Fiction/ Picture Book

Title: SantaKid

Author: James Patterson



About the Author: Not making any bones about his bid for success, James Patterson once declared he wanted to be known as the king of the page-turners. While that may seem like a pretty grand ambition, Patterson is as worthy of that title as any author working today.

Age Level: 5-8

Synopsis: This story is about a little girl named Chrissie and her parents, Santa Claus and Momma Claus. When Warrier Ransom, the boss of the Exmas Express Company decides to buy Christmas and rename it Exmas, Chrissie and her family can’t believe what is happening. Everything at the North Pole begins to change and it looks like Christmas is going to be ruined. Then Chrissie remembers something she learned from her dad and becomes Santakid. She delivers presents to all of the children on Christmas Eve!

Pre-Reading Activities: The importance of having courage and having respect for words of wisdom. What are words of wisdom? Has anyone given you good advice or words of wisdom? Did you use their good advice or words of wisdom? Have you ever had to be courageous? What was the situation? Discuss with the class the importance of believing in someone or something and sticking up for your beliefs.

Post-Reading Activities: What was your favorite part of the book? What do you think it would be like if you were Santa’s child? Would you want to be Santa’s kid? Why or why not? Do you think Chrissie had a lot of courage? Do you think she followed Santa Clause’s words of wisdom? Would you have done the same thing as Chrissie or let Christmas be ruined? After the reading, the students will write a short story about a time when they were courageous in their journals. After they are finished writing they will get into small groups and each person will share their courageous story.

My Reflection: I love that this story is not a “typical” Christmas story and kind of goes against the “traditions” of Christmas. This story is almost like a twist on The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. I like that this story portrays having courage. I also like that if we believe in something, then we should stick up for our beliefs. I think that at some time in our lives we have had to be courageous and we should celebrate those moments, reflect on those moments, and use them as our own life lessons.

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Amazon

Non-fiction/ Picture Book

Title: The Hershey’s Kiss Addition Book

Author: Jerry Pallotta



About the Author: Back in 1985, Jerry Pallotta (whose full name is Gerard Larry Pallotta) was an insurance salesman, looking for creative ways to teach his children their ABCs. He wondered why most of the alphabet books he was reading to them sounded very similar, “A is for apple,” and “Z is for zebra.” During his childhood he had spent many summers at the beach in Scituate, Massachusetts (a fishing town), which helped nurture his love for the ocean — lobsters, seaweed, and boats were always a part of his life. Was there a way to combine his passion for the underwater world and teach children the alphabet? At the age of 32, his imaginative ideas led to him to write and publish his very first book, The Ocean Alphabet Book. He originally sold 5,000 copies to the New England Aquarium, where it became a best-seller. He has since created more than 20 alphabet books, including: The Airplane Alphabet Book, The Bird Alphabet Book, The Butterfly Alphabet Book, The Flower Alphabet Book, The Furry Animal Alphabet Book, The Icky Bug Alphabet Book, and The Vegetable Alphabet Book — to name a few! Soon Pallotta expanded from just writing alphabet books and tried his hand at mathematics books. Popular favorites include The Crayon Counting Book, The Icky Bug Counting Book, and for those who have a sweet tooth, Hershey's Milk Chocolate Fractions Book, Hershey's Kisses Addition Book, Reeses Pieces: Counting by Fives, and Twizzlers Percentages Book. Pallotta was born on March 26, 1953, in Boston, Massachusetts . He has four brothers, two sisters, and 72 first cousins! He attended Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C. where he majored in business, and met his wife. He currently lives in Massachusetts and is married with four children.
Scholastic

Age Level: 3-6

Synopsis: This is a book that introduces children to the world of basic math. The book illustrates a plus sign, a minus sign, an equal sign, and uses Hershey’s Kisses as a counting unit used throughout the book. In the book clowns carry, drag, throw and juggle Hershey’s Kisses to illustrate each addition equation. The book is mostly single digits, but the book adds single digits to the number ten.

Pre-Reading Activities: The concept of basic addition. What signs do we use in addition? What does “sum” mean? What is the symbol called that is used to add numbers? Discuss with the process of addition with the class.

Post-Reading Activities: What was your favorite part of the story? What is something you learned from the book? What is the difference between adding and subtracting? After the reading, the students will do a math activity in pairs. They will receive a math worksheet. The students will use a math work mat and candy to complete their worksheet with a partner.

My Reflection: I love being able to integrate any type of literature into content areas! I love to use this book when introducing addition. What child doesn’t love Hershey Kisses?! I think this is a great book to allow for the opportunity to use Hershey Kisses as a math manipulative. Students will be engaged in the lesson and will want to work just so they can eat the candy in the end! I think this provides students with a hands-on, interactive, and fun way to learn math just by using this book as the introduction to teaching basic addition. I love that there is also a Hershey Kisses Subtraction book!

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Amazon

Fiction/ Picture Book

Title: The Rainbow Fish

Author: Marcus Pfister



About the Author: Marcus Pfister is the author of the phenomenally successful Rainbow Fish series, as well as many other books for children. He has worked as a graphic artist, a sculptor, a painter, and a photographer as well as a children's book creator. Pfister lives with his family in Berne, Switzerland.

Age Level: preschool- 8

Synopsis: The Rainbow Fish is the most beautiful fish in the entire ocean. After the Rainbow Fish is rude to a little blue fish one day, all of the other fish started to ignore him. The Rainbow fish gives up his pride and gives away all of his beautiful scales. The Rainbow fish later discovers the value of personal beauty and friendship.

