Discovering Children's Literature : 2014

April 4, 2014

Elephant Dance

Elephant Dance: A Journey to India

Author: Theresa Heine

Illustrator: Sheila Moxley

Publishing Company: Barefoot Books

44 pages

Multicultural - India

I discovered the book Elephant Dance by Theresa Heine while looking for different examples of multicultural books to use within the classroom. When reading this book, I was very interested in the content. I found the way the illustrator explained India to be very interesting. Heine opens the book with Ravi’s, the young boy and main character within the book, Grandfather moving from India. Understandably, Ravi is very interested in what India was like for his Grandfather. Ravi asks question after question about India in order to understand this foreign land.

I thought the illustrations seen within this book were very interesting. They were all created with very bold, bright coloration as you can see from the illustrations on the cover of the book. Sheila Moxley did this with the use of acrylic. Her illustrations are all double spread as to fully depict all of the Grandfather’s stories of India. The text was spread across the top of both pages.

This book would be most suitable for younger elementary grades. With that being said, I think this is a great piece of text to use in the classroom. This text would be great in order to introduce India to students. This text not only includes information within the story about India, but it also includes a map in the story from where the Grandfather drew India with Ravi. At the end of this book is a great section introducing what it is like “Living in India.” This section includes information about the geography, religions, culture, animals and food seen within the India. I would also use this book to compare and contrast India to where we live. I think this would be a great way for students to see just how different, and similar foreign countries are to our own. The next way I would use this book within my own classroom would be for your students to discuss what they would tell someone about America much like Grandpa did with India. This would be a great activity to reinforce the idea that our own cultural can be seen very different from others.

Catch that Goat

Catch that Goat!: A Market Day in Nigeria

Author and Illustrator: Polly Alakija

Publishing Company: Barefoot Books

40 pages

Multicultural - Nigeria

When I first picked up this book while looking for different multicultural texts to use within the classroom, I was very intrigued by the cover. I feel that students would be intrigued by this as well. Therefore they would be interested in reading the story. In Catch that Goat by Polly Alakija, Ayoka is in search of a lost goat her mother asked her to watch while she is away. On her search, Ayoka travels all through the market place. All along her way the market people have one thing after another disappearing. Will Ayoka find her goat?

I really enjoyed the illustrations seen within this book. I was very interested in the fact that Polly Alakija completed both the story was well as the illustrations for this book. Overall, the illustrations beautifully depicted the market place. Alakija used very bright vibrant coloring that created interesting illustrations. These illustrations were created with mixed medium on watercolor paper. These illustrations were double spread in order to incorporate all of the details within the market place. The text was brilliantly placed within word bubbles throughout the text. Even though this seemed like a somewhat simple way to place text, I have not seen that very often within the books I have been viewing throughout my book blogs.

I really enjoyed this book. I would use this text within my classroom. I think this book is most suited for younger elementary classrooms. This is because the text is very simple, the biggest obstacle students would have with this text would be the unknown cultural terminology. I would use this book in my classroom to teach about the Nigerian culture. This book does a wonderful job of depicting their everyday market place. This book also has a great feature towards the end of the book that describes the Yoruba people. In this section of the text, Alakija has described the people, common dress, everyday life, location, and she also included information about the marketplace. I would also use this book to incorporate terms and language this culture commonly uses. This book includes counting and everyday terms the Yoruba people would use. Also, because this book incorporates counting, I would use this within a math lesson. Using this book in younger grades, you would be able to incorporate this into their math lessons.

My Diary from Here to There

My Diary from Here to There

Author: Amada Irma Perez

Illustrator: Maya Christina Gonzalez

Publishing Company: Children’s Book Press

36 pages

Multicultural - Mexico

I was really interested in reading this book. The cover was really inviting and it seemed to be unlike most other children’s books. As I started reading, I soon found that my theories were right. This book is written from a young girl’s point of view, Amada. Throughout this book she is writing diary entries. These entries tell her story. Her father has lost his job and plans to move to the United States where there are jobs for him. Amada is very scared by the thought of leaving her home to move to an unknown country. While confiding in her diary, we learn how Amada deals with this new transition in her life.

The illustrations in this book had a very distinct look. They are all created with very bold colors. Maya Gonzalez’s illustrations are painted and depict Amada’s journey from Mexico to her new home, the United States. Overall, these illustrations were double spread. The text is placed on one single page offsetting these illustrations. This book has a very unique feature. Amada’s diary entries are printed not only in English but in Spanish as well. The Spanish entries are placed below the English versions.

