I Love You Dude

by V. Radunsky Published by Gulliver Books/Hartcourt 2005 46 Pages Genre: Modern Fantasy Summary: Dude was born, right on a wall of fresh paint. A little girl had drawn him there. Dude was a thin elephant with shoes. Dude realizes that he doesn't belong on the wall, so he jumps off and looks for a new home. He finds himself a home on a mug, with others like him. I love NY, and I love Lucy. His mug is bought and he goes to live with a little girl who drinks milk out of the mug every day. Until her aunt was horrible to Dude and called him names. So he ran away, and tried living a few other places, but was sadly disappointed. Soon, Dude finds himself laying on the sidewalk wishing to just be washed away. An artist sees him and takes him to a museum. He loves his new home. People come to see him and say how much they love him. My Reaction: This book was quite inspiring. How fun to have a sidewalk drawing have such an adventure. I really enjoyed the genius of the mug he lived on. I thought the illustrations were so fun. He was a skinny little elephant, with big brown shoes. I think I would read this book to my kids for sure. Potential Problems: He is looking for someone to love him, so a little depression. Recommendations: I think this is a wonderful book for kids that are trying to start reading chapter books. It's a great switch over book. Lots of words, but still pictures.

The Mighty Asparagus

by v. Radunsky Published by Harcourt books 2004 28 Pages Genre: Humor!!! Picture Book Summary: There once was a king, who lived in a palace. He got very upset when he woke up to find a might asparagus had grown in his court yard. He hated it! But everyone else loved it. His wife wanted to bring it home. But no matter what they did they could not get it to move. So the king cried until his mom gave him some advice to get a little bird to help. And they did as she said and the asparagus fell easily. Then everyone was glad and the court jesters wrote a song about it that everyone loved! My reaction: This was probably the second funniest picture book I have ever read. There tends to be a lot of unexpected things in it. Such as at one point the writer says oh yes I forgot he has a daughter, right as he started talking about her. Or the fact that some of the print was so small, you really had to check the page before you turned the page or you would miss something very important. Potential Problems: Children that don't like Veggies! Recommendations: Parents who like to laugh with their children. Anyone who has a good sense of humor will love this book.

Little Monkey Says Good Night

by Ann Whitford Paul Published by Melanie Kroupa Books 2003 30 pages Genre: Picture Books Summary: Little Monkey is called to bed, but he decides he wants to say good night to the whole circus first. He causes quite the ruckus. He bumps things over and get thrown all over the place. As he travels through the air all through the circus the bright colors swirl around him. Red, Blues, and bright yellows. Finally his mother catches him from her perch on a high swinging bar. He says good night and she tosses him down to his dad. He says good night, and slips into bed. This book as a fun way of showing movement through it's wording. It curls all over and the little monkey flies of the big angled words at every corner. My Reaction: What a fun bed time story. I really love the movement it brought throughout the whole book. So many colors and lots to talk about with a child. Potential Problems: None Recommendations: I think this is a wonderful bed time story. Then you can take turns saying good night to things in your life. And end with You.

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed

by Mo Willems Published by Hyperion Books for Children 2009 34 Pages Genre:Picture Book Summary: Wilbur is a naked mole rat... well he is a mole and a rat. He actually likes to wear clothes. All the other naked mole rats try to get him to be normal and be naked with them, but he will not! They tell him that if he is not going to be naked he needs to just open a clothes store, being sarcastic of course. But he does, but he has no customers. So they decide he is now a problem. So they take Wilbur to see Grand-pah. They tell him that Wilbur said why not wear clothes? So Grand-pah brings everyone together to make an announcement. When everyone comes in they see that Grand-pah is wearing a suit. He says why not wear clothes? So Wilbur reopens his shop and does quite well. My Reaction: How stinkin funny is that! I think this book is a very funny way to get around saying, don't be like everyone else! It's okay! Just put some clothes on!!! Potential Problems: Everyone is naked! recommendations: This is a great book for a laugh. I would almost want to use this as an after bath-time story.

Moses

by Carole Boston Weatherford Published by Jump at the Sun 2006 38 Pages Genre: Historical picture book Summary: This is the story of Harriet Tubman's spiritual journey to lead her people to freedom. Through the most beautiful pictures, we see that Harriet is lead by the Lord to safety out of the south. The picture portray the mood as Harriet moves through the night. The world seems very dark around her. Like a shield. It's a beautiful color choice to go with such dark colors, and as the day comes and her next gift, the sun and the amazing blue sky light up the book. As Harriet makes it to safety the book gets brighter and brighter. Even when she goes back for her family and many others, it's not so dark, because she has the light with her, and she has no fear, because the Lord is with her. My Reaction: This was the most beautiful book i have ever laid eyes on. The illustrations were breath taking. I found such hope and piece in it's pages. What a miraculous thing. Potential Problems: Slaves are what this whole book is based on, and the underground railroad. Recommendations: I think this is a wonderful for teaching about the underground railroad and slavery. I think that is fifth grade. But any time you want to teach about the Lords hand in our lives, this is a magnificent book to illustrate that concept.

Shelly

by Margie Palatini Published by the Penguin group 2006 30 Pages Genre: Picture Book Summary: Shelly has three sisters. They all came out of their shells right away, and worked hard, and were very good at their talents. His sisters began when he was going to be ready. He didn't know. They tried to teach them all of their talents, but he didn't like any of them. He just stayed in his shell. One day, as they all decided to go out, he stayed in and enjoyed himself. He really came out of his shell. And then they came back. The Shell went back on. They asked again when he was ever going to come out of his shell. He said Wednesday! so they circled the date and danced around happy as can be. But then he tells us, he never said which Wednesday! My Reaction: What beautiful illustrations. They have lots of bright yellows, blues and pinks making the fun just pop off the page. The characters where very fun and quite hilarious. I loved this book because Shelly represents us all. We all hide before we come out with our talents and such. We all have been a Shelly. So we can't help but laugh as we watch his reactions. Potential Problems: None Recommendations: I think this is a wonderful book for all elementary students. They all can relate, and it is an easy read for learners.

You Are Special

by Max Lucado Published by Crossway Books 1997 32 Pages Genre: Picture Book Summary: We come into a small town made of wood people made by the great wood carver Eli. They were called Wemmicks. The wemmicks did the same thing all day every day. They gave each other stickers which were told to determine their worth. So once they were put on, they didn't come off. Those who were beautiful received stars and those who were not and made mistakes, got dots. Punchinello received only dots. He have never received a star. One day he was so upset with himself and his dots. He ran into a Wemmick like he had never seen before. She didn't have any stickers! They wouldn't stick! So Punchinello wanted to know how she was able to do this. With her chearful smile, she explained she went to see Eli every day. So Punchinello after a long night of self doubt, wondering if the creater would really want to see him, he climbed the hill to meet Eli. Eli welcomes him in an teaches him self worth. Once it doesn't matter what others think of you, what the creater thinks becomes most important. My Reaction: What a wonderful book. How up lifting and inspiring. I think this book will become a personal favorite that will go into my stach of special books. This is a fantastic book for all. Potential Problems: None Recommendations: I think everyone should read this book at least once. It can be realated to anyone's life. Whether they believe in a suprime being or not. Someone's opinion is most important, whether it is God's, your parents, or your spouses. There is always someone who will be our Eli, but must importantly Heavenly Father is our Eli.

Poems That Sing To You

Selected by Michael R. Strickland Published by Wordsong 1993 55 Pages Genre: Poems Summary: This book of poems are so fun. It teaches us different sounds and feels of poems. We start with Poems that dance. Each poem has a different kind of dance to it from a different country. We learn some from Russia, the boogie, and such. Next we have poems that have sound. These poems have a lot more rhyming sounds. Most of them are even about things that make sounds, like instruments and and parties! Next we have poems that make melodies. These are poems that could actually be songs. The book continues with poems that sing the happies and the blues, and poems that sing to you. These all have their own twists of rhyming or melodies. My Reaction: This was a really fun book to read. I could read the same poem over and over and make it different every time. Great interactive book. Potential Problems: None Recommendations: I think these could be used in a class with many students at once. These would make for fun short plays or group activities.

