"Love That Dog" by Sharon Creech

This was a fun novel to read. I really enjoyed how the voice of the young boy truly came through with Creech's language. I remember when I was a child feeling the same way he did when it came to publishing my work throughout the classroom. I believe that is a reoccuring theme with a lot of students.
A close family just lost their dog to a car accident, so that part of the book in particular hit close to home. In addition, when I was younger my sister nearly ran over our dog, and it was a terribly traumatic experience, as I was only seven years old.
Overall, the novel just brought up a lot of issues that kids go through when younger and brought them to the surface in a calm and somewhat funny way. I would definitely suggest others read this book and truly look for all of the love that is filled in every page. I look forward to reading more of Sharon Creech's work.

"The Year of Impossible Goodbyes" by Sook Nyul Choi

I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to be introduced to two different sides of the spectrum and read this side of World War II. Both books were interesting, quick reads and I truly believe I learned not only about both cultures, but also some important facts about history that I was unaware of.

Personally, I believe that “So Far From the Bamboo Garden” was much more terribly heart wrenching than this story. At times you were on the edge of your seat, however, Yoko went through much more death and unbelievably gory, terrible situations than Sook. I am not discounting Sook’s terrible situation by any means – it takes a strong person to go through that, come out okay and be able to tell the story.

Even though I am going to hopefully teach a very young grade someday, I think it would be important for older grades to experience this type of literature, have deep discussions about it and truly understand the importance. Perhaps they do and my school unfortunately did not provide us with such opportunity. Whatever the case may be, this was a great memoir!

"In November" by Cynthia Rylant

Fall is my favorite time of the year. I enjoy watching the leaves changing, feeling the crisp air on my face and going home to spread thanks with my family. This book is all of those things, and many more, wrapped up into one. I really enjoyed reading this book and the pictures are absolutely brilliant. The book tells a story, but it is not too wordy and is pretty straightforward, because the pictures do most of the talking.

I think this would be a fun book to read as a family while your children are still young. Also, it would be fun to read in a classroom as a group right before Thanksgiving break or when the leaves are beginning to change.

I love the way Cynthia Rylant just makes you feel at home, no matter where you are when reading her literature. Great book!

"The Tree Pigs" by David Wiesner

I read this book this week to compare it to last weeks, “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.” I wanted to see another version of how writers have quirked this tall tale. This book is interesting, because it takes the story in a whole new light and twists the way that books are normally laid out. It is fun to spend a little extra time looking at each page and seeing what is going to happen next in the story before you get to the next page.

I think this would be fun to read with a small group of kids and work on story predictions with them as you get from the beginning to the end of the story. I would definitely have this book in my classroom and also at home. I think it is important for kids to see old stories in a new and fun light. I know kids with wild imaginations would be able to appreciate the extravagant pigs!

"Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!" by Mo Willems

This book is a 2004 Caldecott Honor and I totally understand why! The narrator of the book is a pesky pigeon that wants to drive the bus. The driver has put the readers in charge of making sure the pigeon does not drive the bus and in the end, the last picture looks as if the bus is going to run over the pigeon.

I think this book would fun to read when introducing dialogue into writing. It is interesting to see how the pigeon is able to speak to the readers. For students that are having an extra difficult time with writing, setting up stories, etc. I think this would be a positive tool to have in the classroom for students.

"Olivia Forms a Band" by Ian Falconer

I love Olivia books. It is simple as that. As a treat to myself, I continue to pull them off the shelf at the library to help brighten a dreary day. Falconer has cultivated so much humor into these books and you can truly hear Olivia’s voice screaming through the pages.

My favorite part from this book in particular was when Olivia puts on the lipstick. I just couldn’t help but smiling and thinking of the first time I tried my mom’s lipstick on, without her knowing and how much of a mess I made! Little girls would think this book is such a hoot. I need to get the entire collection for myself!

"I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie" by Alison Jackson

This is such a different and fun rendition from the usual “swallowed a fly.” I had a great time reading this story, because it is such a fun tongue twister and is so ridiculous in parts that it is really funny. I ended up reading this book with my child study buddy this week and he had never read it before, so it was such a treat to read it with him as well. He was laughing pretty hard by the time we got halfway through the book. The book prompted some really great discussion questions to have with one another.

I think this book would be great to have in the classroom. It would be fun to use as a little time filler on an afternoon when you have some free time to enjoy with your kids outside of the usual curriculum. I think younger grades would really benefit from the imagination that is filled in this book.