Overall I found this book to be very interesting. I would love to incorporate this into my own classroom. This book would be best for middle elementary school aged children. This book would be great to introduce the Mexican culture and language with a classroom. I would most likely use a Venn diagram with this book in order to compare and contrast the Mexican culture with our own. As an extension of this book, I would have students create journal entries discussing how they would feel if their families had to move to a different country. The last way I would use this in my classroom would be as a cultural connection for students. If I had any native Spanish speaking students in my classroom, I would introduce this text to them. I feel that they would really enjoy the translated diary entries seen with the book.

Friends on Freedom River

Friends on Freedom River

Author: Gloria Whelan

Illustrator: Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen

Publishing Company: Sleeping Bear Press

52 pages

Historical Fiction

This book was found much like Coming On Home Soon that was mentioned in a previous blog. I came across this book while trying to find different books that were historical fiction. As soon as I picked up this book I was immediately intrigued by it, and I wanted to read it right away. As I started to read I was not disappointed by the content. This book is an account of Sarah and her two children Lucy and Tyler. They are runaway slaves trying to escape through traveling the Underground Railroad. On one of the very last stops they meet a twelve year old boy Louis. He has been left his father’s farm for the winter. Before his father left, he told him one thing, “If you don’t know what to do, just do what you think I would have done.” So Louis did what he thought his father would do in a situation like this one. He helped Sarah and her children cross the Detroit River to Canada, where they would then be free. But they encounter some difficulties along the way. Will they make it to Canada?

I really enjoyed the illustrations that are seen within this book. I feel that Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen’s realistic depictions of the characters displayed great emotions. While never explicitly stated, I believe Frankenhuyzen’s illustrations are painted. His illustrations are double spread. The text is placed on one single page.

I really enjoyed this story. I believe that this would be a great story to use in an upper elementary classroom. I thought that Louis’s tale was a great way to teach several different concepts within the classroom. The first way I saw to incorporate this into my own classroom would be when teaching about slavery and the Underground Railroad. This is because this text is a great way for students to connect the information with realistic characters, giving the information meaning. After reading this book I would have students map out the different rivers the characters crossed. The students could also map out Sarah and her children’s destination. And finally I would use this book to teach theme. I found that this book has many great underlying themes that students could really connect with.

Going On Home Soon

Going On Home Soon

Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Illustrator: E.B. Lewis

Publishing Company: G. P. Putman’s Sons

44 pages

Historical Fiction

I discovered this book simply while looking for books that were historical fiction. The reason I chose to read this book was simply because of the illustration on the cover. Looking at the little girl, she seems so realistic, and I wanted to know her story. After reading I was pleasantly surprised by what I found out. Ada Ruth is the name of the little girl. In the book, her mother has decided to go to Chicago. Her mother has heard of the jobs openings available with the railroad due to all of the men away at war, so she decided to get one of these positions. Ada Ruth was, as most would be, very upset with her mother leaving. But her mother promised to write to her while she was away, so Ada Ruth and her Grandmother waited and waited and waited for a letter. As they did, they wrote to her constantly, but still they were waiting on their letter. Finally a letter arrives, all her mother has written is, “Tell Ada Ruth I’ll be coming on home soon.”

I really enjoyed the illustrations throughout this book. As I previously mentioned this is the main reason I read this book. E.B. Lewis’s illustrations are very realistic and help to bring the story to life. Lewis does this through the use of watercolor. These illustrations cover a full page and the text is placed on the opposite page with a very small illustration below.

I really enjoyed this book. I would most definitely use this book within the classroom. I would recommend using this text within middle and late elementary classrooms. In these classrooms I would choose to use this text as a black history month book. I would also use this book as a realistic narrative while learning about World War II. While this book is realistic fiction, I still think that this account would be great to use as it is told from a child’s perspective. I believe this would make history more relatable for students. The last way I personally would use this book in my own classroom would be with a writing assignment. This assignment would be more appropriate to the younger grades you would use this book in. I would give the students the option to either write a letter from the little girl to the mother or finish the story telling what the little girl’s reaction will be when she realizes her mother has come home.

March 19, 2014

Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth

Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth

Author: Anne Rockwell

Illustrator: R. Gregory Christie

Publishing Company: Alfred A. Knopf

36 pages

Nonfiction

The story of Sojourner Truth is absolutely inspiring. While reading Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth I was able to learn all about Sojourner’s life through Anne Rockwell’s literature. Sojourner was born into slavery. Throughout her youth and young adult life she had several different owners. After a state law in New York was passed in 1827, Sojourner finally had hope of freedom. Her master promised her freedom if she worked one more year for him. So she did, and she worked hard for her freedom in that time. Due to an injury, her master told her that she would stay one more year. Knowing what he was asking was illegal, she left his farm taking her freedom she was promised. After several more heartaches, Sojourner found her way. Her tale is absolutely inspiring, and is told very well throughout this book.

