"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.