Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck by Margarita Engle

Engle, M. (2011). Hurricane dancers:The first Carribbean pirate shipwreck. New York, NY: Henry            Holt and Company.

Hurricane Dancers was written by Margarita Engle and published in 2011. In 2012, it won the Pura Belpre Author Honor book award. The entire story is told through a series of poems. Quebrado has spent his life bouncing around from pirate ship to pirate ship feeling like an outsider. On Captain Bernardino de Talavera’s ship, Quebrado is used as a translator until a horrible shipwreck that claims the lives of most of the crew onboard. Quebrado escapes to safety and then must learn to live on the land among new locals.

Since this novel is written entirely in poems, it would be a good mentor text for students to use to write their own poetry. Students could choose two or three poems from the novel as a model. Then they could create their own series of short poems that tell one cohesive story.

I am not a huge fan of poetry, but since I liked Love the Dog I decided to try out another novel written in poems. The plot of the novel was fairly good and engaging.  However, although, I can appreciate the author’s craft I did not like reading the whole story in poetry this time. The poems were a bit hard to follow at times and made the story less enjoyable. I would not recommend this novel for elementary aged students as it is better suited for older readers.

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Soldier Bear by Bibi Dumon Tak

Tak, B.D. (2011). Soldier Bear. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

Soldier Bear  was written by Bibi Dumon Tak and illustrated by Philip Hopman. It was first published in the United States in 2011 and received the Batchleder Award in 2012. Based on actual events, the story takes place during World War II. Polish soldiers adopt a bear, Voytek, while in Iran and then bring the bear with them on other missions in various countries. Voytek becomes a “soldier” and learns to work side by side with his comrades.

Soldier Bear would be a good book to use for a read aloud in an upper elementary classroom to allow for scaffolding for some complex vocabulary. This book would also be a good “hook” for a creative writing lesson. After hearing the story, students could write a story featuring a unique pet that helps humans in some way.

Personally, I enjoyed reading about Voytek, a quirky pet bear, and all his antics. Through Voytek’s mischievous actions, the author was able to infuse humor into a novel set in the bleak times of war. This is a charming story that children would be sure to love!

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Shipwrecked! The true adventures of a Japanese boy by Rhoda Blumberg

Blumberg, R. ( 2001). Shipwrecked! The true adventures of a Japanese boy. New York, NY: Harper         Collins Publishing.

Shipwrecked! The true adventures of a Japanese boy by Rhoda Blumberg is a biography about Manjiro, a Japanese man that was stranded on a deserted island after a shipwreck as a young man. Unable to return to his isolated homeland, Manjiro, is rescued by an American whaling boat captain and taken to the United States. He spends twelve years of his life in the United States and working on ships before finally returning to his homeland. Once there, he played an integral role in opening up the ports of Japan for trade between his country and the United States.

Much of this book is based on the whaling industry, ships, and trading as it affects Manjiro’s life. In the classroom, this book could be used as the catalyst for a  STEM unit on math and engineering. Students could research whaling ships of the 1800’s. Then, design and build a model of a whaling ship using various classroom materials.

I found this biography to be entertaining and easy to read. It reads more like a picture book rather than a non-fiction biographical story which I appreciate. I also loved the inclusion of Manjiro’s authentic sketches and the Japanese and American artwork. Manjiro’s incredible life story is sure to entertain and delight readers!

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The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Zusak, M. (2005). The Book Thief. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

The Book Thief  was written by Markus Kusak and published in 2005.  The story is told from Death’s perspective and revolves around the life and relationships of one young girl, Liesel.  Liesel lives in Nazi Germany with her foster parents during treacherous times. Times become even more dangerous when her family harbors a Jewish man in their basement and Liesel must help keep his presence a secret from everyone she knows even her best friend, Rudy. Throughout the story Liesel’s affinity for books and words grows prompting her to steal books from the mayor’s wife and even from Nazi book burnings.

