Speak

Bibliography
Anderson, Laurie Halse. 1999. SPEAK. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-0374371524

Plot Summary
The summer before Miranda's freshman year in high school she meets Andy at a party.  Miranda is raped by Andy and she calls 911 but is unable to speak of the incident so she hangs up on 911.  The cops arrive at the party and actually make some arrests.  Miranda is shunned for calling the cops and does not speak to anyone of the incident.  She looses her friends and becomes depressed and distant.  She meets a new girl named Heather who later ditches her for the popular group "The Marthas."  She later befriends her lab partner, David Petrakis, who encourages her to speak up.  Andy attacks her again in an old janitor closet which is her "safe place" at school and that's when the truth comes out about what happened at the party.  As the students realize the truth  they no longer treat Miranda as an outcast but as a hero instead.  
   
Critical Analysis
This novel is definitely for a young adult to high school reader.  The theme of Speak is finding one's voice.  This can also be viewed as speaking out against violence and abuse.  This is an issue way too many young women deal with in today's society.  The author did a great job in encouraging other to speak up if ever encountered with this problem.  The author uses text features like lists, subheadings, and spaces between paragraphs.  These features allow the reader to see what Miranda is really struggling with. 


Awards and Review Excerpts
Awards
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Top-10 Best Book For Young Adults
ALA Quick Pick for Young Adults
Edgar Allan Poe Award finalist
IRA Young Adult Choice
Junior Library Guild Selection
National Book Award Finalist

Reviews
Review in Kirkus Reviews
"The plot is gripping and the characters are powerfully drawn, but it is its raw and unvarnished look at the dynamics of the high school experiences that makes this a novel that will be hard for readers to forget."

Review in Horn Book
"An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, Speak will hold readers from first word to last."

Connections
1) Asking students to write about a moment that they felt like they could not "speak" of what was going on in their life. 
2) Brainstorm ideas of who they can speak to if they are ever encountered with a problem.
3) Students develop, plan, and name an organization or group that helps those in need.  Their organization may be for abused women or homeless veterans. 

Flora and Ulysses

BIBLIOGRAPHY

DiCamillo, K. (2013).  Flora And Ulysses. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN# 9780763660406.

 

PLOT SUMMARY

Flora got the surprise of a lifetime...and it all started with a vacuum cleaner that the neighbor Mrs. Tickham had received.  This super powerful vacuum cleaner sucks up everything in sight including a squirrel.  This squirrel gains super powers like the ability to learn to type and write poems.  Flora rescues the squirrel and names him Ulysses.  Flora is thrilled with her new friend but her mom is less than excited about this creature.  This could not have happened at a better time for Flora's parents got a divorce and  Flora missed her dad tremendously.  She had a special understanding with her dad and they shared a love for comic book series, The Illuminated Adventures of the Amazing Incandesto!  Flora felt lonely and unsure of her mother's love for her. Flora's mom does not think Flora is normal and when this squirrel comes into Flora's life mom's only mission is to get rid of the squirrel.
   

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The author used some interesting text features to capture the reader.  DiCamillo included some short comic strips in black and white to help the reader visualize the story.  The author also used very short chapters throughout the novel.  Another feature that the author included was the dark bold letters like in Flora's popular saying she adopted from her favorite comic series: "TERRIBLE THINGS CAN HAPPPEN."  

It was pretty obvious that her mom still suffered form the divorce but her way out was to write.  Her mom had a hard time sharing her feelings with Flora and often described her daughter as "cynic'".  It was sweet to see that her father missed her just as much as Flora missed her dad.  He cried at night as he slept on a friend's couch.  To see the love of a father and daughter in this story reminds me of my own daughter who loves her daddy dearly.  This story is a great comic with a crazy squirrel that saves everyone at the end.  The author did a great job combining love, hope, humor, and comedy to grab the reader's love for this story.

AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPTS  

Awards
WINNER Newbery Medal Winner 2014

Parents' Choice Awards Gold Award
Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2013

Reviews  

Newbery-winner DiCamillo is a master storyteller not just because she creates characters who dance off the pages and plots, whether epic or small, that never fail to engage and delight readers. Her biggest strength is exposing the truths that open and heal the human heart. She believes in possibilities and forgiveness and teaches her audience that the salt of life can be cut with the right measure of love.

                            ~Booklist
 

Original, touching and oh-so-funny tale starring an endearingly implausible superhero and a not-so-cynical girl.

                           ~Kirkus Reviews
 

Despite supremely quirky characters and dialogue worthy of an SAT prep class, there’s real emotion at the heart of this story involving two kids who have been failed by the most important people in their lives: their parents.
                            ~Publishers Weekly

CONNECTIONS

1)Talk about hero's and ask questions like: How are superhero's created? How does one identify a hero?  How do we find a hero? 
2)Have the class write a letter to their hero.

BABYMOUSE Queen of the World!

