WOO! Final reflection time! I can't believe that I have blogged about 60 books, that's amazing. What's even more amazing is knowing that I have read a handful of other picture books and novels throughout my time in the College of Ed... I wonder what the grand total would be! I feel like I have gained a plethora of knowledge from this course. This blog was really slick to use and it made it so much easier to submit our homework. While I was looking through my blog I was amazed at how much work was done in such a short amount of time. I am honestly considering adding to this wonderful start of reviews. I feel as though it would be extremely beneficial to my future teaching. Additionally, I enjoyed being able to personalize the appearance of my blog. I know it's a little thing but it made me excited! It's a great feeling to know that I put so much work into a project and in the end I really like the overall appearance of it. I think that's important :) In conclusion this class has been very informational and probably one of the most important classes I have taken since being admitted into the program. Books are such an important thing to read and have in your classroom. An educated background is crucial.
Thanks for the semester, Jen!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Year of Impossible Goodbyes
Written by: Sook Nyul Choi
Year of Impossible Goodbyes did pair quite nicely with So Far From the Bamboo Grove. It was interesting and somewhat refreshing for me to see two different perspectives from young girls. As I mentioned in my blog on So Far From the Bamboo Grove my knowledge on the subject on history is pathetic. These books, although not classified as non-fiction, still helped me develop a better understanding of WWII... and that is HUGE for me.
I would feel comfortable reading this story with my students (paired with So Far From the Bamboo Grove). Key word: with. As I have moved along in the College of Education I have gained confidence in my ability to deal with tough-to-teach issues. I feel as though I would have the right tools to back up my purpose for reading this book as well as the tools to answer questions or concerns that students bring up in class discussion.
In addition, I felt as though this book read really smoothly. Once I picked it up I had finished it before I knew it. This is a definite plus for reluctant readers. Especially for readers who are reluctant/nervous to read a chapter book.
100 Most Dangerous Things on the Planet
Written by: Anna Claybourne
I found this book to be seriously awesome. I purchased it for my future classroom library from a scholastic book order a month or two ago. When I saw it in the book order I figured that kids would really take a liking to it. There's an element of 'gross' and 'wow' to it that I know kids tend to appeal to. However, I didn't know that I would have the same reaction to it. There were things I read about in this book that I had not been aware of previously. For example:
-The survival rating for people being swept over a waterfall is only 20%. Also, in 1960, a 7-year-old boy miraculously survived being swept over one of the world's most powerful waterfalls, Niagara Falls. He was wearing a life vest and was rescued from the plunge pool by a tour boat.
This book is full of neat facts similar to the one mentioned above. There are also survival guides on each of the 100 dangerous things. Some of these dangerous things you might encounter are: an elephant charging you, a sinking ship, a broken power line, asteroid strike, sand storm, or a pack of wolves. There are unique and rare events as well as common events mentioned in the book. I think it's important for everyone to know what to do if they are found in a dangerous situation. I believe this book would fascinate students and really hold their attention. It may also help a reluctant reader find the motivation and desire to pick up the book.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Candy Floss
Candyfloss
Some common themes that shown through throughout this novel are listed below...
1. -Families can still be functional even after a divorce.
2. -Don’t let money and S.E.S. define who you are. Even in poverty situations, love can still, and more than likely will, be present.
3. -Friendships can occur even when you are least expecting them.
4. -Don’t follow the crowd, but instead think for yourself and make decisions on your own.
The book recommends that its audience be between 9 to 12 years of age, and I definitely agree with this age range. I believe students 9-12 years would find this book enjoyable because the font is a little larger than ‘normal’ books and a collage of pictures frontload each chapter. However, even with these aspects the book, at first appearance, does not look like a ‘younger’ students’ book, and this may be a positive aspect for its audience. Students with an interest in divorced families, step-families, poverty, or friendship may find this book enjoyable to read. Both boys and girls may found the content of this book interesting; however, the appearance of the book is a bit girlish. The cover of the book shows the feet of a girl wearing bright pink tights with hot pink sparks on them. Also, the main character, and many other characters within the book, are female, and due to this boys may be turned off by this story.
The Rabbit and the Turtle
Aesop's fables retold and illustrated by Eric Carle
Carle's illustrations shine throughout the pages of this book. They are quite unique (take a look at the picture on the left <--) and really help set up a fun and light atmosphere. This book is filled with fables that students may or may not heard before. Some of the fables included in this book are: The Cat and the Mouse, The Rabbit and the Turtle, and The Wolf and the Dog. The visuals do a nice job of aiding the written text.
I would recommend this book to individuals of all ages: children and adults alike. Carle's retelling of these fables help put a modern day twist on Aesop's version. I could definitely see myself using this book in a classroom as a read aloud.
