"Captain Underpants and the Big Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy" by Dav Pilkey

Rating:  Thumbs up!

Review: 

I was a little lost at first but then my son filled me in on what was happening as I read.  It is a good book for kids.  I think boys would especially like it because it is really gross.  Melvin, a nerd, turns himself into a big booger monster.  He becomes a star athlete because no one wants to go near him.  Yet, his boogeriness gets out of control! I can see why the kids would laugh when they read this series!  But at the same time I could understand why parents may be against it.  It is crude!  But hey if the kids like it and they are reading, why not?  There' s no vulgar language.  It's just plain gross humor! Now I have to read the next book!

"It's Perfectly Normal" by Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley

RATING:  Thumbs Up!

REVIEW:  This is a great book that covers very important topics like puberty and sex.  The book clearly provides tasteful information for children to understand the changes that are going to be taking place in their bodies. It also talks about the birds and the bees but not in any distasteful  or dirty way.  Throughout the book there is a bird and a bee that coverse about the various topics.  It is a book that I think any parent should feel comfortable using when teaching their child about these topics!

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," by J.K. Rowling

RATING:  Thumbs Up!

Review: 

      I didn't think I'd say it but, I really did enjoy reading this book.  I was originally turned off by these books because they are so long!  But I'm glad I finally did it!  It's a lot better than the movie.  I enjoyed the courage young Harry Potter has to find out  who is petrifying the students.  He uses black magic to fight against Valdemort.  But he realizes that even though he is capable of the same powerful magic as Valedmort he chooses to use it for good.  I can see why this is a challenged book.  But hey, if you don't like the subject matter, don't read it. Don't ban it!

"The First Part Last" by Angela Johnson

Rating:  Thumbs up!

Review:

     I really enjoyed this book because it tells about the reality of children having children.  Bobby decides to raise his newborn daughter on his own when his girlfriend Nia dies due to complications in the pregnancy. It forces him to mature and look for a better life for him and his daughter.  This book would be more appropriate for children who are in their tweens. 

"The Graveyard" by Neil Gaiman

Rating:  Thumbs Up!

Review: 

      I really enjoyed this book because of the suspense!  I wondered if Bod was really going to escape from Jack.  But more importantly I wanted to know why Jack was so desperate to kill him and why he killed Bod' family.  I have recommended this book to several of my 4th and 5th graders and they seem to really like it too! 
       Just a little bit more... Bod's parents are murdered and he escapes as a baby.  He crawls into a nearby graveyard where a guardian takes care of him. The guardian is not a living being.  Bod is safe in the graveyard but longs to roam among the living.

"It's a Book!" by Lane Smith

REVIEW:   Thumbs-Up!

Summary:

I love this book!  It is so funny!  The end of the story just makes the book awesome!  What a great play on words.  I love the illustrations as well.  But it is a book that truly explains how our society has become so involved in technology that some of our kids today rarely open a real book!  I definitely recommend it.

"The Matchlock Gun" by Walter D. Edmonds

RATING:2 Thumbs Up!

REVIEW:

        I really enjoyed this historical fiction book!  I think kids would love to read the story of this brave young boy who had to step up to the plate and save his family from the invading Indians.  The story takes place during the French and Indian War.  Edward is the main character and is only ten years old but must act as the man of  the house to keep his family safe while his father is out fighting the enemy in a militia. Edwards mother teaches him how to use the matchlock gun given to them by his grandfather.  One night, Edwards courage is put to the test when the mother sees Indians approaching their home to destroy it.  She runs to tell Edward to get the gun but on her way she is injured.  But Edward is still able to get the gun in time to save his mother!  It is an awesome story and the illustrations are beautiful!

"Calvin Coconut Trouble Magnet" by Graham Salisbury

RATING:Thumbs Up!

REVIEW:

    This is a good book but is definitely not one of my favorites.  Calvin Coconut is your typical kid that always seems to run into trouble and has difficulty stepping up to the plate of being responsible at home.  He's a fun loving and mischievous kid!  The story takes place in Hawaii and Calvin is in a single parent family because his crazy father up and left him at a young age to be a singer in Las Vegas.  Calvin has a lot of problems to deal with.  His mother tells him Stella , a girl from Texas, was going to move in and help take care of him.  He doesn't like the idea of her moving in on his turf and they don't really get along at first but Stella helps him with the bully situation.  All in all, it's a book that I think my younger boys would like to read.  It's also a good pick because it's a chapter book that reads quickly.  My students are always looking for AR chapter books that are fun to read!  :)

"Umbrella Summer" by Lisa Graff

RATING: 2 Thumbs Up!