I found the illustrations to be very interesting. They are not like most illustrations seen within children’s literature. These illustrations are instead are somewhat abstract with only the facial features showing great detail. I found these illustrations to be very unique in style. These illustrations are completed with very bold watercolors. These illustrations are only single page with the text placed on the opposite page.

I really enjoyed this text and Sojourner’s story. I feel that this book could be used within any upper level elementary classroom. I would not recommend this book for classes below second grade. With that being said, I would use this book for Black History Month. I believe that Sojourner has such a powerful story. It should be incorporated into the classroom. I would also incorporate this text within any unit pertaining to slavery. This text covers many different aspects of slavery and would be very beneficial as a complementary piece of text. One final way I saw that this book could be used within the classroom would be alongside instruction of timelines. One really interesting element found within this book is a timeline of events that occurred within Sojourner’s life. I would have students sort these events in order after reading the text as a class. I feel that this would give students a really meaningful, hands-on way to connect to the instruction of timeline.

Ida B. Wells: Let the Truth Be Told

Ida B. Wells: Let the Truth be Told

Author: Walter Dean Myers

Illustrator: Bonnie Christensen

Publishing Company: HarperCollins Publishers

37 pages

Nonfiction

Ida B. Wells: Let the Truth be Told by Walter Dean Myers is an absolutely stunning biography of Ida B. Wells’ life and achievements. While I do have some previous knowledge of Ida B. Wells, I do not remember learning her story throughout any of my education. Therefore, I was able to look at this book somewhat as a child would have and I could not have been more intrigued. Ida B. Wells was born into slavery. After the thirteenth amendment, slavery became illegal and therefore all slaves were now free. Once free, she began to go to school and excelled quickly. Ida passed her teaching test and began her first job teaching. But all the while, she was noticing life around her for African Americans. This slowly began to shape Ida B. Wells, and she began to write in protest. She wrote about her own personal experiences as well as others. She began to shape the history we now know today.

I thought the illustrations throughout this book were wonderful. Christensen has very realistic depictions throughout the book that brings the story to life. These illustrations are completed with what seems to be watercolors and ink pen. The majority of these illustrations are single page. If the illustration does cover both pages, the second page is just a background. This works well with the text as it is located on one page, usually blank or with very little illustration as mentioned.

Through reading this book myself, I determined that this book is for use in older elementary classrooms. This conclusion is mainly due to the content covered as younger grades would not grasp some of the concepts. With that said, one of the first ways I would like to use this book within my own classroom would be within a social studies unit. I feel that this book would be a great addition to any unit involving amendments, court cases, equal justice, or suffrage as all of these aspects where included within this book. The second way I would use this book within my classroom would be a literature piece for Black History Month. I feel that Ida B. Wells played such a large part in our history that students need to learn about her story. A third way I feel that this book could be used within an elementary classroom would be in connection with biography instruction. Overall, I would definitely use this book within my classroom.

The Camping Trip That Changed America

The Camping Trip That Changed America

Author: Barb Rosenstock

Illustrator: Mordicai Gerstein

Publishing Company: Dial Books

34 pages

Nonfiction

I originally picked up this book just solely based off of the title and cover. As I started reading I was absolutely amazed by the content. The illustrations are beautiful and because I was not previously familiar with this story, I was able to learn all about The Camping Trip That Changed America. The book starts out by introducing Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir, they both “shared a love of the outdoors. They both loved a good story, too. And that was enough to change America.” After Roosevelt read one of Muir’s books asking for help from the government to save the vanishing forests, he asked Muir to take him on one of his trips out west to explore the trees himself, and Muir did as the president asked. On their trip Muir showed Roosevelt giant sequoias in the Mariposa Grove, Glacier point, and Yosemite Valley. At the end of his trip, Roosevelt knew what he had seen had to be protected, but how?

Reading this book, I was absolutely mesmerized by the illustrations. These illustrations made this story come to life. As a future teacher I know that this book will be one of the first I buy to put on my shelves. Gerstein brings Roosevelt and Muir’s trip to life through what seems to be a combination of paint and ink pen. I have never seen illustrations so beautifully done as these are. The majority are double spread and Muir uses the pages as his canvas to bring these landmarks to life. The text is located at the top and bottom of the page for the majority of the book. Overall, Gerstein’s work made this book for me. The story is absolutely wonderful as well, but the illustrations have me reading the book over and over again.

As previously mentioned, I already plan to have this book in my future classroom. While reading, I not only just enjoyed the story, but I was able to connect this book for use in the classroom as well. Ideally, this book would be used with lower and upper grades. I feel that second through sixth grade would understand the content the best. The first way I would like to use this book within my classroom would be in a compare and contrasting unit. I would have my students compare Roosevelt with Muir. The second way I could see this book being used within the classroom would be within a science unit on land formations. This book not only describes the men’s trip throughout several different areas, but the illustrations accompany this information nicely. Yet another way I saw that this book could be used within an elementary classroom would be when learning about national parks. This book would be excellent to accompany a science lesson of this sort.

