Love That Dog By Sharon Creech

Loved.
This.
Book.

I feel the same way that Jack does about poems. I have never quite understood what defines a poem from all other different forms of writing. I am struggling to write a poem of my own for my Block A English class. I think that poems are almost too easy to write, that it makes it too hard to write one! I really liked that Jack's voice was hear throughout the novel. I thought that it was really creative and I enjoyed the inclusion of the well known poets. I think that this book would really work well in a classroom setting because it is funny, but also educational. I think that the author included the poems that were referenced by Jack in the back of the book. Overall, this book was a fast and easy read that I think would be appreciated by readers of all ages.

City I Love By Lee Bennett Hopkins

I think that the cover is very catchy because of the giant read heart that surrounds the world Love in the title. I think that the font and design of each poem is very creative. There is no poem that has the words written out traditionally. The spacing, angle, direction of the words are arranged creatively that each embrace the poems. I think that having the poems each having a different appearance to them is beneficial to keep the readers attention and it adds another element to the poems. I enjoyed that some of the poems were told from animals. For example there is a poem written by a mother bird who is pleading to the sirens to be quiet for they are waking her newborn pigeons. I also enjoyed the title of the last poem because it is the title of the book. I felt that this little detail made the book become a whole, and tied the ideas together. I think that the illustrations were beautifully painted and included many great details from the poems. I would include this poem book in my classroom, especially if I teach in an urban setting.

A Friend Is Someone Who Likes You By Joan Walsh Anglund

This book caught my attention because of its small size. This book has a very dainty design and simple style, but the message is big. I found the story to be very pleasant because it makes me think of friends in a different way. I learned that friends do not have to be people, but friends are also trees, mice, and even wind. I think that it has a wonderful storyline, but is not a “must have” book for a classroom library. If I were to read this book as a read aloud, I would have my students write about their friend after reading the short story.

The Butterfly Jar By Jeff Moss

This large collection of children’s poems included a variety of subjects. I enjoyed this book because it has something to offer for everyone. There are long poems, short poems, serious poems, and funny poems. I liked that the illustrations were not colored and they were comprised of few lines and drawn by pen. I think that the poems are easy to understand and are about relevant topics. I think that having poems written about subjects that children can understand, for example punishments, one enjoys the book more. I found the poems to be pleasurable because the author made it seem as if they were written by a child. I would definitely include this poem book in my classroom; it is similar to that of the Shel Silverstein poem books. I think that this poem book is appropriate for grades first through fifth.

A Poem For a Pickle By Eve Merriam

Poems can often times be dry and lack exciting plots. I was drawn to this poem book because it says “funnybone verses” on the cover. I was not quite sure how funny I would think the poems would be, but after reading them I think that students would really enjoy them. The “thinking part” of the poems is kept to a minimum; the poems explain themselves and are easy to understand. The objects are the subjects of the poems, which are descriptive and pickup on the unique characteristics of the objects. I found that the illustrations are appropriate for the tone of the poems. The colored pencil illustrations make it seem as if a student has written the book. I think that this book would be an appropriate book to have in a primary grade library. I think that the “funny” poems would be enjoyable read for young students.

Tiny Dreams, Sprouting Tall By Laura Purdie Salas

The book includes a collection of poems that are all about the United States. I thought that the illustrations being photographs was unique from my other poem books. I think that children like looking at photographs because it is similar to traveling and taking pictures. While reading through the multiple poems, one can feel like they are traveling around the United States. I found that the poems were all different from each other and that the “Language of Poetry” was helpful in the back of the book. The languages were described in detail and included definitions about each type of poem that was written. I thought that this was a nice addition to the book, however it was not necessary. I think that the glossary was very helpful, especially for students who are not familiar with the terms. I would use this book in my classroom because it offers many different styles of poems.

My Name Is Sangoel By Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed

I was touched by the tone of this book. The ending was really unexpected because it was a very mature reaction for such a young boy. I thought that this book included both happy and sad moments, each grabbing my attention as a reader. I think that the illustrations being painted in water color was fine and the page setup worked well for the storyline. I think that the story was very powerful and has a wonderful message. I think that it is important for everyone to stay true to their beliefs and to portray this idea in a story book sends a positive message to its readers. This book also incorporates diversity because the main character traveled to America and was unfamiliar with the culture and sports. I would read this book as a read aloud. I think that it would be a good book to have in the classroom, especially if I have a new student with a difficult name to pronounce. I think that the nametag idea of Sangoel was creative and I would have my students do the same.

Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow By Joyce Sidman

I found this poem book to be very enjoyable because the poems were all nature themed. I thought that it was very clever the way each poem was set up as a “guessing game.” Each page has a spread that included two poems and each poem asked the question, “What am I?” These questions were answered on the next spread of pages. I thought that the information about each insect, animal, or part of nature was well written. My attention was captured by the bring colors and the detailed illustrations. I found that the nature was drawn differently then other picture books because it appears to be a lithograph sketch design. I think that this book has a lot of information and the words are fairly difficult for primary grade students. I would recommend this poem book to be used in third grade classrooms. I enjoyed how there was not a poem on each page, instead every other page, making this book unique.

Dear World By Takayo Noda

I am currently writing a poem to my sister and found this book to be very helpful. It is a collection of poems that are directed to different things found in our world. Cars, Valentines, The Ocean, Snow, are a few examples of the poems that are included. The style of the poems are unique because they are set up in question form. I enjoyed when the author asks “Snow” if it will be back tomorrow. The illustrations are also very well constructed. They appear like collage because the images lie flat on each other and do not have much volume. The font of the book is playful because the titles are not capitalize, which coordinates well with the illustrations. The format is consistent throughout the book. There are very few punctuation marks and no more then six paragraphs with four lines. I found this book very helpful for my cause, which is to write a poem. I think that having a large selection of poem books in one’s classroom is important because poems vary greatly. I think that this poem book would be an excellent transition into a poetry unit for primary grades.

Natalie and Naughtily By Vincent X. Kirsch

The two young girls and the picture of the mall on the cover grabbed my attention. Shopping is my weakness, so I had high expectations for this book. The two characters are sisters who live on top of the store. The sisters remind me of my sister Carrie, because we are exact opposites, just like in the story. The story is catching in the beginning because it introduces the mall, but once introduced it became repetitive. The girls went to each floor of the store and each time they were told to leave. I thought that this was predictable and it lost my attention. I think that for younger readers who need repetition it would be a great read, but the story line bore me. The pictures are very dainty and I believe that young girls would really like the bright pink colors. I think that the map in the back of the book was a very clever addition made by the author because it allowed the reader to see what the girls gave Rudy Toolittle. This book would be useful in a classroom setting, but it would not be my first choice.

Amelia Bedelia’s First Day of School By Herman Parish

This book captures the entire first day of school for young students. I really enjoyed reading this book as an adult because it captures all the excitement and energy of young students. I loved the enthusiasm of Amelia Bedelia, and found her to act similar to that of Junie B. Jones. The colors and tone of the book is really happy and carefree, which spread positive vibes to me while reading. I enjoyed the ending when the teacher said that it was her first day of school, because I will soon have that first day experience too. I found it interesting how the new teacher did not yell or loose her patience with Amelia. I am hoping that students enjoy this book as much as I did, and maybe it would work well as a book to read for the first day of school. I think that the words may be too difficult for a first grader to read in the beginning of the school year, but I think that first graders would definitely enjoy this read.