The Book Thief would be a fantastic resource to use when learning about World War II and Nazi Germany. In particular, students could debate the censorship of books that is seen in the novel. Book burnings were common-place events in Liesel’s time. Students could conduct a debate about whether censorship is justifiable and the ramifications of censorship.

Overall, I liked the plot and theme of The Book Thief, however, it was a bit hard to get accustomed to reading the story from Death’s perspective. The writing is abrupt at times and includes atypical breaks in the action of the story to state facts or descriptions. Quickly, though, the reader is drawn into the story by Kusak’s  charming characters and suspenseful plot and thus able to look past some of the atypical elements. I believe this award winning book would be well loved by middle and high school aged students.

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Bull Run by Paul Fleischman

Fleischman, P. (1993). Bull run. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

Bull Run by Paul Fleischman is a historical fiction novel about the First Battle of Bull Run during the American Civil War. Told from the perspective of 16 different people, Bull Run offers a glimpse of the battle both on the battlefield and behind the scenes. The sixteen characters are comprised of Northerners, Southerners, whites, African Americans, men, and women each giving their own account of the battle.

Bull Run could be used in a social studies lesson about the American Civil War. Students could read the story and then “adopt” one of the characters. Students would write a monologue for their character based on what they read in the book and create an appropriate costume as well. Then students would present their monologues to the class.

Reading about the battle from different perspectives is eye-opening! Generally, much of what we learn in history is told from one perspective which offers a limited of view of events. However, in Bull Run you come to understand the plight of people that come from all walks of life during that time period. The author’s writing is clear and succinct, but still creates a believable story. I would highly recommend this book to upper elementary and middle school aged children.

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The Way We Work by David Macaulay and Richard Walker

Macaulay, D. & Walker, R. (2008). The way we work. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Books.

The Way We Work by David Macaulay and Richard Walker is an enormous nonfiction book filled with information about the inner workings of the human body. It contains hundreds of colorful, intricate illustrations and loads of interesting facts. Each chapter describes a body system in great detail.

This book would be a good resource when teaching nonfiction text features. Also, this book would be a good research tool when teaching about the human body and living systems. Students could use the book to research a body system and then create a diagram to be displayed in the classroom. A project like this would be a good way to incorporate both artistic and written elements.

The authors included a plethora of information in an organized and concise manner which made the book easy to read and understand. I also really like the detailed diagrams found throughout the book! They are intricately drawn and labeled. Students would love to peruse the illustrations in this book even if they are not able to understand some of the more complicated facts. I feel this book would be a nice addition to any library collection!

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Who Was First? Discovering the Americas by Russell Freedman

Freedman, R. (2007). Who was first? Discovering the americas. New York, NY : Clarion Books.

Who Was First? Discovering the Americas by Russell Freedman is an informational book that looks at different theories about who actually discovered the Americas first. While most people consider Christopher Columbus to have been the first person to discover the Americas there are theories that the Vikings, Mayans, or Chinese were actually the first people to locate the “new world”. Each chapter explores a new theory and examines the facts behind the theory.

This book could be used in conjunction with the social studies curriculum particularly in third grade where students study the exploration of America. Who Was First? Discovering the Americas would be a valuable resource to engage students in a critical thinking lesson. Students could explore the theories offered in the book and determine the reasonableness of each theory in small groups.

This is a fascinating book filled with detailed paintings, colorful maps, and authentic photographs. The reading level of the book would be best for upper elementary students as some of the vocabulary is a bit advanced. It would be useful to create an ongoing word wall while using this book in the classroom. I think upper elementary and middle school aged students would be interested and engaged while reading this book.

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The Mad Potter: George E. Ohr Eccentric Genius by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan

Greenberg, J. & Jordan, S. (2013). The mad potter: George E. Ohr eccentric genius. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.

The Mad Potter: George E. Ohr Eccentric Genius was written by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan. In 2014, the book was chosen as a Sibert Honor Book. This book is a biography about George E. Ohr, who was a potter who lived in Biloxi, Mississippi in the late 19th and early 20th century. The story follows George’s career as a potter.  George was an eccentric and egotistical man and proclaimed himself “the mad potter.” He tried to sell his unique pottery during his lifetime with little success. His pottery did not become well known in the United States until well after his death.

