End of Semester Reflection

I have really enjoyed this class. I have learned a lot not only about how to pick childrens literature, but how to discuss the issues in the books. I have read a variety of different books and know more of what kinds of books I want and do not want to include in my future library. The genre project and text set were both incredibly helpful. Finding a variety of books for a certain topic can be hard. It is difficult to find books that have different kinds of characters but are under the same topic or genre. These projects helped me learn how to search for different kinds of books. I really enjoyed our class discussions on books that are controversial. Hearing everyone's views as well as a teachers prospective was very helpful. I think these are important things to deal with before you teach. The novels we read were fun to read. I really enjoyed Love That Dog more then I expected as well as the activity we did on poetry. I could definitely see myself using this book and this activity in my future classroom. It was a fun and creative way to learn about poetry, a unit which some students find difficult and boring. Overall, I really enjoyed this course and learned a lot from it. I am excited to start my own library with many of the books I read while in this class.

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by John Scieszka and Lane Smith

This fractured fairy tale has many classic stories in it that we all know and love, only they are not the way we remember them. Story like the gingerbread man, the princess and the pea, and little red riding hood are given a totally new twist. Our narrator Jack, makes a mockery of the title page, the table of contents, and even the endpaper by shuffling, scoffing, and generally paying no mind to structure. Characters slide in and out of tales; Cinderella rebuffs Rumpelstiltskin, and the Giant at the top of the beanstalk snacks on the Little Red Hen. There is not much to learn or take away from this book, it is just simply a fun story.

I always loved this book as a kid. One of my favorite things to do was to read this book to my younger friends or kids I babysit for. I loved the idea of fairy tales I know and love being completely turned upside down. There was something so interesting about stories we know so well being changed. In most fairy tales there is a happily ever after or some lesson learned, but in The Stinky Cheese Man, that is not the case.

This is just read a loud book for students in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. They will simply laugh out loud while the book is being read. I think this is a fun book to include in a classroom library because it goes against many of the stereotypes of what people think a book should be. Reading is reading and if kids want to read a book that is a little different and fun, then this is the book for them.

Players in Pigtails by Shana Corey

Players in Pigtails is the story of a girl who loved to play baseball. During World War II all the men went off to fight in the war. Baseball was still going on because they wanted to give the fans something to look forward to. With not many men left to play, Phillip Wrigley decided to starts a baseball league for women called the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Katie Casey goes out for the league and makes the team. She gets to play baseball with other women who love the sport as much as she does. Though people were skeptical about women playing, they eventually came out to the games and cheered for the women baseball players dressed in skirts and pigtails!

This book is based off the movie A League of Their Own which is one of my personal favorites. Reading this book reminded me of the movie. I know that movie is not appropriate for elementary school children, but telling them about that time and maybe watching a clip of the movie so they could see would be good paired with this book. I like that this book is breaking down the stereotyps of boys and girls. Many people think that baseball is a boy sport, but this book proves that wrong. Many girls tried out for the league and played during this time. Though many women chose softball, the girl version of baseball, many women still enjoy playing baseball instead.

I think this book would be a great addition to a classroom library. It shows baseball in a light and from a girls perspective. It is important for kids to learn about things from different angels and perspectives. If they only read on version of something they will think that that is the way it is and not believe anything else. Offering variety will show students that there is a big world out there and many different kids of people who like different things. They cannot assume that something is just for boys or just for girls because as this book has shows, that is not the case.

Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki

Baseball Saved Us is a touching story of a boy who everyone called Shorty, for obvious reasons, and his family who were thrown into Japanese internment camps during World War II. Life in the camp was hard and the people were very bored and unhappy. Shorty's father decided to build a baseball field so that it could give everyone something to look forward to. Shorty was not a great player, but he was still excited to play. While in the camp, and then once he was released, Shorty made some great hits and became the hero of his team. This book shows how people can rise above even during hard times.

I used this book for my text set on baseball and fell in love with it. I enjoyed the historical aspect of the book as well as the story of the boy Shorty who overcame adversity and being the small kid on the team. This book gives kids hope everywhere that they can do anything they set their mind to if they word hard and try. I think there are many things can be learned from this book. Many children may not know that Japanese Americans were put inside camps. This book is a good way to introduce that.

A book for 2nd-4th graders. The story can be fun and enjoyable for young kids, but also educational for the older kids. I would definitely include this book in my classroom library for several reasons. I am a lover of baseball therefore I would enjoy having this book. I like the historical aspect of this book and think it a good way to tie in reading a social studies. The last reason is because it sends a positive message about being an underdog or an unlikely hero. I think kids will love this book as much as I did.

A Whiff of Pine, a Hint of Skunk A forest of poems by Deborah Ruddell

This lighthearted poetry book takes the reader through the seasons in the forest. Using animals like a beaver, snail, and squirrel the reader feels like they are being sucked inside this magical forest. The poems are fun and great for anyone who is an animal lover. The rhymes fit perfectly in the poem and do not feel forced like some poems do. The perfect mix of poetry and illustrations to create a lovely poetry book for kids.

The book has a nice collection of poems about animals during the different seasons. A book I would consider using in my classroom library. It could be beneficial during a lesson on poetry, a just a fun book to include for the kids to free read. The rhyming words and the pace of the poems could also be helpful for kids working on their fluency skills. When kids are learning to read, using short poems like these could be helpful.

This book should be used with students in 2nd and 3rd grade because some of the words are a little more difficult to read for beginning readers. A fun book that has light beautiful art work that really compliment the poems. For animal and poetry lovers, this book will for a sure winner.

Button Up! by Alice Schertle

Button Up! is a picture book filled with short poems told from the perspective of the clothes in our closets. With creative and funny poems told from the perspective of undies, hats, shoes, jammies, swim suits, and other various articles of clothing. These poems are unique and fun for kids to read who are learning about poetry.

When writing poetry, children usually get stuck on what to write about. This book had poems that are all about an article of clothing. Children can read this book and get ideas for things to write about. They can write about a favorite thing of theirs. I really enjoyed the poems in this book. I think they had a creative idea and clever rhyming. I can see a book like this being used in my classroom for students who are struggling with ideas.

A great book for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders. Reading some of these poems out loud to the class can stir up ideas for writing of their own. The students can also draw pictures of their own based on the poems they hear. I wish I had a book like this when I was in grade school because poetry was so hard for me. When reading a few poems I could already think of a few ideas of what I could write about for my own poem. I think kids will find the poems funny and will want to write ones of their own.

