The Sweetest Fig

Title: The Sweetest Fig

Author and Illustrator: Chris Van Allsburg

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company (http://www.hmhco.com/)

Publication Date: 1993

Genre: Picture Book

Audience: Grades PreK-2

Awards: Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Winner [Grades 3-8], Rhode Island Children's Book Award

Overview: The Sweetest Fig tells the story of a unkindly dentist named Bibot who takes out the painful tooth of an elderly woman, only to find that she does not have the money to pay for the procedure. Instead, she pays Bibot with two figs that she claims will make his dreams come true. The dentist also has a dog who he does not treat very well. He is very strict and unloving towards him. Well, after eating the first fig Bibot's dream about going out it public in his underwear comes true. So, he decides to concentrate very hard on being the richest man on earth before eating the next fig, hoping to dream of just that. Finally after days of dreaming the right dream, he decides to eat the fig. While his back is turned his dog hops up on the table and gobbles the fig up. The story ends when Bibot wakes up the next morning to find that the magical fig works on dogs too...

Activity: An activity to go with The Sweetest Fig would be to have the students imagine what they would try to dream about, like Bibot tries to dream about being the richest man on earth. This would make a great art activity. You could also bring in figs for students to try, since this is not a very common fruit and many may not have seen or tried one before.

Reviewer's Name: Allison Parsons

Title: Jumanji

Author and Illustrator: Chris Van Allsburg

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company (http://www.hmhco.com/)

Publication Date: 1981

Genre: Adventure

Audience: Grades PreK-2

Awards: The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book, The New York Times Outstanding Books, American Book Award for illustration from the Association of American Publishers, Children's Choice from the International Reading Association, Boston Globe Horn Book Award for illustration, Caldecott Medal, Kentucky Bluegrass Award from Ohio State Library, Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award from the Washington Library Media Association, West Virginia Children's Book Award, Golden Archer Primary Award Winner from the Wisconsin Educational Media Association

Overview: Jumanji tells the story of a brother and sister who are left home alone one evening by their parents. When they are playing in the park, they find a board game and take it home. They read the instructions carefully, and begin the game. At first, they believe it to be an ordinary board game. However, they soon realize that the squares that their pieces land on become real life. For example, when Judy loses a turn because "monkeys steal their food" they hear noises from the kitchen and run to see monkeys everywhere. They are forced to continue playing the game, despite the appearance of something new and awful with each turn, until one of them reaches Jumanji. Finally, Judy reaches the

Activity: The fourth rule for the game of Jumanji states: Once a game of Jumanji is started it will not be over until one player reaches the golden city. Use this rule as a writing prompt for students. Have them write about a time that they started something and didn't finish it right away. Did it make a mess? Did the mess go away once they finished what they had started? A picture can be drawn of their experiences as well.

Reviewer's Name: Allison Parsons

The Stranger

Title: The Stranger

Author and Illustrator: Chris Van Allsburg

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company (http://www.hmhco.com/)

Publication Date: 1986

Genre: Picture book

Audience: Grades PreK-2

Awards: The New York Times best illustrated children's book, Parent's Choice Award for Illustration from the Parents' Choice Foundation

Overview: This book is about a man who loses his memory when he is hit by a truck. The farmer who accidentally hit him takes him into his home until he can remember who he is. While the stranger is staying there, the family notices small signs that this man is no ordinary human. For example, he is able to play and talk with wild rabbits, and seems to have a fascination with migrating geese. They also notice that the season is not changing to fall like it should be. One day, the stranger stands on a hill and looks all around realizing that the leaves are beautiful colors of red and orange everywhere except for the few miles surrounding the farm where he has been staying. All of a sudden he remembers who he is. We know this because the next day he is dressed back in his own clothes and says goodbye to the family. The story ends as a mystery as to who the stranger is, but every year when the frost comes and fall begins to settle in, the farmer sees a message written in frost on the windows, "See you next fall."

Activity: I think this book would make a great book for a discussion/debate. This is the first activity that came into my head after reading, because I immediately wanted someone else to read it so that we could talk about it together. The story really makes you think and consider very small details. I think a class discussion about who the stranger is, or even a debate if there are just a couple of ideas about who he is, would really work well with the story.

Reviewer's Name: Allison Parsons

The Wreck of the Zephyr

Title: The Wreck of the Zephyr

Author and Illustrator: Chris Van Allsburg

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company (http://www.hmhco.com/)

Publication Date: 1983

Genre: Picture book

Audience: Grades PreK-2

Awards: The New York Times best illustrated children's book, the New York Times outstanding books

Overview: This book tells a story within a story. In the beginning of a book, a man finds a shipwrecked boat at the top of a hill with a man sitting inside and wonders how the boat ever could have gotten so high up on land. The man who is sitting in the boat tells him the story of the boat's owner, who wanted to be the greatest sailor in the world. He finds a way to fly his boat above the water, but is told that he must not go over land, for he will lose the wind. In his effort to be known as the greatest sailor in the world, he decided to fly directly over his town. Of course, the boat loses it's wind and lands on top of the hill. The book ends with a twist (which is very typical for Van Allsburg) as the man who told the story tells what became of the "greatest sailor in the world".