Pastry School in Paris By Cindy Neuschwander

Having lived in France before, I am intrigued to reading books that relate to traveling. Pastry and Paris are two of my favorite things, so I thought what better then to read a book that combines the two! I thought that this book does a wonderful job of telling the story from the viewpoint of the two young children. This brother and sister are learning to cook in France and have difficulties because of the different measuring systems. I think that learning about other countries measuring systems a very good lesson to be taught to students. Not only is this a good book to read at home while baking, but also in school because it can serve as a math lesson. I think that this book, with help from the emotion shown in the illustrations, one can find a lot of enjoyment from reading. I would use this book in my classrooms, especially for students interested in cooking and France.

Twist By Janet S. Wong

As an active yoga participate and dancer, I hope to teach my students healthy ways to exercise and stretch if possible. I think that this book is a very well written because it includes real positions and poses used in yoga, but in poem format. The illustrations are very detailed and traditional. The sixteen poems serve as an educational tool and also a creative way to demonstrate moods and emotions. I find that the colors tone of the poems relate well to each other. For example, the Warrior pose poem is colored in black and the Half-moon position is a bright pink. I believe that this book could serve as a tool for gym teachers or even an after school dance team. The poems could be an inspiration for young students to write about activities that mean a lot to them. I know that a lot of young boys like to write about sports, and after reading this book, they could brainstorm ideas of how to write a poem about sports. This book would be helpful for students in grades fifth and younger.

Bees, Snails, and Peacock Tails By Betsy Franco

This book has a peacock on the cover, similarly to zoos where peacocks demand attention; I was drawn to the book because of the bright colorful feathers. The illustrations in the book are sharp and appear as if they are stamps or cutouts. The author and illustrator worked together to concentrate on the shapes of the objects. For example, when studying a beehive “you will see the mathematical genius of the bee. The hexagons you’ll find inside fit side by side by side.” Not only does the book have cleaver rhymes, but it also educates its reader. I really enjoy the layout of the book because the illustrations are bright and colorful. The pictures take up the entire page and the words are in different formations. Having the words circle around the puffer fish and sit inside a rock are helpful details that capture the reader’s attention. I think that this book would work really well for a science unit. I believe that this book would be most beneficial for second and third grade readers.

The Elephant and The Tree By Jin Pyn Lee

I really enjoyed the simplicity of this book. Only black paper was used and the color of the font was white and green. I found the words to be very powerful and meaningful, unlike in the book Leaf. The font was very childlike and playful, but the story is serious in the end because both the tree and elephant were killed. This book sends the message to readers that not only do people have feelings, but the animals do too. The elephant and tree were very happy and had traits of humans. These traits made me feel bad for the elephant and tree when they could no longer be together. The black paper and bright green chalk marks would be a great idea for incorporating a creative project in the classroom. I might introduce this book as a lesson for talking about why animals are becoming extinct. I feel that this book is written for younger children because of the size of the book, and the difficulty of words on each page. However, the subject matter could also be for more mature audiences, so I would recommend the book for grades first, second, and third.

Leaf By Stephen Michael King

This book caught my attention by the amount of green that the cover is colored in. I opened the book and read the cover page which states, “ideas, sound effects, and pictures by Stephen Michael King” and that is exactly what the book is about. I was really intrigued by how little words this picture book included, but how the story still read fluently with help from the images. There are simple illustrations that are painted in watercolor and outlined in pen. The little boy is the main character and he gets a seed planted on his head by a bird. The seed begins to grow into a plant, and the little boy and his dog go on adventures together. The mom tried to cut the boys hair, which was demonstrated through sound effects, but only succeeds in cutting the boys hair in the end of the picture book. The book made me realize how important illustrations are because they told the story on their own. I really enjoyed this book and felt that it would work really well in a classroom setting. I would recommend this book for grades first thru forth.

The Year of Impossible Goodbyes By Sook Nyul Choi

Having lived on a military base in South Korea, I remember visiting museums and hearing about the trauma that many families went through. It is strange to think about how I went into North Korea with the United States Military and no many people are fortunate to experience that. This book brings back memories for me of when I lived in Korea. I think that I have a great appreciation for the culture. I have never been good at history and I was confused at times as to what was happening at the time. I think that this book would be a good idea to keep in a classroom library. Having had the experience of living with other military families during the Iraq War, I feel that it is important to teach children about other families and how they live during times of war.

So Far From the Bamboo Grove By Yoko Kawashima Watkins

I usually do not like history, and would have never chosen to read this book on my own. However, having said that, I am glad that I was introduced to this book. I felt connected to the characters and was shocked by some of the results that happened in the book. For example having thrown a dead baby out of a moving train and having the mother jump after the baby was a shock to me. I think that these details made me feel really bad because of the harsh conditions. I was surprised by how sad I felt while reading the book and would not have expected to feel so bad. The part that made me realize how privileged I am, was comparing my school to Ko’s and how I have everything I could ask for to be successful in school. Computer, books, pencils, paper, etc are taken for granted on a daily basis. I am very blessed that I have not had to suffer or go through any of the hardships that took place in this book. I think that it is important to address and to make students aware of hardship and difficult situations and therefore would have this book in my classroom.

Would I Ever Lie To You? By Caralyn Buehner

This book is something that all children with siblings can relate to. The main idea of the book is about teasing. This book would be a good mini lesson to teach young children about bullying. The examples in the book are playful and to older children may seem quite obvious that they are jokes, but to younger children they are serious questions. I found the illustrations and the characters images to fit the mood of the book really well. The tone is good-humored because it is told from the perspective of a young child. The illustrations are exaggerated and display a lot of emotion. I feel that young readers would really enjoy this book and I would recommend it for students in grades second and third.

Uncle Lester’s Hat By Howie Schneider

This book incorporates a playful role of traveling. I think that the use of colored pencil for the illustrations helps keep the tone of the book very carefree and lighthearted. There are two main characters in the book, the uncle and his nephew. The uncle starts off in the beginning of the book by never leaving his chair, until one day when he receives an old hat. This hat becomes the inspiration for the uncle to begin his travels and to get up off his chair. The hat “blows” all around the world, introducing the reader to different countries. I think that this book is wonderfully written, it has the tone of the little boys voice well displayed within the dialogue between him and his aunt. It also sets a good example for children to explore and to not sit and watch television. It demonstrates that there is more to life, then just watching the television and exploring things around you. I think that this book would be great for children who have an interest in traveling. I think that the reading level would be appropriate for grades up until third. If I were to incorporate this book in my classroom, I would have a passport activity were each child would “travel” to different places in the room. The different parts of the room would represent a different country for the students to learn about.

Chicken Dance By Tammi Sauer

The cover of this book reminds me of the Stinky Cheese Man. The colors are very similar, and there is also an illustration of chicken. The inside cover of the book is creative because there are illustrations of the dance steps to the “Dancing with Marge and Lola.” This book sends a positive message, which is to not give up and to stay true to one ’s self. The competition that takes place in the book showcases the barnyard animals and their talents. Each year the ducks win the contest, but the chickens were determined to win this year. The chickens did not win, but they were chosen by Elvis Poultry to perform in his act. I think that this story is very playful and exciting. I think that young children will like the idea of animals having a talent competition and adults will enjoy the “Elvis” chicken. I would recommend this book for a classroom grades first through third. If I were to read this book as a read aloud, I might even have my own classroom talent show too.