REVIEW:

         This is such a well-written story about a young girl who is dealing with the grief of losing her older brother.  No one could have known that her brother was ill.  Now she fears for her life.  She worries about all illnesses and is overly cautious.  She even wears a helmet walking down the street.  Her friends don't understand why she is so careful and her mother can't help her because she has her own grief to deal with.  Yet, a wonderful neighbor helps Annie close her umbrella of sadness and move on with her life.  It is a beautiful story.  I even got a little teary eyed when Annie's friends begin to understand her fear and they create a new obstacle course game where everyone has to wear pillows attached to them.  I definitely recommend this book! I'm ordering it for my library !

"Lego Star Wars The Visual Dictionary" by Simon Beecroft

Rating:  Thumbs Up!

Review:

              This is a great book for LEGO and Star Wars lovers!  It is filled with information about the various Lego Star Wars pieces that are for sale.  It includes a time-line of when each piece came out into the market.  The Lego sets are shown with their lego # and and film episode.  The book is organized by chapters. But there isn't an index in the back of the book.  That would've been an added touch. I enjoyed flipping to through the pages.  I am just amazed at all the things a person can create with the Legos. Wow!

          

"Late for School" by Steve Martin

Rating: Thumbs Up!

Review:  

              I really like the illustrations.  The boy is so dorky looking he is cute!  The story can be read or sung.  The book includes a CD with the lyrics written in the book.  Infact, I prefer having the story sung rather than read.  It just makes it sound smoother and is definitely more entertaining.  I really liked the book because I can relate to the kid.  I have done the same exact thing one time!  Only I didn't laugh too hard when I realized it was Saturday!  I started to wonder if I was just too stressed out.  All in all it is an entertaining story with great illustrations.  

    

"My Mommy Hung the Moon" by Jamie Lee Curtis & Laura Cornell

RATING:  Thumbs Up!

REVIEW:

               This picture book is absolutely adorable!  It shows how a little  child can  have so much unconditional love for their mommy.  It also shows how the mother takes time to make happy memories with her child.  They spend time making cookies, reading stories, playing in the rain and playing ball. They both enjoy spending time together and they both view each other as their everything.  I'm going to have to definitely give this to my mom for Mother's Day!

        

"Mudshark" by Gary Paulsen

RATING:Thumbs Up!

REVIEW:

              This was a witty and cute story that had me flipping through the pages quickly.  The story is about a kid who is known as "Mudshark."  He is the "go-to" kid at school.  He can solve just about any problem.  Kids think he's a genius.  They don't know how he knows the answers to everything.  But in reality, he's just very observant and has a great memory.  I especially like the intercom announcements by the principal.  "They[hazmat] are working to contain dangerous material in the faculty restroom." 
It just made me laugh! Then, a parrot moves into the picture and almost puts Mudshark out of business.  The parrot can solve problems too!  Fortunately, Mudshark is able to figure out how the bird is able to answer questions and keep it from spilling the beans about something the school custodian did.  In the end Mudshark prevails and all is well at school.

"Bad News for Outlaws the Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal" by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

RATING:  TWO THUMBS UP!

REVIEW: 

     This is an excellent biography about Bass Reeves.  He was chosen to be a deputy U.S. Marshal to bring law and order to the Indian territory.  He made more than 3,000 arrests and only killed fourteen men in the line of duty.  He was born into slavery and had a hard life in the 1830's.  But he always chose to be honest and fair.  He is remembered as a hero of the Old West.  
     I enjoyed this book because of the content and the illustrations. The illustrations had rich colors that allowed readers to become apart of the Old Wild West!

"Squirrel's World" by Lisa Moser

RATING: Thumbs Down!

 REVIEW: 

     I did not like this book.  The squirrel was annoying.  Yes, he was very helpful to his friends 
( mouse, turtle, and rabbit).  But he helped a little too much!  Rabbit was trying not to get wet and squirrel straight out dumped him in the lake.  Turtle wanted a quiet game and an occasional snooze and squirrel kept waking him up! up! up!  Sorry but I just didn't like this story.  The illustrations were pretty though.  It is bright and cheery with rosy colors.  Plus, the squirrel's character is well developed.

"The Graphic Alphabet" by David Pelletier

RATING:  Thumbs UP!

REVIEW:  
     This is such a neat book! Pelletier is creative in displaying the letters of the alphabet.  He uses bright colors against a black background to make the designs really stand out.  This is not your traditional alphabet book with the cute little apples for  the letter "A" and a rosy cheeked boy for the letter "B".  Instead you see interesting pictures that represent the letters.  For example, the letter x is seen in an x-ray with an individual crossing his fingers. Each letter becomes the word it represents.  Its really cool. A becomes an avalanche and the D becomes the devil.  Each letter takes up a whole page and the word it represents is printed below the letter.  It's a good book to use with older kids. But I wouldn't use with my pre-knder kiddos.

"When I Was Young in the Mountains" by Cynthia Rylant

RATING:  Thumb Sideways!

REVIEW:
     I wasn't to impressed by this book. The illustrations were simple and not captivating.  Cynthia Rylant tells about her life as a child in the mountains.  Her grandfather came home covered with coal mine dust.  Her grandmother made a country dinner.  She swam in a swimming hole.  She had church in a school house. It tells of time where life was simple.  Not very many of us have childhood memories like this. I found myself remembering of my childhood and appreciating the memories I have growing up.

