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Title: The Boy with Big, Big Feelings

Author/Illustrator: Britney Winn Lee

Illustrator: Jacob Souva

Publisher: Beaming Books

Date: May 5, 2020

Number of Pages: 32 pages

Grade Level: Preschool - 3rd grade

Genre: Children's Fiction, Picture Book

Theme: Emotions, Self-Expression, Empathy

Artistic Media: drawing/digital media

Summary: This book is about a boy who experiences different emotions from joy, excitement, anger, and being sad. This book shows how the boy learns to express his feelings after he feels that he is different and tries to hide his feelings. When he meets a girl who also has strong feelings he learns that he can express his feelings too.

Personal Connection: I think this book is a good message to show that having emotions isn't bad and it is very normal. Everyone has emotions and it is okay to show them.

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Author: Ludwig Bemelmans

Publisher: The Viking Press

Date: January 1st, 1967

# of Pages: 64

Grade Level: K-2

Theme: Adventure

Summary: This book follows a girl named Madeline who goes to boarding school in Paris. She is the smallest and bravest of the girls. She experiences different types of experiences and doesn't show fear.

Personal Response: I love this book and it is inspiring. I used to read it all the time as a kid.

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Title: The Rainbow Fish

Author/Illustrator: Marcus Pfister

Publisher: North-South Books

Date: May 1992

# of Pages: 24 pages

Grade Level: Preschool - 2nd grade

Genre: Children's Fiction, Picture Book

Theme: Sharing, Friendship, Individuality

Topic: Ocean Life, Self-Discovery, Generosity

Artistic Media: painting/digital media

Summary: This book tells about a fish that are admired by all the other fish. The rainbow fish doesn't share his scales and he is lonely because he doesn't share. The octopus tells the fish that happiness comes from sharing.

Personal Connection: I love this book and I think it brings a good message to students.

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Title: The Kissing Hand

Author: Audrey Penn

Illustrator: Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak

Publisher: Tanglewood Press

Date: September 1, 1993

# of Pages: 32 pages

Grade Level: Preschool - 3rd grade

Genre: Children's Fiction, Picture Book

Theme: Love, Comfort, Family

Artistic Media: drawing/painting

Summary: This book is about a young racoon named Chester who is nervous about starting school. His mom shares something with him to help him. It's called the kissing hand where she kisses his palm and tells him that whenever he is scared he can press his hand to his cheek and feel the kissing hand.

Personal Response: I love this book and I think it shows good themes such as separation anxiety or nervousness about starting a new school.

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Title: Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

Author/Illustrator: James Dean

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date: March 2, 2010

# of Pages: 40 pages

Grade Level: Preschool - 2nd grade

Genre: Children's Fiction, Picture Book

Theme: Resilience, Optimism, Colors

Artistic Media: colorful illustrations using drawing/digital media

Summary: This book follows the adventures of a cat named Pete who goes on a walk wearing his new white shoes. He steps into different things that changes the colors of his shoes, but he still stays positive.

Personal Connection: I read this book because a second grader I used to work with at an elementary school was obsessed with Pete the Cat. I think Pete the Cat gives good messages to young students.

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Title: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Author/Illustrator: Laura Numeroff

Illustrator: Felicia Bond

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date: October 6, 1985

Number of Pages: 40 pages

Grade Level: Preschool - 3rd grade

Genre: Children's Fiction, Picture Book

Theme: Cause and Effect, Friendship, Creativity

Summary: This book goes through what would happen if you give a mouse a cookie. It shows what he wants more of.

Personal Connection: This was one of my favorite books growing up and it has humor in it that I think a lot of students really like. It is a fun book.

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Title: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Author: Judi Barret

Illustrator: Ron Barrett

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Simon & Schuster)

Date: September 1, 1978

# of Pages: 32 pages

Grade Level: Kindergarten - 3rd grade

Genre: Children's Fiction, Fantasy

Theme: Imagination, Creativity, Food

Topic: Weather, Food Production, Fantasy

Artistic Media: Drawing and painting

Summary: One day it starts raining different types of food instead of rain. They experience hamburgers, meatballs, and pancakes falling from the sky.

Personal Experience: I loved this book growing up. I felt like it is such an imaginative and fun book to read.