"So Far From the Bamboo Grove" by Yoko Kawashima Watkins

What a heart-wrenching book! This book could provide a lot of diversity in the classroom and would bring up a lot of important issues for some students. I think this is a book that would be important to bring into late elementary and junior high curriculum. I think older students would be able to handle some of the derogatory issues if the teacher conversed them in an appropriate manner.

It was hard for me to handle the mother passing away. I felt so bad for Ko and Yoko. Also, the rape scenes were also pretty difficult; I cannot imagine living a life worrying about when I went to use the restroom that I had the potential to get raped. Yoko really puts the reader in her own shoes and allows you to feel her true emotions. I wish the book had lasted a little longer so we could have learned more about what happens after her brother returns.

I cannot wait to read the other book next week to see how it contrasts.

“That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals” by Ruby Roth

Oh my! Talk about controversial. Personally, I think this book could bring up a lot more harsh feelings than any same sex marriage picture book (or other controversial books). Why? Because I think it would really affect children in a different way. Most of the kids who read this book probably do eat meat and dairy. However, not all children that read same sex marriage books live in a home with two moms or dads. In a sense, this book reaches out to a lot more kids. I think it would be difficult as a parent to address this issue in a fair way that does not shine a negative light on the book.

For me, the book just got me to think. I do not eat meat very often, maybe a handful of times a week. I may become a vegetarian someday for personal reasons, but this picture book has not changed me for life. I think the most interesting part was towards the end. It is interesting to think about what these cattle farms are doing to the rest of the world. Where else are they having an impact?

This would be a tough book to bring into a classroom or bring home. I think you would have to be pretty comfortable and confident with your principal to bring a book like this into the classroom, whether or a read aloud or just to have on the shelf. As for my own children someday, I think it would be something that I would discuss and would find the appropriate time to do so.

“No Laughing, No Smiling, No Giggling” by James Stevenson

I have wanted to read James Stevenson for a while, so I thought I would grab a book off the shelf. After looking at the names, I was ready for a good smile and I knew that is what this book would give me.

This was a really fun book. After the first few pages I thought I was going to go annoyed, but by the end it was really fun. The Alligator is a negative friend, who does not want anyone to smile or giggle and if they do you have to go back to the beginning of the book. I think this would be fun to read with a child, because it would be a trick for them to be serious. The more serious you try to get them to be, the easier it would be to giggle!

I was really impressed with how interactive and fun the book was. I think I am going to use this book for my child study buddy in the near future. Funny, funny, funny!

"Duck! Rabbit!" by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld

I remember being introduced to this book at the beginning of the semester and I have wanted to go back and read it ever since, but it is never on the shelf! I finally got my hands on it.

I think this would be fun to introduce to a child and ask them before you even open the book what they think it is. A duck? A rabbit? I think the constant argument throughout the book is humorous and that kids would get a kick out of it. I know of a few kids that really like to laugh when reading books – this is definitely one to use.

The illustrations are great. The book has really vibrant colors, bold lines and the type of text on each page is different.

Definitely a great read!

"The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs" by Jon Scieszka

Quite the transition of stories after reading “That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals.” Jon does a great job with the story, I really love his sarcastic humor. Also, Lane Smith does a wonderful job with the illustrations. After reading the book once, I went back through and looked through the pictures, they match up perfectly.

The book has some interesting sayings that may need to be explained to kids, such as “the rest is history,” or “old granny can sit on a pin.” Also, terms like “I was framed.” I think it would be fun to go through these with kids and explain what they mean. What would even be better would to see them use the terms in context later!

I would definitely read this with my students in the future. I think it would be fun to compare and contrast the stories and have a great discussion with them on what they think is best!

"Pancakes, Pancakes!" by Eric Carle

I love Eric Carle’s illustrations. They are so unique. This was an interesting book that took a little boy through the stages of making a pancake back in the olden days. It has not always been so easy just to go to the refrigerator and grab what you want. I think this is an important topic for some students to understand. We should be grateful for how fortunate we are today.

The end of the book is such a relief, because he finally gets his pancakes!

I hope to have a lot of Eric Carle books in my classroom someday. This will definitely be apart of my collection!

"Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson

What a great book for teenagers! I remember reading this novel when I was younger and I pulled it back off my bookshelf and read it on a plane ride to and from New York a week ago. It is a very quick and touching read.

