The Bookworm : 2013

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

#30 Big Turtle

Title: Big Turtle

Author: David McLimans

Illustrator: David McLimans

Publishing Company: Walker & Company

# of Pages: 30

Genre/Category: Multicultural

Big Turtle is a Huron American Indian myth about how the earth came to be. A long time ago, there was the sky and the sky people and the water where all the animals lived. A sky girl fell down from the sky and was caught by swans. She could not live there, so turtle volunteered to let her live on his back if someone would swim to the deepest part of the water and bring back dirt. Many animals tried, but only the toad succeeded. Toad died, but the earth was formed and toads are still honored by the Hurons.

The illustrations were created using pencil, pen, tracing paper, and a computer. The illustrations are all very geometric, and some of the shading in is done by using geometric shapes. The illustrator uses mostly cool colors. Also, the illustrations are done as double spreads.

This story is appropriate for children ages 6-9. It could be used in the classroom to discuss American Indians and their culture. It could also be used to discuss myths. Another way this book could be used in the classroom is to talk about how toad tried his best and succeeded. The teacher could stress how it is always important to try your best.

#29 Horse Song

Title: Horse Song

Author: Ted and Betsy Lewin

Illustrator: Ted and Betsy Lewin

Publishing Lee & Low Books

# of Pages: 43

Genre/Category: Multicultural

I chose this book because the cover looked interesting. It is about Ted and Betsy Lewin’s visit to Mongolia to see the child jockeys compete in the Naadam festival. Ted and Betsy describe the culture of Mongolia, and they meet a young boy named Tamir. Tamir is nine years old, and he is competing in the race. The jockey’s ride wild horses over a 14 mile stretch. Ted and Betsy watch the race closely and cheer Tamir on. Tamir actually wins first place and brings honor to his family.#29 Horse Song

Title: Horse Song

Author: Ted and Betsy Lewin

Illustrator: Ted and Betsy Lewin

Publishing Lee & Low Books

# of Pages: 43

Genre/Category: Multicultural

The illustrations were completed using watercolor and ink pen. Some of the illustrations look very real, and they do a good job showing the emotions of the people. Other illustrations look very cartoon-like. I think this may show both Ted and Betsy’s different perspectives. The text switches from formal to informal throughout the book.

This book would be appropriate for children ages 8-11. It is a longer children’s book, and it has difficult words in it. Teachers could use this book to talk about horses and jockeys. Teachers could also use this book to talk about the culture of Mongolia. Another way this book could be implemented in the classroom is as a geography lesson. Students could look for Mongolia on a map, and then they could measure how far it is from the Unites States.

#28 Tibetan Tales from the Top of the World

Title: Tibetan Tales from the Top of the World

Author: Naomi C. Rose

Illustrator: Naomi C. Rose

Publishing Company: Dancing Dakini Press

# of Pages: 59

Genre/Category: Multicultural

Tibetan Tales from the Top of the World contains different stories that are popular in Tibet written in English and Tibetan. These stories include Prince Jampa’s Surprise, Sonam and the Stolen Cow, and Tashi’s Gold. The stories teach about the traditions and people of Tibet. The stories focus on a younger main character. Each story has a lesson to be learned such as not judging others, being honest, and sharing. It also includes extra information on Tibetan Wildlife and a foreword by the Dalai Lama.

The illustrations look like a mixture of watercolors and acrylic paints. Some pages look opaque, while others do not. The illustrations are very colorful, and it is obvious that people in Tibet wear bright colors. The illustrations are formal, and the text is formal.

I would recommend this book for children ages 6-8. In the classroom, it could be used to teach about the Tibetan culture. Students could read the book and look at the illustrations to learn more about Tibet. Teachers could also use this book to teach lessons like not judging others, being honest, and sharing. One story is about a prince who wants to attack another kingdom because he has misconceptions about the people. When he arrives at the palace, the people are welcoming and explain their culture to him. He ends up becoming friends with the kingdom. I think this story would be good to use when teaching children about equality or friendship. Children could also read this book when studying folk tales. This book has not won any awards, but it is one of the few children’s books in Tibet.