This book would be a great resource to make a classroom connection with the art curriculum. In the classroom,students could read about George E. Ohr and his ceramics and then try to create their own works of art using modeling clay in the art classroom.

I enjoyed reading this book because there was a lot of information about Ohr and his career in pottery. There were many colorful photographs of pottery and historical photographs that greatly enhanced the story. Given the specific subject matter of this book, the audience in the classroom setting may be a little limited although it would be an interesting way to introduce lesser known artists to children.

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Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Baskin, N.R. (2009). Anything But Typical.  New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Anything But Typical was written by Nora Raleigh Baskin.  It won the Schneider Family Award for middle school, which is given to authors or illustrators who discuss the life experiences of a child with a disability. In Anything But Typical, Jason Blake, a 12 year old autistic boy struggles to fit in. During the story, you start  to understand how he feels in typical, everyday situations.

According to several online book reviews, the story paints a very realistic picture of what it’s like to live with autism.  This book would be a good read aloud for the classroom to prompt discussion among students in an effort to create an inclusive, compassionate classroom environment. Additionally, this book could be used in literature circles because it lends itself well to small group discussion. Outside of the classroom, I think this would be a valuable book for teachers of students with disabilities to read to gain an understanding of what it is like to live with a disability.

The author’s writing style lacks flow in some portions of the book, but overall it was easy and interesting to read. Anything But Typical is told from Jason’s perspective which offers incredible insight into the mind of an autistic child. I really enjoyed reading this story and believe it would be a nice addition to a middle school classroom or library.

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The Might Mars Rover: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity by Elizabeth Rusch

Rusch, E.The mighty mars rover: The incredible adventures of Spirit and Opportunity. (2012).Boston, MA : Houghton            Mifflin Books for Children.

The Might Mars Rover: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity by Elizabeth Rusch is an informational book that is part of the Scientists in the Field series.  It was published in 2012 and was on the ALSC Notable Book List in 2013. It’s the intriguing story about the two Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, launched in 2003 to find out if there was water on Mars that could have once supported life.

This book could be used in the classroom for research on space exploration. Students could work in groups to create presentations on various space missions including this one. Other missions could include the Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon and the difficult Apollo 13 mission. Then students could present their findings to the whole class or even other classes.

I really enjoyed this informational book on the rovers!  It is filled with facts and history about the Mars rover programs.  The photographs are stunning and the captions really help enhance the story. The story is told in such a way that you want to keep reading to find out what happens next. Students would love this kind of suspense especially in a nonfiction text.  This book would be a great addition to any elementary or even middle school classroom or library!

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The Animal Book by Steve Jenkin

Jenkins, S. (2013). The animal book. New York, NY:Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing.

The Animal Book was written by Steve Jenkins and is an informational book on the topic of animals.  It was published in 2013 and was placed on the ALSC Notable Children’s Book list in 2014.  The Animal Book is an almanac of hundreds of animals that includes interesting facts and wonderful illustrations.

In the classroom, this book could be used by students to conduct research on a specific animal.  The book gives a plethora of information for each animal such as size, habitat, and diet.  Students could research an animal, create a poster or video, and then give a short presentation to the class. Alternatively, this would be a fantastic resource to use when teaching nonfiction text features. Students could complete a text feature scavenger hunt where they would need to use the book to find certain features such as heading, index, bold word, and glossary.

I really enjoyed this informational book! The illustrations are colorful and creative. They were created using cut and torn paper and are located in several places throughout the book. I also enjoyed the vast array of animals presented in this book. Kids of all ages would love looking at the illustrations and reading the hundreds of neat animal facts in this book.

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Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon by Catherine Thimmesh

• Thimmesh, C. (2006). Team Moon: How 400,000 people landed Apollo 11 on the moon. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.

Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon by Catherine Thimmesh is a biographical subject book. In this book, the subject is discovery and exploration of the moon. It tells about the lives of all of the people who helped make the moon landing happen, such as the engineers that built the lunar module and the seamstresses who designed and sewed the space suits.

Of course this book could be easily used in a science lesson on the moon or the exploration of space. Students could use this book as a resource while learning about the moon. In groups, students would be assigned to read a certain portion of the book and do research about that topic. Then, using the jigsaw method, students would be regrouped and share their knowledge.

This book has a wealth of information! The photographs are breathtaking and integrated beautifully throughout the book. I really enjoy that this book focuses on the hard work and ingenuity of everyone involved in space exploration rather than just the astronauts. I think students would really enjoy learning about the moon from a different perspective. This was a wonderful informational book that I would recommend to readers of all ages!

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Bone, Volume 1: Out From Boneville by Jeff Smith

Smith, J. (2005). Bone, vol. 1: Out from boneville. New York, NY: Graphix.

Bone, Volume 1: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith is the first book in the Bone graphic novel series. In this volume, Phoney Bone has been exiled from Boneville for his self-serving misdeeds. His cousins, Fone Bone and Smiley Bone, agree to help Phoney and accompany him on the journey out of town and through a desert. Shortly after their escape from the town, they encounter an unfortunate locust swarm and are suddenly split apart. Each one finds their way to a mysterious forest in a valley where they spend the winter encountering strange beasts, meeting interesting people, and trying to reunite. Finally, they find one another and are soon headed off on another adventure to go to the spring fair and ultimately find their way back to Boneville.

Since this book is a graphic novel, it would be a good mentor text to use during Writer’s Workshop. Students could create a storyboard to tell their own story. Then they could use the storyboard drawings to tell the story while adding text and dialogue. Students could either start their own graphic novel series or use the Bone series as their inspiration and write another installment.

As with all graphic novels, the illustrations are SO important in this book. The illustrations provide foreshadowing, show emotion, and allow the reader to make inferences about characters and plot. Smith’s illustrations are fun and comic-book like which many students would enjoy. I also find the use of illustrations with text very useful for lower level readers.

Personally, I did not love this story because I found some of the characters to be a bit annoying and unlikable. However, I know for a fact that this series was very popular among my 3rd and 4th grade male students! They tend to like the silly humor and comic book like drawings.

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One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Williams-Garcia, R. (2010). One crazy summer. New York, NY: Amistad.

One Crazy Summer was written by Rita Williams-Garcia and was published in 2010. It won the Coretta Scott King award in 2011.  In the story, three sisters are sent from their home in Brooklyn to stay with their mother in California, who abandoned them as young children.  While in Oakland, California, the girls are forced to spend time at a local center run by Black Panthers in the heat of the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. Throughout the story they must fend for themselves as their mother refuses to have a real role in their lives. They experience many ups and downs during their crazy summer and finally learn a little more about their own mother along the way.

The events of the story take place during a pivotal time in the civil rights movement thus this book could be used in conjunction with the social studies curriculum. Students could have debates or discussions about racism and equal rights for all citizens. Further, they could also investigate different political movements, such as the Black Panthers.

Williams-Garcia created very strong characters especially, Delphine who was independent, reliable, and responsible. She took care of her younger sisters when her mother would not.  Her sisters, Fern and Vonetta, were also very strong characters with a lot of charisma and spunk. One thing that I had a hard time with throughout the novel was my extreme disdain for the girls’ mother, Cecile.  At the end of the novel, Cecile does start to warm up to the girls just a bit, but I still felt very negative about her character’s lack of motherly instinct and emotion toward her own children. Overall, though, the novel’s message of growth and understanding is one that children would enjoy.

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The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

Patron, S. (2006). The higher power of lucky. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron was published in 2006 and won the Newbery Medal for outstanding children’s literature in 2007.  It is an uplifting story about a 10 year old girl named Lucky who lives in a small town, Hard Pan, in the desert of California.  After losing her mother and having an absent father, she’s under the guardianship of Brigitte, a young woman from France. Lucky is looking to find her “higher power” and ultimately her place in life.