Fire-Breathers' Science Fair

Fire-Breathers’ Science Fair

Author: Tina Gagliardi

Illustrator: Patrick Girouard

Publishing Company: Magic Wagon

36 pages

Fantasy

This book was introduced to me through my school librarian. This book tells about Carly, a dragon who attends Fire-Breathers’ Academy and her imaginary human friend, Gretchen. Carly thought Gretchen was the best imaginary friend anyone could have and they always had fun when they played together. While at school, Carly’s teacher had an announcement about an upcoming science fair. Carly and Gretchen could not wait to get started, but as they did, they realized creating a project for the science fair might be harder than they had originally thought. Will these two friends think of a project to make for the fair? Will they get it made in time? You’ll find all of these answers and more by reading Fire-Breathers’ Science Fair by Tina Gagliardi.

Overall I really enjoyed the illustrations throughout this book. Girouard does a wonderful job of making this fantasy come to life. This is done through mixed media. These illustrations are double spread which creates a larger than life feeling for these characters. The text is framed on one side of the illustration with no background. All of these aspects really bring this book to life.

While reading this book, I saw several different ways it could be incorporated into the classroom. One of the first ways I saw a possible use for this book within the classroom was a writing connection. Carly was very different from her classmates because she was the only one who had an imaginary friend. Carly did not spend her time like most of her classmates, “hiding treasure or fighting knights. Instead she often played with Gretchen…” The ending of this book proves that for Carly being different was not a bad thing. Therefore I would have my students write about a way they are different from their classmates and explain why this makes them unique. The second way I would incorporate this into the classroom would be as an introduction to an upcoming science fair and/or science project. And the third and final way I would use this book in my classroom would be to have students create their own science projects much like Carly did.

Diary of a Worm

Diary of a Worm

Author: Doreen Cronin

Illustrator: Harry Bliss

Publishing Company: Joanna Cotler Books

48 pages

Fantasy

I discovered this book through my school’s librarian. She suggested this book after I asked if she knew of any good books to use for some of my classroom assignments. Having great faith in our school librarian, I knew this would be a great book as she handed it to me, but as I started reading I enjoyed this book even more than I had originally expected. As the titled suggests, this book is a diary of a worm. Throughout his diary, he narrates the daily adventures he experiences. Although he is a worm, these entries follow the same format of what we would expect from most school aged children. These range anywhere from him telling his sister “no matter how much time she spends looking in the mirror, her face will always look just like her rear end” and the trouble he got in for saying such things to daily events with his friend, spider. Overall, I found this book to be very unique and humorous.

The illustrations within this book really add to the overall text. They give students an inside look into the worm’s everyday life. These brightly colored illustrations seem to be completed with watercolors. These illustrations vary between double spread and single spread depending on the length of the journal entry. The text is placed at the top of every left page with the date, as how most diaries are laid out. An additional element that I really enjoyed was the front and the back pages of the book. These pages included images that appeared to be taped into the journal. I thought this element was really fun and added additional interest within the book. Overall, I really enjoyed the illustrations throughout the book. I feel that Bliss did a wonderful job with the illustrations in this book.

While this book is not your usual children’s literature piece, I would definitely use this book within my classroom. I think that both lower and upper grades would enjoy this book, but I would ideally use this from kindergarten through second grade. I feel that this book has many different aspects that could be utilized within classroom instruction. The first way I saw that this book could be used within the classroom is to read this book while teaching point of view. The worm’s journal is written much like an elementary age school child, but as you may expect, he does not see things the same way a human would. Therefore, I would have my students read his journal entry and then write the entry from the point of view of a child their age. The second way I saw that this book could be used within the classroom was with introduction of journals. I feel that this is a very creative way to get students interested in writing about their day within their daily journals. The third and final way I would use this book within my classroom would be within a science lesson. While this story is fantasy, it does embed several facts about worms. This book would be great as an introductory element to a more informational text that may be used within the science lesson. I feel that Diary of a Worm would be much more interesting for students to read than most informational texts.

March 15, 2014

Avast, Ye Dog Thief!

Or access at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01d_624PIzY

February 26, 2014

Wallace Stevens

Wallace Stevens

Edited by John N. Serio

Illustrator: Robert Gantt Steele

Publishing Company: Sterling Publishing Co.

52 pages

Poetry Collection

I originally checked this book out just solely based on the few pages I saw while flipping through in the library. Based on this I had the assumption that this book was a collection of poems from different authors. When I actually sat down to read through it, I realized that it was instead a collection of poems by Wallace Stevens as indicated by the title. Due to the misconception I had of this book, I was even more interested in reading it. Each of Wallace Stevens poems in this collection vary in style. But most all of his works had one thing in common, nature. The introductory section in this book explains that this has always been a very large part of Wallace Stevens’ life, and this is seen throughout his work.

