Chapter Book #4

Title:  Anne of Green Gables

Author:  L. M. Montgomery and Condensed by Margaret DeKeyser

Illustrator:  Jerry Dillingham

Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Sub Genre:  Chapter Book

Primary and Secondary Characters:  

Ann, Marilla, Matthew, Mrs. Alexander Spencer, The Hammonds, Diana Barry, Gilbert Blythe

Publishing Date: 2011

Publisher: Dalmatian Press

Summary:  Anne is an orphan from Nova Scotia. Marilla and Matthew decide to adopt an orphan boy to work on their farm and something went wrong because they sent Anne instead. Anne is a very imaginative and bright young lady who sees herself as interesting looking. At first, Marilla insists that Anne must go back to the orphanage, but then she decides a few days later that she may stay. Anne gets made fun of for her long, red hair which makes Anne have a hatred for the boy immediately. She also makes a new best friend here at her new school named Diana Barry. Toward the end Anne gets a scholarship to go to school to get a teaching license, and she gets it in one year instead of two. Marilla becomes widowed and Anne decide to stay home with her to help her out. Gilbert goes to teach at a different school, so Anne can take his place. Their friendship now gets closer and Anne is able to go to Green Gables during the week and help Marilla.

I would use this book in my classroom for independent reading time. It would be a good book for young readers because it has a lot of full page pictures in it, yet it is still clearly a chapter book. 

Chapter Book #3

Title:  Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Author:  Lewis Carroll and Condensed by Debbie Guthery

Illustrator:  Jason Alexander

Genre: Fiction

Sub Genre:  Chapter Book

Primary and secondary characters: 

Alice, Cheshire Cat, the Hatter, the White Rabbit, the Duchess, and the Evil Queen

Publishing Date: 2011

Publisher:  Dalmatian Publishing Group

Summary:  This is a story of a bored little girl who is looking for an adventure. She sees a rabbit looking at his watch saying he is going to be late, so she follows him and falls down the rabbit hole which takes her to a wonderland of talking animals and an evil queen. She meets characters such as the Cheshire Cat, the Hatter, Dormouse, The White Rabbit, the Duchess, and the evil queen. In the end,  she comes to find out that she had been sleeping under a tree, and it was just a dream. 

I would use this book for entertainment of the students and independent reading.

Chapter Book #2

Title:  Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

Author:  Kate Douglas Wiggin and Condensed by Louise Colln

Illustrator: Ruth Palmer

Genre: Fiction

Sub Genre: Chapter Book
Primary and Secondary Characters:
Rebecca, Aunt Miranda, Lorenzo Randall, Aurelia Randall, Hannah,
the Cobbs, aunt Jane, Emma Perkins, Mr. Aladdin, Miss Maxwell

Publication Date: 2011

Publisher: Dalmatian Press

Summary: The story starts with Rebecca's journey to Riverboro. She is going to live with her two aunts, Miranda and Jane. She is the second oldest of seven children. Since her father died, she is going to live with her aunts to get a better life. She loves to write little poems and songs to entertain her brothers and sisters. She is the one who named their farm Sunnybrook. Her aunts weren't too thrilled to see that she was the one to come and live with them, so they taught her how to sew and cook. They wanted her to be a proper young lady. Throughout the book she grows into a young lady and ends up having to go back home to take care of her mother back home because she fell ill.

I would use this book to reach the hearts of students and interest them in reading. It would be a good book for independent reading time.

Chapter Book #1

Title:  Oliver Twist

Author:  Charles Dickens & Condensed by W.T. Robinson

Illustrator:  Martin Hargreaves

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Sub Genre: Chapter Book
Primary and Secondary Characters:
Oliver, Mr. Sowerberry, Mrs. Corney, Charlotte, Jack Dawkins,
Fagin, Charley Bates, Bill Sikes, Toby Crackit, Monks, Mrs. Maylie,
Rose Maylie, Noah Claypole

Date Published:  2011

Publisher:  Dalmation Press

Summary:  This book is a shortened version of the original Oliver Twist geared towards younger readers. Oliver is a workhouse orphan who is mistreated. he runs away to London to have a better life, at least he had hoped. His chance at a better life lies in the hands of thieves and a man who follows his every move. He chases thieves and tries to figure out the mystery of handkerchiefs and jewels.  This frightens Oliver, but he knows that he has to figure out the mystery. Oliver finally meets Mr. Brownlow who loved him very much and gave him books to study each day to learn how to live a better life. 

I would use this book to interest the students since he is a young boy. Many students will be able to relate to him.