This book could be used in the classroom to make a connection with science. Lucky has a strong desire to be a scientist and feels a connection with Charles Darwin.  In fact, her dog, HMS Beagle, is named after Charles Darwin’s ship used for research.  Lucky collects bugs to study and wants to set up a museum exhibit.  Students could do a study on the animals and insects found in the setting of the novel and then set up their own exhibit in the classroom.

While I found this novel a bit hard to “get into”, I think children would really enjoy this story for it’s heartwarming characters and positive outcome. The characters are believable and interesting. Some are less developed than others, like Brigitte, but Lucky’s character is dynamic and her personality is charming. She is simply a young girl looking for her place in the world which I think many children would be able to relate to and connect with personally. Overall, this is a good book that I would recommend for elementary aged children.

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Formal review- A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

Park. L.S. (2001). A single shard. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

Grade level: 5-8

Review: A Single Shard is a story of perseverance about a young orphan named Tree-Ear who is enamored with the artistry and craft of pottery. After he accidentally breaks a piece of Min’s pottery, Tree-Ear begins to work as a helper for Min, a master potter, to repay his debt. His caretaker, Crane-Man, mentors Tree-Ear while he works under the tutelage of Min. During his young life he faces many obstacles but perseveres on his quest to prove himself. A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park received the Newbery award for children’s literature in 2002. Throughout the novel Park seamlessly develops compelling, three dimensional characters, particularly Tree-Ear. He is a determined and tenacious young boy that grows and learns over the course of the story as he works for Min. Tree-Ear’s steadfast character and positivity contribute to the overall theme of persistence and hard work in the story. While I enjoyed the characterization and theme of the book, I was not as taken with the setting simply because it was hard for me to relate to initially. The story is set in 12th century Korea making the novel a work of historical fiction. Overall, though, the positive message of this novel makes it a worthwhile read especially for upper elementary and middle school aged children.  

Recommendation: Recommended

Byline: Marcy Singson, Graduate Student, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

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Formal Review- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, N. (2008). The graveyard book. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishing.

Grade level: 5-8

Review: The Graveyard Book is a highly imaginative fantasy novel with a fast-paced, exciting plot. It is written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Dave McKean and won the Newbery award in 2009.  The Graveyard Book is about a young boy, Nobody ‘Bod’ Owens, who is raised  by ghosts after escaping a grisly murder scene at his own home. The story follows Bod into adolescence as he learns the truth about what happened to his family. As he grows, he faces new dangers and perils while learning life lessons from his ghostly protectors.  Gaiman has a captivating style of writing that entices and intrigues the reader. I also enjoyed the fantasy aspect of the book, particularly  the graveyard setting, because it is an especially unique setting for a work of children’s literature. Additionally, the idea of graveyard residents creating a sense of community and raising a living boy is fresh and ingenuous. While the book was enjoyable, there were parts of the plot that were somewhat disjointed which detracted from the overall flow of the story. For instance, Gaiman only briefly mentions “the ghoul gate” early in the novel without much further development or description later in the book. Even with some faults in the plot, this was an entertaining, charming novel that would be great for upper elementary and middle school aged children.

Recommendation: Recommended

Byline: Marcy Singson, Graduate Student, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

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Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett Krosoczka

Krosoczka, J.(2009). Lunch lady and the cyborg substitute. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett Krosoczka is a graphic novel about an undercover lunch lady and her helpful sidekick protecting the world from evildoers! It’s a classic good versus evil tale. Hector, Terrence, and Dee have always wondered what the lunch lady does outside of school so they follow her not knowing that this would lead to an adventure of epic proportion complete with a cyborg substitute and a science teacher with an evil plan! They work together to fight the evildoers and finally defeat them...or do they?!