Steele’s illustrations throughout the book are done with watercolor. The placement of the illustrations are based on the length of each poem. The majority of these illustrations covered a single page and very few double spread illustrations were seen throughout this collection. I felt that the illustrations played a huge role in bringing meaning to his poems. The text is set up as most all poetry collections are. Each poem starts its own page as each poem in this book tells its own story. The majority of the poems were only one page, and very few covered two.

One aspect I really liked about this collection of poems is that an interpretation of each poem was included at the top of each page. I think this is an excellent way for children to read and understand poetry. Therefore this is one of the first ways I would incorporate this book into my classroom. Ideally I would have students first read a poem from this collection on their own and create an interpretation of what they think the author was trying to express in his writing. After they have written their own interpretations, I would have the students read what interpretations were included in the book. They would then share aloud the similarities and differences between these interpretations. The second way I would incorporate this book into my classroom would be within a poetry unit. This book has a wide variety of poems and I feel that my students would benefit from these different examples in their instruction. The third way I would use this book in my classroom would be in a senses unit. Steele’s poetry is absolutely full of different examples the students could find. I feel that they would love to make this connection to text. As you can see, this book is full of great teaching opportunities. I would definitely use this book in my classroom.

February 25, 2014

Mrs. Brown on Exhibit

Mrs. Brown on Exhibit: and Other Museum Poems

Author: Susan Katz

Illustrator: R.W. Alley

Publishing Company: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

36 pages

Poetry Collection

I was originally drawn to this book because it is unlike most other poetry collections I discovered. I found that most poetry books were not all that interesting for me to read, much less for children. Even though I know that this is most likely just due to the stigma poetry has, I believe poetry can be fun if done the right way. Mrs. Brown on Exhibit is definitely the way to do this. This book is a fun-filled adventure through every possible exhibit imaginable at a museum. Mrs. Brown loves museums and her students love nothing more than to explore these museums with her. Throughout this book her students discover everything from insects to mummies. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who asks.

The illustrations in this book are beautifully done with watercolor. R.W. Alley’s work brings these different exhibits to life. The illustrations are both double-spread and on a single page. The text in this book is unique to its genre. As seen in most poetry collections, the poems stand on their own as each tells its own story. Therefore, there’s only one poem on most of the pages, while some of the smaller poems contain two to a page. But even with that said, throughout the majority of the book, there is about as much text on a page as you would expect to see in a picture book of the same level.

I previously mentioned I really enjoyed this book. Therefore I would definitely use this book in my classroom. One of the first ways I saw an opportunity for using this book would be through an in-class field trip. Not many elementary classrooms I know of are able to attend field trips to museums. Therefore I feel like this would be a great way to bring the museum to my students. The second way I thought this book could be incorporated into the classroom would be through each section's topic as an introductory reading to a lesson. For example, the “Giant Heart” section introduces many great aspects of the heart that could be easily expanded upon in a science lesson on the topic. The third and final way I think I would use this book in my classroom would be in a poetry unit. This book includes many different fun poems that I think would get students interested in poetry. With use of any of these ways, I feel that this would be a great book to use in any classroom.

Collection of African American Poetry

African American Poetry

Edited by Arnold Rampersad and Marcellus Blount

Illustrator: Karen Barbour

Publishing Company: Sterling Children's Books

52 pages

Poetry Collection

As discussed in the introductory section of this book, African American poetry was very rarely seen during the 1700's to the 1800's. This was largely due to the obstacles and misconceptions slavery produced for these writers. Even later on into the 1900's, many Americans would not read the works of African American poets due to their race. African American writers continued to pave the way over the years to free any and all restrictions they faced. This collection contains a great variety of poetry from many different African American authors that captures the struggles faced by this culture over the years.

The majority of the poems seen within this collection are short and each poem only covers one page. At the top of the page is a short description of the author’s life and literary history. Most all of the illustrations are single page due to this layout. The artwork does a wonderful job at depicting each individual poem while still looking similar throughout. The illustrations for this book were created using watercolor, ink, and collage.

Being that we are currently celebrating Black History month, I think this would be an ideal way to incorporate this book into my classroom. This poetry collection not only includes a very lengthy, descriptive section on the history of African American literature, but I also enjoy that each piece is by a different African American author. I feel that students will gain a vast new knowledge of some of the author’s experiences through this collection works. The second way I saw that this book could be used in a classroom was in a poetry unit. This book contains many different types of poems, and therefore students would be exposed to most all types of poetry in this single book. The third way I would personally use this collection of poetry would be for the students to further research an author within this book and give the class a reflection of what they have discovered. Since I would plan to use this book in an older classroom, I feel that students could really enjoy this. I think that they would gain great insight on these author’s lives through further research on an African American author. Overall, I feel that this is a very informative book and I would use it in my classroom.

