A Big Guy Took My Ball

Willems, M. (2013). A big guy took my ball! New York: Hyperion

Piggie finds a big ball, but then a huge whale comes and takes it from him. Piggie quickly runs and tells Gerald that a big guy took his ball. Gerald gets very upset and then says that he is big too, and will get his ball back. Piggie calls Gerald a hero, has he makes his way to retrieve his ball. When Gerald gets to the big buy, he is surprised that the big guy is BIG BIG! BIG! Gerald returns to Piggie, who assumes that Gerald was not able to get his ball back. It turns out the big guy is a whale, and he came over to thank Piggie for finding his little ball. Piggie was surprised that the whale called it a little ball, but he explained to Piggie that it is small because he is so big. The whale was sad because no one would play with him, and wished he was little. Piggie then invites him to play whale ball. In the end, the three characters end up having big fun. This is a wonderful picture book where the illustrator did a wonderful job using a repeated  color scheme. He draws the reader attention to Gerald and Piggie by using pink and gray, and then surprises the reader by adding a big splash of blue. The highlight of this book is the authors ability to gererate to the reader some of life's misconcrptions. He teaches a lesson to the reader that will hopefully encourage them to play with everyone regardless of their outter appearance. Early readers will love flipping through this book, to see what kind of adventure Piggie and Gerald get into. This book can best be used in the primary grades to make students aware of some of the social sterotypes.

The Three Pigs

Wiesner, D. (20010. The three pigs. New York: Clarion.

Once upon a time there were three pigs that set out to build their houses. The first pig made his house out of straw, and so the big bad wolf came and huffed and puffed and blew his house down. Instead of eating up the pig, the wolf accidently blew the pig out of the story. The second pig built his house out of sticks, and the wolf proceeded to blow his house down as well. Before the wolf could eat the pig up, the pig from the first house came to his rescue. By this point in the book, the wolf is perplexed as to where the pigs have gone. The third pig made his house out of brick, so the other two pigs paid him a visit. He asked them why they had not been eaten up, and they merely answered that they got away. Together they decided to explore the pages of various stories. They even tried jumping into the hey diddle diddle nursery rhym, but they quickly jumped out of it. They then proceeded to read a dragon tale, where they rescued a fourth pig. They then proceeded to climb back into their story, just in time to face the big bad wolf. The dragon from the previous strory they had read came home with them and scared the big bad wolf away. after that they all lived happily ever after.  This story takes a comical twist to the original story of the big bad wolf. The highlight of this book is the pigs curiosity to explorethe pages of other stories.  This pulls the reader in and hold their attention until the end. The success of this book is based on the novelty of the story, and the unexpected turn that Wiesner adds. The illustrations are nostalgic of the original story, but then take a modern twist when the paper air planes and dragon appear. Children in the elementary grades will love flipping through the pages. This story will definetly be used by teacher to compare and contrast this story to the original. Students may even be asked to create their own version of The Three Pigs.

Ballooons Over Broadway: The true story of the puppeteer of Macy's parade

Sweet, M. (2011). Balloons over Broadway: The true story of the puppeteer of Macy's parade. New York: Houghton.

Tony Sarg was a little boy who loved to tincker with things, and figure out how to make them move. Once his father asked him to feed the chickens, so he came up with a way of doing it with out leaving his bed. His father was so impressed with his invention, that Tony didn't have to do chores ever again. When Tony grew up, he moved to London where he bagan making marionettes. Tony's marrionette's movement were so life like, that they made him famous. When he moved to New York, his marrionettes had their own show on broadway. Tony went on to design marrionettes for Macy's store windows. Macy's also appointed Tony to help them put on a parade for all the immigrants who missed their traditions during the holidays. He created a parade based on street carnivals from all over the world. On Thanksgiving Day Tony's creations made their first appearance, and were a success. Macy's decided to put on the parade every year, but asked Tony to replace the animals in the parade with something bigger and better. This is when Tony created the first air filled puppets that people controlled with rodes. The problem was that these puppets were to close to the ground, and many people could not see them. So the following year Tony created the first helium filled balloons that floated above the crowd. These balloons floated into the air for everyone to see, and were controlled from below. His creations were a hit, Tony had given New York an unforgetable parade. From that day on Tony's balloons would fill the sky at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade every year. The illustration in this book are fantastic and add life to the story. They colorful and playful images draw the reader in, and give a first hand look at how Tony brainstormed his ideas. The illustationa also make the reader want to jump right into the page, so as to part of all the excitment that Tony's balloons created. Kid of all ages will enjoy looking through this fun and informative book. This book would also be a great for kids in the upper elementary to early middle school years to use when working on biographies. The author's information is accuarate which all readers will appreciate, and she even adds some small notes at the end along with clipping of newspaper articles on the inside cover to futher educate the reader on the life of Tony Sarg.

It's A Book

Smith, L. (2011). It's a book. New York: Roaring Brook.

A donkey with a computer is sitting in front of a monkey with a book. The donkey becomes curious, and asks the monkey what he has. The monkey replies that it's a book, and then the donkey starts to ask him all sorts of questions in regards to what the book does. He asks how do you scroll down? Where's your mouse? Can you blog with it? The monkey answers NO to all of his questions. Finally the monkey gets frustrated and opens up the book to show it to the donkey. The donkey reads a section and then says it has to many letters. The donkey then continues to ask the monkey if the book needs a password or a screen name. The monkey says no, and the donkey proceeds to read the book.The monkey gets tired of waiting, and asks the donkey if he can have his book back, and the donkey says no. So the monkey says he is going to the library, and the donkey says not to worry that he will charge it up when he is done. The mouse on the monkey's head replies, "You do not have to, yet." This is a cute book for everyone to enjoy, but especially the kids in the younger grades. I think one of the highlights of this book is the mouse on top of the monkey's head, he is adds an unexpected twist to the end of the story.This book does a good job at highlighting  the signs of our times. As a society we have become dependent on technology, and have forgotten some of the simple pleasures in life. The illustrations are simple, yet invite the reader into the conversation that is being held between the two characters. The author does a wonderful job at getting the reader's attention with the irony of someone so tech savy not knowing what a book is. This book can be used in a history or social studies class to point out the changes that our world has undergone.

