Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins written by Carole Boston Weatherford illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue

• North Carolina AAUW Award for Juvenile Literature
• Bank Street College Best Children's Books
• Capitol Choices: Notable Books for Children
• Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People

Freedom on the Menu tells the story of four men who used the simple act of sitting to convey a powerful message in a turbulent time in history.  The four men knew the many risks and implications of their actions but felt it was necessary to stand up for equal rights.  The book was written from the perspective of a young African-American girl with older siblings that involved themselves in the protests.  Many students will be able to connect with the character and the enhancement of the text with the paintings makes the book enjoyable for a vast span of reading levels.  This book will generate discussions about ethics, standing up for your beliefs and could be used as the foundation for learning about debates.  Controversial issues need to be discussed in elementary schools, especially if the issue is a turning point in history.  Discussion of controversial issues create an outlet for students to develop and express their opinions as well as respect the opinions of others.

Harriety Tuman: Freedom's Trailblazer written by Kathleen Kudlinski illustrated by Robert Brown

The biography describes Harriet's life as a slave, her spirituality, her well-known visions, and her travels on the Underground Railroad as a conductor.  The text conveys deep emotions which is enhanced by the nine black and white illustrations throughout the novel.  I enjoyed reading more in depth about Harriet Tubman's life as well as gaining insight into her inspirational story of bravery and following her heart.  I feel it is important for students to read about inspiring individuals from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.  The biography of Harriet Tubman will offer insight into a rich historical period where determination and conviction in one's beliefs were required to overcome animosity.

This is a novel I would either use as a whole class to discuss spirituality among slaves, social injustice and ethical dilemmas.  This novel could also be used by small groups or individual students that are researching Harriet Tubman as an influential leader on the Underground Railroad.

Informational Books About The Underground Railroad

The Story of Harriet Tubman written by Rachel A. Koestler-Grack

The Story of Harriet Tubman is an informational book that gives an overview of Harriet Tubman's life.  The book focuses on her life as a slave, her trips on the Underground Railroad, her time as a Union spy, as all as other important facts about Harriet Tubman.  The book includes many photographs and sketches that enhance the information presented.  At the end of the book there is a timeline of Harriet's major accomplishments, a glossary of key terms, and fun facts about Harriet Tubman.

Informational books are not all that exciting, but it is important to present a variety of genres to students.  The information in this book provides great detail about Harriet Tubman that can not be found in children's picture books.  The Story of Harriet Tubman is a book that students can turn to find out more about this influential woman, find ideas for further research, and provides an easy to navigate book for students that enjoy the non-fiction/informational genre.

The Underground Railroad: Cornerstones of Freedom written by Wade Hudson

The Underground Railroad is an informational book that gives an overview of the Underground Railroad.  The illustrations incldued paintings, sketches, and photographs from the time period.  The author presents the information in an easy to manage format, using vocabulary words that are defined in the glossary.  If this book sparks an interest in my students, the author has included a list of resources including books, videos, and online sites to further their research. 

The Underground Railroad and the Civil War written by Albert A. Nofi

The Underground Railroad and the Civil War is an informationl book that gives an overview of the Underground Railroad and describes specific individuals important to the Underground Railroad.  The book includes many photographs from the time period, as well as many illustrations and sketches that enhance the reading experience. This book also includes a list of books and online resources for futher reading and research.  This book can be used as a resource if a student would enjoy completing an extension activity on a certain event or person.

The Underground Railroad: Journey to Freedom written by Carla Williams

The Underground Railroad is an informational book discussing many of the key people running the Underground Railroad, the creative escapes made by few, a timeline of historical events, and resources for further reading and research.  One important element of this book, is that it retraces a specific route on the Underground Railroad. Retracing routes along the Underground Railroad could be a fantastic extension activity!

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom written by Carole Boston Weatherford illustrated by Kadir Nelson

• Caldecott Honor
• Coretta Scott King Award for Illustrations
• New York Times Best Seller
• NAACP Image Award
• ALA Notable Book
• National Council for the Social Studies Notable Book
• IRA Notable Books for Global Studies
• School Library Journal Notable Book
• HornBook Fanfare
• Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books- Blue Ribbon
• New York Public Library's 100 Books for Reading and Sharing

Moses is a fictional picture book that depicts Harriet Tubman's spiritual and physical journey on her first trip on the Underground Railroad.  It discusses the importance of faith and Harriet's famous visions.  The illustrations are absolutely breathtaking and show eloquent detail.  Many of the illustrations shows the glow of the sun around Harriet Tubman which may be interpreted as God's protection or the closeness of the relationship between God and Harriet Tubman. 