Magic Tree House #7 Sunset of the Sabertooth

by Mary Pope Osborne Published by Scholastic 1996 68 Pages Genre: Fantasy Summary: Annie and Jack are thrown into another adventure. This time it is in their swimming suits into the dead of winter. As the enter the land before time. As the read over the research book they were given, they contimplate what they would do if they met any of the people from this time. They find themselves looking for protection from the cold, the find a cave which the soon discover is the home of a great bear! Running out of the cave they spot a cave with a glowing light inside. They go inside to find no one is home but find some warm skins to dress in. Before they know it, their mouse peanut runs away, following it they find him but get stuck in a hole. A man comes and helps them out and they ride away on a Mammoth. However a Sabertooth corners them. They are able to play the mammoth bone flute the aquired and it runs away. So realize they were here for the flute and head home. My Reaction: I have always loved these books. They are so fun. What an adventure. I guess i am on an adventure kick. I always imagened me as Annie and my brother as Jack. I could read these for hours! Potential Problems: They "borrow" clothes. Recommendations: All Elementary students.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

by J.K. Rowling book on tape Number of Pages 652 Genre: Fantasy Summary: Harry Potter is growing older, among his other close friends. The dark Lord is getting more powerful. People begin disappearing. As Harry falls for the lovey Ginny Wisley, his best friends sister, he finds himself in loads of action. Especially as he is the captian of his quiditch team. He recieves a mission from Dumbledore to recieve memories from one of the professors. This memory will help them destroy the Dark Lord and all seven of his horcruxs. He finds himself using potions to make this happen. Late one night he finds himself with Dumbledore looking for a horcrux. They magiclly transport to a cave that Voldermort had visited as a child, with his orphanage. Here he hid a locket which nearly cost Dumbledore his life. As they return to the school they find the dark mark waiting for them mencingly waiting for them in the sky. Dumbledore immobilizes Harry in hidding while Draco steps out of the darkness. Draco has been given the task of murdering Albus. Howeven, being a big, fat, coward, he finds himself unable to accomplish this thing sent from the Dark Lord. This be seen as strength or cowardis. As Draco is unable, others arrive through a vanshing cabinet that Draco had mended for this purpose. As the arrive Snape steps out to accomplish the task as he was given if Draco was unable. So Snape, as Dumbledore pleads, casts the curse which ends Albus forever! As Albus falls dead off the astronomy tower, Harry is freed from the spell and duels unsucessfully with Snape as he realizes he is dueling with that who created the spells he so freely used. Snape tells Harry to stay put, and runs into the darkness with Draco and the others. As the school morns Albus, Harry realizes the trip that made him so weak was worthless. The locket they believed to have captured was not Lord Voldemorts at all, but someone's by the name of R.A.B.. Harry, Ron, and Hermionie decide to ditch the next coming year, and save the world. My Reaction: I always hate that Dumbledore is killed but I really love this book. It is very well writen and the character development never seems to amaze me! I find myself sucked in each time, reading for hours at a time. Possible Problems: Teen Love! and Murder! Recommendations: Anyone one who wants a good adventure should read Harry Potter.

Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Holidays: Volume 1

Published by U.X.L, and imprint of Gale Group 2000 135 Pages Genre: Non-Fiction Reference Book Summary: This encyclopedia covers Buddha's Birthday, Carnival, and Christmas. The pictures are very well fit with the text to the point where masks started to freak me out. In the front we find a couple different guides. Including how the modern calendar developed. How through the years, and different countries have evolved with a calendar. After we have glossary where we learn words we may not know related to these holidays. Then we finally get to the actual holidays. We learn about the different kinds of head-dresses and costumes are worn at different times of the year. We also learn that our Mardi Gras matches 5 other countries traditions. My Reaction: This was fairly interesting. I really found some the traditions unexpected. Such as in Germany, they dress up as witches for Carnival. How scary looking the are! Potential Problems: Some of the pictures are a little scary for younger kids, but good information. Recommendations: Good reference book. If a child was interested in learning about other countries and what they do for Christmas and such. These are a great group of books.

Olympism: A basic guide to the history, ideals, and sports of the olympic movement

An Official U.S. Olympic Committe Sports Series Published by Griffin Publishing 2001 152 Pages Genre: Non-Fiction Reference Book Summary: In this book we learn everything we need to know about the Olympics and being an Olympian. It's filled with pictures from Ancient Greece, to the current fields, and such, that we use. The beginning of the book explains what being an Olympian means, right down to the athlete's creed. "The most important thing int the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." After that we learn about how the Olympics came about and how the past continues. The following things we learn is quite fasinating. Olympic Sports! It has everything in here from Bithlon to Water Polo! If you don't know what Bithlon is, it's a mixture of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. My Reaction: How interesting! I really liked learning some random things about being an Olympian. This is something I would have loved to read when I was younger. It has everything in it. Potential Problems: None Recommendations: Any child who is interested in sport. And those who are not as well!

Rosa

by Nikki Giovanni and Illustrated by Bryan Collier Published by Henry Holt and Company 2005 34 Pages Genre: Non-fiction picture book Awards: Coretta Scott King Ward, and Caldecott Honor Summary: As we learn the story of Rosa Parks, we see in beautiful pictures how her mother had been sick at the time of this experience. We learn that she had been sent home early that day, from work. On December 1. She was so tired of life not changing that she wouldn't stand for it any more. We learn that the funeral of Emmett Till. His mother had an open casket after he was viciously lynched. Right after Rosa was arrested, 25 women went and borrowed the stencil maker and printer of Alabama State without permission. They didn't worry though, because if Rosa could stand up, they would stand up with her. The words the printed inspired the colored community to walk, and abandon the buses for a full year until a law was passed that changed the circumstances with the segregated buses. My Reaction: This was a wonderful book about Rosa Parks. I learned a few new things I had no idea about. I had no idea that so many women were in on the idea to keep everyone of the buses and print posters. I was really impressed. Potential Problems: This book does talk about murder and segregation a bit. Recommendations: I think this would be wonderful for kids to use as a reference book. Not technically as good as a biography but very good for basic facts.

Burger Boy

by Alan Durant and illustrated by Mei Matsuoka Published by Clarion Books 2005 24 Pages Genre: Picture Book Summary: Benny only liked to eat burgers. He didn't like to eat veggies, or fruit, just burgers. He mom told him if he only ate burgers he would become one. One day his mom told him out to his favorite burger chain, Bigga Burgers. As he walks out, feeling nice and full, he turns into a burger! This was amazing how the illustration took is clothes and turned them into a burger. I loved that they already had the potential as a sweater and shorts to make him look like a burger. Next thing he knows, he is being chased by hungry dogs, mad cows, and starving boys. The owner of Bigga Burgers saves him, and then puts him on display. Benny's mom rushes in to save him and when they get home, has him eat lots and lots of fruits and veggies. Benny eats so many he turns back into a boy. He claims he will never eat any thing else, and his mom warns him... if you eat to many you will... My Reaction: I loved the illustrations in this book! They were so creative. The colors really popped him out as if he was on a dinner plate. It was fun to see the counting that was Incorporated and just see his issue become the towns issue. How fun! Potential Problems: None Recommendations: I think this is a great interactive book for kids in kindergarten through second grade. So fun!

The Host

by Stephenie Meyer Published by Hachette Book Group 2008 619 Pages Genre: Science Fiction Summary: As we begin this book we find ourselves inside a human. Yes, a human. We are an alien. They call her wanderer because she has been on so many worlds, but now she is part of Melanie Stryder. Well, she is trying to stay apart from Melanie. She seems to take over some times. But she would never tell anyone she might have a human that can control her. As she tries to figure things out, she decides to take a trip to see the doctor that put her in this body. But to get rid of the woman who is tailing her, looking for Melanie's family, who is still out there somewhere, she drives instead of flying like the seeker. She never was really planning to go see her doctor, she was going to try to make sense of the map that kept flashing through melanie's mind. Wanderer was attached to Melanie's spinal cord, under the skin. This is why they were able to go undetected for so long. The only way to check to see if someone was still human, was to check for the thin cut line down the back of the neck and the silver around the pupil of the eye. Wanderer searches for days, but finally finds the location of the hidden reble group. They come out to get her and then blind fold her so she is unsure how to get out. All she knows is that she is underground, and she has found Jared, and Jamie. Jamie is Melanie's little brother, and Jared is her boy friend. However now that Wanderer and Melanie are somewhat the same person Wanderer is also in love with Jared. But Jared just wants her out so he can have Melanie. Once they decide that Wanderer wants to help them and isn't a hostle, they let her become part to the community. They hope she will help them detach the aliens from their people. So the devise a plan. While they are putting this plan into action, they accidently kill one of Wanderer's kind and she almost loses it. However, this means they also killed a human, so they are both frusterated. Mean while, Wanderer has fallen for another one of the humans named Ian. He too is in love with her and has saved her from the others multiple times. Eventually as they continue working on their plans Wanderer has to take them out to get supplies. They are able to detach the aliens, but find that is has left some of the humans brain dead. When they learn this, they decide it's to risky to take Wanderer out of Melanie. Because they are both present in the body still. But they think this may be why some of the humans make it. Because they are still aware in the body. So they take Wanderer out as she has decided this to be her last world, and to die in this world, she was ready to pass on. Twist! Wanderer wakes up to Melanie's face looking at her. She is alive! They had taken a body that was brain dead and put Wanderer in the body. This way she could live out the human experience with Ian and then pass on. The book ends as they decide to go out and find other humans. My Reaction: I loved this book. It was fantastic! I spent a lot of time reading late into the night! I liked this book so much better than the twilight saga because it was not so physically driven. This book was more about emotions. It was Wanderer's first experience with emotions and all five senses. She couldn't get enough of it, and it made me think of all the things we experience on a daily basis as humans that makes us so much more aware than the other things that inhabit our earth. Potential Problems: It could be a little scary with the fact that aliens have taken over the world, and that there is a lot of fear drivin issues. Recommendations: I really like this book for older kids. It's not quite a tween book, but it may be appropriate if they can allow themselves to be engaged and interested. It's quite the thinker.