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Title: Mimic Makers, Biomimicry Inventors Inspired by Nature

Author/illustrator: Kristen Nordstrom/Paul Boston

Genre: Science/Biography

Grade level: 2nd-6th

Themes: understanding and innovation

# of page: 48

Date: June 13, 2021

Short Summary: This book is about scientists, engineers, and designers who learn from animals and plants to create new technology.

Personal Response: I think this book is cool to introduce the nonfiction concept of technology. Its bright and vibrant colors captivate readers.

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Book: The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis

Personal Response: I think this book made a lasting impression. This book was set in Afghanistan, and it tells the story of a girl named Parvana who has to become the breadwinner for her family after her father is arrested by the Taliban. She then disguises herself as a boy for survival to become the breadwinner and be able to provide for her family. The author does a great job of portraying Parvana's resilience and braveness in the story. This book shows the hardships that many women and children have to face in Afghanistan not being considered as individuals, but still has possessions.

Heart Map: the heart map I made was of the main character, Parvana and the important attributes she has, what is important to her, and the values that she has.

Discussion Questions:

1) How does Parvana's role challenge the roles in Afghanistan?

2)How does the author use Parvana's experiences to shed light on the experiences that children and families go through under the Taliban rule?

3) What are Parvana's symbols of hope and identity?

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Author: Sherri Duskey Rinker

Illustrator: A.G. Ford

Book title: Construction Site Mission: Demolition

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Date: September 20, 2020

# of pages: 40

Grade Level: Pre-k and up

Genre: Fiction

Artistic Media: Drawings

Theme: Working together

Summary: This book is about a construction team working together to tear down a site.

Personal Connection: I think this book is good to show what working together can accomplish for younger students.

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Title: A Piglet Named Mercy

Author/ Illustrator: Kate DiCamillo/ Chris Van Dusen

Publisher: Candlewick

Date: April 2nd, 2019

# of Pages: 32

Grade Level: PreK-2

Genre: Children's book, nonfiction

Artistic Media: cartoon depictions

Theme: Getting out of the ordinary, adapting to change

Topic: Kindness, Adaptiveness

Summary: This book is about a pig showing up at Mrs. and Mr. Watson's door. They think it is out of their comfort zone taking care of a pig, but they end up doing it anyway.

Personal Connection: I think this book is cute and it shows themes of getting out your comfort zone.

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Author's Name: Carole Lindstrom

Title: We Are Water Protectors

Illustrator: Michaela Goade (talker for webinar)

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

# of pages: 40

Genre: Children's Literature

Age Range: 3-6

Date: March 17, 2020

Theme: A Protest, Mother Earth

Topic: A girl fighting against an oil pipeline to protect the water supply of her home.

Summary: In this book, an Objiwe girl joins a protest to fight alongside her people to protest an oil pipeline. This story shows the beauty of water and how people rely on water to live. It shows how water is very important.

What is the author's background? How do the author’s experiences connect to the setting and characters of the book? What research have the author conducted for creating the book? What are the possible connections for students with the author's books?

The author's background is that she is Anishinaabe/Metis and she is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe Indians. She wrote this book in response to the gathering of Standing Rock.

The illustrator (Michaela Goade) is the first Indigenous illustrator to win the Cadecott medal. She is an enrolled member of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. She is of the Kiks.á clan from Sheet'ká. The illlustrator looks to her ancestors and her own life growing up by the ocean for creating the illustrations to this book.

What artistic media and styles does the author use to create pictures in the book? What are contributions of the pictures to the story? (see page 38-43)

The focus is on water and its first medicine that affects and connects all humans.   The illustrator uses watercolors.

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Title: The Invisible Boy

Author: Trudy Ludwig

Illustrator: Patrice Barton

Publication Date: October 8, 2013

# of Pages: 40

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Grade Level: 1st-4th

Genre: Children's fiction

Themes: Kindness and Empathy

Summary: This book is about a boy named Brian who feels like is invisible to his classmates. He is left out of a lot of activities and games. He often struggles to connect with other people. He is super creative and loves to express himself through his art such as drawing. Brian makes a friend named Justin by showing him kindness. Brian starts to become visible to his classmates.

Personal Response: I think this was a very sweet story that shows that empathy can help people feel more included within the classroom. This book has good themes like friendship and empathy.

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Title: A Bad Case of Stripes

Author/Illustrator: David Shannon

Publisher: Blue Sky Press (an imprint of Scholastic)

Date: October 1, 1998

# of Pages: 32 pages

Grade Level: Kindergarten - 3rd grade

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Theme: Self-Acceptance, Individuality, Empathy

Topic: Being True to Yourself

Summary: Camilla is self conscious about what she eats because of what people think about her, she is so worried that she breaks out in a case of stripes. The story is about conformity and empathy.