Miss Fox's Class Earns a Field Trip
Written by: Eileen Spinelli
Illustrated by: Anne Kennedy
Miss Fox's class is trying to earn money for a field trip! Little did they know that $135 dollars would be difficult to earn. Along their way to make money they end up having to pay for things that go wrong (someone chipped a tooth, they accidentally break a gnome). Eventually they end up making enough money in order to go on a class field trip, regardless of all their depts.
While I was reading this all I could think was... this would make for such a great math lesson on adding and subtracting! And indeed it would. This book would be a good way to stretch reading across the curriculum. Reading seems to go well with other subjects, such as Science, Art, or Writing; however, one often doesn't think of Math and Reading. Throughout the book, scenarios are set up where the reader has the opportunity to figure out a math problem. It would fun to create a worksheet that coordinates with this book -- this may also increase the students' interest in the book and perhaps the subject of Math! I would consider using this book in a classroom where subtraction, addition, and story problems are already incorporated into the curriculum. (Perhaps a 1st or 2nd grade classroom).
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Love That Dog
Written by: Sharon Creech
WOW! What a fun and fast read. Holy toledo. I have never read a book quite like this before, and I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed reading it for a variety of reasons... for starters: Although this may sound silly coming from a senior in college, I felt like I accomplished something really big in a short amount of time. I can see students feeling the same way! I'm not sure how common it is for a student to finish a novel in a day or even finish a novel at all, in general. This in itself may be a huge accomplishment for many children, and in turn may motivate them to pick up another novel and give it a shot.
The poetry format was another reason I enjoy reading this book. The words were written on the page in a way that looked like poetry, however, I didn't read it as poetry. I feel like kids may get caught up in defining poetry by it's appearance. This book does an excellent job in breaking the norm of poems 'looking and sounding' like stereotypical poetry (a new 'sound' is applied to this story).
In conclusion, I also enjoyed the plot of the story. Each page is filled with diary-like entires. However, the audience is only allowed to read the entries written by the writer. There is a second party involved in the story that is responding to the writer's entries and in turn the writer is responding. Due to this I felt as though I was sort of a detective trying to figure out what the writer is responding to. This made the book unique to me. I would highly recommend this book as a read aloud to younger grades, an individual or group read in the middle grades, and as an individual read in j.h./high school/ and beyond. I enjoyed reading this book as a college student and I believe others will enjoy it as well.
The Misfits
Written by: James Howe
If I were to rate this book I would give it 3 out of 5 stars. I realize that this 'rating' is more than likely different than the opinions of my classmates. My disliking, for lack of a better word, of the book may have been due to circumstances not directly dealing with the book itself (such as where I was reading as well as the time of day I was reading it at), however, regardless this book was unable to capture or hold my attention for longer than a chapter. In fact, it often took a lot of inner conversation and courage on my part in order for me to successfully complete an entire chapter without setting the book down due to boredom.
The plot and moral of the story is a positive and effective one, however, I found it all to move way too slowly. I felt as though I was reading through quicksand, pushing aside words one by one. Perhaps this is due to the world we all live in now... for example if it takes my computer longer than 3-4 seconds to download a webpage, I tend to get annoyed and frustrated. We, although perhaps I am speaking for just myself, tend to want to experience a quick moving pace in just about everything we do. Another factor that may affect my opinion on this book is that my age, 22 years old, is not the attended age range for this book. In fact I was informed that this story is commonly read by upper elementary students. If I were a 4th or 5th grader reading this I may have a completely different view, and understandably so.
I did enjoy reading this book from a first person point of view. This perspective allows the story to seem much more personal and real. You feel as though you have been placed in a different pair of shoes. Students will benefit from this as well. I was told in my Adolescent Literature course that students have an easier time connecting with the main character if they are able to see through their eyes. Furthermore, I often found the situations in the book heart-wrenching. I strongly dislike seeing other people being teased, hurt, bullied, etc. and I know first hand how it feels. With saying that, I think it's important for students to understand and experience that feeling and this book may be a good way of accomplishging that.
Honey, I Love
Written by: Eloise Greenfield
Illustrated by: Jan Spivey Gilchist
Honey, I Love is thee only poetry book I checked out from the curriculum lab that had a continuous flow from one page to the next. It literally was a story book as well as a poetry book. One unique trait that author Greenfield incorporated into this book is his lack of ending punctuation marks. The only ending punctuation mark that appears throughout the entire book is at the very end, on the last page, after the very last word. Perhaps this why the book reads so smoothly from page to page.
