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.