I enjoyed this particular book due to interplay of the well articulated text and stunning illustrations.  I believe this book shows the importance of faith to many of the slaves and how they believe God truly protected them on their journey.  I do not mean for this book to stir up any religious debates, but faith was an important aspect for many slaves during their travels along the Underground Railroad.

Allen Jay and the Underground Railroad written by Marlene Targ Brill illustrated by Janice Lee Porter

This book is written from the perspective of an eight year old Quaker boy, with special needs, who helps slaves escape to freedom despite his fear of being caught.  Honestly, the book is not fabulous and the illustrations are less than captivating but I believe this book is important because it allows young readers to connect with the characters and offers a different perspective from many of the other children's books on the Underground Railroad.  I also believe that this book sheds light on the fact that children with special needs can overcome their personal struggles and accomplish great things. 

Allen Jay and the Underground Railroad is another book I would use with Reader's Theater.  I would also use this book as a basis for a discussion on morality and ethical dilemmas.  This is a book that incorporates authentic language for the time period and depicts real historical events which could be used as a writing example for many written assignments on the topic of the Underground Railroad.

Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad written by Ellen Levine illustrated by Kadir Nelson

• Caldecott Honor
• ALA Notable Book
• Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
• Notable Books for Global Society
• Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Best of the Year
• Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award

This book gives a fictional description of the true story of Henry Brown.  His story involves the unique experiences of marrying, watching his family sold to another master, and mailing himself to the free-states.  The dramatic artwork of Kadir Nelson brings the story to life and allows readers to experience Henry's thoughts and feelings.  Even though the book shares the events of Henry Brown's adult life, the cover of the book shows a young boy staring intently at the reader.  The brief author's note at the end of the book gives a short description of the Underground Railroad and a caption of the true event of Henry Brown mailing himself to freedom.
Readers of all levels will be able to take something away from this book.  Henry's Freedom Box incorporates the social injustice Henry faced, the creativity of Henry Brown, as well as the generosity of those against slavery living in the South.  These topics will create a generous discussion among students.  Henry's Freedom Box is a book that would be a great fit for Reader's Theater which builds community, creativity, and gives students another format to express themselves.

Freedom River written by Doreen Rappaport illustrated by Bryan Collier

This is a historical fiction book that depicts actual events infused with the author’s own creativity.  It is an uplifting story about a man that does everything in his power to help a family escape slavery, even if it mean endangering his own life. As the reader opens the front cover, the story beings with a map of the Ohio-Kentucky border.  As we turn to the title page, the story continues with a collage style illustration of the Ohio River.  The illustrations throughout the book are a collage mixed with water colors.  Bryan Collier portrays deep emotion in the face of the characters.   At the end of the book the author includes a historical note as well as additional resources for further reading and research.
Freedom River will hopefully stir up in depth conversations about morality and the dangers many slaves encountered.  This book would be a great fit for Reader's Theater and supplies a list of additional books and websites if student's want to pursue further research on this particular topic. 

Freedom Ship written by Doreen Rappaport illustrated by Curtis James

This is a historical fiction book that depicts actual events infused with the author’s own creativity.  The book tells the story of enslaved families that make a desperate attempt to free themselves by stealing a Confederate ship.  As the reader opens the front cover of Freedom Ship the story already begins with a map of the Charleston Harbor and its fortifications and a picture of the ship where the enslaved family works.  The patel illustrations throughout the book boasts simple backgrounds and great details in the characters and foregrounds.  At the end of the book the author discusses how she constructed the book out of many newspaper articles that depicted the event.  This book illustrates the emotion of many slaves and how desperate and brave they had to be to try to escape. 

As a reader, this book is both emotional and inspiring and left me wanting to discover other creative escapes along the Underground Railroad.  This book lends itself to many discussions and extension activities.  Creating a story of current events from a compilation of newspaper articles, researching other creative escapes, and using Freedom Ship as a basis for Reader's Theater are activities that would increase the knowledge of the Underground Railroad as well as infuse current events into the curriculum.

Journey to Freedom: A Story of the Underground Railroad written by Courtni C. Wright illustrated by Gershom Griffith

This is a fictional picture book told from the perspective of an eight year old boy whose family is escaping along the Underground Railroad.  Journey to Freedom is emotional and detailed which is also depicted in the illustrations.  The illustrations are watercolor and show great detail in the faces of character.  Journey to Freedom gives readers insight into hardships faced by many runaway slaves while introducing more details about the functioning of the Underground Railroad. 

