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 Bratisalva Golden Apple for illustration, American Library Association's Mildred Batchelder Award

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I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906

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I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906

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Genre/text type- Historical Fiction

Bibliographic data Author: Lauren Tarshis, Illustrator: Scott Dawson, Publisher: Scholastic Inc., Publication Date: 2012

Brief plot summary. This is the story of a ten year old newsboy in San Francisco named Leo. Suddenly, one spring day, Leo's world-- San Francisco-- comes crashing down and he has to navigate his way around the city to survive the Earthquake!

Critical response and analysis. This story is perfect for those who love adventure, thrills, and history. It gives a fictional account of a young boy during the largest, most volatile natural disasters in American History- the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. This novel truly enraptures readers and makes them wonder- What happens next?! The details about the event are accurate and make the reader feel like they're out their trying to survive with the main character.

Connections. I used this novel as a companion, with many other non-fiction texts as well, to the novel The Earth Dragon Awakes by Laurence Yep with my fourth graders. While the San Francisco Earthquake doesn't relate to Florida history- a short excerpt from the Earth Dragon Awakes is in our Journey's textbooks. I decided to get the full novel and really make it a worthwhile experience for my students. Both of these books in companion with each other gave my students a full sense of the event and how natural disasters can impact an area and the communities it holds. The Wonder of It All suggests using literature to encourage discussion and responses- Well, that's exactly what it does! The reading of this novel took place at around the same time the Hurricane struck Panama City. We talked about natural disasters and our experiences, as well as what we could do as a community to help others struck by disaster. This activity would be great for students in upper elementary to middle grades, with some modifications. Both books are even appropriate for students who are ESE.

Awards won N/A

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Genre/text type- Poetry, Verse Novel

Bibliographic data Author: Nikki Grimes, Publisher: Wordsong, Publication Date: 2016

Brief plot summary. Garvey - a boy more interested in academics than sports - finds comfort in food and is tormented by bullies. But, when a friend convinces him to try something new, Garvey is able to learn how to accept himself and reach his father in a way that he couldn't before.

Critical response and analysis. Like many other verse novels, this book is captivating and engaging through poetry and the creation of a character who children can relate to. Every verse tells the story of young Garvey who is just trying to navigate his way through life. Nikki Grimes truly captures the essence of a young kid who feels lonely and insecure. Through the free verse novel style, the reader is able to feel everything the character feels from his depression, his coping, and his relief towards the end of the story. Poetry is meant to evoke these types of emotions and this book does a really amazing job of it.

Connections. The character Garvey reminds me of myself when I was younger. I was weird, not very good at sports despite my whole family being athletic, and more into reading and writing stories than anything else. I isolated myself with video games and food. In middle school, I found chorus and discovered that I was actually really good and went on to do many solos and make friends through choir. I found myself through chorus, much like the character Garvey did and built a better relationship with my parents too! The Wonder of It All mentions that literature can be a way to help student's learn about and celebrate writing formats. In this instance, the teacher can use this verse novel to teach students about what a verse novel is and lead into different verse novels, like The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney for elementary level students and The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (any of his books, really!) or Planet Middle School, also by Nikki Grimes.

Awards won ALA Notable Children's Book, NCTE Notable Verse Novels 2017, Nerdy Book Club Award for Poetry and Verse Novels, Notable Books for a Global Society (ILA), and more.

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Genre/text type- Poetry

Bibliographic data Author: Naomi Shihab Nye, Publisher: Greenwillow Books, Publication Date: 2010

Brief plot summary. The works of poetry presented in Times You Let Me In: 25 Poets Under 25 have the ability to make you laugh out loud, to empower you, to fill you with overflowing emotion, and even bring a tear to your eye. The poems in this collection capture the true essence of young adult's in today's society.