Mirror Mirror

Singer, M. (2010). Mirror, Mirror. New York: Dutton.

In this book Singer came up with a poetry form called the reversal. You read the lines of the poem from top to bottom, and then from the bottom up. It is a unique way of writing one poem that in the end actually creates two poems. All of the reversal poems in this book are based on fairy tales that we have all heard when we were kids. The poems use word play to shed some light on the protagonist and antagonist part of the fairytale. The poems in this book are accompanied by beautiful illustration that add meaning to the two versions of the poem. This is a wonderful book that  kids will enjoy flipping through. One of the highlight of this book is the ability that the author and illustrator have to interconnect their work to give meaning to the reversal. Poetry is usally a tricky art to master, but after reading this book even the pickiest writer will be motivated to give this form of poetry a try. This book is best suited for grades three and up, and provides a new take on teaching the art of poetry.

Where The Wild Things Are

Sendak, M. (1963). Where the wild things are. New York: Harper Collins.

Max was a yound boy who loved to create mischief, and was called Wild Thing by his mother. One nigh he talked backt to her, and was forced to go to bed with out supper.. That night Max was dressed in a wolf suit, and when he went back to his, it started to turn into a forest. There was also an ocean and boat that took Max away. It took him to a place where wild things live, and Max made himself king. In this world Max played with the wild things, until one day he had enough. He wanted to be where someone loved him. So he gave up being king and climbed back into his boat. The wild things were sad to see him go, but Max was determined to return to his room. When Max arrived in his room, he discovered a delicious supper waiting for him. This is a lovely book for the primary grades, that promotes of love of ones family and home. It is a beloved story that has been loved through the ages. It speaks to the heart of child, who has ever thrown a tantrum. The illustration have a nostalgic feel to them, that draw the reader in. The illustrations in this book will provide the perfect reason for children to flip through this book. Teachers can us this book help teach manners, and the importance of family.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Selznick,B. (2007). The invention of Hugo Cabret. New York: Scholastic.

Hugo is a young boy who lives in a Paris train station. His father died and his uncle took him in as an apprentice. His uncle taught him how to keep the clocks in the train station running, and provided him a home with in the clock towers. One day his uncle did not return, so Hugo kept the clocks running, and collected his uncles paychecks. When he was young, his father worked part time at a museam and found an old automaton. His father vowed to make it work, and filled his notebooks with drawings of it. Unfortunately his father died before he was able to make it work, so Hugo hung on to the notebook his father had given him for one of his birthdays. One day Hugo found the automaton among the ashes of the museum that had been burned down. He took it back to his room in the train station and vowed to finish what his father had started. Since his uncle was gone, Hugo depended on scavenging and stealing to survive. In his quest to fix the automaton, he began to steal parts from a toy maker across from one of the clocks. Unfortunately for Hugo, the old toy maker new what Hugo was doing. He had Hugo's notebook and would not give it back to him until he worked off his debt. The old toy maker had a godaughter names Isabelle, and she helped Hugo get his notebook back. In the process he discovered that she had the missing key that would make the automaton work. One day he stole the key from her, and ran back to his room to see if it matched. Isabelle followed him back to his room and took back her key. Hugo begged and pleaded with her, and finally showed her why he needed it. The key made the automaton work, and to their surprise drew a picture that bore the name of her godfather Papa George. After that, the two joined forces to solve the mystery. It turned out that Papa George was a famous film maker, who the world thought had died. Hugo and Isabelle helped Papa George get his old life back. Papa George, aka George Melies was honored at a gala that celebrated his life. Papa George and his family decided to take Hugo in, so he would never be homeless again. The highlight of this book is its wonderful charcol drawings. They bring the reader in, and make them part of Hugo Cabret's world. The author does a fabulous job of interconnecting the story with the drawings. There is a seemless connection between the two that keep the readers wanting more. This book could be enjoyed by students in grade three and up, but the drawings can be enjoyed by all. Amongst the books ability to be used in a literature class, I can forsee it being used in an art class. The illustration are a fantastic example of shading being used to create light and shadow. They also have wonderful examples of the artists use of perspective.

Good Masters, Sweet Ladies

Schlitz, L.A. (2007). Good masters, sweet ladies. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press.

This book is a collection of monologues, that were created by Schlitz to help out her students that were looking for a way to present what they have learned. It is chalk full with history from the middle ages. The monologues are set in a manor community, and tell of the lives of some of its inhabitants. You will find monologues about a beaggar, and up to the lord's nephew. The best part of these stories are the author's ability to inteconnect the stories. The illustrator also did a fabulous job at getting the readers attention with the detailed illustrations. This book would best be enjoyed by the students in middle school and up. Schlitz did such a wonderful job at adding the history of the time, that these fictional monologues could find themselves at home in a history class. They would also make a great additon to any theater or drama class.