Meow Ruff: A Story in Concrete Poetry by Joyce Sidman

This unique poetry book follows a lost dog and a cat who gets abandoned on the the side of the road. The two find each other, and although sworn enemies, they team up during a thunderstorm and find shelter. They sleep underneath a picnic bench and snuggle up together to find warmth. In the morning, the puppies owner finds him with the cat, and decides to cat the cat home with them because the two have become friends.

I have never read a poetry children's book like this one before. The trees, street, clouds, and rain were all made of descriptive words instead of just a picture. I found this to be very creative. You could spend a long time reading every word on every page of this book. Ir was a unique way to use poetry in a childrens book. I liked that it did not rhyme like most childrens books do. It used many description words that are good in poems. I think children could learn a lot from this book during a poetry unit.

For 2nd-4th graders, this book uses story, art, and concrete poetry to bring the book to life. The pictures filled with words catch your eye and are a different way to use poetry in a story. For the cold, it uses white font to say "plump, bright dome of sugary white sky muffin". This is just one of many great examples of how descriptive words are used. The overall message of the story of the cat and the dog was fun as well and with the added poetry, it made for a fun story that I think kids will enjoy.

The Everything Book by Denise Fleming

The Everything Book is just that, a book of EVERYTHING. It has colors, counting, shapes, letters, rhymes, ect. This book is filled with fun poems and fun rhymes.

Kids will fall in love with this book. The poems are fun and easy to learn. They all have some educational value to them and could easily be used in a lesson. The letters, numbers, and shapes could also be used. With poems including five little chickens, traffic lights, choo choo, two little black birds, and tippy toes, kids will for sure find one that they love. All of these rhythmic poems can be used to help fluency. The pictures in the book are fun and engaging. This book can be used during a lesson on beginners poetry. The poems could also be used as songs. You can create a melody for them poems and have the students sing a long.

This book is great for Kindergartners and first graders. It is a book with many things that students can use to help them learn. When using it with second graders, they really enjoyed the many different kinds of poems and learning tools that are easy for kids to follow and read. I would include this book in my classroom library because it is a fun, educational book that kids will enjoy.

Welcome, Baby! Baby Rhymes for Baby Times by Stephanie Calmenson

This book of poems and rhymes is fun for pre K-Kindergarten students. It is a book filled with poems about babies. It celebrates their daily lives from birth up to toddlerhood. The catchy poems will make you smile, and show babies learning about themselves, their families, and the world around them. From diaper changes to playing horsey, and from splashing in the tub to giving mommy a good morning kiss, the love, happiness, and fun that babies bring to our lives are captured by the poems in this book

This book of poems and rhymes are fun for young readers. It will not only help with fluency and other reading strategies, but it will teach readers about basic poetry. All of the poems in the book rhyme, which is a good thing for children learning to read. It can be helpful when learning lessons about the onset and rime of a word. This book seems to be for "babies" or really young children, but I can see these poems being used in an elementary school. Everyone knows about babies and was a baby at one point. They can relate to the poems in the book. I would include this book in my classroom library because it is a great way to teach beginners poetry to your students. The poems are cute and fun. All will enjoy them.

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

Love That Dog is a book in poetry form about a boy named Jack. The book is notebook entries that Jack writes to his teacher along with poetry. In the beginning of the book, Jack was very shy about his writing. He was not share whether his work was considered real poetry. He enjoyed reading many of the poems that his teacher read to them. As the book goes on, Jack begins to get more comfortable with his poetry, telling his teacher she can put it up on the board, but without a name. He became a fan of them poems of Walter Dean Meyers. He really wanted Walter to come in and speak to his class so he wrote him a letter. Jack did not expect a response, but to his surprise, Walter Dean Meyers came to his class. By the end of the story, Jack was very open about his poetry and was pleased to have it shown for people to see.

I thought this book was a quick and easy read. In poetry form, kids will be sure to love it because it does not look long like a regular book. It also challenges what people consider "poetry". Many students can relate to Jack. Everyone is a little self conscious about their writing, especially poetry. I still get worried that a poem I write is actually poetry or not. Jack's personality through out the story was very fun and relatable. I can see many kids out there like Jack. The progression that Jack went through throughout the book seemed very organic. He slowly became more comfortable with his writing abilities.

This book would be great for 5th and 6th graders. When doing a poetry lesson, it would be a good idea to include this book. I think students will enjoy it and it will open up poetry to them in a new and fun way. It will show them that poetry is more then what they are made to believe. It does not need to look a certain way or need to rhyme. There are many different forms, and that is something that Love That Dog really shows. I would definitely want to include this in my classroom.

So Far From the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins

Yoko Kawashima, her mother, and her sister are living in Nanam, a city in northern Korea. When Korea becomes dangerous, Yoko and her family must return to Japan, hiding from both the Japanese military and the Koreans. Her brother, Hideyo, also tries to flee but he is separated from his family as he is employed at an ammunition factory because he can't join the army. The family experiences a difficult journey as they make their way to Seoul and to Pusan to take a ferry to Japan. When Yoko, her sister Ko, and her mother reach Fukuoka, they travel to Kyoto, as the mother had been educated there. She then leaves for Aomori to seek help from their grandparents. She returns to Yoko and her sister bringing sad news that both of their grandparents are dead. The mother dies on the same day, leaving Yoko and Ko waiting for the eventual return of their brother, Hideyo. Yoko's essay is later published in a newspaper, which helps Hideyo find them. A few months later, Yoko, Ko, and Hideyo are eventually reunited at Maizuru, and Hideyo tells his tale of how he escaped North Korea and made it to Japan.

This story could be used in a classroom along with Year of Impossible Goodbyes because the two stories are different perspective on a part of the war that very little know about. I think this story is a compelling one, but also has some controversy to it. There were some parts of the story that may be difficult for students to read, but I believe the best place to read about these things is in the safety of a classroom. I think it is important for these stories to be read together, rather then one or the other because then the class can get two perspectives.

This book can be read with 6th-8th graders. I think students may find some of it difficult to read, but will ultimately learn a lot from it. Controversial books like this are often the most exciting for kids to read. They can learn a little bit more about a time in our history that they are probably unfamiliar with. I think it is important for students to get different perspectives from books like these and know that they are not entirely factual. I am not sure if I would use this text in my classroom, but if I do, I will definitely use it with Year of Impossible Goodbyes

Pinkalicious by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann

Pinkalicious is the story of a little girl who bakes pink cupcakes with her mom. She loves pink and loves her pink cupcakes. She eats so many of them that in the morning when she wakes up she is pink! Her mother is worried and calls the doctor. When she goes into the doctor, he tells her she has a case of pinkititis. The only way for the pink to do away would be to eat green foods only. She did not care. She wanted to stay pink and be a pink princess. One night she was craving a pink cupcake. She found them on top of the fridge and ate one. The next morning when she woke up she was a deeper shade of pink. She was more red! She did not want to be red. There was only one thing to do. Eat lots of green food. She went into the kitchen and ate as much as she could. The next day she was back to her normal color, but her brother had eaten a pink cupcake and was now pink!