Pre-Reading Activities: What does it mean to share? What does it mean to give? What does it mean to receive? The main idea of this book is to demonstrate the importance of giving and sharing. Discuss with the class how they feel when they share, give or receive something.

Post-Reading Activities: What happened in the beginning of the story? What happened in the middle? What happened in the end? How did the Rainbow Fish feel when he wouldn’t share his scales? Who did the Rainbow Fish get advice from? What did the octopus tell the Rainbow Fish? How did he feel when he shared his scales? Would you have shared your scales if you were the Rainbow Fish? After the reading the students will complete a handout. They will cut out a fish and in the middle of it they will finish the sentence that starts, “I am happy when….”. They will then be required to color, cut, and decorate their Rainbow Fish with aluminum foil to represent its shiny scales.

My Reflection: Once again, another one of my most favorite books! I love that this book touches on sharing, acceptance, friendship, selfishness, selflessness, tolerance, judgment, and I could keep going. I also think a lot of people over look the part where the rainbow fish goes to the octopus. It shows children that they can seek others for advice and that they need people to help them make the right choices sometimes. I think that this book shows what can happen when you are selfish and how you can feel and then and vice versa. I love the themes of beauty and friendship in this book!

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Amazon

Realistic Fiction/ Picture Book

Title: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Author: Eric Carle



About the Author: Children learn about the natural world in Eric Carle's original, charming books, which include classics such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me. Carle's vivid tissue-paper illustrations and innovations in book design have made him an author whose longevity and continued popularity are testaments to his beloved status among young readers and parents.

Age Level: preschool- 8

Synopsis: This story is about a newborn caterpillar. On every page the caterpillar finds something new to eat. As the pages turn, the caterpillar is going through the many stages before it turns into a butterfly. The caterpillar becomes bigger, fatter, and turns into a lovely butterfly.

Pre-Reading Activities: This book presents the lifecycle of a butterfly and caterpillars eat. This is a simple story that emphasizes numbers an days of the week. Eric Carle takes the concept of metamorphosis and presents it in a way that young children can understand. Carle brings humor to the development of the caterpillar, which is one of the first science concepts a child learns. Have you ever seen a caterpillar? Have you ever seen a butterfly? Have you ever caught a caterpillar and kept it to watch it go through the process of turning into a butterfly? Discuss with the class the lifecycle process of a butterfly.

Post-Reading Activities: What was your favorite part of the story? Do caterpillars really eat the things the caterpillar in the book did? What was the name of the small house the caterpillar built around himself? How long did he stay in the cocoon? What happened when he came out of his cocoon? After the reading, the students will begin a class project. There will be caterpillars in the classroom and the class will watch their process of turning into butterflies. They will keep a journal of the process the caterpillars go through. The students will be required to write a description and include drawings. For the younger students, they will have a teacher constructed work sheet. The worksheet will have the lifecycle of the caterpillar to a butterfly and the students will have to label each phase.

My Reflection: I love all of Eric Carle’s books. I especially love the illustrations! This is a great book to teach students about the life cycle of a caterpillar to a butterfly. While it is fiction, I consider this book realistic fiction. Obviously the caterpillar wouldn’t really eat all of the food shown in the book. I think Eric Carle came up with a creative way to show the life cycle and at the same time kept the concept on the level of elementary school aged children.

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Amazon

Fiction

Title: The Giving Tree

Author: Shel Silverstein



About the Author: Not only was Shel Silverstein one of the funniest children’s book authors, he was also one of the most subversive. Through his irresistible rhymes, poems, and drawings, Silverstein made children feel like they were being spoken to as adults; and adults the chance to remember what it felt like to be a child.

Age Level: 6-8

Synopsis: This story is about a relationship between a young boy and a tree in a forest. The tree always provides the boy with what he wants. As the young boy becomes older, things change and the boy grows into manhood. The tree selflessly lets the boy cut her down so that he can build a boat in which he can sail. The boy leaves the tree, now a stump and doesn’t return until many years later. The tree then tells the boy she has nothing left to give him, and the boy tells her he does not need much now that he is an old man. The tree told the boy to sit and rest, and the tree was very happy.

Pre-Reading Activities: The important of giving. How do you feel when you give? Why is it important to give? Can someone share with the class all the things the tree gives to the boy? Discuss with the class why it is important to give. Discuss the outcome of giving.

Post-Reading Activities: What did the tree give to the boy? What did the tree get out of giving to the boy? What occurred in the beginning, middle, and end? After the story, the students will be given a handout and write about an experience they had with giving. The handouts will be hung up in the hall for everyone to see.

My Reflection: This is another one of my favorite books! It teaches about selflessness and selfishness. This book tells us about the importance of giving and how good we can feel by giving to others. It also can show what feelings we have when someone does something nice for us. However, it mostly shows that we should give even if we won’t receive anything from it, except for self-reward.

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Amazon

Fiction/ Picture Book/ Stories in Rhyme-Poetry

Title: Madeline’s Rescue

Author: Ludwig Bemelmans


About the Author: Ludwig Bemelmans was a painter, illustrator, and writer for both children and adults. The Madeline books are among the most honored children's books of all time. Mr. Bemelmans died in 1962 after completing his sixth story about Madeline, Madeline's Christmas.

