about ancient Egypt. You could also use this collection just for the study of poetry.

The Wishing of Biddy Malone

Written by Joy Cowley

Illustrated by Chirstopher Denise

Pengiun Group 2004

Fiction

     I chose this book because I have a intense fascination of  places far away and of mythical beings, which this story has an abundance of. This story is about a little girl who lives in Ireland and who can not sing or dance. She visits a farie village and is granted her three wishes, to sing, to dance, and to no longer have a temper. At the end of the story she finds her happily ever after.

     The illustrations are lovely. They are done in watercolor and are very delicate looking. The colors are cool and calm and dream-like. The illustrations are on one page and the text is on the other.

     This story could be used for pure entertainment purposes in the classroom because the pictures are so beautiful. This story has a lot of character development issues that could be discussed. Biddy wasn't happy with her self because she couldn't do the things that the other girls in her village could do. You could talk with students about what it is to be an individual and why it is important to love yourself even if grat things don't happen for you all the time. This book has recieved no awards.

Zoomer

Written and Illustrated by Ned Young

Scholastic Ind., 2010

32 pages

Fiction

     When Mom is away, the pup will play! I chose this book, once again,because it has a cute little puppy in the story! Everyone, including his dad who is overwhelmed, is trying to get Zoomer to get ready for school. He insists that he can't get ready for school...he has to much to do! Zoomer seems to accomplish a crazy amount of things while the other puppies are brushing their teeth and combing their tails! At the end of the story, he lets his dad and brothers in on the reason he is not concerned about getting ready for school...it is Saturday!

     The illustrations seem to be computer generated. They have very bright saturated colors along with some more subdued areas. There is a lot going on in every picture and they are really fun to look at! This story would not be the same without these pictures of all the shenanigans he is getting in to!

     This could lead to a creative narrative writing session where the students come up with imaginary reasons why they can't come to school. Younger student could also benefit by identifying the sequence of the events in the story, and picking out the time order words. This book has received no awards.

     

Knuffle Bunny Too

Written and Illustrated by Mo Willems

Scholastic Inc.,2007

38 pages

     The reason I chose this book is because of the illustrations. I thought they were so intriguing! And I too had a favorite stuffed animal. His name is "Puffy" and he now lives in a shadow box. Trixie takes her bunny to school. She was under the impression that she was the only one who had a bunny like that. Her and her friend Sonja have the same bunny! It didn't take long for them to both get in trouble and the teacher takes the bunnies away. Later that night, as Trixie is snuggling with her bunny, she realizes that she has the wrong one!

     As I said, the illustrations are what hooked me into reading this story. They were done by ink sketches on actual photographs and the effect is so cool! It was fun to look at the pictures and see what was an actual photograph and what was computer generated. The illustrations were also super hilarious. I loved the bunnies expressions!

     You could use this book in any K-5 or first grade classroom just for the enjoyment of the students. The students would be as fascinated as me looking at the pictures, once they realize that they are actual photos taken in a real place. This could also give the teacher the opportunity to introduce the students to the concept of different cities in America. What would it be like to live in a big city like Trixie does? This book received the Caldecott Medal in 2008.

Perfectly Martha

Written and Illustrated by Susan Meddaugh

HMH Publishing, 2004

34 pages

Animal Stories: Fiction

     I am a huge fan of dogs. I am also a fan of giving dogs human names. I also really like Alphabet Soup. (Read the story!) Martha is a talking dog and she plays detective in the story by ratting out a corrupt dog trainer and saving the day for her fellow canines and the poor mislead humans!

     The illustrations were done in pen and watercolors and they are really cute! These illustrations really add so much to the story, word bubbles and all! The text weaves in and out of the pictures that they depict. The colors are very bright and saturated, on a white background.

     I would recommend this book to an older classroom. Fourth grade and up should understand the clever wit in the story. They could research the history of dog training, and the differences between the human brain and that of a dog's brain. They could also make up several different scenario's of how the story could have gone. This books has received no awards.

     

Beverly Billingsly Borrows a Book

Written and Illustrated by Alexander Stadler

Voyager Books, 2002

28 pages

     I borrowed this book from my friend. She thought it would be great for my blog and she was right! In this story, Miss Beverly Billingsly goes through an important rite of passage-recieving her first library card! She checks out her first book from the Piedmont Library-a book about dinosaurs! She becomes so engrossed in the book that it becomes overdue. Beverly worries herself into a tisey, and finally her mother and her take it back to the library. When she returns it, another dinosaur fanatic is wating to check the book out...and so begins the Piedmont Dinosaur Club!

     I am not a fan of the illustrations. I looks to me as if they were computer-generated. I know it is probably meant to look childish, but I think art adds so much to books so it is something that I can't really overlook. The text is in a traditional style, under the illustration.

     I would recommend this book to a very young classroom. It would be a great way to break the ice about going to the library. The students would see that they have some of the same fears, excitement and wonders about the library as Beverly does in the story. This book has not received any awards.