Activity: This book would make a great read aloud, and lesson on inferencing. After reading the book, ask students a question that is not technically answered in the book, such as, "Why do you think the old man needs a cane to walk?" or "Where is the old man going to sail to at the end of the story?" Have students support their answers with direct quotes from the book.

Reviewer's Name: Allison Parsons

¡Quiero Ayudar! Let Me help!

Title: ¡Quiero Ayudar! Let Me help!

Author: Alma Flor Ada

Illustrator: Angela Dominguez

Publisher: Children's Book Press http://www.childrensbookpress.org/

Publication Date: 2010

Genre: Multicultural, Animals, Picture Book

Audience: Gr. PreK-2

Overview: This is a book about a parrot who just wants to help! His family is getting ready for the Cinco de Mayo celebration. The family has a barge and they planned to have a picnic on the San Antonio River. He goes all around the house asking for help, but everyone shoos him away! Finally when they are on the river, there barge goes under a bridge and their topmost decoration got knocked off. This was Percio the parrot's chance to help. You will have to read the book to see what happened!

Activity: This book has he words written in bot English and Spanish. What you could do with the is book is to incorporate both languages into a lesson about Cinco De Mayo. By using both languages students of all backgrounds can learn something new.

Reviewer’s Name: Paige Martin

One Morning in Maine

Title: One Morning in Maine

Author: Robert McCloskey

Publisher: The Viking Press - New York

Publication Date: 1952

Genre: Picture Book

Audience: All

Awards: Caldecott Honor

Overview: This is the story of a little girl named Sal who lives in Maine with her family and her little sister Jane. She wakes up one morning to find that her tooth is very loose. This is an exciting day for her because she gets to go on a trip to Buck's Harbor with her father and Jane. This story explains their exciting day in the Harbor and how Sal goes about loosing her very first tooth.

Activity: This book could be used for all ages. If it is used with younger students in PreK-1st grade, a teacher could use this to talk about loosing teeth while introducing to them some new vocabulary that they may not have seen before. For older grades it could be used as a supplement to a science or geography lesson. The book has a lot of references to the ecosystem in Maine and Buck's Harbor. The teacher could talk about the different types of animals can be found

Reviewer's Name: Kalli Parrish

Title: Young Pele: Soccer's First Star

Author: Lesa Cline-Ransome

Illustrator: James Ransome

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade

www.randomhouse.com

Publication Date: September 2007

Genre: Multicultural

Audience: Grades 3-5

Overview: This is the story of a young boy from Brazil who grows up to be the name and face of soccer around the world. It is his story of how he struggled through school and spent his time kicking rocks, dribbling with balls made of rags and constantly thinking of soccer. This book follows him up until he was discovered for his amazing talents and begins playing soccer in front of millions of people This story shows how if you set your mind to something that you want to be good at, if you put in the dedication and hard work you can one day be great at it.

Activity: In the classroom, this book could be used at a writing prompt. After a read a loud the teacher could ask the students to write a paragraph or two describing something that they are very passionate about and that they would want to master by the time they were Pele's age or even in their lifetime. Also, if you have a student who is really interested in sports and does not enjoy reading, you could have them read this book. This might help them get excited about a book because they might strive to be a pro athlete themselves. If we choose books that kids would enjoy reading it could make reading in the classroom more fun for them.

Reviewer's Name: Kalli Parrish

Fly High Fly Low

Title: Fly High Fly Low

Author: Don Freeman

Publisher: Penguin Group

www.penguin.com

Publication Date: 1957

Genre: Picture Book

Audience: Grade 3-5

Awards: Caldecott Honor

Overview: This is a story about two pigeons living in San Francisco. They choose to live in the loop of a B on the top of a tall building in the heart of the city. They live a happy life together until one day a truck comes and takes the B away. The story explains how, with the help of their friend Mr. Hi Lee, the two pigeons find each other again and make a new home.

Activity: This book could act as a good supplement to a geography lesson or a science lesson. If you are teaching about birds you could do a lesson on pigeons and where they like to live and nest. If you are talking about San Francisco you could use this book and its references to the city, like the Golden Gate Bridge.