Kate and the Beanstalk

Kate and the Beanstalk

Author: Mary Pope Osborne

Illustrator: Giselle Potter

Publishing Company: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

36 Pages

Traditional Literature

While looking for books in the traditional literature genre, I was drawn to this book because of the illustration on the cover. I was interested to find out how this book was going to differ from the traditional story of Jack and the Beanstalk. This version of the story starts off immediately with the main conflict. Kate and her family do not have enough food after the cold, hard winter. Wanting to help, Kate sets off to sell their only cow. Much like Jack, she sells her cow for some magic beans, but when she arrives home to show her mother what she has gotten for them, her mother, horrified, throws the beans out the window. That very night, Kate gets up from a restless sleep and goes outside, once there she discovers a giant beanstalk has grown in the middle of the yard! So, again, much like Jack, Kate climbs the beanstalk. Once she gets to the very top Kate discovers a castle and an old woman in the woods out in front of the castle. This woman tells her the tale of a noble knight and his family and the monstrous giant who came to steal the knight’s many treasures. Kate is wanting to help and is determined to find all of the knight’s treasures in order to save his wife and child from starving. Will she be successful on her journey? Who will she discover along the way? What will became of her mother? You’ll find all of these answers along with many more by reading this wonderful retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk.

Giselle Potter’s illustrations wonderfully depict Kate’s journey. These illustrations are completed with pencil, ink, gouache, gesso, and watercolor. These illustrations are varied between double spread depictions and single page illustrations. The text is placed at the top and bottom of almost every page with very little variation throughout. All of these elements Potter incorporates bring this version of Jack and the Beanstalk to life.
I think this book could be incorporated into the classroom in many different ways. One of the first ways I would most likely use this book would be in a comparing and contrasting unit. I would have my students read the original Jack and the Beanstalk before reading this version. Once they have read both stories I would have my student complete a venn diagram on the similarities and differences between the two versions. The second way I would incorporate book in my classroom would be through a creative writing lesson. I would read the story up to the section where Kate climbs the beanstalk, then after I stop, I would have my students complete a short story on what they think will happen next. After they have finished their stories, I would complete the book to see if what their predictions were correct. The third way I saw that this story could be incorporated into my classroom would be within a genre unit. This book would be a fantastic example of a fairy tale. Kate and the Beanstalk incorporates all of the necessary characteristics needed to depict a fairy tale. Overall I think this is a great book to use in any classroom.

February 24, 2014

The Three Pigs

The Three Pigs

Author and Illustrator: David Wiesner

Publishing Company: Clarion Books

Traditional Literature

I originally stumbled upon this story while at my practicum school’s library. I was interested in the story just solely due to the fact that it was a traditional literature piece on The Three Little Pigs as I have read and enjoyed previous versions of this. With that being said, I was not expecting what this book has to offer. This book combines the perfect touch of what is familiar to us through the original Three Little Pigs and spins that into something completely new and unexpected. This story is recreated in a way I have never seen before. It is absolutely unique in every single aspect. This story starts off as you traditionally know, “Once upon a time there were three little pigs…” the first pig builds his house out of straw. But as the wolf huffs and puff the story takes a turn into another world completely out of the realms of the traditional three little pigs. The pigs are blown into a world away from the wolf. In this world they discover several other characters that are familiar to us as readers. These characters come together in an unexpected way to teach the wolf the same familiar moral seen in the traditional Three Little Pigs. Once this has been done, “they all lived happily ever after.”

I absolutely love the illustrations throughout this whole book. They draw out aspects of the story that I never knew to be possible. This book is so original in this way. I believe the different use of media is what brings to life the feeling that the characters are really traveling through different pages of books in a whole other world that parallels their story. The illustrations are created by Wiesner through a variation of watercolor, gouache, colored inks, pencil, and colored pencil on Fabriano hot press paper. These illustrations are mostly double spread as this creates a majority of the movement throughout the story. The placement of the text also plays a large role on the movement of the illustrations throughout the book. As the characters move from the traditional story to the new world, the text changes. When the characters are in the traditional literature, the text is placed at the top of the page as expected. In contrast when the pigs are in the new world, the text is placed mainly in speech bubbles woven in and out of the frames of the traditional story as the characters explore the realms of this world.

