#10 Honeybee Man

Title: Honeybee Man

Author: Lela Nargi 

Illustrator: Kyrsten Brooker

Publishing Company: Schwartz & Wade Books

Copyright Date: 2011

# 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

Copyright Date: 2003

# 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. 

#7 Benny's Flag

Title: Benny's Flag
Author: Phyllis Krasilovsky
Illustrator: Jim Fowler
Publishing Company: Roberts Rinehart Publishers
Copyright Date: 2002
# of Pages: 30

Genre/Category: Picture Books

     I chose to read Benny's Flag because the cover was pretty and caught my eye. Benny's Flag is a true story about a young Aleut boy from Alaska who lives in a mission home. Benny is happy there, but he dreams of becoming a strong fisherman. Every night, he looks at the constellations and thinks. One day, the school Benny goes to tells the students that Alaska needs a flag since it is becoming one of the United States, and the students get to design it. Benny thinks and thinks about what to draw for his contest entry, and he finally decides on using the Big Dipper and the North Star on a field of blue. Benny wins the contest and gets to march at the head of a parade holding Alaska's new flag.

    The illustrations are amazing and really make you feel like you are staring at a night sky in Alaska. The illustrations make me think of oil paints. They do not have strict edges and lines, but rather run together to make gorgeous color blends. I also liked the way the illustrator made the children look. It is obvious that Benny is a young Aleut boy, and most of the children have the black hair and dark eyes like Benny does.

     This book could be used in a variety of ways, and I think it could be appropriate for a variety of ages depending on how it was used. I would say it would be a good book for children ages 4-9. Benny's Flag could be used in a history lesson when learning about the states and how they became a state. It could also be used when learning about the state flags. The book tells what each item on the flag symbolizes, and I believe it is important for children to understand that flags have meaning. This book could also be used when talking about constellations, since Benny points out several of them. Another way a teacher could use this in the classroom is as a geography lesson about the type of land Alaska is and how the weather there is. Teachers could even teach about the Alaskan culture since there are words such as parka and mukluks throughout the book.

   

   

#6 Micawber

Title: Micawber
Author: John Lithgow
Illustrator: C. F. Payne

Publishing Company: Aladdin Paperbacks
Copyright Date: 2002
Number of Pages: 36

Genre/Category: Picture Books

     I chose to read Micawber because it is about Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and I recently visited both places. Micawber is a squirrel who lives in Central Park and loves to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. One day, Micawber finds a woman replicating a painting by Monet. He is amazed by her, so he secretly climbs into her paint box and travels home with her. During the night, Micawber uses the woman's art supplies to paint his very first painting. Without her knowing, he returns over and over again, and he soon turns his house on top of the carousel in Central Park into his own art museum.

     According to the book, the illustrations are done with mixed media. I would have guessed that they were painted. On most pages, the entire page is an illustration with the text on top of it. I think this helps the reader get the feeling about how important art is. On the white pages, it looks like different colored paints have been splattered on them. These are especially prominent once Micawber starts painting with his bushy tail.

Monet's Water Lillies at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

     Micawber is a New York Times Bestseller, and it is recommended for children ages 4-8. Some of the words are really difficult though and would definitely have to be explained. The paint colors are not described using basic colors like blue, red, or green, but they are described as colors like magenta, vermilion, and ultramarine. I think this book could be used to show an example of descriptive writing. The entire book is extremely descriptive and paints a picture in the readers mind. I also found that the author did not use many basic words, and it would make a good lesson on synonyms and how to use them in writing. The author replaced looked with rifled through and peered. These are just a couple of the numerous examples throughout the book. This would also be a good book to use when talking about New York or introducing a famous artist's work to the class. Many famous artists, such as Monet and Van Gogh, are mentioned in Micawber. Another way it could be used in the classroom is for a poetry lesson. There is so much that could be done with this book since it is well written, interesting, and brightly illustrated. It is definitely on my list of keepers. 

#5 The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?

Title: The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?
Author: Mo Willems
Illustrator: Mo Willems
Publishing Company: Hyperion Books
Copyright Date: 2012
# of Pages: 32

Genre/Category: Picture Books

     I decided to pick up this book because I thought my RITE child might find it hum0rous. It is another one of the Pigeon books by Mo Willems. In this book, the Duckling asks politely for a cookie and is given one. Pigeon just cannot understand why Duckling gets everything he asks for and throws a tantrum about not getting what he wants. In the end, Duckling tells Pigeon that he got the cookie for Pigeon. What he does not tell Pigeon is that he is going to ask for another cookie when Pigeon leaves, but this time with no nuts.
 
