Reflection

Children’s literature was a successful experience for me. I learned a significant amount about children’s literature and the types of books I like. I now know what I consider to be a good children’s book. After the first time our class met, I was worried about how the blog would work out. I had never done a blog before and I was unsure about the whole process of creating one. After a few weeks of blogging, I was happy that we did a blog instead of a word document. Blogging can be more personalized and creative. It also allowed easy access to the work of classmates so I could get recommendations on other books to read. Looking at classmates and commenting on their blogs was fun. Each person had their own personalized page, with a different writing style and opinion on children’s literature. I also enjoyed doing the genre and author study.
The genre study gave me the chance to explore contemporary realistic fiction, a genre I had not heard of before this class. Our genre presentations taught me a lot about the different genres and the type of books they include. The author study allowed me to learn more about Jane Yolen and her life as an author. All of these assignments provided me with a vast array of knowledge regarding children’s literature. This knowledge will help me to decide which children’s books I include in my classroom one day.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a book about a group of four best girl friends Bree, Carmen, Lena and Tibby. They all face different struggles and challenges during a summer when they are apart from each other. A pair of pants that magically fit each of them keeps them connected. Some parts of the book made me sad because one of the girls becomes friends with a girl who has cancer. Cancer is something that has plagued my family for generations so whenever the disease comes up I find it hard not to cry. I thought this was a great book that sparks many different emotions. There are parts when you laugh, smile, get mad and cry. To me, any book that can do all of these things is a good one.

Traveling Tom and the Leprechaun

Traveling Tom and the Leprechaun by Teresa Bateman is a book about an Irish princess named Kathleen. Kathleen did not wish to marry because she was not interested in any of the noblemen’s sons who liked her. Since people in the country began to talk she came up with a plan. She said she would marry the man who could win a leprechaun’s pot of gold in a single day’s time. She figured it would take an intelligent, daring man to accomplish such a task. She was right, one day a fine man named Tom came down from the mountains to take a shot at her challenge. He succeeds and they end up married in the end. Although the story was very predictable, as many fairytales and Disney movies are, I thought it was cute. Tom won the challenge by being patient with and kind to the leprechaun and these are qualities we would like children to have. This would be a good book to read when talking about Ireland or St. Patrick’s day.

Sail Away Little Boat

Sail Away, Little Boat by Janet Buell is a story about a boy and his toy sailboat. The young boy brings his sailboat to a brook and sets in the water. The sailboat begins its journey sailing down the brook. Many things are listed that it passes along the way. Eventually it finds its way to the ocean. At the end of the book, three children find the sail boat by the beach and play with it. An up close picture of the sailboat is illustrated and the reader can see that friendship is written on the boat. I thought this was a really cute book. The boat brings the little boy in the beginning so much happiness and in the end it brings a new set of a kids happiness too.

A Traveling Cat

A Traveling Cat by George Ella Lyon is a book about a stray cat named Boulevard. The young girl in the book finds Boulevard at the drive in Movie Theater and brings her home. Boulevard eventually has five kittens. Once the kittens are grown the young girl and her family give all the kittens away but one named Bruce. One day Boulevard disappears never to return again, she is a traveling cat after all. The book ends saying her home is the road. A similar experience happened with a stray cat and my family. A stray cat came to us pregnant and abused and we took her in. We named her Kallie. She had five kittens in our window well and once they were grown we gave away all of them but one. We still have Kallie and the runt of the litter, Cody at my parent’s house in Illinois. This story could have been written about my family, it was so close to what happened with us. Kallie wasn’t a traveler. She was too content to leave once she found her new home with us

The Best Place

The Best Place by Susan Meddaugh is about a wolf that has not traveled much but after a suggestion from a bird decides he should see other places before he gets too old. He always thought the view from his screened in porch was the best place in the world but he hadn’t ever seen any parts. The next day the wolf sells his house and begins his adventure around the world to places like London and the desert. After his travels he returns home and wishes he had not sold his house. Unfortunately, the rabbit family who moved in does not want to sell his house back to him. The wolf spends the night in a tree and when he wakes up he sees the sun rising right over the trees. He realizes he did not have to travel the world to see other beautiful things; he just needed to get outside of his old screened in porch. He builds a new house in the tree and decides he has now truly found the best place in the world. This is a cute story about moving outside of your comfort zone to discover new things in life. Many people get stuck in their daily routine and refrain from trying new things and being active. This is a good story that reminds us of the simple joys in life that can be found by simply stepping outside your comfort zone.

Tiny's Hat

Tiny’s Hat by Ann Grifalconi is a book inspired by the life of Billie Holiday. Billie Holiday spent most of her childhood longing for her father because he was a musician and therefore always on the road. Tiny the main character in the story is also the daughter of a musician who struggles with the absence of her father. Times are good for Tiny when her father is around and he plays his music. When he leaves the loneliness sets in for her and her mother. Tiny finally finds comfort when she begins to sing. This story represents the effect that music can have on our lives. A good song can bring you right out of a bad mood or turn your day around. I can relate to Tiny’s feeling of missing a loved one and a good song can certainly brighten a mood. This was the first children’s book I found that presents the power of music.

Around the World

Around the World by Lindsay Barrett George Is a book about a teacher’s travels around the world for nine months. The pages of the book are letters to her students back home. The way this book was set up was really unique. Each page included a letter of everything she did and certain things she saw. For example, in Australia she saw a kangaroo, a wombat and a kola bear. At the end of the story the kids have a welcome back party for their teacher and they from the looks on their faces you can tell they’re a excited. What a cool thing for a teacher to do, travel the country and write students. I hope that I can travel a lot so that I have many experiences and stories to share with my students one day. I really liked this book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in traveling!