Reviewer's Name: Kalli Parrish

Mama's Day

Title: Mama's Day
Author: Linda Ashman
Illustrator: Jan Ormerod
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
http://imprints.simonandschuster.biz/bfyr
Publication Date: 2006
Genre: Picture Book
Audience: PreK - 2nd Grade
Overview: A rhyming book about all of the things mothers do to take care for and love their children. From waking up in the middle of the night to providing unconditional love, this book is great to honor dedicated mothers everywhere.  
Activity: I remember in Elementary School we would have Moms and Muffins day (which would be around Mothers Day). This would be a great book to read aloud to the children and mothers. Ask the students what they love about their moms. They could even draw a picture and have reasons below of why they appreciate their moms.
Reviewer's Name: Rachel Bartee

The Secret Science Projec that Almost Ate the School

Title: The Secret Science Project that Almost Ate the School
Author: Judy Sierra
Illustrator: Stephen Gammell
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 2006
Genre: Picture Book
Audience: Gr. PreK-2
Overview: The Secret Science Project that Almost Ate the School is a picture book about a student who is struggling to come up with a project for the science fair, as he witnesses all of his classmates come up with great ideas. He does some research on the internet and finds something that he believes will easily win first place at the science fair, "Super Slime." However, this "slime" isn't all it is cracked up to be when it starts to take over and digest everything in sight. He finally comes up with a way to calm down his super freaky science fair project and, although doesn't win first place, has undoubtedly the most memorable project of them all.
Activity: This book would be great to introduce a science lesson. Since the book is aimed at a younger crowd who may not be participating in a science fair, it would be the perfect opportunity to explain what a science fair is and could perhaps host a mock-science fair, where the students would research a topic and pick something that they think they would like to do research on.
Reviewer's Name: Moira Schafle

Boxes For Katje

Title: Boxes for Katje

Author: Candace Flemin

Illustrator: Stacey Dressen-McQueen

Publisher: Melanie Kroupa Books http://us.macmillan.com/splash/publishers/farrar-straus-giroux.html

Publication Date: 2003

Genre: Non-Fiction, Picture Book, Multicultural

Audience: Gr. 3-5

Overview: After World War II there was little left in Katje’s town in Holland. Her family has to go without many things like soap and socks that are sometime taken for granted. One day Katje gets a package in the mail, and its from America! Children in America were collecting and mailing items to Holland that were hard to find. Katje was so happy when she opened up the package and inside was a bar of soap, wool socks and even chocolate! Katje shared the chocolate with her mom and her postman. Katje wrote back thank Rosie, the girl who sent her the package, and thanked her for the package. A few months later Kaje receives another package! It contained four bags of sugar! Throughout the book Katje receives lots more packages, you will have to read to find out what happens!

Activity: A great activity for this book would be to get your students pen-pals of there own. It doesn't have to be with students in another country, it could even be with student from a nearby school. This will works on the students letter writing skills as well s make a new friend. You could even incorporate technology by doing the pen-pals through email.

Reviewer’s Name: Paige Martin

Compost Stew

Title: Compost Stew
Author: Mary McKenna Siddals
Illustrator: Ashley Wolff
Publisher: Tricycle Press
Publication Date: 2010
Genre: Picture Book, Science & Nature
Audience: Gr. PreK-2
Overview: Compost Stew is a picture book for young students about the different ways that recycling can be used in order to make what is known as a compost stew. The narrator addresses "environmental chefs" to inform them of a new recipe. Things such as old/used fruits, egg shells, flowers, tree shavings, and many more are part of this inventive recipe.
Activity: This book would be great to teach young students about recycling and the different things that used products can make. A teacher can ask their students to collect different used items in the classroom, perhaps from the recycling bin, and make them into a "compost stew." It teaches students the significance of recycling and to think twice before throwing something away.
Reviewer's Name: Moira Schafle

Title: Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot

Author: Margo Theis Raven

Illustrator: Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen

Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press http://www.sleepingbearpress.com/

Publication Date: 2002

Genre: Non-Fiction, Picture Book, History

Audience: Gr. 3-5

Overview: This book is about a girl names Mercedes that lived in West Berlin around 1948. Life was grim for Mercedes because communist ruler, Joesef Stalin, blockaded the roads, railroads and canal routes coming in and out of Berlin and cut off West Berliners from all food, clothing, heat, and electricity. Mercedes had a few chicken, but because she could not feed her chicken, they were no longer producing eggs. Mercedes was afraid her mom would kill the chickens for dinner. She had heard about the American Chocolate Pilot names Lt. Gail Halvorsen, who every day rained down sweets on the children who cheered the planes landing on his runway. She thought if she could bring her mother some chocolate, she would be happy and would not kill the chickens. Mercedes one day went to the runway to get chocolate, but an older taller boy reached above her and grabbed the chocolate that was floating down to her. She decided to write Halvorsen and ask him to drop candy over her house. Halvorsen was moved by her letter, but knew he could not find her house. Instead he sent her a package full of chocolate and gum. That package was a light for Mercedes during a dark time.

