Open This Little Book

Masterfully created and written by Jesse Klausmeier and Suzy Lee, Open This Little Book is a fantastically creative children's book that ignites the imagination and encourages reading. This book is done in a "Russian-doll-esque style", because the book is actually many "books" inside of each other! While the book itself stays the same size, each page gets physically smaller and smaller as it creates a rainbow of pages as you reach the end. This innovative book is about friendships, never-ending stories, and just encompasses the overall excitement of reading. As you turn each page of the book, a new book begins that includes characters and friends from the last page. 

This was such a fun book to read and I'm so glad I picked it up to review. It is colorful, adorable, inviting, and ingenious! It reminded me that books aimed at young readers can still be enjoyed by seasoned readers as well! I thought the characters were cute, and I loved how the last story tied in all of the stories at once. I enjoyed the last page of the book too because it sends a great message to keep on reading! I feel like there are many applications to use this book in the classroom, but for young readers I would focus on either the color aspect or the characters of this book. Students could create their own stories for the animals, possibly by changing the colors to make it unique and their own. They could also create a class book in the same nesting fashion with the stories the student's wrote, even enlarge it to hang on a wall of their classroom. 

Klausmeier, J. (2013). Open this little book. San Fransisco, CA: Chronicle Books.

We Are in a Book!

We Are in a Book! is an early-childhood picture book and also a Geisel Honor award winner, written by Mo Willems. This book stars Piggie and Gerald and captures the hilarity that ensues when they realize they can make the reader say any word they want - because their conversations are part of reading the book! As Piggie and Gerald realize the joy of being read, their laughter cannot be stopped as they "hear" the reader speak the words they say, like "BANANA!" After they calm down, they realize that - oh no - the book ENDS! This was my favorite part in the book because of how the characters reacted to learning this, and also because it encourages readers to reread the book over and over!

I loved this story! I found myself giggling out loud in response to Piggie and Gerald's ongoing laughter about reading the words. The characters' reactions to reading excites readers, and their facial expressions are spot-on for this story and capture readers' attention. I enjoyed how the author used words that are perfect vocabulary for beginning readers, and used great examples of syllables to help young children learn new words. I would like to see this story be animated in a kindergarten or 1st grade classroom by two teachers - one to voice Gerald and one to voice Piggie. This way, the story can come alive and be read like it is supposed to, with emotion and excitement! The class would read along with the teachers and repeat the words from the book in unison.

Willems, Mo. (2010) We are in a book! New York: Disney-Hyperion Books.

Marguerite De Angeli's Book of Nursery & Mother Goose Rhymes

Book of Nursery & Mother Goose Rhymes is a traditional children's book filled with classic poems, fairy tales and rhymes that has been enjoyed by all ages for decades. This Mother Goose title weaves in delicate pencil illustrations, done in both black and white and color, with familiar nursery rhymes that utilize many literary devices such as repetition, alliteration, metaphors, symbolism, rhyming, free-verse and other forms of poetry. Poems such as "Baa Baa Black Sheep" and "Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Pepper" are included.

This book certainly struck a nostalgic string as I read through the pages, many of the poems were familiar to me but there were quite a few that were new. It is a great product of children's literature, and I love how it can be read by children of all ages. I think books like these that aren't written as a novel but instead are a collection of individual works are very versatile in the classroom. For example, in younger grades it can be used by the students to find examples of rhyming words and put them on a word wall. For middle aged students it can be used to analyze different literary or poetic elements like onomatopoeia, metaphors and similes, and alliteration. For older students, they can dissect a particular style of poetry or storytelling and transform it into something else; if the story is a riddle they can try to write their own, if the poem is happy and positive maybe they can use higher-level vocabulary to turn change the mood of the poem.

De Angeli, M. (1954). Book of nursery & mother goose rhymes. Chicago, IL: F.E. Compton Co.

Becoming Ben Franklin: How a Candle-Maker’s Son Helped Light the Flame of Liberty

Becoming Ben Franklin is a biographical story written by acclaimed nonfiction author Russel Freedman. It tells about all of the different sides of Benjamin Franklin and how he was a scientist, printer, inventor and writer. This book speaks about Franklin's achievements, such as being the only Founding Father to sign all four of the major documents that would eventually lead to establishing the nation as the United States, and taking a stance against slavery. The book is filled with great photographs and illustrations of documents, people, and historical diagrams. Overall, it informs readers of how Ben Franklin became an icon during his time, and how he still remains an iconic figure today.

I thought this book was just excellent! The author was very skilled in using well-researched facts and explaining them through great storytelling. It's a fairly short book that is filled to the brim with interesting facts and information, some of which was new to me. It seems like this would be a great book for upper elementary students and certainly for middle schoolers. It would fit right into a U.S. History class as it references many important happenings in our nation's history. It teaches students about the significance of Franklin during the creation of the U.S. while also informing readers of aspects of his personal life. I would use this book as a research reference source for students to use to complete a report on a Founding Father. Students could also use this book to create a timeline of Franklin's life and achievements.

Freedman, R. (2013). Becoming ben franklin: How a candle-maker’s son helped light the flame of liberty. New York: Holiday House Publishing.

Lifetime: The Amazing Numbers in Animal Lives

Written by Lola M. Schaefer and illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal, Lifetime: The Amazing Numbers in Animal Lives is an extraordinary counting picture book that invites readers to learn about some very interesting facts regarding the lives of a variety of animals. Readers learn about the numerous things that can happen in just a single lifetime, such as "a seahorse will birth 1,000 babies" and "a woodpecker will drill 30 roosting holes". The content is based off of real data gained from observing a wild animal from birth to adulthood, and it counts how many times an animal conducts a certain activity or behavior, or gains a particular feature.

This book was really something special, and not like anything I've read before. It was cool to have all of those facts in one place instead of having to learn about one animal at a time. It's intriguing, sometimes astounding, and I learned a lot from reading it! I like that it is exciting yet informational to read, and this book can be tied into many content areas like science, art, reading and math. I would use this book in an elementary class setting during a math lesson. Students would read through the book, and then synthesize the numbers and facts into tangible elements. For example, students might read that a caribou will grow and shed 10 pairs of antlers; they would then use paper cutouts to represent the number 10 on a piece of paper. For the larger numbers (a giraffe will wear 200 spots), students might use pieces of paper that are labeled by 10's to represent the number 200 - there would be 20 pieces of paper to illustrate counting by ten's. Students could illustrate their counting with the animal they are representing.

Schaefer, L. (2013). Lifetime: The amazing numbers in animal lives. San Fransisco, CA: Chronicle Books.

