Be Good to Eddie Lee

Be Good to Eddie Lee
Book Review III

Author: Virginia Fleming
Illustrator: Floyd Cooper
Genre: Fiction
Subgenre: Realistic
Primary Characters: Eddie Lee
Secondary Characters: Jim Bud and Christy
Publishing: Philomel Books 1993
Awards: N/A

Theme: No matter the appearance, the inside and personality is what truly accounts for anything.

Summary: Eddie Lee is a very outgoing child. He also has down syndrome. His neighbors Christy and Jim Bud find him rather annoying and bothersome. Altough Christy considers Eddie Lee a pest, they become really good friends in the woods one day. He showed her many beautiful things that she had overlooked. In the end, friendship was among one of their discoveries.

Uses with students: In a classroom, this book could be used to teach students the importance of accepting people even though they may be different than themselves.

Behold the Trees

Behold the Trees
Book Review III

Author: Sue Alexander
Illustrator: Leonid Gore
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Subgenre: Picture Book
Primary Characters: Trees
Secondary Characters: People from the time periods mentioned
Publishing: Arthur A. Levine 2001
Awards: Children's Literature Council of South California for Distinguished Literature Quality 2005

Theme: Be kind to the planet: plant trees.

Summary: Trees have been around since the beginning. This story tells of trees around the world and in different periods in time. For example, the centuries of wandering, the Year of Kings, and the Roman Rule. At first, people would just cut down trees without replanting any which caused the world to have less trees. Finally, some people realized what was happening an decided to plant trees.

Uses with students: In a classroom, this book can be used to teach children about the different time periods represented in the book, or it could also be use to learn about Arbour Day and  Israel's equivalent holiday.

In the Tall, Tall Grass

In the Tall, Tall Grass
Book Review III

Author/Illustrator: Denise Fleming
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Subgenre: Picture Book
Primary Characters: Animals
Secondary Characters: Insects
Publishing: Henry Holt and Company 1991
Awards: Boston Globe-Horn Award Honor Book 1991

Theme: Different organisms inhabit an environment together, and live in perfect harmony.

Summary:  This picture book describes different animals and insects that live in the tall, tall grass.
It tells how they interact and survive in the same environment.

Uses with students: In a classroom, this book could be used to teach students rhyming terms. Also, this book could be used during a science lesson on different ecosystems or environments.

Nicky and the Fantastic Birthday Gift

Nicky and the Fantastic Birthday Gift
Book Review III

Author/Illustrator: Valeri Gorbachev
Genre: Fiction
Subgenre: Animal Story
Primary Characters: Nicky
Secondary Characters: Momma, Ned, Nora, Nathan, and Nelly
Publishing: North South Books 2000
Awards: N/A

Theme: A heart felt gift is more valuable than any other.

Summary: It's mother's birthday, and the kids are making her presents all except for Nicky. He wants to give Momma a gift that is extraordinary. The other children give their mother her gifts while Nicky is still working hard on his gift. He drew his mother a picture and along with it came an elaborate story telling. They all eat cake and dance, and mom says that all her presents were fantastic gifts.

Uses with students: In a classroom, this book would make a good silent reading book or a book center reading story. Also, like Nicky, the students could learn how to use their imaginations, and perhaps make a gift for someone.

Mama Does the Mambo

Mama Does the Mambo
Book Review III

Author: Katherine Leiner
Illustrator: Edel Rodriquez
Genre: Fiction
Subgenre: Realistic
Primary Characters: Mama and the narrator
Secondary Characters: Papa, Rosa, Dora, Eduardo
Publishing: Hyperion Books For Children 2001
Awards: Américas Award Commended Book

Theme: Never let a tragedy take away your joy for something that you love.

Summary: Mama does not dance anymore now that Papa has passed away. Her daughter, the narrator, tries to find her mother a new dancing partner for the Carnival. She finds a genlteman named Eduardo. The only problem is he is not a very good dancer. At the carnival, the narrator is the one who ultimately dances with Mama as she does the Mambo. Mama's joy has been restored.

Uses with students: In a classroom, this book could be used to aid in discussions about the Hispanic and Latino cultures. Also, it could be used to introduce students to a few Spanish vocabulary words.