The book has its recommended audience being children between the ages of 2 and 5. I agree with this age range due to the book's simple language and plot. I believe that this story could be utilized as a read out loud in a Kindergarten (and perhaps, first grade) classroom. However, I feel as though it would be more appropriate for a parent to read this book to their child at a younger age.
Brothers & Sisters: Family Poems
Written by: Eloise Greenfield
Illustrated by: Jan Spivey Gilchrist
This poetry book would be a wonderful addition to a family and/or friendship unit. The poems touch upon moments that occur between two sisters, two brothers, and between one brother and one sister. Some of these include: Wrestling, New Sibling, Twin, Mad at Dad, Teen Brother, etc. I assume that most of these topics could relate to my future students in some way or another. By allowing students to experience connections with books, they are practicing and experiencing a reading strategy!
In addition, diversity in gender, age, and ethnicity are shown throughout the pages of the book. This gives students the opportunity to see a variety of family structures and dynamics, which may or may not be similar to their own. I would recommend this book to students between the ages of 5 and 9, and I would also recommend this book to teachers and parents of younger students.
Toad by the Road
Written by: Joanne Ryder
Illustrated by: Maggie Kneen
Toad by the Road discusses a year in the life of a toad. An aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was the fact that the table of contents was split into 4 seasons. One would normally think: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. However, Ryder breaks the life of a toad into four seasons known as 1) Spring-Summer, 2) Summer, 3) Late Summer-Fall, and 4) Winter-Spring. As you can see, the life of a toad is different that ours by just looking at how their year is broken up. One can also notice that Summer seems to be a popular and perhaps busy month for a toad.
The author does a nice job of incorporating all types of poetry styles into her book. Rhyming, repetition, alliteration, patterns, etc. are all displayed throughout the pages. I would recommend this book of poetry to students in 2nd grade or younger. This could easily be used in a science class as a supplement to a amphibian unit.
Rain Romp
Written by: Jane Kurtz
Illustrated by: Dyanna Wolcott
Rain Romp is a colorful book of poems for children 3 years of age and older. One of my favorite characteristics of this book was it's unique way of writing poetry on a page. Some of the poems within the story are written in a way that is typical of poetry. Others are written diagonally, curvy, or in different fonts scattered amongst the pages. Another aspect I enjoyed was the author's way of making the poetry have a rhythm without using rhymes. I was able to read the entire book in a smooth steady pattern without getting caught up with rhyming words.
In addition the illustrator, Wolcott, does a nice job of aiding the written text with her illustrations. The illustrations are page filling and extremely colorful. The colors are somewhat pastel in appearance and this gives the book a pleasant, soft feeling. I would recommend this book to students to read in their individual reading time as well as group-reading (perhaps in a literature group). This book is aimed toward younger students, however, I feel as though students in middle elementary could definitely benefit from it by studying the unique way poetry is written throughout this book.
I Can Draw a Weeposaur and Other Dinosaurs
Written by: Eloise Greenfield
Illustrated by: Jan Spivey Gilchrist
This book is recommended for children ages 4+. I would cap the '+' on the age of 7. The reason for this is because I read this book to my second grade buddy and she struggled to keep her interest in this story. I Can Draw a Weeposaur and Other Dinosaurs is a poem book that lists short poems (4-5 sentences in length) about different make-believe dinosaurs... such as: shoppersaurus, trickosaurus, and smellasaurus. I appreciated the creativeness the author and illustrator used throughout making this book.
I believe this book would be a good way to start a poetry unit with in a younger elementary grade because the poems are simple yet creative. However, I do have one caution: all the poetry presented in this book rhyme. I believe that it is almost 'stereotypical' for one to think that a poem has to rhyme. If I do decide to use this book in the future I will want to make sure that I make a point to the class that poetry doesn't have to rhyme. In order to help prove this, I would read un-rhyming poetry to the class perhaps from another book.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
So Far From the Bamboo Grove
Written by: Yoko Kawashima Watkins
I choose to read So Far From the Bamboo Grove before Year of Impossible Goodbyes by Sook Nyul Choi. I found this book to be a quick read. I actually ended up finishing the book in 2 sittings because I had such a hard time putting it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen next! ;)
The main character, who is often referred to as "Little One', is very well developed, and because of this she very easy to relate to. While reading this story I felt as if I was in Little Ones shoes, and this may be due to the fact that the majority of the book is written through her P.OV. I really enjoyed the love-hate relationship that "Little One" had with her sister, Ko. I felt as though I was really able to connect with them because my sister and I have a similar type of relationship. With saying that, I'm sure that other siblings that may experience this same type of relationship with one another. This is beneficial because if a reader can find a personal connection with a story, it helps improve their comprehension and overall interest in the book. A definite plus.