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars is a popular fiction novel (and movie) written by John Green, and is aimed at late middle school to high school leveled audiences. This fantastic novel is about two teenagers, Hazel Lancaster and Augustus Waters, who are both battling terminal illnesses. They first meet at a youth support group for kids who have cancer, although Hazel is not yet aware of the extent of Augustus's illness. Hazel and Gus come together while fighting similar battles, and eventually fall in love. Hazel ends up introducing Gus to her favorite book, An Imperial Affliction, and they both become adamant on meeting the author in person so they can ask him questions about the characters in his book. Through charitable organizations, the two teens are able to fly to Amsterdam to meet the author. Yet, when they meet him, they are confronted by a rude, drunk man who won't answer their questions. The two teens brush it off and try to enjoy the rest of their trip, but on the last day Gus reveals to Hazel that his cancer has returned. After many tears and a short but memorable relationship, Gus passes away and leaves Hazel with a letter that is delivered to her by the author they met in Amsterdam. In the end, Hazel is comforted by Gus's last words to her and the readers are left somber, but happy for her.
  
I had to review this book because I have a personal connection to it that involves my own love for someone very special to me. I think this book can speak to teens and young adults in many ways like this, it truly is a book that stays with you for a long time. I really admired the author's literary style, he uses vocabulary that ties into the title of the book in very subtle ways. Although this book is directed at a slightly older audience and is a youth love-story, it has countless ways that it can be used in the classroom. I would use this book in an English classroom in a book club activity. There are endless directed discussion questions, anticipation guides, opportunities for extended writing prompts, author connections, and higher-level vocabulary terms to go along with this book. I would highly recommend using it in a high school classroom.

Green, J. (2012). The fault in our stars. New York: Dutton Books.

Iguanas in the Snow

In this picture book Iguanas in the Snow, author Francisco X. Alarcón creates a family-friendly story book of poems that celebrates the diversity of people and the changing of the seasons. This is the last book in Alarcón's series and it focuses on the season of winter. This is a bilingual book that has poems written in Spanish and English, though each version is slightly different so it can be told properly in its native language. This story makes connections to different parts of the world by comparing California to Mexico in the winter time. This is a great component of the book because students from different parts of the world can relate to what the seasons are like where they're from.

I like that this book is part of a series on seasons and how they are all written in poetry, especially that they are in two different languages. I really appreciated how each poem was not translated word-for-word in the opposing language so that the special nuances of each language is kept throughout. This book put a smile on my face as I read through it, the poems are very delicate and reign true to each season and the illustrations are lovely. I would use this book in an elementary classroom when learning about the seasons, or about geographical locations and how people experience seasons differently depending on where in the world they live. It's a great way to include components of poetry and how stories can be told in different ways.

Alarcón, F. (2001). Iguanas in the snow. San Fransisco, CA: Children's Book Press.

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow is a historical non-fiction text that tells the story of the millions of children who grew up in Nazi Germany during the time of World War II. This book is about Adolf Hitler and how he recruited millions of children to be part of Germany's "Hitler Youth" groups in his attempt to control the masses. Hitler looked at children as a way to increase his following because children were young, controllable, and easy to persuade. This book is filled with many photographs of these children and is written not as a novel, but as individual true stories. Each story focuses on a different child who either questioned what was happening, or who followed the leaders of the Third Reich. Some children were brave enough to speak against this movement, while others went along with it seamlessly. The stories tell of the different "classes" the children had to take, and about the true power that this leader had over millions of lives.

This book can be disturbing when you think about how these children were basically brainwashed through propaganda and exposed to the horrors of Hitler's command. While reading this book I felt very connected to the stories and the people who told them, while also learning about lesser-known facts and details about the Hitler Youth. This generation of young men and women were indoctrinated under false pretenses to follow this merciless leader during a difficult time of war. I would recommend using this book in a history or English classroom to teach about propaganda and how it still happens today in different ways. I would create a lesson to focus on the symbols in America (with either political or social intentions) and how they are used to persuade society. I would use examples from the text supported by examples of symbolism/propaganda in modern times to enhance comprehension. This book is a great tool to teach children about the intensity and realness of this time and how children much like themselves had little control over what they could and could not believe in.

Bartoletti, S. (2005). Hitler youth: Growing up in hitler's shadow. New York: Scholastic Press.

One Crazy Summer

One Crazy Summer is a youth chapter book written by award-winning author Rita Williams-Garcia. This book is about a young girl named Delphine and her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern who are visiting their mother in California who left them and their father seven years prior. It is set in the summer of 1968 when the Black Panthers were becoming a heavy influence on society. When the girls arrive to California, they are greeted by their mother who acts like she wants nothing to do with them, and won't even allow them in her own kitchen because of some secret meetings held there. Their mother, Cecile, sends the sisters off to a summer camp that is sponsored by the Black Panthers where the girls will end up learning many lessons of their own. Delphine looks after her two younger sisters as a motherly figure while they are on "vacation", and together they learn about their mother's past, discover new things about their own lives and take adventurous journeys of their own.

I thought this was a very good read, I enjoyed the characters and the dialogue very much! The author did a great job writing the dialogue between the three sisters, and I loved how their conversations always included the two younger girls adding in little bits of hilarity and child-like observations. I thought that the setting was very cool and enjoyed reading about this era from a child's point of view. Because this book is a work of historical fiction, I would use this book in the classroom to help integrate units on the Black Power movement of the 60's. It includes social issues and family issues, both of which are great discussion prompts. Since there is a lot of history that students can be learning from this book, I would think to use a KWL chart before, during and after reading. Students could fill out what they already know about this period of civil rights movements, and as they read they can fill in what they have learned. The lesson could extend to talk about family dynamics and how they've changed or stayed the same.

Williams-Garcia, R. (2010). One crazy summer. New York: Harper Collins Children's Books.

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream - Book Review 2

Stone, Tanya L. Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream. 2009. 133 pp. $24.99 hc. Candlewick Press. 9780763645021

Grade Level: 5th and up

Review: This book tells the quest of the “Mercury 13” women, which were the thirteen women who attempted to become apart of NASA’s astronaut program nearly twenty years before the first women were allowed in NASA. This title is a proclamation of the prejudices these women faced as they tried to challenge their own government to allow them to become astronauts in a time where only white males were able to be apart of the missions and command the shuttles, even though the women often outperformed the men in the qualification training tests. What I loved most about this book was that it gives women and girls inspiring examples of female role models in the field of science and space exploration, and the importance it places on overcoming gender roles. Even today there are many gender biases regarding women in the STEM fields, and this book aimed at young readers is a fantastic example of defying those stereotypes. This full-length text is very well-written and the author turns an elaborate political story into something that is comprehensible for children, and is accompanied by full page photographs of the heroic women and their suppressors. Although the text is long and might be intimidating at first glance, the amount of information included is enough to entice any space lover. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to readers because of its power to inspire women to overcome gender roles, especially in the field of science and astronomy.