Bridge to Terabithia

Paterson, K. (1972). Bridge to Terabithia. New York: Crown

Jessie is a young teenage boy who has an obsession for running. During the summer he wakes up early every morning to practice before his morning chores. He has four sisters who are annoyed by him, except for one. One day he gets a new neighbor, but doesn't think much of it because nobody lasts long in that house. Jessie is excited for the first day of school, because he know that this year he will be the best runner. When he lines up to race, Leslie, his new neighbor, wants to join in on the races. The boys do not usally let the girls run, but make an exception this one time. Leslie ends up beating all the boys, and Jesse is upset because just like that his dream of being the best runner came to an end. Jessie and Leslie eventually become the best of friends, and create their own world called Terabithia. Dispite their differences, Leslie teaches Jesse alot about life. They go off to their own world and pretend that they are the king and queen of that world. Life eventually gets in the way, and for awhile the do no visit their world. When they do finally return, they reclaim their thrown, and tell the Terabithians they were off fighting their foes. One day Jesse's teacher invites him to go to the museam with her, and he does not think about inviting Leslie. When he returns he discovers that a terrible accident has happened. Leslie has died crossing over to play in Terabithia. Jesse does not believe it, until his parents ask him to go with them to pay their respects to Leslie's parents. Although heart broken, Jesse returns to Terabithia, and this time takes his little sister with him. He has never been good at pretend play, but introduces his little sister to the world that Leslie and he shared. This book has been around since 1972, and it won the Newberry award in 1978. The story focuses on the relationship between a boy and girl, and the dfferences that exist between them. It does a wonderful job at highlighting to reader the way they over come these differences. This book also deals with death in a way that even young readers can understand. The reader will experience, love, friendship, lose, sadness, and the incredible love of family. All these aspects are what have helped this book be a favorite through the ages. This story is a best suited for 3rd grade and up, and can be used in any English class to study, plot, conflict, and inferencing all in one.

Nest

Oppel, K. (2005). The Nest. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Steve is an anxiety filled little boy who worries about the germs he might get on his hands. His mother has recently given birth to his little brother, who was born with many complications. His family life is suddenly put under alot of stress, as they cope with taking care of the baby. One day Steve gets stung by a wasp, and has to go to the doctor because he had an allergic reaction. From that point on family activities are held inside, to protect Steve from the wasps nest that is in their backyard. Steve is very worried about his little brother, and wonders wheather he will live or die. One night he has a dream, and the wasp queen offers him a way to save his little brother. She offers to fix all the things that are wrong with him, and all he has to do is say yes. In despiration Steve agrees, until he is filled in on the queen's evil plot. She wishes to create a whole new baby, with the help of Steve's DNA, an once he is born replace it with his little brother. The queen promises that his parents will never notice, and states that they always clean up their mess. When Steve finds out that the wasps plan to eat his little brother, he does everything in his power to save him. He tries to take back the yes that he gave the queen, but she states that no one ever goes back on their agreements. While the babysitter is out with his little sister, the wasps put their plan into motion to switch the babies. Steve refuses to open the window and get ready to battle the wasps. Since he is allergic, he takes measures to protect himself from the stings, and puts his baby brother in the car seat to protect him. Steve puts up a good fight, but in the end gives in to the allergic reaction from the wasp stings. Some how the authorities are notified, and help is on the way. Steve is found huntched over his little brother protecting him from the wasps. Steve made a full recovery, and thanks to him his little brother only got stung twice. When they came to remove the wasp nest from the house, it filled up fifty garbage bags.  The authorities had never seen anything like the nest or the wasps that inhabited it. The highlight of this book is the ability that it has to weave suspence into every page. Since Steve has OCD the reader never knows wheather he is imagining the wasps or if it is actually happening. The reader expects for Steve to be taken off to a psych ward for treatment, and then they are surprised when he becomes the hero and really saves his little brother from being consumed by the wasps. This is a dark story that can be best appreciated by students in the middle school and above. It can definetly be used in an english , and an extension project can be added through the sciences.

We Are The Ship

Nelson, K. (2008). We are the ship. New York: Hyperion

We are the ship is a story about Negro League baseball, and the struggles they overcame to play the game that they loved. This book looks at the game of baseball before teams were racially integrated, and when there was both a white and a negro league. This book points out the many players that contributed to the sport, and who's names no one will ever now because of the racial turmoil of the time. We Are The Ship journeys with negro baseball teams, and sheds light on the opression they faced in the towns they played in. Players had to travel in cramped, hot busses, and at times sleep in them on the side of the road. Players even had to cook their own food over campfires, because the people in certain towns did not allow African Americans to stay in their hotels, or eat in their restaurants. The story of Rube Foster is also documented in this book, and the example he set for league managers around the country. He ran his team like a professional league, and expected his players to perform. His league was so successful, that many manager started to follow in his example. This book also sheds some light on the Latin American Leagues. During a time when the world was divided by hate and bigotry, Latin America was the one place that Negro Leagues felt at home. They were treated as heros, and they could stay in any hotle, and eat in any resaurant their hearts desired. Players in the Negro Leagues loved playing their, but like everyone else, the pangs of homesickness would hit and they would return to their hometowns. Towards the end of the World War, life changed for players on Negro Leagues. Although Major League managers stared to scout the Negeo Leagues, they were hesistant about being the first to sign an African American.When A.B. "Happy" Chandler was elected as the new commissioner of for the Pro Leagues, he issued a statement the would change baseball for ever. He believed if African Americans could go to war, then they were good enough to play in the pro leagues. Jackie Robinson was the first player to be intergrated into the professional leagues, and the eyes of the world were on him.  Although he had been signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers, there were many people who did not like the idea of him playing pro ball. Jackie Robinson received death threats, and had to deal with being descriminated against on and off the field. He knew that his behavior in the league would dictate what people though of African American players everywhere, so he did not retaliate and kept it all inside. Jackie Robinson helped open the gates for all African Amrican player, which slowly caused the end of the Negro Baseball Leagues. After watching Jackie Robinson play, managers from other teams started signing other African Americans to join the league. The book states that player were asked all the time, if they were bitter about not being given the chance to play in the pro leagues. The author closes with stating that some were, but most of the players aren't. The players on the Negro Leagues considered themselves fortunate to play baseball for a living. They look upon the players that made it the professional leagues, and were proud that played a part in getting them there. In essence, they were the ship that helped get them their. The highlight of this book are the wonderfully detailed pictures that go along with the heartwrenching stories. The reader feels as if they are sitting in the game watching history unfold. Children of any age will be mesmerized by the images as they flip through the pages. The author has such an inthusiasm for the players of this time, that you feel as you know by the time their story has been told. Teacher of any age group can us this book when studying the civil rights movement, and students in the third grade an up will enjoy reading the stories of the men that helped shape the  history of baseball.