Melinda is the main character whom is raped at a summer party before her freshman year of high school. She ended up calling the cops because she was frightened. However, the cops ended up busting the whole party and did not find out about her sexual encounter. She immediately becomes disconnected from school, her family and her friends.

I think this would be a great book for students to read. Not only does it send a message about underage drinking, it also gives young women an inside look at rape. It is such an awful thing and perhaps if they have had problems with it in the past or know of a close friend that has a problem with it. It would be a good way to release some feelings when one is unable to talk to anyone about the problems they are facing.

Overall, very sarcastically humorous book with a lot of great hidden messages. I wish the ending had a more powerful message about speaking out or finding a friend to talk to. This would be a book I would for sure have in my classroom if I were a high school teacher in the future.

"My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother" by Patricia Polacco

I read this book with my child study buddy recently. He really enjoyed the text. It was easy to become animated with the book and emphasize the characters emotions. It is somewhat of a silly book, but what better way to intrigue kids than with a little fun.

If you are having problems with siblings, I would not suggest this book! It keeps the fighting going back and forth until the end, when the little girl gets hurt. Although they are on better terms at the end of the book, they are such culprits to one another throughout the book. This book might be interesting to use when talking about families in class – some students may find the different perspective interesting. This would be a great book to use as a starter for a writing topic.

The illustrations are wonderful. I would encourage students and young children to go through the book once before reading it and just look at the pictures. They tell their own story and it is very, very fascinating.

"In Enzo's Splendid Garden" by Patricia Polacco

My oh my! All the things that can go wrong from one pesky bee! The chaos begins from a little boy dropping his book to look at the bee and a waiter trips on it and falls – everything goes down hill from there.

I think this would be a great story to use as a read aloud. Everything continues to go downhill and Polacco repeats the story on every page. It would be somewhat of a tongue twister and I am sure the kids would think it was hilarious. The illustrations are so bright, cover the page and one could spend a very long time looking at them. Overall, another great Polacco book, very intriguing.

"Emma Kate" by Patricia Polacco

Thus far, I think this is my favorite Patricia Polacco picture book. I think the text is so carefree and you fall in love with the little girl. Remember the days when you had an imaginary friend? Man, sometimes I wish I was a kid again.

Just like in “The Keeping Quilt,” the only thing that is consistently in color is the little girl’s dress. A few other things have color, but this is how you can consistently tell Emma Kate and her best friend are together.

I would definitely use this with my children someday and I will have it in my classroom. It is intended for younger children – the pictures are somewhat silly and the text is very simple – but says a million words!

"The Keeping Quilt" by Patricia Polacco

I really love how Patricia Polacco includes personal narratives into her picture books. This book shows how her generation has passed down a beautiful quilt and someday, her own children will have the quilt as well.

I think this book is probably more moving for teachers than it is younger students. It may be fun to read with your own children so you could talk about what type of traditions your own family holds.

The illustrations are so interesting, because throughout the whole book, the only thing that is in color is the quilt. Everything else is black and white, therefore, the quilt truly stands out and the reader is able to understand the beauty and importance for the quilt in Patricia’s family.

"For the Love of Autumn" by Patricia Polacco

I am not much of a cat person, but I sure do love my dog Bailey – and I can only imagine how heart broken I would be if something were to happen to him. This is a very unique picture book that tells the story of a teacher whose beloved cat runs away. Her class ends up putting together a search for the cat and they are unable to find the cat. Eventualy the teacher gives up – but the cat does come back. It is a continuous mystery that is solved with the help of her students.

I think this book shows unity among students. It would be a great book to show at the beginning of the school year. It would be helpful, because it would clue kids into how wonderful it is to work as a team. Overall, it is a pleasant story with beautiful illustrations.

Reflection Statement

I feel the class has been going great thus far. I have really enjoyed checking out different picture books by various authors, genres and personal interests. I have truly opened my eyes to various controversial children's topics and placed myself in children's shoes when reading. As the class continues to move into the semester, I hope to continue to look at various types of novels. I have been trying to find novels that I would be able to share with younger elementary school students - since that is the future grades I wish to teach. At times it seems somewhat difficult to get my hands on a great, young novel, however I feel as if I can snag some more interesting books.

This class is helping me understand the importance of incorporating a wide variety of picture books into all types of curriculum. At first it was a frightening process, but I feel as if I am understanding the steps I need to take a little more each day.