This graphic novel is fun, witty, and clever! I really enjoyed the gadgets created by Betty to fight crime. Also, the illustrations are thoughtfully created and add so much to the plot. Like many graphic novels, Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute, would be a great book for upper elementary reluctant or lower level readers. Using the pictures as support, struggling readers could still enjoy and understand this story that has themes and context appropriate for them. Additionally, it is a quick read and reluctant readers would be less likely to lose interest. I also think this book would appeal to male readers since it is written like a comic book.

I would use this book to boost fluency and expression. In small groups, students could practice reading aloud paying special attention to the characters’ emotions and expressions as they read. Again, the illustrations would provide visual support for readers as they read aloud. Further, since this book is the start of a series of books and this book ends with a cliffhanger, students could write predictions about what might happen in the following books.

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Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

Creech, S. (2001). Love that dog. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech is a narrative poem about a reluctant young poet named, Jack. At first, Jack is adamant about being unable to write poetry but over the course of the year his confidence grows under the guidance of his teacher, Miss Stretchberry. She encourages him to find his inspiration which eventually leads to Jack meeting his own muse, Walter Dean, and writing a lovely, emotional poem about his late dog Sky. Jack is a likable and dynamic character. Through his poems the reader understands that Jack changes throughout the year and becomes a truly thoughtful, expressive author. Jack gains confidence and overcomes his fears of writing.

The overall message of the story is very warming and heartfelt. Jack learns to overcome his fears and express himself in new ways. This theme is very relatable to older elementary or middle school aged children. The poem structure and the use of actual poems in the novel is unique and intriguing. Also, I enjoyed that the inspirational poems are included in the back of the book. I have used this novel as a literature circle novel in my own classroom of 4th graders. They read the book independently and then came together to discuss the plot, characters, and themes. The novel was also an inspiration for my students to create their own poems. They particularly enjoyed creating concrete poems. While I do not personally love poetry, I really enjoyed this story because I loved the underlying plot and message.

(Image from sharoncreech.com)

Amelia Rules! True Things (Adults Don’t Want Kids to Know) by Jimmy Gownley

Gownley, J. (2010). Amelia rules!: True things (adults don’t want kids to know). New York,

     NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Amelia Rules! True Things (Adults Don’t Want Kids to Know) by Jimmy Gownley is a graphic novel about an eleven year old girl’s life. Amelia Rules! is a series and this particular edition focuses on Amelia’s 11th birthday, her plummeting school career, her heart-breaking crush, and her aunt’s new adventure. Amelia starts her 11th year with a magical birthday complete with a special performance by her rockstar aunt Tanner who performs a song for and about Amelia. However, some things take a turn for the worse as Amelia continues to struggle with her parents’ recent divorce, bickering friends, and her crush who is just not that into her. In the end, Amelia learns some things about herself and grows up a little along the way.

I am still new to the graphic novel genre and my first impression of graphic novels, including this one, is one of apprehension. I tend to not expect a lot from graphic novels, but so far I have been pleasantly surprised. This graphic novel had a great underlying message about growing up and experiencing the ups and downs of adolescent life. Amelia, the main character, has to deal with her parents going through a divorce. Since many children have to experience divorce they could easily relate to Amelia and her frustrations. Further, most children have an adolescence full of ups and downs where they must make mistakes and learn to succeed and fail just like Amelia. This book is certainly relatable to middle school aged children.

I found that I really enjoyed the illustrations in this graphic novel. They are simple, but expressive. I especially like the use of various types of thought and speech bubbles. The shape, color, and texture of the bubbles change depending upon what the character is thinking or speaking. I think they add a lot to the overall meaning of the text.

This book could easily be used for a literature circle especially because it is a series and deals with relevant themes for middle school students. Students could read and discuss several of the books in the series. Additionally, Amelia Rules! True Things (Adults Don’t Want Kids to Know) would be a good mentor text for students to use to create their own graphic novel.

