Cirlce of Gold

Circle of Gold
Book Review II

Author: Candy Dawson Boyd
Cover Artist:
Genre: Fiction
Subgenre: Realistic
Primary Characters: Mattie and Matt Benson, Mama, and Toni
Secondary Characters: Mrs. Stamps, Reverend Harris, Angel and Charlene
Publishing: Scholastic Inc Apple Paperbacks 1984
Awards: Coretta Scott King 1984

Theme: Family unity is a part of a happy life.

Summary: Mattie Benson's father recently passed away, and since then things around the house have not been the same. She was really close to her father and no feels alone and unloved in her family, but she wants to change this feeling. So she decides to get her mother a super special Mother's Day gift in hopes that it will fix things and make her mother love her more. Mattie faces a challenge of getting enough money to pay for her gift so she enters an essay contest. Her best friend Toni helps her and writes one for her. Mattie is forced to decide which essay she will turn in as her own. She decides to turn in the one she wrote and wins the contest. However, the prize is not what she was expecting. Instead of money, the prize was the gold circle pin she wanted so badly to give her mother. In the end, Mattie feels as if her family is back to normal and is unified once again.

Uses with students: In a classroom, this book could serve as a silent reading book, or it could be used as an aid or introduction to a lesson on determination or families.

Fourth Grade is a Jinx

Fourth Grade is a Jinx
Book Review II

Author/ Illustrator: Colleen O'Shaughnessy McKenna
Genre: Fiction
Subgenre: General
Primary Characters: Collette, Marsha, Mrs. Johnston, Mrs. Murphy and Sister Mary Elizabeth
Secondary Characters: Roger, Mrs. Haversham, Miss Merkle, Matthew, and Micheal
Publishing: Scholastic Inc. 1989
Awards: N/A

Theme: Life is full of incidents that are not joyful, but one has to learn to deal with them.

Summary: Fourth grade is going to be a great year for Collette Murphy. Her best friend Sara is in her class, she loves her teacher, and the work is easy. Everything is groovy until Mrs. Johnston has an accident, and can no longer teach. This means the class must get a substitute teacher- Collette's mother! Collette is traumatized and is certain that her fourth grade year is ruined. The story tells of all the humorous events that happen throughout her fourth grade experience.

Uses with students: In a classroom, this book would be an excellent silent reading book, or could be used in a discussion on peer pressure. Also, in a fourth grade classroom, the teacher could read a loud this book the first week of class to welcome the students to the fourth grade.

Gooney Bird Greene

Gooney Bird Greene
Book Review II

Author: Lois Lowry
Illustrator: Middy Thomas
Genre: Fiction
Subgenre: Humor
Primary Characters: Gooney Bird and Mrs. Pidgeon
Secondary Characters: Felicia Ann, Malcolm, Barry Tuckerman, Chelsea, Nicholas, Ben, and Keiko
Publishing: Houghton Mifflin Company Boston 2002
Awards: Boston Globe-Horn Book Award

Theme: Individuality, imagination, and creativity should be embraced.

Summary: A new girl arrives at Watertower Elementary. Her name is Gooney Bird Greene and she likes to be in the middle of everything. Everyday she entertains her fellow classmates and teacher with an absolutely true story about herself including how she got her name. 

Uses with students: In a classroom, this chapter book could be used as an individual reading book or it could aid in a lesson on storytelling.

Liar, Liar Pants on Fire

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire
Book Review II


Author: Gordan Korman
Illustrator: Joann Adinolfi
Genre: Fiction
Subgenre: Realistic
Primary Characters: Zoe Bent, Ms. Moore,  and Dr. Bradley
Secondary Characters: Jerry Paradise, Mom, Dad, Joey, Brittany and Micheal
Publishing: Scholastic Little Apple Paperbacks 1997
Awards: N/A

Theme: Lies are not necessary to make yourself better: just be yourself.

Summary: Zoe Bent has a creative imagination, but she uses it to lie about things to make herself seem cooler. All of her classmates never believe her except for one, Micheal. Zoe makes an eagle nest out of a crock pot and peanut butter. A real eagle came to eat the peanut butter, but when she told everyone only Micheal believed her. Micheal and Zoe become friends, and she realizes that when you are yourself, the truth doesn't need any help at all.

Uses with students: This book could be used when discussing truthfulness. Also, it could simply serve as a silent reading book.

In the Small, Small Pond

In a Small, Small Pond
Book Review II

Author/Illustrator: Denise Fleming
Genre: Nonfiction
Subgenre: Poetry
Primary Characters: different animals in a pond
Secondary Characters: None
Publishing: Henry Holt and Company N.Y. 1994
Awards: Caldecott Honor 1994

Theme: Life in a pond is diverse, and different animals have different habits.