Me and My Dragon

Written and Illustrated by David Biedrzycki

Charlesbridge, 2011

40 pages

General Fiction

     This little dragon's eyes' did me in! What a darling dragon! Once again the cover art hooked me (Here's a hint-this is a common occurrence). This sweet little story is about a little boy who wants a pet...a pet dragon! The second illustration had me cracking up! The little dragon was behind the glass with some pups cowering in the corner! Anyway, this is an informative story (he he) on how to care for a medium size, fire breathing dragon, just in case you ever want one. The boy in the story tells us exactly what to do, and exactly what not to do for your dragon ( No Broccoli!). He also lets us know the advantages to having a dragon as pet. (No bullies! Yay!)

     The illustrations are done in Adobe Photoshop, and they are so super cute! They consist of vibrant, saturated primary colors. Each one is a whole page, and in some cases is the whole spread. The text is in the negative space of the illustration.

     This would make an excellent writing prompt for a personal narrative. The students could think of an imaginary pet that they would like to have and tell the reader why that certain pet is a good one to have. It would also be a great opportunity to talk about responsibility. This book has received no awards.

     

Room on the Broom

Written by: Julia Donaldson

Illustrated by: Axel Scheffler

Penguin Group, 2001

26 pages

General Fiction

     I have been obsessed with Halloween-witches, ghosts, and all things eerie since I was a little girl, so naturally, I love this book...and this particular one came from my personal collection. This is one of my most favorite books to read aloud. The words bounce and dance along! Room on the Broom is about a jolly witch riding her broom through the countryside with her cat. Every witch has a cat, right?! Well, this witch has trouble holding on to her belongings as they glide through the air. Every time she drops something, her and the cat meet a new friend, who she gladly invites on the broom! The last creature she meets is not her friend, but luckily her furry, feathery, and slimy friends come to her rescue!

     The illustrations are lovely. Bright and cheery colors are set on a grayed out background making them pop! The pictures are drawn with what I believe to be pastels, and they are beautifully saturated. Full page pictures, long with mini inset pictures, span the whole page for the most part. The text appears mostly opposite the illustration. 

     Students of all ages would enjoy this book! Uses in the classroom could include a lesson on rhyming words. This would also be an excellent writing prompt to get the students imaginations flowing. You would definitely want to read this around Halloween and incorporate some cute seasonal crafts to go with the story.

This book did not receive any awards.

     

     

The Little White Owl

     Written by: Tracey Corderoy

Illustrated by: Jane Chapman

Magi Publications, 2010

23 pages

General Fiction

     I chose this book because I adore owls! Come on, how could this cover art not catch your eye? The Little White Owl  is a charming story about a baby owl who is lonely, but possesses a brilliant imagination and a gift for coming up with wonderful stories in his mind.. He notices that the sky goes on forever, so he decides to go see the world! On his adventures he meets owls just like him...only they have beautiful colors on their feathers, just like he does in his heart! The colorful owls, who thought he was plain, told him to go away. Still with joy in his heart, and along with all his stories, he shares some of his stories with the colorful owls...and they love them! The little owl gained a whole group of friends because of the joy, and the stories in his heart!

     I love the illustrations in this book! They are gorgeous! The medium is by paint, oil paint, and it is dreamy!

The colors are very calm and cool. The colorful owls are very saturated in their coloring, but the background accurately depicts the still snowy environment. The illustrations span the entire page, and sometimes the whole spread. The text is in the negative portion of the illustration.

     I think that all ages would love this book! (I love it!) Kindergarten would love the big, bright pictures and the simplistic wording. Older children would love to investigate the pictures more closely. As far as incorporating this precious story into the classroom, you could do several things. For kindergarten, you could practice counting the little white owls new colorful friends on each page. For older grades, this could lead to connections to real life lessons on the Snowy Owl, and other types of owls and the different environments they live in. Reading this story could also lead to discussions about the importance of an active imagination, and making friends. This book has no awards, but I don't know why not!

Three Hens and a Peacock

Author: Lestor L. Laminack

Illustrator: Henry Cole

PEACHTREE Publications, 2012
30 Pages

Genre: Fiction

     I chose this book because of the beautiful cover art. It is very eye catching, but more on that later. The Tucker's farm was nice and quiet until...a peacock falls out of a truck putting by down a peaceful country road. The peacock is a little stunned and doesn't really know what to do, so he walks down to the road near the "Fresh Produce" sign. The peacocks pretty plumes get the attention of the passengers traveling down the road. People would stop to get a closer look and for days this went on. As people stopped to see this pretty bird, they would buy tomatoes and eggs, and this made Farmer Tucker very happy. However, there were some that weren't happy at all about this newcomer. The three chickens who provided Farmer Tucker with his eggs didn't understand what all the fuss was about. In the hen house, they fussed and fussed about the peacock and his flashy feathers-and the peacock heard everything. They had said that he wasn't contributing to the farm like they were. This made him very sad. They decided that they would switch jobs! This ends in disastrous and very humorous results!
     
     The illustrations in this book are so pretty! They are done in watercolor, ink, and colored pencil. I think the mixed mediums makes for very interesting art on each page. The colors are very saturated and mostly primary colors. They are also very warm, consisting reds and oranges. It perfectly depits a sleepy country farm. The pages vary from spanning across the 2 page spread and containing the illustration on the same page of text it goes with.

     There are many possibilties for this book being used in the classroom. This could be used to prompt a narrative writting lesson on visiting a farm. Discussing the book could also lead to a conversation about how everyone is important and  contributes to the "team" of a household, a classroom, or a farm.