Personal Response: This book was one of my favorites growing up. I think it sends a good message to stay true to yourself.

Curricular Connections: This book can be used for ELA to show younger students about themes of self acceptance and character analysis.

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Title: New Kid

Author/Illustrator: Jerry Craft

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date: February 5, 2019

# of Pages: 256 pages

Grade Level: 4th grade and up

Genre: Graphic Novel, Realistic Fiction

Theme: Identity, Diversity, Friendship

Topic: Cultural Differences

Artistic Media: Graphic Novel, drawing and digital media

Summary: This book follows a boy named Jordan Banks who goes to a private school. This book shows his experiences and differences of his neighborhood and his private school. It shows the challenges that he faces that includes racism, personal identity, and fitting in in his home and school.

Personal Response: I like how this book is in a graphic novel format. I can relate to going to a new school and not knowing anyone. I started a new school in fourth grade and there are definitely challenges that were similar to what Jordan encountered.

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Title: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Author: Bill Martin Jr, John Achamabault

Illustrator: Lois Ehlert

Publisher: Little Simon, 01/01/2012

# of Pageds: 36 Pages

Grade: Preschool and up

Summary: Readers can joyfully recite the familiar words of this beloved alphabet chant.

Artistic Media: Collage

The letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree.

Grade Level: This book was written for smaller children but it has readers practice rhythmic skills

Curricular connections would be relating to word pronunciation and basic literacy.

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Title: The One and Only Ivan

Author: Katherine Applegate

Illustrator: Patricia Castelao

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date: January 17, 2012

# of Pages: 336 pages

Grade Level: 3rd grade and up

Genre: Children's Fiction, Animal Fantasy

Theme: Friendship, Freedom, Imagination

Artistic Media: Drawings

Main Character: Ivan the Gorilla

Setting: A shopping mall zoo

Summary: This book follow's Ivan the gorilla's journey when he is held captive in a shopping mall. He befriends an elephant named Ruby.

Personal Response: I really liked this book and it is interesting to see the themes that take place in the book.

Curricular Connections: Language Arts. This book can be used in ELA to tackle themes, and to delve into character development.

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Title: Fatty Legs

Author: Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton

Illustrator: Liz Amini-Holmes

Publisher: Annick Press

Date: September 1, 2010

# of Pages: 156

Grade Level: 4th grade and up

Genre: Children's Non-Fiction, Memoir

Theme: Resilience, Cultural Identity, Education

Topic: Indigenous Experiences, Residential Schools

Artistic Media: Drawings and mixed media

Summary: This book is about a girl who goes to boarding school. She recounts her memory of getting bullied at school, and her trying to hold onto her identity. She faces many challenges including recapturing her cultural heritage.

Personal Response: This book was captivating and I think readers can connect to the main character's struggles. Students may face the same struggles as Margaret does in the book.

Curricular Connections: This book can be used for social studies to provide insight of themes such as cultural identity and indigenous history.

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Title: Making the Moose Out of LifeAuthor/Illustrator: Nicholas Oldland

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Date: September 1, 2010

# of Pages: 32 pages

Grade Level: Pre-K - 3rd grade

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Theme: Optimism, Resourcefulness, Resilience

Topic: Adventure, Nature, Creativity

Artistic Media: Colorful drawing

Main character: Morris

Personal Response: This book is super cute and it teaches students about exploring.

Setting: Outside (forests, rivers, mountains)

Summary: This book is about a moose named Morris who tries new things.

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Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Illustrator: Jacqueline Woodson / Rafael López

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books (Penguin Random House)

Date: August 28, 2018

Number of Pages: 32 pages

Grade Level: Pre-K - 3rd grade

Genre: Children's Picture Book, Children's literatrue

Theme: Embracing Differences, Belonging, Self-acceptance

Topic: Diversity, Inclusion, Individuality

Artistic Media: Mixed Media

My first thought of this book was that it was very inspiring. I think a lot of people can connect to it, especially adults. It brings a sort of nostalgia to look back and think what life was like at Angelina's age. I can connect with her in the sense that I felt like I didn't belong when I first moved schools because I was very shy in elementary school. This book shows really well how everyone has their own differences, but we shouldn't judge or make fun of someone just because they are different from ourselves. This books brings a really good message to younger students.