Recommendation: Recommended

Byline: Chelsea Bland, Graduate Student, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

Garmann's Summer

Written and illustrated by Norwegian author Stian Hole, Garmann's Summer is a unique children's picture book that won the BolognaRagazzi Award in 2007 for it's imaginative storyline and illustrations. This story is about a little boy named Garmann's first day of school, which he is very nervous about! Despite his age, Garmann is a very interesting little boy that ponders over many of life's questions like life, death, fear and courage, beginnings and endings. In his own special way, Garmann observes the world around him, including his eccentric "old aunts" that visit by boat, to help him make sense of his fears and show readers that everyone is scared of something in their own way. Even adults are scared of things in life, not just little kids, which is a great premise for children to understand when they are growing up and facing new things.

My favorite aspect of this story were the illustrations and layout of the book. They are very different and like nothing I've seen before! The author mixes some realistic elements with whimsical artistic variations to create magical images. I also loved Garmann's character because he seems so grown up and wise for such a young boy, and the way that he looks at the world is inspiring and helpful to young readers. The tone of the story is not typical for a children's story book, but I fell in love with it immediately. I could use this picture book in the classroom in many ways that utilize English and creative arts content areas. Since this book has a lot of similes and metaphors within it, it would be a great foundation for a lesson on those literary elements. Students could examine the examples in the book and then create their own similes and metaphors, and then create a collage-like illustration using magazine cutouts (similar style of the book) to accompany their phrase.

Hole, S. (2006). Garmann's summer. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Hiroshima No Pika

Hiroshima No Pika is a story about the catastrophic atomic bomb that devastated the city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. This book is about a young girl named Mii and her family on the day the bomb was dropped, and how she, her mother and her father fled to try and find safety. Hiroshima No Pika is accompanied by harrowing illustrations that depict the tragedy with colors of glowing embers and heavy smoke. It tells of the horrifying outcome of that day, including the deaths of many children, animals and family members and how the entire city was engulfed in flames; the remains of the city were reduced to a burned wasteland. This book also speaks about the second atomic bomb that was dropped on the nearby city of Nagasaki just three days after the first bomb was dropped. Thousands died in these tragedies, and the land and those surrounding it were contaminated by radiation that continued to cause deaths and illnesses for years after the explosions.

I thought this book was really incredible, although very, very sad. It explains in vivid detail the medical trauma that survivors of the attack suffered from radiation exposure and how many of them died from the exposure some time later. It tells how the young girl Mii never grew up after the bomb due to the "flash from the bomb"; her body never grew into adult size. Her father initially survived the burns from the attack, but eventually died from radiation exposure as well. Although this is a devastating story, it is a very important part of Japan's and the United State's history. It would be a great tool to use in a history lesson to introduce the events of World War II that led up to the dropping of these bombs. Students will acquire knowledge about the impact and damage of atomic weapons, and learn about the tragic results of them too. Students could even participate in a debate that discusses the arguments for and against the US using bombs on other nations.

Maruki, T. (1980). Hiroshima no pika. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books.

An Extraordinary Life: The Story of a Monarch Butterfly

Written by Laurence Pringle and illustrated with paintings by Bob Marshall, An Extraordinary Life: The Story of a Monarch Butterfly gives readers a colorful look inside the life of a Monarch butterfly. This book informs the reader of the butterfly's life cycles and describes their migration patterns from Massachusetts to the Rio Grande, an amazing cross-continental flight that spans 2,500 hundred miles. The paintings are labeled and identify the parts of the insects and also illustrate the metamorphosis process from the caterpillar to the butterfly. I thought this was a very cool book and is perfect for young readers just beginning to learn about these insects, it provides them with tons of facts in a very readable format. I absolutely adored the illustrations as well!

This is a perfect book to use as a vocabulary dissection. Students would use the information in this book to create an info-graph or graphic organizer that describes and defines the Monarch butterfly. Students would use critical thinking skills to take away the main ideas from this book, such as: Feeding Habits, Predators, Life Cycle, Migration, Mating, etc, and pull important facts to assemble their graphic organizer. They could also draw anatomically correct illustrations of butterflies to accompany their graphic. Activities like this invite students to really become experts on a word(s) or species by examining a scientific text, interpreting the photographs and facts, and synthesizing it into another product.

Pringle, L. (1997). An extraordinary life: The story of a monarch butterfly. New York: Orchard Books.

Words with Wings

Words with Wings is an inspirational youth novel written in poetic prose from the viewpoint of a daydreaming girl named Gabby. Gabby has always been a daydreamer, like her father, but after her parents started arguing at home she begins using her daydreams as an escape from reality. Her father has moved out of the house, and Gabby and her mom have moved cities where Gabby has to start a new school. She struggles with being the shy, quiet girl as the other students make fun of her. She is often reprimanded for her daydreaming by her teachers, mother and peers. Gabby knows that the world inside her head and the person she is on the inside is beautiful, kind and colorful. She wishes her peers would take the time to get to know that part of her, but a new teacher at her school is the one to open her up. This teachers shows Gabby that her daydreams shouldn't be something to be ashamed of, and Gabby learns that her dreams are actually what can allow her to fly. Even though she struggles with making new friends, moving schools and living without her father, Gabby's spirit soars when she uses her talents to embrace who she is.

This book reminded me a lot of the story Love That Dog by Sharon Creech because it is written in similar style with similar characters and plot. I loved how this book began and how it developed into a blossoming story of imagination, one girl's free spirit, friendship and the power of words. It shows teachers that they can make a difference and change a person's life, and it shows readers who are similar to Gabby that they should embrace the unique qualities that make them who they are. I loved how this story is written in different forms of poetry, yet it's atypical poetry because they don't rhyme and look like they could just be story words. But that's exactly what poetry is, and this book is a great tool to use to get students to warm up to the idea of writing poetry. I would have students read this story (together or as a class) and write their own poems about their life experiences.

Grimes, N. (2013). Words with wings. Honesdale, PA: WordSong.