Rules

Lord, C. (2008). Rules. New York: Scholastic.

Catherine is a twelve year old girl who has a brother named David who has autism. Catherine want to be normal, bet everytime she tries David does something that embarasses her. Through it all Catherine loves David, and hates it when people stare at her brother, give him weird looks, or make fun of him. She has developed a set of rules that David need to learn, and writes them down in her notebook to periodically remind him. These rules are common sense to the average person, but not for David. One day a new girl moves in next door, and Catherine cooks up a plan to make the perfect first impression. Regarless of her efforts, David of course ruins it, and Catherine's dreams of having the perfect next door friend is ruined. To her surprise Kristi, the neighbor, comes over and they build a friendship over time. When Catherine goes to therapy with David, she meets a boy named Jason, who is uses a wheel chair and can not speak. She builds a relationship with him, and introduces him to new words that she illustrates for his communication binder. Jason's world changes when Catherine come into his life, he is suddenly motivated to do things for himself. Although Catherine enjoys spending time with him, she is once again caught in a web of wanting to be normal. It is ok to hang out with Jason at therapy, but she does not want to be seen with him anywhere else. At Jason's birthday party, he asks her to the community dance, this is when she unknowingly hurts his feelings. On the drive home she realizes that she is no better than all the people who make fun of her brother and give him strange looks. She calls Jason and asks his mom to please take him to the dance. She waits for him and is excited when he finally shows up. She apologizes to him, and breaks one of her rules in the process. She dances with Jacob in a room with light, for the whole world to see. Catherine realizes that normal is just a word, and what matters to her is David, her family, and friends. This is definetly a book that middle school kids will relate to. This book draws on the stuggles that this age group goes through in order to feel accepted. Catherine's feeling are raw and she struggles with the same wants and desires of kids her age around the world. The book does a wonderful job at giving students a first hand look at the world of an autistic child, and provides oportunities for the teacher to build awarness through research. All children is grades 3rd grade and up can benefit from getting a glimpse into Davids world. Not only does this book bring awarness to the autistic community, but it lends itself beautifully to a wide range of activities in the language arts setting.

Skulduggery Pleasant

Landry, D. (2007). Skulduggery Pleasant. New York: Harper Collins.

Stephanie's Uncle has just died, and left her his entire estate. One evening she is driving with her mother, when they start having car trouble. Her deceased Uncle's house is close by, so Stephanie and her mom stop to call for help. The car ends up being towed to the the shop, but Stephanie decides to hang out at her Uncles's house instead of going with her mother.She gets a strange phone call when she is there, and then a random stranger tries to kill her. Skulduggery Pleasant comes to her rescue, and from that point on a uiques friendship is formed between the two. Although he tries to shield her from the secret world of magic he is a part of,  Stephanie refuses to be left behing, and  becomes his partner. Together they try to find out why her uncle was murdered and who did it. In the process of solving the mystery, Sthephanie discovers she is a decendant of a great sorcerer called the Last of the Ancients. She realizes that magic is a part of her, and slowly practices to try and bring it out. It is not easy for her, especially with out a teacher. Skulduggery and Stephanie discover that Serpine is going to destroy the world using the Septor of the Ancients. Before they can stop him Skulduggery gets captured, and it is up to Stephanie to rescue him. With Ghastly's help she is able to meet with the Elders, and they put together a small group of rescuers to help get Skulduggery back. Stephanie, Ghastly, Tanith, and the two Cleavers emark on a mission that is far more important than they know. They rescue Skulduggery, but lose the Cleavers in the process. Together they continue on their mission to stop Serpine, and recover the Septor of the Ancients. Through much turmoil and pain, the group comes face to face with Serpine and his hollow men. Skulduggery manages to turn the Septor of the Ancient on Serpine and turns him to dust. Although Stephanie and Tanith are both hurt, they survive and in  the coming weeks recover. Stephanie's world will never be the same now that she knows that magic is real, and she wouldn't have it any other way. This book does an amazing job and holding the readers attention at every turn of the page. It is suspensful and witty all at the same time. Even when the two main characters are in deep trouble, the author throws in a joke or two to lighten the mood. This book teaches the readers that things are not always what they seem, and encourages them to view things from different perspectives. This is a great juvenile book that can be used to create a character ananlysis, students eight years and up can analyze the evolution of the charaters from begining to end.

This Is Not My Hat

Klassen, J. (2012). This is not my hat. Boston, MA: Candlewick.

A cute story about a fish who is wearing a hat, but he acquired it by stealing it from a big fish. The big fish was asleep, so he decided to take it. As the little fish swims away, he tries to convince himself that the big fish will not miss his hat, know it was him, or find him for that matter. He tells himself that he knows it is wrong to steal, but decides to keep it because it fits him just right. He makes his way to where the plants are big and tall, and tells himself that no one will ever find him there. To his surprise, the big fish had been following close behind, and was able to get his hat back, even in the big tall plants. This is a wonderful book for kids in the primary grades. This book does an awesome job of pulling the reader into the journey to the tall grass. Kids will be rooting the little fish, in hopes that he will make it to the tall grass. Stealing is not good, and this book is very explicit about communicating this message to the reader. Teacher can use this book for inferencing, the students can maike an inference on what they thing happened to the littel fish. Simple and brilliant all at the same time.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Kinney, J. (2007). Diary of a wimpy kid. New York: Amulet Books.