I drew a book and put words that described Angelina's identity. I think Angelina is very empathetic and very kind. On the book describes who Angelina is and what traits she holds. I can relate to her in the fact that I am also an older sister. Once people can share differences and accept each other, they find out they have more in common than they thought. This book was very inspiring and I loved the message in it. This book shows the beauty in the fact that everyone is unique.

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Author and Illustrator: Gary Robinson

# of Pages: 41

Grade: 4-7

Date: April 5, 2021

Genre: Children's literature

Publisher: 7th Generation; Bilingual edition

The personal response I had to this book is that it provides a really cool perspective for children. I feel like this book has a good message about self-talk and it is really positive. It talks about how it is important to be your own best friend. This message shows that it is important to find yourself and love yourself just the way you are.

Expand Awareness: This books does a good job talking about what a best friend and gives a new perspective that many children probably haven't thought about before, being your own best friend. It talks about how it is okay to love yourself.

Good Books Provide an Enjoyable Read that Doesn't Overly Teach or Memorize: This book's theme is self-love, but it doesn't overly rely on just talking about one concept of self love. It talks about relying on yourself, hearing your own inner voice, positive self-talk, negative self-talk

Good Books Tell the Truth: It talks about replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts, this is a truth that even adults struggle with daily. It also discusses how a best friend loves you for you.

Good Books Embody Quality: The plot is convincing because it makes the reader think about themselves and how they see the world. It makes the reader self-reflect. The description is telling to exactly how Jayla, the reader, is feeling.

Good Books Have Integrity: The message in this book and the character are connected.

Good Books Show Originality: This is unique book and it meant to stretch the mind of readers giving them a new way to think about their own lives.

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Author: Harriet Ziefert

Illustrator: Tim Palin

Ages: 4-8

Publisher: Harriet Ziefert, Incorporated, 2023

# of Pages: 34

Date: 2023 (on epic)

Genre: Children's literature

Artistic Media: mixed media

Summary: This book is about is about everyday experiences that includes rhymes in the book.

Personal Response: I think this book is good for CVC words and has colorful illustrations.

Curricular Connections: This book would be good for teaching rhyming words for younger students.

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Author: Daniel Nayeri

Date: August 25, 2020

# of Pages: 368

Genre: Autiobiographical

Grade: Middle School

Personal Response: The nonfiction book I read was Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri. It was interesting to read through Daniel Nayeri's experience with being a refugee from Iran. I think Nayeri's way of reflecting on his childhood and the challenges he faced were very raw in the book. I think as a reader I became immersed into his memoir.

Description of X-Ray: I chose to do the main character, Daniel Nayeri. This book is semi autobiographical, so it was good to choose the main character to focus on since I read through a lot of his emotions on his journey of coming from Iran. On the inside of the heart I focused on the things that he felt in the book. On the outside of the book I included details that helps describes what type of person he is.

Activity: This activity is effective when reading an autobiography or a biography because it focuses on the character and how they feel throughout the story. It is a good way for students to describe how another person is feeling. Students are invited to dive deeper to find the details in the story that aren't always obvious.

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Author: Renee Watson

Illustrator: Bryan Collier

Publication: HarperCollins, 2022

# of Pages: 48

Level: 4th+

Genre: Biography

Topic: Maya Angelou

Theme: Using your Voice

Summary: This book tells the biography of Maya Angelou's story in a collection of free verse poems.

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Author: Nicola Davies

Genre: Informational picture book / Children's Non-Fiction / Science

Illustrator: Emily Sutton

Themes: Microbiology, Nature, Diversity

Date: 2023

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Pages: 32

Grade Level: K- 3

Summary: This book introduces what microbes are and what part they play in the world.

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Author: Annette Bay Primentel

Genre: Informational picture book

Illustrator: Madison Safer

Themes: Exploring pigments and dyes made from natural sources

Date: June 6, 2023

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams

Pages: 88

Grade Level: 3-7

Summary: This book is informational and shows how colors come from natural dyes.

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Author: Kirsten W. Larson

Illustrator: Katherine Roy

Genre: biography

Grade level: K-3

Themes: science, curiosity, challenging gender roles

# of Pages: 48

Date: February 7, 2023

Summary: Through school trials and tribulations, young Cecilia Payne slowly discovers her love for science and astrophysics. By the end of this journey, Payne makes a groundbreaking discovery of what stars are made of.