Pictures from our Vacation

Pictures from Our Vacation by Lynne Rae Perkins is a book about a young girl who takes a road trip with her brother, mom and dad to visit her grandparents. Before they leave the house her mom gives both kids a Polaroid camera to snap pictures with their camera. Throughout the book their snapshots of their vacation are pictured. I really liked this touch to the illustrations; it gave the book a lot of character. There were also dialogue and thinking bubbles in the book. This made the book similar to a graphic novel. Although at first the vacation was not turning out to be what the young girl thought it would be she ended up satisfied with it in the end. She met many family members and enjoyed relaxing with her family. We have all had those vacations that don’t exactly meet our expectations but still turn out great. I thought this was a really good book and I plan to use it in my text set about traveling/vacation.

Travels With My Family

Travels With my Family by Marie-Louise Gay is about a young boy and his family vacation. Although him and his brother would rather go to Disneyland they are forced to venture in North America and Mexico. This book reminds me of the Goofy Movie when Goofy and his son, Max go on a road trip. Max really wants to go to a concert but Goofy insists on making him go to run down tourist stops. I know some family vacations do not always go well but I always had good experiences when vacationing with my family. We all get along really well and my dad always tried to go do things that interested everyone. I’m fortunate to have had these experiences because like the story told in this novel not all families have successful vacations.

We're Saling Down the Nile

We're Sailing Down the Nile by Laurie Krebs

is a book about traveling to Egypt. The narrator walks us through various places one would see if they were in Egypt. At the end of the story, the places that were visited in the book are listed along with factual information. There is also a map of Egypt included followed by the history of Ancient Egypt. This book was really interesting and I learned some cool facts about Egypt. This would be useful to anyone wanting to learn more about Egypt.

Off We Go To Mexico!

Off We Go To Mexico by Laurie Krebs is a book filled with information about what a person would encounter if they visited Mexico. Every page is filled with bright illustrations and English as well as Spanish words. The narrator takes us through various places to travel. At the end of the book, facts about Mexico are listed. Mexico’s festivals such as Independence Day and Mondays of the Hill are also listed in the back. Finally the history of Mexico is presented. I found this book to be really interesting. I took 5 years of French so it is exciting to be familiarized with the Spanish language, the history of Mexico, and interesting facts. I think children would also really enjoy this book because it includes a lot of fun facts and the illustrations are bright and appealing.

All Along the Dinotrain

All Aboard the Dinotrain by Deb Lund is about a group of dinosaurs who say goodbye to their families and set off on a train ride adventure. Unfortunately many things go wrong for the dinosaurs along the way. In the end they crash the train and conveniently land in the water. They are forced to turn back home on foot and decide they will never take a train ride adventure again. The book ends letting the reader know that the dinosaurs are still eager to travel again but next time they plan to take an airplane. This book would be cute for any child who has an interest in dinosaurs and trains. Many kids I babysit love to play with both train sets and dinosaurs. They may also enjoy having a book like this one read to them.

Year of Impossible Goodbyes

Year of Impossible Goodbyes by Sook Nyul Choi is a true story told from the perspective of a young Korean girl in 1945. She lived during a time when the Japanese military occupied Korea followed by the Communist Russian troops occupation of North Korea. This was a really good book that grabbed my attention after the first 40 pages or so. I eagerly read more to find out when this poor girl and her family would be finally be free. I was so relieved for Sook Nyul and her family when the Japanese finally left and they were given a huge bag of rice. I can’t imagine not being able to have plenty of food for my next meal. The Koreans were practically starved by the Japanese during this time. It makes me so sad to hear stories like this, I can’t imagine treating other people this way. It must have been terribly disappointing when the Communist Russian troops took control of North Korea right after the Japanese had left. It must have been hard to celebrate being free and then all of a sudden have to go back to living a controlled life again. I was worried about their trip to the border. I had a bad feeling about their tour guide when Sook Nyul mentioned that she thought he was just a greedy farmer. I can’t believe he left her and her brother all alone after promising to get them safely to the border. Sook Nyul and Inchun, her brother must have been frightened to be on their own. I was relieved when they made it to the border and reached the red cross tents. Thankfully, their mother made it across the border months later as well. I was worried that she had been killed. I was so happy for their family when they were finally reunited but sad that the aunt and Kisa had been killed. I wish this story would have had a happy ending but that is just not always the case in real life, especially during a war. I would definitely recommend this book and I plan to use it in my own classroom one day.

For the Love of Autumn

For the Love of Autumn by Patricia Polacco is a story about a cat named Autumn that brings her owner Danielle and a stranger named Mr. Norton together. When Autumn disappears on a stormy night Danielle is terribly worried. The cat does not return for awhile and there was a mountain lion sighted around where Danielle lived so she feared the worst. Autumn did not return for days so Danielle began to accept the fact that her cat may never return. Then one day autumn finally returned and she was in good condition. Soon after, Autumn began disappearing for periods of time and then returning to Danielle. It became clear that someone else was caring for Autumn. Danielle and the other care taker of Autumn, Mr.Norton meet and fall in love! This story is a cute and it is great for cat lovers! I have three cats at home and they all have such great personalities like the cat in the book. My mom cannot sleep when one of them is left out at night. I would recommend this book to anyone with a pet. For the Love of Autumn is a story that leaves you with a smile.

Mr.Lincoln's Way

Mr.Lincoln's Way by Patricia Polacco Is a story about a wonderful principal named Mr.Lincoln who struggles to reach a particular child who causes trouble in his school. The child’s name is Eugene Esterhause and he causes problems in the school such as sassing teachers and bullying kids. Mr.Lincoln observes Eugene looking out the window at birds more than once and takes note of that interest. He decides to ask Eugene to help him get more birds at their school atrium. Eugene agrees and slowly a friendship begins to form. Mr.Lincoln finds out that Eugene knows a lot about birds from living on his grandfather’s farm. Mr.Lincoln uses Eugene’s interest in birds to help him realize that bullying is not okay. Eugene beings to refrain from bullying and calling the other kids inappropriate racial names . By the end of the story he is transformed into a model citizen. This book was truly heartwarming. It is a wonderfully story with an important theme, reaching students through their interests and helping them grown as individuals. I hope that I can be just as successful as Mr.Lincoln in reaching students!