Activity: You could read this book when you are teaching your students about WWII. By reading this book you students can somewhat to relate to Mercedes because it about a girl who is around their own age.

Reviewer’s Name: Paige Martin

How to Steal a Dog

Title: How to Steal a Dog

Author: Barbara O’ Connor

Publisher: Square Fish (Macmillan)

http://us.macmillan.com/squarefish.aspx

Publication Date:2007

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Audience: Gr. 3-5

Overview: Georgina Hayes lives with her mother and younger brother, Toby, in their family car. They are living in poverty, and cannot afford a house. Their clothes are dirty, and the food is minimal. Georgina’s mother has to take two jobs in order to support the trio, but Georgina has another plan. She decides to steal a dog, and collect the reward money from the owner when she returns it. Georgina finds a house like a mansion and steals the owner’s dog, Willy, keeping it behind an old house. She visits with the Willy’s owner, Carmella, and finds out that she is not much better off financially than Georgina’s family. To make things more interesting, a homeless man named Mookie starts living near the house where Georgina is keeping Willy. Mookie ends up sharing his enthusiasm of life with Georgina, and combined with her new knowledge that Carmella is poor, decides to give Willy back. Georgina confesses to stealing Willy, and expects Carmella to be angry. Instead, Carmella forgives Georgina, who finds out later that her mother has found a friend who will let them live in her house.

Activity: This story is easily relatable for students who may be dealing with poverty themselves, and could be used to explain how some people do live in these conditions. The students could also be asked to think of other ways Georgina could have helped support her family without stealing, and ways they can think of to save money.

Reviewer’s Name: Zack Zajaczkowski

The Young Man and the Sea

Title: The Young Man and The Sea

Author: Rodman Philbrick

Publisher: The Blue Sky Press (Scholastic)

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/home.jsp

Publication Date: 2004

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Audience: Gr. 6-8 (Young Adult)

Overview: Skiff Beaman, a twelve-year-old boy who lives alone with his father, has to deal with various issues in his life. His mother has died, leaving his father depressed and lonely. There is also a bully who for some reason will not leave Skiff alone. Skiff takes pride in his family’s boat, the Mary Rose, but he comes home form school one day to find it has sunk. In order to pay for it’s repairs, Skiff sets out into the ocean alone on his own small boat to catch a monster fish and sell it for a hefty sum. Skiff does not have much luck, until suddenly an absolutely enormous tuna appears. Skiff manages to harpoon it, but it drags him into the water. Although he makes it back to his boat, Skiff’s motor burns out and he is forced to row for what seems like days on end back to shore. Skiff’s hands are badly tore apart by the constant rowing, and he nearly gives up, but the thought of his mother keeps him going. Eventually Skiff is rescued by his father who comes on a rescue boat, and takes him back to shore. Skiff’s fish sells for a great deal of money, and he is able to repair the Mary Rose.

Activity: This novel would be a fantastic introduction to “The Old Man and the Sea” by Earnest Hemingway, as it is a simpler read and would appeal and relate more to students. It could also be used in conjunction with a lesson on marine wildlife, fishing, or the ocean in general.

Reviewer’s Name: Zack Zajaczkowski

A Fine St. Patrick's Day

Title: A Fine St. Patrick’s Day

Author: Susan Wojciechowski

Illustrator: Tom Curry

Publisher: Random House

http://www.randomhouse.com/

Publication Date: 2004

Genre: Fairy Tale

Audience: Gr. PreK-2

Overview: The towns of Tralee and Tralah have a competition every year on St. Patrick’s Day to see which town can better decorate for the holiday. Tralee has never won, but this year they have a master plan thanks to six-year old Fiona. Her idea is to paint the entire town green (except for the mailboxes and fire hydrants). The people of Tralah decide to cut out shamrocks and hang them from every branch of every tree. While both towns are busy preparing, an odd man rides into Tralah trying to find help for his cows, who are stuck in the mud. No one in Tralah will help him because they are too busy trying to win the competition, so he rides to Tralee to seek help there. The town desperately wants to beat Tralah, but they decide helping the cows is more important. They give the strange man help, but do not have enough time to paint the town. The people of Tralee give up and decide to wait until next year. The next morning, the people awake to find that Tralee has turned completely green! They win the competition, but no one can find the strange man. Instead of trying to beat Tralah again next year, Tralee decides to celebrate and appreciate their special win on St. Patrick’s Day annually.

Activity: This book could be used to introduce St. Patrick’s Day themes if conducting a lesson or unit around the holiday. The students could also be asked to think of their own way to celebrate the holiday, and think up their own ways they would have decorated their town.