Pink was not my favorite color as a kid, but I still loved it because it was a girl color. I can see this being a book that little girls loves simply because most girls like the color pink. I thought the idea of the story was very cute. I also thought the title Pinkalicious was very clever and creative. The pictures are colorful and fun for kids. My only problem with this book is that it is very geared towards girls. There are books that are going to be geared towards boy as well, but I do not know if I would want to include it in my library.

This book would be good for first and second graders. I think the ended of the book is important for kids. It teaches them that it is important to eat their vegetables if do not want their skin to turn pink. Hopefully it does not scare kids from eating pink good thought!

Makeup Mess by Robert Munsch

Makeup Mess by Robert Munsch is a funny story about a young girl who spends all her money on purchasing makeup to wear. The only problem is that she does not know how to put make up on. She overdoes it and uses many different colors. She thinks she looks as pretty as a movie star. She ends up looking more like a clown. When she goes to show her mom and dad they both yell in shock. She then goes back upstairs to try again with her make up. She ends up looking even more ridiculous then the first time. Her mom and dad are in such shock that they fall over. She is very confused and washes all her make up off. When she goes downstairs they tell her how beautiful she looks. She then realizes she is beautiful without makeup and sells her makeup to kids in her neighborhood. She uses the money to buy clothes...for dress up.

I found this story to be a very funny one. I did not read Robert Munsch as a kid, but I am finding that I really enjoy his books and wish I had read them as a kid. I think they are so clever and funny. I can see students really enjoying them in the classroom. The themes in them can be quite bizarre, but the messages are very real and genuine. They send a good message to kids. I also LOVE the pictures. They really make you want to laugh out loud.

I can see this book being used in a classroom for kindergarten-2nd graders. I would want to include this book in my classroom library and maybe do it as a read aloud. I think that the positive message of this book about not covering up who you are is important. The girl wanted to wear makeup because she thought she would look more beautiful, but in fact she was already beautiful without it. I think this is a cute story and kids will respond to it.

Miss Nelson is Back by Harry Allard

Miss Nelson is Back is a story about a class and their teacher Miss Nelson. She has to be out of school for sometime because she has to get her tonsils taken out. The class hears from a big kid that the worst substitute teacher they can get is Viola Swamp. She is a witch! This scares the students. The next day they come to find that their principal is going to be taking over their class. The kids are excited about this at first, but then they find that he is incredibly dull and boring. Three of the students decide to come up with a plan. They are going to dress up like Miss Nelson and pretend she is back. The principal believes them and they leave school and go to the movies and to eat ice cream. They walk past Miss Nelsons house and she looks out the window and is shocked at what she sees. She decides to teach her class a lesson. She dresses up as Viola Swamp and comes to her class the next day. Her class is very frightened and they do everything that she says. Then Viola leaves the room and Miss Nelson returns. The class is so excited to see her...but wonders why Miss Nelson did not run into Viola Swamp in the hall.

I loved reading these Miss Nelson books when I was younger. I was always scared of Viola Swamp just like the class was. I think these books are very fun and will be especially fun in the classroom. Students sometimes love when they have a substitute teacher because that means they can get away with anything and do their work. This book proves that that is not always the case. You could always get a teacher like Viola Swamp and no student wants that. This book will make the students appreciate their teacher.

I think this book would make a fun read a loud to the class. I could see them laughing and really enjoying it. There are two other books that go along with this one. They are called Miss Nelson is Missing and Miss Nelson has a field day. They are all very fun books. I would recommend this book for first and second grade classrooms. They are just fun stories that are sure to bring laughs to the room.

The Teeny Weeny Tadpole by Sheridan Cain

The Teeny Weeny Tadpole is a story of a little baby tadpole who wants to jump like his mother does. She explains to him that one day he will be able to jump too. He goes off into the water and comes across a lamb. He asks the lamb if it can jump and it replies, "of course I can"! The lamb jumps and the tadpole wishes he could jump too. The tadpole then comes across a rabbit and a grasshopper. He asks them both if they can jump and sure enough they can. They both jumppity jump and hippity hop. Tadpole continues swimming until he comes across the big bad fish. The only way to escape is to jump. When he tries to jump, he realizes he is no longer a tadpole, but a frog! He jumps away from the big bad fish and realizes that he too can jump.

This story is a cute, but common story. I liked the book overall, but there are many books like this out there. I think children will enjoy this story and be able to relate to it. All young children all wish they could something that older kids can. They are impatient when adults say "one day you will be able to". They want to do it that very instant. The tadpole in the story is the same way. He wants to be able to jump like everyone else. The exciting thing is that the tadpole finally does learn to jump, and at the perfect time.

This book is a good story for preschool-1st graders. It is a book that all kids can relate to and has fun pictures. It is a quick read and could be a good read a loud book or just a book to include in your library. I liked this story, but I feel like I could find a better one that carries a similar message. I think children will like this story. It reminded me a little bit of the movie finding nemo which many children love.

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

This classic childrens novel by Robert Munsch is a story of a mother and her child. When her son is a baby she rocks him in her arms back and forth and then sings him a song about who she will love him forever. Even though as he ages he sometimes drives her crazy, like most kids do, she continues to sneak into his room at night and sing him that very same song. Even when he is an adult she drives to his home and sings to him while he is asleep. Years pass and the mother becomes to old to sing anymore. Her son takes her in arms and rocks her back and forth and sings that very same song to her. He then goes up to his baby daughters room and holds her in his arms and sings that same song to her as she sleeps.

I can't believe I am going to type this, but I heard about this book through an episode of FRIENDS. It is Emma's first birthday party and Joey forgets to bring her a present so he decides to do a dramatic reading of one of her books. He picks up Love You Forever and begins to read it. At the end everyone is near tears and thought he did a great job. I always found that scene very funny and wanted to read the book for myself. I am very glad I chose to read it because it is such a sweet story. A great book to read to your child before bedtime.

This book would be good for Kindergarten and first graders. I find this as more a book for parents to read to their kids rather then a book I would read in my classroom. I would maybe include in my classroom library but not use it as a read a loud (Unless I could hire Matt LeBlanc from friends to read it to my class for me). The overall message in the book is very heart warming and sweet. Babies grow up and become parents and they teach their children the things that their parents teach them. The cycle of life is a beautiful thing. I think children will love this book just like I did.