Age Level: 3-8

Synopsis: When Madeline falls into the river and nearly drowns, a courageous dog comes to her rescue. She names the dog Genevieve and it is now Madeline’s pet that all of the other girls envy. Genevieve goes everywhere with Madeline. Miss Clavel finds it a problem that all twelve girls are fighting over one dog.

Pre-Reading Activities: Doing good deeds can be very rewarding. Discuss with the class how important it is to help others. Discuss the importance of going out of your way to make a difference in someone’s life. Have you ever had someone do something nice for you? Have you ever done something nice for someone else? Have you helped someone in need?

Post-Reading Activities: What was your favorite part of the story? Did you think a dog would have been the one to rescue Madeline from the river? If you could give Miss Clavel advice, how would you solve the problem that there is only one dog for twelve girls? Did you think Genevieve would have puppies? After the reading, students will write a story in their journal describing a time when they helped someone in need.

My Reflection: I love all of the Madeline stories! I used to read them all when I was little! I like this story because it comical yet it has a serious side to it also. It shows that both characters (Madeline and Genevieve) are heroic. This book shows that it can be very rewarding to lend a helping hand to someone else. It shoes that doing good deeds and making a difference in someone’s life is something that we should do as much as possible in our own lives.

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Amazon

Fiction/Picture Book

Title: Mirette On the High Wire

Author: Emily Arnold McCully



About the Author: Emily Arnold McCully was born left handed in Illinois and was transplanted to Long Island, where she grew up. A tree climber, bike rider, fort builder and ball player, she also devoted hours every day to reading and drawing. She majored in art history at college and acted and wrote for the theater. She lived in Europe for a year researching her Master's thesis, also in art history. Back in New York, she took to the streets with a portfolio of sample illustrations. Early assignments were for book jackets, magazine stories and pharmaceutical ads. A poster displayed in subway cars caught the attention of a children's book editor and a new career was launched. After illustrating other peoples' texts for several years and publishing two adult novels (A Craving and life Drawing) McCully began writing her own picture books. She has been awarded the Caldecott Medal, Christopher Award, Jane Addams Award, O'Henry Award and many others. She has two sons and lives in New York and Columbia County, N.Y., where she maintains a large garden.

Age Level: 4-8

Synopsis: Mirette lives in a boarding house surrounded by actors, dancers, jugglers, and mimes. Mirette then discovers a stranger on air, a tightrope walker named Monsieur Bellini. Mirette becomes Bellini’s student and learns to tightrope walk. But then she discovers that Bellini is overcome with fear on the tightrope which caused Mirette to feel fear herself.

Pre-Reading Activities: Determination is a key concept in this book. It teaches readers that they can do anything they set their mind to. Sometimes in order to do so you have to test yourself to get over your fear(s). Have you ever done something you thought you could never do? Has anyone helped you get over something you feared? What is your biggest fear that you would like to get over? Discuss with the class,that we can get over our fears often with the help of others.

Post-Reading Activities: What was your favorite part of the book? What was Bellini afraid of? Did you think Mirette was going to walk the tightrope? Did you think that Bellini would walk the tightrope in front of the crowd? Students will write about a fear that they have overcome and share it with the class.

My Reflection: I love that a girl is the hero in this story and saves the day! I think that this story can show how to demonstrate team work and helping others. The book also has a great historical context. This book is a great model of portraying determination, ambition, and compassion. This book encourages overcoming a fear. It is a very inspiring book!

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Amazon

Biography/ Realistic Fiction

Title: Snowflake Bentley

Author: Jacqueline Briggs Martin



About the Author: Jacqueline Briggs Martin is the author of Snowflake Bentley, winner of the 1999 Caldecott Medal. She grew up on a farm in Maine and now she lives in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. Amazon

Age Level: 4-8

Synopsis: This story is about the biography of a self-taught scientist named Wilson Bentley. He loved snowflakes and their ice crystals. His parents bought him a microscope camera with all the money they had. Wilson photographed snowflakes showing that not one snowflake is the same. He studies their unique formations. This is how he got his nickname Snowflake Bentley. This book is based on a true story of the life of Wilson Bentley.

Pre-Reading Activities: The science that snowflakes come in all different shapes and sizes. Discussion with the class about how snowflakes are formed. Have you ever looked at a snowflake up close? Do you know how snowflakes form? Would you be interested in doing what Wilson Bentley did (take photographs of snowflakes)?

Post-Reading Activities: What was your favorite part of the story? Do you think the snowflake pictures are important? Why? What do the pictures tell us? After the story, students will draw or cut out their own snowflakes and decorate them. The snowflakes will be displayed in the classroom to show how every snowflake is different.

My Reflection: I think this is a great book to use in the classroom. It can be used when studying biographies. It can also be used to study snow, how snow is formed, what it looks like up close, etc. I think that it also portrays the message to always follow your dreams and that anything is possible.

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Fiction/Picture Book/ Folklore

Title: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Author: Simms Taback




About the Author: Simms Taback grew up in the Bronx and graduated from Cooper Union. He has worked as an art director and a graphic designer, and has taught at the School of Visual Arts and Syracause University. He has illustrated many children's books, including I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (Viking), Spacy Riddles, Snakey Riddles, Buggy Riddles, and Fishy Riddles (all written by Katy Hall and lIsa Eisenberg, Dial). His work has won many awards, including the Caldecott Honor Award Medal for I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book. A father of three and grandfather of three, Mr. Taback lives with his wife in Willow, New York. Amazon

Age Level: 4-8

Synopsis: Joseph is the main character in the book, who has an overcoat that he really likes. The overcoat soon becomes old and worn, but instead of throwing the coat away he makes the overcoat into many different things. Finally the piece of overcoat becomes so small that the only thing that can be made from it is a button. Soon the button falls off and it is lost and Joseph is left with nothing.