Mrs.Katz and Tush

Mrs.Katz and Tush by Patricia Polacco is a story about the friendship that forms between old woman named Mrs.Katz and her neighbor, a young boy named Larnel. Larnel gets to know Mrs.Katz when he asks her to adopt an abandoned kitten. She agrees and makes him promise to help her take care of it because she has never had a cat before. Mrs.Katz names the kitten Tush because it has no tail. The cat is the starting point of a wonderful friendship between Mrs.Katz and Larnel. Larnel goes over to Mrs.Katz’s home every day not just to see the kitten but to hear her wonderful stories. This reminds me of a neighbor who lived across the street from us growing up. She was a widow like the woman in the story and she loved having my brother, sister and I over. She never had any kids because her husband died young and the rest of her family lived in a different state. She became a part of our family and treated us like we were her grandchildren. When my mom started working she used to watch me before and after school. She walked me to the bus stop every day and made sure I got on safe. I looked forward to seeing her after school at the bust stop again, where she would be waiting for me. Now she is in a nursing home but my mom goes to visit her every week and when I’m home I also make sure to go see her. This story has a special place in my heart because I think friendships with elderly people are so important. Many times they are lonely and nothing can make them feel appreciated more than spending time with them.

Queen of the World

Queen of the World by Thomas F. Yezerski is a story about a family of three sisters who share a room and who sometimes have trouble getting along. They don’t feel like they have anything in common because they are different ages and like different things. Their mom wishes that they could not fight so much. When their dad tells them it is their mom’s birthday they start a competition for who can make the best present. They decide whoever wins the competition will be queen of the world! They even make a crown for the winner. That night, after they finish making their presents they wait patiently for their mom to open them. They argue over whose present is best and their mom started to cry. They are sent up to their room and for the first time in the story they get along. They all feel terrible for making their mom upset on her birthday. They begin to think of a plan to make it up to their mom. In the morning, they present their mom with a queen of the world crown and breakfast in bed. It was exactly what she had always wanted. The story ends with the mom and her daughters in bed cuddling. The three girls realized they have something in common, they love their mom. This story brought me back to memories of sharing a room with my sister growing up and fighting all the time. We were different in many ways and it was difficult for us to share a room and get along. Now that we are older, we get along much better and I know it makes my mom happy. This story is a good example for kids to see that they can find something in common with their siblings if they look hard enough. They can also see that it makes parents upset when they do not get along.

Lucky Pennies and Hot Chocolate

Lucky Pennies and Hot Chocolate by Carol Diggory Shields is a story told from the perspective of a grandpa whose grandson is coming for a visit. The first time I read it through I thought it was told from the perspective of the grandson but then when I got to the end I realized it was the other way around. The grandpa loves picking pennies up off the ground, drinking hot chocolate and telling knock knock jokes with his grandson. The relationship they have together is so cute. It reminds me of how my grandma and I interacted. It also reminds me of how my dad acts with my niece. They love spending time together and going on their own little adventures like the grandpa and grandson in the book. I only have one grandparent left and I’m going to Arkansas to visit him this summer. This book makes me even more excited to see him! The bond between grandparents and their grandchildren is so special. This is definitely a book worth reading!

So Far From the Bamboo Grove

So Far From the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins was a touching story about a family's struggles during war. I read the forward of the book and immediately was intersted in this family's story. Looking back on what I read, I especially liked that the book switched back and forth between Yoko's journey and her brother, Hideyo's journey to Japan. I was deeply touched by some of the horrors that Yoko and Hideyo observed while trying to flee Korea. Yoko was such a strong young girl during unbearable times. I cannot imagine being hurt from the blast of a bomb and continuing to travel on foot to a different country. It would be so scarey to lose hearing in one ear. I did not realize her injuries were so bad until she reached Seoul and met with the doctor. Then I felt guilty for thinking she complained alot. I'm sure if I was her age and maybe even at my age now, that I would complain of pain, hunger and thirst on that long of a journey. It must have been really scarey being a Japanese family in a time when Korea was wanted to punish the Japanese. I cannot imagine all the fear a person would, constantly wondering if they would live to see the next day. Hideyo also showed remarkable strength and courage for survival. I felt like I was right next to Hideyo when he was hiding in the box at the factory. I almost closed my eyes to hide when the boot of the Korean soldier was right next to where he was hiding. It would be so frightening to see the people around you get shot with a machine gun. It would also be hard to travel alone on a long journey freezing and with barely any food to eat. Atleast Yoko had her sister and her mother although her mother does not live very long after arriving in Japan. It was so sad when the mother passed away on the bench in Japan. I cannot imagine going through something like this and then losing my mother. Yoko's mother seemed week for awhile, she was probably holding on to life as long as she could for the sake of the girls. Once she realized they were safe and in school and that her parents were dead she could not fight to live anymore. I felt so sad for Yoko and her sister, Ko. I can't imagine how terrible it would be to be a young girl with no parents, home, or food in Japan. They were so strong to carry on as best they could and attend school. My heart went out to Yoko when the girls at her school made fun of her by calling her "trash collector" and "rag doll". I think she would have quit school if it weren't for the janitor, Mr.Naido. He was such a sweetheart to Yoko and vice versa. This book was excellent and I it is definitely something I would read again and recommend to other readers. I felt so strongly for the characters by the end of the book I left wanting to hear more. I have unanswered questions running through my head. For instance, I wonder if Yoko's luck turned around once her brother joined them in Japan. And what happend when her father returned five years later? Did she continue to go to the school with Mr.Naido? Did she keep in touch with Mr.Matsumura? So Far From the Bamboo Grove truly was a touching story that helped me to be thankful for the life experiences I've had and the loved ones in my life.