#27 The Magic Gourd

Title: The Magic Gourd

Author: Baba Wague Diakite

Illustrator: Baba Wague Diakite

Publishing Company: Scholastic Press

# of Pages: 26

Genre/Category: Multicultural

I chose this book because it was very obvious that it was a multicultural book. It is about a starving rabbit in Africa that helps a chameleon. The chameleon gives the rabbit a magic bowl that fills up with whatever he asks, but the king eventually finds out about it. The king takes the bowl and makes it fill up with gold. The chameleon then gives rabbit a stone that hits people in the head until called off. The rabbit takes it to the king and uses it to get his bowl back, and the king learns that friendship and generosity are important.

There are many different mediums used in this book. Ceramic plates, bowls, and tiles are used for the main illustrations. The illustrator also uses hand-built clay sculptures. The illustrations are very different than typical children’s books. They have a very African feel to them, and the colors seem saturated.

This book seems difficult because of the foreign words that are used in it, so I would recommend it for children ages 8-11. I really did not care for this book, but it could be used to teach about the culture of the people that live in Mali, Africa. It could also be used to talk about generosity and friendship. I also think it would be fun to let the students write about what they would ask for if they had a magic bowl like the rabbit in the story. This book has not won any awards.

#26 Two Bobbies

Title: Two Bobbies

Author: Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery

Illustrator: Jean Cassels

Publishing Company: Walker Publishing Company

# of Pages: 29

Genre/Category: Nonfiction

I chose this book because it is my new favorite book. I saw it during spring break at a bookstore in New Orleans and had to have it. Two Bobbies is a true story about a bobtail dog and a bobtail cat named Bob Cat and Bobbi. During Hurricane Katrina, the dog, Bobbi, was left chained to a porch, and Bob Cat did not leave his side. The animals were not rescued, so the dog finally broke free to search for food. The animals were nearly starved when they came upon a construction site. One of the workers fed them and tried to pet the cat, but the dog would not let him come near the cat. The worker eventually got them in a van and took them to a shelter. The shelter separated the animals, but the dog was so pitiful that they reunited Bob Cat and Bobbi. When they do, they realize that Bob Cat is blind, and that Bobbi has been his protector and eyes. The animals eventually find a new home, and the last page includes a photograph of the two animals together.

The illustrations are all done using gouache on 140 lb. Arches hot press watercolor paper except the photograph provided by Barb Davis at the back of the book. The illustrations are realistic and accurately portray how devastated New Orleans was after Hurricane Katrina. I found the use of lines in this book interesting. During the hurricane and when the animals are homeless, the illustrator uses jagged lines. When they are rescued and reunited, the background has several straight lines.

The real Bobbi and Bob Cat.

I think this book would be enjoyed by many age groups, but it would be appropriate for children ages 6-11 in a classroom. The obvious way this book would be used in a classroom is to discuss New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina. There are many more ways that this book could be used though. Bob Cat and Bobbi appeared on CNN when the shelter was looking for them a home. Students could make their own news story telling about Hurricane Katrina and the animals that need homes. Teachers could also use this book to discuss weather and what causes hurricanes. I would also like to use this book to talk about different disabilities, like Bob Cat’s blindness. Kirby Larson is also the author of Newbery Honor Book Hattie Big Sky, but this book has not won any awards.

#25 Baboons

Title: Baboons

Author: Kevin J. Holmes

Illustrator: Gerald D. Tang, Joe McDonald, Robin Brandt, and Rob and Ann Simpson

Publishing Company: Capstone Press

# of Pages: 18

Genre/Category: Nonfiction

I chose this book because my practicum class had been studying apes. I thought they might find baboons interesting too. This book teaches students about the different types of baboons. It explains where they live, what they eat, and it discusses many other interesting facts. There is also a hands-on game at the end of the book to play with a class. It teaches children that baboons work together to protect themselves.

This book is composed of photographs. Many different people contributed to the illustrations in this book. The text and the photographs are formal. I have found that my practicum students really love to look at actual photographs of animals instead of illustrations. I feel like seeing the real thing helps them understand what they are reading.

This book is appropriate for ages 6-8. The words and diagrams are not difficult to understand, but since it is a nonfiction book it is harder to read. This book would work for teaching students about baboons. It also would be useful when teaching parts of informational text. I read a book similar to this to my class and we made our own nonfiction book page. This book would also be a good book to use when teaching a class how important it is to work together since baboons work together and there is a game for the students to play.