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Holm, Jennifer and Matthew Holm. 2005. BABYMOUSE – QUEEN OF THE WORLD! New York, NY: Random House. ISBN 0-375-93229-1
 

PLOT SUMMARY
Babymouse has an imagination like no other and dreams of being queen of the world.  Her one wish is to get an invitation to the popular Felicia Furrypaws' slumber party.  Babymouse will even go to the extreme of giving Felicia her book report in exchange to an invitation to her infamous slumber party.  The bad news is that the slumber party is on the same day she promised to go over to her friend Wilson the Weasel's house to watch a monster movie.  Babymouse chose to go the slumber party and had very high expectations as to what they would be doing at the party.  She wondered if they would skydive or go to the dinner theater.  Well, to her surprise the party was very boring and just too lame for this spunky mouse.   So she decided to leave the party and join her friend Wilson for a movie.  Babymouse realizes that she is lucky to have a good friend and that she is already queen of the world!

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
What a great graphic novel for children in grades 3rd-6th to read and learn the true meaning of friendship.  The author did a great job in implementing character traits like kindness, fairness, and friendship.  These are traits that students deal with on a daily basis.  The pictures are pretty simple but help the reader understand the story and the emotions.  The illustrator helped the reader understand when mouse was using her imagination by using pink and using black and white when the mouse was back to reality.  Struggling readers may find the pictures and text hard to read but girls may find the story true and right to the point. 


AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPTS 

Awards

WINNER 2006 Gryphon Award
WINNER 2006 ALA Notable Children's BookWINNER 2006 New York Book Show Awards
NOMINEE Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award

Reviews

"Move over, Superman, here comes Babymouse!"
                      ~The Chicago Sun-Times

 

"Cute, smart, sassy Babymouse is fun and funny, and this book, like its predecessors, will draw reluctant readers as well as Babymouse fans."
                     ~Booklist:
 

"Emergent readers will cheer 'Babymouse!'"
                     ~Kirkus Reviews
 

CONNECTIONS
1) Discuss Character traits such as Kindness, Fairness, Caring, Self-Respect, and Perseverance.  Ask the counselor to come in and do a lesson on one or each of the character traits.
2) Discuss unfamiliar words and have the students use context clues with in the text to define them.  Unfamiliar words:
sanitation (p.14)
jabbering (p.29)
suspicious (p.29)
treason (p.86)

3) Students can write their own comic strip. 

4) Read the following books from the Babymouse series and compare and contrast them using a double bubble map
         Babymouse: our hero ISBN: 978-0-375-83230-7
         Babymouse: beachbabe ISBN: 978-0-375-83231-4
         Babymouse: rock star ISBN: 978-0-375-93232-8
5) Students can visit the official Babymouse website to learn more about the authors, characters, or play games:
http://www.randomhousekids.m/brand/babymouse-squish/

ONE CRAZY SUMMER

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Williams-Garcia, Rita. 2010. ONE CRAZY SUMMER. New York, NY: Harper Collins Children’s Books. ISBN: 9780060760885

PLOT SUMMARY
Three sisters by the names of  Delphine (11), Vonetta (9), and Fern (7) were abandoned by their uncaring mother 7 years ago.  They now live with their grandmother and father in Brooklyn, New  York. The girls' father sends the girls to Oakland, California to spend the summer with their mother.  It is obvious that their mother does not want them there for she is too busy to care for them.  She sends them to the Center which is ran by the Black Panther Party.  They spend most of their day there and learn the positives of the Black Panther party.  In the mist of all of this the Bobby Hutton a member of the Black Panthers got shot and killed by the police.  The Panthers plan a rally to free founder, Huey Newton from prison and the girls are told they will be participating in it.  One evening after an outing to San Francisco the girls return home only to find that their mother is being arrested along with two other Panther members.  Cecile, the girl's mother, tell the police that she has no children in hopes to save her daughters from being taken away.  The girls stay with one of their mother's friend during the time Cecile is in jail.  During the rally the girls take part in the a talent show that is a part of the rally.  They recite one of their mother's poem that they found in the kitchen while cleaning one day.  While up in the microphone Fern takes the initiative to announce that she saw a  Panther member being too friendly with the police.  While at the rally Cecile is released from jail and reunited with the girls.  Cecile opens up to Delphine about why she left them and how she lost her own mother at the age of 11.  Although Delphine is too young to understand, Cecile goes on to explain her many struggles in life.  The next day the girls leave back home but, not before the get a hug from their mom that they have longed for so long.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Williams-Garcia was right on point on telling us what the African American's life was like in the 60's.  A time when the Black Panther party was a huge part for African American rights.  This was a time when Muhammad Ali, Malcolm  X, Martin Luther King Jr, and Huey Newton which was the founder of the Black Panther party were at their prime.  I enjoyed seeing these great leaders being a part of the story and giving the readers an insight as to how it was to grow up in this time.  I felt like I was experiencing it right along with the characters.  Great story to read in middle school or after studying about African American rights.  Williams-Garcia did a great job in introducing the characters to the reader.  Delphine, is a strong and caring person.  Her ultimate goal is to look after her younger sisters.  She is so loving and caring and you see that throughout the text.  I can't wait to read the sequels to this story. 

