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.