Pre-Reading Activities: This story allows the reader to understand that you can always make something out of nothing. Sometimes people use things over and over again. People take old clothing or other things and can make them into something new. Have you ever taken something old and turned it into something new? What did you make? Did you keep what you made or did you give it to someone else? Discuss with the class how we can recycle old things to make new things.

Post-Reading Activities: What was your favorite part of the story? What kinds of clothes does Joseph make from the overcoat? If you were Joseph would you have done the same thing or would you have thrown the overcoat away? After reading the story, the students would gather something old from their homes and bring it in the next day to turn into something new. A letter would be sent to parents to let them know of the activity and
to help their child.

My Reflection: This story takes after a Yiddish Folk Song from 1977. This is an excellent story to portray that you can make a treasure out of anything. It shows that we can recycle something and make it into something new. I like the moral of the story at the end, that you can make something out of nothing!

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Fiction/Picture Book

Title: Where the Wild Things Are

Author: Maurice Sendak




About the Author: For more than forty years, the books Maurice Sendak has written and illustrated have nurtured children and adults alike and have challenged established ideas about what children's literature is and should be. Winner of the 1964 Caldecott Medal for Where the Wild Things Are, in 1970 Sendak became the first American illustrator to receive the international Hans Christian Andersen Award, given in recognition of his entire body of work. In 1983, he received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award from the American Library Association, also given for his entire body of work.

Age Level: 4-8

Synopsis: Max is a wild child who gets sent to bed without supper after threatening to eat his mom. When he is in his room he begins to use his imagination and a forest grows. Max boards a boat and imagines himself sailing away to the land of the wild things. The monsters roared when he arrived but Max wasn’t scared. Max tames the monsters with a magic trick, they became frightened calling him the most wild thing of all and made him king of all the wild things. Max returns to his room to find his dinner, still hot!

Pre-Reading Activities: Discuss with the class the importance of using your imagination. Discuss why we use our imagination. Who uses their imagination every day? Do you travel to all different kinds of places? What do you think of Max’s imagination? Have you ever had an imagination just like Max’s?

Post-Reading Activities: What was your favorite part of the story? Has your mother ever sent you to bed without dinner because you were misbehaving? If you were max would you have been scared of the wild things? After reading the story, students will receive a blank stapled booklet. The students will create their own version of the story and illustrate it. They will use their imagination to create a unique story.

My Reflection: This book is such an inspiration for using your imagination, yet it provides a nice balance of children’s needs for imaginative thinking but has a sense of limits. This book allows children to close their eyes and create an imaginary place to travel to. They decide what it looks like, who or what lives there, and what they will do. Children can relate to Max and his thoughts. This book allows children to relate to people not understanding them or even the fact that they might not understand themselves yet. It shows that when children are upset about something or have a problem they can disappear with their imaginations and think about things on their own.

Amazon

Fiction

Title: The Polar Express

Author: Chris Van Allsburg



About the Author: The author of such bestselling children's books as Jumanji and The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg is a two-time winner of the coveted Caldecott Medal, as well as that National Book Award and the Regina Medal for lifetime achievement in children's literature.

Age Level: 5-8

Synopsis: A young boy stays awake at night listening for the jingle of Santa’s sleigh bells on Christmas Eve. He suddenly hears a loud rumbling outside on the street as a magical train called The Polar Express pulls up in front of his house. The boy goes up to the train and is invited in by the mysterious conductor. The train is filled with children, all dressed in their pajamas, who drink hot chocolate. This magical train ride takes the boy on a journey to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa.

Pre-Reading Activities: Discuss with the class the history of Christmas, traditions, and how other cultures celebrate Christmas. What do you do on Christmas Eve? Do you leave anything out for Santa Claus? What is the one special gift that you want Santa to bring you on Christmas? On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus visits everyone’s house to deliver gifts. This story is about the magical hope of Christmas and the boy who keeps believing in Santa Claus even when his friends begin to doubt his existence.

Post-Reading Activities: What was your favorite part of the story? What would you have asked Santa for if you were chosen? Would you have asked for a bell? After the reading, the students will write about what gift they would have asked Santa for and then draw a picture of the gift. The teacher could also have a lesson on the five senses that are incorporated in this book

My Reflection: This is one of my favorite books. I love the magical essence of this book. I think that it is so important that we believe in something and as a child, children need to have something to believe in. It is part of having an imagination. This is a story that provides children with a magical experience and a story that allows children to keep believing.

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Picture Book

Title: Corduroy

Author: Don Freeman




About the Author: Freeman was introduced to the world of Childrens' Literature, when William Saroyan asked him to illustrate several books. Soon after, he began to write and illustrate his own books, a career he settled into comfortably and happily. Through his writing, he was able to create his own theater: "I love the flow of turning the pages, the suspense of what's next. Ideas just come at me and after me. It's all so natural. I work all the time, long into the night, and it's such a pleasure. I don't know when the time ends. I've never been happier in my life!” Amazon

Age Level: preschool-6

Synopsis: This is a story about a bear named Corduroy who lives in a big department store. A little girl wants to buy him, but her mother refuses because he is missing a button on his overalls. Corduroy goes on a journey through the store in hopes of finding a button. The next day the little girl comes back and buys Corduroy. He finally find a home and gets a button for his overalls.