Critical response and analysis. Times You Let Me In: 25 Poets Under 25 is a collection of narrative poetry of twenty five poets who are under the age of twenty five. It really brings to light the true feelings of young adult's in today's world and lets them tell their stories in their own way. The poems in this book share experiences dealing with many different life events- love, loss, culture, loneliness, depression, war, rape, and disaster. It's a collection of very real and very raw poems that truly evoke the most sincere emotions inside of the reader. This is not a book for the faint of heart and would be best used in education at the high school or college level.

Connections. Personally, I felt I could relate to the poetry in this book on so many different levels. For example, the poem "To My Rapist, after a Tour of the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans" dropped me to my knees. You can truly feel the writer's pain as she re-tells every single detail of her surroundings and the comparison to a disaster just really broke me. And the poem "Finding Our Flag" really brought it home for me. I come from a military family and my boyfriend is a Marine, so the realization made by the boys in the poem is a feeling I often wish many others would have. Professionally, I could never use this book with my students as an elementary based teacher. However, if I were not an elementary educator, I think this book would be great to use in a high school or college level classroom. The Wonder of It All states that literature can serve as a catalyst for writing. By reading these poems with students, this literature can inspire students to write narrative poetry about their own lives and experiences and give them an outlet for their emotions. With permission, the teacher can create a poetry collection for his/her own student's works like Noami did these young authors.

Awards won Best Books 2010 Non-Fiction Award

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Genre/text type- Choral Reading

Bibliographic data Author: Paul Fleischman, Illustrator: Eric Beddows, Publisher: Harper Collins,  Publication Date: 2019, first published in 1988

Brief plot summary. This book is a collection of poems meant for two voices. Each poem is about an insect and the "joyful noise" they create.

Critical response and analysis. I've heard of this book from other teachers before but never had purchased it or even borrowed it because I thought kids these days don't want to read about bugs, right? Wrong! I finally gave this book a chance and, boy, did it make excited about using it in the future. Each poem and illustration is so fun and so playful. It's a very interesting and engaging text and I'm positive kids would enjoy it too.

Connections. According to The Wonder of It All, Choral Reading strengthens speaking and listening skills, promotes articulation, expression, and fluency, as well as necessitates social interaction, compromise, and decision making. The best activity I can think of with this book (besides a really fun research/art project involving insects and a poetry book) is reading this book aloud and getting good practice with reading with a partner. I would definitely use this in my 2nd grade classroom next year and I would have used it in my fourth grade classroom last year.

Awards won Newberry Medal Award

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Genre/text type- Nerdy Bookclub Non-Fiction Picture Book

Bibliographic data Author: Laurie Wallmark, Illustrator: Katy Wu, Publisher: Sterling Children's Books, Publication Date: 2017

Brief plot summary. This is the real, true, and inspirational story of Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code! In this story, the reader delves into the life of Grace Hopper and her ground-breaking scientific discoveries that revolutionized computer science!

Critical response and analysis. Inspiring stories about women in science are few and far between. Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code is a great way to inspire young children, especially girls, to become innovators in the world of science, mathematics,  and technology. This story provides a wealth of information about Grace Hopper and her extensive background in science and mathematics. The book also provides a timeline of her accomplishments at the end of the book, as well as a bibliography, list of honors, and resources to lead to information about other women in STEM.

Connections. As part of my previous school's STEAM team (in training!), this book really gets my gears going! Women in Science is a topic I love to research and read about for enjoyment, so this children's book was purchased immediately. I would most definitely use this during a STEAM lesson in relation to coding, as the main goal of STEAM is to teach students about different career fields and inspire them to become innovators, much like Grace Hopper. The Wonder of It All states that literature creates a foundation that promotes inquiry. Literature can pose as a "teaching partner, companion, informant, and question poser." This non-fiction text can teach students to take chances and inspire students to learn from their failures, ask questions, and "dare and do."