"The Misfits" by James Howe

Overall, what a great book. There were some things that I thought could have ended differently for the students to make the novel more realistic, however, it was a pleasure reading the novel.

I loved how real all of the characters were. I thought Bobby was hilarious and Addie drove me a bit up the wall. I truly felt for Joe and I was rooting for him to find a companion. Skeezie I never truly understood his motive, but I know that he was able to come out of his shell by the end of the book.

I know most books are supposed to have “happy” endings, but should all books have such glorious endings? Every character ended up where they wanted to be. Perhaps this is good for children who read this book? But, what about the young, gay men out there who can’t find that? Is it sending a message that it is so easy? I think the ending was almost too happy and misleads the kids that do get picked on and are looking for their niche. What do I know though? I am not in junior high or their shoes, maybe it is the perfect ending for them!

"William's Doll" by Charlotte Zolotow

I think this is a great book! Even some fathers could learn from reading it. I have babysat for young children of all ages and genders, and sometimes boys just prefer to play with dolls. There is nothing wrong with that it in my eyes, why not allow them to nurture something? That is just what this book shows you – that it is important to respect whatever a kid wants to play with. It is important to let their imagination run wild, what better way to do it than with something outside their usual realm of possibilities.

I think the book could have had a better ending. The Grandma tells the father that he needs the doll to learn how to become a father in the future. I think the book should have ended by stating, let kids be who they want to be! The book was written in 1972, so I do not think boys having dolls were any more accepted then than they are now, but I wish the book would end with having the father understand it is okay!

This is a great little picture book filled with so much love and some diversity. I will definitely remember this book and hopefully be able to use it sometime in the future.

"Mommy Laid An Egg" by Babette Cole

I am not too fond of this book. It seems rather ridiculous. I think the conversation should be rather heartfelt, however, this seems a bit too informal, sarcastic and irrational. If anything, I think this book would leave kids with more questions to ask – rather than clearing everything up.

The illustrations are okay, but some pages seem a bit graphic. I do not think that younger kids would be able to understand exactly what the pictures were trying to tell them. If I were teaching my son or daughter where the birds and the bees were from – I would not use this as a tool. There has to be better books out there than this!

Overall, not my favorite book So sorry to the author, but my oh my! How would this help the situation at all?

"She Come Bringing Me That Little Baby Girl" by Eloise Greenfield

I cannot even imagine as a mother, bringing home a baby and having my oldest son/daughter feel jealous and ashamed of the new sibling. I am sure it happens everyday, however, as a mother you would feel so guilty and inadequate – like you would not be able to successfully love and nurture both right away. That is exactly what this book is about. The little boy is so envous of his new sister, because he wanted a brother, she was getting all of the attention and I am sure he felt as though he didn’t even exist.

However, by the end of the book, the mom does a great job of explaining “she needs his help with the new baby.” At first the little boy couldn’t even imagine why, but then he was able to understand. I think this is a great book to have around the home if one is expecting another child. Also, the illustrations are very unique and beautiful. Not only does this cover a tough issue, it incorporates diversity and shows an abundant amount of family love!

“Walter the Farting Dog” by William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray

I do not think I necessarily understand how this book considers diversity with a farting dog, but I will go with it! I think the illustrations in the book are really great. Some of them almost look computer generated. The book could also be used if something happens to a pet in the family and you need to find a way to cheer up a child.

Overall, the book is very different. However, it is slightly humorous. I know little boys would certainly love the story and even some little girls would find it hilarious as well. My favorite part is at the end when it uses a cute pun to say, “and that’s the end of our tail.”

The book is definitely unique!

"My Two Uncles" by Judith Vigna

The book is based on educating young children about what it is like to have a family member who cannot accept a gay couple in the family. The little girl, Elly, narrating the story has two uncles and does not quite understand why her grandfather is not accepting of her two uncles. It goes through all of the questions that the little girl has and asks her father. I think that page 10 thoroughly explains what it exactly means to be gay or lesbian and how some individuals are not accepting of their differences.

I think this is a great book to have in your home for when the topic is brought up about sexuality. I don’t think it is necessarily one to have in your classroom – can you imagine the uproar if I parent found it in their child’s classroom? (I think in today’s society -unfortunately- parents would still be upset). When reading this book to a child, it would be helpful for them to understand what exactly the term gay and lesbian mean, but it would also help them understand some of the emotions associated with it. For instance, the little girl’s feelings for her uncles, the father’s feelings, the grandfather’s feelings, but most of all the uncles feelings. I think that is the most important part to take into consideration. By allowing children to understand this at an early age, hopefully it would be prevention for bullying in future years.