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Author: Michelle Markel

Illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Genre: Biography

Grade level 3rd-7th

Theme: immigration and activism

# of pages: 32

Date: 2014

Summary: Clara is an a Ukrainian immigrant who works in a seamstress factory. The working conditions are very poor and unfit. Clara decides to start a strike for all of the women seamstress workers because of the working conditions.

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Fox A Circle of Life Story

Author: Isabel Thomas

Illustrator: Daniel Egnéus

Genre: Children's Literature (Informational children's book)

Grade level: K-3

Themes: life cycle, food chains, habitats,

# of pages: 48

Date: 2020

Short summary: This book talks about the life cycle of a fox. She shows her cubs how to survive in the wild and get food, but then she dies. This book talks about death as being not an end but a beginning too.

Summary: This nonfiction book follows the life of a fox through the seasons. It follows the fox as she teaches her three cubs how to hunt for food. Then o

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Author: C.S. Lewis

Illustrator: Pauline Baynes

Publisher: Collier Books/Macmillan Publishing Company Inc.

Date: 16 October 1950

# of pages: 172 (first edition)

Grade: 5-7

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Themes: friendship, bravery, imagination

Summary: This is a classic children's chapter book about four siblings who leave London during World War II to go live with a professor. They discover a magical wardrobe that is the way to get to a place called Narnia. Narnia is a fictional place, but turns real once you step through the wardrobe. The four siblings end up going through a journey to save Narnia from the White Witch.

Personal Connection: This was one of my favorite chapter books growing up as a kid. I absolutely loved the land that the author created and thought this was one of the most imaginative stories created. I would recommend this book to anyone.

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Author: Kelly Barnhill

Illustrator: Yuta Onoda

# of pages: 388

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers

Date: August 9, 2016

Grade level: 5th grade

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Themes: family, power of narrative, friendship, bravery

Short Summary: This story is about a girl named Luna who ends up getting abandoned in the forest and rescued by a witch named Xan. The village believes there is an evil witch in the forest and every year they sacrifice a baby to keep the witch happy. The witch actually takes the abandoned babies and rescues them. Luna as a little girl gets fed moonlight which gives her magical powers. She grows up and discovers her magical powers and the secrets about her past.

Personal Connection: I really liked this story. I also liked that it incorporated themes such as bravery and friendship.

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Author: Alan Gratz

Personal Response: I think this book discusses the importance of fighting against censorship through the lens of a young girl. She speaks up for her beliefs which elementary students can look up to. They can learn about a pressing topic such as banning books with a character they can relate to.

The character I portrait is the main character in Ban This Book. Her name is Amy Anne Ollinger. Her favorite book was banned from the library and she was able to create a secret library for banned books in her locker. In her head she is wondering why her favorite book got banned. She is wondering how she can combat her favorite book getting banned. In her heart I put her character traits and what she loves. She is a very determined character.

Effectiveness of this activity to students.

I think this activity is a good activity for students to put themselves into the characters' shoes. Even if students don't agree with the character's view point, such as a villain in the story, this activity can help students effectively analyze a character.

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Bibliographic Information

Author: Sarah Everett

Medal: 2024 Winner of The NCTE Charlotte Huck Award

Publisher: Clarion Books

Date: June 27th, 2023

# of Pages: 305

Grade Level: 3-7

Genre: Fiction

Themes: Navigating grief and loss

Summary: This book is about a girl named Kemi who finds out there is about an 85% chance the world is going to end because of an asteroid that will hit Earth. She gathers who her family to appreciate the time she has before it's all gone and build a capsule.

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Author: Ken Mochizuki

Personal Response: This book is an narrative that discusses what life was like inside an internment camp during World War II. This book is told through the lens of a boy who is Japanese American & his father makes it possible to play baseball in the camp. I think this book is very good & it makes the reader feel empathy.

Personal Value: This book does a good job making the reader feel what the boy is going through & how the boy feels during that time. This book talks about prejudice, inequality, and community values.

Visual: I drew a baseball field with a barbed wire fence to show enlightenment in a time of sorrow. I think the characters in the story tried to make light of their situation and tried to give each other a glimpse of hope. They built community in a time of sorrow.

Effectiveness: This activity is a really gos way too show symbols in the book and to let students be creative. It is also more engaging for students to be able to create symbolism and represent it through a drawing.

