My Garden is written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes.
Genre: Picture Book
Sub-genre: Fiction
Theme: Nature's beauty; Imagination
Primary and Secondary Characters: A young girl is the primary character. She is never named.
Awards:None to date.
Publisher and Date of Publication: HarperCollins; 2010
Summary and Uses: This book is about a young girl helping her mother in the garden. As she notices the way her mom's garden grows, she becomes inspired and dreams up a beautiful garden of her own complete with jellybean bushes, chocolate rabbits, and strawberry lanterns. I would use this book in my classroom just for the illustrations alone. They are gorgeous hand paintings that will take your breath away. I also think children need to be inspired to dream and find happiness in the simple things. This book definitely will help them do that.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Olivia by Ian Falconer
Olivia was written and illustrated by Ian Falconer
Genre: Picture book
Sub-genre: Fiction
Theme: Energetic girls; Children
Primary and Secondary Characters: Olivia is the primary character and her parents and younger brother are the secondary characters.
Awards: Caldecott Honor 2000
Publisher and Date of Publication: Atheneum Books for Young Readers; 2000
Summary and Uses: Olivia is a feisty pig who has too much energy for her own good. She wears everyone out including herself. I think using this book in a classroom would be great in younger grades. I would have this book in my classroom for students to independently read. I know young girls will relate to and love Olivia.
Genre: Picture book
Sub-genre: Fiction
Theme: Energetic girls; Children
Primary and Secondary Characters: Olivia is the primary character and her parents and younger brother are the secondary characters.
Awards: Caldecott Honor 2000
Publisher and Date of Publication: Atheneum Books for Young Readers; 2000
Summary and Uses: Olivia is a feisty pig who has too much energy for her own good. She wears everyone out including herself. I think using this book in a classroom would be great in younger grades. I would have this book in my classroom for students to independently read. I know young girls will relate to and love Olivia.
Lon Po Po by Ed Young
**I retold this story in groups**
Lon Po Po was written and illustrated by Ed Young.
Genre: Juvenile
Sub-genre: Fiction
Theme: Fairy Tale/Little Red Riding Hood
Primary and Secondary Characters: Shang, Tao, Paotze and Po Po or the wolf, are the primary characters. The mother is the secondary character.
Awards: Caldecott
Publisher and Date of Publication: Scholastic Inc; 1989
Summary and Uses: This story is a version of America's version of Little Red Riding Hood. The wolf disguises himself as Po Po (which is the way the Chinese say grandmother). The children let him in and soon discover he is not their real Po Po. They have to find a way to outsmart the wolf and get him out of the house. This story is written well and the illustrations are wonderful. This story is a great way to incorporate other cultures into the eyes of today's children.
Lon Po Po was written and illustrated by Ed Young.
Genre: Juvenile
Sub-genre: Fiction
Theme: Fairy Tale/Little Red Riding Hood
Primary and Secondary Characters: Shang, Tao, Paotze and Po Po or the wolf, are the primary characters. The mother is the secondary character.
Awards: Caldecott
Publisher and Date of Publication: Scholastic Inc; 1989
Summary and Uses: This story is a version of America's version of Little Red Riding Hood. The wolf disguises himself as Po Po (which is the way the Chinese say grandmother). The children let him in and soon discover he is not their real Po Po. They have to find a way to outsmart the wolf and get him out of the house. This story is written well and the illustrations are wonderful. This story is a great way to incorporate other cultures into the eyes of today's children.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Our Only May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm
Our Only May Amelia was written by Jennifer L. Holm.
Genre: Historical
Sub-genre: Fiction
Theme: Gender issues; Family
Primary and Secondary Characters: May Amelia is the main character. Her seven brothers and parents are the secondary characters.
Awards: Newbery Honor Book 1999; Parents’ Choice Silver Award; Publishers Weekly Best of 1999 Book;
Publishers Weekly Flying Start
Publisher and Date of Publication: Harper Collins Publishers; 1999
Summary and Uses: May Amelia is the only girl in a large family of boys. She wants to do the things the boys do but her mother, father and even her aunt instruct her to be more lady like. She finds loads of adventures with her brothers, and she even finds herself chasing a dangerous suspect by herself. When her mother announces her pregnancy, May Amelia wishes for another sister to be around. This book has great characters and a great story. The best part about this book for the classroom is the endless possibilities. It stretches over every subject and is a great read out loud novel. History, language arts, art. . . It is a great book. I am so glad I read this one!
Genre: Historical
Sub-genre: Fiction
Theme: Gender issues; Family
Primary and Secondary Characters: May Amelia is the main character. Her seven brothers and parents are the secondary characters.