#24 A Butterfly is Patient

Title: A Butterfly is Patient

Author: Dianna Aston

Illustrator: Sylvia Long

Publishing Company: Chronicle Books LLC

# of Pages: 28

Genre/ Category: Nonfiction

I chose this book because I liked that it was a nonfiction book without photographs. This book teaches children about different types of butterflies. It uses headings to tell what the page will be about, such as “The Butterfly is Helpful.” This page then talks about how butterflies help by pollinating flowers. It explains the life cycle of a butterfly, and it talks about different things that butterflies do.

Sylvia Long uses beautiful watercolors to paint the butterflies in this book. The colors portray the butterflies accurately, and the illustrations almost do not look like watercolors to me. They seem heavier than watercolors. Most of the pages are two page spreads with informal text. I love that each butterfly, caterpillar, and egg is labeled with a name.

This book is appropriate for children ages 4-8. The text is not too difficult, but older students could learn more about the names of butterflies. This book would be wonderful when studying life cycles. It does not only tell the life cycle of the butterfly, but it also gives interesting information about butterflies. Students could each choose a certain butterfly and complete a research project on it. They could present their findings to the class through a Power Point presentation or a poster. This book could also be used as a vocabulary lesson. There are several words that only pertain to butterflies, but there are also strong descriptive words that students might not understand. This book talks about how caterpillars must wait patiently to become butterflies, so students could even write about a time that they had to be patient.

#23 The Secret Seder

Title: The Secret Seder

Author: Doreen Rappaport

Illustrator: Emily Arnold McCully

Publishing Company: Hyperion Books

# of Pages: 31

Genre/ Category: Historical Fiction

I chose this book because I already had it. It is about a Jewish boy, Jacques, and his family living in hiding during the Holocaust. It is the night of the Passover, and Jacques and his father are planning on secretly celebrating with other Jewish men. Jacques and his father must travel many miles to a safe house. The men are sad as they celebrate the Passover, but Jacques has learned the Four Questions and recites them. This surprises his father and makes the night extra special. Jacques learns that though he is not free, he can be free for the night.

The illustrations were done in acrylics. They are beautiful, and they use a shadowy look to show how secretive the Jews had to be. The use of jagged lines also shows the chaos and fear that Jacques felt. Some of the illustrations are double spreads, while others are only on one page.

This book is appropriate for children ages 5-9. It could be used in the classroom to discuss the Holocaust and World War II. It could also be used to discuss Jewish traditions. Children could discuss the different traditions they celebrate around Christmas. This book could also be used as a writing prompt. Teachers could ask students how they would feel if they had to hide all the time.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

#22 The Town that Fooled the British

Title: The Town that Fooled the British

Author: Lisa Papp

Illustrator: Robert Papp

Publishing Company: Sleeping Bear Press

# of Pages: 30

Genre/Category: Historical Fiction

I chose this book because I really liked the way the cover looked. It is a story about a boy named Henry, and it tells how he helped save the town of St. Michaels during the war of 1812. When the British sail their ships near enough to attack the town, Henry’s father goes to fight as part of the militia. Henry is dying to help, but he is told to stay with his mother and sister. Henry’s mother looks at their lanterns and states that she wishes Henry’s father had them with him. Henry immediately runs off towards his father’s camp with the lanterns. When he gets to the camp it is pouring rain, and Henry comes up with the idea of putting the lanterns in the trees. With nothing to aim at but the lanterns, the British miss the town entirely. Henry learns that it does not take a giant to defeat a giant.

The illustrations in this book are so realistic that I thought they were photographs. There are some lines though that makes me believe that the illustrations were completed using oil and acrylic paints. The illustrations really pop of the page, and the characters have a lighter line around them that make them almost look like they are glowing. I really like the way Robert Pap uses perspective in this book. On one of my favorite pages, Henry is standing in the grass with his mother and sister. The grass looks like it is growing on the page, and that Henry, his mom, and his sister are actually standing in it.

This book is appropriate for children ages 8-11. Anyone wanting to use this book would definitely have to point out some of the vocabulary words that are used in this book. A teacher could do an entire lesson with words from this book. These words include things such as militia, schooner, canteen, and cellar. This book talks about a battle during the War of 1812, so teachers could use this book to talk about this war. Teachers could also discuss with students what life was like in 1812 based on what they see in the illustrations, or teachers could discuss where the town of St. Michaels is located and find it on a map. This book has not won any awards, but it is still a wonderful work of literature.