Good Day Bad Days By Catherine Anholt

This book is beautifully illustrated in colored pencil. It illustrates the story really well, so that a beginning reader could tell from the pictures what the book is about. The book has little words, but it has a powerful message that everyone goes through mood swings, bad and good. The book mentions many different days that one can experience: play days, rainy days, slow days, and sick days-just to name a few. There is one word per page which allows for the illustrations to take on a large role for the picture book. I think that beginning readers would really enjoy this book. I especially like the ending because it states that there is no day like today. I think that is a good message to send to children, in order for them to appreciate each day. I would recommend for parents to read this book to their young children or for a first grade classroom.

39 Uses for a Friend By Harriet Ziefert

This book is has a very simple layout. The cover illustrates two best friends with a tree and a dog. The book has basic drawings with little details. This story has many creative ideas for what friends can be used for. I thought that friends being used as “alarm clocks, sprinklers, back scratchers, and as a napkin” were original. I enjoyed how each page has a border on the outside of the picture that added a unique quality to the simple page design. I also liked how the characters were different for each description. There are multiple races and both male and female paired together. I found that the font of the text was also very appropriate because it appears to be handwritten by a child. The words are advanced for a beginning reader, but with help from the illustration one could make an educated guess. I would recommend this book in a classroom library for grades first though forth. I think that it displays positive messages about friends.

How do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? By Jane Yolen

This book is very similar to How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? The set up of the book is the same, but what is different is that there is a moral lesson taught. This book addresses the idea of love and how it is unconditional. These dinosaurs do some bad things, for example threw sand out of the sandbox and flooded the house when played in the sink. Even though the dinosaurs did all these things, they were still told that they were loved. I think that is a great message to send to kids. It is important for children to know that even if they make mistakes they are still cared about. Love is something that everyone should have in their lifetime and learning about how it is unconditional at a young age is important. I think that this book would be better suited for an at home read, but is still appropriate for school. I think that the book would be best for younger readers, approximately first and second grade. The story can also be told through the illustrations, for they are very detailed and go hand in hand with the story line.

How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? by Jane Yolen

I was drawn to the book because the title had to do with school. The big yellow dinosaur stands out among the background compliment color purple, catches the audiences eyes. Because the title is a question, I was intrigued to read on to find out with the answer was. The text is very large in size so that it can be read by a younger reader. The dinosaurs are painted in bright colors and do not look scary. I liked how the dinosaurs have humanistic qualities to them, making it easy for a young reader to connect with the dinosaurs. In the beginning of the book, it had situations where the dinosaur would not behave, but in the end it shows that the dinosaur can behave and be helpful. I liked how the dinosaurs are labeled discretely so that someone interested in learning different dinosaurs would be interested in this book. I think that this book would be a good idea to have in a classroom. Both boys and girls could seek enjoyment in reading this picture book, especially those who like animals.

All Those Secrets of the World by Jane Yolen

The cover of this book caught my eye because it has a young sister and brother standing is the ocean holding hands. I thought that it was very cute, but I worried for them because of the boats in the background of the cover illustration. The illustrator’s decision to paint with dark and dull colors sets the tone as very serious. The illustrations show the characters to be very emotional and sad, as they should because it is during a time of War and their father was deployed. I think that this story sends a good message because how the family stayed strong and helped each other though the time of trouble. I think that because of all the children whose parents or family members that serve our country by working in our armed forces, this book is beneficial in a classroom. The book can serve as a tool to help explain further what military families go through during a time of war. I think that this book is for second graders through fourth because War can be a scary topic.

Baby Bear’s Chairs by Jane Yolen

One can tell by opening the cover that this book is written for a younger audience. There are bright colors and stylized pictures. The illustrations are painted in water color which gives them a soft warm feeling. The story is told in poem from perspective of a little bear. He begins observing how some bears sit in big chairs, unlike the baby bears that sit in little bears. This young bear is describing the difference between adults, children, and infants. I thought that the book was clever because it made the adult life to seem wonderful, just like how I thought when I was younger. Jane Yolen used the example of staying up late, which I used to envy when I was little. I enjoyed the ending because it tied the story together by showing that the infant does have a great life. The little bear rests in his Papa’s chest, which most young children can all relate too. I think that this book is a great book to tell before bed. The baby bear falls asleep at the end, so it would be a good transition for a child’s bedtime. Similar to Grandma’s Hurrying Child, I do not think that I would read this as a read aloud in my classroom, but it is a great book for adults read to their child.

Grandma’s Hurrying Child by Jane Yolen

I have not read many books that are written from a Grandparents perspective. I thought that this book would be appealing to young girls, like the main character herself. The book is about a Grandma telling her grandchild Maddy how she was a “hurrying child.” She got the nickname because the grandma was almost late to see her being born at the hospital, because Maddy was born earlier then expected. I found the pictures to be very detailed and followed the story really well. I like the bright colors that are painted with watercolor. I think that it gives the book a soft and “girly” touch to it. I also liked when the illustrator divided the pictures diagonally so that the reader could see what the family was doing while the grandma was traveling to greet Maddy at the hospital. I think that this is a wonderful book to be read before bedtime or by a grandparent, but I wonder if it would be popular in a classroom. It is definitely appropriate, but I think that it is a story to be read by a family member instead of a teacher because of the subject.

Glogster

Reflection

I have really enjoyed Children’s Literature so far. I have greatly enjoyed rereading picture books I read as a child, while also reading new books. The organization of the class is helpful because I know what to expect each week. I think that having five picture books and one chapter book each week is a reasonable request. It allows for me to have enough variety among my book choices, but is not overwhelming so I do not rush through the books. I thought that it was very helpful when the librarian came and talked to the class. I found her tips on how to analyze a picture book to be very helpful. The genre project was very helpful also, and I plan to use the books my classmates chose in my future classroom. I enjoyed reading The Giver and The Misfits as a class. I think that it was beneficial to read books as a class, because I enjoyed discussing with other classmates. Having a discussion about books is really important. I think that having an informal classroom environment allows for the students to open up, and therefore benefit from the conversations. I think it is a great idea that we are incorporating technology into this class. I think that it is important to have other mediums of books because technology is becoming a large part of our daily lives. If I were to make a recommendation, I would dedicate a week to books on tape, computer books, or any other type of book that is not in a paper format. I am excited to learn how to use the “Glogger” cite and to continue to learn about fun and interesting children’s books.