Reviewers name: Zack Zajaczkowski

A Sick Day for Amos McGee

Title: A Sick Day For Amos McGee

Author: Philip C. Stead

Illustrator: Erin E. Stead

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

http://us.macmillan.com/RoaringBrook.aspx

Publication Date: 2010

Genre: Picture Book

Audience: Gr. PreK-2

Awards: The Caldecott Medal

Overview: Amos McGee wakes up every morning and goes to visit his friends at the local zoo. He plays chess with the elephant, races the tortoise, sits with the shy penguin, wipes the rhino’s nose, and reads to the owl. When Amos wakes up sick one day, his friends at the zoo wait for him, but he never comes. They then decide to take a trip to Amos’s house to take care of him like he takes care of them. They all make Amos feel better by playing and reading and helping Amos get better.

Activity: This story would work well with a lesson where the students are asked how they would help a sick friend or relate the story to a time they were sick. They could also be asked to predict what would happen if Amos was still sick, or if one of the animals was feeling under the weather the next day.

Reviewer’s Name: Zack Zajaczkowski

The Hello, Goodbye Window

Title: The Hello, Goodbye Window

Author: Norton Juster

Illustrator: Chris Raschka

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children http://www.jacketflap.com/disney-publishing-hyperion-books-for-children-publisher-3190

Publication Date: 2005

Genre: Picture Book,

Audience: Gr. PreK - 2

Overview: This book is about a young girl who goes to visit her grandparents. Her grandparents has have this large window in the front of their house that the little girls called the hello, goodbye window. You can see everything out of this window but mostly you can wave to Nana and Poppy from the outside to either say hello or say goodbye. This little girls spends all day with her grandparents and waves to everyone she see outside of the window.

Activity: An activity you could do with this book could be ask the students, how do you say hello and goodbye to your family? Ask them to draw a picture and them have them share with the class what they has drawn.

Reviewer’s Name: Paige Martin

I Love the Night

Title: I Love The Night

Author: Dar Hosta

Illustrator: Dar Hosta

Publisher: Brown Dog Books http://www.browndogbooksandgifts.com/

Publication Date: 2003

Genre: Picture Book & Science & Nature

Audience: Gr. K-3

Awards: 2004 Teacher's Choice Award, 2004 Borders Original Voices Selection

Overview: This book is a beautiful picture book that describes different animals and bugs that are nocturnal and are awake when we are sleeping. These animals love the night. It includes grasshoppers, fireflies, octopus, tree frogs, bats and many more.

Activity: This book could be a perfect introduction to a science lesson on nocturnal animals. I love the pictures in this book and it looks like the illustrator cuts paper and layers it on top of each other. The children could do an art project using the words of the book but not the pictures.

Reviewer's Name: Gina DeBartolome

Shark vs. Train

Title: Shark vs. Train

Author: Chris Barton

Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld

Publisher: LB-Kids (part of the Hachette Book Group)

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/kids_index.aspx

Publication Date: 2010

Genre: Picture Book

Audience: Gr. PreK-2

Overview: The favorite toys of two competitive brothers, a Shark and a Train, compete with each other in a wide variety of contests, to see who exactly is the better toy. There are contests where one has a definite favorite, like when they go swimming in the ocean or give rides at a carnival, and then there are times when no one seems to have an advantage or gain anything from competition, like when they play hide and seek or sword-fight on a tightrope. Eventually, the brothers are called away for dinner, and the rival shark and train decide to settle things later.

Activity: The various events that the shark and train engage in would make it easy for students to envision their own competitions between the shark and train, or their own favorite toys. There is also a lesson to be taught from Shark vs. Train, in that the conflict between Shark and Train makes them both look rather silly throughout. The lesson could be taught revolving around the idea that conflict and competition is not always the best way to solve problems with others.

Reviewer’s Name: Zack Zajaczkowski

New York's Bravest

Title: New York’s Bravest

Author: Mary Pope Osborne

Illustrator: Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher

Publisher: Knoph Publishers http://knopf.knopfdoubleday.com/

Publication Date: 2002

Genre: Folk Tale, Picture Book

Audience: Gr. 3 – 5

Overview: New York’s Bravest is a little know American Tall Tale about a New York firefighter from the 1840s named Mose Humphrey. Over the years, legends about Mose’s strength grew out of proportion and this book tells a tale about a heroic firefighter who was eight feet tale and was able to swim the Hudson in two strokes. Mose was afraid of no fire. He led his team of firefights to any and every fire. One day Mose and his team went to put out the fire, and once the fire was out, Mose was gone. Mose never return, but many say he is always there. Mose Humphrey is the spirit of New York City.

Activity: This book could be paired with a lesson about tall tales inspired by real people. For example, Johnny Appleseed. You could have he children create a class tall tale that is collaboratively written.