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS
Awards
Coretta Scott King Book Award Winner

Scott O’Dell Historical Fiction Award Winner

School Library Journal Best Books of the Year

Newbery Medal Honor Book

Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children’s Literature Honor Book

National Book Award Finalist

Parents’ Choice Award Gold Fiction

Audie Award Finalist '

Excerpts

The story is tightly centered around the three sisters. In spare, poetic prose Williams-Garcia layers nuanced descriptions and brief, evocative scenes to create three utterly distinctive characters — Fern, the youngest, looking out a bus window and singing to herself; the usually brazen Vonetta freezing up with stage fright at a rally; and the stoic Delphine remembering her mother before she left them. “Papa didn’t keep any pictures of Cecile, but I had a sense of her. Fuzzy flashes of her always came and went.”
                                                    --New York Times
                                                        

Author Rita Williams-Garcia has a fine ear for the squabbles and fierce loyalties of siblings and a keen eye for kid-centered period details, including collect phone calls, go-go boots and the TV dolphin Flipper. With authenticity and humor, she portrays the ever-shifting dynamics among ultra-responsible Delphine, show-off Vonetta and stubborn Fern.
                                                    --Washington Post

 

Set during a pivotal moment in African American history, this vibrant novel shows the subtle ways that political movements affect personal lives; but just as memorable is the finely drawn, universal story of children reclaiming a reluctant parent’s love.
                                                    --Booklist

CONNECTIONS

1) Make a crazy summer bucket list and produce a video of the places you would visit. 

2) Have students chose one of the following writing prompts about a crazy summer and them have them share with the class. 
Prompts:
-Finish this statement: If I had a choice to spend  my summer where ever I wanted, I would choose...
-Where and when did you discover that your summer was actually a pretty crazy summer?
-If you could of  spent your summer with a different person/people would it still have been a crazy one? Why or why not?

3) Divide your class into 3 groups.  Have each group be responsible for reading one of three books from The Gaither Girls Series and have them create video using Animoto that includes the setting, characters, plot, theme.
Books from the series includes:

Williams-Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer (book 1). ISBN: 9780060760885

Williams-Garcia, Rita. P.S Be Eleven (book 2). ISBN: 9780061938641

Williams-Garcia, Rita. Gone Crazy in Alabama (book 3). ISBN: 9780062215871

PAPERBOY

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Vawter, Vince.  2013. Paperboy. New York: Random House. ISBN:9780385742443.

PLOT SUMMARY
Little Man, an 11-year-old boy living in Memphis in 1959 takes over his best friend's paper route for the month of  July.  Little  Man's Friend, Rat leaves for the summer to visit his grandparents. Little Man knew that throwing the newspaper would be the easy part since he had a mean fast ball pitch.  The hard part was speaking with his clients every Friday to collect what they owed.  You see the problem is that Little Man has a severe stuttering problem that enabled him to pronounce his own name or his best friend's name. He had a hard time pronouncing many sounds including the f, p, and b sounds.  Through his new endeavor he meets interesting people like a housewife that drank too much and a retired merchant marine, Mr. Spiro, who knows just about everything there is to know.  Little Man has a family housekeeper, Mam, that has worked with him in improving his speech throughout the years.  She has encouraged his writing which he writes by using a typewriter. She is also someone that he can trust and has become his best friend.  The neighborhood has a junkman by the name of Ara T, which is both a bully and  a thief.  Little Man asked Ara T to sharpen his knife so he could use it for cutting the cords on the paper stacks.  When Ara does not return Little Man's knife trouble begins in the life of Little Man.  Little Man experiences from his paper route change him.  His experiences such as fighting, hate, bullying, and even having feelings for a woman change him in  that he learns that others have their own problems they are dealing with. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The author did a great job in presenting a realistic plot of the story.  For instance the reader could literally be a part of the story because of the kid friendly text.  The setting was presented by the  author in a very descriptive manner.  You could almost feel, smell, hear Ara T with the figurative language that the author used.  The author did a great job presenting the experiences Little Man experienced.  The experiences were so vivid and surreal giving the reader an opportunity to almost experience what was going on in the 1950's as an 11 year old.  This story made me make many connections to my lift today.  I have recently worked with a student with a severe stuttering problem in 4th grade.  Myself along with the speech teacher we would give him strategies to help him pronounce specific sounds. The only difference with my student and Little Man is that my student loves to talk  and is as confident as can be when communicating with others.  I really enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend it to older reader because of some the words and details the author gave about drinking.

AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPTS
Awards
• A Newbery Honor  Award Winner
• An ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Book
• An IRA Children’s and Young Adults’ Choice
• An IRA Teachers’ Choice
• A Junior Library Guild Selection
• A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year
• A National Parenting Publications Award Honor Book
• A BookPage Best Children’s Book
• An ABC New Voices Pick
• An ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Recording
* An ALA-YALSA Amazing Audiobook
* Amazon Best Books of the Year 2013: Ages 9-12

Reviews
An engaging and heartfelt presentation that never whitewashes the difficult time and situation as Little Man comes of age. Ages 10-14.
                                              --Kirkus Reviews

Starred Review. The well-crafted characters, the hot Southern summer, and the coming-of-age events are reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird… This paper boy is a fighter and his hope fortifies and satisfies in equal measure.
                                            --Booklist

The deliberate pacing and unique narration make Paperboy a memorable coming-of-age novel.
                                            --School Library Journal
CONNECTIONS
1) Group the students in groups  of 3-4 and have them make a book trailer for the book.  Invite the Instructional Technologist from your district to come in your classroom and explain how to make a book trailer. 
2) Discuss the word courage and have your students make a poster explaining what courage is only by only using visuals.
3) Divide the class into groups and have them write a Readers Theater script to share in class

THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 1995. The Midwife's Apprentice. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0395692296
PLOT SUMMARY
Beetle, is a young girl that lived in the 14th century in a small village in England.  She is a 12 or 13 year old homeless girl that has been abused and neglected for as long as she can remember.  She had moved from village to village in search for a sense of belonging.  She meets Jane, a midwife, whom takes her in as an apprentice to help our during deliveries.  Beetle learns a lot from Jane and even grows confidence and respect from others.  She goes on to name herself Alyce. She is given the opportunity to deliver a baby for June and is successful.  Anther opportunity arrives but this time Alyce is unsuccessful and feels horrified and decides to run away.  She arrives and an inn and begins to work there.  While there she meets a writer named Magister Reese who teachers her how to read.  While at the inn the opportunity to deliver a baby arises and Alyce decides that what she really wants is to be a midwife.  At that point she decides to return to her previous village and see if Jane takes her back as her apprentice. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The author helps the reader live in the  moment with the descriptive words.  She uses such vocabulary as "unwashed, unnourished, unlived, and unlovely body". It sounds so Medieval to me that I can feel, smell, and see what it was like to live in that time.  The setting is vivid throughout the story and the characters are entertaining.  Will Russet was a homeless boy who Alyce rescues from drowning.  He would bully her  when he was with his friends.  Later in the story she has another encounter with Alyce and this time he's respectful and polite to her.  He also changed in the story for like Allyce and become better people to others regardless of their unfortunate circumstances.  Over time Alyce change tremendously in that she grew from a young girl without a name and who knew nothing as to what she wanted to do to a young girl that wanted to be a midwife apprentice.  This story teaches us that when we fail at something the best thing to do is try and try again until we achieve what we want.  Alyce struggled a lot and achieved much with the help of mentors and loving, helpful people. 
 

AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPTS 

Awards
Newbery Medal
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Notable Book for Children
Booklist Editors' Choice
Horn Book Fanfare Selection
School Library Journal, Best Books of the Year
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
Hungry Mind Review Book of Distinction
Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts
Not Just For Children Anymore! Selection (CBC)
Parenting Magazine Reading Magic Awards
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Readers Choice Award Short List
Parents' Choice Gold Award
American Bookseller "Pick of the Lists"
New York Public Library, 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
ABC Children's Booksellers Choice Award 

Reviews

"A truly delightful introduction to a world seldom seen in children's literature."

                                             --School Library Journal

“From the rebirth in the dung heap to Brat's renaming herself Alyce after a heady visit to a medieval fair, this is not for fans of historical drama only. It's a rouser for all times.”

                                             --Kirkus Review

“Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone.”
                                            --Booklist

CONNECTIONS

1) Take a field trip to Medieval Times in Dallas, TX
2) Have the students make a flip book with two flaps and on one flap have them write Present and on the other flap they can write Medieval Times.  Have them research life in the Medieval times and they can write similarities and differences for both times under the designated flap. 
3) Students can write and perform in a Readers Theater for The Midwife's Apprentice.  

 

QUEST FOR THE TREE KANGAROO

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Montgomery, Sy.  2006.  Quest for the Tree Kangaroo.  New York: Houghton Mifflin.  ISBN: 0618496416.

PLOT SUMMARY
Montgomery teams up with Bishop and a team of scientists along with some locals from New Guinea and go in search of the amazing Matschie's tree kangaroo.  She describes the trip in great detail as she shares with the reader the exact items packed for the trip.  She goes on to tell about the plane ride, the language, and the school visit, and the hike into the cloud forest.  Once they arrive to New Guinea she describes the search of the tree kangaroo and how they insert a microchip and put a radio collar on it to track it.  Her team documents everything from the camp sites to the people and plants they encounter. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Bishop included beautiful photographs to help the reader better understand the tree kangaroo.  The information is very detailed and well organized making it easy to follow their trip.  This is a great book loaded with information that can be enjoyed by both young and old.  The author included advice for kids on following their passion with wildlife conservation. 

AWARDS AND REVIEW EXERPTS
Awards
2006 American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Henry Bergh Children's Book Award
John Burroughs Young Reader Award
A Green Earth Honor Book from the Newton Marasco Foundation
A 2006 SIBERT HONOR BOOK
Orbis Pictus Award for nonfiction from the National Council of Teachers of English!
2007 Julia Ward Howe Finalist Award from the Boston Authors Club
Henry Bergh Children's Book Award
Named one of the TOP TEN books of the year for children by The Washington Post
A Booklist Editor's Choice for 2006
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year 2006
A National Science Teachers Association Council on Children's Books Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12 Selection
A NSTA/CBC Selector's Choice
A Junior Library Guild Selection

Reviews
“Bishop’s photography is stunning portraiture… the tree kangaroo is marketably adorable…
… There’s plenty of evocative description of their habitat, thoughtful exploration of the role the locals play in conserving the animals, and revealing information about the rigors of this kind of scientific project… Personal focus and as-it-happens eventfulness will absorb young animal lovers.”
                                      --The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Montgomery gives an unusually strong, visceral sense of the work and cooperation fieldwork entails and the scope and uniqueness of this particular mission. She also communicates the thrill of studying animals in the wild, making observations, and discovering new information. As usual, Bishop’s color photographs are exemplary and extend the excitement in close-ups of creatures and of the team at work.”                        --Booklist