We Share Everything by Robert Munsch

We Share Everything is a story about a brother and sister who have a hard time sharing. Amanda and Jeremiah are in kindergarten. When they get to class, Jeremiah wants Amanda's book and when she refuses to give it to him he screams. The teacher approaches them and explains that in preschool you are EVERYTHING. This does not seem to stick for the rest of the day they continue to fight over things like blocks and paint. The teacher explains again that they need to share. They discuss among themselves what they could share to prove to their teacher that they indeed can. They decide they will share their clothes. They switch outfits with one another. The teacher sees them in different clothes and get angry. They explain to her that they are in kindergarten and in kindergarten, we share everything!

This is another great book by Robert Munsch about the lesson of sharing. It is funny and entertaining for kids. This goes about the lesson of sharing in a fun way for kids. I could see using this book in my kindergarten and first class classroom. You can have discussions after reading the book about ways in which we can share in the classroom. The pictures are funny and kids will be sure to laugh out loud while it is read. It could be a great read aloud book. The pictures, illustrated by Michael Martchenko who illustrates many book by Robert Munsch, are funny and grab your attention.

Stephanie's Ponytail by Robert Munsch

Stephanie's Ponytail is a story about a girl named Stephanie who asks her mom for a ponytail in her hair. When she comes to school with her ponytail, the other kids laugh at her and tell its "ugly, ugly, very ugly". This does not bother Stephanie because she likes it. The next day at school all the other girls had ponytails. The next day Stephanie wanted a side ponytail. When she went to school they all told her it was ugly yet again. The day after, everyone had a side ponytail. This went on for a few more days when Stephanie wanted a ponytail on the top of her head, and coming out the front of her head. Everyone still copied her. She told them that when she came to school the next day she would shave her head. When she came to school EVERYONE had shaved their heads, and Stephanie was wearing a pony tail. It is safe to say that everyone who shaved their heads were not happy.

This is a simple, cute story that a teacher can use when dealing with a classroom of leaders and followers. Stephanie was a leader. She wore her hair the way she wanted to an did not care what anyone else thought. Everyone made fun of her, but then they would copy her the next day. This is common in elementary, middle school, and high school. This could make for a great read a loud book. After reading you can discuss the theme of the book with the class. They can also share stories of times when something like this happened in their own life. They can make great text to self connections. I thought of many when I was reading this story.

This is a great book for K-2nd graders. The illustrations are funny and will definitely make the students laugh. An all around fun story that will make for a nice addition to any classroom library. Robert Munsch is a funny author and one that kids are sure to enjoy.

Midterm Reflection on Children's Lit

I have really enjoyed this class thus far. I am realizing that picking out childrens book to include is actually harder then I thought. If it were up to me I would probably fill my entire library with books that were all the same genre. The genre project really opened my eyes to different kinds of books that I never would have thought to read before. Realistic fiction picture books were ones that I had not read much as a kid. I chose Patrica Polacco for my author\illustrator project and she writes realistic fiction. I feel in love with many of her books. Her stories are easy to relate to and they deal with issues that may not be the easiest to read about, but in a way kids can understand. The genre project was incredibly helpful. I have also enjoyed our class discussions. Hearing everyone's interpretation of a book we read that may be different then me is also very useful. It makes me think about things I may not have thought about while reading. I have enjoyed the novels we have had to read. I read the giver as a kid, but reading as an adult gave me a new perspective on the amazing story. I have already learned a great deal about childrens book in such a short time for this class. I am excited for the remainder of this class and to fill my classroom library one day with tons of amazing books!

Year of Impossible Goodbyes by Sook Nyul Choi

Year of Impossible Goodbyes is the story of a ten year old girl named Sookan and her family during 1945. The Japanese military were occupying Korea. Captain Narita does his best to destroy everything of value to the family, but cannot break their spirit. Her father is with the resistance movement in Manchuria and her brothers are in labor camps. Her mother is supervising a sock factory and Sookan and her younger brother are forced to attend Japanese school. When the war ends the family believes that they are free and everything will be good again, but Russian troops are threatening that when they come in and take control over on North Korea. Their only escape is to South Korea which is controlled by the Americans.

This story took me a little while to get into, but once I got into it, it was hard to put down. Sookan seems wise beyond her ten years of life. She is a very strong child from a very strong family. There were parts of this book that were incredibly sad and sometimes hard to read. I read many sad books when I was younger from the holocaust and they did not faze me as much. I think is just something that comes with age. When you read these kind of book when you are young you do not fully understand the sadness behind them. When you are older and have more life experience it becomes more real.

I did not love this book, but I think when you pair it with So Far From the Bamboo Grove it could make an excellent lesson. I think this book could be read anywhere from 6th-8th graders. I am not sure how children will respond to this. Some may enjoy it, while others may find in hard to read. Some may find it boring. It is hard to predict. I think it depends on the students in your class and the maturity level. It is a story that is full of history and could not only help with reading but about learning a different side to the World War II that they probably did not know.

Rotten Richie and the Ultimate Dare by Patricia Polacco

The follow up to her story, My Rotten Readheaded Older Brother , this story was about a funny challenge between the two siblings. Trisha bet Richie he that could not dance ballet. He insisted that it was a piece of cake and he could do it. She challenged him to participate in her ballet recital. Richie said the only way he would do that was if she played hockey with his team. So the two shook on it. A week later Trisha was putting on her hockey gear reading to play with Richie and his team. It did not start out well. She spent most of the time in the penalty box because it was easier then staying on the ice. At the end a fight broke out and many of the players were in the penalty box. It was up to Trisha to win the game. She made a shot to the other teams goal and it went in. She won the game! A few weeks later Richie danced in Trisha's recital. He started out a complete disaster. Her partner got hurt and Richie had to fill in for a duet with her. He ended up dancing it perfectly. The two came to the conclusion at the end that both of their hobbies were hard and trying hockey actually helped her with dance and dance actually helped with his hockey.

I thought this story was a great story for kids. It is a great way to break down those sexual stereotypes we have for girls and boys. Hockey is known as a boys sport and dance as a girls sport. Both may seem easy to do at first glance, but a big hockey fan I know that is much harder then it looks. I also know that when i tried dancing as a kid, it was not very easy. I think having them try the other sport out was a clever idea. It allowed them to see things for another perspective. In the end they both realized that the other sport was not so bad and actually helped them.

I think this is a story that third and fourth graders would enjoy reading. That is around the time they start participating in extra curricular activities. It shows boys and girls that their should not be sports that are just for girls or just for boys. All sports can be played by both sex and just because a sport is a considered a "boy" sport, it does not make it harder then something considered a "girl" sport. I think this book is a great addition to any classroom library.