This book is a great introduction to the Underground Railroad because it introduces slave hunters and the signals used along the routes.  Journey to Freedom offers readers details that could be further digested through an analysis of the literary elements.  This would not only reinforce the concept of literary elements but also gives students the opportunity to further discuss the Underground Railroad. 

Barefoot: Escape on the Underground Railroad written by Pamela Duncan Edwards illustrated by Henry Cole

Barefoot tells the story of a man, The Barefoot, and his journey through the harsh elements on the way to the next safe house on the Underground Railroad.  Even though the story shows The Barefoot's struggles, it is the harsh elements that offer protection.  Throughout the book only the Barefoot's feet are shown in the illustrations setting the mood of anonymity and giving the Underground Railroad a sense of secrecy. 
Barefoot is an enjoyable read and keeps readers on their toes as the Barefoot encounters each struggle. 

Barefoot is a well written piece of literature that allows the reader to experience the Barefoot's journey.  This book would be an introduction piece to the Underground Railroad as it describes the typical difficulties many runaway slaves face without giving great detail.  The book will be a conversation starter about how the Underground Railroad functions, the feelings of the characters, and will hopefully spark an interest in the topic.

Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: Moving Day written by Meg Cabot

Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: Moving Day is the first book in a series of six.  Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: Moving Day is a story about a nine-year-old girl who is afraid of leaving her comfortable lifestyle to live in a haunted house and be the new girl at school!  As a reader, the book was enjoyable due to the humor as we followed Allie through her mishaps and learned about all of the rules that she lives by, or makes up after-the-fact!  I feel that many young readers may relate to Allie which may make the book more enjoyable for them.  With an easy to read writing style and simple language, this book is a simple transition into chapter books for young readers.  I would encourage students in the middle elementary grades to read this series due to the easily relatable characters and situations, as well as the reading level associated with the books in the series.  Due to the fact that this book is the first of many in the series, many students may want to continue reading.  Students wanting to read is always something to strive for!

The Misfits written by James Howe

The Misfits addresses the very real issue of bullying that many schools are facing today.  The reader follows a gang of friends as they band together to stop all of the name calling in their school.  This group of misfits, which calls themselves the Gang of Five, deals with bullies, racism, homophobia, a power hunger teacher, as well as their own personal struggles.  As a reader, I enjoyed the book for the message but it was far from a literary work of art!  The language was simple, with the exception of a vocabulary word thrown in here and there, and I felt many of the characters were drawn from stereotypes.  It is my fear that students that find themselves relating to these particular characters may be offended by the way the character is being portrayed.  I most likely would not use this book as a required read due to my disgust with the stereotypical characters.  However, the characters and their struggles are easy to relate to which may be helpful for students to read about.  I would keep this book available as a choice novel or use as an example of how to deal with certain issues, including bullying. 

The Giver by Lois Lowry

• Newberry Medal 1994
• ALA Notable Children's Book
• ALA Best book for Young Adults

The Giver written by Lois Lowry is a science fiction novel about a utopian society that echoes many similarities to society today.  As we follow Jonas, the main character, through his journey of receiving memories, the layers of the utopian society are peeled away where the vision of a dystopian society begins to take shape.  The final chapter of The Giver is up for interpretation which makes the book more engaging for readers because they are able to participate in the success or demise of the characters.  Having read The Giver previously to this course, I feel that each time I revisit this book I take some different away from the story.  This book was truly enjoyable, even though science fiction is usually not my cup of tea!  The vivid descriptions of memories and the poetic language of Lois Lowry makes the book a definite page turner!
The Giver is best suited for upper elementary students due to the advanced content including euthanasia, diversity, and sexual and emotional feelings.  The Giver could be used in classrooms to discuss literary elements, especially symbolism.  Many indepth discussions could be had about the comparison of society today with the society in The Giver, the importance of diversity, and career interests, as well as the debated topics of an overpowering government and euthanasia.

Chalk written by Bill Thomson

Chalk told by Bill Thomson is eloquently told through a wordless picture book.  The illustrations are breathtaking and were done through the use of traditional painting techniques without the use of computer programs.  I absolutely loved reading Chalk and even brought it home to read with my younger siblings!  We talked about the days last summer when we colored our sidewalks with chalk and spent the rest of the afternoon reading!
Chalk is a story that promotes creativity and imagination! Chalk draws the reader in and allows the reader to drift off into their own daydreams!  Children in the younger elementary grades will find their imaginations soaring after reading this wordless picture book.  As a teacher, the use of wordless picture books may help develop a positive reading habit, an understanding of the components of a story, as well as allowing students that have difficulty reading text to fully enjoy reading! With students in upper elementary I may have students narrate the book, write what happens next, or use the book to incorporate readers of all aptitudes! 