The Misfits By James Howe

I really enjoyed reading this book! The dialogs between Addie and the other characters read like a quick read. It was hard to put this book down because I could analysis my own experiences. I remember being embarrassed in school and feeling out of place at times. Addie’s character was my favorite because I feel like she really stood up for what she believed in. I, unlike Addie, would never have the guts to not stand up for the pledge at school! I think that it is important for us to remember that children do understand what is going on around them and might not be as “innocent” as we think they are. I feel that this book covers a lot of topics that young students are going through in school. There are the day to day issues and bullying that takes place, but also the struggles and insecurities. I really liked how each character had their own unique personality. It makes the reader really feel for them and a young student in middle school could possible feel a “text to text” connection. The only controversy I felt that took place in the book is the two gay characters (Joe and Collin). I think that the issue of homosexuality is still fairly new and not yet fully accepted. I feel that it is a topic that is important to talk about and with the right audience this book would be appropriate. I think that I would have this book in my classroom for older elementary students to read.

Nappy Hair By Carolivia Herron

This controversial picture book points out that black people have hair that can be nappy. The cover of the book has a young black girl who is looking up at her dark hair with the title "Nappy Hair" written in white to stand out. The background is red, which compliments the dark color of her hair. The endpaper is white and has a picture of the young girl skipping along withe the title colored with primary colors. The story begins with an old man stating that the story happened at a backyard party. I thought this to be helpful for me as a reader to think that this was a "true story" and that young black girls go through situations similar to the one in the book. The illustrations have very little white in them, the sky is even a bright colored orange and sometimes purple. I think that the illustrator did this because the people in the book are of black skin and the orange goes well with brown. Because the story took place at a backyard picnic, there are two different fonts in the book. One font is what the family says to the girl, and the other is the girls response. If I were to read this book to my class, I think it would be a good way to the students to get involved by staying the young girls response. I think that this book shows that everyone is different, include their hair and it is okay. This book could teach a lesson that looks and images are not important and sometimes it is out of a persons control, like the girls hair. I think it was a happy ending because the young girl was proud of her uniqueness and dealt with the fact that she had nappy hair.

Friends from the Other Side By Gloria Anzaldua

This controversial book has a unique approach to incorporating another culture and language more then any of the other diversity picture books I have read. The cover has an image of a young girl standing with her arms crossed. Her face looks like she is staring off into the distance. She is standing near a tree and wildlife that is looking in the same direction as the young girl. The background is mainly yellow colored and the title is written in purple. I believe it shows intention is placed on the individual more then the title because of the small font. The end papers are of a solid bright blue color that matches the blue jeans of the girl on the cover. The illustrations are colored in colored pencil, which makes it very informal because there are a lot of white spaces between each colored line. I think that the illustrator did this one purpose because it makes it more "kid friendly" and one could think that it was written by the young girl that is a main character in the book. I liked how the English and Spanish was separated into two different paragraphs, but it makes me wonder if it draws attention to a literal separation between the two countries. I think that it is important to have the Spanish in the book because it allows for those students who do not speak English to read the book and to be able to have a connection to the characters. If I were to use this book in my classroom, I would tie it into a lesson of history and immigration rules. I think that all students would benefit on what it means to be an American citizen and what immigrants have to go through to become a legal citizen as well.

Smoky Night By Eve Bunting

This controversial book did a very good job of incorporating the illustrations into the story. The illustrations are in a collage form that makes the pages look three-dimensional. I really like the variety of color seen throughout each paper, even the endpaper is set up in collage. There is a great deal of texture in the illustrations, but it does not take away from the story because the words are typed in black that are sectioned off on top of a solid colored paper. The main characters in the book are painted in a Cubism form that reminds me of Picasso when he painted "Les Desmoiselles D'Avigon." This is because there are sharp angles and thick black lines that outline the figures. I think that it is a good story for children to read because it shows how important family is in bad situations. This family had riots going on outside there home and there house was set on fire. The young girl listened to her mom and remained brave throughout the incident. I like the page layout because the words were always on the left hand side of the page and then the illustration was on the right side. There are issues of race that young children might not understand, but it is important to introduce them to other cultures. If I were to use this book in my classroom, I would have my students create their own collage along with a story about a time they had to be brave.

White Wash By Ntozake Shange

This book shocked me the most out of all the controversial picture books. I liked the cover of the book because it foreshadowed what was going to take place. I think that for teachers and parents that do not want to talk about racial subjects they would know from the cover this was not a book for them to read to a child. The font is very realistic to what graffiti looks like, making the illustrations more reasonable. The illustrations set the tone for the book. They illustrate two black children with dark blue and purple colors behind them, this is a symbol for danger, unlike bright yellow that could represent happy and cheerful emotions. The font is also typed to look handwritten like it could be graffiti too. I like how the pictures take up most of the page, making the reader aware of what is going on to the girl visually. I was disturbed that these "Hawks" attacked a young girl calling her a "mud" person. I think that this book is for an older audience who understands that this event that took place is not appropriate. I felt sorry for the girl because she was spray painted white in the face. Racism still exists and that is why it is important to introduce the topic to students. I think that this book does a good job of having a happy ending because her classmates protect her and make her feel happy in the end. I noticed that the class was multi raced and that even the white students came to Helene-Angel's house. If I were to use this book in my classroom I would make sure that the students understand what diversity is and talk about bullying.

Fly Away Home By Eve Bunting

This "controversial" book made me feel really bad for the boy and his father. I am used to reading really positive and upbeat children's book, but this one had a different message. The cover shows the father and son sitting in an airport terminal. The two people look really sad and lonely in the illustration. I really liked the illustrations because they showed a lot of important facial details and the colors were appropriate. The emotions were not cheerful so the colors remained dull like the characters feelings. They remained upbeat about life, especially the ending because he saw a similarity to the bird that eventually escaped the airport. I like how the endpaper was plain white with no extra images drawn on them. It gives the book a serious and more mature feeling to it. I can see this book as being really controversial for parents that do not want to teach their children about how it is for struggling parents. They want to teach there kids to be responsible and have a job. Being homeless is not the ideal situation for anyone, and teaching kids how to live in an airport is not something adults want children to know. I think that it is a good idea for children to read books that are diverse and teach about different ways of living. I feel that this book does open the door to conversations that are important to have with your children. I do not think that this is the type of book I would keep in my classroom. I think that it is something that parents should have at home and read with their child.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

I vaguely remember reading this book back in sixth grade. Reading it the second time, I found that I have a greater appreciation for the current society that we live in. It is strange for me to think about how much we can take for granted on a daily basis. Memory was a theme throughout the book that made me look at my life from a different lens. While reading about the strenuous training that Jonas had to go through to become the next Giver, I felt really sorry for him. It was hard to me to read about a little twelve year old going through all that pain alone, especially when he experienced war. This book seemed over my head in the beginning because I was trying to guess what was going to happen next. I think the part that made me realize that this community was unique, was when the characters had certain jobs and responsibilities depending on ones age. For example when a member of the community member turns nine they are allowed to ride bikes. I found this to as a stereotype that could relate to the life that we live in. There are certain standards that one must upheld or they are seen as out of the norm. Being able to talk, walk, and read are some of the characteristics that parents find important to be able to do at a certain age. It is almost as if we are assigned to be able to do things on a timely fashion too. In our school system we expect students to be able to read in first grade and write in cursive handwriting by forth grade. It is almost the same thing that the characters in the book had to go through. I have mixed feelings about how it would be to live in that community. In the book it mentions that when one turns eight they are allowed to wear sweaters with small buttons and pockets (Lowry 45). They are also no mirrors in this society. I thought about how much easier people would have not having to worry about what they look like. In todays society, there is so much pressure put on people to look and dress a certain way. Because all of the members are assigned a "uniform" of what to wear, I think that it is one's characteristics that matter, not their image. I feel that young adults can learn a lot from this book. It allows the reader to think about their life in a different way and appreciate both pain and happiness. If I were to use this book in my classroom I would have my students keep a personal journal while reading so they could reflect on the events and how it made them feel.