CONNECTIONS
1) Come up with a presentation to present to Bank of America to persuade them to  fund your animal conservation project.  Set up  your own team of researchers, scientists, and photographers to study an endangered species of your choice.  Include the materials you need and explain your day to day plan for your trip and the funds needed.  Get creative and get funded!!!
2) In your group of 4-5 kids research the Kangaroo Family: red kangaroos, grey kangaroos, tree kangaroo, and the Wallaroo.  Your team will explain the differences and similarities in the kangaroo family.  Include habitats, diet, characteristics, and important facts.
3) Write a children's book about any type of kangaroo in the kangaroo family to share with a Kindergarten student during buddy time.   Include 4-5 important facts and illustrations/photographs in your book. 

BIGGEST, STRONGEST, FASTEST

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jenkins, Steve.  1995. Biggest, Strongest, Fastest.  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  ISBN: 0395697018

 

PLOT SUMMARY

Animals can be record holders just like people.  Jenkins tells about fourteen animals that hold a record for being the biggest and smallest, fastest and slowest, strongest and longest animals. The strongest animal is an ant which can amazingly carry a load five times its own weight.  The smallest mammal is the Etruscan shrew which can surprisingly fit in a teaspoon.  The cheetah is by far the fastest animal which can reach a speedy 60 miles an hour.  The land snail is the slowest animal with a whooping speed of 8 inches in a minute.  The author includes interesting facts about each animal in a chart at the end of the book.  The chart includes facts like the animals name,  record, size, diet, and range. 

 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Jenkins did a great job comparing the animals to actual everyday items that the children can relate to.  He compared the Etruson shrew, the smallest animal, to an adults hand to show its size and  to a ping pong ball to compare the shrew's weight to.   He included a great visual to show how an ant can carry five times its own weight and a strong human can carry something that equals its own weight.  The pictures where great to look at and the color contrasts are very catchy.  The animals are in bright colors that stand out and the back ground is in lighter colors.  For example the largest kind of spider is black with a yellow background which is very enlightening to the eye. Great book with great information/facts for young children

 

AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPTS

Awards

-The Children's Literature Choice List, 1996 Children's Literature; United States
-Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 1995
-American Library Association-Booklist Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children, 1996 National Science Teachers Association
-Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002 California Department of Education
-1998 Washington Childrens' Choice Picture Book Award
Reviews
Large, clear print; fascinating facts; and beautiful, detailed, cut-paper collages make this excellent title a delight. Silhouette drawings show comparative sizes — the blue whale is shown next to an adult human. The realistic, inventive, textured illustrations, mostly double spreads, flow smoothly from page to page. An all-round superlative effort.  --School Library Journal
 

"Here's proof that power isn't just about size and that science can be a lot of fun." --Booklist

 

CONNECTIONS

1) Read Highest, Coldest, Highest, Deepest also by Steve Jenkins and  come up with antonyms and synonyms for the words cold, high, deep, high, big, strong, and fast. 

2) Have the students sort pictures of different animals as either big, strong, or fast.

3) Ask the following comprehension questions:

Why is this a good title for the books?

How does the information fit what you already know?

How are the text features used to convey the information?

 

 

 

WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE?

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kerley, Barbara. 2008. What To Do About Alice?.  Scholastic Press.  ISBN: 0439922313.

PLOT SUMMARY
Theodore Roosevelt had a small problem and her name was Alice Lee Roosevelt.  She was his eldest daughter that just wanted to explore the world, meet new people, and just let loose.  He called her behavior "running riot" but, to her it was simply "eating up the world."  She knew how to turn every experience into an adventure.  She traveled, she gambled, she danced, and she drove a fast car all in which she did with much confidence.  She didn't let much bother her and she triumphed in each and every obstacle in life for she did not want people saying "the poor little thing."  She went on to marry Nicholas Longworth and became interested in politics.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book is organized very nicely for young readers. The design is inviting and interesting.  The pictures are witty and vibrant just like Alice.  The reader will get a true understanding of Alice through the illustrations and the vivid writing.  This is a great biography with wonderful quotes like "running riot," "eating up the  world," "the poor little thing," and "let me loose in your library."   These quotes allows the reader to get a true meaning of the people in  the story. Great book for kids to make connections with and to relate to in a way that it is ok to be different. 

AWARDS & REVIEW EXERPTS
Awards
Sibert Honor Book
Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book
Irma Black Award Honor Book
Parents Choice Award
Washington State Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award
California Collections
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
An ALA Notable Book
Capitol Choices
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
Nominated for Young Reader awards in Texas, Illinois, Utah and Tennessee

Reviews
"Kerley's text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject's antics, as the girl greets White House visitors accompanied by her pet snake, refuses to let leg braces cramp  her style, dives fully clothed into a ship's swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her father's trusted advisers.... Fascinating."   --School Library

"Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was....  Kerley's text has the same rambunctious spirit as its subject, grabbing readers from the first line....  The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for spectacular art."
                                            --Booklist

"It's hard to imagine a picture book biography that could better suit its subject than this high-energy volume serves young Alice Roosevelt."       
                                             --Publishers Weekly

CONNECTIONS
1) Have groups of students read about other presidents' children and have them compare the children.  Make a graph to show similarities and differences in all children.
2) Have the students define "eating up the world."  Then have the students come up with different ideas of what they would do to "eat up the world."  They can share their ideas via a PowerPoint presentation, Prezi, Animoto, or any other form using technology. 
3) Have the students write a biography about an interesting family member and have them title it What to do about ____? They must write about that person's personality, interests, special qualities, accomplishments, desires, mischiefs,  and hobbies.  Edit the book before publishing it and sending it to the person they wrote about. 