"Tonight on the Titanic" a Magic Tree House Book #17 by Mary Pope Osborne

RATING: Thumbs Up!

REVIEW: 

      I LOVE this book!  It is a great book to suggest for young readers.  It isn't your typical easy to read boring book.  It is filled with action and suspense.  I am going to make sure to order this series in my library this year.  This particular story has Jack and his sister Annie experience the terror and chaos of the sinking Titanic!  The siblings travel in time as the magic of the tree house takes them to the time and place of any book they read while in there.  This is a historical fiction book that covers several details of that fatal night. Jack and Annie learn just how scary it was to be on that ship that night.  They are also able to save a young boy and girl from sinking into the sea as they safely place them on an emergency escape boat.  Annie and Jack almost lose their lives as well when they return to their tree house on the ship but find it missing.  They fear that they will soon die but fortunately their dog leads them to the magical tree house and they are safely back at home with tears of gratitude in their eyes and sadness of the lives that were lost on that historic night.

"The Hinky Pink" by Megan McDonald

RATING:  Thumbs Up!

REVIEW: 
     This is such a cute story!  It makes for an easy read. Young female patrons will fly through the pages as they are filled with suspense!  Will the seamstress be able to finish the princess's gown in time for the Butterfly Ball?  What was pinching her at night and preventing her from working to her fullest capabilities?  A small flea like Hinky Pink is the antagonist!  The little stinker steals the seamstress's covers every night.  The seamstress is so tired the next day that her sewing is horrible!  Fortunately, the princess's maid realizes there's a Hinky Pink around and offers great advice.  The seamstress makes a bed for the Hinky Pink.  It takes several tries but she finally gets it right and is able to get a good night's sleep of her own and the princess gets her gorgeous gown!
   
    

"Eclipse" by Stephenie Meyer

RATING:  Thumps Up!
REVIEW:
     I always wondered why so many of my students beg to reserve the Twighlight books.  I had read the first one and found it okay.  I was definitely not impressed with the movie.  So when I had to read this book, I tried to put it off.  I just didn't want to!  So I listened to the CD instead. I must say it was not a disappointment like I thought it would be.  In fact, it was a a whole lot better than the movie.  The reader can connect with the characters better because Meyers allows the reader to bond with Bella.  You can empathize with her struggle to maintain relationships with Jacob (her friend) and Edward (her boyfriend).  This is definitely a love story mixed with danger and self discovery.
    Bella is an interesting character.  She is a young woman who is in love with her boyfriend vampire.  She is completely mesmerized by him and longs to be his vampire wife.  Yet, Edward doesn't want to change her. But whenever she is around Jacob she feels a closeness with him. Jacob definitely is in love with her.  In the midst of this love triangle, both men try to keep Bella alive because Victoria is out to kill her.  Victoria is another vampire who is seeking revenge because Edward killed her lover.  In the end, Victoria is killed and Bella remains Edwards girl.  

"Pirates" by David L. Harrison

RATING:  THUMBS UP! Har! Har!


REVIEW:  
     I definitely want to have this book in my library.  I think it will grab the attention of many of my patrons.  Just the illustrations alone are detailed and beckoning with rich, bold, warm colors.  The reader can almost step aboard the ship and become a pirate.  The book tells about the life of a pirate from signing on to bidding farewell before being hung to death for their "sins." The whole story is written in the form of poetry.

"43 Old Cemetary Road Dying to Meet You," by Kate Klise

RATING:  Thumbs Up!

REVIEW:  

     I thoroughly ENJOYED reading this book!  I couldn't believe how fast I read it.  The story is written in the form of letters to various characters in the story.  The illustrations are simple but captivating.  It is about an author, Ignatius B. Grumply, who is pretty much done with writing.  He just can't seem to write the next book in his "Ghost Tamer" series.  So he moves into an old house hoping for some solitude and inspiration.  He is inspired but is not alone.  He finds out that a young boy named Seymore and his cat are living there too!  Not to mention a ghost by the name of Olive.  It takes a while for all of them to get along.  But in the end they realize just how much they need each other.  Seymore gets the house he has always wanted. Mr. Gumply finally gets his writing juice back and Olive gets published!  I can't wait to read the second book in the series. 

"Surfer of the Century" by Ellie Crowe

RATING:  Thumbs up!

REVIEW:

     This true story about Duke Kahanamoku will inspire readers to persevere in reaching their dream no matter what obstacles may come their way. Duke grew up in Honolulu and learn to swim at a very early age.  It became his passion!  He was so strong and powerful in the water that he broke several swimming records.  He was recruited to be in the U.S. Olympic swim team. Although, he won several gold medals, the rewards did not come without battles against racism and financial difficulties.
    Duke also had a passion for surfing.  He traveled the world teaching others how to surfboard.  He also introduced life saving in the water with the use of surfboards.  Duke Kahanamoku was a true sportsman who demonstrated courage, dedication and a drive to succeed in reaching his dreams.  It s a biography that children would read through easily.