Mr. Mosquito Put on His Tuxedo- Barbara Olenyik Morrow

The title, Mr. Mosquito Put on His Tuxedo reminded me of watching Bugs Life, James and the Giant Peach, and other stories that have talking insects. I thought that it was clever for the illustrator to draw the insects all dressed up in their formal attire standing on a red colored surface. It is as if the mosquitoes are walking the red carpet at the Oscars. I think that the color choices on the cover were good because it allows for the black to pop out. The red lettering on top of the blue background is also a good compliment. The back of the book has a picture of a medal, which the readers find out at the end is an award given to the hero insect. I think that this was a creative addition to the exterior of the picture book. The endpaper is a very bright red which grabbed my attention right away. I felt that the illustrations were very appropriate for the style of the storyline. The font of the lettering was helpful for teachers if they were to read the book aloud to their class. There are words that are enlarged and/or in italics to emphasis specific parts of the book. I think that the illustrations were very well done. The colors and size of the insects are very appropriate, it makes the reader believe in this fantasy world of insects. I would use this book in my classroom for grades first-forth.

For Sale: One Brother- P. Stren

The audience for this book is for girls who have other siblings, mainly younger brothers. It is clear from the title that this little girl does not want to live with her brother anymore. The illustrator draws in the perspective of this little girl who is the narrator. Molly starts off talking like she is writing in her journal. The format of the book is set up like a notebook with a handmade drawing of Molly's above or below the text. The illustrations play a large role in this picture book. I felt myself paying less attention to the story then the images. The images were made out of markers and pen, but are very bright in color. The images also have labeling and dialog within them. I found this to be helpful to have words, but it was also a big distraction. The images were very realistic and I could see other young girls being able to relate to the story. The endpaper was also patterned like her illustrations, allowing the reader to get a sense of how elaborate the drawings are going to be. I would recommend this book for younger girls that are interested in art. I think that they would really enjoy the many bright illustrations. There is a happy ending for all the girls to think about who have arguments with their younger brothers. I think that those students of an older age who understand you can not sell a person will think that the book is funny.

Henry and Mudge (The First Book) - Cynthia Rylant

This level two read together book is decked out in dog bones, including the outline of the title. One can tell from the cover that this book is going to tell a story about a little boy and his dog. The illustration on the cover page gives the reader an visualization of what is going to occur. I really like the simple art because it makes it seem as if the young child was the illustrator. The red colored boarder adds a pleasant visual to the overall book, I wish that the endpapers were this color also. The inside of the dust jacket has a nice little dog bone, I feel that this was a good addition to the page. There is not a lot of detail in the pictures and the typography is standard Arial 14 point font. I think that the author and illustrator did this on the sole purpose to make the book seem really informal. The story has a good message in the end that places more importance on the meaning of the book, instead of what it looks like. The pictures are placed at different parts on each page, making it visually appealing. On page 30, the illustrator decided to use the same picture as the cover. I feel that this was a good idea because it ties the entire book together. Page 38 is the only page that has no text, only an image and it is of Henry and Mudge. I think that this shows symbolism and is an excellent touch. On the back cover sleeve there are photos of the author and illustrator. I like how the pictures include the women with their pets. If I were to include this book in my classroom, I would have my students write a story about a pet and have them draw a picture of them with their pet.

The Day the Picture Man Came-Faye Gibbons

The main character in the book is a young redheaded girl who has freckles. She is not comfortable with her image, she prefers how her older sister looks. I think that other girls could relate to Emily Howard and her not so good day. From the looks of the cover, one would think that the book would be focused on school picture day because that is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of taking pictures. There is a dog on the cover along with the photography so I knew that this book was going to be different from my picture taking experiences. I think that the endpaper color was a good choice. I like the green because it reminds be of nature, similar environment to where the setting takes place in the picture book. The characters in the book look old fashion in the illustrations. I like how the words do not overlap any of the illustrations. The pictures are either above or below the text. The text is the same font throughout the book, making the focus be placed on the characters and their actions. I think that the story had a good storyline for those families who live on farms or have a lot of animals. The internal design at the end of the book was creative having the photos taken by the photographer in black and white coloring. I think that the wording in the book was at a reading level for grades second-forth. If I was to use this book in my classroom I would do a photography unit.

The Jade Stone-Caryn Yacowitz

This Chinese folktale has realistic images that were painted in ink and water color. I really like that the paper was homemade rice paper, making the book seem more realistic. Being my first folktale book for this class, I have nothing to compare it to, but I think that it was well written. I feel that it was to the authors advantage to add the quotes from the characters. This made it seem as if were being told in story form, like an actual folktale. The painted images assisted me while reading the story and put it in perspective of the Chinese culture. The clothing was very realistically designed in the paintings. I like the format of the paper because each page was lined up so the homemade rice paper looked like a scrip. I think that the cover and endpapers could have had more color. The dust jacket had two small images and a legible spin. The information on the front flap was an helpful introduction, along with the information in the back of the book. If I wanted to include cultural diverse stories in my classroom, I feel that this folktale would be a good choice. I would recommended for students in grades second-sixth.

Three Little Cajun Pigs By Mike Artell

I would recommend this picture book for those in grades first-sixth grade. The illustrations take up a large part of the book. The inside jacket flaps tells the audience to look for a mouse on every page. The book is mainly setup to read horizontally, but there is a vertical page also. The paper choice is appropriate being a matte finish. This matte finish allows the colors to stand out without a glossy feeling. I believe the paintings were done in watercolor, giving the illustrations a calm and warm feeling. Each illustration is designed to take up the entire page, making the pictures play a large role in this picture book. I feel that students would really relate well to this modern fantasy because they know the original fairy tale. I feel that the story teaches a good lesson that kids of all ages need to know. As a teacher, I could use this book as a read out loud. In the front on the first page of the book, there is a glossary. The book is a unique because it has some French terminology a good incentive for older students to read. On every page there is a colorful work or art, including on the Publishing page. The animals have human characteristics that add humor to the illustrations. As a classroom activity, I would have my students write their own story and have animals that run into trouble like this picture book.

The Prog Frince: A Mixed-Up Tale By C. Drew Lamm

One can tell from the cover that the little girl is not happy because of her facial expression. There is a frog laughing and sticking his tongue out at the girl. This tells the reader right away that there is something going on between those two characters before even reading the book. The end paper is navy blue which does not match the cover, but it makes the dust jacket flap standout. One the flap, there is a helpful summary of the book that explains why the picture book is a fractured version of other fairy tales. The dedication on the dedication page is unique because it is in poem form. If I were to make this into a classroom activity, I would have my students do the same. I think it is a very creative idea to have the dedication be in a poem format. The illustrations in this book are very detailed, but the colors are simple. The layout is very formal-there is a picture and text on each page. What makes the illustrations more interesting to the reader is when there are multiple pictures that break up the text on the same page. The characters in the book are dressed in old fashion clothing and the royal family illustrations revel a lot about their wealth. I think that the younger students could tell a lot about the story through the images. Even though the images are "old fashion" looking because of the clothes, I think it gives the story more of a fairy tale feeling to it.