So from the sounds of it, this book is read by students typically in 5th grade (or there abouts). If I was a middle school teacher (5/6 grade) I wouldn't be opposed to having this book read in my classroom. Now, I think it would be a different story if the book was already implemented within the curriculum or if I was bringing it in on my own. Regardless of the situation, I think that I would feel okay about it. I think it also has a lot to do with your classroom dynamic, teacher experience, etc. I would probably be feeling a little 'butterflies in the stomach'-like the first time a classroom discussion began because I'd be unaware as to what questions were going to be asked by the students. Although I'm sure with experience my confidence level would rise.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. The story was told from an interesting view point that really expanded my current view on WWII. My lack of knowledge of history is pathetic, however, I feel as though I understand the end of WWII a little better now that I did before. What a great way to bring history and reading together!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Atlantic
By: G. Brian Karas
All I could think of while I read this story was this: This would be a perfect book to use when my students are learning about the Atlantic ocean! Indeed, it would be a great book to use :)
The book takes the perspective of the Atlantic ocean. The ocean talks about its relatives the Pacific, Indian, Arctic and Antarctic and how its water travels from continent to continent. Many other useful and important information is given to the reader through the eyes of the Atlantic ocean. By doing this children may be able better comprehend the information given. This book is recommended for students between the ages of 4 and 8. I agree with the age range, however, I may push the max. age to 10. I can definitely imagine teachers using this book in their classrooms when discussing oceans. Even if students are familiar with the Atlantic ocean, a refresher picture book is always a fun option. Furthermore, the illustrations within the book are fabulous. They are very colorful, page filling, and cartoon-like. They definitely grab the reader's attention and will help student engagement. Always a plus!
Cat, You Better Come Home
By: Garrison Keillor
Paintings by: Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
I was constantly thrown off guard while reading this story because everything that happened was very unexpected. I feel as though there is a very strong underlying message in this story direct toward those who feel as though they must be in the spot light at all times. This message, however, is hidden beneath cat characters. Yes, literally the pet cat you all are thinking about. The author creatively uses cats as main characters rather than humans, and by doing this Keillor is able to sugar coat the theme... make it a little softer and hidden.
I feel as though this book would be well-suited for children in 3rd-6th grade. The language is a little complex and it may take some experience to understand what the underlying theme of the story is. In fact, speaking of complex language, there were a handful of times when I simply had to sound out a word or, if the word was a name, acknowledge it and then skip it all together. Due to this tougher language, this book may prove to be beneficial to use for a vocabulary lesson.
In conclusion I enjoyed this picture book because it is unlike any other book that I have read thus far. It is written with a rhyming scheme and flows like a poem. The illustrations are page-filling and rather dark. I recommend reading this book :)
Pearl's New Skates
By: Holly Keller
I feel that this students would have an easy time relating to this story. Being able to make connections to a story helps readers stay more engaged with the text while reading and also helps improve their comprehension. Due to this, I would definitely place this book in my classroom library. I can actually seeing this book being very useful to use when teaching reading strategies. The teacher could read the book aloud to students and then ask about any connections to the story that they might have... have they had to work really hard in order to learn a new skill? Have they ever wanted to give up on something before? Has a grown-up ever helped you out? All of these questions, and many more, can be useful to ask after reading this book.
This book is recommend for students of 4+. I agree with 4 being at the bottom age range, however, I would put a limit on the "+" to 11. This story may be easy to relate to however the language is somewhat simple and students above 11 years old may find it to be boring.
Reflection Statement
My experience with the class thus far has been a positive one.
I have really enjoyed getting the opportunity to explore a wide range of children's literature. When we started blogging the first week of the semester I randomly went into the curriculum lab and pulled any children's book I saw off of the shelf... now I go into the curriculum lab and take more time in deciding which book(s) I should blog about. This class has taught me that some children's books are "better" (for lack of a better word) than others. A picture book isn't merely a picture book... picture books offer a variety of characters, cover a wide range of topics, explore touch to teach topics, etc. And in reality, some picture books are better than others depending on the purpose of the literature that you have in mind.
I also enjoyed the genre presentations. The presentations were a perfect way to kick off the semester. It opened my eyes to an variety of genres that my future students will more than likely be reading from. I had no idea before this class that ABC books and wordless books were considered genres in children's literature. Obviously this information is important for one to have and I am grateful that I was informed of this while taking this course.
Overall, the first half of the semester went well for me. I look forward to watching my blog grow within the next month or so, and I look even more forward to the day when I'm a teacher and I can use this blog as a resource. :)
I have really enjoyed getting the opportunity to explore a wide range of children's literature. When we started blogging the first week of the semester I randomly went into the curriculum lab and pulled any children's book I saw off of the shelf... now I go into the curriculum lab and take more time in deciding which book(s) I should blog about. This class has taught me that some children's books are "better" (for lack of a better word) than others. A picture book isn't merely a picture book... picture books offer a variety of characters, cover a wide range of topics, explore touch to teach topics, etc. And in reality, some picture books are better than others depending on the purpose of the literature that you have in mind.