"Benny and Penny in the Big No-No!" by Geoffre Hayes

RATING:  Thumbs up!

REVIEW:  
     This is a very simple graphic novel that will captivate emerging young readers.  It also teaches a great lesson-  how to apologize and make a new friend.  The illustrations are bright and colorful.  The animals in the story are illustrated with great expressions.  The plot is easy to follow.
     The story begins with two mice, Benny and Penny, who discover that one of their pails is missing. They peek over the fence and see evidence of a new neighbor.  They suspect that the new kid took their pail.  They cross over and end up running into the "monster."  Due to the misunderstanding about the pail, they throw mud pies at each other until the mice are chased back into their own backyard.  It is there that they realize they made a huge mistake.  The apologize to the neighbor and end up becoming friends.

     

   

"Red Sings from Treetops a year in colors" by Joyce Sidman

RATING:  Thumbs Down! :(


REVIEW: 
     I know what you are thinking!  Is she crazy?  How can she give it a thumbs down?  Does she not know quality? BOO! BOO! HISS! HISS!  Well either way,  I still give it a thumbs down because I think it is too complicated of a book for children.  I mean what kinder or 1st grade student will understand "In the winter, gray and brown hold hands?"  It's just going to confuse them! 
    The illustrations on the other hand are remarkable!  The beautiful blend of rich colors draws the reader into the pages.  The reader is easily sucked into the season and can feel the coolness of Winter and heat of Summer. 
     Basically the changes of the seasons is the subject of this picture book.  Only the colors are personified.  It would be a great book to use when teaching personification to older kids.

"Listen to the Wind" by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth

 

RATING : Thumbs Up!

        

REVIEW:

     This is a  wonderfully illustrated story that clearly explains the positive impact that Dr. Greg Mortenson had on the community of Korphe, Pakistan.  Included are real pictures of Mortenson's endeavor to pay the small village back for their kindness.  Dr. Mortenson ended up in the Pakistan village after becoming lost while trying to climb K2.  The villagers saved Dr. Mortenson and nursed him back to health.  Dr. Mortenson wanted to do something to repay them for their kindness.  The village's wise man told Mortenson to "listen to the wind."  That is when Mortenson heard the voices of the school children having lessons outside.  His soul was filled with desire to build them a school.  He kept his promise!  This story is told by the children of Korphe and it will touch the hear of all who read it. I strongly encourage all librarians to have this book in their collection.   

"Charlotte's Web" by E. B. White

APA Citation:

White, E.B. (1952). Charlotte's web. N.Y., N.Y.: Harper
       & Row Publishers.

Summary:
(Newberry Honor)

     This novel is about a pig named Wilbur who becomes friends with Charlotte who is a spider that lives in Wilbur's barn.  The beginning starts with Wilbur being born as a runt.  Mr. Arable wants to kill it but his daughter Fern begs him not to. So Wilbur becomes Fern's pet.  But he is soon sold to her uncle.  She tries to visit him often but Wilbur becomes lonely.  That's when he meets Charlotte who comforts him and befriends him.  The animals in the barn tell Wilbur that he will be slaughtered for Christmas dinner. Wilbur is horrified and asks Charlotte to help save him.  She begins to write words in her web that say how wonderful he is.  People are amazed and come from all over to see Wilbur. He is entered in the state fair and takes Charlotte with him.  There she dies and leaves behind her sac of eggs. Wilbur watches over them until they are hatched. Three of the baby spiders stay with Wilbur and become his friends.

Illustrations:

     The illustrations are detailed pencil drawings done in black.  They reinforce the text and are appropriate to life on a farm.   

"The Uglified Ducky" by Willy Clafin

APA Citation:


     Willy, C. (2008). The uglified ducky. N.Y., N.Y.:
            August House.

Summary:
(Bluebonnet Nominee)

     This is a story about a young moose who gets lost from his family.  Fortunately a mother duck takes him in and cares for him.  The moose tries hard to learn how to waddle, quack, swim and fly. He really tries hard to fit in but the other ducks and animals see that he doesn't belong.  Yet, the mother duck still accepts him.  Later, Maynard is reunited with his moose family and they help him discover his real beauty.

Illustrations:
   
       It is a well-illustrated book.  It has bright cheerful colors.  Maynard's innocence is depicted with his small little eyes and upturned ears as he sinks in the water.  It shows a sense of helplessness as well.  The background scenery truly lets the reader feel like they are in the northern piney woods.

"The Rooster Crows" by Maud and Miska Petersham

APA Citation:

Fuller, M., & Petersham, M.F. (1945). The rooster 
       crows a book of american rhymes and jingles. N.Y.,
       N.Y.: Macmillan Publishing.

