Picture Book #21

Title:  Nobody Likes Me!

Author:  Raoul Krischanitz

Illustrator: Raoul Krischanitz

Genre: Fiction

Sub genre: Picture book

Publishing Date: 1999

Publisher: North-South Books

Summary:  Buddy is a new dog in town. He asks other animals that don’t like dogs if they will play with him. He gets a lot of rude answers and bad looks. Some even ran away! A fox sees Buddy crying and offers to go with him to ask why no one likes him. Buddy finds out that he can make friends, and he wasn’t what they thought he was.

I would use this book to introduce the term stereotyping to young students. This book shows how the animals think that he is going to hurt them just because he is a dog. This isn’t true because they are reading a book by its cover. This will make students aware that it is not okay to stereotype other students.

Picture Book #20

Title:  Elizabeth and Larry

Author:  Marilyn Sadler

Illustrator: Roger Bollen

Genre: Fiction

Sub genre: Picture book

Publishing Date: 1990

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Elizabeth and Larry are old friends. Elizabeth is in her old age of 62. Their friendship was started by accident when Elizabeth was sent a box of oranges and Larry was in the box. Larry is an alligator. Larry and Elizabeth do everything together. When Larry looks in the mirror one day he realizes he doesn’t look like Elizabeth and that he looks like the other alligators in the zoo. Larry loves to clean so much he sometimes pours dirt on the floor just so he can clean it up! When Larry decides to leave her and move, Elizabeth gets very sad. People try to give her a cat to make her happy, but it does not work. Elizabeth needs Larry.

I would use this book in the classroom before a writing assignment. I would read the book to the students and have them write a story about themselves and their best friend. Each student will then present it to the class and say how they can compare themselves to Elizabeth and Larry.

Picture Book #19

Title:  Feathers for Lunch

Author:  Lois Ehlert

Illustrator: Lois Ehlert

Genre: Fiction

Sub genre: Picture book

Publishing Date: 1990

Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishers

Summary:  The door is left open and the cat gets out. He can’t help himself but to a tasty treat. The cat encounters twelve birds on his journey through the backyard. Every time he tries to get a bird all he gets is feathers from lunch.

I would use this book between lessons to interest the students and keep them on task. Young children have a small attention span, so this book would be great to read on the reading rug between lessons.

Picture Book #18

Title:  First the Egg

Author:  Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Illustrator: Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Genre: Fiction

Sub genre: Picture book

Awards: Caldecott Award

Publishing Date: 2007

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Summary:  What’s first, the chicken or the egg? This book explains what comes from an egg. What do other things come from? This book tells you what come from the tadpole, the seed, the word, and the paint. The book end in saying first the chicken, then the egg!

This book is great to read to any class to get them thinking. Which one comes first, the chicken or the egg? I would use this to get my students attention at the beginning of the day. They can work in groups to discuss which one they think came first. It is a great way to enhance critical thinking.

Picture Book #17

Title:  The Keeping Quilt

Author:  Patricia Polacco

Illustrator: Patricia Polacco

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Sub genre: Picture book

Awards: Sydney Taylor Book Award

Publishing Date: 1988

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Anna is a little girl from Russia who moved to America as a child. As she grew older, her dress didn’t quite fit anymore, so she decided to take her dress, Uncle Vladimir’s shirt, Aunt Havalah’s nightdress, and an apron to make a quilt. The quilt will remind them all of back home in Russia. Anna helped the neighbors and her family supplied with needles and thread as they made the quilt. The story tells of all travels and wonderful memories the new quilt has passing down from generation to generation, ending with the generation of the story teller.

I would use this book in my classroom to teach students about culture and the importance of heirlooms. I would have each of the students being in something that has been passed down to them or something that is special to them to share with the class. I would bring into class a quilt that was passed down in my family and tell the students about its history. This will make the book seem more real.