Greg Heffley is a middle school kid who is determined to make his mark. He has a best friend named Rowley, who through the entire book tries to teach to be cool. In the begining of the book Greg informes the reader of the importance of choosing the right seat on the first day of school. If you choose the wrong seat, you might end up sitting  next to the unpopular kid for an entire year.  The book then moves on to talk about Greg's family dynamics, and it comes at no surprise that he is the middle child. His dad constantly badgers him to do someithing other than play video games, and his mom is always pushing him to sign up for stuff like school plays. His older brother plays trick on him, and his little brother's needs are always met before anyone elses. Greg tried to make his mark by joining wrestling, until he realized  his weight class left him going up against one of the strangest kids in school. Then he convinced Rowley to co-create a comic strip, so that they could gain instant fame. Greg and Rowley ended up in a big fight, and submited separate comic strips. Greg ended up winning, but did not gain the fame he hoped for, because his teacher changed the strip. The two friends then became part of the safety patrol, Greg thought this would be a great way to gain some authority. Everything was going great, they even missed part of Pre-Algebra and got free hot chocolate. After school one  day Greg was taughnting the kinder kids with worms, and Rowley got blamed for it. This was the last straw for Rowley, and he and Greg went their separate ways. Greg tried to get a new best friend, and continued on his quest to be popular with out Rowley. Turns out Greg needed Rowley more than Rowley needed him. He tried to fix the broken friendship, but Rowley was not having it. Gregs plan to become the class clown also got foiled, when his mom showed up as the substitute. When a couple of older kids forced Rowley to eat the old cheese from the playground, Greg tells everyone that he moved it. He unintentionally gave himself the cheese touch, but in the process him and Rowley started hanging out again. When the yearbooks came our Rowley ended being voted class clown, but Greg vowed to remind him that he ate the cheese if his head ever got to big. The hightlight of this book is the characters that accompany Gregs journal entries, they add humor and bring each entry to life. The author did a great job at breaking up the entries with pictures to make this an easy read. This book along with the rest of  the series has remained popular, because of the authors ability to relate to kids in this age group. Kids every where find a bit of themselves in a Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and will always come back for more. Kids in upper elementary to middle school will enjoy reading this book. Teachers can use this book to encourage students to write their own diary. It is a wonderful example, because it shows kids that not all diaries contain only the words. Students can also compare and contrast Greg and Rowley, and creat a character map on each.

Comic Squad : Lunch

Holm, J&M (eds.). Comic squad. New York: Random House.

This book is a compelation of stories that deal in one form or another with lunch. In the first comic stip, Crazy Little Thing Called Lunch, Ellie is confronted with the dilemma of having to eat something different for lunch. She eventually gives in, but not before running all the horrible senerios in her head of what cold happen if she tried something new. She took a bite out of a candy bar which cantained nuts, which she is allergic to, and became delirious. The boy she had a crush on took her to the nurse, and eventually walked her to class. A lunch time mishap turned her day into the best day ever. In another Story called Lunch Girl, an ordinary girl becomes a lunch room hero. She single handidly stands up to the school bully, and liberated the lunch room from her unending badgering. As you flip through the pages you come across Snoopy, Neanderthals, potates sinking a sub, mice brought together by cleaning up the cafeteria, and a detective story that lets you choose the path the comic strip will take. The illustrators in this book did a wonderful job at using only three colors. Each comic strip was written by a different author, but they all used black, white, and orange in there own unique ways. The illustrations help bring the story lines to life, and help the characters move along the strip. I would recomment this book for students in third grade and up, because one or two of the stories are a little hard to follow. Over all this is a great book, but I felt as if Lunch Bomb 1943, seemed a little out of place. The rest of the stories are an easy read, and are light and comical. Lunch Bomb 1943 was a little to serious, which makes it hard to get through. After reading this book, I foresee students trying their hand at writing thier own comic strips. The book even provides a template to help get them started.

It's So Amazing!

Harris, R. (1999). It's so amazing. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press.

This is an incredible book that will be extremely useful for parents. It details the wonders of life, human anatomy of both sexes, and provides detailed explanations that kids can understand. The author does a fabulous job at adding humor throughout the story, to make the reader feel comfortable. The bird and the bee hold side conversations that kids can relate to. The bee is not very comfortable with the topics that are being discussed, so the bird helps to clarify some of the confusing issues that kids might have about reproduction, body function, and they even talk about chromosomes. This book is most appropriate for ages seven and up. I can see it being used in a middle school health education class, or by parents to explain the miracles of life.

Rapunzel's Revenge

Hale, S. (2008). Rapunzel's Revenge. New York: Bloomsbury.

Rapunzel lives in a grand villa where she has servants that tend to all her needs. She lives with Gothel, her mother, and was not allowed to ever leave the villa. One day her curiosity got the best of her, and Rapunzel climbed over the wall. On the other side the land was dry and barren, unlike the lush green land that filled the area of her villa. She also discovered that there were people who were being held prisoners by her mother, or at least who she though was her mother. One of the prisoners she ran into seemed vaguely familiar to Rapunzel, it turned out she was her real mother. Mother Gothel had kidnapped Rapunzel when she was young, and her mother and father were heart broken. Rapunzel was quickly rushed to the other side of the wall and taken to a dungeon. One day she managed to escape, and decided to rescue her mother. Along the way Rapunzel met a guy name Jack, who became her sidekick. Rapunzel had gotten good at using her long hair to defend herself while she was in the dungeon, that she would handle any bad guys that came their way before Jack could intervene. After a long series of adventures Rapunzel and Jack finally made it to Mother Gothel’s Villa. Once there, they were able to rescue her mother and vanquish Mother Gothel. Rapunzel found her totem and retrieved it using a pick ax named Inga. Once the totem was out of the glass case, the little tree started to grow. In the process Mother Gothel tried to attack Rapunzel, but Jack pushed her into the tree. They never heard of Mother Gothel again, Rapunzel was reunited with her mother, and the land returned to its natural lush state. This book is a graphic novel that is fun and exciting for students in the upper elementary to read. The illustrations are colorful, and you can clearly see every detail in the images. The illustrator did a wonderful job at capturing the expressions on the characters faces as well. This book can be used in a compare and contrast activity with the original story. Students can also us this to learn about plot, character conflict, and making inferences on what happened at the end of the story. The one thing that I wished this book had, was and explanation on how Mother Gothel was able to suck the life out of the land. There is a lot of questions that I still have regarding the totem.