I also enjoyed the genre presentations. The presentations were a perfect way to kick off the semester. It opened my eyes to an variety of genres that my future students will more than likely be reading from. I had no idea before this class that ABC books and wordless books were considered genres in children's literature. Obviously this information is important for one to have and I am grateful that I was informed of this while taking this course.
Overall, the first half of the semester went well for me. I look forward to watching my blog grow within the next month or so, and I look even more forward to the day when I'm a teacher and I can use this blog as a resource. :)
Something Beautiful
Written by: Sharon Dennis Wyeth
Illustrated by: Chris K. Soentpiet
This a very sweet story about a young girl that lives in a place that is not "beautiful". The streets are filled with garbage and the letters "D-I-E" are sprayed painted across her front door. The pages of this book are filled with words and colorful illustrations that takes the reader on an adventure with the young girl to find something beautiful.
I would recommend this book to my students as a individual read and I would also consider reading this book aloud to the class. I feel that this story could easily be placed on a 1st-4th grade classroom shelf. The words are rather simple, however, the passages on the pages are sometimes rather lengthy. Therefore this may book may appeal to an wide array of students.
The illustrations within the book are page-filling and quite detailed, and they do an excellent job of capturing the reader's attention. I found this story to be a rather quick read, and this characteristic of the book may prove to be beneficial to students who are reluctant to read.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Grandfather's Journey
By: Allen Say
Grandfather's Journey is an award-winning and very sweet story about a Japanese man who immigrated to America, more specifically to the San Francisco Bay, Ca area. The story takes you through his journey across the ocean and through the lands of America and then back to Japan again. Whenever Grandfather is one location (Japan or America) he begins to miss the other.
This book would make for an excellent story to read aloud to a class during the study of Japanese-Americans. Japanese culture is strongly prevalent throughout the book and the illustrations help aid the story. I would recommend this book to my students and place it in my classroom library. I feel that students in grades 3-6 would find this book most useful/meaningful. Students in 2nd may be able to read this story however they may not comprehend the meaning behind the written word.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. I feel that I will actually be able to use this book in my future classroom. It's a cool feeling when you know that you discovered something really "good". :) The author, Allen Say, writes a hand-full of books that focus on Japanese-Americans. Great topic to incorporate into your social studies class.
Chrysanthemum
By: Kevin Henkes
I was originally read this book to by my Block A teacher. I hadn't read any of Kevin Henkes work before this, however, after I heard this story I decided to focus my author study on him. He writes a bunch of different books that range in topic and age appropriateness. Out of all 5 books I blogged about, this is my favorite. The main character, Chrysanthemum, is well developed. Her story is easily relatable to and one can easily put themselves in her shoes.
I would recommend this to all my students. In fact, I would highly consider reading this book a loud to my students. The main message of the story is an important one to share, and all students should be exposed to it: Be happy with who you are and what you have been given. You are unique and special.
A writing prompt could easily be pulled from this book... write a passage in your Writer's Notebook about your name. Do you like your name? What do you know about your name? Do you know where it came from? Etc. My Block A teacher this semester used the above prompts on our class and it was quite affective.
Owen's Marshmallow Chick
By: Kevin Henkes
This book is intended for children 2 to 3 years old. The language of the book is simple, and I feel that children over the age of 3 may be unchallenged by this book and find it to be boring. The plot of the story is almost inexistent. Perhaps inexistent isn't the correct word... a story-line does take place, however, it's rather simple and very unexciting.
I more than likely wouldn't offer this book in my classroom for 2 different reasons: 1. It has a religious element to it (it mentions the Christian holiday Easter) and 2. It's simple language would more than likely not be something my students would find interesting. The only way I may have this book as a option in my classroom is if some students really struggle with reading and need a simpler book to read (I can see this being a possibly in a Kindergarden classroom).
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Julius, The Baby of the World
Written and Illustrated by: Kevin Henkes
This story's recommend audience is 4+. I agree with the "+"! I am 21 (almost 22) years old and I found this book enjoyable. I am assuming that most students would find this book interesting; however, any student with a sibling may find this book reeeaally interesting, funny, and relatable. Julius is the new baby in the family. Lilly is his older sister and she wants nothing to do with Julius. In fact, she thought that,
".....his wet pink nose was slimy. She thought his small black eyes were beady. And she thought his sweet white fur was no so sweet... 'Disgusting', said Lilly."