Summary:

     This book is a classic collection of rhymes and jingles.  There are some familiar ones such as How much wood would a woodchuck chuck?  Yet, there were several that are almost forgotten.  Bat, bat, come under my hat is an old rhyme that not very many people have heard. The selections are categorized under rhymes and jingles, finger games, rope skipping rhymes, counting-out rhymes, games and yankee doodle.

Illustrations:

     

     The illustrations are eye-catching.  They are all pencil drawings done in great detail.  They are all done in orange, green, and yellow shades to show that they are early Americana times.  Even the characters clothing portray the time period of the rhymes.

"Mirette on the High Wire" by Emily Arnold McCully

APA Citation:

Mcull, E. (1992). Mirette on a high wire. N.Y., N.Y.:
        Putman.

Summary: 
(Caldecott Medal)

     The story takes place in France and Mirette lives with her mother who runs a boarding house.  She loves to sit on the stairs of her home and listen to all the guests tell of their adventures.  One evening a mysterious stranger arrives at her home.  His name is Monsieur Bellini.  He is very quiet and sad.  He keeps to himself and eats in his room.  Mirette sees Billini high wire walking and is amazed.  She wanted to try it herself!  Mirette convinces him to teach her how to walk the high wire.  Later, the other guests in the boarding house discover that Monsieur Bellini is the "great Bellini."  He is known for crossing Niagra Falls on a thousand-foot wire in ten minutes.  Mirrette talks to Bellini to verify if he is indeed the famous high wire walker.  He says he is but admits that he is afraid of performing. 
He decides to conquer his fear by performing once again.  Mirette hears commotion in the streets and sees Bellini performing on the wire. Fear sets in and he freezes on the wire. Mirette comes to the rescue and accompanies him on the wire.  They both finish the performance.

Illustrations:

The illustrations are very nice. They are water color pictures that captivate the essence of France.  The clothing and the architecture of the homes show that the story takes place in the not so distant past.  

    

"Smoky Night" by Eve Bunting

APA Citation:


Bunting, E. (1994). Smoky nights. Singapore: Harcourt
        Brace.

Summary:

     A young African American boy shares his experience of being in the middle of the Los Angeles riots that broke out in the streets of his neighborhood. He and his mother stand in the darkness of their apartment looking out their window in fear as they watch people loot stores .  The rioters steal televisions, shoes, and food. There is smoke in the streets and laughter.  The boy and his mother see the looters leaving and they try their best to go to sleep.  But a fire breaks out in their building and they are forced to go to a shelter.  They run into Mrs. Kim.  She is an Asian lady who owns a store in the neighborhood.  She also lives in their apartment. The boy's mother never shopped or got to know Mrs. Kim because she was not African American.  The boy's mother soon realizes that it doesn't matter what background or nationality a person is.  Everyone should try to get along.  The boy's mother invites Mrs. Kim to visit them someday.  Mrs. Kim accepts.  


Illustrations:

     The story's illustrations are fantastic!  They  are paintings done in acrylics on watercolor paper.  The backgrounds are photographs.  It is very modern with beautiful dark rich colors that set the tone and mood of the story.  The reader can sense the fear and worry that the mother and her son must feel as they witness the chaos in the streets.  The background photographs reinforce the text.  For example, cereals, nuts, and cracker crumbs are the background photos when the story tells how the looters were robbing a food store.  Great detail was focused on each page.

 

"Call It Courage" by Armstrong Sperry

APA Citation:

Sperry, A. (1968). Call it courage. N.Y., N.Y.:
      Macmillan Publishing.

Summary:

(Newberry Book)

Exposition:  Mafatu is the son of the Great chief of Hikureru.  He comes from a race of Polynesians who worship courage.  His name is Stout Heart but he is afraid of the sea because his mother died trying to save him after being capsized in their canoe because of a squall.  Mafatu remembers the tragedy and believes that the Gods still want to claim his life because he cheated death.

Conflict:  The people in his village tease and taunt Mafatu because he is afraid of the sea.  They could not understand how a coward can lead them in the future.  Mafatu wants to overcome his fear and prove to his people that he will be worthy one day to be their leader.

Rising Action:  Boys in Mafatu's village are preparing to head into the sea to catch bonitos but Mafatu sits and watches.  He wants to join them but is too afraid.  He hears his friend making fun of him and that is when he realizes that he must conquer his fear.  Mafatu sets out into the ocean on his own to catch bonitos and courage.  A small hurricane develops and lands him on an island of man eaters.  He struggles to survive.

Climax: The man eaters see Mafatu spying on them during one of their rituals.  They chase him through the jungle.  Mafatu barely escapes death by sailing off in his man made canoe.  The men chase Mafatu for several hours but finally give up.

Resolution:  Mafatu arrives back home.  He walks into the village wearing a necklace of boar's teeth, carrying a fine spear, and shining with courage in his eyes.  They all knew Mafatu was a changed boy.   