Daddy's Wedding (controversial)

Daddy's Wedding by Michael Willhoite is a book about a gay man marring his partner. This is the sequal to the book Daddy's Roommate. In this book the dad is making a commitment to the one he loves and decides to ask his ten year old son, to be the best man for the ceremony. This is a book that represents the idea of same-sex marriage. Children may not understand the concept of a man marrying a man or a woman marrying a woman. If that is something you want to discuss with your kids, this is a possible book you could use to open up the topic for discussion. This is the first picture book I have found that addresses same-sex marriage. I thought this book was just okay. I thought the text could have been more interesting. It seemed like the author was more concerned about creating a book on same-sex marriage than the content of the writing. I'm also a big fan of illustrations and I did not find the cartoon like pictures in this book to be satisfying.

In the Night Kitchen (controversial)

In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak is a book that is engaging to young readers especially because of the illustrations. However, the illustrations have sparked controversy because the main character Mickey, is pictured naked. Mickey falls out of his pajamas while he is taking a night time adventure. He hears many noises coming from the kitchen and then dreams about an adventure to the kitchen. I don't see why this book caused such a big stir. Children often find it funny to run around naked so a book about a boy dreaming without clothes does not seem that absurd to me. I have a three year old neice and she loves to jump out of the tub and make my mom and I chase her around the house to put her clothes on. There is something about children and them enjoying streaking around the house. I think this was a good book, I always appreciate Maurice Sendak's illustrations. Readers should appreciate this book not only for the illustrations but because it represents a child confronting their fears or a child having an adventurous dream.

And Tango Makes Three (controversial)

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell is a story about two male penguins who raise a baby penguin named "Tango". The book sparked controversy because of its implicaitons of homosexuality, the two penguin parents were the same sex. Some parents do not want their kids exposed to homosexuality. However, I think it is good to have books like this out there so that parents can discuss homosexuality with their kids. Children may go to school with kids who have two dads or two moms and this is a book you could use to talk with them about that. I found it even more interesting that this book was based on a true story of two penguins in New York City's Central Park Zoo.

Heather Has Two Mommies (controversial)

Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman is a book about a little girl named Heather who does have two mommies. Heather starts crying at school one day because everyone else in her class is talking about what their moms and dads do. She feels left out and different because she does not have a dad. Later Heather learns that not everyone comes from the same family. She begins to see that some of her classmates families are huge, some are small and some are non-traditional. From this experience she begins to see the true meaning of family. I like that there is a book out there for students with non-traditional families. I work at an after school program and two of the little girls have two moms. They would be so excited to read a book that is about their life! I'm sure many times they pick up a book and see a mom, dad and kids. They probably begin to feel bad about themselves, like Heather did and start to wonder why they don't have a dad. They long to read a book like this one, that is actually representative of their lives. Being able to connect to a book is very rewarding for kids. I think it is good that this book is out there for gay and lesbian parents, their children and anyone else who wants to expose their children to the fact that there are many different types of families in the world.

My Two Uncles (controversial)

My Two Uncles by Judith Vigna is a story about a family dealing with the fact that someone they are related to is gay. Some members of the family are okay with the fact that their cousin, brother etc. is gay and other people like his parents are not. This can be a difficult issue for families to deal with. I have a brother and a sister and I know that I would not think of them any differently if I found out either one of them were gay. However, I know my parents would be really upset and have a hard time accepting them after that. Like the father in the book, my dad would have a hard time being understanding if my brother was gay and brought home a partner. I can see my mom being like the mom in the book and even though she would not approve, she would atleast let her son know he was still loved. The mom in the book gives her son and his partner a hug but the dad remains outside. Sometimes it takes certain people longer than others to deal with certain situations. I think the dad wants to let his son know he is loved but it is going to take him awhile to deal with it. This book shows the reality of one of the struggles people face when they are homosexual.

Reflection

Reading five children's books and one novel each week has been going well. I enjoy going to the library and exploring the different types of children's literature that is out there. I have found some really good books that I plan on including in my classroom library one day. I have liked both of the assigned novels we have read so far. Love that Dog was such a cute story about a teacher's ability to reach every student. The Misfits brought me back to my own middle school experience and all the name calling that went on. I'm happy we discussed those two books as a class because other people pointed out things that I had not noticed when I read them. I find class discussions to be really helpful to achieve a broader understanding of books. I'm looking forward to the remainder of the semester and experiencing even more children's literature!

The Misfits Part 2

The second half of the Misfits by James Howe was also exciting! Bobby stepped up and spoke in front of the whole school on behalf of the party he started. I really liked how his character developed throughout the book. We found out a lot about where he was coming from when they explained the death of his mom and the reason behind eating peanut butter fluff sandwiches.
Bobby just seems like such a selfless twelve year old. Even after he delivered an awesome speech he remembered to credit his best friends. I was disappointed that they didn't win the election but in reality they probably wouldn't have. I know if a party like that had stood up in my middle school and delivered an awesome speech, people would have left and still voted for the most popular person in school. That's just how middle school is for many people. I liked that even though they lost the election there was still a no name day that year at the school.
We learned more about Mr.Kellerman's character in the second half of the book. I wondered why he left the store so abrubtly and once I heard it was because his mom passed away I felt sad. I'm not looking forward to the day when I lose either of my parents. Bobby and Mr.Kellerman finally had two things in common their names and the death of a mom.
I was kind of shocked that Colin didn't like Addie because he liked Joe. I did not see that coming, I thought that Colin liked Addie. I was happy that atleast DuShawn liked her so she didn't have to go to the dance alone. In the end everything seemed to work out for the "gang five". I don't think James Howe could have had a better ending.