Picture Book #16

Title: Momma Zooms

Author:  Jane Cowen-Fletcher

Genre: Fiction

Sub genre: Picture book

Themes: Family, Disability, Imagination

Publishing Date: 1992

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Summary: Momma zooms her son everywhere. She is in a wheelchair, and the son doesn't think one thing of it. He uses it in a good way. He calls her wheelchair the zoom machine. Both of the parents join in on all his imagination and fun he has while sitting in his momma's lap. They zoom and zoom and zoom everywhere they go. His favorite one is when his momma zooms his to bed and that's when his momma can just be his momma.

This book would be great to address people with disabilities and how they are the same as the students. This book will even make the students want to zoom in a wheelchair themselves. After the book is read, students can discuss how they would feel and challenges they may face if they were in a wheelchair. Students can then come up with ways of how they would overcome those challenges. The ideas will be collected and the students will then get to ride in their own wheelchair and try to overcome those obstacles. This will help students be more accepting of people with physical handicaps.

Picture Book #15

Title:  No, No Charlie Rascal!

Author: Lorna Kent

Genre: Fiction

Sub genre: Picture books

Theme: Naughtiness, Cats, Unruliness

Publishing date: 1988

Publisher: Penguin Group

Summary: Charlie Rascal is a naughty cat. Charlie tries getting fish out of the fishbowl, eating grandma's pie, and he even slept in the dryer!Charlie is making a mess for everyone in the house. Charlie sure is a little rascal. He stirs up everyone in the town and even has the fire department trying to get him down. 

This book would be great in the classroom for readers who are beginning to read on their own. It would be great for independent reading or even in class time for enjoyment. As you read the pages, the students can guess what Charlie is going to get into next!

Picture Book #14

Title:  Brown Rabbit's Shape Book

Author:  Alan Baker

Genre: Fiction

Sub Genre: Picture book

Theme: Shapes, Colors

Publishing date: 1994

Publisher:  Kingfisher Books

Summary:  Brown rabbit receives a package in the mail. It has a rectangle card and square box. Rabbit opens the box and it has balloons in it. The rabbit starts blowing up the balloons and recall the color of each balloon along the way. In the end the rabbit falls asleep in the box.

This book would be great for preschool and early kindergarteners. This book could supplement a lesson about descriptive words. This books is filled with words on each page that describe the picture. This will make connections visually to the students.

Picture Book #13

Title:  Puppies, Puppies Everywhere!

Author:  Peggy Schaefer

Genre:  Non-fiction

Sub genre: Picture book

Theme: Puppies, Happiness

Publishing date:  2005

Publisher:  Ideals Publications

Summary: The book starts out with a quote by Gene Hill "Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about little puppies." This quote is a great start to this wonderful picture book. The pictures of the puppies make you want to say "aw" or pick one up off the page. These real-life photos of the cute little ones will capture your heart. The book talks about how many puppies there are, what color they could be, what kind they are, and what they can do.

Summary: I would use this book for independent reading with preschoolers and kindergarteners. You could have a bring a pet to class day. This could be their real pet or a stuffed animal. This will make students excited to read and accomplish reading this book all by themselves. You can also supplement this lesson with drawing of a picture of their pet and telling the class about it before they bring it in with describing words.

Picture Book #12

Title: Chicka Chicka ABC

Author:  Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Illustrator:  Lois Ehlert

Genre:  Fiction

Sub genre:  Picture book

Theme: Alphabet

Publishing date: 1989

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing Division

Summary:  The ABC's are all on their way to the top of the tree. The letters talk to eachother on their way up on their journey to the top. This cute little book is a chant that any child can sing along with or without the book because it is so catchy! In the end, all the alphabet is in the tree and it starts to fall to a big Chicka Chicka BOOM BOOM!

This book would be great in the classroom for beginning kindergarteners or preschoolers that are beginning to learn their ABC's, mastering them, or learning to read. Students can connect their ABC's to reading words. 