Literary Elements/ Illustrations:

     The illustrations are very detailed.  The reader can capture the mood of the story.  Mafatu's facial expressions show his sadness and sense of shame for being afraid of the sea. The loneliness and fear that Mafatu experience is illustrated clearly as Mafatu is shown in a little canoe upon the large ocean in the dark night.

Theme:  The title of the book plainly states its theme.  Mafatu has to overcome so many challenges to stay alive while he was deserted on the island of the man eaters.  Sperry beautifully shows Mafatu changing from a cowardish boy to a brave young man in the series of challenges that he faces while away from his home.

Characterization:  The reader is eager to turn the pages to see if Mafatu will become courageous.  The narrator of the story describes all Mafatu well.  The reader understand Mafatu's fear and desire to live up to his tribal name.  Sperry does an excellent job in making Mafatu a round character.  

"Sarah Plain and Tall" by Patricia MacLachlan

APA Citation:

MacLachlan, S. (1985). Sarah,plain and tall. N.Y.,
       N.Y.: Harper- Collins Publishers.

Summary:

(Newberry Book)

Exposition:  The story begins with two young children remembering their deceased mother.  They long to hear her sing.  They also realize that their fathe has stopped singing and smiling.  He is lonely without her also.

Conflict: The young children and their father need to have the void of their mother/wife filled.  The children are worried that their father will never find someone who will be willing to be a part of their family.

Rising Action: The children's father tells his children that he wrote a letter looking for a new wife.  His neighbor Matthew did that and found himself a good wife, Maggie.  The father reads a letter written to him from Sarah.  She tells the family that she may be interested in moving to the country and becoming a part of their family.  She arrives and bonds with them.  She is a free spirit and very independent. 

Climax:  Sarah tells the family she has to go into town but does not say why. The children fear she is planning to leave them permanently because she misses her home.  But they soon hear the sound of the horses and smiles come to their faces when they see Sarah returning. 

Resolution:  Sarah tells the children she went into town for some blue, green and gray crayons to add the colors of the sea to the pictures she had colored.  That would satisfy her homesickness.  She knows that she would miss her new family more than she would miss the colors of the sea at her old home. The children are happy because now they know there will be a wedding in the summer and their family will be whole again.

Literary Elements:

     Theme:  Patricia MacLachlan clearly shows her readers that home is where one's heart is.  Sarah missed her old home and family.  But the kindness and love that the children gave her warmed her heart.  Her soon to be new husband also accepted Sarah's independence.  Her new family and neighbor showed Sarah that she could love them and her new home.

     Foreshadowing:  MacLachlan provides doomed foreshadowing, making the readers believe that Sarah is planning to leave her new family.  First, their is a dark storm that comes their way. Then, Sarah wants to learn to ride the wagon.  She also wants to go into town by herself.  The childen see her looking into the lonely distance as if she longed for her old home. All these details creates suspense for the reader.  Will she really leave them?  The question keeps the reader flipping the pages of the book.

My Rating:  Thumbs up!

"Rabbit Hill" by Robert Lawson

APA Citation:

     Lawson, R. (1944). Rabbit hill. N.Y., N.Y.: Puffin
            Books.

Summary:
(Newberry Book)

   I really enjoyed this book because it allows the reader to imagine what life is like for animals and what they may think of humans.  It is well-written and the illustrations are beautifully sketched with great detail. 

Exposition:  All the animals on Rabbit Hill are buzzing with excitement because new people are coming to live in the big house.  They wonder if these people will be good people with a great garden full of yummy vegetables and Kentucky Blue grass.  They are hoping for the best.  Yet, they can also be like people in the past who have had vicious dogs, traps, poisons and guns.

Conflict: The animals on Rabbit Hill are worried that the new people coming will be bad.

Climax:  Little Georgie ,a rabbit, gets hit by a vehicle and his family think that the people from the big house may harm him even more because they took him into their house.  Uncle Analdas is sure that the people are holding Georgie hostage.

Falling Action:  Uncle Analdas is organizing a group of animals to retalliate agains the people in the big house.

Resolution:  The animals notice a statue of St. Fancis of Assisi.  Below its feet was a feast of food from the garden and a fresh pool of drinking water.  The sign stated that there was enough food for all.  The animals of rabbit hill partake of the food.  Georgie sees them and rushes out to greet them.  Everyone is happy because the people in the bigh house are good and willing to share their food.  The animals decide to protect the people's garden.  Neighbors near by do not understand how their new neighbors never have problems with animals destroying their garden.

Literary Elements:

     Dialogue: The conversation held between the animal brings their characters to life.  The reader can connect to them and begin to see them as human.  The reader is able to empathize with the animals.  One is able to understand their fear and feel their excitement about the new people coming.  Their conversations are comparable to that of what human families may discuss.