UNDER THE MESQUITE

BIBLIOGRAPHY
McCall, Guadalupe Garcia.  2011.  Under the Mesquite.  Lee & Low Books Inc. ISBN: 9781600604294

PLOT SUMMARY
Lupita comes from a large Mexican American immigrant family that lives in Eagle Pass, Texas.  She is happy with her life and loves her family dearly.  She's enjoys acting and writing. She learns that her mother has cancer and is sadden by the possibility of losing her dear mother. Her mother is the "glue" that holds the family together but Lupita takes on the motherly responsibilities in order to help save her mother's life. Her mother is later cared for in an out of town clinic and Lupita gladly accepts the challenges in order to move her family forward. She quickly realizes that it is a struggle to keep up with her studies, house chores, and her siblings.  She finds comfort in the company of a mesquite tree where she writes her thoughts.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The author used vocabulary that made it easy to comprehend and enjoy the story.  She included a glossary to define the Spanish words used in the text.  I really connected with this book in more than one way. I can relate to Lupita in that I am also Mexican American, a first generation college grad, and my own mother makes tortillas.  I can still see my "mami" making tortillas every time I came home from college.  The smell, taste, and feel of those tortillas came back to me.  Lupita is like the mesquite tree in that although she's had losses and struggles she still finds the strength to jump back and grow from what is left.

AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPTS
2012 Pura Belpre Award
2012 William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist
2013 Tomas Rivera Children's Book Award

"A promising, deeply felt debut." --Kirkus Reviews

“This stunning debut novel in verse chronicles the teenage years of Lupita, a character drawn largely from the author s own childhood...The simplicity of the story line belies the deep richness of McCall’s writing.”   --School Library Journal  

“Told in verse sprinkled with Spanish terms (a glossary is included), this story of Lupita s high-school years details her increasing responsibility within her large Mexican American family after Mami is diagnosed with cancer.”  --Booklist

CONNECTIONS
1) Have students use poetry to tell about their own lives.  Use a QR code to link to the student's poem at Open House.
2) Have students keep a journal. 
Writing stems to promote writing:
Have you had any experiences that has changed you?
What do you do to overcome difficult situations?
If  you had to pick something to represent you, what would it be? Why?
3) Research and Discuss the Mexican-American culture, music, art, and foods.     

 

 

 

 

 

 

FACE BUG

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lewis, J. Patrick.  2013.  Face Bug.  Pennsylvania: Wordsong.  ISBN: 9781590789254.

PLOT SUMMARY
Are you ready for the grand opening of the Face Bug  Museum?  Ready or not...author J. Patrick Lewis is ready to introduce 14 intriguing bugs through some pretty funny poems.  He takes you through a grand tour of bugs by using some pretty close-up photographs of a Hickory Horned Devil, Eastern Carpenter Bee, Nursery Web Spider, Pearl Crescent Butterfly, American Horse Fly, and many more.  The author includes some helpful text features: On Exhibit page tells what page to find each bug.  The photographs along with fun illustrations helps the reader capture a true meaning of each bug.  The author also includes a section titled And Now A Word From Our Bugs that gives additional information like where they live, what they eat, how they grow, and what eats me. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The author uses rhyming text and humor to catch the readers interest.  The catchy rhyming words in the following piece is fun and enjoyable to read.  The author uses text that allows the reader to create mental images of what this bug had, feels, and smells like.  

P.U.! I found an insect
Who has uncommon scents.
Hello there, Mrs. Stinkbug,
My nose is your defense.

It was not my favorite poetry book.  I think older kids will enjoy this information more so than an early elementary student. 

AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPTS
2014-15 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List
2014 National Council of Teachers of English Notable Poetry List
Bank Street College of Education's Best Book of the Year (Poetry Category)

"There will be many returns to the Face Bug Museum as this book has so much to offer. Wonderfully conceived and executed."--School Library Journal

"Bugs get a close-up in this new book of poetry that shows off their thousands of eyes, bucktooth incisors, prickly exteriors and more. Frederic B. Siskind's wonderfully creepy full-color photographs and Kelly Murphy's cartoony black-and-white illustrations are abuzz with activity alongside J. Patrick Lewis's witty verses about insects and spiders. Some bugs are cleverly camouflaged, while others flaunt their colors, but they all have something worth celebrating, even the slimy-seeming Eastern Dobsonfly. . . " -- The Washington Post

CONNECTIONS
1) The students can write their own bug poems.
2) Make a bug using recyclable household items and write a descriptive paragraph about your bug.
3) Research a bug from the book.  Find the following information about your bug: habitat, what does it eat, predators, bug measurements, characteristics, and survival skills. 
4) Take a nature walk and have the students collect bugs.  Once in the classroom the students can observe them using magnifying glasses. 

THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Applegate, Katherine. 2012. The One and Only Ivan. New York: HarperCollins.  ISBN: 9780061992254.

 

PLOT SUMMARY

Ivan, a sweet and gentle gorilla, lives at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade off of I-95.  People from near and far come and enjoy shows at two, four, and seven.  Ivan is accompanied by several faithful friends including Stella, an elderly elephant and Bob, a stray dog.  Ivan enjoys drawing and his owner Mack sells the paintings for $20 a piece or $25 with a frame.  Ruby, a baby elephant, joins the gang when Mack buys her for a cheap price from a bankrupt circus.  Stella and Ruby connect immediately and Stella takes Ruby under her wing as her own.  Stella loses her battle to age and an infected foot. Some of her last words to Ivan are asking him to promise her that he will take care of Ruby and that she is taken to a safe place.  Julia, a young girl that comes out to the mall at night with her dad enjoys to sit near Ivan's domain.  While her dad cleans the mall she does her homework, reads, draws, or visits with the animals.  She brings hope to this promise that Ivan has made to Stella when she gives Ivan finger paint.  Ivan works long and hard on a project in effort to make Stella's promise come true. He gives the papers to Julia whom after some great frustration finally puts the puzzle pieces together. The project gathers much attention when she and her dad place it on the billboard and it spells out HOME.  The news media and protesters help out greatly and the dream of leaving those four walls becomes a reality.  Ruby and Ivan are taken away in boxes and after some time Ivan sees Ruby and Bob at the zoo. 

 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Applegate did an amazing job grabbing the reader's attention by using humor, art, and friendship.  The friendship between Stella and Ivan is so loyal that Ivan does the impossible to keep his word and make the promise he made come true.  The author used excellent language to help create imagery of the story.  I could visualize the story so well that emotions of sadness, happiness, and determination were all experienced as I read this book.  One of the parts that really stood out to me was:

 

                                                               the promise

                                "I've never asked for a promise before, because promises

                                 are forever, and forever is an unusually long time. 

                                 Especially when you're in a cage."

 

This is so powerful to me in that promises are sometimes made and are not always kept.  But in reality that does that matter because that person did not belong in your life.  It's the person who does keep their promise and does what ever it takes to accomplish it.  They put aside all hardships and barriers to make it possible for the promise to come true.  Truly enjoyed everything about this book! 

 

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Newbery Award 2013

Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee

Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (Illinois)

 

“Important.” —The Horn Book

 

“Will capture readers’ hearts and never let go. A must have.” —School Library Journal (starred review)

 

“Exemplifies everything youngsters need to know about courage.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

 

CONNECTIONS

1) Have the students come up with synonyms and antonyms for the following words: courage, promise, patience, imagination, lucky, comfort, protector, perfect,  and respect 

2) Do a extension lesson on the Character Trait: RESPECT and make an anchor chart on how Respect Looks Like and Sounds Like

3) Have the students make a "Bill Board"/poster to persuade people to adopt animals from an animal shelter.  You can collect animal food donations to take to the animal shelter. 

4) Have the students write a letter to a "brave or courageous" person in their lives.  Have the students explain in their letter why they think that person is brave/courageous. 

The Three Pigs

Bibliography

Wiesner, David. 2001. The Three Pigs. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618007016

Summary

This classic story begins like the traditional Three Little Pigs, but when the wolf blows the house, he blows the pig right out of the colorful story page. The other two pigs also escape and they all ride on a paper airplane made from a page of the book to fairy tales where they are joined by the cat from "Hey, Diddle Diddle" and the dragon they rescue. As the pigs escape through the collection of stories, they finally end up back home and even the words and letters of the page are completely mixed up. Do not fear, though, the pigs live happily ever after at home with the dragon and the cat with its fiddle. The idea of Wiesner in creating this clever story and beautiful drawings will be loved by young and old alike. The pigs' expressive eyes and the ever changing details in the story provide a book which will be read again and again.

Critical Analysis

The Three Pigs is a story that I personally never get tires of hearing.  It is a story that all children know all too well but will eagerly listen to it over and over again.  The storyline portrays both good and bad characters but the story line takes a twist when the pigs escape the wolf.  Wiesner has the pages come alive and out of the story allowing the pigs to hide under the pages and even escape from the wolf on a paper airplane.  The author allows us to use our imagination with this modern updated approach.  The theme is no longer about work ethics and laziness instead the author allows the pigs to enter a new fairy tale.  The speech bubbles allow the reader to experience the pigs true feelings.  The blank pages gives the reader the opportunity to use their imagination as to where the pigs are going.  Nice story line, excellent pictures, and creative ending!  Remarkable undated version of The Three Pigs.

Review Excerpts and Awards
-The Horn Book Review - "Obviously there’s a lot going on here, but once you get your bearings, this is a fantastic journey told with a light touch."

-The New York Times - “Wiesner’s dialogue and illustrations are clever, whimsical and sophisticated.”

-School Library Journal - “Witty dialogue and physical comedy abound in this inspired retelling of a familiar favorite.”