"The Giver" by Lois Lowry

This was my third time reading "The Giver." I read the novel once in high school and once in my early years of my current undergraduate program. However, reading it this time really opened up my eyes to some of the very interesting perspectives of this novel.

I must say, wow, after researching some things on the novel online, the book has won many, MANY awards. The awards are definitely worth while - what a great book.

While teaching this novel, I think it is important to remind students to keep an open mind. The book has a lot of lifestyle restrictions and it is crucial to look at every restriction in very dynamic ways. Such as the releasing of individuals, the concept of "birthdays," choosing job and families. Every chapter creates a new, controversial topic that some parents would be frightened to know their son or daughter is discussing in the classroom. However, what a rich conversation this could provide!

Overall, what a wonderful book. I don't have anything really to critique. Rather, I am just jealous of all of the secondary education majors that will be fortunate enough to someday incorporate this novel into their curriculum! Enjoy!

"Titanicat" by Marty Crisp

What a beautiful children’s book! I went through the book over three times just to take in all of the beautiful pages. Each page is unique and your eyes follow the story all the way to the end. The colors contrast so well and create very unique pages.

Also, the words throughout the book describe what is happening so well. There is such great verb choice and you can just picture exactly what is going on. The book does not incorporate much suspense to the Titanic; however, it provides some historical insight at the beginning and a great story throughout. There are some little girls I am close to that would be just tickled pink to repeatedly read this story. The book is truly magnificent, such a great read!

"Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

This is a great book to read with a child who is just learning the alphabet. The letters are very bold, bright and easy to follow. All of the letters are racing up the coconut tree and end up falling down – “chicka chicka boom boom!”

I have heard of this book used various times in the College of Education at Iowa when working with young readers. They think the book is so enjoyable and it gets kids excited about doing the alphabet with you, which is a perk, because it is so fun to see the kids get so excited about learning and reading!

Even though the book was written in 1989, it will be around for years to come! It is definitely a classic that will be kept on my shelf forever!

“Monkey Business” by J. Otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh

Out of all of the children’s literature books I have analyzed in my blog so far, this is probably the one that I like the least. Overall, it is just a somewhat odd children’s fantasy book. I think some little boys would truly be able to find some enjoyment out of it, however, I just did not enjoy reading it. Also, the illustrations are very different and not realistic enough for my liking. I am sure that some people truly enjoy the book and some kids find it great, however, it is just not one that I would pick up to read again!

"Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse" by Kevin Henkes

This is the second Lilly book I have read – and it is just a cute as the first! This picture book talks about when things just do not go right; there is always another day. Lilly wants to be JUST like her teacher and one day she is misbehaving in class. The teacher takes away her “purple purse” and all of the other business that goes along with her razzle dazzle! She is anything but happy and leaves a mean note for the teacher. In the end, the book also acknowledges that this is never appropriate to do. The teacher was truly looking out for little Lilly and she needed to obey.

I think this would be fun to read with little kids, because they would giggle at some parts. There are also a lot of other side comments to the pictures that are hilarious to look at. I will definitely have this book in my classroom or home for my kids in the future!

"it's Not Fair!" by Amy Krouse Rosenthaland Tim Lichtenheld

This book is one that after you read the first time, it is a must to go back through and read again to find some of the hidden pleasures. Inside the front cover and back cover is a fake “complaint at law” going over all of the things that were not fair in the book. It has a very sarcastic humor to it that adults would really get a kick out of when reading to a young child. The one problem is that it doesn't discuss at the end how the characters in the book are eventually happy over something else. I think it would provide a good insight for kids to see everyone get equal cookies or for the little girl to overcome her chicken pox! Just a personal opinion...

The context of the book also provides a good message for kids to discuss with adults. Especially if children are having a difficult time with sibling or close friends. The message is simply – everyone feels as if life isn’t fair sometimes! Even spiders, planets and pigs! It would be a great opportunity to just talk to kids and say, “hey! It’s okay, it will all work out. You’ll get it next time!”

I thought it was a really great picture book, because it was humorous, the pictures were fantastic and it provided a great opportunity to talk to you kids.