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Bibliographic Information

Author: Paul Fleischman

Illustrator: Julie Paschkis

Date: September 4, 2007

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

# of Pages: 32

Genre: Folktale

Grade level: K+

Awards: IRA Notable Books for a Global Society

Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year

Notable Children's Books in the English Language Arts

Plot Summary: This book is about Cinderella told through various different cultures

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Read Aloud Told by: Bob Odenkirk

Author: Donna W. Earnhardt

Illustrator: Andrea Castellani

Publisher: Flashlight Press

Grade Level: 1-3

Date: September 26, 2012

Run time: 9 minutes

# of Pages: 32

Genre:

Topic: Balancing the line between telling the truth and telling too much truth

Summary: Frank is the main character and he goes around telling everyone around him the truth, enough to where people get offended. Then he realizes how it feels when people tell the truth and how it can affect his feelings. He goes to visit his grandpa and learns it is important to tell the truth, but to also keep in mind people's feelings.

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Bibliographic Information

Author: Shirley Climo

Illustrator: Ruth Heller

Date: 1993

# of Pages: 48

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genre: Fairy Tale

Grade Level: K-3

Themes: Humility, Kindness

Short Summary: In this book, it loosely goes off of the original Cinderella Tale where Pear Blossom's stepmother gives her 3 impossible tasks and is able to complete the tasks.

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I Am Hermes! Mischief-Making Messenger of the Gods

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I Am Hermes! Mischief-Making Messenger of the Gods

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Bibliographic Information

Author/Illustrator: Mordicai Gerstein

Publisher: Holiday House

Date: April 16, 2019

# of Pages: 72

Grade: 3-7

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fiction

Type of Traditional Literature: Myth

Plot Summary: This graphic novel follows the mischievous escapades of Hermes, the quick-witted messenger of the Greek gods. Set against the backdrop of ancient Greece, Hermes discovers his unique talent for causing trouble while delivering divine messages. Hermes embarks on a series of adventures that blur the lines between godly duties and playful pranks. Along the way, he encounters mythical creatures, outsmarts formidable foes, and learns valuable lessons about the power of communication and the consequences of his actions. Hermes navigates the complexities of Olympus. This book encompasses humor and wit throughout the book.

Does the tale reflect a narrative storytelling style?

This book has a narrative storytelling style and it feels like it's being told aloud, you can tell the lively tone of the book through reading it.

Does the tale preserve the sound and “feel” of the culture or country of its origin?

The book preserves the "feel" of Greek mythology through integration of speech patterns and the use of terms and proper names that are often used in Greek Mythology.

Do the illustrations match the tone of the text and help to capture the essence of the culture?

The illustrations in this book are more contemporary but still captures the tone of the cultural context. The illustrations help to compliment the tone of the text.

Does the tale employ a rich literary style?

The book employs a rich literacy style with colorful vocabulary and an engaging narrative that helps captivate readers

I learned more about the culture of ancient Greece and more about the mythical creatures and gods in Greek mythology. I also learned more about the Geography in ancient Greece: Athens, Mount Olympus.

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Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport

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Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport

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Bibliographic Information

Author: Caren Stelson
Illustrator: Selina Alko
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
# of pages: 40 pp.

Grade level: 2-5

Genre: Nonfiction Picture book

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Bibliographic Information

Author: Irene Latham

Illustrator: Myriam Wares

Award: Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children

Publisher: Moonshower

Date: September 19, 2023

# of Pages: 48

Genre: Poetry

Themes: Humankind, Moon

Grade: 3-4

Short summary: This book includes different types of poems that include different ways mankind has left its mark on the moon.

Grade level: 2nd-5th

Type of poetry: ghazal, acrostic

3 Fun Facts about Irene:

She is the only leftie in her family.

She didn't take a single writing course in college.

She wanted to be a writer since she was eight years old.

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Bibliographic Information

Author: Andrea Wang

Illustrator: Jason Chin

Publisher: Neal Porter Books, First Edition

Date: March 30, 2021

Grade level: K-3

# of Pages: 32

Genre: Children's Literature

Theme: Sharing Memories, Family Heritage

Artistic Media: Watercolors

Literacy Elements

Main Characters: a girl, her parents

Setting: On the side of a road where watercress is found

Plot: A story about sharing generational memories including ones that are painful

Summary: This book is about a girl who is driving through Ohio in an old Pontiac with her parents. Her parents pull over and at first she complains that she has to pick watercress with her family. She is super embarrassed to be seen on the side of the road, but her parents tell her about her family's heritage and the importance of watercress. This book is the author's painful memory of not realizing the importance of heritage when she was younger.