For the Love of Autumm by Patricia Polacco

For the Love of Autumm is a sweet story about a teacher named Miss Parks. She has just moved to Washington to start a new teaching job with her cat Autumm. She is not yet married, and explains to her students that she knows the one of her is out there and she will know when she meets him. Autumm and Miss Parks eat popcorn together and sit on the couch by the fireplace. One stormy night Autumm goes missing. Miss Parks searches for her everywhere but never finds her. She returns one day with a gash on her tail and covered in blood. As Miss Parks goes to help her she runs away. Miss Parks was very upset and worried. All her students came to her house to help her search for Autumm, but they were not successful. Weeks went by and Autumm never returned. Then one day, when Miss Parks had given up hope, Autumm returns! Miss Parks is so happy, but Autumm seems to keep running off for a days at a time and then returning. One day she returns with a collar on and a phone number. Miss Parks calls the number and finds out that a man had found her and took her in as his own cat. She was upset about this, but then invited him over to meet him since he took care of Autumm when she was injured. When she saw him at the door she knew he was one. They were married a year later and they lived together, a long with their cat Autumm.

I really liked this story. I was not sure what it was going to be about when I first started reading it. I was not expecting her to meet a man at the end. That was a nice twist. It was nice how their mutual love for Autumm is what brought them together. I could see students in 2nd-4th grade enjoying this story. It is a longer book and deals with some more mature topics. I think it could make a nice addition to a classroom library. The illustrations in it, also done by Patricia, are beautifully done. They are colorful and realistic. This book was a little different then the other books I have read by Patricia. The themes of love and friendship are still ever present, but I liked that this story was different. This book is very cute I think it would be a fun book for my classroom library.

Mrs. Katz and Tush by Patricia Polacco

Mrs. Katz and Tush is the touching story of a women from Poland named Mrs Katz and her relationship with her young neighbor Larnel. Larnels mother would visit Mrs. Katz all the time because her husband had passed away and she was all alone. Larnel found a little kitten in the basement of their apartment and decided to give it to Mrs. Katz so she would have someone to keep her company. Mrs. Katz named the kitten Tush, a yiddish name for your bottom because the cat had no tail. Larnel came over to Mrs. Katz every day to help with Tush and hear stories from Mrs. Katz. The two became close friends and Mrs. Katz would share stories and teach Larnel about her Jewish background. Passover, a very important Jewish holiday, was approaching and Mrs. Katz had no one to share it with. Larnel said he would come over and have a passover meal, better known as a seder, with her. As time went on, Larnel grew up and got married, but still stayed very close with Mrs. Katz.

I really related to this story because I am Jewish. I understood all of the Jewish words and the holiday traditions because they are things that I have done since I was little. I think this book does a good job and teaching the reader about the Jewish holiday Passover in a way that is easy to understand. Mrs. Katz is teaching Larnel just as Patricia is teaching her readers. This wonderful story also shows readers that age does not matter in friendship. The two were very far apart in age but became very close friends.

I would recommend this book for students in second and third grade. It could be a good book to do as a real aloud around passover to teach students about this Jewish holiday. Passover is right around Easter time so they could also do a lesson on Easter. It is important to learn about many different holidays from all different religions. Some teachers may find religion a touchy subject and just steer clear from the topic all together. I probably would try to include this book along with other books relating to other religions and holidays.

In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak

In the Night Kitchen is a controversial book about a young boy named Mickey who is sleeping in his bed. All of a sudden he is disturbed by a noise coming from downstairs. He begins to float out of his bed, and his clothes, and drifts into a surreal world called the night kitchen. He then falls into a pot of cake batter. Three bakers continue to mix the batter and are unaware of the naked boy inside. As they are about to bake him, Mickey pops out and says that he is not the milk for the batter. Mickey, now covered in dough, makes an airplane and uses it to fly to the top of a giant milk bottle. He dives into the milk to recover some for the bakers. He sends the milk down to them and they are delighted to finish their cake. Mickey slides down the bottle and ends up back in his bed, with only the memory of this crazy dream.

This book is considered controversial because Mickey is naked for most of it. Though I agree that the nudity may not fully be necessary in the story, I do not see the major controversy in it. Sure, kids may point and giggle and the body parts of Mickey, but I think they are young enough to get past that and still be able to pay attention of the plot of the story. In class we watched the book being read to a young boy. He took notice that Mickey has no clothes on, but did not dwell on it and continued to listen to the story.

If parents have a problem with this book because in my classroom then I guess I would consider removing it, but I do not see why this book would not be included in a library. I think it is a cute story and do not find the nudity to be that distracting. I can see how people may find it controversial however that is why I would use discretion. I would use this book K-second graders. It is a fun story that children will laugh out loud at.

My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother by Patricia Polacco

My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother is a story that anyone with a sibling can relate it. It is the story of the author Patricia and her big brother Richard. He can do everything Patricia can do, only better! He can run faster, climb higher, and throw farther. Patricia's grandmother teaches her she can wish upon a star and so Patricia wishes that she could do something better then her older brother. The next day they attended a carnival and went on a merry go round. Richard got off before Patricia and she was so excited that she had stayed on longer then. The next thing she knew she was in her house and her family was hovering over her telling her she had fallen off the merry go round. Richard had carried her home and ran to the doctor. Patricia thanked Richard and he told her that was what older brothers were for.

Having an older brother myself, I could relate to Patricia in this story. My brother and I used to play together a lot when we were younger and I hated how he always beat me at things. We would fight a lot, but in the end, I always knew he would have my back no matter what. I think this story is a fun book for kids and easy to relate to if you have siblings. I love how Patricia writes about her own childhood because they are things are the reader may have experienced in their own childhoods. The strong family values in her books are so special.

I would include this book in my classroom library. This is a book book for students in second and third grade. Her books tend to be longer and more challenging, but still have great illustrations for students. Her books always find a way to warm my heart and I believe they will do the same for the students who read them.

Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco

Sheldon was left for dead in a pasture somewhere in Georgia when Pinkus found him. The mahogany skin colored boy was wearing Union colors just as Sheldon was. He picked him up and carried him out of the field and brought him to his mother Moe Moe Bays house. She was very kind and gentle, and cared for both of the boys. They were putting her in danger because they were in confederate territory. Though Sheldon, who asked to be called Say, did not want to go back and fight, he knew he had to do it for Pink. Before they could get out of the house, the marauding Confederate troops rode in. Moe Moe Bay hid the boys, but sadly she was killed. Pink and Say were then captured and thrown into a confederate camp. They were separated in the camp and never saw each other again. Say would survive and go on to have a family, but sadly Pink did not. This book is in memory of Pink.