#21 Rudy Rides the Rails

Title: Rudy Rides the Rails: A Depression Era Story

Author: Dandi Daley Mackall

Illustrator: Chris Ellison

Publishing Company: Sleeping Bear Press

# of Pages: 36

Genre/Category: Historical Fiction

I chose this book because I find the Great Depression very interesting. Rudy is a teenage boy that is dealing with taking care of his family during the Great Depression. Since there is no work to be found, he decides to head West with only $2.10. The story tells about what it would have been like to be a hobo during the Depression. It also explains the symbols the hobos would use to tell each other where to find work, food, or a safe camp. Rudy works odd jobs and sends what he can home to his family. He eventually makes it to California, and he decides it is time for him to head back home where he belongs.

The illustrations in Rudy Rides the Rails are very realistic. I think that the illustrations were done using acrylic paints. The characters faces are distinct, while the backgrounds may fade. The illustrator uses this to draw your eye to the main focus of the page. On one page, the characters are fuzzy, but the symbol drawn by a hobo stands out. The illustrator also uses warm colors throughout the book to express how people felt during the depression.

This book has difficult words and difficult concepts in it, so I would suggest using it with older students ages 10-14. This book would be a good way to begin a discussion about the hardships of the Great Depression. I think it would be a good book to use to compare yourself with the main character. Students that are ages 13 and 14 could put themselves in Rudy’s place and imagine what it would be like to travel across the United States alone. This book would also be good to use for a geography lesson. Students could map Rudy’s progress and measure the distance he covered.

Monday, February 25, 2013

#20- The Copycat Fish

Title: The Copycat Fish

Author: Gail Donovan

Illustrator: David Austin Clar Studio

Publishing Company: Night Sky Books

# of Pages: 23

Genre/Category: Fantasy

I chose this book because it is another story about Rainbow Fish, and I loved Rainbow Fish when I was younger. In this story, Rainbow Fish goes to school, and a younger fish, Tug, copies everything he does. Rainbow Fish gets really annoyed at Tug, but the teacher partners Tug and Rainbow Fish together to plant a garden. The two fish learn to work together, and they end up liking each other in the end.

I think the background illustrations in this book were created with watercolors, but I think the other parts were created with colored pencils. The illustrator uses jagged lines throughout the book, and I feel like this helps add to Rainbow Fish’s frustration at being copied. The fish are all outlined in a shadowy blue or black line. I feel like it helps give the fish depth. I really like the way the ocean is portrayed. The illustrator uses blues, greens, and purples all mixed together to give the reader an underwater experience.

I would recommend this book for children ages 2-5. The book has beautiful illustrations, simple words, and a clear moral. Teachers could use this book to teach children about working together and getting along. The fish in the book had to sort things by size, so younger children could have to sort things from smallest to largest or largest to smallest. Since I would recommend this book for younger children, I think teachers could also use this book when teaching colors. The illustrations are so colorful, and the students could work with Rainbow Fish’s scales. This book could also be used as an introduction to teaching children about fish.

#19- April and Esme: Tooth Fairies

Title: April and Esme: Tooth Fairies

Author: Bob Graham

Illustrator: Bob Graham

Publishing Company: Candlewick Press

# of Pages: 28

Genre/Category: Fantasy

I chose this book because the cover looked cute. It is about two young fairies, April and Esme, who think they are ready to collect their first tooth. The girls convince their mom and dad that they can do it, and then they fly off in the night to find Daniel Dangerfield’s house. When they get there, Daniel has put his tooth in a glass of water beside his bed, since his grandmother always puts her dentures in a glass of water at night. The girls dive for the tooth, but they wake Daniel up. Daniel goes back to sleep, and he thinks he only dreamed about the two fairy girls. In the end, the girls make it safely home to their proud parents.

The illustrations were done in ink and watercolor. They each seem to have a wistful, magical quality to them. Bob Graham lets some of the pictures tell the story instead of words, and there are multiple pictures on some pages. The pictures are all set vertically, and they are very detailed. I even noticed that the fairy mother had a hidden tattoo on her arm. I also liked that the illustrator used mostly cool colors to depict how calm the night was when the girls were flying.

I think this book would be appropriate for children ages 4-7. I personally did not really care for this book, but since it is about tooth fairies, many children can relate to it. I think teachers could use this book to discuss prologues and epilogues. This book actually has both, but I did not realize it at first. Since this book is about tooth fairies and losing teeth, I think this book could be used to teach about why children loose teeth or dental hygiene. Older students could even write about how they felt the first time they lost a tooth. Teachers could even discuss geography and how populations grow and take over land since this book deals with a highway being built near the girls’ house.