Personal Connection: I love the illustrations in this. I really like the message in this book that you'll look back one day and realize that you used to not be grateful, but now you are once you mature. This book was a take on the author reflecting on her own life and the apology she owes to her Chinese Immigrant parents.

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Bibliographic Information

Author: Raúl the Third

Illustrator: Raúl the Third, Colors by: Elaine Bay

Publisher: Versify

# of Pages: 48

Date: April 2, 2019

Grade Level: K-3

Genre: Children's literature, Fiction, Picture Book

Theme: Culture

Artistic Media: ballpoint pen, digitial media for colors. Cartoon/Comic style.

Literacy Elements

Summary: Little Lobo has a dog named Barnabé and they go to their local market to pick up packages. The book follows them along as they deliver all the packages to different places around town. Their last stop is to Lucha Libre where they end up meeting their favorite wrestler, El Toro.

Personal Connection: I love the artistic part of this book and how every page is super detailed. I also love that the book is in Spanish and in English.

Curricular Connections: This book can be accompanied by a social studies lesson on culture for younger students.

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Bibliographic Information

Author: E. B. White

Illustrator: Garth Williams

Publisher: HarperCollins, First Edition

Date: 1952

# of pages: 192

Genre: Fiction

Grade level: 3-5

Theme: friendship, perseverance, determination

Artistic Media: graphite-and-ink

Literacy Elements

Main Characters: Wilbur, Charlotte, Fern

Setting: On a farm

Plot: This book is about a livestock pig who was saved by a girl named Fern. It follows along Wilbur's journey on the farm and the interactions he has with other animals around the farm.

Personal Connection: I personally love this book and it is such a classic. I think this book teaches younger students about friendship through fiction.

Curricular Connections: This book can be used to examine elements in language arts such as themes, setting, character, and analyzation of characters.

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Bibliographic Information

Author: Jon Scieszka

Illustrator: Lane Smith

Date: 1989

# of Pages: 32

Genre: Children's Literature, Fiction

Theme: 2 sides of a story, fairness

Grade: 2-4

Literacy Elements

Main characters: The wolf, 3 little pigs

Setting: Each of the pigs' houses

Summary: This book tells the true story of the 3 little pigs based on the wolf's perspective.

Personal Connection: I love this take on the original 3 little pigs tale that everyone knows. I think this shows that there are two sides to every story.

Curricular Connections: This book can be used in the classroom in a language arts lesson to show bias or to show

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The Magic School Bus And The Climate Change

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The Magic School Bus And The Climate Change

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Bibliographic Information

Author/Illustrator: Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen

Date: March 1st,  2010

Publisher: Scholastic Press; First Edition

Genre: Fiction, Informational Text

Themes: Climate change

Grade level: 2-5

# of pages: 48

Artistic Media: Mixed Media

Short Summary: The Magic School Bus changes into different forms to delve into different parts of the Earth's climate system. In this book the students see the effects of climate change including melting ice caps, crazy weather events, and rising sea levels. The students learn what climate change is, what causes it, and how they can stop global warming.

Type of Literature: Global

Literacy Qualities: This author tells the story very well and makes issues in the world into content that younger children will be able to understand. This book is also very engaging for younger students because it uses imagination.

Origin of the Book: The Magic School Bus is inspired by a Scholastic editor's love of field trips. The Magic School Bus is a good example of how children's literature can be inspired by someone's real life or a lens of their perspective of life.

Audience: The intended audience for this book is intended toward a younger audience with vibrant colors, but it also aims to educate younger students at the same time.

Personal Connections: I really liked how this book can take a topic like climate change and make it into kid-friendly language.

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Bibliographic Information

Author: Thanhha Lai

Publisher: HarperCollins

Date: February 22, 2011

# of Pages: 288

Grade level: 3-7

Genre: Historical Fiction

Theme: Immigration, Identity, Culture

Summary: this book follows a girl named Hà, who flees from Vietnam after the fall of Saigon and to seek refuge in America. She then goes to Alabama where she struggles with cultural differences and language barriers.

Personal Connection: I think this book did a really good job of explaining what people go through when they have to flee their home country. It shows the struggles of leaving behind your home country and trying to live in a new country where the culture is completely different. This story also makes me grateful that I have not had to experience the rationing of food and water before.