Summary: As spring approaches and Winter fades, animals in ponds engage in different activities. Their activities are described through a series of rhyme and illustrations.

Uses with students: In a classroom, this book could be used in a unit in science. It could aid in a discussion about different ecosystems. Also, this book could be used to introduce rhyme and poetry to elementary grade students.

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
Book Review II

Author/Illustrator: Simms Taback
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Fiction
Primary Character: Joseph
Secondary Characters: N/A
Publishing: Penguin Group 2000
Awards: Caldecott Medal 2000

Theme: You can always make something out of nothing.

Summary: Joseph has a very old overcoat. He keeps recycling the material numerous times and creates different clothing accessories. Eventually, the material runs out completely.

Uses with students: It could be used during a lesson on recycling or it could always be used as a silent reading book for beginning readers.

"Let's get a Pup!" said Kate.

"Let's Get a Pup!" said Kate.
Book Review II

Author/Illustrator: Bob Graham
Genre: Fiction
Subgenre: Realistic
Primary Characters: Kate, Mom, and Dad
Secondary Characters: the dogs- Rosy and Dave
Publishing: Candlewick Press 2001
Awards: N/A

Theme: Everybody needs a loving and caring home.

Summary: Kate's cat dies and she is upset. Kate decides she wants a new puppy so she pleads her parents to get her one. They decide to take her to the pound to find a new dog. There they find a dog named Dave. He is the perfect pet, however he is lonely so they decide to get another pup they saw at the pound. The name her Rosy. Rosy and Dave are great and they keep Kate's feet warm and not alone at night.

Uses with students: This book would be great as a individual reading book, or it could be used to lead a discussion about friendship and caring for animals.

My People

My People
Book Review II

Author: Langston Hughes
Illustrator: Charles R. Smith Jr.
Genre: Poetry
Subgenre: Cultural
Primary Characters: African Americans
Secondary Characters: N/A
Publishing: Atheneum Books 2009
Awards: Coretta Scott King Award

Theme: Always respect and take pride in one's culture.

Summary: This is a poem about people of African American heritage.
It vividly describes their features and qualities.

Use with students: In a classroom this book could be used to study elements of poetry. Also, it could be read as a read a loud book for Black History Month.

The Paperboy

The Paperboy
Book Review II

Author and Illustrator: Dav Pilkey

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre: Realistic

Primary Characters: Paperboy

Secondary Characters: Mom, Dad, and Sister

Publishing: Orchard Books 1996

Awards: Caldecott Honor 1996

Theme: There is a great sensation of accomplishment, once a task is completed.

Summary: A paperboy and his faithful pup wake up early to deliver papers to the neighborhood. The two enjoy the feels and sounds of the morning. Once the job is done, they climb back into their warm bed.

Uses with students: In a classroom, this book could be used as a read a loud book because the pictures and words are large enough for all to see. Also, students could write journal entries about their responsibilities.

Thunder Rose

Thunder Rose
Book Review II

Author: Erdine Nolen

Illustrator: Kadir Nelson

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre: Folktale

Primary Characters: Thunder Rose

Secondary Characters: Mom and Dad

Publishing: Harcourt Inc. 2003

Awards: Coretta Scott King Honor

Theme: Folktales can shape or explain a certain culture's history.

Summary: Rose is born during a thunderstorm. She has the power of storms and incredible strength. Due to her power, her parents begin to call her Thunder Rose. She does many grown up things as well as unique tasks like make iron fences, tame stampedes, and reroute a tornado. Needless to say, she is not an average little girl.

Uses with students: This book would be useful in discussions about Western culture. Also, it could be used as an introduction to a lesson on Folktales.

Where on Earth Is My Bagel?

Where on Earth Is My Bagel?
Book Review II

Author: Frances and Ginger Park
Illustrator: Grace Lin
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Fiction
Primary Characters: Yum Yong
Secondary Characters: Farmer Ahn, Fisherman Kee, Beekeeper Lee, and Baker Oh
Publishing: Lee and Low Books Inc. 2001
Awards: N/A


Theme: With desire, determination and team work, the impossible is made possible.


Summary: A young boy in Korea, Yum Yong, is craving a New York bagel. He sends a pigeon with a note requesting one to a bakery in New York City. When the pigeon does not return fast enough, Yum Yong goes around his villages looking for it. No one that he runs into has seen it. While at his last stop, the bird comes back with the recipe attached to its leg. They all contribute to the recipe and everyone enjoys a delicious New York bagel.


Uses with students: In a classroom, this book could be used to introduce letter writing. It could also serve as an enhancement to a lesson on Korean culture.