#18- Dragons Love Tacos

Title: Dragons Love Tacos

Author: Adam Rubin

Illustrator: Daniel Salmieri

Publishing Company: Penguin Books

# of Pages: 29

Genre/Category: Fantasy

I chose this book because the title sounded interesting, and I liked the way the cover looked. This book tells the reader how to host a taco party for dragons. There is a boy that the book seems to be “talking” to as he plans the taco party. The most important thing that the boy needs to know is to not give the dragons anything spicy. The boy follows all of the directions, but he accidentally gives the dragons mild salsa with spicy jalapenos. The dragons start blowing fire and burn the boy’s house down, but they also agree to help fix it in exchange for taco breaks.

When I first looked at the illustrations, I thought they were done with a type of paper collage. I found out that the illustrations were made using watercolors, gouache, and colored pencils. The illustrator also uses jagged lines during the story to express the way the dragons destroy the house. The illustrations do not have white space. Instead, the illustrator uses different light colored, speckled designs. Most of the colors in the book are lighter shades, and the text is set in an informal setting.

Dragons Love Tacos is a New York Times Bestseller, and I think this book would be appropriate for children ages 4-9. Children will most likely find this book humorous, but I would not recommend it for older children due to the book’s simplicity. This book uses some good descriptive sentences that could be used to teach adjectives or how to write detailed sentences. Teachers could also use this book to teach alliteration. The author uses simple alliterations throughout the story. I also think this book could be used to teach synonyms and antonyms. The author describes the tacos as both big and gigantic, so teachers could discuss how these words have the same meaning. There are also antonyms used such as smooth and chunky. Teachers could ask students to point out every synonym and antonym that they see in the story. I am actually using this book with my practicum class later this week. We are going to make “story tacos” after we read the book. The taco is a paper plate folded in half. Then, I have cut out pieces of construction paper in red, green, and brown. The children will write elements of the story on each piece. I plan on labeling the pieces as beginning, middle, and end since the students have really been working on sequencing.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

#17 Jack and the Beanstalk

#17- Jack and the Beanstalk

Title: Jack and the Beanstalk

Author: Albert Lorenze

Illustrator: Albert Lorenze

Publishing Company: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.

# of Pages: 28

Genre/Category: Traditional Literature

I chose this book because the cover looked interesting. It retells the classic story about a boy named Jack who sells the family cow for some magic beans. The beans grow into a tall bean stalk that takes Jack to the house of two giants. Jack steals from the giants, and they chase him down the bean stalk. He cuts the bean stalk down before they can make it to the bottom, and they fall into the ocean.

The illustrations in this book are done with pen and ink, watercolor, and colored pencils. There is hardly any blank space on the page, and I personally think the pages are too busy. It seems to take away from the story. I do like the way the illustrator uses perspective though. The giants are made to look extremely huge, and some of the pages make it seem like the reader is looking up at the large scale pictures. The illustrations change from horizontal to vertical throughout the book. The illustrator also used crosshatching and borders in every illustration. Some pages have a note to try to find Jack, and the reader is challenged to look through the busy pictures to find him.

This book would be appropriate for children ages 7-9. The illustrations are a little scary, and the story is pretty long. This book has motifs in it, so teachers could use this book to teach about motifs. One example is the use of skulls. Teachers could also choose one page and do a quick write. The teacher could ask the students to look at the page and write about everything they see on that page. The pages are so full, that each child could have something different. Teachers could also ask children what they would do if they were put into Jack’s place to teach children how to empathize with characters. This would also be a good book to use to introduce traditional literature to children.

#16 Unwitting Wisdom: An Anthology of Aesop's Fables

#16- Unwitting Wisdom: An Anthology of Aesop’s Fables

Title: Unwitting Wisdom: An Anthology of Aesop’s Fables

Author: Helen Ward

Illustrator: Helen Ward

Publishing Company: Chronicle Books

# of Pages: 53

Genre/Category: Traditional Literature

I chose this book because I found it on sale at Books-a-Million, and I decided that every elementary school teacher should have a copy of Aesop’s Fables for the classroom. This book houses fables that have been passed down through time. It includes 12 of Aesop’s Fables which include well known fables such as The Lion and the Mouse and The Tortoise and the Hare. Each story has a one or two page title page, and each story has two to three pages dedicated to the story. The author also includes morals that are written out at the bottom of the page.