“The Babysitters Club – Kristy’s Great Idea”

I chose this graphic novel to read, because I have recently read the original “Kristy’s Great Idea,” and I wanted to compare and contrast the two books. First of all, I thought for sure the graphic novel may omit parts of the original book or critique it a bit, however, it is exactly the same as in the original book (which I found to be great). Also, the front cover shows all of the main characters, just like the original book. The reader is able to pick out which character is which very well, which is fun to look back at after you have read the novel, because it helps to paint a picture in your mind of just what these teenage girls look like!

I have read some simple comic book, but I have never taken the time to delve into a graphic novel. I think I am going to pick up something off the best sellers list and see what I think of it. Reading through “Kristy’s Great Idea” again provided myself with a quick, fun read. It allowed me to get more into what the characters were thinking and feeling, because I had little images of them and their facial expressions directly in front of me. Also, at times, it made it somewhat more humorous, especially when Stacey and Charlie meet. I started to giggle, because I remember the teenage giddy days.

Overall, great and fun read. The books are so much alike – the only difference is one is a graphic novel and the other is a novel!

"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak

This book is such a classic! I remember reading it when I was younger and it was certainly in my collection of books. I remember my Grandmother reading it to me when I was younger and telling me never to run off into an adventure like the little boy does in this story.

This book truly allows imaginations to run wild. I do not have much to critique because it is so wonderful! What could I possibly comment on – the entire book, front to back, is fantastic? I think that if anyone has the opportunity to pick this book back up, they will be allowing themselves to travel right back to their childhood.

"It's A Secret" by John Burningham

This is a very new, spunky children’s picture book in the curriculum lab. I came across it while searching for other fantasy books.  What I loved about the book the most were the illustrations and how great they are for children. They are somewhat unusual, but extremely colorful and really jump off the page. They are unusual, because it seems as if the Burningham used watercolors as well as colored pencils/regular pencils to do the illustrations. It is so unique.

This would be a great book to have students act out in a small group. The costumes in the book are fun and would be easily accessible if teachers are used to incorporating drama in the classroom. I highly recommend using this book in the classroom!

"Hedgie Blasts Off" by Jan Brett

This is not my “typical” choice for children’s literature. Although the book keeps you interested, I usually do not personally choose science fiction books. The book incorporates animals as the main characters that have to solve a problem in space. The pictures are entirely engrossing, but I had a difficult time staying involved with the book. However, that does not mean that younger boys and girls that are interested in this type of literature would not love it!

It would be a good book to incorporate into a science lesson. You could talk about all different facets of space and what is going on in the pictures. Perhaps someday I will be able to use this in my classroom, until then, I will just leave it on the shelf!

The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

Not only do I remember repeatedly reading this book when I was little (and watching the film), but my younger cousin Isabel went through countless “snowman” stuffed animals. She used the snowman as her safety net (I think she still has it to this day, but don't tell anyone!) We would go through the illustrations together over and over again. I do not know what it is about this book that I love so much, but I remember my imagination just running wild and how I couldn’t wait to read this book during the Iowa winters. It made me want to run outside and build a snowman of my own.

I think the illustrations are just beautiful and you truly feel for the little boy when the snowman is gone for good. His imagination has been running wild with the snowman and then he has melted away.  This will be a book that I will forever hold close to my heart!

Olivia Saves the Circus by Ian Falconer

I think the Olivia books are so much fun! The illustrations just crack me up! I love how the Falconer has incorporated random little pictures throughout the book. It makes you wonder who the picture is actually of and what the relation is to the author. Also, it was interesting to see at the end of the book that it was devoted to his mother. I thought that was sweet. This also makes you wonder what types of troublesome activities Falconer was up to when he was younger!

I think this would be a great story to read in a classroom or in individually with a child. There are various Olivia books out there and I personally love each and every one of them. They add a mysterious, silly twist to children’s picture books that are not only involved but also extremely enticing. 

"This Year's Garden" by Cynthia Rylant

I do not think that there is anything better than a book with great illustrations from front to back! There are gorgeous outdoor pictures of animals, sunsets, flowers, vegetables and families throughout the book. I loved it.

The book reminded me of when I was little. My grandparents called me their “little pea picker.” I would always go out and help pick the pea pods. It was easier on my back than theirs. I could spend hours in the garden helping my grandparents. I remember the first year that they did not plant the garden. They were beginning to get much older. It was so sad. I was just like the main character in this book, I looked forward to the garden every summer!

This was a really great picture book with beautiful illustrations and a great ending. I think it would bring a smile to anyone’s face. It was definitely a worthwhile read!