Poetry

• Blue Ribbons Award Winner for Nonfiction 2002 by Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB)

Outside the Lines written by Brad Burg and Rebecca Gibbon is a collection of concrete poems that incorporates the element of shape to reinforce the activities and movements depicted by the text.  Outside the Lines illustrates common children's activities such as playing catch, flying a kite, and playing baseball.  The poems in the collection vary in length and are written in many different formats. Reading these poems were fun and exciting.  With the turn of each page a new activity was being depicted and I had to figure out how the poem was to be read.  Students will enjoy reading this collection of poems as they read about the activities they love in a nonconventional way.
 As a future teacher, I would use Outside the Lines as a way to introduce poetry to students due to the engaging topics of children's play.  The book is an example of the element of shape that is easy to follow along and shows students that the length of their poem is not the focus but rather the emotion behind the poem.  Using Outside the Lines in an elementary classroom may promote reading in students that do not necessarily enjoy reading lengthy books. 

Haiku Picturebook for Children written by Keisuke Nishimoto and illustrated by Kozo Shimizu introduces children to the world of the Japanese poem known as haiku.  The illustrations show common Japanese activities, animals, as well as traditional food and dress, giving the reader a brief insight into the Japanese culture. The illustrations also convey the mood of the poem on the page.   The collection, written in Japanese symbols with the pronunciation printed below as well as the English translation, follows the traditional 5-7-5 pattern.  As a note, the English translation does not follow the traditional 5-7-5 pattern which should be discussed with students.  Reading haiku is an enjoyable experience due to the expression of feelings and sense of the season that is being described.  Haiku pushes students to think outside the realm of rhyming and use symbolism and nature to depict a particular mood. 
As a teacher, haiku is an important form of poetry that can bring the Japanese culture into the classroom, urge students to think creatively, and allows students to create images with the written word.

 Dinothesaurus written and illustrated by Douglas Florian is somewhat of a dictionary for dinosaurs.  Engaging, colorful, and catchy! This book will be a student favorite and should be available for every dinosaur lover! The illustrations pull the reader in by giving the dinosaurs human attributes such as listening to an iPod and wearing a sweater. The illustrations also draw parallels between the dinosaurs' attributes and twenty-first century luxuries including the fighter jet emblems on the pterosaurs wings, and the "giga-bites" eaten by the giganotosaurus. 

Dinothesaurus is an example of a subject specific collection of poetry that uses rhyming to engage the reader. This book of poems filled with information on the many types of dinosaurs that lived before our time.  Dinothesaurus could be used as a resource during a unit on dinosaurs, to engage students in science topics, or to spark a student's curiosity! 

Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake is Dahl's intrepretation of the true story of six well-known fairy tales including: Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Jack and the Beanstalk, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, and The Three Little Pigs.  Roald Dahl's use of humor and crude comments keeps readers laughing through the book while still conveying the basics of traditional rhymes.  Some adults may protest the use of Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes due to the inappropriate and possibly scary interpretations of chidlren's fairy tales.  An interview at the end of the book allows the reader to gain insight into the processes of writing stories and creating interesting characters through Roald Dahl's perspective.  During this interview, Roald Dahl explains that he portrays horror without scaring children because he "never describes any horrors happening, you just say that they do happen".  As a teacher I would offer this book to students that enjoy fairy tales with a twist or to students that enjoy the type of humor that Roald Dahl uses to entertain his readers.  This is a book that I would recommend limiting to the upper elementary grades due to the more advanced content and use of crude humor.

 Colors written by Ken Nordine and illustrated by Henrik Drescher
Ken Nordine originally wrote radio ads for paint, giving colors personalities.  The public enjoyed his radio ads so much that Ken Nordine began recording his ads into what he called "word jazz".  Colors is a compilation of Ken Nordine's word jazz recordings into a book with the illustrations being known as a type of "image jazz".  Upon first glance through the book I was intrigued and yet confused by the randomness of the book.  After having researched Ken Nordine and finished reading Colors I have completely fallen in love with the energy and vivid descriptions of the personality of colors! 
Honestly, this is a book that would not be widely used in my classroom because I feel that many students would not understand the point of the book.  I would, however, have this book available for students during a poetry unit or have on the shelf for students that are looking for a different style of poetry.