Helen Ward uses ink line and watercolor on cotton-rag watercolor paper to remake these classic fables. I also noticed that she uses a type of crosshatching to feel in blank space, shadows, or fur. The crosshatching is mostly a light grey color. The illustrator also uses vignettes to help add to the fable. There is also a lot of blank space used throughout the book.

Aesop’s Fables are appropriate for all ages, but I would recommend this version of his fables for children ages 6-10. The words are slightly difficult, and the morals are in sayings that all children may not understand. I think this would be a great book to use when teaching what a moral is. Teachers could talk about how some books actually state their morals, and how some books do not. This book would also be a wonderful way to introduce children to fables. Everyone knows such stories as the Turtle and the Hare, and it is important for children to realize how old these stories truly are. Teachers could also use different fables from this book to teach children valuable lessons. Teachers could read the chapter about The Tortoise and the Hare and talk about not rushing through school work.

#15- Beauty and the Beast

15- Beauty & the Beast

Title: Beauty & the Beast

Author: Robert Sabuda

Illustrator: Robert Sabuda

Publishing Company: Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

# of Pages: 10

Genre/Category: Traditional Literature

I chose this book because I was amazed by it. Robert Sabuda used paper engineering to create fabulous pop ups, and I really wanted to take a closer look at it. This book is a version of the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. A man wanders into the Beast’s castle during a blizzard, and he is given food and shelter. When the man leaves, he takes a rose to give to his youngest daughter, Beauty. The Beast is enraged and tells him he must either stay or one of his children must take his place. Beauty takes her father’s place, and eventually falls in love with Beast. When Beauty admits that she loves him, Beast transforms into a handsome prince.

This book was made using paper engineering. The illustrations have a stained glass look to them, and they are absolutely beautiful. One of my favorite illustrations is a full two-page spread of the Beast’s head. The details are amazing, and the use of jagged lines adds to the Beast’s ferocity. Robert Sabuda also uses types of spot art pop ups to help tell the story.

The words in this book are not basic, and the story is actually kind of long. I would recommend this book for children ages 6-11. Younger children would definitely enjoy this book, but it would have to be presented to them in a read aloud format possibly over a couple of days. I think this book would be a great way to introduce fairy tales or traditional literature to the class. Children need to know what traditional literature is and why it is important. Teachers could also talk about selfishness since Beauty’s other sisters were so selfish in the book and ended up unhappy. There are also several tier 2 words in this book, so teachers could use this book purely for a vocabulary study. Words such as ravenous, ablaze, and lush are scattered throughout the story.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

#14 A Gold Star for Zog

Title: A Gold Star for Zog

Author: Julia Donaldson

Illustrator: Axel Scheffler

Publishing Company: Scholastic

# of Pages: 30

Genre/Category: Poetry

I chose this book because I thought the cover looked cute. It is about a dragon named Zog who cannot quite figure out where he fits in at dragon school. Every year, he tries to do his best to earn a gold star, but he seems to always get hurt when he tries. Every year, a girl comes and fixes up his injuries. One day, Zog is practicing capturing a princess, but he does not have any luck. The girl tells him she is a princess, and she tells him he can capture her. Zog gets a gold star for capturing the princess, and the princess is happy to spend her days doctoring the dragons. One day, a knight comes to save her, but she tells him she would rather be a nurse than a princess. The knight agrees with her, and they ride off on Zog to find patients in need of help.

I would guess that the illustrations in A Gold Star for Zog were done using acrylic paints and colored pencils. The illustrations do not have a transparent, water color look to them, and they do not look like any type of cut paper or collage. The illustrations are very detailed and brightly colored. The text throughout the book is done in a formal and informal format, and the illustrations are in a horizontal format. I really liked the way the illustrator depicted the setting in all of the illustrations. The setting is very detailed with scenes of forests, castles, and sky.

This book would probably be appropriate for children ages 4-7. I think it was a cute book, and the ending would probably surprise children. Teachers could use this book to discuss elements of fairytales. This book is written using rhymes, so teachers could also teach students about rhymes while using this book. I think it would also be fun to ask students to write about a time that they were not good at something, or about what they would like to be when they grow up since the princess really wanted to be a nurse.