Lincoln: A Photobiography

by Russell Freedman Published by Clarion Books 1987 150 Pages Genre: NonFiction Summary: In this book we learn all kinds of things about Lincoln. We learn that he grew up in very humble beginnings. In his whole life he only received about 1 year of public schooling, the rest was all self taught. He was able to read that that is what really started off his political efforts. He was able to teach himself law so he could pass the bar and practice law. Lincoln and his wife were married against her parent's wishes and they spent a lot of time fighting, though they loved each other very much. At one point he was running for president and a young woman wrote him and told him he had better grow so facial hair because all the women were making fun of him and telling their husband's not to vote for him. So he grew a beard and it never left his face again. Lincoln was president and the Civil War began and many unexpected loses came to him in office. The first battle the towns people actually went out with picnics to watch and they saw their men slaughtered. Lincoln while in office actually studied war tactics worried he may have to lead his men into battle. Lincoln's life was cut short one night as he was out at the opera with his wife. Actor John Wilkes Booth killed him shooting him in the back of the head. My Reaction: I really liked this format. I also learned a lot of things I didn't know about Lincoln's life. I really enjoy history and this was very well done. Potential Problems: It's history so some of the pictures, murder, and politics. Recommendations: I think this book is wonderful for anyone above 5th grade.

Love that Dog

by Sharon Creech Published by Harper Trophy 2001 86 Pages Genre: Poetry Summary: Jack does not like Poetry! He thinks it's for girls. But he has to write it in class. Through his poems we see him develop from this closed little boy, to an open writer. He shows us what his whole life depends on. A blue car splattered in mud. We find out this car killed his dog and he still hurts and misses him. As Jack continues to grow he is able to meet his favorite poet and learn first hand from him and loves it. By the end, we see everything that inspires Jack in a beautiful poem. My Reaction: I really liked how creative this book was. It really caught me off guard. The style is so different from anything I have ever read before. I just really enjoyed the twist on this children's book. Potential Problems: Death Recommendations: I think this is a great book for any ages. Even adults will get a kick out of this hilarious book.

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

by Gary D. Schmidt Published by yearling 2004 217 Pages Genre: Historical Fiction Summary: Turner Buckminster has just moved into Phippsburg, Maine and hates it. The local boys play baseball all wrong. They make fun of him for not jumping off a cliff with them into the ocean. And the plain are just not excepting. He is finally turned around when he meets Lizzie. She shows him a whole new world of Maine. He decides not to run away, and he and Lizzie do great things. They even see a whale up close and touch it. As Turner has befriended Lizzie the town has been trying to clear the Island on which she lives. Turner is so upset by this that he tries to get his father to help him stop the people. But by the time his father realizes he is on the wrong side it's too late. They are hungry and when Turner's father gets in the way his is pushed off a cliff and killed. All the people on the island are either forced to move or are put in an institution for the ill minded. Lizzie gets put in this institution and dies there. My reaction: This book was just to dang sad. At ever turn it just got worse! I guess that's life for ya, it's just hard to read a book that takes you from your world to somewhere worse. Potential Problems: All kinds! Murder, Hate, abuse, racism, etc. Recommendations: I would have older kids read this book. I wouldn't think elementary school would be the best setting.

A Single Shard

by Linda Sue Park Published by Yearling 2001 148 Pages Genre: Historical Fiction Summary: Tree-ear lives with Crane Man under a bridge in twelfth-century Korea. As the book begins we find Tree-ear watching a man with a bag of rice on his back. Tree-ear decides to let the man know his pack is leaking a large amount of rice onto the ground, but not until it leaks a little more. But for his honesty he is rewarded with the rice that was dropped on the ground. Tree-ear finds himself very interested in pottery and he goes to a potters and watches his work from the bushes. As he does so one day, the man walks away so Tree-ear sneaks up and while admiring his work, brakes and intrecite box that was made by the potter, Min. The potter catches him and tells him he must work for him for 9 days because it took him 3 days to make the box, and he says Tree-ears time is not as valuble as his own so he must work even longer for him. He does a lot of manual labor and works hard. He secretly wishes that he will be taught how to make the beautiful pottery. Min tells him no because he will only teach his son the craft, but Min's son passed away. So eventually Tree-ear begins to work for Min for food and he really works hard, as they have been presented with the challenge to make their best pottery to show to the king's court. Tree-ear spys on some of the other potters to see what they are doing. Min tries to do some intricate work but they fail. So Min works hard until it is time to take his peaces to the King's Court. Tree-ear is elected to do this. On his trip robbers steal his money and brake every last of the pots. Tree-ear is able to find one shard that he is able to show to the King's Court, which is very impressive. When he returns home, he finds his good friend has died. The bridge they were living under colapsed and he died. Min then is able to adopt Tree-ear and he teaches his son how to make the beautiful pottery. My Reaction: I read this is elementary school, and I love it just as much now as I did then. It is unlike the other books out there. It really has a solid story line and it's interesting. I really like historical ficiton. Potential Problems: We have some very distinct classes that people are living in at the time. Also robbery. Recommendations: This is a wonderful book, I think boys may really enjoy this book as Tree-ear is quite the example of following your dreams.

Children Just Like Me

by Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley DK Publishing 1995 80 Pages Genre: Non-Fiction Summary: This book is unlike any I have read before. It begins by showing all kinds of children all over the world and where they live. Then it goes into detail about each continent. Each child that is featured shows you their clothing, their parent's, home, and what they enjoy doing. We get to learn about to sisters who love to dance from Russia. We learn what it means to be from the Americas. We even get to meet a brother and sister from Ethiopia. How wonderful to see what it's like all around the world and what makes us like other children. My reaction: I really enjoyed how informational this book was. I was able to really enjoy every word. It was not to much but there were lots of pictures and this could be for many age groups. No one was left out. We saw some children of every categorie. Tall, short, dark skinner, light skinner, wheels chair and hockey player. It was all there. Possible Problems: I really didn't see any. Recommendations: I think this is a wonderful reference book for all children.

Gathering Blue

by Lois Lowry Published by Walter Lorraine Books 2000 215 Pages Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction Summary: As we enter the scene, Kira, a young girl of about 16 is sitting in the field with her mother's body. The field of leaving is where the dead are laid and watched for four days until their spirits leave. As Kira returns after 4 days, the women of the community have decided they want the property where her cott or home was. It was set on fire to kill what ever disease had killed her mother. Now the women wanted it, and they wanted her dead. So Vandara, the town bully takes her to the council to she what they had to say. With her twisted leg, the women believed her an incapable member of the community and because of this, she should be sent to the field to die. However, the council decides to keep her because of her talent with sewing. She makes beautiful patterns. They want her to work on the robe that is worn at the yearly cerimony every year. She is given a wonderful living space, with running water which she has never seen before. As she begins work she must go into the woods to see the old dyer woman, who would teach her to dye the threads that she sewed with. One day as she is going to the old woman's home, she believes that she is being followed by a beast and she gets to Annabella home as quickly as possible fearing for her life, but unable to run with her leg. As she tells the old dyer what she tought had happened, the woman laughed and told her not to fear, because there were to beasts in the forest. This confused Kira because her father was killed by a beast just before she was born. So when she went home that night she told her caretaker what Annabella had said. Jamison her caretaker, says that Annabella is crazy and that she is old. He says nothing else about it. The next day Kira gets up to find a horribly windy and rainy day. So she does not venture to Annabella's again. The next morning Kira gets up early to go to the dyers, but she runs into her friend who tells her that Annabella had been taken to the field that morning, and Jamison had been there. Kira beings to wonder why this happened. Kira has a friend that lives down the hall from her in housing she was given. His name is Thomas and he was also given a place to live when his parents died when he was just a little boy. One night Thomas hears crying and so he and Kira discover that yet another child was brought to live with them when her parents suddenly died. Kira starts to notice things are starting to get a little hairy. All three of them had wonderful talents and their parents all were killed by freak accidents. Then they were brought here to live with large work loads weighing on their talents. The young girl Jo who had just been brought in didn't even know her parents had died. As the annual celibration comes around they go to watch the singer, which Jo is training to be, sings the song of their past. As Kira watches, she notices that the singer is held by chains around his feet. It was at this point she realized that they were all prisoners to the council. That night her good friend Matt who had been missing for over a week reapeared. He brought Kira gifts. The first was the plant that made it possible to create blue, which did not grow anywhere near their community. The second was her father. Jamison had tried to kill him on a hunting trip. Her father had been taken to the field believed to be dead. He was only blind and he woke to strangers taking him off through the forest. They brought him to a community where those who were broken could heal. He healed but didnt' have any memory for a while. Once he remembered his wife and child it was too late, and he didn't know how to get back, until Matt stumbled into their community. So Matt had brought him back to save Kira. Instead of going with her father that night, they plan to meet in the future, so Kira can bring Thomas and Jo to saftey as well. Her father leaves and she returns to the community that secretly is holding her a slave. My Reaction: I loved this book. My 6th grade teacher read it to us and I have loved it ever sense. I really enjoy the twists and turns of the story line. I couldn't stop reading. The character development is very well done and the setting is very easy to follow. I think it is very well written. Potential problems: there are higher and lower classes in this book. Also, murder and plots are all over this book. Recommendations: I think anyone who likes a good adventure would love this book. It's a fast read becaues it's impossible to put it down. This will get kids reading.

