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By: Julie Sternberg
Illustrated by: Mathew Cordell
2012 Texas Bluebonnet Award recipient
(First Chapter Book)

Recommendation
This book has 27 short chapters all illustrated with cute, black and white, hand drawn pictures. The story is about Eleanor, a soon to be third grader, who has to say good by to her first babysitter. Eleanor has a close relationship with her babysitter and struggles to cope with life without her. Eleanor gains a new babysitter who is very patient with her and establishes a relationship without trying to replace Bibi, Eleanor's first babysitter. I recommend this book for young children who are experiencing similar situations in their own life. This book would be great for teaching children to open their hearts to new people and how to deal when people they love go away. This book would be perfect for kids gaining a step parent or who are missing their old teachers and are having trouble connecting with their new ones. Overall, this was a great book. I read it all in one sitting!

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By: Lorena Alvarez
Graphic Novel
Review
This is a Weird book!!! It's about a young girl, Sandy, who spend a lot of time drawing. She makes friends with the new girl at her catholic school who turns out to be a ghost or spirit of some kind. The spirit tries to capture Sandy and force her to draw for her and the others like her. Anything Sandy draws the spirit brings to life and the spirits eat them. As the spirit is about to capture Sandy she realizes that she can draw her way to safety and she escapes.

This book was not exactly my cup of tea. The story line seems a bit too mature for the recommended 2nd grade reading level. However the illustrations are bright, colorful, and gorgeous even though some of them are a bit creepy.

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The (Mostly) True Story of the First International Flight by Balloon in 1785

By: Mathew Olshan
Illustrated By: Sophie Blackall

Historical Fiction
Review

This incredibly cute story is a loose version of the first international balloon voyage. The book takes place in 1785 when Dr. John Jeffries and Jean-Pierre Blanchard voyage from England to France in a Hot hair balloon. The author depicts the difficulties of this journey in a humorous way even having the men pee off of the balloon to lighten the weight of the basket as they began to sink towards the water. The men who fought for most of the story finally found compromise by the end and celebrated their victorious landing in France together as friends.

I really enjoyed this story. The author made it fun and interesting and didn't bog down the story with facts and dates. Readers can get a sense of what this journey might have been like from reading this book.

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By: Rhonda and James "Sparky" Rucker
Illustrated By: Brock Nicol

Historical Fiction
Blog Response

Make a Change is particularly special to me. It is a fictional story about real issues that black people in America faced during segregation. As a white woman in America I have failed to understand the magnitude of racism for most of my life. Now that I have met the love of my life and fiance my eyes have been opened to a whole new perspective and reality that I never understood, let alone acknowledged before. My fiance is black. My children will be black. Loving them has taught me that change is something America is urgently in need of. This book is one I would read to my children when they began to experience racism. As a person who has had very little experience with racism in my own life I plan to rely heavily on literature such as this to help explain the world to my children and give them hope that one day things will be better.

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By: Susan Middleton Elya
Illustrated By: Jauna Martinez-Neal
Pura-Belpre Award Winner

1 minute book talk audio

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7.  Andy Shane and the Very Bossy Dolores Starbuckle

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7.  Andy Shane and the Very Bossy Dolores Starbuckle

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By: Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Illustrated By: Abby Carter

Caldecott  Award Recipient
(2nd chapter book)

Story Map

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By: Langston Hughes
Illustrated By: Bryan Collier
Coretta Scott-King Award Recipient

Defining Quote

This is a poem written my Langston Hughes that Bryan Collier illustrated and brought to life in book form. It is a poem of few words but is full of power. The illustrations depict the life and heart of Pullman porters as they suffered injustice while working on trains in America. When Hughes said,

"They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed"

it made me stop for a moment and reflect. People of color are beautiful, and not just in appearance. It is completely ridiculous to me and without merit that anyone could argue this.

The illustrations in this book could not have been better. The texture and layers are gorgeous and give the poem life.

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By: Keith Baker

Caldecott Award Recipient

Infographic

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By: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Newbery Medal Recipient
(3rd chapter book)

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By: Patricia MacLachlan

Newbery Medal Recipient

(4th chapter book)

Review

Sarah, Plain and Tall is a sweet and light hearted story of two children's experience with gaining a new mother after their own mother passes away during child birth. The children, Anna and Caleb, are excited to hear that their father has placed an advertisement in the paper for a new wife and mother for their family. The two deal with he anxiety of the possibility that Sarah, who answers the advertisement, may not stay with them. Sarah proves that she loves them in subtle ways over the course of the book by her actions and kind words. The book ends rather abruptly but indicates that Sarah and the children's father do marry, making the children very happy!

I very much enjoyed reading this book as an adult. I read it first as a child and saw the play on a school trip. Reading the book now has given it new perspective. I picked up on the subtle ways Sarah showed her affection for the family that I hadn't noticed before. As a child reading it I remember feeling anxious with the children, wondering if she would stay. Now I can't imagine how I didn't know that she loved them Andy would most definitely become of their family forever.

The author does a wonderful job painting a picture in the readers head of the beautiful landscapes. I almost felt like I could smell the salty Maine air as I read. I recommend this book to readers of all ages

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11. Out of Wonder - Poems Celebrating Poets

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11. Out of Wonder - Poems Celebrating Poets

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By: Kwame Alexander, Chris Colderley, and Marjory Wentworth

Poetry Collecction

Video Read Aloud

https://youtu.be/KB_lYBnuQ0E

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By: Charles R. Smith Jr.