Lilly does some 'not so nice' things to her newborn baby brother. Fortunately, as the book goes on something happens that changes Lilly's mind about Julius.
I think this would be a great book to read in a K-2 grade classroom. Often times during these grade levels students are experiencing the change of having a new sibling. This book may be a good way to open up the topic of new siblings with your students. During the discussion students may chose to express feelings that they have experienced. This can help build classroom community!
Circle Dogs
Written by: Kevin Henkes
Illustrated by: Dan Yaccarino
This book would be useful in a Preschool-1st grade classroom. Throughout the pages of the book the main focus is shapes... from circle dogs to square houses. Although the recommended audience is 2+, I would put a limit on the "+". I wouldn't read this book to students past 1st grade. The language is quite simple and I had a difficult time not getting overly bored while reading.
The illustrations are rather cute and really help aid the words of the story nicely. This may be beneficial to the reader because some of the language is a little abstract (for example: Now circle dogs have triangle ears). The book takes the reader throughout almost two full days in the life of a circle dog. They have very similar lives to a pet dog one may think of now-a-days, however, there are some differences.
This book would be a great way to introduce shapes in the classroom. The plot is relatable and because of this students may be able to make connections with the story. Furthermore, the author asks the reader questions throughout the story. These questions may help draw the attention of the audience and further their interest in the story.
And Tango Makes Three
Written by: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Illustrated by: Henry Cole
Due to the fact that many of my classmates blogged about this particular book, I also chose to read this as my last controversial book blog. I absolutely loved this book. I personally enjoyed the two authors' choice of characters. Using animals as a way to model a homosexual relationship and family is such a creative idea. In my opinion this somewhat softens the topic. I can definitely see why this book would be considered controversial in many peoples' eyes. The subject of homosexuality is such a controversial issue in itself.... throwing a picture book on the topic made for children's eyes can only add fuel to the fire. Using animals as the characters within the story makes homosexuality seem natural, it's innate. Some people believe this to be true, however, others have very strong feelings and beliefs on that opposite end of that spectrum. To spice up the authors' belief of innate homosexuality they chose to inform their audience that the story they just read, And Tango Makes Three, is in fact quite true... in fact! you can go see Tango and his fathers at the Central Park Zoo. Anyone who believes that homosexuals choose their sexuality would more than likely be appalled by this book and instantly begin criticizing it. I personally find this book to have the potential to be a very good way to discuss homosexuality with my students (if appropriate) and definitely with my children someday.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
So Happy!
Written by: Kevin Henkes
Pictures by: Anita Lobel
This book is one of five books that I am reading as part of my author study. The audience for this book is recommended to be 2+. Although the book uses simple language, it's not "insultingly simple" or "boring" and the illustrations really help aid the story. There are three main characters in the story: 1) a magic seed, 2) a boy, and 3) a rabbit. Although these characters never really know one another, the book takes the reader on an adventure that affects each character differently. In the end each character is happy with the outcome it had been handed.
I really enjoyed the simplicity of the story. It was short, simple, and sweet. As I was reading this story, future lesson plan involving this book kept popping up in my mind. I could see myself using this story as a predicting/inferring lesson. There were many points in the story were I could stop the story and say "Ok! Now... what do you think is going to happen to the seed?" (or to the boy, or to the rabbit).
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Book That Eats People
Written by: John Perry
Illustrated by: Mark Fearling
So I independently labeled this book controversial. Perhaps it was because I was sitting alone, at night, in an empty, cold bedroom while this book mentioned its desire to eat me. Cheesy sounding, right? Regardless I was super creeped out and because of that elementary students may be as well. I may have had a different response to this particular book if I had been reading it in a different setting, however, I wasn't and I didn't. I would hate for any student to refuse to read because they were afraid their book was going to literally eat them. Okay, okay, I know it sounds ridiculous but the author and illustrator did a fantastically creepy job when creating this book. The words are chilling in certain spots...
"So the book -- this book -- went SNAP! And took a bite! Ant then another and another. Sammy squirmed and wriggled. Sammy squealed and yelled. Sammy pulled as hard as he could, but the book ate him. The it coughed up his bones and they clattered across the floor like wooden blocks. That was the first person this book ate."