Witch Poems edited by Daisy Wallace and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman is a collection of poems from a variety of well-known authors including: Jack Prelutsky, e.e. cummings, and James Reeves.  This book of poems vividly describes the sensation of riding a broom and brewing potions while using language that conveys an eerie mood allowing the reader to become involved in the witches activities.  The illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman aid in setting the mood with black and white sketches that show every detail. 

Witch Poems is a book that uses repetition through each poem that may be helpful for younger students that are beginning to read.  Witch Poems also gives details of witch activities that may strike a chord with students and encourage them to read more advanced books on the same topic.  Witch Poems is a book that I would have available during Halloween, a unit on poetry, or when a student expresses interest in witches. 

To use it.. or not to use it? Controversial topics in children's literature

• 2006 Kirkus Editor's Choice
• 2006 American Library Association Notable Book
• A Nick Jr. Best Book of 2006

It's Not the Stork! written by Robie H. Harris and illustrated by Michael Emberley is a book about girls, boys, babies, bodies, families, and friends.  It's Not the Stork! discusses the taboo topic of sex with kid friendly gloves.  The text incorporates scientific terminology along with cartoon strip drawings to convey how a baby is "made", including drawings of males and females and their body parts.  It is not a secret that many teachers and parents may be nervous or even upset about the use of this book in the elementary classroom.  As a future teacher, and the fact that I have siblings in the second grade, I completely understand the apprehension of many adults.  With that being said, I believe this book is a wonderful tool that can be used once students are curious and are raising questions.  This is a book that I would send home with students to discuss with their parents or have available for students to look through on their own.  I know for a fact that teachers frequently hear, "Where do babies come from?" and beginning teachers may not know how to respond.  This book is a resource that can be kept on the shelf to pull out whenever necessary.  I highly recommend this book for every teacher in the elementary grades!

• One Hundred Books that Shaped the Century List compiled by the School Library Journal
• Caldecott Medal 1995

Smoky Night written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by David Diaz sheds light on the topic of racism and some of the unfortunate events that may come from such hatred such as rioting.  Smoky Night was written in response to the Rodney King incident in Los Angeles, California, which may be the topic of controversy in an elementary classroom.  This book tackles the obstacles of explaining rioting and racism to children through the use of stunning illustrations and text that children may identify with through their own moral compass.  The illustrations on each page are done in acrylics that do not elude to any particular race being portrayed.  The backgrounds to the acrylic paintings are photographs of items or materials that are related to the text on the same page. 
As a future teacher I feel that discussing the topic of racism at an early age is important.  Many adults that feel they are protecting children from such topics do not realize the implications that may come from their sheltering.  Students need to be able to openly discuss topics such as racism in order to develop their own societal responsibility and form their own conclusions about the implications of racism.
Smoky Night is a book that lends itself to many uses in an elementary classroom.  It could be readily available in my classroom or used in a lesson in social studies, language arts, or even creative writing!

Do You Sing Twinkle? A Story about Remarriage and New Family written by Sandra Levins and illustrated by Bryan Langdo is told from the viewpoint of a young boy who is struggling with his parents' divorce.  This book may be considered controversial due to the topic of divorce but is actually a great resource for helping children deal with their feelings and questions about parent seperationg and remarriage.  At the end of the book there is a parent resource page written by Jane Annunziata, PsyD, that desrcibes coping strategies for children to be implemented by the parents for a variety of situations involved with acclamating to a lifestyle after separation.  This is a book that I would send home with students to read with their parents if they were having difficulties with a new family situation.  This is also a resource that I could turn to if I had parents coming to me with questions about how to discuss issues related to impending or recent divorce with their children. 

Intend to Read List

Pieces of Georgia by Jen Bryant

Book Sense 76 Summer 2006 List
Iowa Children’s Choice Award list 2008-2009
IRA Young Adult Choices List 2008
Notable Trade Books for Social Studies, 2006
Publishers Weekly, starred review
Texas Lone Star Reading list 2008
Utah Beehive Award List 2008
VOYA Top Shelf Pick for Middle Grades, 2006

This is a book that passed over my lap during the book pass in class on Tuesday.  I felt that I could relate to main character and the synopsis on the book jacket made me not want to pass the book! 

