"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.