Beyond the Solar System: Exploring Galaxies, Black Holes, Alien Planets and More

Mary Kay Carson is the author of this amazing science informational text, Beyond the Solar System: Exploring Galaxies, Black Holes, Alien Planets and More. This book is absolutely fantastic, and with good reason it has won the NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book in 2014. Beyond the Solar System includes stunning full-page, full-color photographs of our Universe, of infamous scientists, and other astronomical devices. It includes an incredible two-page timeline that references from prehistory, ancient times, modern times and everything in between. There are numerous info-graphics pertaining to how telescopes work, how to spot constellations, how to identify the rotations of planets, and an HR diagram that displays the lifespan of different stars. It truly has everything needed for a unit on the solar system, including 21 activities for the classroom!

After reading this book or using is as a research source, students will learn about the men and women who have made remarkable contributions to science and astronomy, they will understand the electromagnetic spectrum, and know their place in the Milky Way galaxy. I wish I could own this book for myself and my future classroom, and just might purchase it because of how well designed and informational it is! Pulling from the book itself, an activity I would use in a middle school science classroom would be the "Expand a Balloon-iverse" activity which demonstrates how the Universe is expanding by using stickers, a balloon, measuring tape and markers. It is a cross-curricula activity that integrates science, math and art in which students can measure the distances between the stars on their balloons as the balloon inflates. This shows students that every point in the Universe is generally moving further away and explains concepts from the Big Bang.

Carson, M. K. (2013). Beyond the solar system: Exploring galaxies, black holes, alien planets and more. Chicago, IL: Chicago Review Press, Inc.

Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past

Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past is a scientific non-fiction book that is centered around what we can learn from melting alpine glaciers. This book includes archeological discoveries made from glaciers and educates readers about how when glaciers melt, it uncovers not only the hidden rocky terrain underneath but also the bodies of people who had died in the them. This book begins by informing readers of the oldest body ever discovered in the melting ice of an Austrian glacier - known as "Ötzi" the Ice Man, this mummified corpse was not evidence of a recent death, but actually of a person who had lived 5,300 years ago! Scientific studies on this body led to uncovering more surprising data about humans living in this time period, such as the first instance of using acupuncture and the first two-part shoes. Ötzi still remains to be one of the most important archeological discoveries of all time. Bodies from the Ice includes over 65 rare photographs of the mummified remains of the people who had died within the glaciers, of maps, tools, landscapes and scientists. It includes fascinating information about similar discoveries all around the world that help scientists uncover clues about the Earth's past.

This book truly has it all! It is a vast vessel of knowledge and information regarding scientific discoveries, important male and female contributors to these discoveries, lore about glaciers, and more facts about these giant and interesting bergs of ice. As a lover of all things science, I adored this book. It is packed full of photos and information that could lead to endless discussions and activities regarding many topics such as what we can learn from science, what science learns from it's discoveries, and how the contributions to these scientific explorations teaches us about our planet's history. It has tons of scientific vocabulary and great geographical information to use in the classroom. It would be exciting to use this book and it's photographs to try and determine how much ice has melted from the glaciers by looking at the pictures and the timelines. This book has so many opportunities to lend itself to Project Based Learning as well!

Deem, J. (2008). Bodies from the ice: Melting glaciers and the recovery of the past. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

The Deaf Musicians

The Deaf Musicians is a collaboratively-written picture book by Pete Seeger and Paul DuBois Jacobs, with illustrations done by R. Gregory Christe. This story is one about overcoming obstacles, and how sometimes you can still pursue your dreams even if troubles may come your way. The Deaf Musicians is about a snazzy piano player named Lee who enjoys playing jazzy music with his band every night in a club. Unfortunately, Lee begins to lose his hearing and his band-mates certainly notice when he's not following their cues or hitting the right notes. They tell Lee that they can't have him in the band anymore because no one wants to listen to an off-key pianist. Feeling dejected, Lee takes the subway home. On the way, he sees a sign for a school for the deaf and begins thinking that maybe there is some way to learn something new. After attending the school and meeting new friends, Lee learns sign language and creates a new band of his own that "plays" music through sign language! His band becomes very popular and he and his friends have so much fun playing music again!

I thought this was an amazingly optimistic picture book that includes positive characters, experiences and outcomes. I like that they feature characters with disabilities to help diversify the text. It portrays trying new things to be a comfortable and enjoyable experience, which is great for the students who might be struggling with the same thing. Beginning new things can often be scary because you don't know how people might treat you, but this book shows readers that you can continue to do what you love even if it's in a different way than others might expect. Because this book has so many onomatopoeias that help tell the musical parts of the story, I think this is a great book to use in creative writing or when teaching about sound. Even further, teachers can use this book as an introduction to learning American Sign Language and see how they can communicate through signing.

 Seeger, P., & Jacobs, P. D. (2006). The deaf musicians. New York: The Penguin Group.

All the Lovely Bad Ones

Written by Mary Downing Hahn, All the Lovely Bad Ones is an exciting and sometimes spooky chapter book that tells the story of a brother and sister, Travis and Corey, who are staying at their grandmother's house in Vermont for the summer. But their grandmother's house isn't just any old house, it's a creepy old inn with a history of ghost sightings. There are even books written by ghost hunters about the sightings at the inn, and the two siblings can't wait to investigate the accusations themselves. Travis and Corey are notorious pranksters and can't resist playing good jokes on people, but when they decide to stage a fake ghost sighting of their own, they mistakenly awake the real ghosts that are trapped at the inn. Some of the spirits are playful and mischievous, but others are vengeful and restless. As the Travis and Corey try to understand the messages the spirits are sending them, they begin to uncover the horrifying truths about the inn's grave past.

I first read this book while I was doing a practicum observation in a 5th grade classroom. The students were reading it and I read it too so I could help with assignments. I could not put this book down. It had the intense mystery of any adult fiction novel, but suited for younger readers. I absolutely loved finding out about the horrors that took place almost a century ago at the inn, and I couldn't wait to keep reading to see what happened to the ghosts and how vengeful they would become. I thought this book was actually a little spooky for young readers as it shed light on some unsettling stories and scary characters, but overall the students really enjoyed reading it. I think this would be a great story to use in a Guided Reading activity. Students would be put in groups of 4-5, and each day one group would meet with the teacher at a time to read the story together and discuss guided reading questions relating to the story. By reading this story in guided reading groups, students have more one-on-one time with the teacher to have focused discussions and ask questions related to the plot and character development. The teacher also has a better chance to observe how each student is reading, paying attention, and making inferences and connections.

Hahn, M. (2008). All the lovely bad ones. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing.