Benny and Penny: In Just Pretend By Geoffrey Hayes

This book is a great graphic novel for younger readers. I would recommend it for students in first-forth grade. The illustrations on the cover let the reader know right away that the genre is different then the standard picture book. I found the end paper to be an unusual choice because the design was more formal then the book. However, the character in the pattern was also on the cover page to match. The novel is told through multiple "word bubbles." I really enjoyed reading the conversations between the brother and sister through the "word bubbles." I think that the reader has to know how to be logical about order when reading the story. In most cases the bubble on top of each box starts the conversation, so it is clear where to begin reading. The illustrations are done in colored pencil and is outlined in black. What makes the images interesting is their layouts on each page. The images are different sizes and are in box form. The illustrations are full of motion which makes that "boxiness" seem like the story is more fluid then what it actually is. While reading there are some words in bold print that allow for the reader to emphasis their purpose. The illustrator makes a clear distinction, usually for the reader to understand the difference between what the characters are saying, verses thinking. The distinction is made clear by the type of "word bubble." After reading this story to a group of elementary students, I could have each child make a short story that also relates to their siblings or any other similar stories to that of Benny and Penny.

Wait! No Paint! By Bruce Whatley

This book is a spin off of the original Three Little Pigs. The illustrator is very creative is his use of color because he has to make it work with the authors lines. I enjoyed the artistic aspect of the book especially on the cover with the paint brush and paint being the main focus. The book starts out very similar to the original fairy tale, but then the narrator runs out of paint. As an teacher I feel that I could use this idea in my classroom and have my students design their own pigs without the color red, like in the book. I would read the entire book out loud to my class and then have them make up their own ending and have them draw illustrations to go along with the ending. There was great attention focused on the font of the words. There are many words that are italicized in to grab the readers attention. I think that a younger audience will really like parts of this book, for example the part where the narrator split juice on the straw house. I really like that the main idea of the book is based on color and not just retelling the original fairy tale. I think that other books could be remade in a similar manner, making this book a good idea for a mini lesson in a classroom setting. The ending was my favorite, because it goes into another fairy tale (Goldilocks and the Three Bears) which was very unexpected. The last page of the book is also very creative because it ties the entire theme of the book together by having the pigs left uncolored. I think that if a student owned this book, they would want to color in the pictures themselves. Offering coloring books to younger students after they read this book would be a creative activity.

Cinder Edna by Ellen Jackson

This Modern Fantasy is based off of the original Cinderella Fairly Tale. What first caught my attention was the cover. There is a picture of a loafer shoe instead of the glass slipper, which is found in the original fairy tale. The brown shoe looks very out of place on the cover decorated daintily with the title in cursive lettering. I really liked this book how it was less focused on the magic (fairy godmother and others) and was more realistic. Cinderella lives next to Cinder Edna who is a down to earth girl who likes to make casserole and make jokes when she is done with her housework. I like on the first page when introducing the two characters the images are split so the viewer can see both girls at once. The illustrator does a good job in keeping up with the images of the two girls so the reader can tell them apart. The book sends a good message that you should be yourself and to not impress anyone. Cinder Edna goes to the ball with the brown loafer shoes and falls in love with one of the princes. I thought that readers can relate because Cinder Edna takes the bus and is not a very fancy girl, unlike the fairy tale Cinderella who gets all dressed up for the ball. I think it sends a good message to readers, and that is to be yourself. I would recommend teachers to have this book as part of their classroom library along with the original fairy tale. I think that students ages 6-10 would enjoy the book.

Wayside School Is Falling Down-Louis Sachar

This is a must have book and series of books to have in a third grade classroom. The cover illustration was creativity designed to look as if the building is falling down. It is a theme that the school building is tilted sideways, and is going to fall. The inside flap of the cover has a synopsis that sets the tone of the book. The first sentence on the flap reads, “Miss Zarves teaches on the nineteenth floor. There is no nineteenth floor. There is no Miss Zarves, and you will meet her in this book.” Right away one can tell that this book is going to confuse its audience and has a sarcastic humor. The author uses humor to engage his readers into wanting to read onto the next chapter. I like how the book is formatted into short chapters. Each chapter on average is only 5 pages long which is the perfect length for younger readers who read chapter books. My second grade reading buddy has a short attention span when reading. I find this book to have chapters that are the perfect length for students to read. Because the chapters are short, students can read the book more frequently. As a teacher I expect there to be time throughout the day when students can take out a book and read to themselves for ten minutes. A book like Wayside School is Falling Down is of perfect length for students to finish a chapter during this period of time. The chapters are unique to each other and are separated by subject, making it easy to follow along. Each chapter has one picture that illustrates the character who is highlighted in the specific chapter. I found the imagery to be helpful and students would find the pictures entertaining. Because the book focuses on a school, I believe students would find this book enjoyable and could relate to some of the stories.

Cinderella’s Dress- Nancy Willard

Cinderella sliding down a staircase is not your typical Cinderella story. The cursive font and the light girly colors are the typical elements that one is used to seeing in a fairy tale book. This story is a Modern Fantasy spin-off of the original Cinderella fairy tale. The bright yellow sleeve gives the reader a feeling of happiness and hope for a happily ever after ending. The dedication page was creative because it dedicated the book to a lady “who knows a good dress when she sees one.” Reading that page started me off thinking about how this book was going to be based on dresses. The illustrations in this book were filled with a great amount of detail. Word for word what was listed in the story was found in the illustrations. If I were reading this to a class, I would have them pay attention to the images and see if they could find what the author talked about. Especially on the first page when the two magpies are sitting in their birds nest. Because this version of Cinderella has a lot of focus on dress-making I would have my students create a costume of their own. There are lessons that can be taught about reading through designing an outfit of a costume. If I were to have a unit on fairy tales, I would have my class write their own version in scrip form and then make costumes to perform for the class. By doing this, the class would have a better understanding on what the Modern Fantasy genre is.

Swimming Lessons- Betsy Jay

The cover shows a girl standing outside of the water. Most children get excited for summer because they can go to the pool and swim. Right away one can tell from the cover page that this main character does not want to swim because of the illustration. The first page of the book is colored blue and has many objects painted throughout. This sets the scene for the reader to know that this book is about swimming and pools. The illustrations are playful and filled with color, which I would recommend for grades second thru forth. On the dedication page the main character is shown holding her hand with an adult, making the reader turn the page to find out what is going to happen. The typography in the book is very different from other picture books because it is wave-like for certain words. I found this creative because it looks as it the words are being looked at in water because they have a wave characteristic. The book tells a story, but I also found the illustrations to tell another story in itself. Just from looking at the pictures the reader can tell what the little girl is thinking about. I found this to be a good idea for a class project. As a teacher, I would have my students think about a story but just draw it out instead of writing. I feel that students would really like that and could understand the importance of illustrations because they play a large role in this picture book.