A Step From Heaven by AN NA (2001)
Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award
A 2001 National Book Award Finalist
An ALA Notable Book
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
An IRA Young Adult Choice Book
A Horn Book Fanfare Book
A New York Times Best Book of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
2001 Kiriyama Prize Notable Book Shortlist
A Publishers Weekly Best Seller
This was a book that was presented in class that really caught my eye.  I have a younger brother that moved to America at a young age and is struggling adapting to life in America.  I felt, as a result of this book, I could obtain another viewpoint that helped me relate to my brother.  Also, all of the presenters highly recommended the book!

Oops. (2006). Arthus Geisert

Oops by Arthus Geisert is a wordless picture book that was presented in class this week.  Oops is a story of things that go wrong and all of the bad things that happen which has to be funny, and I love funny!  Wordless picture books are new to me and I would like to further explore this area of children's literature. 

The Garden of Eve. (2007) K.L. Going

The Garden of Eve was presented in class this week during the fantasy and science fiction genre.  This book seemed interesting as a future teacher because it could be a resource for helping students cope with death.  The book could also be used to spark interest in this particular genre.  Fantasy and science fiction is not usually a genre I turn to, but this was a book that caught my eye!

Red Ridin' in the Hood and Other Cuentos. (2005). Patricia Santos Marcantonio and Renato Alarcao

Red Ridin' in the Hood and Other Cuentos was presented during the Folklore and Fairy Tales genre presentation.  This book caught my eye because I love fairy tales, and this has a modern twist! 

The Princess and the Pizza. (2002). Mary Jane and Herm Auch

The Princess and the Pizza was presented during the Folklore and Fairy Tales genre presentations.  This is a genre that I am very comfortable with.  Also, the traditional Princess and the Pea story was recently done as a play with the teen drama club at the Iowa City Public Library that I volunteer with.  I completely fell in love with the story and I think a modern twist with a "girl power" message would be a great read!

Who's Got Game? The Ant of the Grasshopper? (2003). Toni and Slade Morrison illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre.

This is a graphic novel that was presented during genre presentations.  I must admit I have never opened a graphic novel before, but my younger sister also recommended this book so I think I might have to read it!  I was drawn to this book due it the story line of the classic fable with a contemporary twist.  If you read throughout my blog, these types of stories are my favorite!

Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter's Companion written by Captain William Luber (2006).  Pirateology is a book about pirates that is an experience to read!  This book incorporates a tactile experience along with exciting information on pirates and activities to keep the reader busy.  This book was discussed during both a genre presentation as well as the text-set presentations.  I was excited to be able to flip through this book because of all the pull outs and sensory activities.  It also sparked an interest in pirates.  I had no idea there were so many books about pirates!





 Captain Abdul's Pirate School written and illustrated by Colin McNaughton (2004)

This book was presented during a text-set discussion.  I was immediately drawn to this book when I was told that at the end of the book, the reader discovers that the main character is a girl.  The presenter also said that the book uses humor to bring the reader in, and I like funny books!

Tikki Tikki Tembo written by Arlene Mosel illustrated by Blair Lent (1968)

Tikki Tikki Tembo is a Chinese folktale about a littler boy with an extraoridinarily long name who falls into a well.  This illustrations portray traditional cultural activities and dress.  Tikki Tikki Tembo was presented during a text-set on names.  I remember singing the song when I was a younger and had no clue it came from a book. 

The Name Jar written and illustrated by Yangsook Choi (2001)

The Name Jar was presented during a text set on names.  The Name Jar is a story about a little girl that moves to America and her new classmates have a difficult time pronouncing her name.  All of the classmates fill a jar with new names and when the little girl goes to pick a new name, she decides that she loves her name because it is part of her identity.  I thought it was a cute story with an important message.

A Shelter in our Car written by Monica Gunning illustrated by Elaine Pedlar (2004).

A Shelter in our Car is a story about a young girl and her mother who are forced to live in their car after a tragedy strikes their family.  Homelessness is such an important issue in today's society that needs to be addressed and discussed.  I want to teach in underprivileged schools and I believe this book will be a great resource for my future classrooms. 

Maniac Magee written by Jerry Spinelli (1990)

• Boston Globe/Horn Book Award
• Carolyn Field Award
• Newberry Medal
• Charlotte Award
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award
• Flicker Tale Award
• Indian Paintbrush Book Award
• Rhode Island Children's Book Award
• Buckeye Children's Book Award
• Land of Enchantment Award
• Mark Twain Award
• Massachusetts Children's Book Award
• Nevada Young Reader's Award
• Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award
• Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award

Maniac Magee came across my lap during a book pass in class as well as during a text set on homelessness.  This book, with a multitude of awards, came highly recommended by both Dr. Cavendish and the text set presenter.  Maniac Magee discusses homelessness and racism which are both topics that need to be discussed with elementary school children due to their prevelance in today's society.

