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Genre/text type:
Banned/Challenged Book

Bibliographic data:
Author: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Illustrator: Henry Cole

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Brdbk edition June 2015

Plot summary: This story takes place in Central Park Zoo which the home to all kinds of animal families. The time of year comes when penguins  couple up with a mate. Each couple is made up of one female and one male penguin. However,  Roy and Silo are two male penguins who are in love and spend their days together. They dream of the day they too will have a family of the own. A zoo keeper bring Roy and Silo a penguin egg that another couple was not able to care for. The two male penguins care for the egg and a female penguin hatches from the egg. The new baby penguin is named Tango. People come to the zoo and cheered in acceptance of the new family.

Critical response and analysis:
This is a heart touching true story of the authors who wrote the book. This book was written to bring awareness to acceptance of love and homosexually. I think the overall story is wonderful and the illustration give the story life.  Homosexually is  becoming more "normal" today. Even though this community is still struggling to receive complete acceptance, there is more kindness being shown now than ever before. The title and front illustration do not give the read any indication that the book will about two male penguins.

Connection:
I recently had a student with a mother who was in a same sex relationship. The mother and girlfriend did an amazing job raising the little girl. The girls father was involved and they work as a team to raise the girl to be her best. However, the girl was teased and bullied by other children in her apartment complex. I saw the the benefits and struggles my sweet student went through having two mothers. This can happen with any type of relationship. I think this book is a great way teach students that families can be different, loving, and caring regardless of the members who are in the family.

Awards:

American Library Association Notable Children's Book  2006

ASPCA's Henry Bergh Award  2005

Gustavus Myer Outstanding Book Award 2006

Nick Jr. Family Magazine Best Book of the Year  2006

Bank Street Best Book of the Year  2006

Cooperative Children's Book Council Choice, and CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book  2006

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Genre/text type:
Wordless

Bibliographic data:
Author and Illustrator:
Chris Raschka

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade December  2011

Plot summary:
This is a sweet story about a dog named Daisy. She has a red ball that is her favorite toy. Daisy takes the ball everywhere she goes. Daisy's ball was popped by a larger dog who wanted to play. Daisy was distraught over her favorite ball. Her owner takes Daisy home. One day, Daisy goes for a walk with her owner. She see the same dog who popped her red ball. That dog has a new shiny blue ball for Daisy.

Critical response and analysis:
I really adored this book as I was looking at each picture and taking in all the action and emotions. The illustration are beautiful and truly convey Daisy feelings toward her red ball. This book shows all the feelings any person would experience having a favorite toy and then losing it. I think that Daisy's ball being popped right in front of her was heartbreaking. I loved that the other dog was remorseful enough to bring Daisy a new ball.

Connection:
I think this book is a great read aloud to teach children about loss. Often we losing things and people through out life. This story perfectly portrays that accidents happen and somethings can be replaced and that feelings and friendship can be mended. I also think the book can teach children that if you damage someone else property, you should replace it. In the past, I have had behavioral students destroy other students property without remorse.

Awards:

Randolph Caldecott Medal Winner 2012

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Genre/text type:
Wordless

Bibliographic data:
Author and Illustrator:
Clarion Books (October 1, 2013)

Publisher:
Clarion Books October 2013

Plot summary: In this wordless book about a cat named Mrs. Wuffles, the cat is not interested in the "normal" cat toys. He like to play with a spaceship. This spaceship isn't just any spaceship. It's a real spaceship with real aliens. Unfortunately, this spaceship and aliens were not built to handle such rough play from Mr. Wuffles. The alien and their spaceship fall into a situation when trying to escape the path of the cat. The spaceship lands behind the radiator.  The aliens make friends with insect living behind the radiator. The aliens and insects team up to make their great escape from the cat.

Critical response and analysis:
Looking at the front cover of this book, I would not have predicted this book would include aliens. This mostly wordless book is full of action. I thought the inclusion of aliens was a prefect addition to the book. The illustrations are colorful and bright. This book shows that in a time of need new friends can be helpful.

Connection:
As a teacher, I could use this book to teach student about new friendships as we enter a new school year. I thought it was heartwarming how the aliens and insect became friends even though they are complete opposites. The insects played a huge role in helping the aliens escape. I think that it's important for students to understand how helping friends new or old and being kind are important.

Awards:

Randolph Caldecott Medal 2014

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Genre/text type:
Coretta Scott King Award

Bibliographic data:
Author: Matt de la Peña
Illustrator: Christian Robinson

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers; 1 edition January  2015

Plot summary: Last Stop on Market Street is a sweet story about a boy named CJ and his grandma. CJ was curious about why his family doesn't have the material items like his friends. CJ wanted to have a car like his friend Colby's family. He also wanted a iPod like the boys on his bus. CJ's grandma had a positive response for every question CJ asked. After seeing a blind man play a guitar on the bus, CJ started to see the world around him differently.

Critical response and analysis:
This story was beautifully written and illustrated. I enjoyed the grandma's energy and positive towards CJ's comments and questions. The grandma's imagine was amazing. She helped CJ see the world around him through a different perspective. The illustration were colorful and full of the action that would be taking place on the streets of a city.

Connection:
After reading this story, I realized how relatable it would be to our inner city students in my district. CJ's life is much like the students in my district. They do not always have the next best toy, electronic, or car. Many of my students are being raised by grandparents. I would use the book to teach my students that there is more to life than material things. Of course, it's easy to be excited over the hottest toy, gaming system, or car. The excitement eventually wares off. I like to teach my students to be thankful, appreciative, kind, giving, and to look for the good in the world around around them.