Poetry Collection
Video Read Aloud

Note: I forgot to mention in the video that the author gives definitions of the literary devices he uses in the back page of the book. He also refers them to the poem where he used it for more explanation. This is awesome for teaching students how to use them.

https://youtu.be/6OFh8GutZik

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By: Brian Pinkney

Sci-fi

Review

This is a super cute story about a boy and his sister living on Mars with their parents who are Astronauts. Cosmo, the boy, has a pet robot named Rex who falls and hits his head causing him to break. Later on in the story the broken Rex  tries to attack Jewel, Cosmo's sister. Cosmo uses his super cool space gadgets to save his sister's life and fix Rex. The book is so cute and has unique illustrations. since the story takes place on Mars the characters are wearing space suits and helmets and tools and gadgets that we don't use on earth. The back of the book has a picture and description of all the gadgets mentioned in the story.  Overall, this is a great book. I think students would go nuts for it.

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By: Marilyn Sadler
Illustrated By: Roger Bollen

Sci-fi
Book Talk Audio

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By: Gene Barretta
Illustrated By: Fank Morrison

Biography

Defining Quote

I chose to read this biography because Muhammad Ali is one of my fiance's idols.

The defining quote in this biography is "Training was hard. But Cassius said to himself, Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champ as a champion." This stood out to me. Cassius Clay, or Muhammad Ali, had to work extremely hard to earn his position in life and in his career. This quote perfectly explains his mentality and work ethic.

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16. Louisa May's Battle-How the Civil War Led to Little Women

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16. Louisa May's Battle-How the Civil War Led to Little Women

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By: Kathleen Krull
Illustrated By: Caryln Beccia

Biography

Recommendation

I chose to read this biography because I read the Novel, Little Women, a few years ago and fell in love with it. This biography explains the inspiration behind the book and details of Louisa May Alcott's life. I learned that Alcott served as a civil war nurse and that her family was a part of the under ground railroad and helped slaves escape. I would recommend using this book for any of the following topics.

Civil War

Influential Women

Author Study

Slavery

Nurses

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17. Weird-But-True Facts about Inventions

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17. Weird-But-True Facts about Inventions

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By: Arnold Ringstad
Illustrated By: Kathleen Petelinser

Informational Book

Video Book Talk

https://youtu.be/7G9P9ZXKWXQ

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18. Dr. Mae Jemison and the 100 Year Starship - A Journey Through Our Solar System

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18. Dr. Mae Jemison and the 100 Year Starship - A Journey Through Our Solar System

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By: Dr. Mae Jemison

Informational Book

Recommendation

This book is packed with information about our solar system. It covers all the things that make up the solar system, the technology we used to study it, and all kinds of crazy facts about it. I would  recommend using this book in a science center. Accompanying an activity with this book could be a great way to touch on your science objectives as well as your reading objectives. This is a perfect mentor text for integrating reading and science.

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By: Mary Ann Fraser

Realistic Fiction

Blog Response

This is an ADORABLE book! The class has "Library Week!" where they visit the library each day and learn something new about it. The class pet, I.Q. the mouse, accompanies them.

I just love the illustrations in this book and how I.Q. looks like he is having the time of his life in the library. It's so cute to see him carrying a massive book over his head like it is no big deal. There is a lot going on in the illustrations and you have to examine them closely to see all the details. I want the book for my classroom. I also want a cute little class pet like I.Q.!

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By: Marla Frazee

Realistic Fiction

Review

This book is so simple yet so cute. It depicts all the different reactions and emotions associated with riding a roller coaster. In the illustrations you see all types of facial expressions from joy to total fear to about to vomit. I think kids would be amused by the funny reactions and illustrations. Some kids might want to ride one themselves once they've read this book. There are very few words to each page so it is a good book for readers who aren't quite ready for big paragraphs.

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Adapted and Illustrated By: Janet Stevens

Fable

Book Talk Audio

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By: Neal Layton

Fable

Recommendation

This is a very short, very simple fable about nature. The couple buys land and plans to build a home. They chop down a big beautiful tree and then discover that is home to squirrels, birds, rabbits, and owls. They repair the tree and add onto it and make it a better home for all the animals and themselves. I recommend this book for talks and lessons about nature. You could touch on habitats, conservation, and nature as a literary theme.

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By: Thanhha Lai

Blue Bonnet Award
This is my 5th chapter book
Review

This is a moving story of a young girl and her family who are forced to immigrate to America when the Vietnam War threatens their home and their lives. The story has depth and symbolism that makes it very interesting. It is inspiring to see how the main character, Ha, overcomes her circumstances and holds on to the things from her culture and her old life that make her who she is. We should all aspire to be like Ha.

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By:  Shel Silvertein

Banned Book

Letter

Dear Future Me,

Why was The Giving Tree banned? Colorado School districts say it is because it is sexist. Do you think it is true? Maybe it is more about how much a mother is willing to giver her child even when she doesn't have much to give. Is that sexist? I think it is just motherly. Any good mother would be willing to give up her own body for her children, right? I think as a society we are getting too soft. Read this book to your children. Explain to them that you will give them everything you have even when you have almost nothing left to give just like the tree in the story. Make sure they know that you love them as much as the tree loved the boy. If the book is banned in school read it to them at home. You choose what is best for your children. You're their mom.

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By: Anthony Brown

Post Modern

Review

This is a post modern book. The story is told from many different voices who all enjoyed the park at the same time. Each voice tells its perspective of what was happening in the park. The book reminds you that not everyone is experiencing things the same way. All the voices were in the park at the same time but their journey to the park was different. Their perspective of events happening in he park were different. They varied in age, gender, personality, and perspective. It is interesting to see how different their experiences were.