Pre-Reading Activities: Corduroy explores both the possibilities of toys coming to life, and what it’s like to be locked in a department store after everyone has gone home for the night. This book also demonstrates to children that they should never give up hope. Have you ever been to a store and your mom or dad wouldn’t let you get anything? How did you feel in this situation? Why do you think Corduroy wanted to find a button for his overalls so badly? Discuss with the class how both of the characters showed perseverance. Ask the students to share a time when they showed perseverance like Corduroy and the little girl.

Post-Reading Activities: What was your favorite part of the book? Did you think anyone would ever buy Corduroy? Was Corduroy really on a mountain? Was Corduroy actually in a palace? What happened at the end of the story?After the reading the students will pick three of their favorite parts of the book and write about it. They will also draw a picture to go along with their writing sample.

My Reflection: I love this story! It is another childhood classic. This story is about having hope. It is about not only receiving love but giving love. This story is also about not being accepted or loved at first but finding people that truly love and care about you. This book also touches on, that not being perfect is okay and that we need to appreciate the different values in others!

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Poetry

Title: The Snowy Day

Author: Ezra Jack Keats




About the Author: Admired as much for his inventive, colorful illustrations as his simple, earnest stories, Ezra Jack Keats literally changed the face of children s literature by introducing African-American characters into a mostly white genre. His gentle, big-hearted books have been loved by generations of children of all races.

Age Level: preschool-8

Synopsis: This is a story about a little boy named Peter who goes outside to play on a snowy day. He takes a journey and explores many things throughout the day. Before he comes inside, he makes a snowball and puts it in his pocket. When he goes to bed he dreams that the snow
is gone but he wakes up to another snowy day!

Pre-Reading Activities: The excitement of the first snowfall of the year. What do you like to do when you play in the snow? Have you ever built a snowman? What materials do you use when you build a snowman? Discuss with the class why it snows, how it snows, and why it’s cold. Allow and encourage students to ask questions.

Post-Reading Activities: What was your favorite part of the story? What kind of things did Peter do on the snowy day? What did Peter put into his pocket before he goes back inside? After the reading students will receive three pieces of paper with three different sized circles on them. They will cut the circles out and glue them one on top of the other. The two bigger circles (the body of the snowman) will have lines in the middle of them. The students will then write a description about what they enjoy doing on a snowy day. When they are finished writing, they may decorate their snowman, and put a face on the smallest top circle. The snowmen will be handed in and hung up on the wall.

My Reflection: This is such a wonderful book! It is a classic! The little boy in the story is able to experience something new for himself. Any reader of all ages can relate to this book. This book also delves into minorities and race and could have a much deeper meaning when critically analyzed. The illustrations are wonderful and the book is a simple story of a boy exploring a snowy day.

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Fairy Tale

Title: Many Moons

Author: James Thurber



About the Author: James Thurber was an American writer and artist. One of the most popular humorists (writers of clever humor) of his time, Thurber celebrated in stories and in cartoons the comic frustrations of eccentric yet ordinary people. James Thurber Biography

Age Level: 4-8

Synopsis: Princess Lenore is ill from eating too many raspberry tarts. She believes that having the moon will make her better. The King asks the Lord High Chamberlain, the Royal Wizard, and the Royal Mathematician to get the moon for Princess Lenore. They claim that there is no way to get her the moon and they try to keep her from seeing it at night. However, the clever Court Jester asks the princess about the moon and solves the problem.

Pre-Reading Activities: This book looks at a clever way of problem solving. It demonstrates a way of thinking outside of the box. How far away do you think the moon is? Do you think that you could get the moon? How would you get the moon? Why do you think the Court Jester asked the princess about the moon? How do you think they are going to solve the problem when the princess sees the moon? Discuss and make a list with the class of ways to solve problems. Allow and encourage students to ask questions.

Post-Reading Activities: Would you have done the same things that the King did? Who had the smartest idea? What do you think of Princess Lenore’s explanation about the moon? After the reading, students could discuss the extending questions in a small group discussion and create their own questions to share. Another activity might be to write a journal entry about wanting something that might be hard to get and how you would get it. They would also be required to write a picture to go along with their writing entry.

My Reflection: I really liked this book. I especially liked that it was a fairy tale. Usually fairy tales have some sort of clever solution in the ending. I loved how the Court Jester was clever enough to solve the problem in such a small way. It shows how children can solve a problem in a small way, and sometimes adults try to solve problems in a complicated way. I think that having students think of ways to solve problems gives them the necessary skills and tools for problem solving.

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Literature Book Club #5- Special Needs

Title: In Jesse’s Shoes: Appreciating Kids with Special Needs

Author: Beverly Lewis (illustrated by Laura Nikiel)



About the Author: Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, is The New York Times bestselling author of more than eighty books. Her stories have been published in eleven languages worldwide. A keen interest in her mother's Plain heritage has inspired Beverly to write many Amish-related novels, beginning with The Shunning, which has sold more than one million copies and was recently made into an Original Hallmark Channel movie. In 2007 The Brethren was honored with a Christy Award. She has been interviewed by both national and international media, including Time magazine, the Associated Press, and the BBC. Beverly lives with her husband, David, in Colorado.