Chapter Book #8

Title: Chasing Vermeer

Author: Blue Balliet

Illustrator: Brett Helquist

Genre: Fiction

Sub genre: Mystery

Theme:  Adventure, Mystery, Teamwork

Characters: Petra, Calder, Mr. Hussey, Mrs. Sharpe, thief

Summary:  Petra and Calder find themselves solving a mystery as sixth-graders. A mysterious letter is sent to three people and begs them not to tell. The two kids live in Hyde Park, Chicago. Their teacher, Mr. Hussey, teaches them about art which intrigues Petra who questions him. The book tells of the two students solving the mystery piece by piece by solving puzzles with pentiminoes. The book has many pictures, maps, and puzzles that readers can enjoy while trying to figure out the mystery themselves while reading. A thief has stolen one of Vermeer's paintings, and a letter from him has appeared in the newspaper telling them that he has the original A Lady Writing painting, and he will not give it back until they tell him which paintings were originally painted by Vermeer and not a fake. Mrs. Sharpe and Mrs. Hussey are both involved in receiving the letters, so Petra and Calder go to them to investigate. The thief is found dead and was asked to steal the painting and sell it for sixty million dollars.

I would use this book for independent reading during reading time in class. Each student will read a chapter on their own and get into literature circles afterward to enhance their comprehension of the reading. This will get students thinking critically about the reading. The book being a mystery is great for the classroom because it will build suspense and interest the students between lessons.

Chapter Book # 7 Coretta Scott King #2

Title: Elijah of Buxton

Author:  Christopher Paul Curtis

Genre: Historical Fiction

Sub genre: Chapter Book

Themes: Hope

Characters: Elijah, Fredrick Douglas, Bob Majilica, Mr. Leroy, Cooter, Mrs. Holton, Emma Collins, Preacher

Awards: Coretta Scott King, Newberry Honor

Publishing Date: 2007

Publisher: Scholastic Press

 

Summary:  The book is set in 1860 when Elijah Freeman is eleven years old. His is forced to be "grown up" with his parents and other freed slaves in the Buxton Settlement in Canada. He hears about slavery from members of his community who were once slaves and recall stories from the past. Elijah fortunately was born free, so he has no idea the true meaning of being a slave. Elijah learns not to trust everyone when Mr. Leroy trusts the wrong person to help his family and ends up getting money stolen from him. Elijah is now the youngest conductor in the underground railroad in which he helps transport a baby girl to freedom. Elijah makes a journey back to the United States to have Mr. Leroy's family out of slavery to give back to Mr. Leroy for telling him that it was okay to trust him. Elijah is their only hope.

I would use this book to address slavery in the 1800s. This could supplement a lesson on the slave trade and the underground railroad. I would ask the students their thoughts about the underground railroad and what they think it really means. I would also ask why it is called the underground railroad if it is indeed not underground. This would get the students using critical thinking skills and engaged in history.

 

 

 

 

Chapter Book #6 Newberry #1

Title:  The Higher Power of Lucky

Author:  Susan Patron

Illustrator:  Matt Phelan

Genre:  Fiction

Sub genre:  Chapter Book

Theme:  Runaway children, Fear

Characters: Lucky Trimble, Short Sammy, Lucky's dog, Brigitte, Lincoln, Miles, and Dot

Awards: Newberry

Publishing Date: 2006
Publisher: Atheneum Books

Summary:  Lucky is a ten year old who can't wait another day to runaway from her hometown, Hard Pan, California, which has a population of 43. Lucky fears that her legal guardians plan to abandon her to return to France. Lucky wants to be a scientist and has a wild imagination that aspires to seek the "higher power" that will bring stability to her life. All she wants is to have a stable home that is exciting, not in the small town that has very little people in it. Lucky finds listening to Short Sammy through a hole in the wall at the wind chime museum who talks about how hard he has fallen rock-bottom. She likes listening to the conversations because the people in the alcoholic meetings end by saying that they have met the higher power when they hit rock-bottom. Lucky wants to find her higher power.