Very detailed! (... and rather humorous sounding now that I typed it out). This book definitely can be taken light heartedly and more like will be seen as very funny by most. HOWEVER, I can't help but think the worse... some kindergartner having nightmares and refusing to open another book again. Eh, who knows :) But there's always that chance!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Happy to Be Nappy
Written by: Bell Hooks
So, I choose this book because I recently found out in another class that the work 'nappy' should not be used by those individuals who do NOT have nappy hair themselves. However, if you have 'nappy' hair then you are allowed to use the term. I found this very... 'interesting' and somewhat confusing. I had never heard that before. This book sends out a message to its reader that who you are as an individual is wonderful and that you should be happy with your physical appearance. What's wrong with that message? I personally think it's wonderful. However the message of the book is not the part that is considered controversial, the word 'nappy' is. Due to the fact that I just discovered that the word nappy was controversial in itself, I am having a difficult time understanding why it's controversial. Has the word nappy once been referred to in a negative way? I suppose unless something comes to my attention that I hadn't previously known, I wouldn't mind having this book in my classroom library. For now I see no reason for it not to be. In addition, I fell in love with the illustrations throughout the book. They are bright, playful, and created with water color. They definitely grabbed my attention and made this book memorable.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Un-Wedding
Written by: Babette Cole
I can see why some may feel this book is controversial; however, I would have absolutely no problem having this book available for my students to read. Perhaps my opinion comes from the fact that I, myself, have parents who are divorced. I feel that this book really dumbs down the very real and difficult events that take place when divorce occurs in families. Oddly, while reading this picture book, I frequently found myself smiling. The author, Cole, does a nice job of allowing the reader to see the situation at hand through the children's perspective. This perspective was once seen through my eyes and, similarly to the children in this book, I was relieved when the actual divorce occurred. Divorce is often viewed upon as a very negative event. Some say that divorce is not okay, it shows a lack of commitment, laziness, stubbornness... the list goes on and on. The Un-Wedding sends a message to its audience that it is okay for parents to get divorced and it's not their children's fault. This is a wonderful message to send out to students because more and more families are splitting (for lack of a better word) due to divorce. Even though divorce is common in our society, subtle messages do get sent out about what is the 'norm'. For example, just within the past few days I have been asked, "How was your past weekend at your parent's house?" My parent's don't live in the same town more or less the same home. I feel like comments, questions, etc. are constantly being said/asked/discussed around me and I always feel like I have to step in and inform them of my "un-norm" situation in order for them to adjust their word usage. So, after all that being said :), this book may be a breath of fresh air for students to read or hear. It may really relate to those children who have gone through the process of divorce and they may find comfort while reading this. Others, who may be uncomfortable with the topic of divorce may find this book appalling; while others may be able to connect with this book and perhaps let out some feelings that are not easy to discuss.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Arlene Sardine
Arlene Sardine
Written by: Chris Raschka
When I first began reading this book I wasn't able to figure out why it was considered controversial. As I read further into the book I was then aware why some may feel uncomfortable reading this book to their children or to their students. The overall topic of the book is death; death seems to always be a tricky topic to discuss with children. However, the author allows the audience to feel a connection with Arlene before she is happily processed and packaged into a can. It's such an odd way to think about death. Death of animals is rarely discussed in picture books; however, here Raschka, goes a step further and discusses death and of an animal in order to provide food for a human. I could definitely see younger students getting upset at the thought of their beloved pet goldfish getting processed into a can ( a thought that may cross their mind ). Furthermore, the matter-of-fact details of this sardine's death create a vivid image in the reader's mind and the illustrations help assist the author's message. In addition, the front cover of the book displays Arlene, the sardine, in a visual pun of a sardine can. How could anyone eat sardines and not think of this story, I get shivers!
I feel like adults would be able to appreciate the humor in this book; however, I would be reluctant to share this book with students. Due to its controversial characteristics, this picture book is intended for everyone, of all different ages.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Giver
Written by: Lois Lowry
Unlike the majority of our Children's Lit class, this was the first time I have read The Giver. I was never assigned to read it in Elementary School and I have no idea why! I absolutely loved this book. There were times when I found myself skimming quickly through the pages in order to find the exciting part I was looking for (for example: I sped read for about 4-5 pages during the twelve ceremony.. I wanted to know what his assignment was sooo badly!) There were multiple times throughout the story when the suspense was killing me... I couldn't wait to read more :)
I would recommend this book to be read by students in 5th or 6th grade. There are some chapters, such as the nonchalant wet dream chapter, that younger kids may not pick up on. So, in my opinion, to understand the story to its fullest an older audience is necessary. Speaking of that 'wet dream' chapter... is that, like, "okay" to talk about in school? I'm assuming it is, however, I don't even know how I would begin to discuss this with my students if questions arose. Send them to the health teacher? Ha!
I really liked the reoccurring thoughts the main character, Jonas, had regarding whether or not he was using the "right" word. Often this question would arise when he was trying to describe something. This is an important concept that can be brought into the classroom and referred back to at during a mini-lesson. I think it's important for students to see (or read in this case) another person's, of similar age, thinking process. This book does a wonderful job of that, and really stresses the importance of using correct, descriptive language. This would be an excellent way to utilize The Giver across the curriculum.