Get Set! Swim! –Jeannine Atkins

On the title page there is a swim cap, goggles, and two lizard earrings. Immediately I asked myself why there were earrings with the swimming gear. The book is written for more advanced readers and includes information on different races and different income amounts. I am currently taking a human relations class and this book mentioned a great deal about the difficulties that minorities face. The illustrations are formal and include people from all racial backgrounds. I feel that the message the book sends to its audience is very important and as a teacher that is what I would focus my lesson on. Jessenia attends a school of lower income and competes in a swimming race against a school with more money. It is thought that the school with more money would win and Jessenia would lose, but that was not the case. I like how the author had characters of all races and that the illustrator drew them as such. This book sends a positive message to students that diversity is a good quality and to accept people. The lizard earrings served as a good luck charm for Jessenia. If I wanted to make a creative lesson out of this book, I would have my students make a good luck charm like Jessenia’s.

Doody Doody Moo- Doreen Cronin

Farm animals are popular characters found in many children’s books. This picture book has lower case lettering on the cover with a yellow spotlight and microphone which sets the scene for the book. Right away the reader knows that this book is going to contain talented farm animals with humanistic characteristics. The main character is the duck who’s picture can be found on the inside of the cover sleeve and on almost every page. This book has a variety of fonts and font sizes. They each serve and important purpose. If I were to read this book out loud to my class I would have the students repeat the phrases that the animals say in their sleep. The illustrations are very general and do not have a lot of detail which focuses more attention on the story. I feel that this book shows students how animals can have personalities and outsmart humans. I would recommend this book to younger students who have imaginations and believe that animals can sing and dance, similar to the ones in the book. To incorporate this book into my classroom I would read the book and have the students put on a talent show of their own.

La Rue for Mayor- Mark Teague

This book is a good way to introduce campaign trailing to students. It focuses on a dog named Ike who has aspirations to become mayor. The first thing I noticed was the red, white, and blue coloring on the cover that is designed to look like a campaign poster. This book shows children how a campaign works because there are individual letters on each page that tell the story. Ike writes letters which take up part of the page and then the rest consists of his imagination. The pictures demonstrating his imagination are images that dogs dream of in black and white coloring. I like how the illustrator kept the images that he wishes will happen if he becomes mayor in black and white, while the actual images are in color. The fonts of the words are creative because it looks as if the signs were printed by hand, making the posters look realistic. I like that there are newspaper clippings on almost every other pages that are also typed to look like it is a real article. There are many ways I could incorporate this book into my classroom. I could have mock elections in my classroom and have each student make their own election posters. I could also have each student write as if they were writing to a mayor or the president. I think that students will like how each page has an article and then a colored image that demonstrates what each article is talking about. I would recommend teachers to have this book in their classroom for young students specifically interested in elections.

Green Eggs and Ham- Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss has written a great deal of children’s book, but there is one title that stands out among all of them, Green Eggs and Ham. This book is based off of something as silly as breakfast food dyed the color green, but is made into an entire story. The rhyming is catchy and makes reading the book out loud very memorable. Because the pages were colored mainly in primary colors, the green colored ham and eggs stand out. The story is based on Sam trying to convince his friend to try a bite of the ham and eggs, but he refuses. Sam lists off multiple options of where and how he can have the food, but he refuses. Dr. Seuss takes the reader through a journey of many different environments. I think that young children with wild imaginations would really enjoy hearing about all the crazy places Sam wants his friend to eat green eggs and ham. Finally in the end, Sam’s friend tastes the food and enjoys it. This sends a positive message to readers that it is okay to try new things and to not judge something by the way that it looks. The repetition of the words is a good thing to have beginning level readers read. The rhythm and poem format could be used by teachers to expand off the idea of the book into other projects in the classroom. I like when books can be used as a theme and children can be interactive by making their own creative stories. This book and other Dr. Seuss books are a helpful tool to have in the classroom because it introduces children to poems.

The Snowy Day

This book won the Caldecott Medal and that is what first received my attention. I was happy to see an African American boy as the main character. I feel that it is important to have diversity among characters in illustrations, not just animals or people of white color. The illustrations are simple, but play a large role in the plot of the story because it is helpful for the beginning reader. I especially liked the page “crunch, crunch” because the sounds created imagery of the boy walking in the snow as the illustration included a picture of footprints in the snow. The child seemed lonely to me during the book because he was all alone. This was especially obvious when he could not participate in the snowball fight. I was happy to see in the end that he had a friend to play with. I liked how there was also a messaged tied into the story that snow melts. The boy had a snowball in his pocket and he later noticed that it disappeared. Teachable lessons seem to be a trend in books that win awards. I think that this book taught a lesson and reminded me on how excited children get when it snows.

Silly Billy

This book surprised me. It was unlike most other children’s books in the beginning because it focused on a sad and depressed personality of a child named Billy. Most children’s books are bright and colorful, but this book started off in black and white and the main character was not happy or outgoing. The illustrations were in black and white colors and turned into color when he found comfort from his parents. Grandma comes to the rescue when she gives Billy worry dolls to take his worries away. It is strange to think about children with so much fear that they cannot sleep, but it is not that uncommon. I enjoyed how Billy felt bad for his worry dolls and made them their own worry dolls so the dolls would have their worries taken away. I liked how in the illustrations Billy labeled all his worry dolls with names, this shows how much meaning these dolls had to him. I enjoyed the last page which explains how worry dolls originated in Guatemala after a legend told there. I think that overall this book had a good message and was unlike other children’s books that tend to be happy and full of color.

Dear Deer

This has to be one of the most creative book ideas that demonstrate Homophones to children. The book is set up like a letter written by an ant to a deer. The book has watercolor-like illustrations that have animated characteristics to them, which I believe are effective. The book is written for a younger audience, but I think that it teaches a lesson for all. Reading this book as an adult made me think about Homophones and how many there are. I think that the author and illustrator did a good job making sure that the reader knows the meaning of the words. I enjoy the page where there is a picture of a horse singing. The sentence states, “That’s HIM, the HORSE who is HOARSE from humming a HYMS” and a younger reader could understand that a “hym” is a song because the illustration is of a horse and birds singing. I like how the Homophones were also in bold print so that they were clear and easy to recognize. The book is well tied together with the deer receiving the letter written from the ant. I found this book very enjoyable and would recommend it for children who like animals and learning about words.

Judie B. Jones and A Little Monkey Business

Realistic frustration between adults and children seems to be the theme in the Judie B. Jones Series. I really enjoy how the author starts her series by saying, “My name is Judie B. Jones. The B stands for Beatrice. Except I don’t like Beatrice. I just like B and that’s all.” These three sentences set the attitude that Judie B. has and prepares the reader for the rest of the book. The focus of the book is on Judie B. and her frustration over believing that her baby brother is a monkey. Judie B. Jones’s grandmother had her believe she had a monkey as a brother by saying, “Your new brother is the cutest little monkey I’ve ever seen!” This goes to show that young children take things very literally. Because this book is part of a series, the friends are the same and have identical personalities including her classmate Jimmy. Judie B. is always at odds with another person and conflicts occur. I feel that techniques used by the author to keep the audiences attention works really well. The short sentences and chapters make the book a short and an enjoyable read. Judie B. Jones is very observant, a realistic characteristic of someone is her age, she said that the principles suit is dark black in color, with “big hands, and heavy shoes.” I liked how Judie B. Jones was taught a lesson with help from her classmate’s examples with assistance from the principle. The ending was also a happy ending. Despite all the jealously and confusion over her new baby brother she still likes him. Once again, I really liked this book and the series has continuously made me laugh.