Rosa

Giovanni, N. (2005). Rosa. New York: Holt

Mrs. Rosa Parks was a normal mother, who worked hard to take care of her family. She was a seimstress in Montgomery, and was considered one of the best. Day in and day out she worked deligently to finish all her work. One Thursday she got ahead of her work and her supervisor let her go home early. Since her husband Ramon was working late, she decided to surprise him meatload for dinner. She paid for her bus ticket, and then went to board the bus from the back, as was custom for all African Americans during this time. Rosa noticed that all the seats in the section were African Americans were allowed to sit was full. So Rossa proceded to sit in the neutral section of the bus, where both African Americans and Whites were allowed to sit. As she sat thinking about the dinner she would make her husband, the bus driver yelled out for Rosa to give up her seat. The people around her moved, but decided that she had enough of the racial bigotry. She had made up her mind not to move, so the bus driver called the police. Rosa Parks was taken off to jail, and soon the whole town was aware of what had happened. The Womens Political Council rallied around Rosa Parks, and her decision to not give up her seat. Rosa Parks had opened the umbrella of courage, and they decided they would stand under it with her. They made posters and helped staged a boycott for the bus lines. Every African American in the town refused to ride the bus, until Rosa Parks was set free. The hosted a mass meeting where Martin Luther Kind was chosen as their voice. A year later, the supreme court rulled that separate was not equal, and Rosa Parks set free. One of the strengths of this book is its ability to show the strength of Rosa Parks in the story and in the beautiful illustrations. It also gives readers a first hand look at Rosas Parks day, and her decision that helped change the world. Younger children will enjoy looking at the illustrations, while older children of all ages can use this book to study the civil rights movement. Teachers can use it in a English or Social Studies setting. It can even be used to inspire writers to use their voice.

Magic Windows

Garza, C. L. (1999). Magic windows. San Francisco, CA: Children's Book Press.

Flip through the pages of this book, and you will be greated with magic windows of all sorts. The author starts off with a description of cut-paper art, and informs the reader that her grandmother taught her how to cut designs for embroidery when she was little. The goes on to say that she has continued practicing the art for 27 years. Each window is unique and comes with an explanation of what is happening. She even has one window, where she is shown passing on the tradition of cut-paper art to her neice and nephew. This book is breautifully written, and reaches across the language barriers, with it's description that are in English and Spanish. The colors used in each window are bright, and jump out at the reader. The details are so intricate, that the reader will be mesmerized at how the artist was able to interconnect all of the images. Younger children will love flipping through this book, to gaze through the windows. Teachers can use this book in an art or social studies class for older children. Students can learn about the rich culture and traditions of Mexican families. They can also try their hand at creating some of their own magic windows.

The Graveyard Book

Gaiman, N. (2008). The graveyard book. New York: HarperCollins.

Nobody Owens is a boy who lives in a cemetary. When he was a boy his family was murdered, and the cemetary with its Spirits took him in. The Owens family decided to be his parents, while Silas was his guardian. Together they fed him, taught him, protected him, and made sure that all his needs were met. He was free to wonder the entire cemetary, but was warned not to leave its protective walls. Nobody Owens was also given the power to see in the dark, a perk of being part of the cemetary. BOD, as they called him, started growing up and became curious about the world around him. One day a littlel girl walks into his cementary and turned his world upside down. She helped BOD find answers about who he is, and what happened to his parents. Little did he know that these answers would lead him to Mrs. Frost, a member of a magical and secret organization that was trying to kill him. Silas is away when all Mr. Frost and the Jacks are trying to kill him. BOD makes it to the cemetary with Scarlett, and decides to take matters into his own hands. He makes a plan, and one by one he is able to stop the Jacks and save Scarlett. Silas returns just in time to help BOD get rid of the Jacks that were left. Now that BOD was out of danger, Silas' job as his quardian was complete. Slowly Nobody Owens was unable to see his friends in the cemetary, and Silas told him it was time for him to venture out into the world. He gave him some money, they said their goodbyes, and at fifteen years old BOD went into the world. This is a novel that would suit upper elementary students and up. This book is classified as a gothic fantasy, and was awarded the Newberry Medal in 2009. One of the strengths of this book is its ability to tell a story, and giving historical facts. The readers will be pulled in by all the details the BOD's spiritual friends give him about their past lives. English teacher can read this during the month of October, when All Hallows Even is just around the corner. Students can compare and contras BOD and Scarett, work on setting activities, and study the British Isles as part of a Social Studies lesson.

Out Of My Mind

Draper, S. (2010). Out of my mind. New York: Antheneum.