#13- Llama Llama Time to Share

Title: Llama Llama Time to Share

Author: Anna Dewdney

Illustrator: Anna Dewdney

Publishing Company: Pearson

# of Pages: 31

Genre/Category: Poetry

I chose this book because I have been hearing about the Llama Llama books, but I had not read one. In Llama Llama Time to Share, the new girl from down the street, Gnu, comes to visit. Llama thinks he can share his toys with Gnu, until she wants to play with Fuzzy Llama. Llama gets very upset, and the children end up ripping Fuzzy Llama’s arm off. Fuzzy Llama gets fixed, and Llama and Gnu learn to share with each other in the end.

The illustrations were created using oil paints, colored pencils, and oil pastels on primed canvas. The illustrator did a very good job of portraying the character’s emotions through the illustrations. Cool colors were used when Llama and Gnu were getting along, but the background changes to warm colors when they begin to argue. One page is completely wordless, but it is clear to see what is going on. The illustrations are outlined within the same color family as the illustrations.

I think this book would be appropriate for children ages 3-6. The moral and the words seem a little too basic for children older than 6. This book would be a good book to use when discussing sharing or working together in a group with children. Teachers could also use this book to teach about poetry. Another way this book could be used in the classroom would be to teach children how to make predictions as they read. There are a few pages that could be used for this. For example, there is a page where Llama is grabbing Fuzzy Llama’s arm from Gnu. The teacher could ask the student’s what they think might happen next.

Friday, February 22, 2013

#12 Where do Balloons Go?

Title: Where Do Balloons Go?

Author: Jamie Lee Curtis

Illustrator: Laura Cornell

Publishing Company: Harper Collins Publishers

# of Pages: 32

Genre/Category: Poetry

I chose this book because someone did a book talk on it, and I really wanted to know how it ended. I was also interested to read this book since Jamie Lee Curtis is the author. It is a very sweet book about a boy who lets go of his balloon. He asks himself where it could have gone since all he can see is a big blue sky. The little boy comes up with silly ideas of what his balloon could be doing, and then he decides he is glad that the balloon is free to do what it pleases.

I could not find the medium, but I would guess the illustrations were made using water colors and ink sketches. The pictures are soft, and the colors are mostly warm. At the end, the colors change to cool as the boy decides he is glad his balloon is free. The illustrator did not use negative space. Most of the illustrations cover a horizontal two-page spread.

I think this book would be appropriate for children ages 5-9. It is easy for children to relate to, and most children have probably already asked themselves where balloons go. Teachers could use this book to introduce poetry. Teachers could also use this book to explain how different types of text, such as the text in the balloons, add to the story. This would also be a fun book to use as a writing prompt. Students could write a narrative about a time they lost something, or they could write about another place a balloon might go. For example, when I lost a balloon when I was a child, my mom told me that I should not be sad because it would float all the way up to heaven and little angel children would be able to enjoy it.

#11 If You're a Monster and You Know it

Title: If you’re a Monster and You Know it

Author: Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley

Illustrator: Rebecca Emberley

Publishing Company: Orchard Books

# of Pages: 31

Genre/Category: Poetry

I chose this book because I thought the name of it was cute. I also liked the way the cover looked. It is a remix of the song “If you’re Happy and You know it.” The poem has the same beat and rhythm as the song that all children already know. It uses monsters and monster body parts instead of human ones to do the actions. Children are asked to do things such as snort and growl, smack their claws, and roar.

The illustrations were made using freehand. It looked to me like construction paper cut out into small pieces and pieced together like a collage though. The illustrations are all done with a black background, and most of the monsters are made using intense warm colors. I really liked that some of the text was very informal. I also noticed that the illustrator did not use any type of outline on her illustrations, and she used jagged lines on many of the monsters. I felt that all of this helped add to the feeling of a scary monster book.

I would say this book would be appropriate for children ages 3-6. It repeats itself, so it would be a good book for beginning readers. Teachers could use this book in the classroom to introduce poetry, rhythm, or rhyme. I think it would also be fun to use this book for a “brain break” book. The children could stand up and do the dance with the book. It would also be a good book to use as writing prompt. Students could use adjectives to write about what they would look like if they were a monster. Younger students could write one sentence using the format, “If you’re a monster and you know it…” This would also be a great interactive way to introduce verbs. Students would “do” the verb, so it would help with their understanding of what a verb is.