This amazing story of friendship in time of war is beautifully written and incredibly sad. This picture book is a great story to include in a classroom library for students in older grades for 9-12 year olds. It could be a good book to read when learning about the civil war. The war is not the focus, but the effects of the war on those who were fighting in it. Pink and Say form a strong bond in such a short amount of time. Pink and Moe Moe Bay took Say in and nursed him back to health. This is a great way for students to see that helping others in need is very important. This book dealt with deep issues that could be hard to discuss with younger kids, but I think would be good for 4th and 5th graders. The book was long and very detailed.

I was tearing up while reading this book and saddened to find out that Pink did not make it. Though this book does not have the happiest of endings, it is important for children to learn that now everything in the world is perfect. Parents like to shield their children from the world, but the truth is we all are going to loss at some point in our lives. There is a proper way to learn about these subjects and I think there is no way better to learn about it, then with a childrens book.

When Lightning Comes in a Jar by Patricia Polacco

When Lightening Comes in a Jar is a story about family, like many of Patricia's books. It is time for Trisha's annual family reunion. All of her relatives are coming and she cannot wait. Every year they do the same activities. They throw a feast with tons of jell-o, a croquet game, and best of all there is storytelling time when all of the great aunts pull out their photo albums and try to top each others stories with another fantastic memory. This year, Trisha's gramma promised that she will help them catch lightening in a jar. She is so excited for her gramma to show her this magical trick. Once it is dark all the children go outside and gramma brings them all jars. She calls to the ground for the lightening to appear and like magic little fireflies are everywhere. This new tradition is one that will be passed on for generations to come at the annual family reunion only this time, it will be Trisha performing the magic of lightning in a jar.

This book made me think of my own traditions I have with my family. Every family has their own traditions so this book could be a good way to get kids writing about traditions they have in their families. I love the sense of love and family in Patricia's novels because it is something that most people can relate to. This book could be good for a read a loud in class because it is long for a picture book. I usually like pictures that are very colorful and unique, but I love the realistic pictures that Patricia draws. Since this story is realistic fiction, it makes sense.

I think this story would be good for second and third graders. I am sure after reading it they will want to try to catch lightning in a jar themselves. This book is very heartwarming and really made me appreciate my family and my traditions. I think after reading this the students will have many of their own family memories to share and could make for a fun lesson after reading this book.

The Lemonade Club by Patricia Polacco

The Lemonade Club is a true story about two best friends, Traci and Marilyn. They love their 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Wichelman. They learned from her that when life hands you lemons, you make lemonade! Things are going well, until Traci begins to notice that Marilyn is growing thinner and weaker. She finds out that Marilyn has Leukemia, a type of cancer. Marilyn is fighting a tough battle and is having a hard time dealing with the pain of her illness. When she returns to school, she discovers that she has the support of her whole class, who all shaved their heads to look just like her. Mrs. Wichelman is forming a close bond with Traci and Marilyn, and the girls discover that is hiding something from them. It turns out that she is fighting a battle too, with breast cancer. The girls motivate Mrs. Wichelman to fight her illness as well and to be all she can be, just like she taught them. Mrs. Wichelman explains that she wants the girls to attend her wedding in yellow dresses. In the end, the book jumps five years into the future in a church...for Mrs. Wichelman's wedding! Both Traci AND Marilyn are their for her in their yellow dresses to celebrate this wonderful day!

This book was incredibly emotional and I shed some tears while reading it. It is a beautiful story of friendship in the hardest of times. I connected with this story because my next door neighbor pasted away from Leukemia right after we graduated high school. He was a fighter, but unfortunately the cancer won. This story, though sad and very serious, did have a happy ending. Not all of these stories have happy endings, but there are some that do. This is a true story, so it makes it that much happier! While reading I kept thinking how I would feel reading this to my class. It would be a tough story to read because some students could have a connection to the story like I did with a relative or a friend. It is tough to say if I would include it in my library. If I did, I would maybe make a note on it that said it is a serious story that deals with serious issues and the children can chose to read if they want.

I would use this book for 3rd graders. It is a picture book, but a longer picture book. I think children books that deal with issues like this are important to include in a library, but you have to be very careful with it. It is a subject that can be hard to understand and difficult for students. It would take a mature classroom of students to be able to use it as a read aloud. I really did enjoy this book because it was a real story and really touched me.

Babushka's Doll by Patricia Polacco

Babushka's Doll is the story of a girl named Natasha who is spending the day with her Babushka, which is grandmother in Russian. Natasha is being a bit naughty and asking her grandmother to do feed her and push her around in a goat cart on their farm. Her grandmother has many things to do and keeps telling Natasha to be patient or do something herself. They do inside and Natasha see's a doll of her grandmothers. Her grandmother explains she has only played with it once. Her grandmother leaves for a bit and Natasha is left with the doll. All the sudden the doll comes to life and Natasha, though frighten at first, begins to play with the doll. After a while, the doll is commanding things of Natasha. It makes Natasha feed it, push it on the swing and in the cart, and iron its dress. Natasha is not happy with this because she is just a little girl and is finding the doll to be very rude. When her grandmother comes back so tells her what happened and explains that she never wants to play with the doll again. As grandmother puts the doll away, it winks at her and Natasha was never naughty again.

This story is a fun way for kids to learn to be a bit more respectful to their elders. At first when the doll comes alive, I think it is very exciting and will give Natasha some to play with, but then you see how naughty the doll is. It was a fun twist for Natasha to get a taste of her own medicine. Many children are like Natasha and become very selfish and demanding of their parents and grandparents. It is hard for them to know they are doing this, so this book is very clever and teaches Natasha a lesson. It is not fun to have someone boss you around and order you to do things for them. You have to be polite and then they will want to things for you.

I think this book would be a great addition to my classroom library. It has a nice message that children can understand and maybe relate it. It is for ages 4-8 years old. The pictures, also done by Patricia Polacco have a very old fashion feel to them which I like. It may not be as appealing to kids, but I really enjoyed this book and think that kids will find it fun and learn from it as well.

The Misfits by James Howe

The Misfits is the story of a group of friends, Bobby, Skeezie, Addie, and Joe. They are transitioning into their teenage years. They are the outcasts of their school. Bobby is overweight, Skeezie is the "hooligan", Addie is the activist, and Joe is just beginning to discover his sexuality. Addie decides to take a stand and form her own political party at school to run for student council. They are sick of the popular kids running the school. Middle School is a tough time for many kids who do not feel like they belong and this group of misfits takes a stand for outcasts everywhere.

I think this book, though controversial, is a book that I would want to read with my students. I know that many schools ban it, so I probably would not be able to. Though this book deals with issues like sexuality, I think it is important for students to learn about that in school and through literature rather then from things they may hear from others. In middle school everyone is discovering who they are and trying to fit in. The misfits shows students that it is OKAY to be different and to stand out. It shows that you can stand up for what you believe in and be who you are.