    Mo Willems uses simple illustrations throughout the book. The Duckling and the Pigeon look like cartoons. Some of the outlining even looks like it was done with a black crayon. Willems also uses thought bubbles in each illustration to portray the dialogue in the book. I also found that often the Pigeon's words are much bigger than the ducklings. I feel that this helps add to the development of the characters.

     The back of the book says it is appropriate for children ages 2-6, but I think slightly older children will still find this book humorous. I am going to use it with my 7 year old RITE child as a fun ice-breaker when we are getting to know each other. The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? could be used for a lesson on manners and not whining. The Duckling continuously reminds the Pigeon that he got the cookie by asking politely. It would be really fun to assign partners and have one partner be the Duckling and another be the Pigeon. Students could work on reading with feeling and fluency. Students could also make their own story similar to The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?. They could draw pictures and use thought bubbles to tell the story. I found a wonderful resource at this website. It is a full PDF document with activities and printables  for this book. So far, I do not think The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? has won any awards, but many of Mo Willems' other books have won very prestigious awards including the Caldecott Honor.

#4 Mabel O'Leary Puts Peas in Her Ear-y

Title: Mabel O'Leary Puts Peas in Her Ear-y
Author: Mary Delaney
Illustrator: Kathy Couri
Publishing Company: Little, Brown and Company
Copyright Date: 2006
# of Pages: 24

Genre/ Category: Picture Books

     I chose this book because the title sounded interesting and the cover looked cute. In Mabel O'Leary Puts Peas in Her Ear-y, Mabel's mother tells Mabel that she must sit at the table until all her peas are gone. Like children often do, Mabel devises a plan to hide the unwanted food. She puts all the peas in her ear, but she soon discovers that this makes it difficult to hear. Anytime Mabel's mother tells her something to do, Mabel mistakes it for something else that is just totally ridiculous. In the end, Mabel's mom finds the peas, and Mabel must find a new place to hide unwanted food.


     The artist used watercolors and watercolor pencils to complete the illustrations. The book has peas and pea paraphernalia hidden on each page. Also, the pages have a lot of pink and green in them. The illustrations are adorable, and they depict Mabel and her dog doing silly activities. Some pages just have one illustration, while others have several different ones. 

     This book is appropriate for younger students. I would definitely not recommend it for anyone older than third grade. The entire book is a poem, and it would make a cute poetry lesson. Children could even write a poem about their least favorite food to go along with Mabel's hatred for peas. Mabel O'Leary Puts Peas in Her Ear-y could also be used to discuss dialogue. Mabel and her mom carry out a dialogue throughout the book. A teacher could also read the book, then discuss parts of a pea plant or how peas grow. I also think that it would be a fun way to talk about healthy foods and why you should not be like Mabel O'Leary and always eat your peas. 
     

#3 The Little Chapel That Stood

Title: The Little Chapel That Stood

Author: A.B. Curtis

Illustrator: Mirto Golino

Publishing Company: Old Castle Publishing

Copyright Date: 2003

# of Pages: 30

Genre/Category: Picture Books

St. Paul's Chapel

     Last March, I visited New York City and saw the  9/11 Memorial. While I was there, I picked up The Little Chapel That Stood, and I just had to have it for my future classroom. I chose to blog about this book because it is one of my favorite picture books. The Little Chapel That Stood  is written in a poetry form, and it tells about the St. Paul Chapel that stands across the street from where the World Trade Centers were. It is the story of 9/11 and the heroes that arose during that time. The St. Paul 's Chapel was not damaged at all during the attacks on the World Trade Center, so it was used by rescue personnel who tried to help the people left trapped in the wreckage. The Little Chapel That Stood also reminds us of the sacrifices of the passengers on Flight 93 and the attack on the Pentagon. It leaves the reader realizing that no matter what happens, we still live in a wonderful country that will rise above, and it also instills the moral that every good deed is important no matter how small it seems. 

This is me holding the book in front 
of the memorial wall.

     The illustrations in The Little Chapel That Stood are phenomenal. The pictures look like they were painted with watercolors, and they are very bright. The illustrator uses almost an entire two-page spread on each picture, and she uses a small margin to draw a boarder. These boarders are sometimes used to foreshadow what happens next. On the page before the attacks, the boarder is of airplanes flying through clouds. The pictures in this book really enhance the story that is being told. 