     Characterization:  Robert Lawson gives each animal a distinct personality.  The reader falls in love with Uncle Analdus because he is old, wise, and a little bit of a hell- raiser.  He loves his family and will not allow any humans to bring any of them harm and get away with it.  While Little Georgie is full of energy and very curious. 

My Rating:   Thumbs up!

"Diego Bigger Than Life" by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand

APA Citation:

Bernier-Grand, C.T. (2009). Diego bigger than life.

      Tarrytown, N.Y.: Marshall Cavendish Corporation.

Summary:

(Pura Belpre Award)

     This beautifully written biography of artist Diego Rivera is written in the
form of prose poetry.The poetry is written in first person free verse.  The
poems are in chronological order.  It begins with the birth of him and his
twin. It then explainsthe death of his brother and birth of his sister.  He falls
in love with art and various women, including the famous artist Frida Kahlo. 
Unfortunately, he loves all that is beautiful and is unable to be faithful to his
partners in life.  Frida dies and Diego marries a artist agent.  His days are
few as he fights cancer.  He realizes that God gave him chances to enjoy life
with those he loved but he did not take advantage of it as he should have.

Illustrations:

     The illustrations are captivating and inspiring.  The rich colors and
attention to detail portrays Diego's love for art, life, and himself. The
majority of the illustrations are that of Diego painting or accompanying a
woman.  Both are passions in his life.

My Rating:  Thumbs up!

"Baby- Sitters Little Sister #24" by Ann Martin

APA CITATION:

Martin, A. (1992). Baby sitters little sister #24. N.Y.,
         N.Y.: Scholastic.

Summary:

Exposition:  Karen Brewer is a seven year old girl who is learning about wild animals in her school
                     class. The teacher tells the students they will do research on an unfamiliar animal.  They
                     will also be able to go to the city zoo for a field trip.

Conflict:     Karen and other students become sick with the flu and she worries that the class field trip to
                   the zoo will be cancelled.

Rising
Action:      Karen's mother helps Karen recover from the flu over the weekend.  Karen is upset that
                  will not be able to see her "big house" family (her dad's new family due to divorce).

Climax:    Students attend the field trip and learn that their animal sculptures that were part of their
                research are on display at the zoo.
Falling
Action:    Students leave the zoo and return to school.

Resolution: Students arrive at school and thank their teacher before leaving home.

Literary Elements:

Mood:  Ann Martin's choice of setting and images creates a mood of restlessness when Karen is stuck
            at home for several days because she is sick with the flu.  She spent the day in bed watching
            television, sleeping and calling her mother to come to her aid.  She frequently asks if she can go
            to school because she doesn't want to miss the field trip to the zoo.
Foreshadowing:  One by one students get sick in class. Even the teacher falls ill.  Karen worries the
            trip will be cancelled.  The author provides the reader with these clues to create suspense.  The
            reader may predict that Karen will also get sick and wonder if the students will miss the trip.

"Dear Mr. Henshaw" by Beverly Cleary

APA Citation:

Cleary, B. (1983). Dear mr. henshaw. N.Y., N.Y.: Avon
         Books.

Summary:
(Newberry Book)


Exposition:  Leigh Botts, a young boy, writes letters to his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw.  He asks him a series of questions for a class assignment.  The author responds with slight sarcasim but encourages Botts to start writing in a journal.

Conflict:  Leigh Botts struggles with his parent's divorce and wishes they would get remarried.  He
also has a strained relationship witth his father.

Rising
Action:     Leigh Botts begins to keep a journal and express his disappointment with how his father
does not keep in touch and breaks his promises.  He also creates a lunch box alarm to prevent the lunch burglar from taking his food.

Climax:  Leigh Botts matures as he comes to understand that his parents will never remarry.  He also gains confidence in his writing ability.
   
Resolution:  Leigh's father comes to see him and Bott's feels better knowing that his father still loves them.

Literary Elements:

Tone:  Beverly Cleary creates a serious tone as Leigh expresses his thoughts in his journal writing. 
 He is sad that his father doesn't make time to be with him yet he struggles to find the words to
 let his father know how he feels.  She clearly expresses the difficulty that some children go
 through in having to adjust to the changes that divorce may cause.

Point
of View:  Cleary's choice to use first person point of view was very effective because the reader is able to empathize with Leigh more.  The reader learns how much Leigh wants to have a stronger relationship with his father and how he fears losing him to another family. 



                          

"The Wall" by Peter Sis

APA Citation:

Sis, P. (2007). The wall. N.Y., N.Y: Frances Foster
       Books.

Summary:

     Peter Sis tells  about his childhood and young adult years growing up during the Cold War in Czechoslovakia.  It begins with the Soviets taking control of Czechoslovakia in 1948.  Communist symbols and monuments appear and the Czech government takes orders from Moscow.  People are given strict orders.  If not followed, they are punished.  Students are told what they can draw. People are not allowed to listen to Western radio.  Their mail is opened and censored.  But information from the West begin to come through the Iron Curtain.  People learn of  The Beatles.  But things begin to be banned again.  Phones are bugged and books are secretly copied.  All the author could do was dream of being free as things got worse.