Monday, January 28, 2013

#10 Honeybee Man

Title: Honeybee Man

Author: Lela Nargi

Illustrator: Kyrsten Brooker

Publishing Company: Schwartz & Wade Books

# of Pages: 27

Genre/Category: Picture Books

I chose this book while I was in the library. I could not find a book that looked interesting that was published in the year 2000 or later, but then I came across this book. It is about a man named Fred who lives in Brooklyn. He is a bee keeper, and keeps his bees on the roof of his house. He cannot wait for the day that the bees finish making honey, and he wistfully dreams about how the honey would taste if the bees used blueberry bushes. Fred makes honey and gives it to his neighbors. Then he takes a bite and realizes the bees did find some blueberry bushes in New York.

The illustrations were done using oil paints and collages. They are very colorful, and they really show what it is like to be a bee keeper. On the inside of the front cover and back cover, there are diagrams showing the parts of a bee and different kinds of bees. There are also diagrams explaining how a bee house works and parts of flowers.

This book is appropriate for children ages 4-9. It has enough of a plot to make it enjoyable for younger readers, but it also has enough factual information to keep older readers interested too. This book could lead to a lesson about bees. The book talks about how bees pollinate flowers, have a queen, and produce honey. This book could also be used to discuss the parts of a plant, or how different plants reproduce. The bees' house is also described as a small city, like Brooklyn. The students could study the differences between city, county, state, and country after reading this book. The author also uses several similes to describe the way the honey tastes. A teacher could talk about similes before reading the book, and then asks the students to pick out any similes they find. This book has not won any awards, but it is a very educational and interesting book.

#9 Chicken Joy on Redbean Road: A Bayou Country Romp

Title: Chicken Joy on Redbean Road: A Bayou Country Romp
Author: Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Illustrator: Melissa Sweet
Publishing Company: Houghton Mifflin Company
Copyright: 2007
# of Pages: 30

Genre/Category Picture Books

I chose this book because the title said it was about a Bayou romp, and I thought that sounded interesting. In the story, the rooster gets sick and cannot crow, so Mrs. Miser Vidrine decides he will make a good stew. Mrs. Miser Vidrine ends up gathering vegetables for the stew while the hen, Cleoma, runs to Joe Beebee for help. In the end, Joe comes and plays wonderful music that convinces the rooster to crow again.

The illustrations look like painted doodles to me. Each illustration looks like it was done on a ripped piece of paper that has been taped into the book. According to the book, the artist used mixed media. Some of these media include Twinrocker handmade papers, collage, and found objects. The illustrations also contain speech bubbles, but these are all in French.

I would recommend this book for children ages 6-10. It is actually quite lengthy, and it is full of difficult words. Some of the words are even in French, so a teacher could do a lesson on French. It is set in Louisiana, so I think it would be a good way to start a lesson on the culture of Louisiana. The book contains several similes, metaphors, and personifications. Students could write down each one they see in the book and decide what category the sentences fall under. There is also a map in the front of the book that shows how Cleoma made it to Joe Beebee's house. This would provide a good activity for working on map skills. This book has not won any awards that I know of, but it is still an interesting read.

#8 Buster

Title: Buster

Author: Denise Fleming

Illustrator: Denise Fleming

Publishing Company: Henry Holt and Company

# of Pages: 32

Genre/ Category: Picture Books

I chose this book because I really liked the way the cover looked. Buster is one happy dog until Betty the cat is brought home in a big brown box. Buster is terrified of cats, but Betty wants Buster's attention. Finally, Buster has had enough, so he runs away to the park and gets lost. He looks up to the sky and can see Betty at the top of a tall tree trying to show him the way home. He makes it home safely and realizes that he is happier than he ever was before Betty came along.

Denise Fleming creates her illustrations by pulp painting. Pulp painting is done by pouring colored cotton fiber through hand-cut stencils. I had never heard of pulp painting before, but I really liked the illustrations. The animals in the story almost look fuzzy of puffy. On each page, the entire page is colored, and the words are printed on top of the illustrations.

This book would be appropriate for children ages 4-8. It is a simple book, but it does have a map showing the way Buster made it home on one of the pages. Buster would be a good book to study maps with. The children could read the map key and find points on the map, or they could read how Buster got home in the book and find the route he took. Buster also has headings that introduce different sections. Teachers could explain how headings give us a preview of what is coming in the next part of the book, and let the students make predictions. This book would be a good book to let students read right before they are ready for chapter books since it does have headings that are sort of like chapters. Teachers could also read Buster and let students do a journal entry about something that scares them or a time they felt lost.