I would read this book with 6-8th graders. 6th graders might be a little young for the content, so maybe just 7th and 8th graders. It is a quick and easy read. I think that this book would make for great conversation in the class, especially because it has been banned. When books are banned it makes students want to read them more. They are curious and want to know why the book was banned. The friendship between the friends is what I really liked about the book. They accepted each other for who they were. I think everybody needs friends like that, especially in middle school.

Glogster

William's Doll by Charlotte Zolotow

William's doll is a book about a boy named William who desperately wants a doll. He wants to hold it and take care of it as if it were his own. His brother makes fun of him and calls him a sissy for wanting a doll. His father buys him "boy" toys like a basketball and a train set. William is good at basketball and plays with the train, but it does not take the place of wanting a doll. William spends some time with his grandmother and tells her how much he wants a doll. She is not taken a back by this at all and takes him to the store and buys him one. When he comes home with it, his father is not happy. He says he is a boy and needs to play with "boy" toys. His grandmother explains that having a doll and taking care of it will prepare him for when he is a father. He then can buy a doll for his son who can also practice being a father.

I personally did not find anything controversial about this book. I understand that a doll is not a toy that is typically for boys, but I think it is time that these stereotypes between what is considered a girl toy or a boy toy is broken. When I was a kid I enjoyed playing sports and video games that were boy oriented. My parents did not find anything wrong with this and neither do I. William still plays basketball and with his train, he just also wanted a doll to take care of. I think this is an important thing because boys can learn as a young age to become more nurturing. Most people consider fathers the disciplinary one and not the nurturing one.

I think I would include this in my classroom library because it is different. All the students in my classroom will be different and will like different things. This is just one example of a boy liking a toy that some may consider not for boys and shows that it is okay. Some boys may be embarrassed to admit that they like something that is not normally for boys, but after reading this book they can see that is it okay. This book is for pre K-2nd graders. Although this book may stir up some controversy, I think it is worth included in my classroom because it is not offensive and will help break down these stereotypes we have created about boys and girls.

Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite

Daddy's roommate is the story about a young boy whose parents are divorced. His dad has a new roommate who lives with him and it is another man. His dad and his dad's roommate do many things together like sleep together, shave together, and sometimes even fight. The boy also spends time with his dad and his dad's roommate at the park, the zoo, baseball ball games, and many other fun activities. His mother told him that his dad and his dad's roommate Frank are gay. His mother explained what that meant to him. She explained that being gay is another kind of love and it makes his dad happy. If his dad is happy then he is happy too.

If I had read this book as a child, I may have been confused at first seeing a dad with another man. The book does a nice job of explaining what being gay means in a way that a child can understand. This is a tough topic to talk about with young kids depending on their backgrounds as well as explaining it in a way that they can understand. I would be a little hesitant about including this in my classroom library simply because some parents may have more conservative background and not feel comfortable with their kids reading books about this subject. I personally feel that this book explains homosexuality in a mature and easy to understand manner. Their are going to be students in my classroom from all different kinds of families and this book explains one kind. If a student with homosexual parents sees this book they may feel comforted by it.

I am hesitant to include this book simply because I would not want parents to complain, however I think that this topic is important for kids to understand. They do not have to agree or disagree with it, but just to learn that their are different kinds of families out there that may look different then their own. This book is for preK-2nd graders. I think learning about this topic at a young age may make children more aware and more accepting of homosexuality. Though it is a sensitive subject, children will need to learn about it sooner or later, so why not sooner.

Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi

Everyone Poops could be considered a controversial childrens book that explains to children that they are not the only people in the world who poop. It also explains that animals, as well as grown ups do it too. Animals all poop different shapes and sizes. Some do it on the move, and other do it in place. Some are small and some are big. Though everyone's is not the same, everyone still poops.

I remember buying this book for a friend as a joke in high school. I was so mortified to ask the lady at the book store where it was. Though the topic is a little be embarrassing to talk about, the truth of the matter is everyone does indeed poop. Some children may be embarrassed about this, but maybe if they know that they are not the only ones it will make them feel more comfortable.

This subject is a little bit touchy and can make teachers and parents feel a little uncomfortable. I still think it is a good book to include in a classroom library for students in 1st and 2nd grade. It is informative and humorous at the same time. It will allow children to feel more comfortable about this uncomfortable subject. The pictures in the book are a little bit much. They show different animals along with their poop. They also show a few nude pictures of young boys. They are not overly detailed, but children will most certainly take notice and point it out. I would use discretion when including this book in the classroom. Consider the maturity level of the students as well as what you would want them to get out of the book.

"Where Did I Come From? The facts of life without any nonsense and with illustration" by Peter Mayle

I discovered this controversial book at a friends house only a few short years ago. We flipped through it and laughed at the images, but I did not sit down and actually read it till now. "Where did i come from" is a book that parents can use if they want to teach their child about how babies are made. This is a very sensitive subject to talk about with young kids. There are parents who avoid the subject and wait until they learn about it in health class, while some like to be honest and upfront with their kids.

For parents who want to be upfront and honest with their children at a young age, then this book is fun for them. It expresses the act of a mother and father making a baby in terms that children can understand. I would say this book should be used for third graders and up, third being the absolute youngest. The book starts out by explaining the different body parts in a boy and a girl. It then goes into the act of "making love". This part I feel is a little to graphic, but that is why this book could be considered controversial. It does not leave out ANY detail. After the book explains "making love" it goes into the stages of pregnancy until the baby is born. I found this to be very informative and a good way to explain the stages of pregnancy.

The illustrations, all in cartoon form, show the differences between the male and female form. They are graphic, but are still suitable for children. Though I can see why parents would use this book to explain the miracle of life to their children, I personally do not think that I would use it until my children were in middle school even. There were many things about this book that I liked and found informative, but it is also a bit much for young children and might cause them to ask more questions. It is something that is entirely up to the parent. I would feel somewhat uncomfortable reading this with young children and am sure many parents would.

My Little Polar Bear by Claudia Rueda

My Little Polar Bear is a sweet and simple story about a baby polar asking his mother if he is a polar bear. His mother tries to explain to him how he is polar bear. She explains that he was born in the Arctic, is white like the snow, has large feet, can walk on snow, smells seals, is a good swimmer, and can find his way in a snow storm. The little polar bear says he does not swim well, he gets lost in the snow, and he slips. The mother bear tells her baby that she will teach him all of these things. The one thing the little polar bear knows for sure is that his mother loves him.

This story is very simple and for beginner readers in Kindergarten and 1st grade. The story is something that many parents can relate to. All children need to learn from their parents as they grow up. This is a great book for students learning to read because there are only a few words on each page and they are fairly simple words.