Picture Book #8 Caldecott #2

Title:  Red Sings from Treetops

Author:  Joyce Sidman

Illustrator:  Pamela Zagarenski

Genre: Fiction
Sub genre: Poetry
Theme: Seasons can be described with color
Primary and secondary characters: A child and a puppy 
Awards:
2010 Caldecott Honor Award
Claudia Lewis Poetry Award
Minnesota Book Award
Cybilis Poetry Award
Horn Book Fanfare
Bulletin Editor's Choice
CCBC Choices 2010
New York Public Library's "100 Titles for  Reading and Sharing"
ABC "Indie" Best Book
Junior Library Quild Selection
Publication Date: 2009
Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

Summary:  This book begins by going through all the colors of spring through little poems that describe all things in nature in the spring. The rain even tastes green! White describes the thunderstorms. There are many examples of onomatopoeia which enhances the descriptions. Each color is personified into different things you see in the spring. For example, when it talks about the sun, it melts everything it touches. The seasons change throughout the book, and it describes them all. Finally, it describes the color red which is a little red bird in the treetop to end the book.

I would use this book to teach students about personification and poetry. This is a great way for students to relate something in their world to the skills being learned.

Picture Book #7 Poetry #1

Title:  Blast Off! Poems About Space

Author:  Lee Bennett Hopkins

Illustrator: Melissa Sweet

Genre:  Nonfiction

Subgenre:  Poetry

Publishing Date:  1995

Publisher:  Harper Collins Publishers

Summary:  This book is composed of many poems that are selected by Lee Hopkins abut the many wonders of space. it talks about the planets, stars, other life, comets, and the moon. There is even a letter written to the moon from all of us below. It also talks about astronauts and the unknown in outer space.

I would use this book to supplement a science lesson in the classroom to teach students about space. There is even a poem that would be great for students to memorize to learn all the names of the planets. It would be a great addition to a science lesson for any elementary grade level.

Picture Book #6

Title:  Olivia and the Missing Toy

Author:  Ian Falconer

Illustrator:  Ian Falconer

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre: Fantasy

Publishing Date:  2003

Publishing Company:  Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing

Summary:  Olivia is a little pig who plays soccer in a big, ugly, green shirt. She wants to look different from the rest of the team, so she asks her mother to make her a red shirt to replace her green one. Her mother makes her red shirt, and Olivia had just lost her toy. She acts as if it is the end of the world because that is her favorite toy. She need her toy now! She looked everywhere. As Olivia yells while finding her toy, the text get bigger and bigger on the page. Olivia finds her toy, and she gets upset. Soon enough, she can't stay mad forever.

I would use this story to read to the class for reading time in the younger grades. This is a great book for young kids. We could even do an activity where they color their own shirt, so they can be different from the rest of the team.

Picture Book #5

Title:  Giant and the Bean Stalk

Author:  Diane Stanley

Illustrator:  Diane Stanley

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre:  Folk Talk

Publishing Date:  2004

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers

Summary:  Otto was a giant with razor sharp teeth and beady, little eyes. He was enormous like any other giant. He was caring and polite which is unlike any other giant. His parents let him have a pet, and he chose a hen over a dragon! A little human man came to the land of the giants and stole Otto's hen. Otto climbs down the beanstalk because this is an emergency. Otto goes on a big adventure to find his hen. Otto surprisingly made being fierce go out of style for the giants. 

I would use this in my classroom to teach about folk tales and how they change with each story teller. This version includes different nursery rhymes that you can catch throughout the story. 

Picture Book #4 Caldecott #1

Title:  The Hello, Goodbye Window

Author: Norton Juster

Illustrator:  Chris Raschka

Genre: Fiction

Theme:  

Primary Characters: Girl

Secondary Characters: Nanna and Poppy

Date of publication: 2005

Publishing Company:  Hyperion Books for Children

Summary:  The "hello, goodbye window" is in the kitchen. Many things happen at this window. She sometimes  makes faces in the window when visiting. She does all the things every other kid does when someone is inside a house and they pass through the window. She does anything from pressing her face to it and saying hello and goodbye. She recalls all the times she has with her grandparents. They all involve the window in one way or another.

I would use this book in a classroom for story time. I would read behind a big cut out of a window. This would enhance the students' imagination. This book will allow students to relate to the book which will engage them in story time.

Picture Book #3

Title: Where is Grandpa

Author: T.A. Barron

Illustrator:  Chris K. Soentpiet

Genre:  Fiction

Theme:  Love and remembrance through death

Primary characters: Boy, Grandpa

Secondary Characters: Mom, Dad, Sister, and Brother

Date of publication:  2000

Publishing Company:  Philomel Books

Summary: A boy recalls memories he has with his grandpa. One day his grandpa dies and the whole family reminisces his death. The family recalls good times they had with grandpa. This still doesn't get the boy to talk very much until his dad tells him that he went to heaven and heaven is everywhere. The boy then smiled and realized he is everywhere.

I would use this book in the classroom for the readers' enjoyment. I don't know how I could use this in a lesson, but it would be great for young readers.