The Higher Power of Lucky

The Higher Power of Lucky is a quirky chapter book aimed at children ages 9-11 years, written by Susan Patron and illustrated by Matt Phelan. This book is about a 10 year old girl named Lucky who lives in the small trailer town of Hard Pan, California that has a population of 43 people. Lucky is an aspiring scientist who likes to examine the different species of Hard Pan like her idol Charles Darwin, and is also on a mission to find her own Higher Power. Lucky has heard of this mysterious yet inspiring Higher Power that changes your life for the better from the stories of the people who attend the Anonymous Meetings, whom she cleans up after as a small job. Lucky's story is unique because of her family situation: she never really knew her father and her mother died two years prior when she was eight. Since Lucky then became a warden of the state in need of a guardian, her absent father called on his Parisian ex-wife Bridgette, who flew to California to look after Lucky.

This book continues on to tell the reader of Lucky's fears of being abandoned by Bridgette and her plans to run away into the desert to find her Higher Power. However, her plans are set off-course as a dust storm makes it harder to survive than she expected. In the end, Lucky is reunited with her family and learns to appreciate the good things that can come from bad situations. With an incredibly lovable and relatable cast of characters, I easily fell in love with Lucky's story and the messages readers can take away from it. There are also some great science terminology in this book such as anti-venom, capillaries, specimen and enzymes. Geographical information such as weather patterns associated with certain regions are also included and could be used to examine climate facts.

Patron, S. (2006). The higher power of lucky. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Holes

Today I'm reviewing the well-known young adult novel Holes written by Louis Sachar. Holes won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 1998, and the Newbery Medal in 1999. This is an amazing read that seems to have it all! Family curses, treasure, destiny, poetry, friendship and adventure, Holes has a wonderfully mysterious, yet playful, plot that keeps the reader interested by providing satisfying twists and victories. This novel begins by telling the story of Stanley Yelnats and his misfortune that is blamed on his family's "curse". Stanley was at the wrong place at the wrong time when a stolen pair of shoes drops in his lap and he is accused of stealing. As punishment for his wrongdoings, Stanley is sent to Camp Green Lake, a "juvenile detention facility" in the middle of the desert where the "inmates" of the camp are forced to dig holes all day by the nasty and greedy supervisors.

After befriending a young boy named Zero and having mishaps with the other inmates and faculty, eventually Stanley and Zero escape the camp and runaway into the desert hills. Throughout the story, however, there are many flashbacks that tell the stories of Stanley's and Zero's relatives and how their family curses are actually intertwined. The reader finally realizes that destiny has brought the two boys together so they can help break the curses set upon them by their ancestors. After almost dying of dehydration and exhaustion, the two boys find salvation at the top of a legendary mountain and learn the history of each others families. In the end, every character gets what they deserve and Stanley, Zero and their families live new, happy lives together.

I had read this story when I was in the 6th grade and I remember loving reading it as an assignment. It is interesting, mysterious, funny and unique. This book's plot is a great foundation to teach many things, such as foreshadowing, flashbacks, plot summaries and character development. A fun assignment would be creating a (fake) historical timeline of the incidents in this story and analyze how they connect. Students could also create a family tree for the characters that illustrate how they are connected.

Sachar, L. (1998). Holes. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover

In this adorable and funny book Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover, two friends set on a night of fun are put off-track when their plans go slightly awry. Rabbit invites his friend Robot to his house to sleepover, and plans a whole list of things to do like making pizza, playing Go Fish and watching TV. But when Robot wants to alter the plans slightly by wanting to play other games and eat other foods, Rabbit gets upset! After having a picnic instead of eating at the table, and taking a nap before going to bed, the two friends realize that even though their night didn't go exactly as planned they still had a very fun evening anyways!

Cece Bell, author and illustrator of this short chapter book, tells a story of a common occurrence that happens often between friends! I liked reading this book because it sends a great message to young readers that having fun with your friends doesn't have to go exactly as planned. Some friends like to do different things and like to eat things you might not, and after reading this book children might better understand that it can be fun doing things others like. I would use this book in an elementary classroom to help illustrate cause and effect or sequence of events. There are many events that happen because of a different action that Rabbit did not predict, and using this book to teach predictions and cause and effect would be very helpful to young readers. After reading the story, the teacher could pass out cards with pieces of the story on them. The students could put the events in order, and then talk about which events happened because of something else.

Bell, C. (2012). Rabbit & robot: The sleepover. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.

Everything on a Waffle

Everything on a Waffle is a novel written by Polly Horvath is a delightful and hilarious story about a eleven-year old girl named Primrose Squarp who thinks her parents have been lost at sea. Everyone else in the small town of Coal Harbour thinks that her parents died when her father went into a nasty storm to find her mother, but Primrose believes in her heart that they will return home someday. Until then, Primrose, a now orphan, has to live with her Uncle Jack. In this witty and coming-of-age novel, Primrose observes the different qualities in the various humans she interacts with and through many small adventures and mix-ups, finds her place in Coal Harbour. Eventually and to everyone's surprise, Primrose's parents find their way home after many months of truly being lost at sea. Primrose is united back with her family with a newly-found look on life.

This was an amazing story that was filled with quirky characters, delicious recipes and a unique plot line. Primrose was a such an easy character to like, and I found myself rooting for her all the way! There were so many funny, sad and interesting events that happened in this story, and I felt like it was very easy to maintain my interest while reading. I love the idea of using this story in a middle school classroom as a unit book. Each student would get a copy of the book and dates on when they should read each chapter. A fun activity would be to use this book in literature circles, where the class is divided into three groups and each member has a role and activity assigned to them. For example, there would be an activity packet that is to include a character sketch, a written summary, a question generator, and a word wizard/definition page. All students would work together in their group to complete the literature circle.

Horvath, Polly. (2001). Everything on a waffle. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Journey

Journey is a stunningly illustrated wordless picture book about a young girl who uses her imagination and creativity to go on an adventurous journey of a lifetime. Author and illustrator Aaron Becker creates a dream world of magical places, creatures and people that was constructed from inside the mind of an ordinary child who needed an escape from her lonely life. This book begins in a greyish world, one where the girl can't find friends or family to talk or play with her. Then she uses a magical marker to draw a door on her bedroom wall that opens to a new colorful world, filled with flying carpets, mystical ships and even a new friend. This book also reminded me of the anime movie Castle in the Sky by Hayao Miyazaki.

I enjoyed reading Journey because it is so relatable for many of us, especially children. Some children grow up in situations where they don't have many friends, available parents or toys to play with. Everyone has felt alone at some point in their life and has wished to escape to a fantasy world, and this book captures this feeling perfectly. It shows readers that your imagination is a gateway to going to new places and seeing new things, even if you can't physically do them. I would use this book in a classroom as an introduction to creative writing. First the students would read the story once over, looking at the images, places and colors. Then a discussion about the book could follow, where the students can speak about what the book meant to them and how the places were influenced by places around the world. Finally, the students could write their own short story piece about an imaginative journey and illustrate a piece of their story as well.