Awards

Caldecott Medal 2002

Connections

-Read other versions of The Three Little Pigs and compare and contrast with Wiesner's

-Make puppets using popsicle sticks and have the students retell the story

-Have the students come up with a different and creative ending

-Have the students come up with rhyming words with the following words from the story: stick, pig, pot, straw

-Discuss character traits of the wolf, pig 1, pig2, and pig 3

-Read and discuss all three of Wiesner's Caldecott Medal winning books:

       The Three Pigs
       Flotsom ISBN 9780618194575
       Tuesday ISBN 9780395870822

The Ugly Duckling

Bibliography
Pinkney, Jerry. 1999. THE UGLY DUCKLING. New York. Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 068815932X

Summary
This is the story of a swan born into a family of ducks, who is cast out of the pond because the other animals believe such an "ugly duckling" doesn't belong with them. Wherever he goes, the ugly duckling encounters animals that shun him for the same reason. Upon encountering a group of elegant white birds, the ugly duckling aspires to one day be as beautiful as them. After a dreadfully cold and lonely winter, the ugly duckling sees his reflection in the water and realizes that he wasn't a duck after all - he has grown to be the most beautiful swan in the pond.

Critical Analysis
The choice of words and the excellent water color drawing help the readers visualize the surroundings where duck had the sixth egg which does look like the others.  The ugly duckling goes through many situations which children may be able to relate to.  Children may share the feelings of prejudice toward the one who looks differently.  As the illustrations aid the viewer is seeing the transformation of the ugly duckling into a beautiful swan, the readers understand the difficulties and tribulations that one must go through before their time of glory. 

Review Excerpts and Awards
Kirkus Reviews - "Outstanding illustrations and some new characters make Pinkney’s retelling of a familiar tale memorable."

Publishers Weekly - Pinkney's (Rikki-Tikki-Tavi) supple, exquisitely detailed watercolors provide a handsome foil to his graceful adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen classic. 

School Library Journal Book Review Stars -  “the appeal of this tale is as strong today as it was 150 years ago, and Pinkney has done an admirable job of repackaging it for a new generation. "

Awards:
Randolph Caldecott Medal Honor Book 2000 United States
2X2 Reading List, 2000 - Texas 

The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2000
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2000 

United States Notable Books for Children, 2000

Connections
Vocabulary to discuss: patience, bullying
-Discuss the character traits of the ugly duckling: looks, feels, thinks, acts
-Read Leo the Late Bloomer ISBN 006443348X and compare the two books
-Have the counselor come in a give a lesson on bullying
-Have the art teacher do a water color activity with the students

The Gingerbread Man

yjhj

Bibliography

Kimmel, Eric A. 1993. THE GINGERBREAD MAN. Ill. by Megan Lloyd. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0823408248

Plot Summary

A delicious and entertaining version of the classic, vintage story of the little Gingerbread Man who leaped from the oven and led a merry chase.  The gingerbread man is chased by a horse, sow, cow, dog and the elderly couple. The gingerbread man runs away from each animal and goes on to say, "I'll run and run as fast as I can.  You can't catch me.  I's the gingerbread man!" His luck runs out when he encountered a clever fox.  The fox goes on to convince the gingerbread man into hopping onto his tail to get him across the river.  Once the gingerbread man and the fox are in the river he gets the fox to hop onto his back, then head, and finally his snout.  When the gingerbread man is on the fox's snout he threw his head back and ate the gingerbread man in one delicious bite. 

Critical Analysis

Eric Kimmell's clever, fast-moving text and rhyming, rhythmic words draw readers into the story, leading them from scene to scene up to the traditional ending -- which  by an additional rhyme,  "The gingerbread man has gone away, But he'll be back some other day.  For gingerbread men return, it's said, When someone bakes some gingerbread." Megan Lloyd brings Kimmel's text to vibrant life, updating the traditional scene: the elderly couple do their baking in a modern country kitchen, and the farm animals pursue the running treat past a modern-style beehive, an abandoned pickup truck, and other "country style" debris. 

Personal Response

I have read many versions of this story--The Gingerbread Baby, The Gingerbread Boy, and The Gingerbread Man to my students as well as my own child.  The rhyming piece is always a favorite and is learned fairly quickly by readers, nonreaders, and ELL students.  I love each and every one of the stories but this one has a friendly ending.  I have had kindergarteners crying after reading this story because the gingerbread man was eaten.  I like to start with this version because of the catchy, hopeful ending.     

Review Excerpts

School Library Journal - "Lloyd's illustrations work in tandem with the text to create verve and motion while maintaining a "fresh-from-the-oven" appeal. Her engaging art works beautifully with Kimmel's retelling to keep both eye and action moving across each page, thus enhancing the story's pace."

Connections
Math

• Give the children a gingerbread cookie and have them take a bite.  Then graph the part that each child bit off first-head, leg, or arm. 
• Measure different items in the class using die cut gingerbread men.  

Language Arts

• Write a different ending to the story
• Write a reader's theater
• make a bubble map to describe the gingerbread man
• Compare the characters, setting, plot, etc. in these different versions of The Gingerbread Baby, The Gingerbread Boy, and The Gingerbread Man

Read other versions of the story to compare the characters, setting, plot, etc.

The Gingerbread Baby ISBN 978-399234446

The Gingerbread Boy ISBN 9780547346236

The Gingerbread Cowboy ISBN 9780060778637 

The Gingerbread Pirates ISBN 978-0060778637 

The Library Gingerbread Man ISBN 9781602130487