Awards won Nerdy Bookclub Non-Fiction Picture Book Award 2017

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Genre/text type- Poetry

Bibliographic data Author: Eloise Greenfield, Illustrator: Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Publisher: Harper Collins Publisher, and Publication Date: 2003, first published in 1978

Brief plot summary. Honey, I love is an adorable poem narrated by a little girl talking about all the things loves. From her cousin's southern drawl to kissing her mother's arm- this poem shows how the most simple of things can mean the most.

Critical response and analysis. This poem was very sweet and very rhythmic. It felt a little like a song that could be sang, it rolled so easily off the tongue. The illustrations created by Jan Spivey Gilchrist really made the story even more warm and beautiful. There is lots of repetition and rhyming in the story to keep the story flowing and fun. The poem itself is just very appropriate for children.

Connections. This poem was so carefree and gave me such a big smile. I listened to it on youtube and the reader just really brought it to life. I would have definitely used this in my fourth grade classroom to introduce narrative poetry and I would also use it in second grade! For fourth grade, I would have the students write a poem in the same style about the things they love. For second grade, I would modify the activity by having them "fill in the blank" and have most of the poem pre-written for them. The Wonder of It All states that literature can be used to demonstrate genre and traits. This is the perfect text to introduce Narrative Poetry and teach Poetry Traits. Through this poem, teachers can also inspire students to write their own poetry.

Awards won (if any).

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Genre/text type- Ezra Jack Keats, Realistic Fiction

Bibliographic data Author: Ezra Jack Keats, Publisher: Viking, Publication Date: 1962

Brief plot summary. This timeless classic is about a young boy named Peter and his "Snowy Day" experience. From snowball fights to trying to keep the snow inside -and the inevitable melting, Peter experiences all of the joy and wonder of a snow day.

Critical response and analysis. The story and the art of this book are timeless and classic. While the art is less realistic (though incredibly beautiful), the story is as a real as it comes. It gives the older reader feelings of nostalgia, recalling their own experiences of a snow day from the past. The younger reader, however, recalls their joy and happiness of snow and the fun memories it brought to them. This book is simple and sweet and teaches this lesson: appreciate the  little things in life.

Connections. This story is one I remember reading and owning during my childhood. When I read it again, the memories flooded back to me as I remembered my very first snow day and my first snowball fight with kids in the neighborhood. Living in the south now, I miss those moments where I got to build snowmen with my sister. I never thought to use this book in my classroom before, but now I see the benefits of using this book. The Wonder of It All says that literature can be used to cultivate wonder. This book can spark student's wonderings and help them to make connections to their world and to their self. During reading, I would stop at points of the book and, on sticky notes, collect the students wonderings. Then, at the end of the reading, we could answer the wonderings and ask what they still wonder. The students can then write a reflection. I think this activity would be more appropriate for third grade and above.

Awards won Caldecott Award

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Genre/text type- CLA Notable Children's Book, Verse Novel

Bibliographic data Author: Heather Smith, Publisher: Kids Can Press, Publication Date: 2018

Brief plot summary. Jett's father is in jail and he and his mother need a fresh start, so they travel to his grandmother's house in a new town. There, he becomes trapped in a cycle of bad decisions and ends up betraying his friend.

Critical response and analysis. Told in the style of a verse novel, this text will capture the reader and engage them entirely. The verses are easy to follow and understand, perfect for the young reader. It explores many different themes, like peer pressure, violence, disability, appreciation, and the importance of family. These themes are presented in an age-appropriate format and language. It's a solid book to introduce students in the middle grades to verse novels.

Connections. Living in a Title I area and teaching at a Title I school, the issues the character Jett faces are some of the same issues students I have worked with deal with on a daily basis. They, like the character, struggle with the faults of their parent's, in addition to their own faults, and dwell on their mistakes more so than a student who does not have to live with these types of problems. This book can help those students to make those connections and teach them how to handle their emotions. One thing I have done with those students, is encourage writing in a journal. This book would be a great intro to all students to write about their daily feelings and struggles in verse form in a journal of their own. The Wonder of it All states that literature can connect our lives and emotions. Ebb and Flow is the perfect introductory text in teaching students how to draw from their emotions and experiences to create works of literary art.