Illustrations:

       The book is well-illustrated because drawings are sketched in black and white to show the sadness of the time period and the inability to be different.  Some pages contain a little color to symbolize the hope that the citizens had of being free and happy. The drawing reinforce the text by illustrating the people's hope for freedom as they imagine freedom in color.

"The Magic School Bus Flies from the Nest" by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen

APA Citation:


Cole, J., & Degen, B. (2004). The magic school bus 
        flies from the nest. N.Y., N.Y: Scholastic.

Summary:


     Ms. Frizzle's class is learning about birds. Keesha and Carlos want to look at a robin's nest but they can't find a picture,  so Ms. Frizzle takes them for a field trip in the magic school bus. The kids pay a visit to a real robin's nest! But Carlos gets a  too close to some baby birds in a nest and he magically turns to their size and the mother bird treats him like one of her own. Finally, the mother bird makes Carlos take flight.  He jumps off the tree and the magic school bus safely catches him below.  Then, it is back to the classroom and students are wondering what their next adventure will be.

Illustrations: 

     This book is illustrated with great  detail.  The reader is able to pick up on clues from the teacher's dress as to what the next adventure will be.  Before the class goes on the field trip to see the robin's nest, the teacher wears a dress covered in birds.  At the end of the story her dress is covered in space ships.  The colors used in the illustration make the classroom look realistic.

"14 Cows for America" by Carmen Agra Deedy

APA Citation:

Deedy, C. (2009). 14 cows for america. Atlanta, GA:
         Peachtree Publishers.

 Summary:

     The story begins with a Kenyan named Kimeli who has returned to his village to visit his family.  While he is there he tells the villagers about the 9/11 attack that occured in New York.  He describes the sky scrapers and the fires "...so hot they can melt iron."  The villagers hearts are touched and they want to offer help to the Americans so they contact the United States Embassy.  A diplomat is sent to the village and he is given fourteen cows to take to America.  This offering is a symbol of friendship, care, and love from the Masai tribe.  

Illustrations:

     This story is beautifuly illustrated.  The illustrator used great detail in creating the villagers.  The reader is able to truly experience the Masai culture.  The culture is contrasted to that of American culture as the reader sees a former Masai member standing amongst his people in a red jacket and pants. The background shows two giraffes that symbolize the twin towers and inside the eye of Kimeli the reader can see a burning twin tower. 

 

APA Citation: 

Park, B. (1993). Junie b. jones and her big fat mouth. 

        N.Y., N.Y: Scholastic.

Summary: 

Exposition:  Junie B. Jones, a kinder student, is in class and her teacher announces that all of them will dress up for career day.

Conflict:  Junie B. Jones has to figure out which career will allow her to save people, paint and hold a lot of keys because that is what she told her classmates she was going to be for career day.

Rising Action: She rides on the bus and argues with Jim because he doesn't believe that Juni B. Jones the title of the career that will allow her to save people, paint, and hold a lot of keys.

Climax: Junie B. Jones has figured out which career will allow her to do all the things she talked to Jim about.


Falling Action: Junie B. Jones tells her parents what she wants to be for career day and she prepares her outfit.


Resolution:  Junie B. Jones goes as a Janitor for career day and the class learns to appreciate the school's janitor.

Literay Elements:

Dialogue:  Junie B. Jone's character comes to life through her dialogue with other kinder students.  She thinks life is "P.U.".  Her conversation about eating candy off the floor is very typical of a kinder student.  She also says very random things like how she's hoping the teacher's surprise are doughnuts because that is her favorite tree.  Parker makes Jone's character real through her dialogue.

Imagery:  Parker uses imagery effectively when describing scenes in the story. The reader can imagine what the kinder classroom might look like with lots of little kids huddled to look at the boy who got dental floss stuck in his teeth.  She describes the Janitor shining the flashlight in the boy's mouth as students watched in excitement.

 

"May I Bring a Friend" by Beatrice Schenk De Regniers

APA CITATION:

Schenk De Regniers, B. (1964). May i bring a friend?.
        N.Y., N.Y: Atheneum, Macmillan.

 Summary:

        The story is about a boy that gets invited to have dinner with the King and Queen of his city.  He asks if he can bring a friend.  The King and Queen approve. The boy takes a giraffe to dinner. This amuses the royal couple and they continue to invite him to join them for dinner. Each visit he takes a new animal with him.  Finally, the boy invites the King and Queen to join him and his friends to dinner.  The all enjoy tea at the city zoo.

Illustrations: 


     The book is well -illustrated because the drawing reinforce the text.  The King and Queen have a shocked expression when they see the animals join them for dinner.  The colors are also rich with a lot of gold tones to emphasize royalty.  Plus, the artwork are colored sketches which allows the reader to travel back in time to the era of kings and queens.