Multicultural

The Pot That Juan Built

By: Nancy Andrews-Goebel

Illustrated by: David Diez

Lee and Low Publishing Company 2002

32 Pages

Multicultural

     I chose this book because I have used it in one of my practicum classes and the children just loved it! This is a book about a man who creates stunning pots. In this book it shows how Juan has really changed the community around him. Because of him and his pioneering work the poor village changed to a prosperous city. 

    

This book was created using watercolors. The illustrator also uses stencil-like digital drawings. The tones of each page are just glowing. The illustrations really capture the authors words. 

     

     This book would be appropriate for children ages six and up.  Teachers could use this book to teach about different cultures. A teacher could use the rhyme scheme in this text to teach about rhyming words. The students could then come up with words that accompany the words in the text. Another great activity students could do with this book would be to take the words written in Spanish and translate them to English. This book has not won any awards.  

     

Multicultural

The Thankful Book

By: Todd Parr

Little Brown Books Publishing Company 2012

32 Pages

Multicultural

I chose this book because my practicum teacher used it in one of her lessons this year in her kindergarten class. The students really enjoyed the book and the illustrations. The students even tried reading it during centers on their own. This book talks about all of the different things to be thankful for from everyday activities to family time and friends. This book inspires readers to remember all of life's special moments. 

    The illustrations in this book were created using vivid watercolors. The colors are so bright and beautiful. The pictures are created with children in mind and that is what I love about it the most! The pictures really go with what the text is trying to say. They are playful and celebratory! 

     This book is appropriate for students three to six years old. In this text it teaches children about unconditional love and how to respect the earth. It also takes the views of many different characters and reminds children to love everyone despite the color of their skin. This book would be great teaching character education. Students could also use this book to create their own "I'm thankful for" cards. Teachers could use this text in language arts. Teachers could also use this text when talking about beginning, middle and end. Students could complete a retelling rope to retell the story. This book has not been given any awards. 

Nonfiction

Tigers: The Worlds Largest Cats

By: Roni Shwartz

Asia Pacific Guides Publishing Company: 2013

36 Pages

Nonfiction

I chose this book because my son loves all informational books. He is definitely a book worm. He told me that he came across this book when researching for a paper. He said it had some great pictures in it that my students would really enjoy! This an informational text all about tigers which are the world's largest cats. This book tells every bit of information you would ever want to know about tigers. It is by far one of the best nonfiction books I have come across. 

    This book is put together using pictures taken by professionals. The book is put together just like any informational book. There are captions to go along with the pictures. There is also a glossary in the back. The pictures are large enough to use in a whole group setting unlike the other informational books I have wrote about. The medium used is pictures and text. 

    This book would be appropriate for children from about five to nine. This book would work well when teaching about wild animals in a science lesson. Teachers could also use this text when teaching about informational text. Teachers could point out the glossary and captions in the text so that the students can learn to distinguish between fiction and nonfiction. Teachers could also use this text when teaching language arts. Students could listen as the teacher reads aloud and then the students would be expected to write a shout paragraph about the content covered. This book has not won any awards. 

Nonfiction

The Best Book of Sharks

By: Claire Llewelleyn

Kingfisher Publishing Company 2005

32 Pages

Nonfiction

   I chose this book because my son loves books about sharks. He actually loves any nonfiction book about animals or history. We tend to have a collection of great informational books at home. I used this book in my practicum class and they truly enjoyed looking at the pictures! This book tells of a life below the sea. We learn about the lives of creatures people rarely see in their life time. This book tells us what sharks feed on and even how they bear their young.

    This book is a true informational book with pictures and captions. The pictures are real. They show real scuba divers and real sharks protecting their homes. The medium used is pictures and printed text. The pictures are somewhat smaller than I had hoped for. I know most children love to see the beautiful pictures. Using this with a small group of children would be better than using with a whole group. 

     This book would be appropriate for children ages five to eight. It would be great when teaching about informational text versus fictional text. Students could place the books into categories to show their knowledge. Another use for this text would be when teaching about the sea or ocean. Students could really get a feel for what goes on deep under the sea. Using this text in a science lesson would be very beneficial. Language arts would also be a subject the teacher could use this book in. Students could use this book as a writing prompt. The teacher could read it aloud and then the students would be expected to write a short paragraph about the subject matter covered. This book has no awards to mention. 

Nonfiction

Lion Who Has Never Given Up

By: Eric Russel

Little Entrepreneur Publishing Company 2013

30 Pages

Nonfiction

I chose this book because my mother who is also a teacher recommended it to me. She said that the book was especially written for younger children. Since I have been working with kindergarten children that was exactly the type of book I was looking for! This is a book about a baby lion who lives in the wild. The story talks about how the world around him truly is and how it would be if you and I were really there. There are some challenging situations for the young lion just like there will be for young children. But the lion makes it through the rough times and makes it to the good times. It is an incredible story that will grab the attention of young readers! 