My Best Friend Moved Away

Situational books are a helpful way for young children to help manage their feelings. Because I recently moved, I felt that this book was supportive of those children who have had a friend move. I enjoyed the memories of the friend’s activities: summer camp, movies, swinging in the park, building sand castles, snowman making, and many more. I think that any girl who has had a best friend move would this book. I feel it would help in the recovery process because it comforts the reader knowing someone else has had to deal with the results of a best friend moving. I took note to the details the artist put into her work. The pictures have bubbles around them because it is a memory. I like the worries and the wonder that the girl has because it is normal for someone to feel sad about their friend moving. The author taught a good lesson with the example of the best friends fighting but then apologizing. Unfortunately everyone does not get so lucky like the character in the book. In the end she had a new family move in with a girl her age. This character was not focused on herself who formed a good moral she hopes she will make new friends too. I liked the ending because it shows the girl eventually adjusting to the new neighbors.

The Stinky Chesse Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales

In my opinion this book is cleverly written. It is witty and unlike any other children's book that I read as a child. I enjoyed the idea of rewriting classic fairy tales and adding a creative edge to them. The title should give teachers and parents a warning that there is some vulgar language. In my opinion this book should be limited to library and not classroom usage because of the choice of language. I enjoyed the page layout because there were lots of pictures and other labels that were artistically placed. I found the interrupting of the narrator and quick endings of the stories humorous. If the students have not previously read the original fairly tales or are not old enough to understand the jokes, I do not think they will enjoy the book as much as someone who has. The Princess and The Bowling Ball taught the message of honesty. For example the princess who admitted the mattress was uncomfortable ended up happily ever after with the prince. Not every story has a happy ending, The Ugly Duckling stays ugly, which is the exact opposite of the original story. I think that children would greatly enjoy reading this story because it is a spin off of original stories that most children know of.

What Sisters Do Best / What Brothers Do Best

This book caught my attention because I have both a brother and a sister. This book was different from other books I have selected so far because it is two books in one. Half of the book is a story about brothers, while the other half is about sisters. I thought that the author did a really good job with matching up the words with the pictures. There were a variety of activities that each participated in. I liked how the author used animals instead of people in the illustrations. This is the second book that I have noticed animals representing people. I wonder if it is for ethnic, non racial reasons. The author made sure that she was not being sexist either and included both brothers and sisters. I noticed that the animals chosen represents the sexes very well. The females are represented as Kola bears, looking all soft and gentile and the males are illustrates as pigs, actively playing on a tire swing. I like how the author did not separate or categorize the activities. The one thing I would change about the book is the design of how the book comes together in the middle. I think that there is a good message and beginning readers would enjoy reading because the words are repetitive.

Alphab'art

Being an art major, I have appreciation for artists and works of art. The book Alphab'art introduces letters and artists to children of all ages. Adults and older children can appreciate learning the works of art, while younger children can search for the letter hidden in the work. This book reminds me of the "Where's Waldo" books except it is an art version. I found the works of art very beautiful, but I think I have a greater appreciation then what a ten year old would have. There are many other fun and brightly colored alphabet books that I do not think most children would select this book. I think that its is a creative idea and would interest adults while they are reading with their child. I did not like how there is an answer key in the back of the book that lists where the letters are hidden in each page. I was under the impression that there was more then one right answer. However, I did like that in the back of the book lists more information about the works of art and information about the artists. If I was an art teacher I would have this book in my collection, but for the standard classroom teacher I think there are better options.

Madeline's Rescue

Traveling to France and learning the French language while in school, I have grown to appreciate the French and their culture. I absolutely adored Madeline growing up and enjoyed reading it again as an adult. Unlike the other books I choose to read, the writing style was set up like a poem and rhymed. The illustrations are mainly colored with some pages only in yellow, black, and white. I liked how the pictures were realistic and showed the city scenes of Paris. The words are multisyllabic and I would recommend the book for an advanced reader. I liked how there were a limited number of sentences on each page, four at the most. This allows for the reader to appreciate the writing and the photos more then if there were long paragraphs on each page. Mrs. Clavel did not set a good example by not listening to Lord Cucuface. Lord Cucuface did not allow the dog to stay with the girls, but Mrs. Clavel did not listen to this rule. Following the rules is something Mrs. Clavel should have done to be a good role model. I thought the ending does not teach children that sharing is a good thing. The dog ended up having puppies so in the end, each girl got a puppy. Perhaps I am being too critical on this book, but overall I enjoyed reading it.

Judie B. Jones and The Mushy Gusy Valentine

While reading, I could not help but to visualize the series of events that took place in "Mrs's" classroom. Jodie B. Jones has an outgoing personality, making it very entertaining for readers of all ages to enjoy. Being a classroom teacher, it is very common to have students that have issues with each other. I did not agree with all the ways "Mrs" solved the issues, but I did feel her frustration as a teacher. The age of the students were realistically written. For example, I liked how the author, Barbara Park, spelled the word Valentine wrong like Valentime because that is how Judie B. pronounced it. I also enjoyed when Judie B. would say phrases that she had obviously heard from adult, but she repeated it as if it were her ideas. "Cause I was a treat for your eyes" was a saying that she had said about her Valentimes Day outfit! Reading this book as an adult reminds me about how differently kids view adults. Judie B. believed that "Mrs" did not understand her, however she was just doing her job and treating all the students fairly. I really liked the happy ending because Judie B. Jones and "Meanie Jim" become best of friends.

Arthur's Eyes

Growing up my siblings and I enjoyed watching the television show Arthur. The episodes were very similar to the book series. Arthur's Eyes had a very good message for children. The book starts off with Arthur having to ask his friend to read the chalkboard for him and Arthur not being able to make baskets in a game of basketball. Arthur then goes to the eye doctor with his parents to get glasses. However, the students made fun of Arthur at school the next day. I feel that there are many other young kids who have had a similar experience to Arthur's. Unfortunately, it took the embarrassing event of going into the girls bathroom to make Arthur realize that he needed to wear his glasses. I found it humorous and that Arthur started a trend because the next day his friend wore fake glasses to school too. In the end, this book sent a good message to children to something that many can relate to.

Timothy Goes To School

This book caught my eye because my boyfriends name is Tim. To my surprise, this book was nothing like I had expected. This book sends a terrible message for kids. I read this book to my boyfriend and my roommate, they both agreed. The moral of the story is that clothing is important and it is okay to laugh at people. The story is about Timothy having negative thoughts about a classmate named Claude. One day Timothy wishes that Claude will mess up and the next day he wants Claude to fall in a puddle. I believe that those are negative ideas to give a child. The illustrations are fine and I liked how the characters where animals. However, the after school snacks could have been healthier choices. Cupcakes and cookies were served to Timothy daily by his mom after school. In my opinion the ending of the story was random. Timothy meets a girl in the class and invites her over to his house. While at his house, they "laughed so much about Claude and Grace that they both got the hiccups"...really?