The Misfits Part 1

The Misfits by James Howe is an awesome book that grabs your attention and sucks you into the pages. The story is told from the perspective of a twelve year old named Bobby who is fed up with all the name calling going on amongst his peers. The book reminds me of middle school, an akward time for most people and a time when people call eachother cruel names. The list of names Bobby and his friends Skeezie, Addie and Joe have been called is similar to what I remember people being called when they were being made fun of. I always hated when I heard other people being talked about or called names and looking back I wish I would have stuck up for them. I like the direction this book is going, it's good that Bobby and his friends want to form a party to stick up for those who have been a "minority" because they are different from the popular kids in school. Bobby has some great ideas and I'm interested to see if he steps up and does more than just form the ideas for the group. I also want to know what is going on with Mr.Kellerman from Bobby's work. At first Bobby called him "killer man" behind his back but once he asked Pam what the story was of his past he could no longer dislike him. I feel like there is more going on there than we know right now. I'm excited about reading the second half of this book and finding out more about Bobby, the "no name party" and Mr.Kellerman!

The Ocean Alphabet Book

The Ocean Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta introduces the many creatures that exist in the large body of water. Personally the ocean is one of my favorite things so I was drawn to pick this book off the shelf when I spotted it. This Ocean Alphabet Book would be great to use when talking about the alphabet in the classroom. I remember in 2nd grade our room was the "whale room" and our teacher had the room decorated with all kinds of different things from the ocean. Two big killer whales hung from our ceiling and dolphins were all over the walls. Our class loved it and we learned so much about the ocean that year. Kids really enjoy learning about new creatures and I think this would be a great book to show them all the things that exist in the ocean. The illustrations could be better but it's still a book worth taking a look at!

Twilight Comes Twice

Twilight Comes Twice by Ralph Fletcher talks about the passing of a day. This is another book that uses many sensory details. Although there are no characters mentioned the pictures tell a story of their own. A little girl and her dog are illustrated waling around and experiencing the different times of day together. It seems like a wonderful story of a bond between humans, animals and nature. I imagine the story being told by this girl and I appreciate the story even more that way. Because the details about the girl and the dog are so vague I feel like I am that little girl with her dog exploring nature. In one picture the girl is shown eating breakfast with her mom and dad. Since my brother and sister are so much older than me, many times it was just my parents and I at breakfast. This book made me miss home and spring time. I can't wait until it's warm and I can walk around and explore outside again myself!

Working Cotton

Working Cotton by Sherley Anne Williams is a book about a day of doing work picking cotton. The story is written from the perspective of a young girl whose family works laboring the land. She talks about their early journey to the fields in the morning and their return to home late at night. The illustrations are beautifully crafted and you can get a sense of the hardships of working as a family in the fields. The young girl does not enjoy spending her days laboring in the hot, blistering sun but she makes the best of it. The father in the family is a very hardworker, he reminds me of my dad. I thought this was a good story that gives you perspective on what it is like to do work that involves labor.

Night in the Country

Night in the Country by Cynthia Rylant is a book that uses many sensory details. When I was reading through it I actually felt like I was back home. Where I live it is so quiet you can hear all the noises a house makes. In the book she talks hearing frogs and apples drop and becuase of the details you feel like you are actually there. Sensory details help the reader to better understand where you are coming from. I loved this book because it uses the senses. It talks about how when you are having trouble sleeping you can hear all those noises around you. Hearing the noises frogs make at night when you can't sleep is the worst for me. You just want silence but if you were really tired enough you would easily tune out the sounds and fall asleep. This would be a good book to read to students if they are lacking details in their writing.

The Rainbow Fish

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister is a wonderful book about a beautiful fish and happiness! I love that some of the scales on the fish are done with silvery shiny paper. It makes me want to read the book over and over again. This story presents the importance of sharing. The story also shows us that material possessions and appearance do not make us happy. When the beautiful fish refuses to give one of his scales to a friend no one wants to be around him. He is very lonely and is unsure of what to do, he couldn’t understand why no one wanted to be his friend when he was so beautiful. After talking with a wise octopus he decides to share his scales to find happiness. The fish truly is happy after sharing with the other fish in the ocean. This book shows us that material possessions and appearance cannot make us happy. Other things in life like friendship create happiness! I thought this was a great book and that kids would love it especially because of the silvery scales on the pages.

Love That Dog

Love that Dog by Sharon Creech was a book about a student who didn’t want to write poetry and thought he was terrible at it but ended up writing some of the best work in his class. For me, this book reassured me that it is possible to inspire any student if you can get to know them and work with their interests. In this case the teacher asked to hear more about a car and a dog and ended up finding out a lot about her student. The student was inspired by an author to write a poem called “love that dog”. His dog had been hit by a car while playing in the street and that experience motivated him to write poems about it. If the teacher had never encouraged the student to keep writing and kept asking questions about his writing, he may have continued to hate poetry. Instead the encouragement and questions led to the student writing wonderful things, enjoying poems and learning a lot about poetry. I felt really sad when the student talked about what happened to his dog. I hate hearing about animals getting hurt or dying. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I liked that it presented the idea that it is possible to reach every student.

Punk Wig

Punk Wig by Lori Ries is a book about a mother who has a cancer and loses her hair. The mother deals with the disease as best she can and tries not to worry her son. She takes her son with her to go shopping for a wig and they have a good time together picking out the perfect wig. They name the wig “punk wig” because of the hairstyle it resembles. Once the mother’s hair grows back and the cancer treatment is over she gives the wig to her son. This book deals with cancer in a lighthearted way so that you can read it to a child to talk about the disease. It refers to tumors as “alien blobs”, it may seem less intimating for a child that way.
Punk wig holds a special place in my heart because the main character chooses to fight cancer and she survives. My grandma on my dad’s side, and my grandpa and 2 of my aunts on my mom’s side had cancer and fought it. I remember the process of them losing hair, buying wigs and being extremely sick and weak. Some of them won the battle and survived and unfortunately some of them did not. I still miss those loved ones dearly each and every day. There isn’t a family get together or holiday that goes by without thinking of them and wishing they were there.
Through the experiences with cancer in my family, I have learned that it is important to remain hopeful. That is why I liked this book so much, even though it was hard for me to read it without tearing up, it left me with a feeling of hope.