Melody is a young girl with celebral palsy, who can not speak, walk, or use her hands to write. Her mother has taken her to specialists, and they all say that she is not cabable of advancing past the current stage she is in. Lucky for Melody her mom is not giving up, and knows that deep down in side she is brilliant. In school Melody is placed in the self contained units, and every year learns the same boring things. Once in awhile she comes across people or teachers who understand her, but it is never long lasting. Melody knows a lot of stuff because she has a photographic memory, which allows her to remember everything. As the new school year approaches, Melody wonders what kind of teacher she will get this time. As the school year begins, her teacher does not understand her, but she is excited about being part of inclusion classes. The new year also comes with a new aid, Catherine, who totally understands Melody. Catherine is partly the reason that Melody eventually gets a medi-talker, which enables her to have a conversation with the people around her for the first time. Not only can she communicate, she can answer questions. This revolutionized Melody's world, especially when she shows everyone that she is smart enough to be on the Whiz Kids Team. Everyone gives her starnge looks, and questions her ability because of the way that she looks. Melody has to fight with all she has to act normal and prove to everyone that she deserves to be on the Team. When the team makes it to state, Melody is exstatic, and can't wait to visit Washington D.C.. Her dream come to a complete stop when her team boards and earlier flight, and forgets to tell her. Melody decided that this will not bring her down and decides to attend school. The team does not win, but brings back a troph to give to Melody. By this point in the book Melody has ground into herself, and is confident of her abilities. She recognizes that what her teamates did were wrong in leaving her, but in the end tells them she does not want the trophy, and that they deserve it. She rolls out of the room, and begins a new chapter in her life. She decides to test the limits of the medi talker, and write her story. This is a book that teens and up need to read. It sheds the light on people with disbilities, and breaks through the stereotypes that we might all have. This story can be used in an english class to make a character analysis, the students can document the various changes that Melody or the people around her goes through. This book is a dream for Junior high English teachers everywhere. Students can work on a plethera of concepts like, plot, literary conflict, vocabulary, compare and contrate, and so much more.

THe Legend of the Bluebonnet

dePaola. T. (1983). The legend of the bluebonnet. New York: Putnam.

There was a drough in the land, and the Comanches did not know what to do to make the Great Spirits happy. For three days they danced, in hopes that the Great Spirits would send the rains that would end the drought. After three days, the rain did not come, so the Great Shaman went off to the top of the hill, so that the Great Spirits can tell him what his people must do to end the drought. When he returned, he told his people that they had become selfish. The Great Spirits the Comanches to give up their most valuable possiession, and offer them up in sacrifice. Every one had something that they loves, but convinced themselves that it was not what the Great Spirits wanted. One girl in the village, called She Who Is Alone, knew exactly what the Great Spirits wanted. Her most valuable possession was a doll, that was made by those in her family that had passed away in the drought. At night she went up to the hill, offered the doll up to the Spirits, and placed her doll into the flame. When morning came, the hills were filled with bluebonnets. When the people woke up, they knew that the flowers ment that the Great Spirts had forgiven their people. When the people were giving thanks, the rain began to fall. The little girl who sacrificed her doll was now known as One Who Dearly Loved Her People. Each spring the Spirits remember this litle girl, and fill the valleys of Texas with these blue flowers. This book is great for students in the elementary setting. The pictures are done in soft pastels, and kids in the lower grades would love to flip through it. In the upper grades, this book could be used in a social studies unit that is studying Texas symbols or Native Americans. The book does a great job at depicting life in the Comanche tribe. Students could research the Comanches and create their own dolls as an extension project.

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach

Deedy, C. A. (2007). Martina the beautiful cockroach. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree.

A Cuban Folktale about a beautiful cockroach who lived in Havana with her family. Maritina the cockroach was twenty one years old, and was finally ready to get married. All the ladies in her family had advice for her, including her grandmother. Her grandmother advised her to spill coffee on the various suitors that came her way. Martina was hesitant, but agreed to follow Grandmother's adive. When her first suitor came, she did what Grandmothers said, and spilled coffee on his shoes. Don Gallo was so mad that he called her a clumbsy cockraoach, and told her that when they are married he was going to teach her some manners. Martina refused his offer for marriage, and was so happy that  Grandmother's advice had worked. She continued to spill coffee on all her suitors, and each time they reacted in a most unkind manner. Martina had given up, but went out to meet one more suitor, Perez the mouse. Martina thought he was adorable, but before she was able to spill coffee on him, Perez spilled coffer on her shoes. Martina was so happy when this happened, and asked him how he knew. Perez's answer was that he too had a Cuban grandmother. After that, they happily sipped coffee together under the street light. This book has big colorful pictures that any kid would enjoy fliping through. This book does a great job pointing out the different traits of each character. Students could pick one character, and create a character trait map for each. Although this book is entertaining for everyone, studnents ages 10 and under would benefit from this activitiy. Folktales often are told to convey a message, and this book does a great job and sending out its message in a simple yet  beautiful way that kids can understand. This story could also be used in a social studies class. Students could compare and contrast the beliefs or customs in the book, and compare them to those of today.

The Watsons go to Birmingham

Curtis, C. P. (1995). The Watsons go to Birmingham, 1963. New York: Delacorte.

The Watsons are an African American family that lives in Flint, Michigan. The family consists of  Momma, Dad, Byron, Kenny, and Joletta. Byron got held back a grade, and because of this, is one of the bigger kids in school. Kenny is smart, and has a high reading level. He does not have many friends, but people don't bother him as much  because they fear his brother Byron. Joletta is their little sister, she is protective and cries for everything. Byron is always getting in trouble, but one day he does something that breaks the camels back. Mom and Dad are fed up with his behavior, and decide to take Byron to live with Grandma Sands in Birmingham. Momma plans out every bit of the trip, and the entire family is excited about the upcoming journey. Dad has a plan to drive straight through, but doesn't dare let Momma know. When they get to Grandma Sands house, Momma notices a lot of things have changed in the town. Regardless of the changes, she is happy to be back in her home town, with her mom. Through the scorching heat, the kids slowly adjust to the small town, and even start to enjoy it. One day Joletta goes to Sunday school, and something terrible happens. Some how Kenny has a vision of his sister, and goes to the church to see what is happening. Joletta on the other hand, thinks she sees Kenny and decided to follow him out of the church. Joletta is able to make it our of the church before it blows up. When Kenny makes it to the church, he is able to go inside to look for Joletta. He sees all the devistation the bomb caused, and thinks his sister has perished. Later he realizes it is not Joletta's shoe, but is still in shock with what he saw. The family goes back to Flint, Michigan, including Byron, but they were never the same again. The Watsons' story takes place during a time in histroy that was jam packed with racial turmoil. On their journey to Birmingham, the Watsons had to be careful of where they stopped to rest, because some people didn't take to kindly to African Americans. This book does an amazing job at capturing the family spirit, and the measures they took to protect each other. It gives the reader an inside look at what life was like in 1963, and doesn't sugar coat the reality of the time. This book would best be suited for student in 5th grade and up. It can be used to compare and contrast 1963 with the present. Students can talk about major events that are affecting the present, and how people might feel looking back in the furture. In the book Kenny almost drawns in a Whool Pool, this chapeter would make a great science lesson. Students can investigate whirlpools, their characteristics, and what causes them.
                  