Awards:

Winner of the 2016 Newbery Medal

A 2016 Caldecott Honor Book

A 2016 Coretta Scott King Honor Book for the illustrator

A 2016 Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book

A New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of 2015

A Wall Street Journal Best Children's Book of 2015

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Genre/text type:
Modern Fantasy

Bibliographic data:
Author and Illustrator: Maurice Sendak

Publisher:  HarperCollins; Reprint edition January 1984

Plot summary:
Max has a "wild" imagination according to his mother. After causing such destruction before dinner, Max's mother sends him to bed without dinner. As Max returns to his bedroom, he goes on a magical adventure into a jungle full of wild things. Max became a king after he  intimidated the wild things. Max grew lonely after becoming king and started to miss home. He returned to home where he discovered his dinner was still warm.

Critical response and analysis:
This is a true classic! Max has difficulty controlling his emotions after his mother shouted at him. Because Max has such a wild imagination, he does not understand what he has done to make his mother so upset. Max seemed frustrated by being sent to his room without dinner. The illustration really depict the feelings and emotions Max felt. The colors also help to convey the mood. The illustration looked dark when Max is frustrated and bright when he is happy or having fun. I also discovered that this book has been challenged/banned because some people believe the book is not developmentally appropriate for children. This belief comes from Max's inability to control his reaction to being sent to his room without eating dinner.

Connection:
This book would be the prefect to teach student about self control and appropriate reactions. So many young child struggle to cope during and after tough situations such as being shouted at and sent to your room with out dinner. I think it would be beneficial for students to learn coping skills.

Awards:

Caldecott Medal recipient 1964

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Genre/text type:
Modern Fantasy

Bibliographic data:
Author and Illustrator:
Jessie Sima

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers February 2017

Plot summary:
This magical story of a unicorn named Kelp who has always believed he was a Narwhal. Of course, he realized he did not look exactly like his family, but he thought was kind of close to looking like them.  One a strong current came and swept Kelp away to the surface. When he reaches the surface, he sees a peculiar creature that resembles him.
Kelp learns that he is actually a unicorn. He is torn about having two families. Kelp comes up with a cleve way to have the best of best worlds.

Critical response and analysis:
I truly enjoyed reading this adorable book. I thought the authors use of a unicorn in relate to narwhal was clever. WOW! This was Jessie Sima's first book. The vibrant illustrations and text flow beautifully together. The colors are bright and attracting to the reader. I believe the author was possibly targeting the topic of foster care and adoption. In today's world we are seeing more and more children placed in foster care waiting for the prefect family. This book paints a beautiful picture of what its like to discover Kelp's other family but to have his adopted family as well.

Connection:
This is another excellent book to use to teach students that families can be different, loving, and caring regardless of the members who are in the family. I also related this story to children who are in foster care or even adopted. In Kelp's case, he was being raised by Narwhals. There are many cases where some students who are in foster care or who have been adopted may have foster parents or parents of a different race.
Awards: N/A

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Genre/text type:
Folktale

Bibliographic data:
Author: Jon Scieszka

Illustrator: Lane Smith

Publisher: Puffin Books; Reprint edition March 1996

Plot summary:
Wolf wants to set the story straight once and for all. He tells the story of The Three Little Pigs from his perspective.
In the beginning of the story the wolf is baking his grandmother a cake. Unfortunately, the wolf is out of sugar. He decides that he will go and ask his neighbors (the pigs) to barrow sugar so he can finish the cake. The wolf has a cold and could not control his sneezing. He accidentally blew the the first and second pig's houses down. The wolf went to the third pigs house which was made of brick. This pig was not willing to share any sugar with the wolf. The third also insulted the wolf's grandmother. The wolf grew angry and began beating on the door as the police showed up. The wolf believes he was framed by the pigs.

Critical response and analysis:
I think it was clever for the Three Little Pigs story to be told from the perspective of the wolf. The saying is true, there are always two sides to a story. In this version of the story, the wolf does not seem to he such a "bad guy". It makes sense that maybe the pigs did frame him because they were fearful of the wolf. When you put the two stories together, everything begins to make sense.

Connection:
As a teacher, I could use this books to teach students that there are always two sides to a story. It is important to give both parties in the situation an opportunity to share their side. This book could also bring a strong discussion on which parties story is more believable and why. I use the two stories with my students to teach comparing.

Awards:

Notable Children's Recordings 2009

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Genre/text type:
ALSC Notable Children's Books 2014

Bibliographic data:
Author: Drew Daywalt
Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers

Publisher: Philomel Books; 1st edition June 2013

Plot summary: One morning, Duncan was looking for his crayon box in his desk. Instead, he finds letters from his crayons stating that they have had enough and they quit. Each crayon has a special request for how Duncan uses them when coloring. After reading all the letters, Duncan had an idea. He decided to use each crayon in his assignment. Duncan's teacher loved the picture so much she gave him an A+.

Critical response and analysis:
The illustrations in this book are much like a child's drawing and coloring. However, the illustrations draw the reader in as they are colorful and show each color. The text and illustrations set the tone for the the crayons through out the story. As the reader, I was able to tell when the crayons were sad, mad, disappointed, and happy. Each crayon in the story wanted to be used equally in Duncan's coloring.

Connection:
I think this would be a book to use in teach equality. I always have a few students who form a close friendship circle and it is difficult for other students to engage in the circle. This book would bring a great discussion about how we can be more open to including others and treating them equally. As people, we all wanted to be treated fairly and equally in life. The crayons were wishful of being used equally just as people are.

Awards:
Goodreads Choice Awards Best Picture Books

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