I believe this book is great for use in the classroom. I see so many great aspects of this book that could be used in a variety of educational way. One of the first ways I would use this book in my own classroom would be in correlation with the original The three Little Pigs. Ideally, I would have students compare and contrast the two different variations of the stories using a venn diagram. The second way I see that this book could be used in the classroom would be an extension of the comic like illustrations. I would have students assess what they know through recreating the text through their own comic strip of the story. The third way I would use this book in my own classroom would be for students to recreate their own version of a story they know very well, just as Wiesner has recreated The Three Little Pigs.

February 1, 2014

How Did Zeus Become God of Gods?

Young Zeus

Author and Illustrator: G. Brian Karas

Publishing Company: Scholastic Press

52 pages

Picture Book

I chose this book just solely based on the topic. While I never learned much about mythology in school, it has always interested me. With that said, I was not quite sure what this book would hold. As I started reading Kara’s story I was pleasantly surprised as this book takes you on the fictional tale of Zeus’s childhood and how he became god of the gods. Zeus grew up alone because his mother Rhea gave him to Amaltheia, the enchanted she-goat when he was just a baby to keep him safe from his father Cronus. As Zeus grew older, he began to wonder why he did not have any other gods to play with. Amaltheia told him the story of his father, his five brother and sisters, his mother, and his uncles. When Zeus learns that Cronus swallowed his brothers and sisters in fear of being overthrown, he and his mother come up with a plan to free his brothers and sisters.

The illustrations in this book, in my opinion, are what make the book. The actual content of the story is great, but the illustrations were easily my favorite part. With that being said, they are not like most illustrations in children’s books. Karas uses a combination of gouache and pencil on paper to create the story of young Zeus. These illustrations are muted in color. Most of the text in this book is placed on the top and the bottom of the page.

This would be a great book to use in the classroom. I feel that this book could be used in grades 2-4. I personally would use this book when discussing genres. This would be a great example of mythology. This book could also be used when teaching mythology, as an introduction to Zeus. This story is a great way to gain another perspective on this mythological god, as it is not often portrayed in this manner. As an extension of this book, I would have my students research another mythological god. Ideally these would then be presented to the class so each student could discuss what they learned about their mythological character.

How Does The Human Body Work? Read Now To Find Out!!

From Head to Toe: The Amazing Human Body and How It Works

Author: Barbara Seuling

Illustrator: Edward Miller

Publishing Company: Holiday House

36 pages

Picture Book

This book gained my interest just simply because of the picture on the cover. It looked to promise something interesting inside. Once I started reading this book, I was not disappointed. This book held my interest all the way through. I have never really been interested in anything relating to science, so for it to keep my interest, I’m sure it would easily keep the interest of any student as well.

This book is not set up in the way a traditional reading book would be, instead it is broken down into different sections of the human body. These sections cover the bones, joints, muscles, brain, nervous system, organs, and other various other parts of the body. Each of these sections outlines every necessary part of the system it is covering. With the sections of the book, students are able to either read through the entire book to discover all about the human body, or just pick a section of the body to learn more about. Each section includes not only thorough descriptions and necessary definitions, but also labeled diagrams and student friendly experiments for students to better understand the human body.

The illustrations used throughout this book were very intriguing. Miller’s diagrams of the human body were very brightly colored and larger than life. These illustrations were double-spread. The text was placed around the diagrams as they explain the different sections of the body. All of the body parts are labeled throughout. While never directly stated, it seems that Miller created his illustrations on the computer.

I would use this book from third to sixth grade. As previously mentioned, this is not a book you would sit down and read from cover to cover to your students. But I think this book excellently explains every necessary element of the human body. Therefore, I would use this book by section. I think this book would be most helpful with teaching the digestive system. With this section of the book, students would learn the functions of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, liver, small intestine, and large intestine as well as how they all work together. I would also use this book to supplement a lesson on the skeletal system. I would have a diagram of the skeletal system and have my students label the bones. I would also use the “test your taste buds” experiment from the brain and nervous system section of this book. I feel that students would really enjoy this lesson as they explore their taste buds.

What Will Become Of The Sandwich Swap?

The Sandwich Swap

Author: Kelly DiPucchio

Illustrator: Tricia Tusa

Publishing Company: Disney - Hyperion Books

36 pages

Picture Book

I picked up this book because I was interested in the front cover. Even though I may have been judging this book by its cover, I was excited to find that the story was just as beautifully put together as the title had been. The premise of this story is two sandwiches, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a hummus sandwich. These sandwiches belong to two girls, Salma and Lily. They are best friends and do everything together, but when they ate lunch together they noticed that each other’s lunches did not look the same. Lily had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch every day, and Salma ate a hummus and pita sandwich for lunch. The outcome in this small difference between the two girls becomes even more than they could have ever imagined.

The illustrations in this book are very large and the majority of the Tusa’s drawings are double-spread. These illustrations are done with water color and the colors are very soft throughout. The text is kept very simple. The placement of the text is artfully positioned within Tusa’s illustrations as to keep you not only interested in the story but in the illustrations of the two girls as well.