Age Level: 4-9

Synopsis: This book can help children understand those with special needs. What parent hasn't urged son or daughter not to stare at or tease a child who is "different" or disabled in some way? In this sensitive yet realistic story, Jesse's sister struggles to understand her brother--and the kids who make fun of him. This endearing book will encourage families everywhere to appreciate and befriend children with special needs. This book helps readers "walk" in the shoes of a special needs child. In this picture book, New York Times best-selling author helps children learn to understand and appreciate those with special needs. This book was also the Best of 2007 (Children and Adolescents) pick from Exceptional Parent magazine.

Theme(s): appreciating differences, tolerance for disabilities, understanding disabilities/differences, special needs, sensitivity

How it can be used in the elementary classroom: This book is a great book to show students that it is okay to be different. It also shows students that we need to be sensitive to those with learning disabilities and special needs. Students will grow a tolerance and learn to appreciate differences. Students will discuss how they could relate and help those with special needs. They could also discuss how they would handle a situation if others were making fun of someone that has special needs. Students will learn what is means to be a bystander and what their responsibilities are.

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Literature Book Club #5- Special Needs

Title: Child of Mine

Author: Carrie Hartman



About the Author: Carrie Hartman graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design with her degree in Illustration. Her illustration work includes: editorial, children’s books and book illustration, character development, advertising, posters, greeting cards, comic books, stationary, and animation projects. She is a member of the design faculty at MCAD, teaching in the illustration department. Carrie has received several illustration awards from the Los Angeles Society of Illustrators, the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) award for the best illustrated children’s book and recognition from the Educational Press Association. Carrie is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Children’s Literature Network. Carrie lives in Woodbury, a suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul, in the lovely state of Minnesota. She loves her husband, her children, (two girls and a boy), Dots Candy, coffee, and her new naughty puppy, she got from the shelter.

Synopsis: Child of Mine is a picture book that speaks to both adults and children. Carrie Hartman's inspiration was her own life with her daughter who was diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) at age six. Parents with challenging children will relate to the emotions Hartman expresses – and the hope she shares. Children who struggle with disorders, disabilities, or behavior issues will be reassured by words and pictures that communicate love, confidence, and faith in their future.

Theme(s): learning disabilities, struggle, behavior issues, love, understanding

How it can be used in the elementary classroom: This book can be used in the classroom to show students how where students with a learning disability (ADHD) come from. It will bring about an understanding in the classroom and it will bring awareness to others that some students have difficulties. Students could brainstorm and discuss ways to react to students with disabilities and how they could help students that are having difficulty.

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Literature Book Club #5- Special Needs

Title: That’s Like Me! Stories About Amazing People with Learning Differences

Author: Jill Lauren, M.A.



About the Author: Jill Lauren has a B.S. and M.A. in Learning Disabilities from Northwestern University. She has been teaching LD students of all ages for over twenty-five years. Known as an expert in the area of reading and writing, Jill has trained teachers around the country to utilize a variety of structured, multi-sensory approaches to the instruction of reading and written language. Jill has also worked with various schools to implement successful reading programs. As a result of the publication of Succeeding with LD, Jill has been asked to speak to children and adults about the important lessons learned from success stories. In 2008, a third edition of Succeeding with LD, was released, with a special “Where are They Now” section that includes updated profiles. In 2009, an inspiring, new book is being published in the fall, entitled That’s Like Me!. This colorful children’s picture book profiles fifteen new people, including a fireman, Arctic explorer, wrestler, and a flying trapeze artist. Jill currently conducts a private practice in educational remediation and consultation for learning disabled students in New York City, and lectures upon request.

Age Level: 5-8

Synopsis: What do the trapeze artist, race car driver, and Arctic explorer in That’s Like Me! have in common? They are just three of the fifteen kids and adults profiled in Jill Lauren’s new book about successful people who learn differently. Each person shares his or her inspiring story of facing the challenge of school, while pursuing important goals. Through their voices they encourage others to work hard and find hobbies that build self-esteem. The foreword is written by award-winning children’s illustrator, Jerry Pinkney (who is also dyslexic).

Theme(s): Learning disabilities, special needs, overcoming challenges, inspiration, celebrating accomplishments, hard work, self-esteem

How it can be used in the elementary classroom: This book shows students that there are many people that have learning disabilities or special needs and how they overcome challenges. It also shows how they have been successful. Teachers could have students write their own profiles. Students could write about something that they have struggled with, how they overcame it, and what goals they have accomplished. This book is a great book to display how many people have struggles in their lives but they continue to stay strong and overcome their struggles.

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Literature Book Club #4- Non-fiction

Title: The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth

Author: Kathleen Krull (illustrated by Greg Couch)




About the Author: Krull attended Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. After graduating she began her career in children’s publishing. She was a children’s book editor. She wrote mysteries prior to writing her own books for young people. She enjoys exploring subjects that she is passionate about. One fun fact about Kathleen Krull is that she was fired from her part-time job at a library when she was fifteen because she was reading too much instead of working!

Age Level: 5-8

Synopsis: An inspiring true story of a boy genius. Plowing a potato field in 1920, a 14-year-old farm boy from Idaho saw in the parallel rows of overturned earth a way to “make pictures fly through the air.” This boy was not a magician; he was a scientific genius and just eight years later he made his brainstorm in the potato field a reality by transmitting the world’s first television image. This fascinating picture-book biography of Philo Farnsworth covers his early interest in machines and electricity, leading up to how he put it all together in one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century. The author’s afterword discusses the lawsuit Farnsworth waged and won against RCA when his high school science teacher testified that Philo’s invention of television was years before RCA’s.

