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.

Micheal Recycle

Micheal Recycle
Book Review III

Author: Ellie Bethel
Illustrator: Alexander Colombo
Genre: Fiction
Subgenre: Picture Book
Primary Characters: Micheal Recycle
Secondary Characters: Townspeople of Abberdoo-Rimey
Publishing: Jonas Publishing 2008
Awards: 7th Annual Mobius Environmental Award

Theme: Recycling is key to a beautiful environment.

Summary: A superhero comes to the town of Abberdoo-Rimey. He rescues the town from all their trash, and teaches them the importance of recycling. The town becomes beautiful again thanks to Micheal Recycle.

Uses with students: In a classroom, this novel can be used to aid in a lesson on recycling or about doing their own part in the communities where they live.

Red Sings from Treetops

Red Sings from Treetops

Book Review III

Author: Joyce Sidman

Illustrator: Pamela Zagarenski

Genre: Children's Literature

Subgenre: Picture Book

Primary Characters: different colors

Secondary Characters: Seasons

Publishing: Houghton Mifflin Books 2009

Awards: Caldecott Honor Book

Theme: Vibrant colors shape and define each season differently.

Summary: This book tells of the different colors of the four seasons. Each seasoned is defined by a variety of unique colors that each represent something within that season.

Uses with students: In a classroom, this book could be used in teaching a kindergarten class colors as well as the four seasons. It is a good read a loud book because the text and images are large enough to be seen from a distance.

Through My Eyes

Through My Eyes

Book Review III

Author: Ruby Bridges

Illustrator: N/A contained photos from the time period

Genre: Autobiography

Subgenre: Historical

Primary Characters: Ruby Bridges

Secondary Characters: Mrs. Henry, Ruby's mother and father

Publishing: Scholastic Press 1999

Awards: Orbis Pictus Award 2000

Theme: A child's bravery can change the world for the better.

Summary: This a story about Ruby Bridges. She was a six year old who was the only African American in an all white school. It is a story written with her accounts of what happened that year of first grade. It is a tale through her eyes.

Use with students: In a classroom, this book can be used as a aid in a lesson about the Civil Rights Movement. It will give students a chance to connect to someone like them who experienced the terrible things of segregation.

When Marian Sang

When Marian Sang

Book Review III

Author: Pam Muñoz Ryan

Illustrator: Brian Selznick

Genre: Biography

Subgenre: Fictionalized Biography

Primary Characters: Marian Anderson

Secondary Characters: Giusseppe Bughetti

Publishing: Scholastic Press 2001

Awards: Robert F. Sibert Award 2003

Theme: One person's accomplishments can lead to changes being made in society.

Summary: An introduction to the life of Marian Anderson. She was an incredible singer, and the first African American to perform with the Metropolitan Opera. This book tells of her journey to the top, and the social changes her success caused.

Uses with students: In a classroom, this biography can be used during a discussion about Black History Month. It can also be used to introduce a lesson on biographies.

WOLF!

WOLF!

Book Review III

Author: Becky Bloom

Illustrator: Pascal Biet

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre: Picture Book

Primary Characters: Wolf

Secondary Characters: Duck, Pig, Cow

Publishing: Orchard Books 1999

Awards: NC Children's Book Award

Theme: When trying to make new friends, be the best version of yourself.

Summary: Wolf had been traveling for a really long time, and his tummy was growling. He stops at a farm hoping to find dinner, but all he sees is a duck, a pig, and a cow reading a book. He is fascinated and decides to learn how to read as well. So he goes to school, the library, and even a bookstore. He teaches himself how to be an excellent story teller. Back at the farm, he tells the others his majestic stories. The other animals love his stories, and decide to invite him to their picnic. They become friends for life-always reading.

Uses with students: In a classroom, this picture book can be used to show how cool reading is to peers. It can encourage the students to read so that they can make friends like the wolf. It would also make a great read a loud book because the words and pictures are large enough to be seen from a distance.

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.