Boxes for Katje

Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming is a wonderful book inspired by the true experiences of the author’s mother. Katje, a young girl living in Europe receives a package from a Rosie, young girl in America, as part of a goodwill effort to help the people of Europe after World War II. Katje thrilled by the gifts sent in the package sends a thank you letter to Rosie, which sparks a further exchange between the girls. In the end both girls are given surprises that benefit their whole town!
I thought this story was a magnificent example of human kindness. Katje’s town was struggling with some really hard times. People in her town didn’t even have winter clothes, soap or milk. Rosie realized how much they were struggling and sent items to help Katje and a town of complete strangers. This book is a heartwarming story that inspires me to do more to help my community and also to help other communities or people in need.
I read the book first without looking at the inside cover, once I looked at the inside cover, Irealized that it was based on a true story. The fact that it was based on a true story made the book even better. It is so nice to read about people helping out others especially in a time of need. Our country is currently struggling, like many around the world and it is important to remember to give as much as we can. This book is a good reminder of the power of simple acts of kindness!

The Man who Walked Between the Towers

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein is a book about a young French aerialist who walked across the two World Trade Centers in 1974 on a tight rope. He spent almost an hour on the tight rope performing tricks. The French aerialist saw the two towers and knew it would be a great spot to stretch a rope. From that moment he was determined to complete this task but he knew that it would not be easy. I liked this book because it shows determination. The performer had a dream and he did not give up until his dream was accomplished. It is important for us to remember that we should never give up on dreams of our own. The illustrations in the book are beautiful and they represent the mood given by the text on each page. For example, when the man is talking about how he knew the owners and the police would never allow him to walk across the towers, the illustrations are dark and gloomy. However, when he is thinking of a plan to accomplish his dreams the page is filled with bright colors and great detail. I am amazed that someone actually performed on a tight rope between the World Trade Center but I am even more taken back by the fact that those two towers are gone now. A teacher could use this book to introduce and start a discussion on the events of September 11th in a social studies class. Whatever your purpose for reading the book may be, it is definitely one that is worth reading.

Grandfather's Journey

Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say is a touching story about traveling, family and friends. A man travels from the country he grew up in, to the United States. He is amazed at what he sees and loves it in the United States but he longs to go back to his friends and the country he knows so well. Many years later he moves back to the town where he grew up but wishes to travel to the United States once more. He never makes it back but his grandson, whom he told many stories about his experiences travels to the United States one day. When the grandson arrives in the United States he understands how his grandfather felt. The grandson starts to miss his friends, family and the scenery of his country, like his grandfather did. This was a wonderful story about the bond between families. Listening to family members or loved one’s stories are treasured moments in my life. Before my grandma passed away she told me many stories about her childhood and adult life. I will forever cherish those memories of her sharing experiences of her life with me. Like the book, there are moments in my life when I feel like I know how my grandma felt in similar situations. I highly recommend this book, it was an enjoyable story that brings the reader back to their own experiences with loved ones and family.

The Penguin and the Pea

The Penguin and the Pea by Janet Perlman was a great version of one of my old favorites the Princess and the pea. It’s about a prince determined to find a real princess to be his wife. The prince’s mother believed that a true princess would not be able to sleep if there was a pea under her bed. Sure enough the princess in the story felt the pea and is then able to marry the prince. I like the fact that the author chose a penguin, one of the only birds that can’t fly as the subject of the story. It gives the reader the message that anyone can be a princess. I’m glad I read this story again now that I’m older. It brought back memories of sitting in my parent’s bed and listening to my mom read stories. When my mom would read the princess and the pea to me, I remember wondering how the princess could feel that pea under all those mattresses. I loved the silly idea of a pea under all those mattresses and so will most kids! If you liked the original princess in the pea I recommended giving the penguin version a try!

Princess for a Week

Princess For a Week by Betty Ren Wright is about a boy named Roddy and an unexpected visitor. When Roddy, a young boy hears his mother say that “Princess” will be coming to stay with them for a week he assumes that “Princess” is a dog. He is really excited until he finds out that "Princess" is a young girl. Princess arrives and Roddy quickly realizes that she is trouble. Unfortunately his mother thinks that she is an angel has good intentions. Roddy looks forward to the end of the week when Princess will leave but in the mean time he goes along with her on her mischievous adventures trying to keep them both out of trouble.

The Blizzard

The Blizzard by Betty Ren Wright is about a snowstorm and the unexpected surprises it can bring. Billy, a young boy is disappointed when he finds out his 5 cousins will not be able to make it to visit for his birthday because of a blizzard. His mom tells him they are very sorry they can’t make it and rushes Billy off to school. The snow is so heavy that the school is cancelled and the teacher brings all the students to the closest house to the school, Billy’s house. The blizzard ends up turning Billy’s birthday into a wonderful experience because all the students and his teacher spend the night at his house! Many times in life things do not go as planned but just because they don't go as planned doesn't mean it's the end of the world. Sometimes the unplanned things turn out even better than the things we had planned in the first place. Billy was upset when he heard that his cousins were not going to make it to his birthday but his birthday ended up being more fun then he had ever imagined! I am the type of person that likes to have a plan and stick to it. Many times when things go unexpetedly I get upset, like Billy did. I need to learn to lighten up and if things don't go as planned to just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride!

Michael Rosen's Sad Book

Michael Rosen's Sad book is a story about a father who is mourning the loss of his son Eddie. The story is told from the perspective of the father. He talks about all the ups and downs of losing a loved one. He discusses memories he has of his son and things that sometimes make him feel better. One of the things the father mentions is that writing helps him cope with the loss. He even writes a poem about sadness for the reader. I liked that he used writing as a way of getting his feelings out. This would be a good book to read to students to show them that it is okay to write about things that do not have happy endings. The book ends with with a picture of the father sitting all alone at his desk. I felt his loneliness and wanted to jump into the pages to cheer him up.This is a heartbreaking story that represents the struggles of losing a loved one.