The Great Gilly Hopkins

by Katherine Paterson Published by Harper Trophy 1978 Contemporary Realistic Fiction 178 Pages Summary: Our dear eleven year old Gilly has been through a few foster homes that were unable to tame her crazy brash life style. She find herself being taken to yet another foster home as we open the book. She thinks it's another home she can cross off her list. She is very proud, racist, and quite the handful. She thinks she will just write her birth mother and tell her about all the horrid things that she is living through, like eating dinner every night with their colored blind neighbor, or the fact that her teacher at school is fat, or that Trotter is quite a large woman. However, our dear Trotter is able to find something in her she doesn't even know is there. At first Gilly can only think of toruring her dear little foster brother. The poor thing is scared to death of her. But as they grow together, she teaches him to fight and stand up for himself. As Gilly starts loving her new family and understanding the importance of a good family, he birth mother sends her lawyer sending for Gilly. So Gilly is taken to live with her Grandmother. Her Grandmother buys a ticket for Gilly's mother to come for Christmas, and Gilly learns that her mother wants nothing to do with her. So she decideds she wants to go back to live with Trotter, so she calls and Trotter tells her she must be strong and be there for her grandmother. So she stays. My Reaction: It's always sad to not see a happy ending, but this book was quite a thinker. I liked that it ended with a wonderful lesson. I really enjoyed getting to know Gilly and how she affected the others in her life. How funny! Possible Problems: This book does bring up abandonment, and a lot of racism and prejudice. This could be a little for some parent's to swallow, but it is very good, and worth it for the lessons. Recommendations: I think this is a wonderful book for anyone probably 5th grade and up.

Star Girl

by Jerry Spinelli
Random House Children's Books 2000
186 Pages
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Summary:
Leo Borlock is one of the top dogs at Mica High until, that is, Star Girl came to town. She is the new girl in school and she turns everyone ones life around. She plays her guitar in the cafeterias, and sings to people, especially on their birthdays. She cheers for both sides in sports and wears the most bazaar clothes. But Leo falls for it, the problem is no one else does. When Star Girl is asked to be on Leo and his friends TV show, she excepts. However, the episode is never viewed because the kids were so terrible to Star Girl. However, Leo doesn't care. He has fallen hard. So they start dating. But as the love blindness wears away, Leo realizes that no one talks to him anymore. So he begs Star Girl to be normal. So she is. She comes to school completely different. And Leo loves it, but no one else likes her any more than they did before. So, Leo brakes up with her, and she goes to the last school dance on her own. She was beautiful and everyone loved her. But after the dance, she disappeared never to be seen again.

My Reaction:
This is was a pretty wonderful book. It really brings to light that it doesn't matter how you dress, or what you do to change your apperience, you are who you are. I really love the story line. It is a little out there at times, but high school kids are quite mean.

Recommendations:
All students, both in the role of Star Girl and those who where in the roles that made Star Girl who she is.

A Year Down Yonder

by Richard Peck
Puffin Books 2000
130 Pages
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Summary: Mary Alice's family has fallen on some hard times with it being 1937 and her family can't afford to live together any more. So she is sent off to live with her Grandmother. As she arrives her Grandma takes her straight to school. Before she gets a chance to put her things down she is pushed into a school room where she spends the day being pestered by the school's bully. The girls says she owes her a dollar for looking at her so she follows Mary Alice home to collect her money. Of course Mary Alice's Grandma invites the girl in and feeds her. After which she lets the girls horse loose with her shoes tied around the horses neck. Mary Alice learns that the horse had not been the girls at all, and was stolen. So full of food, without shoes, the girl must walk miles and miles home. Which takes care of Mary Alices problems with the bully. As Mary Alice spends time with her Grandmother she learns many new things, from canning jam to fox hunting. She learns how to make home made glue and use it against your enemies. She learned how to give service to those who deserved it as well as those who do not. As her time at her grandmothers comes to an end and is able to return to live with her family, Mary Alice falls in love. As she is leaving she tells her Grandmother she doesn't want to leave and of course her Grandmother tells her that the door is always open. As the book closes, Mary Alice is getting married to the boy that she had fallin for. The decided to get married in her Grandmother's home. Neither of their families were able to make it, but that wasn't the most important thing.

My Reaction:
I loved this book. It was one of my favorites I have read up to this point. Mary Alice's Grandma made me think so much of my own. She is so smart and knows how to do so many things. I love learning from her, and it really made it easy to connect to this book. Not to mention it was funny beyond all reason!

Recommendations:
Young girls who are interested in adventure. Anyone could love this book.

I SPY A to Z: A Picture Book of Riddles

By Jean Marzollo and Photographs by Walter Wick
Cartwheel Books 2007
48 pages
Genre: Riddle Picture Book

Summary:
This is actually an alphabet book. We learn the alphabet through riddles. Each riddle highlights the letter that page represents. Each page has a few riddles and a picture. Each riddle is something you need to find in the picture. This is a fun book that is the most interactive you can possibly get. You don't only have to look for the riddle items but there are lots of things that children can regonize in each photo and the colors are bright and not to over powering. The pictures are in many different locations and have many different lightings, great encouragement for deep discussion.

My Reaction:
I have always loved these books. I would spend hours with my mom and my siblings just pouring over these books. They are very educational in a sneaky way, and encourage reading and discovery.

Recommendations:
EVERYONE! all ages.

Chester

by Melanie Watt
Scholastic 2007
32 Pages
Genre: Picture Book

Summary:
The book says that Melanie Watt wrote this book, but Chester says he wrote this book. As we start this book, we find a little mouse sitting in his home as the story begins. Then we see red marker all over the page. One drawing showing the mouse getting on a plane, and it reads that he was never seen again. Of course the mouse is apposed to this. This is his story. Through out the book Chester marks up all the pages with his red marker until he is allowed to have his own story. So he draws himself a world with his marker, after which it rains and is washed way. Eventually the mouse wins and is able to get back to his story.

My Reaction:
I love this book. It is so clever. Writing a book about a story that has been ruined. It was fun to get to know Chester even though he wasn't supposed to be in the story. I love the fights he causes, he always has such clever counters to the accusations that the mouse makes. This is a fun interactive book.

Recommendations:
EVERYONE... EVERYWHERE!

The Perfect Pet

by Margie Palatini and Burce Whatley
Harper Collins Publishers 2003
30 Pages
Genre: Picture Book

Summary:
Elizabeth REALLY wants a pet. Her parents decided she could have a plant instead. A nice little cactus she called Carolyn. But she still REALLY wanted a pet. So she tried everything. She would wake her parents up in the middle of the night, bother them in the shower, at breakfast, any time. Every animals she asked for, they said no. So she made friends with a bug which she feeds and takes care of. It grows to be quite large and her mother almost smashes little Doug. So Elizabeth saves him and tells her parents that he is exactly what they had described when telling her why she could not have any of the other pets she wanted. So they let her keep it and Doug becomes part of the family.

My Reaction:
This is one of my favorite picture book writers. She is so fun and always keeps the audience busy with interaction. The art is beautiful. My favorite page is where Elizabeth is sitting on her parents with a flash light in the middle of the night and everything is dark blue like the night and they the flash light is on their faces so they are flooded with color. Genius.

Recommendations:
Every child that wanted a pet and couldn't have one.

The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians

by Carla Morris and illustrated by Brad Sneed
PeachTree Publishers 2007
30 Pages
Genre: Picture Book

Summary:

Melivin grew up loving the Livingston Public Library. He spent most of his time with his three favorite ladies, Marge, Betty, and Leeola. After school he would always stop by the library after he went school and look up something he had learned that day. At one point it's snakes and his friends help him find everything there is to know about snakes. Another day he brings in a big jar of bugs he collected. On his way in he trips and the jar opens and the ladies help him find ever single bug and label and give him books on every single one. As he grows older and older, the ladies help him with each of his interests. They even help him get ready for a play, and eventually a spelling bee. As the ladies grow old and he graduates they are still very close friends. Next we see the three ladies bent over the reference desk looking at a new little boy. Melivin also helped him as he loved his job in the library.

My Reaction:

I really enjoyed this book! I spent a lot of time in the library as a child. I just love reading and sitting for hours with a good book. I felt like I connected with this book a lot. The illustrations in this book are not like other books. The people have personality and I really like how they are all different. The pictures really portrays the library as a place of safety and I think that is wonderful!


Potential Problems:

None


Recommendations:

I think every child should read this book because it shows that books can teach you anything you want to learn. How wonderful.

Tuesday

by David Wiesner

Clarion Books 1991
30 pages
Picture Book
Summary:

This book is unlike many of the picture books that are circulated these days. There is not a single word in this story. All we get are pictures. The story begins in a small pond, full of frogs, a magical adventure beings. A group of frogs fly through the air into town. Throughout the night, told in beautiful illustrations, we see them drift in and out of homes, through laundry, and then eventually the magic wears off and they fall to the ground. Hopping back into the pond, they find boredom waiting for them. As the people of the town try to figure out where all the lilly pads, that were leftbehind, came from, we catch a glimps of a pig flying. The colors in this book are so fun. The theme seems to stay with blues as if they never left the pond.