     This book has a few difficult words in it, and it is a sensitive topic. I would recommend this book for children in grades 2-8. It is a positive way to introduce the terrorist attacks on our country to younger children, but because it is poetry and has words that are suitable for older children, it could also be used when discussing the attacks with older students. The Little Chapel That Stood could be integrated into a history lesson since it is a true story about the events that occurred on 9/11. I think it would be wonderful to use this book in a poetry lesson for older students because it is not all simple poetry. The rhythm changes throughout the book. It could even be used as a geography lesson. It discusses the Twin Tower attacks, Flight 93, and the attack on the Pentagon. The teacher could use a map to show where each of these places are, or the teacher could even measure the distance between them. 

#2 Skippyjon Jones

Title: Skippyjon Jones
Author: Judy Schachner 
Illustrator: Judy Schachner
Publishing Company: Dutton Children's Books
Copyright Date: 2003
# of Pages: 30

Genre/ Category: Picture Books
     Today I decided to read Skippyjon Jones because I have a cousin who has really gotten into this series of books. My aunt was an elementary school teacher for 24 years, and she has started sending me books so that I will have a nice little library ready for my students. Among these books, Skippyjon Jones struck my eye not only because of my cousin, but also because I have a Siamese cat named Gracie Bear Fatcat. Skippyjon Jones is a young Siamese cat with an over-active imagination. Skippyjon is always doing things that are not very cat-like, so his mother sends him to his room to think about what it means to be a cat. While in his room, Skippyjon Jones embarks on an imaginary quest to Mexico where he meets up with a band of Chihuahuas and defeats the evil bean stealing bandit that plagues their land. 

     To me, the illustrations in this book look like a blend of colored pencil and paint. The illustrations are vibrant and full of life. On most pages, there is not any space left blank. I also found that Skippyjon Jones had a few Spanish words in it that may not be familiar to all children, but the pictures really helped to give clues about what the Spanish word meant. One example of this was the word "siesta." Underneath the words, Skippyjon Jones was lying in a pile of Chihuahuas sleeping. 

     The cover of this book says that it is appropriate for children ages five to eight. However, I believe that some of the words used in Skippyjon Jones would make this book too difficult for a five year old to read without some form of guidance. One of the most obvious ways Skippyjon Jones could be used in the classroom is as a multicultural lesson, or for working with an English Language Learner. I think it could be an enjoyable book to work on with an English Language Learner because it offers the translations through dialogue. This book could also be used to teach a poetry lesson. The entire book is not a poem, but throughout the book Skippyjon Jones makes up songs about himself that could serve as the basis for a poetry lesson. Another way that Skippyjon Jones could be used in the classroom would be when teaching students how to use clues to figure out words. The illustrations in this book provide an excellent means of finding out what difficult or unknown words mean. Skippyjon Jones has earned the achievement of being on The New York Times Bestselling Series list. It is an enjoyable book that children can easily relate to. After all, their imaginations are usually just as active and exciting as Skippyjon Jones' imagination. 
     

#1 Knuffle Bunny

Title: Knuffle Bunny

Author: Mo Willems

Illustrator: Mo Willems

Publishing Company: Hyperion Books

Copyright Date: 2004

# of Pages: 31

Genre/category: Picture books

     Mrs. Strain read this book aloud to us in class today. It was about a little girl named Trixie who could not talk yet. She went to the laundry mat with her dad to wash clothes, and she lost her stuffed bunny, Knuffle Bunny, while helping her father wash clothes. On the way home, Trixie realized that Knuffle Bunny was missing. She tried to tell her father, but he just could not understand. When she got home, they rushed back to the laundry mat and searched for Knuffle Bunny. When they found Knuffle Bunny, Trixie was so excited that she said her first words, Knuffle Bunny.

     Mo Willems used black and white photographs to set the scene for his story. He depicted the characters by using hand-drawn animations. As Trixie became more upset, the illustrations told the story. Her eyes began to get larger and larger, and her babbling words began to take up more space. Mo Willems also used his illustrations to show that the family was losing hope of ever finding Knuffle Bunny. The longer they searched, the smaller the words became.

     The book Knuffle Bunny could be used as a quick write prompt. The students could answer questions such as, " Have you ever lost something important to you? How did you feel? Do you have something that is special to you like Knuffle Bunny is to Trixie?" It could also be used to talk about responsibility. Teachers could explain  how it is important to keep up with your things in the classroom so you do not end up like Trixie. It would also be a way to introduce dialect and how writers can use slang words during dialog to depict a characters background or emotions. This book would be a great read for any classroom not only because it is interesting and engaging, but also because it is a winner of the Caldecot award.