Awards: Newbery Honor Book 1999; Parents’ Choice Silver Award; Publishers Weekly Best of 1999 Book;
Publishers Weekly Flying Start
Publisher and Date of Publication: Harper Collins Publishers; 1999
Summary and Uses: May Amelia is the only girl in a large family of boys. She wants to do the things the boys do but her mother, father and even her aunt instruct her to be more lady like. She finds loads of adventures with her brothers, and she even finds herself chasing a dangerous suspect by herself. When her mother announces her pregnancy, May Amelia wishes for another sister to be around. This book has great characters and a great story. The best part about this book for the classroom is the endless possibilities. It stretches over every subject and is a great read out loud novel. History, language arts, art. . . It is a great book. I am so glad I read this one!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
When I Woke Up I Was a Hippopotamus by Tom MacRae
When I Woke Up I Was a Hippopotamus was written by Tom MacRae and illustrated by Ross Collins.
Genre: Picture Book
Sub-genre: Fiction
Theme: Pretending; Rhyming
Primary and Secondary Characters: The little boy (He was never named) was the primary character. Mom and Dad are the secondary characters.
Awards:None
Publisher and Date of Publication: Anderson Press; 2011
Summary and Uses: This book is about a little boy who transforms into different things as his mood changes throughout the day. When he goes a little too far, he discovers his parents transform too. I think this book is geared for older children. I read it to a five year old and he wasn't enchanted by the story. The idea of this book is hilarious and I would read it out loud to a third, or fourth grade class.
Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type was written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewin.
Genre: Picture Book
Sub-genre: Fiction
Theme: New skills are useful in many ways
Primary and Secondary Characters: The Cows and Farmer Brown are the primary characters and they chickens and ducks are the secondary characters.
Awards: Caldecott Honor Book
Publisher and Date of Publication: Simon and Schuster Books For Young Readers; 2000
Summary and Uses: This book is about cows that find a typewriter. They learn to type messages to Farmer Brown demanding improvements for their living situation. Farmer Brown refuses their demands so the cows go on strike! This book is already a classic, must-read. It is hilarious and children of all ages will love this book. I would read this out loud and do lessons on communicating ideas and the importance of learning to communicate in good, understandable ways.
Genre: Picture Book
Sub-genre: Fiction
Theme: New skills are useful in many ways
Primary and Secondary Characters: The Cows and Farmer Brown are the primary characters and they chickens and ducks are the secondary characters.
Awards: Caldecott Honor Book
Publisher and Date of Publication: Simon and Schuster Books For Young Readers; 2000
Summary and Uses: This book is about cows that find a typewriter. They learn to type messages to Farmer Brown demanding improvements for their living situation. Farmer Brown refuses their demands so the cows go on strike! This book is already a classic, must-read. It is hilarious and children of all ages will love this book. I would read this out loud and do lessons on communicating ideas and the importance of learning to communicate in good, understandable ways.
Carl's Birthday by Alexandra Day
Carl's Birthday was written and illustrated by Alexandra Day.
Genre: Picture Book
Sub-genre: Fiction
Theme: Mischievousness; birthday celebration
Primary and Secondary Characters: Carl the Rottweiler and Madeline the young girl are the main characters. The mother who plans the celebration and the guests are secondary characters.
Awards:None
Publisher and Date of Publication: Douglas and McIntyre; 1995
Summary and Uses: This book is a book taken out of a series of books. The main focus is Carl who is a large Rottweiler dog. In this book, Carl's family is throwing him a surprise birthday party. Throughout the book, Carl and Madeline discover all sorts of gifts, decorations, and party favors. They get into everything! At the end of the book, they cover their tracks and Carl is "surprised" with guests shouting, "Happy Birthday, Carl!!" This book has very few words so the illustrations do most of the talking. They are beautifully done and make it easy to follow the story. I would use this in my classroom as a book on the shelf. I know the children would fall in love with Carl and Madeline!
Genre: Picture Book
Sub-genre: Fiction
Theme: Mischievousness; birthday celebration
Primary and Secondary Characters: Carl the Rottweiler and Madeline the young girl are the main characters. The mother who plans the celebration and the guests are secondary characters.
Awards:None
Publisher and Date of Publication: Douglas and McIntyre; 1995
Summary and Uses: This book is a book taken out of a series of books. The main focus is Carl who is a large Rottweiler dog. In this book, Carl's family is throwing him a surprise birthday party. Throughout the book, Carl and Madeline discover all sorts of gifts, decorations, and party favors. They get into everything! At the end of the book, they cover their tracks and Carl is "surprised" with guests shouting, "Happy Birthday, Carl!!" This book has very few words so the illustrations do most of the talking. They are beautifully done and make it easy to follow the story. I would use this in my classroom as a book on the shelf. I know the children would fall in love with Carl and Madeline!