My reaction:

I thought this book was interesting. It could be fun to analyze with a child, but other than that, it was only okay for me. I thought if they were going to play on the fact that these frogs were flying through the town, they could have had them do some really fun things. I did like the laundry scene but the rest was just kind of boring.

Potential Problems:

It might be boring for kids unless they are looking for specific things. Maybe if it was used in an art class or something where it could be used as an example.

Recommendations:

I think students who get frustrated with reading would enjoy it, and maybe art students.

The Official M&M Brand History of Chocolate

by Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue
Illustrated by Karen E. Pellaton
Published by Charlesbridge 2001
Reading Level 1-2
30 Pages
Genre: Non-Fiction

Summary:
Through out this book we learn from our favorite colored M&M's the history of how they came about. We begin with what chocolate comes from. The Cacao tree, where little pods are grown and then split open and dried. In the old days the used to just eat the beans as the were, crunched up. But as the world was able to advance a machine was created by a dutch man that would separate the bean and the cocoa butter. These two ingredients make most chocolate products. White chocolate actually only has cocoa butter in the recipe, there is no actual cocoa. The timeline of this book is laid out so it goes from 250 BC to today. How it has evolved from a bitter sludge to a sweet drink and solid snack. It was obvious that the point of the book was the M&M's themselves because all the colors in the book were earthy and muted while the M&M's that were brought up and those that bordered text where very bright and tend to draw the eye.

My Reaction:
I knew a lot of the things I read about but it was a very fun way to learn and the illustrations were a great reflection of the text. Showing past cultures and from dress to daily living. I thought it was well written and showed great research, through text and illustrations

Potential Problems:
None

Recommendations:
I think this book would be great for any student who was interested in being an inventor, cook, or even historian. Even kids that just enjoy this M&M's may like to know where they come from. I know kids that love to know random facts just so they have things to share in family discussion and such. This would be a great book for kids that just want to learn.

Watch Out! Big Bro's Coming!

by Jez Alborough
Published by Candlewich Press 1998
Reading Level 2-1
14 Pages
Genre: Picture Book

Summary:
As we open the book, we find color exploding on every page. Deep Reds and greens show the colors of the jungle. There is a lot of picture and little text. Mouse comes run up to frog yelling that big bro is coming and he is this big, holding out his arms. So he and the frog run together, running into all kinds of animals and each time the animals join them in running away. As the go through the book each animal says that big bro is bigger and bigger and they all jump into hiding places. As they wait the tremble. Big Bro comes running out of the jungle. He is a mouse! But a very big mouse! So all the animals laugh until the realize how tough he is. He takes his brother and they head off back into the jungle.

My Reaction:
This is a fun read-out-loud book. I really enjoyed how it was like telephone. Each animal made big bro seem bigger and bigger! It was quite fun to see the development.

Possible Problems:
None

Recommendations:
I would recommend this for a read-aloud-book at home. It is good for participation while reading.

Bella & Bean

by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and illustrations by Aileen Leijten
Published by Atheneum Books for YOung Readers/Simon &schuster Children's Publishing
Reading Level: 1-2
31 Pages
Genre: Picture Book

Summary:
Bella and Bean are best friends(mice). Bella is a poet and she loves to write. So one day she is writing and Bean comes over and tries to get her to come play. Bella says she is busy writing, so Bean goes away. But all Bella can think of is Bean. So she writes poems about Bean. Bean comes back a couple times throughout the day but Bella continues to write poems. Which all turn out to be about Bean. So that night Bella call Bean to come over and they lay on the grass under the stars and write a poem about their friendship. The illustrations are beautiful. Though the mice are a little silly looking, it is so fun. The plants in just seem to come to life. They have beautiful soft colors that represent the text very well.

Reaction:
This was such a fun book. I picked it out because my nick-name has always been Belle and my little brother's is Bean. So i thought this related to our lives perfectly! I loved it, it was a sweet story about friendship.

Potential Problems:
None

Recommendations:
I think this is a fantastic book for little girls. The pink colors are beautiful and girly. But the friendship between these two girls is a wonderful example.

The Chicken of the Family

by Mary Amato and illustrated by Delphine Durand
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons 2008
Reading Level 1-2 grade
32 Pages
Genre: Picture Book

Summary:
Henrietta has two terrible sisters, the convince her that she is a chicken and she can't help but feel upset. So she travels down the road to the chicken farm just down from their house. So Henrietta follows around the chickens believing she is one of them. As she is playing with the chickens her sisters bike up to the farm. They had been looking for her all day and were upset because there mom and dad were sad because she ran away. But she wouldn't believe she was not a chicken. Well they get fed up and get ready to leave and the younger of the two sisters says she is scared that their parents will be mad if they don't come back with Henrietta. So her sister calls her a chicken. So she crawls in the pen with Henrietta and says maybe I am. The End.

Reaction:
This was such a fun book. I used to feel like the chicken in my families some times and this was a fun way to illustrate it! I will read this one to my kids.

Potential Problems:
None

Recommendations:
I think any kid who is having a hard time with their siblings would enjoy this book. It makes it seem not so bad to be a chicken!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

by J K Rowling
published by Scholastic Press 1997
Reading Level: 4-6 (and everyone else!)
309 Pages
Genre: Fantasy

Summary:
Harry is left on the door step of his aunt and uncles house when he was an infant. They tried to take care of him in the least interactive way as possible. His aunt always hated his mother so she made it very hard on Harry. However when his eleventh birthday rolls around he learns he is a wizard and begins attending Hogwarts. The school of Witch Craft and Wizardry. Harry finally feels like he fits in. Soon enough he learns that his parents and he are famous. His parents were killed by the most powerful dark wizard there was in existence. But Harry lived through it. The wizard Voldemort had not been seen since. Some believed him to be dead. As Harry goes through school he learns all kinds of things about himself and his family. He learns all about the new world of wizard he had never even heard of. At one point he learn about a magic item called the sorcerer's stone which can keep anyone who uses it youthful and healthy for as long as the posses it. Mean while he is noticing that one of his professors acts very strangely around him and he doesn't know why. One day while he and his friend Ron and Hermionie are lost in the castle the stumble upon a corridor which is forbidden. However they get trapped inside when one of the castles tattletale creatures comes round the corner. They find themselves in a maze of traps where they nearly don't make it. However, Harry is alone when he reaches the end. He finds that his professor is there and soon after that Voldemort is using his body to come back to power. Voldemort thinks if he can get the Sorcerer's stone he will be restored, but when Harry touches him the professor is killed and
Voldemort flees. The maze being what was protecting the stone is given to his headmaster for safe keeping and Harry goes home for the summer to return next year.

My Reaction:
I have always loved the Harry Potter Series and I was glad to get to read it again for a class. I have always believed it has such wonderful writing and wonderful detail that relapses in each book. I will always love the character building in the book and I learn something new about each character every time I read these books over.

Potential Problems:
This book does have magic and some parents are not okay with that. Also it has some murder and some language in the text.

Recommendations:
I think this is a series that could hook just about any hesitant reader. It has all the good pieces of a strong plot that the reader feeds on. I think this doesn't need to be in the schools because it is already so wide spread we don't need it to be required, but it could still be useful.

Bark George

by Jules Feiffer
Published by Michael di Capua Books Harper Collins 1991
32 Pages
Genre: Picture Book

Summary:
George cannot bark. His mom tries and tries but he can only make other animal sounds. So she takes him to the vet where the vet pulls out a cat, a duck, a pig and a cow. Finally George can bark. On their way home George goes to bark and says, "Hello!" The pastel colors in this book are really fun. They are not to bright bu there is still plenty of color. This book would be really great for color identification in kindergarten and such. This would be a good book for very little ones, good for repetition and word identification as well.

Reaction:
I have always loved this book. It's so fun and twists reality a little bit. However it's a fun was to let it be possible.

Potential Problems:
None

Recommend:
I would recommend this as a great read-aloud book! The colors and text are simple enough to work on recognition and it just has a great story line!

New Year's Day

by David F. Marx
Published by Grolier Publishing 2000
Reading level 2-
32 Pages
Genre: Non-Fiction

Summary:
This book shows lot of things about celebrating the new year. The pictures show us how different counties celebrate and sometimes not even on the first of January. The reader reads all about New York and why people gather there to do on new years eve. The colors are as exciting as the new year with lots of reads and brightly colors floats and skies. The picture complement the text as we learn about how people celebrate with football and family games. It closes by reminding us that we get to celebrate it every year.

Reaction:
This was written for a very young child so it was not anything I didn't know already but it was still fun.

Potential Problems:
None

Recommendations:
I would use this in class while teaching about celebrations. It's great to show how it is different for everyone all around the world.

African-American Heroes: Will Smith

by Stephen Feinstein
Published by Enslow Elementary/Enslow Publishers 2008
24 Pages
Genre: Non-Fiction

Summary: This book is a fantastic introduction to chapter books. It is small enough to be readable for young kids but split up were it can be considered a chapter book. The colors are great, yellows and greens draw the eye to chapters and captions that relate Will to the reader. We find that as it talks about Will's childhood it shows that the reader could be like Will because he liked Dr. Seuss books. Throughout the book there are recognizable issues that the reader could identify. Such as Will's friends and how they would know them. For example Eddie Murphy was the voice of Donkey in the movie Shrek. The text takes things the reader may not know and makes them identifiable. The text runs through a time-line which it actually shows in the back. It ends with a quote from Will to excite the reader about being better.