Dear Mr. Henshaw

Cleary, B. (1983). Dear Mr. Henshaw. New York: Morrow.

Leigh Botts is a young boy who lives with his mom, dad, and dog Bandit. One day he is assigned to write to an author as a class assignment, so he chose Mr. Henshaw, because he likes the book he wrote called Ways To Amuse A Dog. When the author responds, Leigh decides to keep writing to him, and continually writes to Mr. Henshaw for various assignments through our the years. One day Mr. and Mrs. Botts get a divorce, and Leigh has to move to a new school and town with his mom. He even starts a diary, because Mr. Henshaw suggested this was a good way to improve his writing skills. Leigh did not know how to start, but remembers the advice the author had given him. He decided to address his daily diary entries to Mr. Pretend Henshaw, because he does not like the way dear diary sounds. Eventually Leigh learns to write for himeself, and no longer has to address the letters to the author. He comes to terms with his parents divorce, and learns how to face his problem with his missing lunch at school. Along the way he make a friend, accepts his new life, and encourages his dad to keep Bandit so they can keep each other company on the road. Although this book was published in 1983, Dear Mr. Henshaw  is still a teachers favorite. It is a good Juvenil book, that lends itself to a variety of activities. Teachers can encourage students to start their own journals while reading the book, and even write creative stories like the one that Leigh wrote about A Day On Dad's Rig. Since Leigh's dad is a truck driver, teachers can include map skills during the reading. Students can locate and pinpoint the various cities Leigh talks about on a classroom map.

How They Croaked: The awful end of the awfully famous

Bragg, G. (2011). How they croaked: the awful end of the awfully famous: New York:Walker & Company.

Follow the lives of famous people in history, and learn how they met their end. Start off with King Tut  and learn not only how he died, but the mummification process. In 1922 Howard Carter Found King Tut's Tomb, and it turns out he himself was just another tomb raider. In 2009 scientist ran more tests on King Tut, and discovered he was 19 years old when he died of a combination of malaria, a broken leg, and what they called a dead foot. After King Tut you will follow eighteen other famous people and learn a great deal about how they lived, how they died, and some history about the era they were a part of. The author closes the book by stating that the people in this book did not become famous because of how they died, but because of how they lived. He urges the reader to find what they are meant to do, and not to let anybody talk them out of it.This book in unique, because along with the creepy facts, it can serve as a histoy book so to speak. Students in junior high and above, can get a first hand look at what life was like during the era of these famous people. The book also provides diagrams and illustrations that are quite interesting, and help the reader make connections with what they read. Braggs provides the reader with a time line, so that one can see when and how far apart the events in this book took place. Students will be able to make connections between individuals, and try a hand at making their own autobiographical timeline if they choose to.

Butterflies

                                         

Bishop, N. (2011). Butterflies. New York: Scholastic.

  A stunning book about butterflies and their life cycle. Bishop starts the book out with beautiful images of butterflies, including one with see through wings, to grab the readers attention. He quckly dives into the first stage of the butterfly lifecycle, which is an egg that hatches into a caterpillar. The first half of the book goes trough the caterpillars diet, molting, the pupa stage, and finally the emergence of the butterfly. Once the butterfly is out, Bishop talks about the important parts of its anatomy, including the markings, that can at time serve as camoflage or a warning to other animals.The book come to an end with the butterfly laying eggs, which starts the cyce all over again. This book has wonderfully detailed pictures that everyone will enjoy. These images are big, bright, and full of vibrant colors. Bishop does a wonderful job at getting up close with the camera, to capture the caterpillars amazing journey to becoming a butterfly. Science teachers for  all ages can use this to teach the life cycle, and students can use the colorful images to compare it to the life cycle of a variety of animals. 

Hitler Youth

Bartoletti, S. (2005). Hitler youth. New York: Scholastic.

Journey with the many youth that gave into the propaganda of Adolf Hitler. Boys and girls of all ages wanted to join Hitlers youth, but the luster of what drew them in was quickly washed away when they became actual member. They were forced to get in their best physical shape, work long hours, and were all trained in the art of war. Some Hitler Youth eventually got fed up, and decided to rebel by making flyers with the truth. They dispersed these flyers among the young college students, and made a pack that who ever got caught  would take the blame. The book continues to tell the stories of many brave blindsided youth who thought they were fighting for a good cause. It tells how they eventually had to surrender, and the terrible time they had accepting the truth behind the war. Not even when the Hitler Youth were confronted with death, and Jewish bodies falling out of train cars, did they except what had happened. The people in this book witnessed, and were faced with many inhuman situations. In the end many of them perished, chose to be lost in the world, or decided to tell their story. Regardless of which path they took, they have unkowingly touched the lives of each and everyone who reads this book. This is a heart wrenching story of the otherside, that most people are not familiar with. Knowing that these children suffered under the appressor they chose to follow, is eye opening and sad.  Although this book makes you aware of the unknowing turmoil the Hitler Youth were facing, it also tells you the pain and heartache of the Jewish communities. One of the wonderful things about this book is that is does not choose a side, but highlights the pain and suffering of all. The author does a great job at painting a mental image for the reader, which helps them make an emotional connection through out the reading.     This book would best be read by a mature audience, it would recommend it for high school students and higher. This is a wonderful book that can easily be used in a debate class, and to compare and contrast both sides of the Halocaust in a social studies, world history, or english class.