Becker, A. (2013). Journey. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute is a graphic novel in the Lunch Lady series, written by Jarrett Krosoczka. The plot of the books in this series involves a crime fighting lunch lady who defends justice and defends her school from peril. In this book, Lunch Lady goes on a mission to uncover the mystery of the new substitute, Mr. Pasteur, who she finds out is a cyborg programmed to replace the popular teachers at school! The evil science teacher, Mr. Edison, is jealous of the well-liked teachers and wishes to win Teacher of the Year by way of sabotage. After following the substitute home from school one day, the Lunch Lady discovers he is a robot and is then promptly attacked by an army of cyborgs! If it weren't for the help of her nosy students, the Breakfast Bunch, who followed her to see what the life of a lunch lady entailed outside of school, then they might not have succeeded in getting away unharmed.

I really enjoyed reading another story from the Lunch Lady series, it was funny, suspenseful and clever! I liked how the characters ended up embracing their interests that other students thought were silly or uncool, and I also enjoyed that the characters stood up for themselves to a school bully. That shows readers that being yourself is a good thing and you're allowed to like what you like, regardless if it's "cool" or not. Also, standing up to a bully with confidence and non-violence may be easier after you've proved you can save the world from cyborgs! I would use this story in the classroom because it is a high-interest novel for students. It has a great mix of familiar words and content-specific vocabulary. I like that they used the names of famous scientists as character names, such as Edison and Pasteur. This could be a great introductory book for a science classroom, the teacher or students can take turns reading the story aloud while pausing to circle unfamiliar words. Then, the class could go over and discuss the meanings of those words or names to define. To branch off of this activity, after learning about the names of famous scientists students could write a short comic strip using one famous person as a main character to tell a story about their life or achievements.

Krosoczka, J. (2009). Lunch lady and the cyborg substitute. New York: Random House.

Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Colors

Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Colors is a recipient of the Caldecott Honor in 2010 and was written by award-winning poet Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Pamela Zagarensk. This children's picture book is about the four seasons and the many colors that are associated with each one. Ocean blue in the summer, black echos in winter, and red cardinals that return in spring. This is a circular story written in poetic prose that teaches children about how the four seasons are connected with objects, feelings, smells and sights that come back around every year. 

This book is a great tool to use when teaching about colors or the seasons, and can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom. Something that can be a helpful strategy when learning new vocabulary words or content words, such as the four seasons, is to illustrate the word with visual descriptions that correlate with that word. For example, students can write the word "Winter" in letters that look like blocks of ice, snowflakes, hot coco, etc to make comprehension more attainable. Or the word "Spring" with cherry blossoms and green leaves. This story is also available in Princess Anne Library's online audiobook library, which is a great alternative to having students silently read. While the story is being read aloud on the computer, students might even use some kinesthetic learning by standing up and mimicking the words and actions in the story, such as "low bending branch" (children would bend down low and sweep their arms around like branches).

Sidman, J. (2009). Red sings from treetops: A year in colors. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Knock Knock: My Dad's Dream for Me

Knock Knock: My Dad's Dream for Me is a heartfelt, wonderfully illustrated picture book that tells a painful yet inspirational story of how an absent parent can effect a child's life forever. This story is about a young boy who finds joy and happiness in a little game he and his father play every morning called "Knock Knock", where his father knocks on the boy's door in the morning and the boy pretends not to hear him until he comes in to say "I love you". One day, the "knock knocks" stop coming, and the boy is confused and sad when his father stops playing their game. After months of his father being gone, the boy writes him a letter asking him to come home because he still has so much to learn from him. Eventually, his father writes him a letter back and tells him many inspirational and loving words to help him grow as a person and as a man. In the end through the author's note, the reader realizes that the father's absence was because he had been incarcerated. This story really hit home for me not because I can relate to the story, but because it reminded me why reading is so important for children. Reading doesn't simply teach students things or make them more competent readers, but often times it also gives children something to relate to when they may not have someone or something to relate to at home. This book shows children who are hurting in the same way as the main character how they might deal with their emotions about having an absent parent. The illustrations in this book were amazing, almost 3D, and it really supported the story and the setting.

I would use this book in the classroom as an introduction to writing personal stories. Writing can often be very therapeutic for people going through sad or emotional times, and using this book as a model for either talking about your problems or writing about them is a great idea. In the book, although the boy felt upset and sometimes directionless after his father left, he learned a lot from his father's wise words that eventually helped him succeed in his future. This could be used to help students confront their feelings and channel it into writing a personal piece of their own to show what they went through and how they grew or learned from it. I would highly recommend this story to anyone, regardless of their age or their background. I believe it was a very worthy recipient of the Coretta Scott King award in 2014.

Beaty, D. (2013). Knock knock: My dad's dream for me. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Fancy Nancy Sees Stars

Today's book is titled Fancy Nancy Sees Stars, written by Jane O'Connor. Fancy Nancy Sees Stars is an "I Can Read!" book assigned to beginning readers at the 1st-2nd grade reading level. This book is about a little girl named Nancy who loves the stars! She is so excited when her class decides to take a night trip to the planetarium because she knows so much about the stars and constellations already, but when a rainstorm ruins the show, Nancy gets very sad. But not to worry! By the time Nancy's family gets home, the rain is gone and the sky is full of stars. Nancy and her family and friends decide to have their own night sky show in their backyard where they observe many constellations and even see a meteor. I loved this book for it's genuine characters that have a passion for astronomy even at such a young age. I think this sends a great message to younger children to get them excited about learning more about earth science and the solar system.

My favorite thing about this story (aside from the fact that it's about stars and stargazers!) is that the author includes subtle definitions of words that may be foreign to readers within the dialogue. For example, when Nancy tells the reader that her class will be visiting the planetarium, she then says "That is a museum about stars and planets". This is an excellent component of the story that will be very helpful for students reading at this level. Not only does it introduce them to new words, but it defines them so they are less intimidating, they can learn them right away without having to remember to look it up, and it makes the story more understandable when it uses words that students can understand. This would be a great book to use in the classroom when making a word wall of unfamiliar words, specifically for astronomy or earth science unit. Students could read through the book and write out the longer, harder words and then define them on a piece of paper. The teacher could then hang it up on a designated word wall where students can add words they find from other books or words they've learned in a lesson. This is a great way to increase earth science vocabulary knowledge in younger students. I look forward to reading more stories from the Fancy Nancy series!

O'Connor, J. (2008). Fancy nancy sees stars. New York: Harper Collins.