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Bibliographic Information

Author: Cece Bell

Illustrator: David Lasky

Publisher: Amulet Books

Date: September 2, 2014

# of Pages: 248

Grade Level: 3-7th

Theme: Overcoming Challenges, Deaf Culture, Alienation

Artistic Media: Cartoon/Comic, Graphic Novel

Genre: Autobiography, graphic novel

Summary: Cece was young when she found out she was very sick with meningitis and loses her hearing. She is given a hearing device that look like she is wearing headphones. This book goes through Cece's life of going to a school for people with hearing issues and then having to move to Roanoke Virginia where she tries to fit in with everyone in school.

Personal Connection: I really liked this book and it gave a really good idea to what people go through who are deaf or hard of hearing. It represents it really well in a child-friendly graphic novel.

Curricular Connections:

Students can read the book and then make an outline of themselves and make the outline into a character in the story to make a character profile analysis. Inside the outline students can details of physical description, motivation/goals of the character, changes the character made throughout the story, personality traits, and actions the character took. Every detail the students write inside the outline have to be backed up with evidence from the text. Students can also make the outline look like the character they chose too.

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Bibliographic Information

Author: Ashley Spires

Illustrator: Ashley Spires

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Date: September 5, 2023

# of Pages: 32

Genre/Grade Level: Children's Literature Ages 4-8

Theme: Growth Mindset, Imagination

Topic: Vocabulary Words A to Z, Words about Innovation

Artistic Media: Digital artwork

Literacy Elements

Main Characters: A girl and her assistant (a dog)

Setting: Her House

Plot: This book goes through the alphabet A to Z through a story of a little girl (not named) going through the making and experimenting process. This book goes through a lot of vocabulary words about making such as 'idea, patience, brainstorm, etc). She goes through the creative process of trying to make things and how we can encounter mistakes along the way.

Personal Response: I loved this book and it is perfect for younger learners! It invites students to expand on their vocabulary while going through a story. It is engaging for students and it also shows the struggles of what you might encounter when you are trying to make something.

Curricular Connections: I can connect this book through a STEAM project or through a vocabulary lesson for younger students.

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Bibliographic Information:

Author/Illustrator: Matt De La Peña and illustrated by Christian Robinson

Publication Date: January 8th, 2015

Grade Level: K-2

Genre: Picture book, children's literature, fiction

Themes: Economic Class, Appreciating differences, Inequity

Publisher: Penguin

# of Pages: 32

Plot: This book follows a boy and his nana who take the bus throughout town after church. The boy, CJ starts to see his peers in cars, and wonders why he can't take a car or why he doesn't have an Ipod. His nana shows him the beauty about taking the bus throughout town. Together they encounter many different types of people and CJ realizes the beauty that surrounds him. CJ encounters a blind man, a guy who plays the guitar for him, and an old woman with curlers who had butterflies in a jar. His nana helps him realize that he gets to build a community while riding the bus.

Personal Response: I think this book was beautifully written. It shows that if you look around you can appreciate the beauty in everything around you. I think everyone can get caught up in the idea of comparing situations of others to our own lives.

Noticeable comments from critics: I liked how one critic mentioned the diversity that unfolds in this story. They also talk about the different types of mediums the illustrator uses including paint and collages.

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Bibliographic Information

Author: Juana Martinez-Neal

Illustrator: Juana Martinez-Neal

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Date: April 10, 2018

# of Pages: 32 pages

Genre/Grade Level: 4-8 Grade, Realistic Fiction

Theme: Identity, Heritage, Exploration and Curiosity

Topic: Meanings behind Names

Artistic Media: Acrylics, graphite, colored pencils

Literacy Elements

Main Characters: Alma, her father

Setting: Inside their house

Plot: This book talks about the meaning behind Alma's long name and how she inherited different parts of her name from various family members. At first she is unsure why her name is 'too long' but then grows to love it. Each part of her name is attached to a different story.

Personal Response: I loved this book. This book carries a very meaningful message that names are part of our identity. I can relate to parts of my name coming from my family's background since I also have long name and Brooklyn is where my mom's side of the family grew up.

Curricular Connections: This book could connect to part of a social studies lesson for younger students about identity. I think this book represents that unique names sometimes show where a student grew up or came from. This book does a good job explaining how names are a huge part of who we are.

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Alma and How She Got Her Name (English) Read-Aloud