The Top Job

The Top Job by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel, is story is about a class who is discussing different careers. The teacher, Mrs.Feeny asks her students to stand up and talk about their parent’s jobs. One of the girls in the class has a dad that changes light bulbs. A boy in the class makes a rude comment about her dad's career but the girl continues talking about a career of changing light bulbs. She begins to tell them that she had gone to work with her dad last weekend for a special job. Her dad was in charge of changing a light bulb on the top of the Empire State Building. The girl describes the important equipment needed for such a task, the amount of time it took and the requirements of the job. The whole class is suddenly interested in her dad’s job. The boy in the class said, "boring", what many others in the class may have been thinking when she said her dad changed light bulbs for a living. He was too quick to judge her dad's career and in the end the whole class was really drawn to the girl's story. This book represents a good lesson, don't judge a book by it's cover. Things aren't always as they seem, we should always take a closer look before we assume things about something or someone.

Up

Up is a story about an energetic toddler who loves to get attention from her dad. She enjoys things like being picked up and swaying high on a swing. The toddler and her dad go to the park and spend the afternoon playing together. They have such a great time bonding and doing different activities throughout the afternoon. The story ends with the girl feeling warn out and content to be in her father’s arms. This is a cute story that represents a strong bond between a daugther and her father. It reminded me of my dad and how much I loved spending time with him when I was younger. I used to sit on his lap and rock on the rocking chair with him almost once a day. Now I am too big to sit on his lap, but we still enjoy doing things together when I'm home from college, like going on walks in our neighborhood after dinner.

Fred Stays with Me

Fred Stays With Me by Nancy Coffelt is a book told from the perspective of a young girl whose parents are divorced. The girl in the story switches off living between both her parent's homes. Her dog Fred goes wherever she goes, giving her a sense of stability. At one point neither parent wants Fred at their house because he can cause trouble. For example, at her mom's house Fred barks a the poodle next door. The mom and the daughter come up with a solution for Fred to quit barking at the neighbor dog. They decide to introduce the two dogs in hopes of sparking a friendship. The conflict of allowing Fred to stay at both homes is resolved in a positive way allowing the girl to see effective problem solving skills. This is a good book to allow children to see that divorce does not have to be a negative thing. The young girl in this book is still loved by both parents and stays close with each of them even though they live in different homes.

Bad to the Bone

Bad to The Bone by Lucy Nolan is a story told from a dog’s perspective. The dog talks mainly about its troubles with the neighbor cat and squirrels. It is interesting how the dog names things for instance she calls her owner “Rruff” , her best friend “sit” and she believes her name is “Down Girl”. Down Girl and Sit feel like they are not getting enough attention so they intentionally act out for their owners to notice them. This happens with kids sometimes too, they are so desperate for attention they will do anything to get someone to notice them. The dogs also discriminate against the cat because it is different. They don’t try to get to know the cat they just assume that they do not like it. I was hoping at the end of the story that they would befriend the cat but they didn’t. Overall, the book was cute but I wish it would have left me with a greater take home message.

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak is a brilliant picture book driven by a child’s imagination. When Max is sent to his room by his mother without dinner he dreams up a world far away with enormous creatures. The creatures crown Max the king and he rules until he becomes lonely. Max returns to his room where his supper is waiting for him. This is a good book that illustrates the power of imagination. Many kids dream up their own fantasy lands when they are playing. When I was younger I used to dream up a new place each time I played Barbie dolls. As an adult it is easy to lose sight of our imagination and books like this remind us of the endless possibilities when we dream. The illustrations in this book are amazing and help represent the overall idea of imagination.

Friends and Pals and Brothers Too

The book Friends and Pals and Brothers Too by Sarah Wilson reminded me of how it was growing up with a brother and sister. The story is about two brothers close in age and all of the things they do together throughout the year. It goes through the seasons and the different things you can do outside in certain months of the year. For example they go skiing together and play in the snow in the winter. I thought back to all the fun things my brother, sister and I used to do. We would go on ski trips as a family and it was always so much fun. I always wished that I was closer in age with my brother and sister so we would have had more in common growing up. My brother is eight years older than me and my sister is seven years older. They were much closer in age and much closer in general because of that. I always felt left out because they would go do things that I was too young to do. Now that we’re older we’re all close friends and I no longer feel left out. This story is cute and it shows how the bond of siblings can turn into more than just family but also friends.

Drive by Nathan Clement is a book about the work of a truck driver told from the perspective of a child. The child describes the work schedule of his father, a truck driver on a regular day. The child is shown sleeping in the beginning showing us that his dad leaves for work before he is up. In the end of the book the boy and his father are playing baseball with the dog in the backyard. Even though the father has a busy day at work he still makes time to spend time with his son. The book shows the importance of a father’s relationship with his children. A lot of times the relationship between a mother and her kids is emphasized leaving out the significance of the father’s relationship. Drive is a good representation of how hard working fathers maintain a close relationship with their kids.

Hello Ocean by Pam Munoz Ryan allows us to experience the 5 senses while on a trip to the beach. It goes through smell, touch, taste, see and hear each one with many different examples from the ocean shore. The illustrations are so realistic they look like photographs. The realistic illustrations make it easy for anyone to imagine a day the beach, swimming in the salt water. As you read along you become absorbed in the book and it’s like you are there experiencing it yourself. When I was finished reading the book it made me want to jump in my car and go to the nearest beach! This would be a good book to demonstrate the 5 senses in a classroom. Students could see the power of writing using the senses.

Suki’s Kimono by Chieri Uegaki was a good story that represented the salad bowl theory of multiculturalism. Suki wanted to wear her Kimono to school but her sisters frowned upon the idea. They told her she would be made fun of and it wasn’t a good idea. Suki wore her Kimono anyways because she liked it and it reminded her of her grandma and the festival they went to together. The story represents the magnificence of everyone being different.
Suki teaches her class something new by wearing her kimono and showing how people dance at the festival in Japan. Her classmates thought her outfit was weird at first because they were not familiar with Japanese culture. However, by the end of the day they had respect for Suki and appreciated her for her uniqueness.
People should not have to change their background to conform to mainstream culture. We can embrace these differences and encourage diversity so that we can began to see things and understand them from multiple perspectives. This is a wonderful book that shows what we can all learn from each other by bringing something different to the table.