The book caught my eye because of the blue glitter cover. All the pictures are very simple in blue and white. I was not that fond of the illustrations, but the simplicity of them goes along with the simplicity of the story. It is not trying to hard, it just a plain and simple sweet story. When i read this to my second grade child study student he really liked it because he could read along with me. I think this story would be a good addition to a Kindergarten and first grade classroom. Kids will enjoy it and parents will enjoy it as well.

Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy

Bubble Trouble is the story of a little boy who gets stuck inside his sisters bubble and floats above the town where everyone stops what they are doing to run after him. His mother is worried that the bubble will pop and the little baby will fall. A rebel boy on the block decides to try to shoot it down with a pebble and when he does, the bubble bursts and the baby begins to fall. Luckily, one of their neighbors had a quilt with her that she was working on and they all open up the quilt and hold it out so that the baby can fall safely on it and be okay.

This story is told in an interesting rhyming fashion. Only two lines on the page rhyme and for some reason I just could not get the flow going with that. There were many tongue twister rhyming words that all sounded a like and would make for a fun read for children, but also somewhat difficult for parents. It is hard to keep a good pace because the rhyming was different then what I am used to reading. Also, many of the words were different and harder for younger children to understand. Though they will probably understand what is going on through the pictures, I found the book itself to be confusing for young kids.

The illustrations, done by Polly Dunbar, seemed to be done partially in colored pencil which I found refreshing. It was a little something different then you usually see and for children who use colored pencil, they can try to replicate some of the illustrations. This story would be good for students in 1st and 2nd grade, though it still might be a little confusing for them. If the story is read fast, kids will get a kick out of the rhyming words and funny tongue twisters in the story.

Dem Bones by Bob Barner

Dem Bones is a book that goes through all the major bones in the human body. It shows the bone and explains what the bone is connected to, like that little song we use to sing as kids "the foot bones connected to the...ankle bone, the ankle bones connected to the...leg bone, the leg bones connected to the...knee bones, and so on and so forth. It gives a little description of the bone and then some functions that that bones allows us to do.

This fun book is a great way for children to learn all about the bones in their bodies. It is a great information book that still has a fun childrens book feel to it. I think this book would be great when teaching science to children. Even though the book is simple, it could still be a good book to use for kids in older grades like 5th or 6th. The illustrations show the reader the different bones and use a lot of color.

I really like this book as a way to teach the bones in the body. While reading it there were many things about the bones that I still did not know as a adult so I think that this book would be really helpful for students learning about the body.

The Giver

I honestly think I read this book in the 4th grade, but do not know how I could have even began to understand it. This extraordinary takes place in a community where everything and everyone are the same. The people of the community do not experience any pain or even love. They are given a job during their twelfth year and that is the job they are to study and do. They do not believe in choice, or color, or anything that would allow a person to think or be an individual. The main character of the story, Jonas, is incredibly nervous as his twelfth year approaches. He is not sure what kind of job he will receive. At the end of the ceremony he finds out he will be the new receiver of memory. This is very honorable job to have in this community because he gets to a follow a different set of rules. The receiver of memory trains with the giver, the only person in the community who holds memories of a place in which the world was once like. When he begins to receive memories from the giver, he starts to feel pain and love. He does not understand why the community would be against this things. He see's colors and finds them beautiful.

As time goes on, Jonas also discovers what it means to be released into the world. He finds out through memories that if you are released you are going to be killed. His father wanting to release Gabriel, a baby they had been looking after. Jonas does not want this to happen and also wants all the memories to be released back into the communities so that they can all experience these things. He decides to escape with Gabriel and free all the memories. The ending of the book is left to interpretation. Jonas and Gabriel hear music and think they will be welcomed in this new land. Some people believe this means they came across a new village, one more like the real world today as we know. Some believe the coldness they experienced made them freeze to death and that is was they heard before they died.

Whatever the ending may mean, I believe that this book is one that should not only be read by middle schoolers, but young adults and adults who may have never read it. I barely remember reading this book because I think I was to young to understand its full meaning. When teaching this book you can really delve into big issues like independence, difference, and being able to make mistakes. We all experience pain, but the great part in experiencing pain is experiencing something great after that pain. We can enjoy the great things in life if we never experience any of the bad things. This is so important for children to learn.

I would recommend this book for children in 6-8th grade because I think they will get the most out of it. There are many great discussions and assignments that can be done with this book and will crease some great dialogue. I feel like this book is a must for teachers.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Twilight is the famous 4-part series book about the love between a vampire and a teenage girl. Bella is an ordinary girl who moved to Seattle to live with her father. She is a shy, quiet girl who mostly keeps to herself. She sits next to a mysterious boy named Edward in one of her classes and gets the feeling like he does not like her. As time goes on and Bella observes Edward, she senses that something is different about him and ultimately realizes that he is a vampire. Edward is a vampire that does not human blood, only animal blood. Two try to stay away, but realize that their connection is much to strong. Being in love with a vampire is difficult, especially when other vampires in town want to eat you. The first book in the series only touches on the crazyness that is The Twilight Saga.

The Twilight books, especially the first one, are extremely popular among teenagers, specifically girls. The reason I think this is, is because many young girls can relate to Bella. She is the gorgeous popular beauty in the school, but an average teenage girl. There is also something very intriguing about a forbidden love as well dating a boy who would do just about anything for you.

Though many think this book is just for girls, I have heard of boys reading the book and enjoying it. There is actions\fighting scenes between the vampires and in the later books with werewolves. I think there is much for boys to like about this book other then the main romance. This book is probably for students in 6-8 grade. It has some risque content in the later series, but I think most young readers have seen or heard of the same stuff on television or in movies. It is a great modern day Romeo and Juliet with a twist and with the current vampire craze, many students will probably want to read it.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear is a simple childrens book for preschool and kindergartners. The story begins with the brown bear and the author asking brown bear brown bear what do you see and then finding out what animal was next and color it was going to be. Some of the animals were a red bird, yellow duck, purple cat, blue horse, green frog, ect. At the end there is a mother who sees a group of children that explain that they see all of the animals and the mother looking at them. I think the means the mother is reading them the story.

I remember reading this book when I was very little. It is a simple and great book for kids who are just learning how to read. It is also a great way to learn about different animals and different colors. As a teacher you can also make an extension out of it and have kids add their own illustrations and words explaining the types of things they see. This could be very fun for kindergartners and first graders.

The illustrations were by Eric Carle whom I love. They are very colorful, yet simple pictures which are a staple of Eric's work. I think young kids will find this book to be fun and will want to read it over and over again with their parent or teacher. A great addition to any classroom library.