Monster written by Walter Dean Myers (1999)

• 2000 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Literature for Young Adults
• 1999 National Book Award Finalist
• Coretta Scott Kind Author Honor
• Edgar Allan Poe Award- Best Young Adult
• Boston Glove-Horn Book Honor
• L.A. Times Book Award
• ALA Best Books for Young Asults
• ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
• New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
• Notable Children's Book- New York Times
• Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award
• Boosense 76 List
• Kentucky State Award
• Booklist Editor's Choice
• BCCB Blue Ribbon
• Heartland Award for Excellence in YA Literature
• Fanfare- Horn Book Honor List
• New York TImes Notable Book of the Year
• PW Best Books of the Year
• Riverbank Review Children's Book of Distinction

Monster cam across my lap during a book pass in class.  This book immediately caught my eye!  Monster is written like a movie script about a 16-year-old boy that is on trial for murder.  I thought the book would be an interesting read that many students would enjoy because of the suspenseful content as well as the interesting way the novel is written.

The Color of My Words by Lynn Joseph

 The Color of My Words tells a tragic yet inspiring story of girl from the Dominican Republic, Ana Rosa, and her dream of becoming a writer.  This dream comes true when she writes a number of articles for the newspaper regarding the "rebellion", of her family and neighbors, against the government, that is unlawfully selling the land where Ana Rosa's neighborhood resides.  The "rebellion" ends in tragedy and Ana Rosa vows never to write again.  That is, until she receives a typewriter from her family and friends that make her promise she will write! The Color of My Words opened my eyes to the many luxuries in my life: freedom of speech, ability to own land, and the countless opportunities I have been given to further my education and achieve my dreams!
The Color of My Words will give students an opportunity to relate to a student from a country and culture different from their own.  My students will be able to relate to the struggles Ana Rosa encounters in the book and will provide an outlet for promoting diversity and acceptance. 

Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings

Red Kayak is a heart wrenching story that I absolutely could not put down! I felt a variety of emotions including sadness, compassion, anger, anxiety and at several points I felt my eyes welling up with tears.  The book presents genuine life struggles that everyone can relate to in one way or another.  The heavy material presented in Red Kayak includes lies, deception, death, serious illness, betrayal, financial strife, as well as dealing with the ideas of right and wrong. 
The reader follows Brady through his explanation of events that occurred in the recent past.  Brady blames himself for the loss of three year old, Ben, and upon uncovering the fact that his friends were to blame struggles with keeping his friends secret and doing what he knows deep down is the right thing to do. 
Red Kayak is a must read for upper elementary and junior high students, due to the heavy issues presented in the novel.  Teachers should be prepared to handle questions students may have or emotions that may surface when students relate their own experiences to events in the novel.  This book could be used to elicit emotional responses from students, create a reading circle, or as a pretext to students journaling about their own struggles. 

Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom written and illustrated by Shane Evans

Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom is an inspiring book that follows a family along the Underground Railroad through the use of simple, yet powerful, crayon-like drawings.  The book uses short phrases to convey the emotions of the family at each stage of their journey.  This book could be used in a classroom as a trade book that is available during a unit on slavery, to provide an example of how illustrations can tell the story, as well as to show how even simple illustrations can be entrancing.

Knuffle Bunny Free An Unexpected Diversion by Mo Willems

Knuffle Bunny Free An Unexpected Diversion is the final book in the Knuffle Bunny Series by Mo Willems.  This book boasts incredible illustrations with black and white photographed backgrounds and vibrant hand-drawn characters in the foreground!  The illustrations draw the reader into the story as we follow Trixie through her journey of learning to cope with her missing Knuffle Bunny and the selflessness she shows when giving up her Knuffle Bunny to a young child.  This book promotes sharing and selflessness but not at the cost of a well-written story and illustrations. Honestly, I would use the book to show my students an out of the box way of illustrating a book! This book could also be used to help a student cope with the loss of a safety item or to promote selflessness. 

The Frank Asch Collection

Bear's Bargain written and illustrated by Frank Asch.

Bear's Bargain written and illustrated by Frank Asch is a book that promotes perseverance, friendship, and thinking outside of the box.  I enjoyed the book, but I felt the didactic points of the story overpowered the story that could have been.  Illustrations by Frank Asch are simple and are not exactly engaging.  The illustrations do however, provide subtle humor and insight into the story.  As a teacher, I would use this book in the younger grades as an easy-to-read book that younger students could read on their own, or to illustrate an example of the necessary components of a story.