Awards won 2018 BMO Winterset Award, 2018 Notable Children's Book Award (Language Arts)

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Genre/text type- Poetry, Picture Book

Bibliographic data Author: Lester L. Laminack, Illustrator: Chris K. Soentpiet, Publisher: Peachtree Publishers, Publication Date: 2004

Brief plot summary. This story is about a young boy and the special relationship he shares with his grandmother. The best part of Saturdays? Hot teacakes!

Critical response and analysis.

Connections. What I've noticed about the stories I've read/listened to this week is that they all share a common theme: poetry and the utmost appreciation for the small things in life that are often taken for granted. This story reminded me of my own grandparents and the connection we share over all things Irish. My grandma and grandpa built a small playhouse in their backyard with a big green shamrock over the doorway where my sister and I would host our tea parties and our grandparents would sit and play pretend with us. I would use this book to spark a writing activity where students would write a poem and illustrate an experience they have shared/ continued to share with a loved one. Through this course and the reading of the Wonder of It All, I learned about the many different benefits of literature and reading aloud- this poem, as well as the others, have expanded my views and taught me to look for more resources and use my own thoughts and ideas to create activities with value and substance.

Awards won No awards won.

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Genre/text type- Realistic Fiction

Bibliographic data Author: Roberto Innocenti and Christophe Gallaze, Publisher: Creative Editions, Publication Date: 1985

Brief plot summary. Rose Blanche wakes up one day to discover her neighborhood overwhelmed with tanks and soldiers. One day, she ventures into the woods and discovers a horrific secret.

Critical response and analysis. The Holocaust is much like slavery in the United States, a horrific stain on history. This book is told from the perspective of a young German girl, a perspective not often pursued in most writings of the Holocaust.

Connections. When I think of Rose Blanche, I think of the Boy in the Striped Pajamas. The characters both encounter a horrific scene, right in their own backyards. Both stories show compassionate and innocent children who meet a horrific end. Children who read this book are going to have lots of questions. The Wonder of It All suggests using an anchor chart to organize questions that can later be used to respond and discuss. Throughout reading, the teacher can pause and let the students be the ones to make comments or ask questions. Then after reading, the class can respond to the statements and discuss. This book would be more appropriate for upper elementary (3-5) and middle school and activities can be adapted for upper grades (9-12).

Awards won Bratisalva Golden Apple for illustration, American Library Association's Mildred Batchelder Award

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Genre/text type- Realistic Fiction, Picture Book

Bibliographic data Author: Ellen Levine, Illustrator: Kadir Nelson, Publisher: Scholastic Press, Publication Date: 2007

Brief plot summary. Henry, a young slave, only dreams of freedom, but is continuously torn away from his family, as a boy and an adult. One day- Henry sees a crate and has an idea- an idea that will bring him freedom and a birthday.

Critical response and analysis. This is such an important text to teach young children about slavery and their journey to freedom. Many student's today do not understand slavery and what slaves went through. This text is perfect to describe the heartbreak that those in slavery went through and what they had to endure to reach freedom- if they reached it at all. The story itself evokes many emotions in the reader- sadness, anger, despair, happiness. This book is easy to follow and the illustrations accurately represent what the text is saying.

Connections. I would definitely use this book in my classroom- at any grade level. It is a story that can be told at any age to help describe the hardship and struggles that people who lived in slavery went through. The Wonder of It All taught me that literature can become great teaching partners and I think that Henry's Freedom Box is the perfect teaching partner for teaching about slavery before, during, and after the Civil War. Like I suggested as an activity for the The Arrival by Shaun Tan, I would similarly suggest a writing activity where students imagine life from a slaves perspective and respond in verse format, letter format, journal format, or narrative story. This would require research and would be more appropriate for middle or upper grades.

Awards won Jane Addams Peace Award, Coretta Scott King Award

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