I would use this book for independent reading, or use it for a class reading. Each student will read part of the book aloud. This will address feelings of a runaway child. The students will be get in a literature circle in groups of five and discuss the book. The students will discuss the feelings of the child and what they would do if they were in her shoes.

Picture Book #11 Orbis Pictus #1

Title: The Secret World of Walter Anderson

 Author: Hester Bess
Illustrator: E.B. Lewis
Genre: Non-Fiction
Subgenre: Biography
Theme: Determination, art, passion, and nature
Characters: Walter Anderson, his wife
Awards: 2010 Orbis Pictus Winner
Publishing Date: 2009
Publisher: Random House Publishing

Summary: Walter Anderson is a famous artist who ventures out to find the perfect moments to capture in nature. He is a painter as well who rows in his boat to Horn Island to create the most wonderful paintings of the nature around him. He kept his room locked, and when he passed away his wife found all his paintings from his days when he would visit Horn Island.

I would use this book to engage students in creativity and art. This book can teach students how art takes patience and determination with a passion. Students can learn to appreciate the beauty of nature. I would have students write a poem about something in nature that they find out at recess. The class would sit outside and paint the scene that they found their item from to teach them how to appreciate nature and be creative.

Chapter Book #5 Mildred L. Batchelder #1

Title: A Time of Miracles

Author:  Anne-Laure Bondoux

Genre:  Fiction

Sub-Genre: Chapter Book

Theme:  War and Survival

Characters: Blaise Fortune, Gloria, Sergi, Abdelmalik, Stambek, Hoop Earring, Dr. Leonidze

Awards: Mildred L. Batchelder

Publishing Date: 2010

Publisher:  Delacorte Press

Summary:  Blaise Fortune tells his story dating back to as early as he can remember which is in 1992 when he lived in a refugee complex with other families. He was born on December 28, 1985 on the French side of the English Channel. The book is set in the early 1990s. Blaise and the woman who cares for him have a five-year journey across the Caucasus and Europe. They go through hardships together and many encounters with other refugees in search for a better life.

I would use this book for independent reading. It will interest students by putting them in a real-life situation, so they can put themselves in their shoes as a refugee.

Picture Book Book #10 Coretta Scott King #1

Title:  Dave the Potter

Author:  Laban Carrick Hill

Illustrator: Bryan Collier

Genre: Historical Fiction

Sub genre: Biography

Theme:  Slavery, African American Culture

Characters: Dave

Awards: Coretta Scott King, Caldecott Honor

Publishing Date: 2010

Publisher:  Little, Brown & Company

 

Summary: Dave is an African American slave who works hard all day and escapes to his pottery wheel at the end of the day. Dave uses his creative mind to escape from reality in what little free time he has. His specialty was making pots, and he used them for many things. Dave has confidence in his work which you can see by the detail that the book has when it describes his love for pottery. 

 

This book would be good for a supplement to black history month. It is a great supplement to a history lesson about slavery to give the students a real-life application of what they are learning in history. This will get students engaged in learning and interest them in the unit.

Picture Book #9 Caldecott #3

Title:  What do You do with a Tail Like This?

Author:  Steve Jenkins

Illustrator:  Robin Page

Genre:Non-fiction

Sub Genre: Informational Book

Theme: Animal science and nature

Characters: Many animals

Awards: Caldecott Honor

Publishing Date:  2003

Publishing Company:  Houghton Mifflin Company

Summary:  The book gives information about different animals and what they can do with their noses, ears, tails, eyes, mouths, and feet. It shows the reader how they all use these things in very different ways. In the back of the book you can read more about all the animals as well as full pictures of each one. 

I would use this book to supplement a science unit to get the students excited about the lesson. I would also address different types of art because of the pictures made out of colorful cut and torn paper. I could supplement the book by allowing the students to pick and animal and make it out of cut or torn colored paper and write things that the animals do that is unique. Each student could present it to the class.