Theme(s): biography, inventors, television America in the 20th century, history

How it can be used in the elementary classroom: This book could be used when studying biographies. It could also be used for a research project. This would be a great book to explore America in the 20th century and the history of America. It would be a great book to research how television was invented. This would be a great book to integrate into a unit about American Inventors.

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Literature Book Club #4- Non-Fiction

Title: The Road to Oz: Twists, Turns, Bumps, and Triumphs in the Life of L. Frank. Baum

Author: Kathleen Krull (illustrated by Kevin Hawkes)





About the Author: Krull attended Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. After graduating she began her career in children’s publishing. She was a children’s book editor. She wrote mysteries prior to writing her own books for young people. She enjoys exploring subjects that she is passionate about. One fun fact about Kathleen Krull is that she was fired from her part-time job at a library when she was fifteen because she was reading too much instead of working!

Age Level: 8-12

Synopsis: Kathleen Krull’s lively text traces the life of L. Frank Baum from his dreamy privileged childhood in mid-19th-century upstate New York through the many detours on his road to Oz. A failure as an actor, a breeder of prize chickens, a merchant in a wild west town, among other occupations, he finally made a success doing exactly what he had always loved to do: tell stories for children. Along the way, we see the antecedents of the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, green glasses, and other characters and attributes of the famous fantasy land. This is the first biography of L. Frank Baum that children can enjoy.

Theme(s): biography, The Wizard of OZ, entrepreneurship, L. Frank Baum, American- 20th century

How it can be used in the elementary classroom: This book could be used when studying biographies. It could also be used for a research project. This is a great book because most children can connect with The Wizard of Oz. However, they can learn about the author’s life. This is a great book that portrays entrepreneurship and America in the 20th century.

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Literature Book Club #3- Poetry

Title: Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo (Poems)

Author: Linda Sue Park (illustrated by Istvan Banyai)




About the Author: Park is the author of a Newbery Medal (Single Shard). She lives in Rochester, NY. She is daughter of Korean immigrants. Park has been writing poems and stories since she was four years old, and her favorite thing to do as a child was read. When she was nine years old she published a poem in a magazine and was paid one dollar for it. She continued to write poems during elementary and high school. She went to Stanford University and obtained a degree in English. She met a man and moved to Dublin. Park started a family there and then moved back to the U.S. She taught ESL to college students in Dublin and continued when she moved to the U.S. She finally realized that she wanted to write books for children.

Age Level: 5-8

Synopsis: A sijo, a traditional Korean verse form, has a fixed number of stressed syllables and a humorous or ironic twist at the end. Like haiku, sijo are brief and accessible, and the witty last line winds up each poem with a surprise. The verses in this book illuminate funny, unexpected, amazing aspects of the everyday—of breakfast, thunder and lightning, houseplants, tennis, freshly laundered socks. Carefully crafted and deceptively simple, Linda Sue Park's sijo are a pleasure to read and an irresistible invitation to experiment with an unfamiliar poetic form. Istvan Banyai's irrepressibly giddy and sophisticated illustrations add a one-of-a-kind luster to a book that is truly a gem.

Theme(s): poetry, sijo

How it can be used in the elementary classroom: This would be a great book to do a poetry unit with. The teacher can teach students how to create sijo poems. This book is full of fun and interesting examples of Sijo poetry, but there is also an explanation of the sijo poem and tips for writing your own. Tap Dancing on the Roof can be read as a class and then the students can experiment writing their own sijo poems. The whole class could write and illustrate their poems and compile a book and each student could have a copy. There could be a unit that combines sijo and haiku poetry that could involve reading examples of the poetry and creating their own.

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Literature Book Club #3- Poetry

Title: Blue Lipstick: Concrete Poems

Author: John Grandits



About the Author: Grandits lives in Red Bank, New Jersey. He is an award winning book and magazine designer. He is a poet, typographer, art director, designer, & writer. He’s written cartoons, articles, humor pieces, fiction and non-fiction for children and adults. He has also art directed adult trade and children’s textbooks. For a short time he was owner and publisher of Film and Video News magazine. He has written and designed books, book jackets & covers, brochures, advertisements, periodicals, record jackets, corporate logos (although he hated doing it), posters and, of course, poems.

Age Level: Young Adult

Synopsis: A 15-year-old girl named Jessie voices typical—and not so typical—teenage concerns in this unique, hilarious collection of poems. Her musings about trying out new makeup and hairstyles, playing volleyball and cello, and dealing with her annoying younger brother are never boring or predictable. Who else do you know who designs her own clothes and writes poetry to her cat? Jessie’s a girl with strong opinions, and she isn’t shy about sharing them. Her funny, sarcastic take on high school life is revealed through concrete poetry: words, ideas, type, and design that combine to make pictures and patterns. The poems are inventive, irreverent, irresistible, and full of surprises—just like Jessie—and the playful layout and ingenious graphics extend the wry humor.

Theme(s): poetry, shape poems, concrete poems, visual poetry

How it can be used in the elementary classroom: This would be a great book for a poetry unit. The teacher can teach students how to create concrete poems. Concrete poems are words, ideas, type, and design that combine to make pictures and patterns. It could really allow your students to be artistic and creative in writing their poems. Blue Lipstick can be read as a class and then the students can experiment writing their own concrete poems. The whole class could write and illustrate their poems and compile a book and each student could have a copy.