(Image from https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/books/view.dT/9781416986119)

What Color is Caesar? by Maxine Kumin (Tumblebook)

Kumin, M. (2013). What color is caesar?  [Ebook]. Retrieved from www.tumblebooks.com

What Color is Caesar? by Maxine Kumin is a fun, engaging story about a dog having a bit of an identity crisis. Caesar, the main character, is a black and white dog that wonders whether he is black with white spots or white with black spots.  Caesar goes on a quest to find out his true color and meets many black and white animals on the way. Finally, he meets a guru who leads to him figure out his own true colors. The message of the story is very valuable. It teaches that the most important thing about a person is not their outward appearance but rather who they are on the inside. It promotes positive self worth. This message would be especially valuable for elementary school students. Additionally, elementary school students could easily connect with Caesar because he is a likable character. He is wondering about his own place and importance in the world which is something that children also struggle with.

This story would be a great story to use to build the classroom community at the beginning of the school year. A positive classroom community and atmosphere are essential for a productive learning environment. After reading the story, students could turn and talk with a partner to discuss the importance of the story (i.e., the message of self worth). To extend the lesson, students could then write about what they think their own true colors are and describe and even illustrate them. Overall, I think this was a decent story and I really enjoy the fact that it is on tumblebooks.com so that students can hear the story read to them. Tumblebooks.com is a great resource for beginning or lower level readers.

(Image from www.tumblebooks.com)

Knock, Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me by Daniel Beaty

Beaty, D. (2013). Knock, knock: My dad’s dream for me. New York, NY: Little, Brown, and Company.

Knock, Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me is written by Daniel Beaty and illustrated by Bryan Collier. Collier was awarded the Coretta Scott King Award for his breathtaking illustrations in Knock, Knock. This is a brilliant story about a young boy’s tumultuous relationship with his father. The main character was very close to his father as a young child. Sadly, the young boy is abandoned by his father (presumably due to incarceration) and longs for his father’s return. He learns to live with the void left by his father’s absence but is forever changed by it. The story ends with a note of hope as the reader sees the young boy grow into a happy man with his own family to love.

Not only is the story touching, but the illustrations created through watercolor and collage are amazing! They add so much to the story by adding layers of texture and depth much like the emotions of the young boy. This book would be particularly powering for young people that have experienced life with only one parent and abandonment. The book shows struggle and pain, but ultimately triumph as well. Due to the interesting and creative illustrations, this book could be used to discuss both writer’s craft as well as the artistry of the illustrator. A teacher could use this text to model using different mediums to create illustrations. Students could then create their own picture book complete with text and illustrations. Perhaps this book could be used by a guidance counselor to help students cope with their feelings because, as I said previously, this book could be particularly significant for some children. It could even be used to help them connect with and overcome their feelings of abandonment. Overall, I really enjoyed this beautiful, touching story and glorious art work.

(Image from www.danielbeaty.com)

The Arnold Lobel Book of Mother Goose

Lobel, A. (1986). The arnold lobel book of mother goose. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

The Arnold Lobel Book of Mother Goose is a beautifully illustrated collection of traditional nursery rhymes. Some well known nursery rhymes are included such as “Three Blind Mice” and “Rock-a-bye Baby.” Lesser known classics are included as well such as “Fishy, fishy in the Brook” and “When Clouds Appear Like Rocks and Towers.” My personal favorite is “This is the Key of the Kingdom” because it starts out describing the kingdom and then narrows down to describing just a basket in a single room of a house. Then the next page basically reverses the whole rhyme and builds back up to the kingdom. It’s cute and clever. This collection would be best suited for younger children to use as a read aloud or in small groups. The repetition and rhyming would be beneficial to help young students practice fluency and accuracy. For older students, the nursery rhymes could be used as a model for how to write and illustrate the rhymes. Using these models, the students could then write and illustrate their own nursery rhymes. After that the teacher could have students read their own rhymes aloud to the class to practice presentation and public speaking skills. This is a wonderful comprehensive collection of classic nursery rhymes that would be a good addition to any home or classroom library.

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