     This book was created using technology. The book is for sale online in a down loadable and printed edition. The animals are rather cartoon like. You would think in a non-fiction book you would see real pictures of the animals but not in this book. I prefer a book with real pictures when speaking about the real world and especially  when teaching about it so that the children will better understand the concepts. The book does contain clear and colorful illustrations that the students will truly enjoy. 

     This book would be appropriate for children from the age of about three to about the age of six. This would be a great book when teaching about personal traits early in a child's life. Also challenging situations present themselves in this book and that too is important for children to learn about at a young age. Lessons about perseverance are taught well using this text. This is a critical lesson for a students future success. This book has no awards to mention. 

Historical Fiction

The Bravest Knight

By: Mercer Mayer

Dial Publishing Company 2007

32 Pages

Historical Fiction

I chose this book because I have heard of how Mercer Mayer is a 

wonderful author and illustrator! I have read a few of his books, one of them being, "There's a Nightmare in My Closet." When I found this book in my mothers school library I was ecstatic! I could hardly wait to read it! This book is a tale of a small child living in a fairy-tale. He imagined himself to be a brave knight thousands of years ago. Some of the bad knights were forced to pick flowers for the king, while the bravest knight in all of the land fights a fire-breathing dragon using only his slingshot.

    Mayer does a wonderful job of illustrating this book. The colors are so vivid and the pictures are great to tell this exact story. The illustrations are perfect for sharing with a group of students. I know from experience how upset a child can become if they are unable to see the pictures! The artwork is done using a double-page format. The medium used to create the beautiful artwork is watercolors.

     This book would be appropriate for children from preschool to about third grade. I love how this book can also be used across many different grades. This would be great for any teacher to have in his or her collection. This would be a great book to use when talking about history. No, the story is not true and there were not any dragons to fight but the mid evil times were real and this story tells a lot about the characteristics of this era. Students could also use this book to learn about beginning, middle and end. The students even as young as kindergarten could retell this story using a retelling rope with pictures to accommodate the younger group. Teachers could also use this book in a language arts lesson. Students would be expected to come up with their own dream that happened in the distant future. Students would be expected to create a story line as a class or individually if it was used in an older classroom. This book has no awards to mention.  

Multicultural

Lily Brown's Paintings

By: Angela Johnson

Illustrated by: E. B. Lewis

Orchard Books Publishing Company 2007

32 Pages

Multicultural

 I chose this book because of the beautiful pictures within. I love how the illustrator uses such magnificent colors to tell the story just as good as the words tell the story. This book is about a little girl named Lily Brown who paints the world around her. When she paints the world comes alive in a new and wonderful way. When she paints the trees they come alive wearing hats and bowing to her as she walks by. When she paints the sun it turns into stars that fall beside her as she flies. It is a beautifully written story.

     The illustrator, Lewis, paints vibrant pictures with watercolors to capture Lily in a realistic style. Lewis uses the watercolors to paint the trees and fruits in a completely different style. He makes them look very charismatic and very artistic. I love the vibrant colors and the way the illustrations radiate such energy!

     This would be appropriate for a child in preschool to about the third grade. I love that this is a book that can cover a wide range of ages appropriately. This would be a great book to use in character education. The students could paint their own pictures and relate the painting back to how the character acts and feels. This would also be a great book to use in language arts in an older classroom. Students could use the book like a writing prompt and write a paragraph telling of something they would paint and what the painting would do as if it were alive just like in the story. Would the trees bow to them, would the fruit come alive? Another activity related to this book would be great to use with an art activity which would get the students really thinking out side of the box! How were the colors made? How did the illustrator make such beautiful and vivid colors to make this book? Those would be some great questions for the readers to think about! Although the illustrator has won many awards for his work this book has no awards to mention. 

Multicultural

Coming On Home Soon

By: Jacqueline Woodson

Illustrated by: E. B. Lewis

 Putnam Juvenile: 2004

32 Pages

Multicultural

I chose this book because I was told my a friend 

that it was a great story about a girl and her mother that seems timeless. The story is set during World War II in Chicago. The story is about a young girl, Ada Ruth, who waits on her mother to return home from working in Chicago. The women are now doing the men's work while the men are off fighting in the war. Ada Ruth and her grandmother wait for the arrival of her mother. The story conveys a warm sense of anticipation. 

 Water colors are used to create the illustrations for this timeless book. The muted water colors are used with such grace, each picture portrays the emotions felt by the women. The colors used show what a dark and lonely time this must have been, especially to a young girl. The illustrations were done to show that emotion. 

     This book would be appropriate for many ages, but I would say at least kindergarten and up. This would be a great book to use when teaching about the history and how the wars affected us here in the US. The use of language to portray emotion could be used in a language arts lesson. Teachers could also use this book to teach character education. This book has won the Caldecott Award. 