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Literature Book Club #2- Multi- Cultural

Title: Yoon and the Christmas Mitten

Author: Helen Recorvits (illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska)





About the Author: Helen lives in Rhode Island. She loved to listen to stories when she was young, her favorite being Cinderella. She loved to write her own stories and started around the time she was eight years old. When she was a teenager she wrote a weekly column for a local newspaper. She went to Rhode Island College where she studied education and psychology. Now she is a second grade teacher. Helen loves reading and writing stories.

Synopsis: In My Name Is Yoon, Yoon's parents encouraged her to write her name in English instead of Korean. Now it's Yoon's turn to teach her parents about something she's learned in America. When Yoon's teacher lends her a book about Santa Claus, Yoon can't wait to show it to her parents. To Yoon's disappointment, though, her mother responds, "We are not a Christmas family." As Christmas Eve approaches, Yoon learns more and more about this exciting holiday. But no matter how hard she tries to convince her parents to sing Christmas songs or put up Christmas stockings, they always say no. A determined Yoon soon realizes that she must use her own "Shining Wisdom" to persuade her parents that they can indeed be a Christmas family.
Distinctive and glowing pictures with brushstrokes echoing Renoir accompany this charming story that rings true and reaches deep.

Theme(s): Korean, Christmas, customs, traditions, culture, determination, disappointment

How it can be used in the elementary classroom: This book can be used to show cultural differences and the acceptance of new cultures. Students can learn that Koreans celebrate the New Year. Teachers can educate their students about the New Year. Teachers can also point out that some people have multiple cultures and that it is okay to celebrate both cultures’ traditions. I think that it would be very beneficial to bring awareness to the acceptance of other cultures and their traditions.

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Literature Book Club #2- Multi-Cultural

Title: The Best Hanukkah Ever

Author: Barbara Diamond Goldin (Illustrated by Avi Katz)





About the Author: Goldin lives in Massachusetts. She has always been an avid-reader and loved going to the library. She also loved telling stories. Goldin has written numerous books centered on Jewish themes. She has received the Sydney Taylor Body-of-Work award in 1997 from the Association of Jewish Libraries. Goldin was previously a preschool teacher, language arts teacher, and a writing instructor. She now conducts writing workshops and works as a librarian.

Age Level: 4-8

Synopsis: The Knoodle family is about to celebrate Hanukkah. They discuss what the rabbi has told them: "It is hard to give the perfect gift, one that will be treasured forever." What did the rabbi mean? Thinking they’re to give one another a gift they’d really love to have themselves, they pick names from a hat. Bubby Sadie gives Little Yekl a pickle barrel. Mama Pearl gives Papa Jack a straw hat with yellow daisies -- something she has wanted her whole life! And so it goes. No one is happy...until the rabbi arrives and with Little Yekl s help, straightens things out. Then they all celebrate "the best Hanukkah ever!" Avi Katz s illustrations rendered in digital media bring this endearing story about holiday miscommunication to a proper conclusion.

Theme(s): Hanukkah, gift giving, traditions, Jewish customs, culture

How it can be used in the elementary classroom: This book would be a great way to incorporate Jewish customs into the classroom. Many times, teachers only focus on Christmas but many students come from different religions. It would also be a great resource to just educate students on another holiday that is celebrated by others. This book really discusses the traditions of people that are Jewish. It also discusses Hanukkah and what it is all about. Teachers could do lessons that compare typical Christmas traditions with the traditions of Hanukkah. Teachers could also celebrate Hanukkah in their classrooms and use this book in their unit of study.

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Literature Book Club #1- Graphic Novel

Title: The Arrival

Author: Shaun Tan




About the Author: He is an Australian picture book author and illustrator. He has won international and national awards. He has no formal training in illustration. As a teenager he drew a lot, mostly for science fiction and horror magazines.

Age Levels: Young Adult

Synopsis: In a heartbreaking parting, a man gives his wife and daughter a last kiss and boards a steamship to cross the ocean. He's embarking on the most painful yet important journey of his life - he's leaving home to build a better future for his family. Shaun Tan evokes universal aspects of an immigrant's experience through a singular work of the imagination. He does so using brilliantly clear and mesmerizing images. Because the main character can't communicate in words, the book forgoes them too. But while the reader experiences the main character's isolation, he also shares his ultimate joy. Tan uses visual metaphors in place of words.

Theme(s): immigration, isolation, struggle, adventure, new experiences, tolerance, acceptance, race, ethnicity

How it can be used in the elementary classroom: This book can be used in the classroom when studying immigration. The book portrays through illustration how a new place may look to someone who comes from another country. It shows how places, things, food, reading, language, etc. is very different from someone’s home country. The students will be able to put themselves in an immigrant’s shoes. It shows the entire process of entering a new country. The only writing in the book is an invented alphabet, which would make the reader feel like an outsider to the world and also makes the reader feel confused like an immigrant must feel when they are being introduced to a new language. Students can imagine how it felt for immigrants to come to a new country. The author really portrays the disorientation that immigrants must feel towards their new surroundings. Some questions to ask students might be; What are some similarities and differences between the image from The Arrival and the photograph of the Great Hall in Ellis Island? What has Tan changed to make us feel like outsiders?

Video of book: http://makingvisualnarratives.com/news-and-links/using-shaun-tans-book-the-arrival-in-the-classroom


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