"A Was Once an Apple Pie" by Edward Lear

The illustrations in this book (by Suse MacDonald) were incredibly intricate and reminded me of Eric Carle. Especially the bear on page two. The book is focused around the alphabet. Every page introduces the letter and has something that is associated with that letter.

This is not a book that I would recommend for kids to read alone. Two reasons; first being, the book has a lot of rhyming that is not actual words. Such as, “beary, wary, hairy beary, taky, cary, little bear!” A new reader is going to look at the words and say, “WHAT IS THIS!!” Secondly, it does not have an exact story plot of them to follow. More advanced readers would have an easier time with this, however, younger kids would have a much more difficult time. I think it would be a great book to sit down with a child, read the story and talk about the illustrations. They are simply wonderful!

It was an overall okay book. Even thought I enjoy rhyming, I really think it is essential to have it with words that are actually in the English dictionary. 

"Bed Bugs" by Megan McDonald

This is about a little girl with a WILD imagination. She thinks of a variety of different ‘creatures’ that are taking over her home and bedroom before bedtime. In the end, you see all of them intertwined into the story. It was a read that was fun to use with all of the expression involved in the story.

It may be difficult for some students to follow while reading on their own. The dialogue between the girl and the father seemed a bit confusing for kids. After each phrase, the author has not indicated who is talking; instead italicized writing differentiates the father. It also may be more intriguing for some boys because of the intricate drawings with the animals (not that girls would not be interested, but I have some particular boys in mind that would LOVE the illustrations of the animals).

"The Bee Tree" by Patricia Polacco

One of my teachers this semester recommended Patricia Polacco as a read aloud with students. She was right! The illustrations are beautiful and they take up the entire page.

It starts out with a little girl who doesn’t want to read and expresses her boredom to her Grandfather. They go off on a bee chase that ends up including the entire town. The end result was they found the beehive that had all of the honey. Moral of the story, reading is just as adventurous and sweet as chasing bees to their beehive.

I think this would be a great read aloud for an entire class, working with just one student, or even for your own home. It has a great ending that hopefully would motivate most kids to open up a book and find the suspense and adventure from cover to cover.

"Breathless" by Lurlene McDaniel

When choosing this week’s novel, I went ahead and did some research on adolescent literature that shines a light on childhood cancer. It is something that I am very active with and it has played a huge part in my life. I came across this novel; it was brand new to the curriculum lab and the short description seemed incredibly intriguing.

I do not want to give away too much of the novel. It is about a teenage boy that gets diagnosed with bone cancer and his entire world is turned upside down. From the sports he is involved with, his younger sister, girlfriend, and best friend. One day he is an ordinary kid and the next day his entire world is turned upside down.

The book shows various sides to cancer. It brings into perspective the actual treatment for patients, what friends and family have to go through and most of all, how emotionally detrimental it is for the patient.

The book is intended for upper high school students. I say this, because it deals with euthanasia. The boy gets to a point where he just does not want to go on and end up living on life support with a feeding tube. There are certainly some touchy issues that a mature student would have to think through in a very understanding, positive light.

Overall, great novel. I would read it again any day. Definitely a tearjerker, but overall, an amazing book on childhood cancer.

“Puppy Mudge Has a Snack” by Cynthia Rylant

I had a child read this book to me. I think it is a great starting point for early readers. The pictures follow along with the story and are very clear. The words are either written at the top or bottom of the page in very black, bold print. It has a continuous theme throughout the story that is cute and the book allows kids to smile and giggle from the beginning to the end.

It also gave something for the child to talk about after we were finished with the book. We were able to talk about our own pets and if we had any personal stories of pets acting in the way Mudge does. When I met with the child again a week later he asked, “Are we going to read another book about Mudge?” He truly enjoyed the book and was hoping we were going to be able to share the same type of story together again. I will definitely use this book with other kids in the future; it was a great and fun read!

"The Babysitters Club" by Ann M. Martin

Ahh, the memories of adolescent literature. I remember reading this book when I was younger, probably in junior high or something. I probably thought to myself, “man, I should create my OWN babysitters club.” That obviously never happened. Therefore, I’ll just live through Kristy’s eyes of how amazing the babysitter;s club actually is.

I think books like this are important. Some of adolescent literature today sends young adults the wrong message. This is a great book that teaches young girls about family issues, the true meaning of friendship, keeping up with schoolwork, earning your own spending money and even health issues.