Historical Fiction

Now & Ben The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin

By: Gene Barretta

Square Fish: 2008

40 Pages
Historical Fiction

   

     I chose to write about this individual book because it has such wonderful illustrations. I had not seen this book before now and just love it! There are definitely many great educational benefits you could get from this text and share with your class. This book was about Benjamin Franklin and his inventions. For example, Franklin invented the lightning rod, electricity, and even bifocals. In this book it shows how important these inventions are to us now. 

     

     The illustrations in this book are very colorful. The artist used watercolor on paper to achieve this look. There are a lot of cartoon looking characters throughout the book. The pictures are very engaging and humorous. The water colored cartoons show just how Franklin's inventions came to life. The endpapers are filled with sketches of some of the inventions. These endpapers also offer some more of the real biographical information. 

     This book would be appropriate for children from kindergarten until fourth grade. This would be a great book used for a history project. Students could use this text to learn about some of the inventions Franklin made possible. Students could also use this text to talk about what if these inventions were still not here today? What would the effect on our world be? There would be so many great discussion points. Older students could also talk or write about how the inventions have evolved over time. This book has not won any awards. 

Historical Fiction

Satchel Paige Don't Look Back

By: David A. Adler

Illustrated by: Terry Widener

Harcourt Childrens Book: 2007

32 Pages

Historical Fiction

    I chose this book because it just seems to be a great text to teach children about dreaming big. Children should learn from an early age to never let anyone hold you back and that is exactly what this book will teach not only young students but the young at heart as well. In the book Satchel, a young, African American boy steals some toy rings and is sent to a boarding school. This is where he is able to play ball and keep warm. Satchel eventually became a major league rookie although he played in the Negro Leagues for decades. This is where he earns his place in baseball history.

     The illustrations in this book are wonderful. They are somewhat like cartoons. The baseball players tend to have extremely long arms and legs especially Satchel Paige. The colors are amazing. They are true to life. The medium used is acrylics on Strathmore bristol board. I truly love the pictures. The illustrations of people in this text are just too good to be true! I wish more books had illustrations like this. The images of their faces are just priceless! 

This text would be appropriate for children from five to eight years of age, or from kindergarten until third grade. Using this book to teach a history lesson would be beneficial. Students could learn about the times when African Americans were not treated as they are today. Teaching students to never let anyone or anything hold you back from achieving your dreams is another great lesson. Language Arts would be a great place in the curriculum to place this text as well. This book has not won any awards, although David A. Adler has won many!

If You Give a Cat a Cupcake

If You Give a Cat a Cupcake

By: Laura Numeroff

Illustrated by: Felicia Bond

HarperCollins Publishing Company, 2008

32 Pages

Fantasy

     I chose this book because it is one of many in a series. I have wrote about a couple of the other ones also in this same series. I enjoyed reading the others to my class and this too was a favorite of mine. In this book a girl gives a cat a cupcake. The cat mistakes the girls kindness for weakness and from then on wants more and more. The cupcake leads to sprinkles, then to a trip to the beach and an amusement park. All of this eventually ends back to where they started. The cat is once again given a cupcake with sprinkles. 

     

     The illustrations in the book were great just like the illustrations in all of the other "If You Give a.." series. I am just amazed at how someone can take such a simple idea and turn the pictures into something so amazing. Bond uses beautiful, rich, vibrant watercolor. She includes a black line used for a graphic effect as well. White space is often used in many of Bonds illustrations as well.  

     This book would be appropriate for children age three to third grade. There are many activities you could create using this book. Many teachers have implemented this text into different curriculum across the board. This would be a great book to use for character education. The students would have a great time discussing the difference each character has. The students could also draw a picture to illustrate who they see when they read the text. Using this text for children to learn beginning, middle and end would be a useful tool as well. In this book it tells a story with an "If____, then ___" scenario. The story ends up in the same situation that you started with. Students could use this text in a language arts assignment. The students could fill in the "if" and "then" with their own situations. Laura Numeroff has won many awards for this series of books. She has not won any awards for this specific book. 

     

Fantasy

If You Give a Moose a Muffin

Author: Laura Numeroff

Illustrator: Felicia Bond

Publishing Company: Harper Collins

Copyright Date: September 1985

32 Pages

Fantasy

I chose this text because I love this entire series of books. I love that the children are able to connect all of the texts to each other. They remember the characters and the author. It is important for children to know authors and their texts. Children really fall in love with these stories. I have fallen in love with them as well. In this story a moose comes to visit. The moose wants a muffin so the boy gives him one. Once the boy has given him a muffin he begins to want more and more. The young boy is run ragged by this guest of his.

 Just like the other books in this series this book was illustrated by Felicia Bond. She used pastels and sketches to make this book come alive. This was the book that started the entire "If You Give a ..." series. This would be a great book for children from preschool until second grade. 

This would be a great book to use with language arts and literature lessons. Students could actually come up with an alternate ending. Students could also tell the story from either the voice of the boy or the voice of the mo0se. This would also be a great book to use when teaching character traits and beginning,middle and end. I have used this book in my kindergarten class this year and they truly enjoyed it! This title and many of the others in this series have all won numerous awards.