Reviewer’s Name: Paige Martin

Thump, Quack, Moo: A whacky adventure

Title: Thump, Quack, Moo: A whacky adventure

Author: Doreen Cronin

Illustrator: Betsy Lewin

Publisher: Scholastic

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/home.jsp

Publication Date: 2008

Genre: Picture Book

Audience: Gr. PreK-2

Overview: Farmer Brown rallies his farm animals to prepare the farm for the annual Corn Maze Festival. The chickens build fences, the cows paint, the mice become meteorologists to check the weather, and Farmer Brown convinces Duck to help too. All of the animals and Farmer Brown work very hard to prepare a corn maze, except for Duck, who seems to be planning something of his own. When the preparations are complete, Farmer Brown and Duck fly in a hot air balloon to see their work from above. When the balloon gets into the sky, Farmer Brown sees what Duck has been planning. The corn maze is in the shape of a duck! Duck jumps out of the balloon wearing a parachute, very excited with his work, while Farmer Brown fumes above.

Activity: There is plenty of imagination present in this story, so it could be interesting to have the students add their own parts to this book by creating their own illustrations where additional farm animals put in work to help around the farm for the festival.

Reviewer’s Name: Zack Zajaczkowski

Chicken Sunday

Title: Chicken Sunday

Author: Patricia Polacco

Illustrator: Patricia Polacco

Publisher: Philomel Books http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/publishers/yr/philomel.html

Publication Date: 1992

Genre: Picture Book, Multicultural

Audience: 3-5

Overview: "Chicken Sunday" is the name of every Sunday when Miss Eula Mae Walker makes a fried chicken dinner for her grandchildren. She is a well loved woman both by her grandchildren and community. She admires an Easter bonnet in the window of Mr. Kodinski's hat shop. The children decided that because they loved her so much and she did so much for them, they were going to save up money to buy her that bonnet. The children were on their way to talk to Mr. Kodinski when a group of older kids threw eggs at his shop window. Mr. Kodinski came out and saw Miss Eula's grandchildren standing there. Although they plead that they didn't do it, he called up their grandmother and told her what happened. Miss Eula told her grandchildren that she believed them but they had to prove to Mr. Kodinski that they were good kids. They decided to dye easter eggs called, "Pysanky eggs", a russian intricate design for easter eggs. They brought him a whole basket and he was delighted. They started selling them in his store and at the end of the day they had enough money to buy the hat. Mr. Kodinski let the kids take the easter bonnet for free. They gave it to their grandmother as a thank you for all the things she taught them.

Activity: One fun activity would be to have the kids dye easter eggs. Another would be to have them write about a time they did something good for someone other than themselves.

Reviewer's Name: Gina DeBartolome

Ben's Trumpet

Title: Ben's Trumpet

Author: Rachel Isadora

Publisher: Greenwillow Books- New York

www.harpercollins.com

Publication Date: 1979

Genre: Multicultural

Audience: All

Awards: Caldecott Honor Book

Overview: This is a story of a young boy growing up in the 1920's who aspires to be a jazz musician. Ben walks around his town playing only imaginary instruments and occasionally gets made fun of for. One day he was walking outside of a night club and a musician spots him and immediately recognizes his ambition. He offers to help Ben and teach him how to play the trumpet. This is a heart warming story that shows that ones dedication can and will pay off if you believe.

Activity: This book could be used as a writing prompt where the students write about something that they are ambitious about. It could also be used as a supplement of a history lesson, one that talks about the way of life in the 1920's. Another idea could be to use it as a read aloud before a music class to get the students excited about learning new instruments.

Reviewer's Name: Kalli Parrish

Dex the Heart of a Hero

Title: Dex the Heart of a Hero
Author: Caralyn Buehner
Illustrator: Mark Buehner
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
http://www.harpercollins.com/
Publication Date: 2004
Genre: Picture Book, Animals
Audience: K-3rd
Overview: Dexter is a little dog that is made fun of and overlooked by both cats and dogs. His biggest dream is to become a super hero. He realizes that his dream can come true after much training and hard work. Dexter gains respect in his community by helping anyone who is in need, and even helps a tomcat Cleever (who is not very nice to Dexter) who is stuck in a tree. After Dexter heroically saves him, the whole community, and even Cleever, realize how great of a hero Dexter really is.
Activity: This would be a good book to read before introducing a fun project to younger children. Each student can invent their very own superhero along with a short story. They could draw their superhero helping out their own community. Another idea is discussing and honoring the heros in their own community, people who do helpful things for others everyday.
Reviewer's Name: Rachel Bartee