Reaction:
I learned some things I didn't know about Will Smith and that was pretty fun. Taking something you know and understanding it farther.

Potential Problems:
None

Recommendations:
I would recommend this book to kids who find themselves caught up in the celebrity scene. To those who look up to them and want to know more about them, and why they are they way they are.

The Comanche Indians

by Bill Lund
Published by Capstone Press 1997
Reading level 2-
24 Pages
Genre: Non-Fiction

Summary:
These Indians are a fun part of our history. We learn that they still live here in the US. Most live in Texas and Oklahoma. We see many different types of pictures as we read. First there are some from modern day, while others are black and white, and very old. This book tells us how they live in tepees, what they eat, how they dress, and what their skill sets are. We even learn that they did not originate in the South but came from the Shoshone Indians in Idaho. In the end, we learn to play a game and speak a little of their language. The text is very informational and clear.

Reaction:
This was a fun book to read because I have a little Native American in my line. It was clear and too the point and an interesting read.

Potential Problems:
The pictures are a little graphic, and even a little scary. But informational.

Recommendations:
I think this is a fun reference book and would be good to teach the history of Pre-America.

Countries of the World: Brazil

by Michael Dahl
Published by Capstone Press 1997
Reading Level 2-
24 Pages
Genre: Non-Fiction

Summary:
This book walks us through Brazil and teaches us about the culture there. We learn that they live in a Rain Forest, and have lots and farms, as well as cities. We learn how the travel and how their river system works to their advantage. We learn about what the kids are like there and how their schools are organized. Continuing we learn about their food and animals, and what they celebrate and get excited about. Near the end we even learn one of their favorite party games. The color choice is easy to follow. Black, white, green and colored pictures. The pictures make it much easier to understand the text and see what it is really like there.

Reaction:
This was a very good reference book. It had things from the population, to how to speak a little Portuguese. It was interesting and I learn a couple new things.

Potential Problems:
None

Recommend:
This is a great reference book for elementary kids. It could be fun to use for a presentation and display book. I think any kids who like to learn about the world would like this type of book.

Andersen Fairy Tales

Found on hca.gilead.org:

• Princess and the Pea
• Thumbelina
• The little mermaid
• The ugly duckling

Summary: As we begin the story of the princess and the pea we find a prince lookin for love in all the wrong places. Lookin for love in too many faces. His mother came up with a test that only a true princess would pass. So late one night a princess came to to their home looking for a place to sleep. As they prepared her bed they stacked matres upon matres and hid a pea in the bottom most. When she got up in the morning they asked her how she slept. She said terribly, and she was bruised from the spot in her bed that had been hard with the pea. So they knew that she was a real princess and she was married to the prince.

Reaction: These were just good classic fairy tales. I enjoyed them and enjoyed the memories they brought back from childhood. I will be sure to read my children these stories.

Potential Problems: None

Recommendations: Every parent and teacher should give their kids this foundations of fairy tales. They are so rateable and bring memories.

Asbjornsen Fairy Tales

Found on oak.nvg.org:

• One's Own Children are always the Prettiest
• Thumbikin
• The Three Billy Goats Gruff
• Ashlad who made the princess say, "That's a Lie."

Summary: There was a hunter who went out for sport. As he was out one day, he ran into a snipe. She talked him out of killer her and asked that he not kill her children. He asked how he would know which ones were heres. She said that they were the most beautiful snipes and he would know them. So he went on and killed many snipes. When he came back he had a whole sting up. The Snipe yelled and asked why he had killed all of her babies. He said he had not, he picked out the ugliest ones. She said don't you know that to parent's, their children are always the best looking.

Reaction: These were vastly different than the tales I have read up to this point. I found that they were much cleaner and I hadn't heard of to many of them. I did know a couple variations of some but they were much more fun.

Potential Problems: none

Recommendations: These stories are much more kid friendly! I think they would be great to use in elementary school things. They would be fun to do as read alouds and acting out things. They are fantastic for teaching.

Perrault's Fairy Tales

I read on angelfire.com:

• The Master Cat/Puss in Boots
• The Fairies
• Sleeping Beauty
• Ricky of the Tuft

Summary: A man died living his three sons a mill, a donkey, and a cat. The oldest took the mill, the second the donkey, leaving the third with the cat. Thinking he would starve to death without the help of his brothers he started asking the cat what to do besides kill him and skin him. The cat said if he would provide him with a bag and boots, he would not be sorry. So he did so and the cat caught him much food and took some to the king in his name. One day the cat came up with a plan. He would have his master pretend to be robbed while bathing and when the King came out on his carriage ride with his daughter he would recoginze his name and help him. This happned, after which he rode with the King and his daughter through the lands. The cat made it so everyone the crossed said that they were working the third sons land. He even killed an ogre so he could present the King with a castle. The King gave his daughter to the son and they were married.

My Reaction: The ones were interestingly different. They were the original stories I grew up on, but there where huge parts of the stories I have never heard before. I really enjoyed them, maybe better then the disney versions where no one dies.

Potential Problems: One again Murder, and children being eaten!

Recommendations: I would say these would be a fun change for High School students.

Jacob's Fariy Tales

I read on sacred-texts.com

• The Rose Tree
• Mr. Vinegar
• Henny-Penny
• Lazy Jack

Summary: The Rose Tree

In this story, there was a young girl who had been from her father's first marriage and he had remarried and had a son. However the girls step-mother hated the girl so she chopped off her head and then tried to make soup from her organs to feed to her father and brother. This caused her brother to not eat and he went and burried her under the Rose Tree. He would sit and cry everyday over the tree until one day it bloomed. There was a white bird that came and sat in the tree, it went to a shoe makers and sang of the sad tale, the man loved it so much he gave the bird the shoes he had been working on to hear it again. The bird took the shoes and did the same with a watchmaker and a millstone cutter. Then went back to the home of the family. Knocking on the house with the millstone the stepmother believed it was thunder so the father and son ran out to see, the shoes and watch were dropped at their feet. They showed the step mother what the thunder hand given them and next time the heard the thunder she ran outside to see if it had a gift for her. The millstone was droped on her head and she died.

My Reaction: I liked these stories a lot more than the Grimm stories. Their plots seemed less crazy and murderous. I wanted to read all of these stories for hours.

Potential Problems: They do tend to address murder and beatings as good revenge for those who are better than you are do something stupid.

Recommendations: These are fun, they could be used in drama classes as practice and such, but I don't know if I would use them in the class room until the kids are a little older than elementary school.

50 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet

by Dennis Denenberg & Lorraine Roscoe
Published by Millbrook Press Inc 2006
Reading Level: 4-6
Number of Pages 128
Genre: Non-Fiction

Summary:
This book is filled with all kinds of information about the great heroes of America. It has quite the range as well, from women to men, from black to white, from the beginning until now. Actors to Presidents, and writers to baseball players. The format it simple and effective. It is made up of three colors, white and black with hits of light blue. It is very clear and has a great amount of information on each person is a very small space. Each person gets about two pages which are packed with pictures and simple text. Also, it is a great reference book because it refers the reader to other books that will give more detail. It gives the title, publishing information and number of pages. My favorite section was on Bill Cosby, it explained that he was more than an actor, he was a teacher, an author and a humanitarian. I was so amazed at the things I didn't know and how the writing instantly interests the reader.

My reaction:
This book was a fantastic reference book. I loved it! I learned so much about those who have influenced America today and why. I really want this book for my personal collection even if I am not a teacher, i want my kids to learn about these amazing people and how their lives are better because of them.

Potential Problems:
It's history, some times there are things that are hard to teach kids about in history books. Murder, hate, etc. But this is a fantastic way to learn these in a very light manner.

Recommendations:
I think every teacher and parent should have one of these in their collection. These kinds of books teach our children to be better and that if they work hard the can succeed. Even if the odds are against them.

Obama: Only in America

by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Robert T. Barrett
Published by Marshall Cavendish 2010
Reading Level 2-3
40 Pages
Genre: Non-Fiction

Summary:
Barack Obama was born August 1961 to a woman from the states and a father from Kenya. He went by Barry until he got out of high school. His parent's were divorce and after his mother remarried he was sent to live with his grandparents. He taught himself how to be a black man in a sea of white people. He got into Punahou Academy where he met all kinds of amazing people. His father came to see him when he was 10 and they spent a whole month getting to know each other, before and after that point, their only form of communication was through writing. He planned to go to Kenya to see his father but before he could do so his father was killed in a car accident. He was unsure of what to do at this point. All he knew was that he was different and he felt he wanted to speak out against it, but didn't know how. He would secretly read books by black authors until his mother told him he wasn't doing anything with his life and helped him get into college. He went to Columbia University and worked hard. He continued in education but eventually started using what he knew to start groups that would help his speak out. He got into Harvard Law school and visited Kenya at last, where he was able to understand his roots better. He met his wife and they were married. They had two little girls. He then got voted into Illinois state senate, after which he became a senator. He then ran for president. The illustations of this book are beautiful. They tie in the effects of past presidents and authors into Obama's belief system. There were lots of browns and reds and teal colors. Like the earth. They seemed to tell the stories of his roots which then turned into is future.