If The Shoe Fits by Krista Bell is a delightful story about a young girl named Cassie who loves to dance but is terrified to perform in front of an audience. This fear of performing or speaking in front of others is shared by many people. Cassie wants to be like her favorite dancer Miranda Farren but in order to do so she must get over her stage fright.
In Cassie’s class there is a boy named Jake who is a great dancer and appears to be confident. What Cassie doesn’t know is that Jake is also afraid of performing in front of others, specifically his hardest critic his father. When Jake shares his fear with Cassie the day of their recital she realizes that just because you feel afraid doesn’t mean you can’t get out there and do it. Jake and Cassie both confront their fear with help from one another.
I used to get nervous about public speaking and I thought I was the only one. Once I saw that other people shared the same fear I felt better about doing it. Sometimes all you need is that reassurance that you’re not alone and then with practice that fear slowly goes away. This book is a wonderful example of not letting your fears get in the way of your dreams.

I found Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann in the Caldecott section at the public library. The first thing that came to mind when I saw the dog doing a flip on the cover was a circus. As I skimmed through the pages I realized the book was not about a circus but instead a police officer concerned with safety and his dog named Gloria.
Officer Buckle and Gloria shows the importance of team work through the friendship of the officer and his dog. They are not successful without one another. In the beginning the officer goes to a school to present safety tips and no seems to listen. After the buys the dog he notices that his presentations go much more smoothly, the crowd is finally tuned into what he is saying. When he finds out it is because the dog is doing tricks he feels like no one really cares about what he has to say. So when the dog goes to a school without Officer Buckle the presentation goes all wrong. In the end it is made clear that together they make the best team.
The book is a good way to show children the significance of being different. Officer Buckle and Gloria are different in many ways but they make an awesome team. It is good that people have unique strengths because that way each person has something special to bring to the table. The book does a great job of illustrating this concept and it is definitely worth reading!

Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell is an adorable pop-up book about finding the perfect pet. Many times children visit the Zoo or the pet store and do not understand why their parents won’t allow them to have a certain animal. This book illustrates why some pets are simply not made for the home.
Up until 5th grade I always thought having a pet camel would be ideal. Well my aunt got a camel for her barn in Wisconsin when I was in 5th grade. I got to see him that year and he was not friendly. After that experience I understood why parents never let me get one and my dreams of getting a camel left. I decided I’d rather have something simple like a dog. Coincidently a camel is one of the pets the character in the book tries out and the camel is sent back because he is too grumpy.
Sometimes it is hard for children to understand why they cannot have something their way and it helps to explain why. This book is a good illustration to children on why it may not be so bad to have a dog, cat, or bird as a pet. Also the pop-up part of the book makes it fun for them to read!

Danny’s first snow by Leonid Gore took me back to memories of my first experiences with snow. In the story Danny is not sure what he thinks about the white flurries falling from the sky. He asks his mom twice what snow is and she responds, “you’ll see.” When Danny goes outside to play in snow for the first time he is pleasantly surprised with how much he can do with the snow.
Experiencing snow for the first time is an exciting occurrence in a child’s life. There are so many new activities that can be done when there is snow on the ground. I remember building snow forts with my dad, making snowmen with my friends and sledding on a hill nearby our elementary school. The memory that stands out the most in my mind is tasting my dad’s recipe for snow ice cream. We used to play outside together for hours and when we would come back in he would make me his famous snow ice cream along with hot cocoa to warm me up.
This book presents the idea that playing in the snow can be different each day because there are always new discoveries that can be made. It allows the reader to relate to Danny’s first experience while bringing to mind about their own memories with snow. I like that it ends with Danny heading in from his first positive experience with snow leaving the reader to imagine what his second experience will be like.

I picked The Trouble with Dragons by Debi Gliori off the new shelf at the curriculum lab. It caught my interest because of the illustration on the cover, a dragon surrounded by animals holding the earth. The dragons in the story are careless, as the book says, “they use up everything without stopping to think”. The planet and its creatures are at risk of extinction because of the dragons behavior. Once the dragons see this they decide to change their bad habits with advice from all of the animals.
The book stresses the importance of protecting the environment in a kid friendly way. From the text and the illustrations it is easy for children of all ages to see that we all need to work together to protect the earth and all its living things. I remember learning about the significance of reducing, recycling and reusing in Elementary school and I wish the teacher would have had a book like this to initiate the discussion with us. The trouble with Dragons is certainly a book I would recommend reading to children to present or reemphasize the importance of doing everything we can to protect our planet.

I sat down to read I Miss You Every Day by Simms Taback and I was immediately wrapped up in its pages. I had not heard anything about the book prior to spotting it on the shelf in the curriculum lab but it is a book I would certainly recommend to anyone who is separated from a loved one. It took me back to elementary school and the feeling of continuous longing to see my grandparents more often.
The phrase “I miss you every day” is repeated throughout the book by the young girl, stressing the fact that she can’t bare to be apart from the people she loves. Although it is not made clear by the text whom exactly she is missing I noticed that on the back side of the front cover the words grandma and grandpa, daddy and cousin Beth were listed. Who she is missing must be left out purposefully so that the reader can easily relate to missing a loved one.
The illustrations in the book are wonderful, not only because they are beautifully drawn but because you can learn more about the text by taking a closer look at the pictures. The young girl thinks of a solution to getting to see her loved one, she imagines wrapping herself up as a package and sending herself to their home. This is something many of us wish we could do when we long to see our loved ones. I often joke about being able to teleport myself to see friends and family separated from me by distance. The last page shows the girl peacefully asleep in bed, my take on it is that she is dreaming of spending time with the loved ones she misses.