Grandfather's Dream

Title: Grandfather's Dream
Author: Holly Keller
Publisher: Greenwillow Books Publishing
http://www.harpercollins.com/imprints/index.aspx?imprintid=517996
Publication Date: 1994
Genre: Picture Book, Realistic Fiction
Audience: K - 4th grade
Overview: After the Vietnam War, the cranes that inhabited Nam's village have disappeared. It is Nam's Grandfather's dream that the cranes will come back. The only way the cranes would come back now is if the dikes that are built in the river work, the rains come and flood the banks, and vegetation will grow. After several months, everyone is growing impatient and some think that the lands should be used for growing more rice than for inhabiting cranes. Nam and his grandfather never lose hope, and they awake one morning to hundreds of cranes flying over their village.
Activity: This story is about never giving up on a community and it's future. This book could be used to help children think of ways in which they can preserve the nature in their communities and set up habitats for the animals living in their area. This book also contains a lot of Vietnam culture. For younger students researching different countries, this book could provide a different insight.
Reviewer's Name: Rachel Bartee

I'm the Best

Title: I'm the Best
Author: Lucy Cousins
Publisher: Candlewick Press Publishing
http://www.candlewick.com/
Publication Date: 2010
Genre: Picture Book, Animals
Audience: PreK-2nd
Overview: This book contains several different animal characters. Dog has several friends (ladybug, mole, duck, and donkey). He convinces all of his friends that he is the best at everything. His friends end up being very hurt by dog but eventually let dog know that sometimes they are better than him at some things. Dog gets very upset and apologizes to his friends for being so arrogant. The moral of the story is that everyone is the best at something, but no one is ultimately better than the other.
Activity: This would be a great book for younger children when teaching them to respect their friends and realize that everyone is good at something. I think it would be a great idea for each student to be paired up with another student in the classroom and create an art project based on what their partner is the best at. For example, "Lucy is the best at singing" and the student could draw a picture of Lucy singing. Just like the cover of the book.
Reviewer's Name: Rachel Bartee

There's a Wocket in My Pocket

Title: There's a Wocket in My Pocket

Author: Dr. Seuss

Publisher: Random House www.randomhouse.com

Publication Date: 1996

Genre: Picture Book

Audience: All

Overview: This is a short story about a little boy who talks about all of the strange creatures that he finds in his house. This is a rewrite of the original version that was published in 1974. The new version does not include some of the scarier creatures that were in the original.

Activity: Every line in this book is a rhyme. It could be used in a lesson where you are teaching the students how to rhyme or how to write rhyming poems. You could read this book aloud to the students and then have them write a short rhyming poem about some of the things that they could find at home or in a classroom. They could also draw a picture describing their poem and the creatures that they may have found. I think that all of these rhymes can really help the students to understand how to rhyme and can be a fun way of having them come up with some on their own.

Penguin

Title: Penguin
Author: Polly Dunbar
Publisher: Candlewick Press
http://www.candlewick.com/
Publication Date: 2007
Genre: Picture book, animals
Audience: preK - 2nd grade
Overview: Ben receives a penguin as a gift. All Ben wants the penguin to do is talk to him, but the penguin does not say a word. Frustrated and desperate, Ben tries everything to try to get the penguin to talk. He tries tickling the penguin, singing songs, dancing, poking the penguin, strapping penguin to a rocket, and even trying to feed penguin to a lion! The lion does not want to eat penguin but is annoyed with Ben for making so much noise and ends up eating him. The penguin then bites the lion on the nose so it will spit up Ben. The penguin showed that through it's actions it is a true friend, even though it does not talk.
Activity: I would use this book to discuss with my class how to respect animals. Even though they are very different and do not talk to us, we must respect them and treat them nicely. They can still be a valuable friend even though they cannot hold conversations. The children can have the opportunity to share what they do with their pets to have fun.
Reviewer's Name: Rachel Bartee

The Cat in the Hat

Title: The Cat in the Hat

Author: Dr. Seuss

Publisher: Random House www.randomhouse.com

Publication Date: March 12, 1957

Genre: Picture Book

Audience: All Ages

Overview: The Cat in the Hat is a famous children's book written by Dr. Seuss. It features a mischievous cat who wears a red and white striped hat and a bow tie. One one rainy day while Sally, her brother ( the narrator ), and their pet fish, were stuck inside on a rainy day, the cat walked right in their door and began wreaking havoc in their house. He brings along two friends thing one and thing two which only makes things worse. The children struggle with getting him out by the time their mom gets home from work.

Activity: This book shows a lot of conflict and suspense. It could be very useful in a lesson where you are trying to get the students to decipher the plot of the stories and the difference between the main conflict, the rising action, the climax and the falling action or resolution. After reviewing the difference between the parts of the plot, you could read the book aloud before asking them to complete a worksheet where they dissect the plot and label them as the conflict, rising action, climax and resolution. Depending of the level of the students you are working with you could just hold a short discussion and pick the different parts of he plot as a group to ensure that they are understanding the difference between each part. This can be a difficult concept but I feel that this book is helpful in teaching the different parts of the plot.