Reaction:
I found this book very intersting and informative. However, I had a hard time seeing him in the good light they put him in. But it was writen very well with quotes from his speaches on every page. It makes me wonder what I would have thought of past presidents if i didn't only read about them in such positive light.

Potential Problems:
This book dose address his drug problems and uses very light terms to explain about his drug use and why. I think it may be a little too positive how they address his adiction as a help.

Recommendations:
I think it may help better the understanding of our president, but i wouldn't nessisarily recommend it to elementary students. It uses lots of big words which may require a lot of time in this book, so that you may not want to answer as a teacher.

The Alphabet War

by Diane Burton Robb and illustrated by Gail Piazza
Published Ablert Whitman & Company 2004
Reading Level 2-3
32 Pages
Genre: contemporary realistic fiction

Summary:
Adam grew up loving to listen to his mother read him books. However as he gets into school he does not excel in reading. He does well with math and other subjects, but he cannot read, and this frustrates his teacher. He finds himself unmotivated and angry as he tries to work through his class work. As he tells himself he cannot do it, he learns that he can. His mother and many different teachers and aids help him to see his potential and teach him trick to progress in reading. He works hard and does his best. I thought the pictures in this book were fabulous. The simple colors took us into the world of Adam's mind. As he fought off life size letters and spent time on the moon, would could see through the pictures how isolated he felt in the class room and among his peers.

Reaction:
I really loved reading about Adam. In Jr. High and High school I had a really hard time with reading until I was able to get some help. I could see that through Adam this book could be very motivational for children who are struggling with their reading. Especially when they don't understand why the are different and believe they cannot change it.

Potential Problems:
None

Recommendations:
I would recommend this to any child who was having a hard time reading, or even a parent of one of these children. This book makes it so much easier to understand how children in these situations feel.

The Story of Ruby Bridges

by Robert Coles and illustrated by George Ford
Published by Scholastic Inc. 2004
Reading Level 2-3 grade
32 Pages
Genre: Non-Fiction Picture Book

Summary:
As we open, we learn about the move Ruby and her family is making. Her father lost his job to new machines and they had to move to New Orleans. There her mother and father worked hard for their children. As Ruby turns 6 a new law is passed concerning the segregation of schools. They wish to desegregate the schools and send three little black girls to one school, and Ruby was chosen to go to one by herself. As she arrives every day mobs cover the streets trying to get the new law reversed. Every day Ruby returns and continues to get an education under armed guard. Every day as Ruby returns to school she prays for the people in the mob who hate her so much. As months go on, two white boys are returned to the school and eventually the school is repopulated with it's formal tenants. The illustration creates a whimsical feel to the book. The colors are soft and the faces in the mobs seem to blend together. Especially the kind face of Mrs. Harris shows a sweet loving kindness for Ruby that the faceless mob does not have. I love the blue in her eyes that shine with worry and love.

Reaction:
I have always loved this book. It provides a true story that children can look up to and understand the past of our country from a child their age. I love the strength that Ruby displays and the strength it gives the readers.

Potential Problems:
There is underlying issues of segregation, but this is a great way to learn about it.

Recommendations:
This would be great when learning about history. I would have teachers read this with their kids to give them a comprehensible view of History. I think all elementary students should read this book.

The Cardboard Piano

By: Lynne Rae Perkins
Published by Greenwillow Books 2008
Elementary Age
32 Pages
Genre: Picture Book

Summary:
Tina and Debbie are best friends! They do everything together. They go on camp outs in their back yards and go on bike rides every where. These girls are the best of friends. However, Debbie begins having piano lessons. Tina waits outside and listens wishing she could play. So Debbie makes Tina a cardboard piano and she tells Tina she can pretend. Tina tries it but it's not as fun as it sounded, so she gives it back to Debbie. This makes Debbie sad, wishing that this was on thing that the girls didn't have in common. It rains outside. When it stops they both decide they want cookies so they spend time together loving the things they both love. The go outside and meet their neighbor. He is an older man who teaches them how to do a dance from his childhood and they stay out until their mom's call them in, dancing. The colors in this book are beautiful. The are bright and lend a hand to the story. Even when Debbie and Tina are upset with each other, the colors follow their moods. Making the illustrations dark blues, greens and browns, and full of shadow. As they come back together and the rain stops, the colors are brighter than ever! It's beautiful!


Reaction:
I really enjoyed this book. It really showed how friendships have their ups and downs but they still are strong no matter your differences. It was fun to see the metaphor of the piano with a white friend and a black friend. They have many differences but when the play together it is beautiful.

Potential Problems:
Boys may not like this book as much as girls. But other than that, none.

Recommendations:
I would recommend this book to any young girl who loves to read. It's fun and relate able.

How to Behave and Why

By: Munro Leaf
Published by Universe Publishing 2002
Genre: Picture Book

Summary:
How to behave and why. That basicly sums it us for us right there. This book talks about how if you are not Honest, Fair , Strong, and Wise, you will not have any friends and your parents will hate you. The book follows a pattern of three colors: red, white, and black. These colors are accomplanied by stick figures that act out the text. They are very childish and intersting to watch.

Reaction:
If it wasn't obvious, i really didn't like this book. It was very sad to read that through this book our kids learn that if they are not the best, they will be hated. Lots of little stick figures populate the pages with sad faces and loneliness! It was terrible to think a child would read this and be put down by the text.

Potential Problems:
Just that, it puts down the reader for not being perfect. I hope parents would see that this book is intended for good, but it will not do any good.

Recommendations:
I would not recommend this book to anyone.

Who Moved My Cheese? (for teens)

By: Spencer Johnson, MD
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons 2002
Reading Level: 7th grade and up
94 Pages
Genre: Non-Fiction through fiction

Summary:
This book is fairly interesting. We find a group of kids sitting around the lunch table after they have just found out their school schedules are being changed. As the kids sit around and display different emotions about the situation, Chris begins to laugh. Chris tells them a story about a maze. In the maze we find two little people and two rats. The rats are simpled minded and go until they find the cheese that gives them nourishment. The story moves forward as this is a daily ritual everything is fine. Until the four of them find a large stash of cheese where they stay comfortable for a long time. One day the return and all the cheese is gone. The rats move on quickly but the little people stay and analyze for days until they are so weak they can hardly continue on to find new cheese. Each of the four react differently when the cheese disappears. The point of the story is the cheese is things we care about and strive for and when the cheese is moved, how do we deal with it so that it is better for us and those related to our cheese. After the analogy the kids find themselves analyzing their lives and looking at what their cheese is and how they should react.

Reaction:
I found this book interesting. It had some really great analogies for kids who are struggling with changes in their lives. It wasn't one I would read again because once you read it, it's kind of stuck in your head. But I think it was well written to reach kids in different ways.

Potential Problems:
None

Recommendations:
I think any teen who is having a hard time with change would benefit from this book. Whether they are dealing with divorce, a new school, or a break up, anything can relate to this metaphor.

Holes

by Louis Sachar
Published by Scholastic 1998
Reading Level 3rd grade and up
Genre: Modern Fantasy
7 time award winner

