"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!