All Aboard the Dinotrain

Today's book is a TumbleBook, which is an online resource library that provides animated, talking story books for kids of all ages. I chose to read the story All Aboard the Dinotrain by Deb Lund. This rhyming picture book stars a thrill-seeking cast of dinosaurs that are taking a crazy ride on the dinotrain, which is more like a roller coaster! The train goes up, down and all around crazy twists and turns before the crew realizes their brakes are out! All the dinos have to work together to make a safe landing with a splash in a river where they all arrive happy and laughing. I thought this was a very cute book and I loved how the different dinosaurs all had different jobs. I thought the book was a great way to send the message to young children of the importance of working together to get a job done safely, and that working with a team can be fun! I can see this book being used in a PreK-2nd grade classroom when learning about using rhyming to enhance comprehension. Each student could be assigned a page in the book to help read, and then identify all the rhyming words on the page. Students can analyze why the words rhyme due to different vowels, and it can increase motivation because each student has a specific page assigned to them. Audio books such as these are also very helpful for students who struggle with reading.

Lund, D. (2006). All aboard the dinotrain. Florida: Harcourt Books.

Flotsam

In this Caldecott award-winning picture book titled Flotsam, author David Wiesner tells a fantastical story only in pictures about a young boy who finds something magical washed up on the beach. Wiesner's picture book is a wordless story with breathtaking illustrations that depict a mystical underwater camera that still has film inside. Once developed, the pictures capture wondrous images of dreamlike scenarios: mechanical fish, starfish islands, and octopi reading books to their babies. Not only that, but there is also a picture with what is called the "droste effect", which means a picture inside of a picture - this time of children taking photos with the previous photo of a child holding a photo! This story ended up being my favorite I've read so far because it is such a unique story, much of which is left up to the imagination! This could be used in a classroom with younger students where they think of their own magical stories that happen during a seemingly normal activity. In Flotsam's case, an ordinary beach day turned into discovering an amazing treasure. Students can make their own fictional stories that follow this same design.

Wiesner, D. (2006). Flotsam. New York: Clarion Books.

Zen Shorts

Zen Shorts is an inspiring and whimsical tale of a giant panda bear named Stillwater and his three new friends Addy, Michael and Karl. Stillwater the bear has just moved in next door to the three siblings, and day by day each sibling goes to visit the panda. On each of their visits, Stillwater tells the children a story. His stories are filled with short meditations and concepts about life to think about, including giving without expecting to receive and carrying the weight of burdens that are useless to us. I really loved this book and think the messages that author Jon Muth relays are some of the most important to carry throughout life, and can be easily understood by young children. The characters, especially Stillwater, have something to teach everyone who reads this colorful story. I think this book could be used in every classroom regardless of age group because the messages are important for children and adults to understand. I imagine it being used as inspiration for students to create their own zen shorts: short stories that carry a big message. It's also a great tool to teach perspective in writing, or to look at character development with young children.

Muth, J. J. (2005). Zen shorts. New York: Scholastic Press.

Lunch Lady and the Picture Day Peril

Lunch Lady and the Picture Day Peril, a book from the Lunch Lady series, is a graphic novel written by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. Krosoczka tells a story of when picture day at Thompson Brook goes horribly wrong as famous photographer Stefani DePino arrives at the school with an evil plot to infect all the students with acne! DePino scams the students out of their money so she can rule the fashion world in Paris, but not before justice is served by the heroic Lunch Lady. I really enjoyed reading this book because it was relatable, funny, and the characters were comically fighting for a great cause. I like the idea of using graphic novels such as this one as a way to bridge the gap for reluctant readers between not wanting to read full novels and reading more complex literature. I can see this being used when learning about text styles and narrative structures, or it could be used as inspiration to re-write a piece of literature in comic form. Non-traditional texts can spark student interest because of the high level of illustrations and the more relaxed and sparse writing style, and can open the door to new opportunities for reading.

Krosoczka, J. J. (2012). Lunch lady and the picture day peril. New York: Random House.

Tears of a Tiger - Book Review 1

Draper, Sharon. Tears of a Tiger. 1994. 194 pp. $6.99 pbk. New York: Simon-Pulse Publishing. 0689806981

Grade Level: 8th-9th

Review: In Tears of a Tiger, Sharon Draper tells a heart-wrenching story about a seventeen-year old boy named Andy who is scarred with grief and remorse after he inadvertently kills his best friend in a drunk driving accident. The novel follows Andy’s transformation post-accident, telling his story through personal letters, poems, and newspaper articles. This style of writing is often appealing to struggling readers. Draper’s novel, told in alternative viewpoints and written in short chapters, is filled with intense emotion and life lessons that are important to the age group the book is directed towards. This realistic fiction novel deals with death, grief, racial issues, dysfunctional families, and suicide. Tears of a Tiger brings awareness to social issues and helps assist students in understanding that they can take control over situations in their lives with the decisions they make. Although this novel has won many awards, it is evident that it is controversial in nature and may spark debates among parents or members of the community. This story is based on the subject of underage drinking and driving which may not be appreciated by readers or parents, yet the consequences of this action are graphically pointed out and the novel heavily explores the ramifications of it. By reading this novel, students are subjected to real problems faced by young people today. By talking about them in a safe environment, students are able to learn about these life lessons and how to avoid being part of the negative consequences.

Recommendation: Recommended

Byline: Chelsea R. Bland, Graduate Student, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA.

Green

Laura Seeger's award-winning picture book Green is a fabulous sensory concept book that asks the question, "How many kinds of green are there?" Green showcases the homage of a single color in all of its multidimensional beauty, from the sea green of a turtle to the "slow-green" of an inchworm. This is a high-quality story that allows the reader to take a deeper look at the transformative powers of something as simple as color. My initial impression of this book was, "Wow!", due to the stellar and seamless illustrations accompanied with subtle cutouts on each page. There are hidden words in the pictures which make the book exciting and unique, and the author displays a wide variety of green and non-green things and places.

Green would be a great tool to use in Pre-K-3rd grade classrooms to ignite a curiosity to observe and explore the world around you. Students can create their own books using a different color for inspiration that showcases objects and places of all colors; a fun accompaniment would be to go on a scavenger hunt outside to find colorful examples. This is also a great book for studying adjectives and learning about all the different ways "green" can be "green". This book can help young students build a stronger vocabulary by examining all the ways can we describe the color green, or any color in the spectrum!

Seeger, L. (2012). Green. New York: Roaring Book Press.