I would use this book from kindergarten to second grade. I feel that this book has many great teaching opportunities. One of the first ways I would use this book would be to explain how to compare and contrast. Using a Venn diagram I would have the students investigate Lily and Salma’s differences to further show the diversity between the two. The second way I would use this book would be for character education. I feel that one of the best aspects of this book is the friendship between the two girls, and how they overcome their differences. So to create a connection for my students from this, I would have them build a sandwich and on each piece they would write a characteristic of a good friend. I would also use this book to teach cause and effect. Without the small differences the girls experienced, the book would have never ended the way it did.

January 31, 2014

Matt and Bibi's Adventure in Geometry

Mummy Math: An Adventure in Geometry

Author: Cindy Neuschwander

Illustrator: Bryan Langdo

Publishing Company: Henry Holt and Company

36 pages

Picture Book

I was originally drawn to this book because it was one of the very few math books I was able to find when looking for books to use for this assignment. As I started reading, I was honestly quite shocked by how well this book covered the geometry content its title promised. While reading, I was taken on a journey with Matt and Bibi Zill’s to Egypt. Once the twins arrived at Egypt, they are understandably excited to learn all about pyramids, mummies, and hieroglyphics. But soon after arriving, they find themselves trapped in a pyramid on their parent’s archaeological site. They soon discover hieroglyphics that cover the tombs walls. Matt and Bibi use their knowledge of the geometric shapes in these hieroglyphics to help them on their way. These hieroglyphics are used guide them on their way throughout the tombs.

The illustrations used in this book beautifully recreate the ancient tombs of Egypt. These depictions were created through the use of watercolors. Langdo places his illustrations on each page; while very few are double-spread. The majority of the text is formally placed above and below these illustrations, while very few pages have text within an illustration.

I would use this book in an older classroom, grades 4-6. This would be a great book for introducing geometric shapes. Matt and Bibi stumble upon several geometric solid shapes including: cones, cylinders, cubes, spheres, pyramids, tetrahedrons, rectangular prisms, and triangular prisms. While reading the story I would have the students identify and name each shape throughout the book. As I read, I would teach about the differences in the faces of the shapes as well as paying special attention to the number of sides each shape has. The second way I would use this book in my classroom is having the students create their own hieroglyphics using solid shapes. I would use this aspect to introduce patterns. Each of the student’s hieroglyphics would need to contain several of the newly introduced solid shapes as well as a pattern. Ideally, the students would be able to create each of their hieroglyphics on butcher paper to simulate an ancient scroll. This book would also be great to use as a social studies lesson. As the students are read this book, they learn a large amount of new vocabulary words from ancient times. I would use this book to teach about Egypt, mummies, hieroglyphics, pyramids, tombs, pharaohs, and burial chambers as they are all discussed within this book.

Will Grace Become President?

Grace for President

Author: Kelly DiPucchio

Illustrator: LeUyen Pham

Publishing Company: Disney - Hyperion Books

36 pages

Picture Book

I originally chose this book because I was interested in the cover of the book. I found it to be very intriguing, and this proved to be true of the story inside as well. Grace’s campaign all starts when she discovers that our country has not had a single woman president. Planning to change this, Grace decides she would like to become president. When Grace’s teacher stages an election for her students, Grace soon has competition as Thomas Cobb becomes the presidential candidate for Mr. Waller’s class. As the two candidates start campaigning, they learn all about the ins and outs of the presidential campaign. More importantly, Grace finds that becoming president was not as easy of a task as she originally thought. When Election Day comes, it all comes down to who was the better person for the job.

The illustrations in this book were very original in style and are what originally drew me in as a reader. These illustrations were created through pastels and water crayons. The colors throughout this book are very colorful and light and would keep the interest of any student. The illustrations were very wide and double-spread. The text was not place in any one place throughout the book as it was placed throughout the text as to further engulf the reader into its pages.
I would use this book in an older elementary classroom, in grades 4-6, and could even be used up into middle school. This book would be great to teach the ins and outs of how the presidential election works. Some of the terms that relate to the presidential election seen within this book include: democracy, nominations, candidates, electoral votes, and representatives. Because this book covers a wide array of terms, all could be included within the lesson. As an extension of this, the second way I would use this book within my classroom would be to have the students create their own presidential campaign. This would include posters, slogans, and a platform on the issues they feel are important. They would then address these issues within their very own campaign. I feel that this would give the students a way to relate to the campaigning process. Finally, I would use this book to introduce the topic, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I would use this Grace as an example as she wanted to become the president. I would have each of my students write about what they would like to be when they grow up and what the plan to do to become what they want to be.