Happy Birthday, Moon written and illustrated by Frank Asch.

Happy Birthday, Moon was recommended to me by a Kindergarten teacher.  I must say, I did not find the book as fascinating as she did.  The book tells a story about Bear and his conversation with the moon, which is really his echo.  Frank Asch uses subtle humor that is shown in his simple illustrations.  As a teacher, this book could be used to preface the question, "What causes an echo?"  or the discussion of the phases of the moon. 

Goldilocks and the Three Bears illustrated by Jan Brett

Goldilocks and the Three Bears is beautifully illustrated by Jan Brett.  The borders of each page are truly captivating! The borders tell the story of what the characters that are currently not being discussed are doing.  Jan Brett uses precise detail in every illustration that makes the reader want to study each page.  Teachers can use this book to show students that illustrations can present other aspects of the story, or even tell a different story! 

The Lane Smith Collection

Pinocchio the Boy (or Incognito in Collodi) written and illustrated by Lane Smith

Pinocchio the Boy (or Incognito in Collodi) written and illustrated by Lane Smith presents the traditional Pinocchio story with a modern twist.  Lane Smith places emphasis on the simple, yet warm illustrations that consume the page rather than the text, that are written more as captions.  The somber mood throughout the book was countered by the subtle humor.  Teachers could use Pinocchio the Boy as a way to introduce the idea of illustrations telling the story, as well as telling a traditional story in a new way.  This book could also be used as a creative writing activity, where students write an alternate ending to the story. Overall, Pinocchio the Boy was an entertaining book that allowed the reader to accompany Pinocchio on his journey to discover himself through humor and expressive illustrations!

Madam President written and illustrated by Lane Smith

Madam President, written and illustrated by Lane Smith, follows Katy, a young girl obsessed with being President, through a day in her life as she hands out American flags, appoints cabinet members, and vetoes the school lunch!  Smith tells Katy's story through witty text and hilarious illustrations that allow readers to discover new details every time they read Madam President. 

 

Madam President could be used in early elementary grades to introduce the role of the President through the use of humor.  Students will be able to relate well to Katy and her aspirations of becoming President due to the humor in the illustrations!  Even though some aspects of the book are based on fact, Smith depicts the Presidential cabinet as including: Secretary of Dance, Secretary of Naps, and Secretary of Pizza.  Smith delights readers again with the entertaining story of Madam President!

 

 

 It's a Book! written and illustrated by Lane Smith
It's a Book! presents the issue of society's push to incorporate the use of technology in every day life while at the cost of losing touch with reading an actual book.  The two characters, a monkey and a donkey, banter back and forth regarding the capabilities of a book.  The donkey pesters the monkey by asking, "Can it text? Tweet? Wi-Fi?" The donkey becomes immersed in the book and assures the monkey he will "charge it up when I'm done!"  The monkey is clearly annoyed by the donkey's lack of understanding as he calmly states, "It's a book, Jackass!"  Smith's obvious use of crude humor makes this book hilarious yet controversial when being read in a school setting.  Teachers should allow the book to be present in the classroom but be prepared for any questions or misuse of the term "jackass".  If the book is read aloud to a class, I would suggest omitting the term in grades younger than second.  However, no matter what grade level reads It's a Book! the term "jackass" needs to be discussed as both a name for a donkey as well as a demeaning term that should not be used. 

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! written by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! presents a new viewpoint to the traditional Three Little Pigs story.  This book is an account, told by the Wolf, of how the "Big Bad Wolf" came to be!  As many of the other books illustrated by Lane Smith, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs boasts simple illustrations that show important details.  Teachers could use this book to present the concept of telling stories from various viewpoints, and follow with a writing activity.  Teachers should also take caution when using the repeated phrase, "dead as a doornail".  Many young students may not understand the idea of death and teachers should be ready for questions.  

 Science Verse written by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith
Science Verse is a compilation of short poems written to the tune of common children's rhymes that explain various science topics.  Reading Science Verse definitely made me laugh, especially when I found myself repeating, "Eenie, meanie, mynie, mo. Catch a virus, watch it grow. Once it's got you, it won't go. Eenie, meanie, my--oh no!"  By mimicking common children's rhymes students will be able to remember the silly words easily.  This book would be appropriate for students that enjoy memorizing facts or for teachers to pick out a rhyme that corresponds to the current topic being taught in science.  Students would be able to use the rhyme as introduction to a new topic in science!