Even though the main characters, Jonas and The Giver, are males, I believe this book is not gender-biased whatsoever. I, being a female, was easily able to relate to the story. There was never a point where I felt lost, offended, or confused during the story due to my gender. HOWEVER, with that being said, a 5th or 6th grade female may be very confused when Jonas discusses his wet dreams. In addition, this book is written in 1st P.O.V. which may help the audience create a bond and a better understanding of the main character.
Lastly, this story was very abstract. However, as distracting as that may sound, I was able to visualize what the world was like in Sameness. I enjoyed the creative usage of the words Sameness and Elsewhere. I believe this really relates to most people's lives. There is always 'elsewhere'... as in something you don't understand, haven't been exposed to or experienced, or something you have waiting to discover. I think this idea is important for everyone to wrap their heads around. There's always more out there :)
I would definitely recommend this book to my students (5th/6th grade would be perfect); however, I would always recommend this book to my friends, family, and co-workers of all ages. The story is unique and captures your attention from front to back. I think anyone who reads this book would be glad that they did, I know I am :)
The New Baby
The New Baby
Written by: Fred Rogers
Having a new baby brother or sister can be difficult for children. Often times parents aren't sure how to explain to their children what changes will occur once their sibling arrives. In addition, when the new sibling arrives it hard for kids to understand why they are no longer receiving as much one on one time as they previously had. A book may be a good way to introduce this topic to children and to younger students. This book is recommended for kids between the ages of 2 and 7.
This book supplies the reader with real-life photos of kids and their baby siblings. The audience intended for this story would be the big brother/sister. The author does a great job of giving children advice on how to deal with anger or frustration when things are 'different' than they used to be at home. He also explains why it may seem like one child is receiving more attention than the other, and he discusses the possible reasons for that.
This book is a great way to introduce the topic to children expecting a new baby brother or sister. It's important for kids to know what is coming and help them prepare for it rather than throw them into the situation unprepared and confused.
365 Ways to Live Green
365 Ways to Live GreenWritten by: Sheri Amsel
This book of facts is suggested for students between the ages of 9 and 12. However, the topic of the book: Ways to Stay Green, could be used by anyone!. I wouldn't put an age limit on this particular book. The information available is very doable by most anyone. I would be surprised if someone couldn't find something within this book that they could do in order to 'live green'.
As the title states, this book lists 365 ways that individuals can do in order to help save the environment. These can be done in a variety of locations, such as school, home, or even during everyday play. The 365 ways are broken down into subcategories. These include, but are not limited to, Plant life, Energy and Power, Recycling, and much, much more.
While I was flipping through the book I was shocked at how many things I noticed that I had not previous known or been aware of. Simple things such as unplugging your t.v., alarm clock, fan, etc. when on vacation can help save a lot of energy. I think it's important for students to know what they can do in order to 'live green'. Often times individuals don't 'live green' because they are uneducated in how they can go go about accomplishing it. I think it would be neat to introduce one way in this book to 'live green' to students each week. Encourage the students to try and 'live green' by attempting to follow the book suggestions. On each Friday, after the week is over, students can choose to write about their experiences in their writer's notebook. What a great idea for a integrated lesson ;)
Let's Talk About Race
Let’s Talk About Race
Written by: Julius Lester
Illustrated by: Karen Barbour
Illustrated by: Karen Barbour
This book was one of my favorites to read this semester. I actually talked about this story and author during our group presentation on the genre of Information. This particular non-fiction book discusses the issue of race. This topic can be very controversial and hard to approach, however, I feel that the book did a nice job discussing this topic. The author, Julius Lester, focuses more heavily on the similarities of different races rather than their differences. For example, on particular page he encourages the reader to touch their cheek bone (gently and carefully of course ;))... he then continues to inform the reader that those same bones are underneath everyone's skin. Usually when diversity is talked about, the focus of the conversation is about difference -- different cultures, different races, etc. I liked how the author took a different perspective on the topic of race. This is a thoughtful picture book that may inspire some rich discussion within the classroom. Something a teacher always loves :)
The illustrations within the book are really neat. As you can see from the cover, the illustrator, Karen Barbour, creates cartoon-like images by using bold black lines as outlines. These illustrations often ran off the page and were bright and colorful. Differences and sameness were portrayed throughout the illustrations and really helped the reader grasp the concept the author was trying to get across.
The illustrations within the book are really neat. As you can see from the cover, the illustrator, Karen Barbour, creates cartoon-like images by using bold black lines as outlines. These illustrations often ran off the page and were bright and colorful. Differences and sameness were portrayed throughout the illustrations and really helped the reader grasp the concept the author was trying to get across.
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