Summary:
Stanley is cursed. Well, Stanley's family is cursed. They have been for a very long time. Way back when, Stanley's Great-great-grandfather fell in love with a silly girl. But a pig farmer in town wanted to marry her as well, and her father wanted a new pig so he said he had better come up with a pig or something better or he would be out of the race for the maids hand. But he was in love. So he went to Madam Zeroni an old gypsy woman and asked her what to do. He gave her a piglet and said if he carried it up the hill every day and let it drink from the stream and sang to it, both he and the pig would grow to be strong and he would be able to marry the woman of his dreams. She said on the day of the pig weighing he must take it up the mountain so it would be heavy enough, but instead he took a bath so he could look good for his woman. This was a mistake, the two pigs ended up being the same weight and the father could not decided between the two suitors so he let his daughter pick, Stanley's grandfather thought he had it made next to the old dirty pig farmer, but she couldn't make up her mind. He realized her head was as empty as everyone had told him and went out on the dock. He noticed if he hired on as a boat hand he could get a free trip to America. So he jumped on and sailed toward America, but then he remembered he had promised Madam Zeroni that he would carry her up the mountain and sing to her as she drank. She had warned him if he did not his family would be cursed for all of eternity. There was no turning back now, and that's how the curse began!
So here we have poor cursed Stanley, and as he is walking home from school he walks under an underpass and some shoes fall on his head. His dad being an inventor was working on a project in which he was trying to renew old shoes, so Stanley thinking they may help picked them up and started running home. Next thing he knew he was in a court hearing and being sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile facility for boys. Upon arrival he meets 6 new boys he will be living with for the next year and a half. They each suport terrible nicknames and Stanley soon recieves one. Caveman. So out in Camp Green Lake, it's not really a lake, it's a hot dried up lake bed in which the boys spend their days digging holes. Five feet by five feet. Everyday! This was to "build character." It's hard work and Stanley has a hard time getting into the hang of things. As they dig their group leaders tell them if they find anything interesting to bring it to them and if the warden of the camp likes it she will give them the day off. One day while digging he finds a fosil and shows it to their group leader. After their leader left the boy who tends to dominate to group comes to Stanley and they make a deal that if he finds anything else, he will bring it to him so he can have the day off. A few days later Stanley finds the top of a lipstick cover and he gives it to the boy, who gets the day off and the other boys spend the next couple days digging around the hole where the tube was "found." But Stanley knows where they should really be looking. Eventually he befriends the smallest member of the group. Zero. It is not until later that we learn his name is Hector Zeroni. Everyone, including the camp leaders believes his head to be empty and his place in life to be worthless, so when Stanley begins to teach Zero to read, it causes quite a blow up. Zero traded an hour of digging in Stanley's hole for an hour of teaching. This worked out great until the other boys start to complain and their is a fight and one of the boys punches Stanley causing Zero to react and tries to get him off by chocking him. The whole camp shows up at their digging sight including the warden. They tell Stanley to dig his own hole and that he can't teach Zero anymore because it stresses him out so much he is going to hurt someone else. They continue to tell Stanley how Zero is not smart enough to learn. Zero hits their leader in the face with a shovel and then runs away into the desert. Days later Stanley goes after him and finds him under an old boat nearly dead. With both of them run aways they decide to climb up the mountain on the far side of the camp where they saw a rock formation that looked like a thumbs up. The purpose for this was Stanley's Great-grandfather had been caught by Kissin Kate Barrlow out here and she had left him to die. He was found weeks latter and he said the only reason he lived was because he took refuge on God's thumb. So they venture up the side of the mountain and as they near the top Zero's body gives out and Stanley has to carry him up to the top where he finds a muddy mess in the dark. He digs a hole in the mud which fills with water and he gives Zero a drink to revive him. As he does so he sings the song his great-great-grandfather sang to his pig to make him grow strong. They find themselves in a field of wild onion where they live and revive for just over a week. Then they decide on a plan to get out of the camp without getting caught. But Stanley thinks that they should go find the hole where he found the lipstick tube weeks before. There is another story behind Kissin Kate Barrlow. She lived in Green Lake back in the day when the lake was beautiful and the town was green and fertile. She was the only school teacher in town and quickly fell in love with the man in town who sold onions. He fixed up her school house and one day a woman in town saw them kiss. This was against the law because Sam, the onion man, was a black man. So they burnt down the school house and killed Sam, after which Kate went bad so depressed about Sam and became the most feared bandit in Texas. She had been killed by a lizard while the man who killed Sam tried to find her loot. She had buried it somewhere in the lake and from that day on his posterity was still searching. This was why the warden opened the camp. So she wouldn't have to dig but she could get her money. However, Stanley was the only one who knew where it was. So they sneak back into the Camp late and night and find a suit case in the side of Stanley's hole. They pull it out in time for the warden to corner them, but soon realizes they are covered in deadly lizards. They stay in the hole for a long time until the realize all the onions they had eaten saved them from the lizards. So eventually they climb out, but luckily Stanley has a lawyer there. When Stanley carried Zero up the mountain he had broken the curse and therefore their family had it's luck back and his father's shoe remedy worked! So they had much money to send a lawyer to get Stanley and found him in this situation. It turns out that the suitcase had money that belonged to his great-grandfather. So they had large sums of money which they used to find Zero's long lost mother.

My Reaction:
I love this book because everything is tied together! Everything! It shares hope and the joy of friendship. It was hard to do the summary because there are so many elements to include, it would be better just to read the book. It draws you in with the different stories and the different time periods. It's fantastically written.

Potential Problems:
This book does have some murder and a slave related content. It has a lot to do with prejudice and misunderstanding those around us. But they are lessons that should be learned.

Recommendations:
I think every student in the world should read this book. Even if it is just for fun. It is so fantastic and teaches some very good basic principles about friendship and hope.

Grimm Fariy Tales

I read online at various different sights:
Rapunzel
The Seven Ravens
Brother and Sister
and Hansel and Gretel

The Brother And Sister was one that I had never heard of before. It started out with a brother and sister who had a terrible step mother and step sister. So they decided to run away. The step mother found they had left and put a spell on all the drinking water in the forest, so each spring and river said do not drink me our you will become so sort of animal. Brother got so thirsty after trying may different drinking places and finding nothing, that he finally drank from pool saying, "do not drink me or you will become a deer." But he was so thirst he drank any way and found himself transformed into a deer. The sister being upset decided they had to find so shelter where she could now take care of the two of them. They traveled through the woods for some time until they came to a cabin where they lived for some time. One day they hear a kingdom near by is having a hunting tournament and Brother thought it would be fun to participate as a deer. So he tells the sister he is going and she says that when he returns he must knock three times and say, "sister I have returned from the game, let me in." So day by day he did so until a hunter hiding in a bush over heard one day. He told the king of the lovely maiden, so the next day while Brother is out he goes to the door and says, "sister I have returned from the game, let me in." She opens the door and seeing that it is not her brother is frightened. But all is well, the king takes them in and marries the maiden. They have a child and when the step mother hears of the happiness and wealth of the maiden goes up to the castle. One night as the Queen(Sister the maiden) goes to take a bath, the witch(step mother) burns her to death in the water. She in turn enchants her ugly daughter into looking like the Queen and takes her place. One night as the nurse over the child is watching the ghost of the Queen come in through the window and pets the deer and hold the child. The nurse tells the king and the next night when she comes back he touches her and she comes back to life. With the Queen back the capture the witch and the sister and burn them for revenge, and with the witch dead the Brother turns back into a human. Then they live happily ever after.

My Reaction:
I actually liked this story, this is one I have not heard. It was interesting having the Queen come back to life but I rather enjoyed the randomness of it.

Potential Problems:
It's a Grimm story... is that not enough. There is murder and magic such. Some parents don't want their children reading these kinds of things.

Recommentations:
I think these would be fun for a starting drama class or something where it could be used to inspire imagination.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

by Brian Selznick
Published by Scholastic Press 2007
Reading Level 4-6 grade
544 Pages
Genre: Science Fiction

Summary:
The book opens on a scene of the Moon over 1931 Paris, France. The stars shine and we find ourselves inside the train station. As we flip through the black and white pictures we begin to follow a boy through the crowd. He slips into a vent in the wall and suddenly we are in the walls of the station. He looks out the clock on the wall and we look down on a toy booth. We soon learn that Hugo has been stealing from the old man who owns the booth. Taking toys for parts to fix a mechanical man. His father found the mechanical man while he was working in the museum, but his father was caught in a fire that burnt down the museum and he was killed. His Uncle came to his door that night and brought him to the train station where he has been living for quite some time. However, his uncle has disappeared. Unsure of where too find him, Hugo has been doing his job taking car of the stations clocks. He picks up his checks and keeps everything working so no one knows that his uncle is missing. When he realized that his uncle was not coming back he tried to run away but only founnd himself at the old museum that was only ashes now. Looking over the ashes he find the mechanical man and takes him back to the station because he realizes he has no place else to go. So no he has been trying to fix the mechanical man by taking the toys from the old man at his booth. It worked very well until Hugo is caught and the old man makes him work to repay all that he has stolen and takes his notebook that his father wrote with all the instructions of how to fix the mechanical man. The mechanical man was made to write a message so Hugo believes if he can fix it, the message with be for him from his father. So he knows he must get it back. But Hugo figures out how to fix the mechanical man without the help of the notebook and soon it is working well, except that he is missing the key that starts the man writing. As he is in the shop on day the old man starts yelling that he broke into his house and took the notebook. He has no idea what he is talking about until the man goddaughter comes around the corner and shows him she has it. He pretends to try to get it back but really he takes the necklace off which has a key in the shape of a heart on it. So he runs not telling the old man he had not stolen the notebook back. He runs to his room in the walls of the station and as he puts the key in and begins to turn it, the girl bursts in the door demanding to know why he stole her necklace. They start the man together and it draws them a picture. A picture of a movie Hugo's father had once told him about. Then the mechanical man signs the picture, with the old mans name! So the goddaughter thinks it belongs to her and grabs it but when Hugo grabs the other side it rips in half and Isabelle, the goddaugher, takes her half and runs home. Hugo follows. They ask her godmother all kinds of questions of where it came from. She tries to hide it but eventually they find out that Isabelle's godfather was a movie director and actor and after the war his dear friends who helped him make his movies, Isabelle's parents, were killed in a car accident and that it had upset him so much they got rid of all his movies and bought the toy store so they could have money. However he realizes he misses it so much, and he tells Hugo how he built the mechanical man. So Hugo goes to get it but by now the police have realized his uncle is not around and they try to arest him, but the old man takes him in as his own. Where, Hugo finds a home and his purpose in life.

My Reaction:
I loved this book. It had beautiful art work. I loved that it was only in black and white. I loved that the story would drop off and you would follow the story through pictures at different times. It put and unexpected spin on things.

Potential Problems:
Hugo does steal food here and there and the toys from the booth out of necessity but it may be a little touchy with some parents. Also his uncle is a drunk and they find him dead at one point. That may be a little much as well.

Recommendations:
I think this book would be fantastic for anyone, but especially those kids that think they cannot read big books. Even just carrying it around I felt smarter because I had a huge book under my arm. I think it would be a great motivating book. They may feel like they can transition from picture books to chapter books more comfortably.