A Ball for Daisy

In this bright and colorful wordless picture book A Ball for Daisy, author Chris Raschka tells the story of a little dog named Daisy and her favorite red ball. Daisy plays with the ball, sleeps with the ball and one day even takes it to the park. On that day, another dog takes Daisy's ball and accidentally pops it. Daisy leaves the park very sad and upset, and for the next few days mopes around the house longing for her lost ball. Then one day Daisy returns to the park where she finds the same dog who popped her red ball, but this time the dog has brought a new blue ball to replace Daisy's old one. Daisy has found happiness again!

This would be a great book to use when learning about making inferences and predictions while reading a story. An important step in learning how to be a good reader is learning to stop and ask questions while you're reading, and this being a wordless story is a great opportunity to try to make inferences about the character Daisy and how she is feeling as the story progresses. Alternatively students can write their own dialogue for this story to share with others.

Raschka, C. (2011). A ball for daisy. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books.

The Moon Over Star

The Moon Over Star, written by Dianna Aston and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, is a book set during the first moon landing on July 20, 1969. This book caught my eye because of my passion for astronomy and the accomplishments of our nation's space program NASA, but the story itself made me sure I wanted to read it. The Moon Over Star is about a young girl named Mae who, like the rest of the world on that day, had her eyes on the sky as Apollo 11 landed on the moon for the first time. Mae was inspired after that day to chase her dreams, no matter how big or small. This book captures the excitement and wonder everyone felt on that day, and would be an excellent addition to any classroom. I would use this book prior to having students write a prompt on a big dream or aspiration of their own, and how they think they can reach it. Or, you could use this story as a component of an earth science unit or as a timeline piece when learning about America's history and accomplishments.

This is a beautiful story of imagination, about the dreams we all hold inside, and the gathering of people to watch the most monumental moment in human history. This moment, captured in a picture book, was the most tuned-in television airing in the world at that time. It was a time for humanity to come together to witness what it looks like when a nation's aspiration to reach a goal is met.

Aston, D. (2008). The moon over star. New York: The Penguin Group.

Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom

Written by Shane W. Evans, Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom is a artfully illustrated and sparsely-worded picture book about a family's journey on the Underground Railroad. Underground speaks volumes about the struggle for many slaves to find freedom by escaping in the night, some alone and some with their families. Through their journey some of them found solace in kind strangers' homes, and some unfortunately were caught and brought back to their owners, but none could have survived without the Underground Railroad. This book has minimal dialogue but an expansive storyline that draws the reader in with every turn of the page. In the classroom, this book could be used as an introduction to learning about slavery in the United States or when concentrating on the stories of people affected by the Underground Railroad. It could be used in a history or literature class to include cross-curricular standards.

Evans, S. W. (2011). Underground: Finding the light to freedom. New York: Roaring Book Press

Kitten's First Full Moon

Kitten's First Full Moon is a picture book illustrated and written by Kevin Henkes. Henkes tells the story of a little kitten who spots the full moon in the sky for the first time. Since the kitten has never seen the moon before, she believes it to be a bowl of milk waiting just for her. The kitten stretches, climbs, reaches and chases the moon but can never reach it. Sad and tired that she couldn't reach the full moon, the kitten returns home to find a nice bowl of milk waiting for her on the front steps. The little kitten had quite a night! I loved this story and thought it was a cute way to portray many situations in life we all encounter: seeing new things for the first time and being unsure of what they are, or chasing after something that you can never truly grasp. This book could be used to teach cause and effect in not only an action causing a reaction, but how that can apply to people's feelings and moods too. For being aimed at younger children, I think this book does a great job with showing kids that sometimes in life you may not get things you want no matter how hard you want them, but you may find that sometimes life can surprise you in little unexpected ways.

Henkins, K. (2004). Kitten's first full moon. New York: Harper Collins.

Love That Dog

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech is a story about a boy named Jack who discovers his talent and interest in poetry while learning about poems in his class. The novel is written in stanzas in a conversational tone, which allows the reader to really feel like they are apart of Jack's journey of being exposed to different types of poems and writers. Jack first begins this story by showing little interest in poems after his teacher asks students to write their own. Slowly, Jack not only becomes inspired by poetry authors to write his own poems about his life, but learns to take pride and ownership of his work that gave him a voice. This book would be excellent to use as an intro to a poetry unit to help ease students into the topic or to help open students' minds to give poetry a chance. Many students are weary about the subject of poetry and this book allows students to see that inspiration can come from unexpected places. It should also work as a motif to carry throughout your classroom all year because of it's unique and subtle stand on gender roles and stereotypes. Personally when I read this book it reminded me of myself; I became enthralled with "making words into pictures" and typing them up because it really made it seem like my words were real poetry when I was younger. And I will admit, I may have shed a tear at Jack's final poem about Sky.

Creech, S. (2001). Love that dog. New York: Harper Collins.

The Lion and the Mouse

For my folktale picture book I chose to read The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney. This book was a winner of the Caldecott Medal in 2010 and is a wordless story illustrated with beautiful artwork by the author. The Lion & the Mouse is a age-old folktale about the king of the jungle, The Lion, who gets caught in a tangled situation where only the smallest of friends, The Mouse, can help. The story is a tale of friendship of how even the quaintest of beings can be the ones to save you when you need help. This book can be used in many ways in the classroom, but I like the idea of incorporating it into a segment about storytelling and how there is more than one way to convey messages and meaning. I like the moral of the story that shows that everyone, big and small, needs help sometimes and how all characters have their worth. I feel like Pinkney did the original Aesop story justice when re-publishing it as a wordless book to create a sense of wonder and imagination, and the illustrations combined with onomatopoeias are enough to tell the story in a new way. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours!

Pinkney, J. (2009). The lion & the mouse. New York: Little, Brown Books.

Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet

Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet, written by David McLimas, is a picture book that won the Caldecott Honor Award in 2007. Gone Wild takes you on an awesome alphabet safari to showcase some of the world's endangered species, like the Swan Goose and the Andean Flamingo, as letters of the alphabet. McLimas highlights the differences between critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable species before starting the alphabet, and uses bold illustrations to create animals out of letters. McLimas not only provides an endangered animal per letter, but also includes statistics and facts about each animal to create an enriching and exciting lesson. This book could be used as an introduction to learning about endangered animals and species of the world, as a component of a geography lesson that involves learning about which animals live on different continents, or as a resource for students looking to research an endangered animal. This picture book is very informative and I personally learned a lot that I didn't know before, and McLimas does a great job including animals from many unique parts of the world. My personal reaction to this book was that it made me immediately want to look up pictures and more facts about these rare and beautiful animals.

McLimas, D. (2006). Gone wild: An endangered animal alphabet. New York: Walker Publishing Company.