I know that back when I first read the first babysitter’s club book, I was hooked for the rest of the series! The book is a really great, easy read and that keeps you totally tied into what is going on. Thank you, Ann Martin! You created a great series that has been around for generations!

"Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire" by Diane deGroat

This book has A LOT jam packed into twenty-six pages. It includes history, problems between students, self-confidence issues and why it is important in today’s society NOT to announce anything about something being on fire in a classroom. What a disaster if the school had to be evacuated for no reason!

The synopsis on the book is rather simple; Gilbert does not want to participate in the school play, but eventually ends up memorizing his lines. He thinks someone has stolen his hat, when really he has just left it at home. He shouts, “liar, liar, pants on fire,” and someone tells the teacher that the school is on fire! By the end of it, apologies are accepted among the other students.

The book has an overall good intentions, it is just not my preferred style of writing for children’s literature!

"Fish is Fish' by Leo Lionni

I originally chose this book after skimming through it and looking at all of the beautiful and interesting illustrations. Even the cover of the book is extremely eye-catching. The illustrations almost remind me of Eric Carle’s work, however, I think this is done with colored pencils with texture or some sort of drawing technique, not a collage.

The book is written about a minnow and tadpole that are friends. Eventually the tadpole turns into a frog and leaves the water. The minnow, which turns into a fish, is so sad and lonely. He wants to be able to explore the world as well. He attempts to get out of the water and can’t breathe once he finally escapes. The frog saves him and places him back in the water. The fish says that he loves his home and doesn’t understand why anyone would want to leave!

The book is educational about water life about fish and teaches kids about friendship. It is a beautiful and interesting book. I would highly recommend for any teacher to incorporate this book into their classroom curriculum. I think students would really enjoy it!

"Curious George Goes Sledding" edited by Margaret and H.A. Reys

When is Curious George not up to trouble? Well, when George goes sledding, he finds himself in quite the pickle after he tears the hill down with a huge snowball. As he is running from the trouble he has found himself in, he notices that another little boy is in danger on a sled. He hops on, moves the sled to avoid hitting a tree and saves the boy’s life. Their parents are overjoyed. The people who were originally hit with the snow ball find George, see that he saved a life and he is congratulated rather than punished!

I love, love, LOVE Curious George books. I do not think that I have read this one since I was very little. They are so entertaining for kids and really get them to smile and giggle. He is quite the troublesome monkey, but he always finds himself the best way to get out of trouble!

"Bad Kitty" by Nick Bruel

I thought this book was really funny and cute. I caught myself smiling and giggling through parts of it. It almost felt as if a child was telling you the story of all the things that the kitty was doing wrong around the house. The illustrations followed the story line great and before turning each page and I took a little extra time examining each one.

Also, the book is very educational for pre-school to first grade students. It would be great to help kids understand the alphabet and get them started on reading text on their own. The writing is big and bold, it would be easy for a child to either begin reading or help you read with them. I am going to use this children’s book in the future, it is too much fun not use!

"A Far-Fetched Story" by Karin Cates

This was an interesting piece of children’s literature. I do not really know what to say or know how to organize my feelings about the book. I did not really like how the grandma continuously felt as if every one of the family members was ‘lying’ about what happened to their clothing. Is this supposed to be humorous for children?

I would not necessarily recommend the book to anyone. The illustrations are beautiful and filled color. The ending is full of happiness – it is just leading up to the ending that is too repetitive and tedious. 

"Just Juice" by Karen Hesse

This novel provided an interesting insight for students who come from a lower socioeconomic status. Juice has 4 other sisters, her father is illiterate and her mother is pregnant with another child. Juice struggles to read and truly hates school. The classroom and her teacher intimidate her, because she feels as if she is not smart and there is no hope. On a continuous basis, she skips school to spend time with her father; her parents are helpless in stopping her from doing so.

I liked the novel and I think it is a pretty easy and intriguing read. However, it did not give students that do have trouble reading any sort of inspiration. I wish it was an influential book that a teacher could read to a class of struggling students or that a parent could read at home. In the end, Juice’s family is getting back on the right track and Juice is required to go back to school, but it does not show her excited about going back to school. Once she gets there she turns into a success, but the book does not focus on that.

I enjoyed Hesse’s style of writing and I think it was fun novel to read. It includes various pictures throughout the text that relate to what the characters are going through during that time of the book. I hope to read more from Hesse in the future.