Reviewer's Name: Kalli Parrish

Pete & Pickles

Title: Pete & Pickles
Author: Berkeley Breathed
Illustrator: Berkeley Breathed
Publisher: Philomel Books
http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/1,,9780399250828,00.html
Publication Date: 2008
Genre:Fantasy
Audience: Gr. 2-4
Overview: "Pete was a perfectly predictable pig." He liked everything and everyday to be perfect. One night Pete decided to go to bed early because he hated thunderstorms, and that's just what was coming. As he dreamed of drowning he suddenly awoke and new something was wrong. A giant elephant picked Pete. Then at the door was a clown in search of an elephant, so the clown and the elephant left the pig's house. But when Pete was cleaning he found Dandelions in his room and he decided to take a walk to find where they came from. He found himself at a circus tent and the elephant was there too. Her name was Pickles, and Pickles was a very sad, locked up circus elephant. Pete unlocked her chain and the two sneaked away. Pickles followed Pete back to his house. She took over his bed, his clothes, his garden, and his bathtub. But as the days past, Pete became less predictable and more spontaneous. The two swam, imagined, ate ice cream, went sledding. But Pete became fed up with Pickles. He wanted his belongings in place, his days on schedule, and his life back to normal. So, he yelled at Pickles and told her to leave but she didn't. She stayed and tried to clean the house...but she flooded it. The firefighters came in and found the two and rescued them. The pig and the elephant slept for a long long time. When they woke up and enjoyed themselves together.
Activity: This book is great on creating diversity or friendship. Some people (or animals) can be so different to you, until you take the time to get to know them. A lesson could be about judgment of others and how in most cases we are wrong in our initial perception. With young kids, they could add pages to the book, or write a story with a similar scenario.
Reviewer's Name: Emily Trees

Tsunami!

Title: Tsunami!

Author: Kimiko Kajikawa

Illustrator: Ed Young

Publisher: Philomel Books

http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780399250064,00.html

Publication Date: 2009

Genre: Folktale

Audience: Gr. PreK-2/3

Overview: Ojiisan is the wealthiest man but lives in a very simple house in Japan. One day he chooses not to go to the rice harvest celebration because he senses that something is not right. As he looks down upon the beautifully decorated village and the people dancing, he feels the ground rumble. The people down below continue to celebrate but Ojiisan knows that it was an earthquake and something more is coming. He sees the tsunami coming and sees as the villagers run towards the ocean, unaware of its dangers. Ojiisan has to help, so he lights the fields on fire to get their attention. As the villagers come running to see the fire, they turn back to see that the tsunami is coming. They watch as the village is destroyed below them. Though all his money is gone, Ojiisan has saver 400 lives. The people build a temple in his honor.

Activity: This book would be a good lesson on what a tsunami is for the younger students. It explains the cultures in Japan and the lifestyles and history. It could also be used in explaining what a sacrifice is. Have the children write about how Ojiisan sacrificed for 400 people and why he did that. The illustrations in the book are great for art activities and imagination.

Reviewer's Name: Emily Trees

Planting a Rainbow

Author and Ilustrator: Lois Ehlert

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Publication Date: 1988

Genre: Science & Nature

Audience: Gr. Pre K-2

Overview: Planting a Rainbow makes an easy clasification of the different common plantas, blooms and flowers we can usually see in personal gardens, specially during spring time. It explains easily how it is the procedure to make the different species grow and it clasifies them by color and type.

Overview: This book coud be used as introduction to a lesson about the fauna and also could be easy for the kids to describa and paint their gardens or how they would like their gardens to be.

Reveiewer's Name: Luis Jar

The Day the Goose got Loose

Author: Reeve Lindbergh

Ilustrator: Steven Kellogg

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Publication Date: 1990

Genre : Picture Book

Audience: Gr. PreK-2

Overview: It is the story of the revolution caused in a farm when a goose got out of its place. It not only tells how this afected to the other animals and what did they do in that situation but also the feeling of the family and how it afected differently to the father, the mother and the kid.

Activity: It could be interesting to work with the kids in the difference between farm animals and wild animals and also which products of daily consume come from farm animals and how are they obtained.

Reviewer's Name: Luis Jar

Children's Clothing of the 1800s

Author: David Schimpky & Bobbie Kalman

Publisher: Crabtree Publishing Company

Publication Date: 1995

Genre: History

Audience: Gr. 3-5

Overview: The book not only explains what was the typical clothes for boyas and girls in the 1800s but also differenciates in common and fashion clothes and how were they made.

Activity: As the book teaches the children the different role that clothing had in society in the past and also how the adquisition of clothes was much more complicated than just buying them, it could be interesting to dicuss in class the importance that what they wear has to them and why. It could be also a good interaction to show them the different materials used to make the clothes, where do they come from, how and why

Reviewer's Name: Luis Jar