Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs

Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs 

Translated and Illustrated: Wanda Ga'g
Genre: Traditional Literature
Grades: 2-5
Awards: Caldecott Medal

This story follows a princess by the name of, Snow White. Once she was born, her mother passed away. Snow White's father married his new wife, now Queen, who was beautiful but vain. One day, the Queen asked her mirror "Who's the fairest one of all?" and the mirror answered Snow White. The Queen grew jealous of Snow's beauty, which caused her to run away into the woods to live. Snow found a hut where seven dwarfs lived. They agreed that if she would be their housekeeper, she can stay with them all safe and sound. One day, the Queen found out that Snow White was still alive and would disguise herself to kill Snow. The Queen was able to sell Snow a lace and tied her so tightly that she lost her breath. Another day, the Queen gave Snow a comb, but once placed in her hair, she fell to the ground. Thankfully during those two times, the dwarfs were able to save Snow White. But one day, the Queen made a poisonous apple that looked delicious to eat. Snow ate it and laid still, with no breath for years. Since the dwarfs were not able to save her, they placed her in a crystal casket on a hilltop. One day, a Prince saw Snow White laying in her casket and insisted on having and taking care of her. The Prince's servants happened to move the casket around, and a piece of the poisoned apple came out of Snow's mouth. She woke up and the Prince begged her to be his bride. The Queen was angered to find Snow alive and getting married, but when she was at the wedding, she was given red hot shoes to dance the wicked out of her life. The Prince, Snow White, and the seven dwarfs lived happily together.

I would enjoy having this book in my classroom, as it teaches the students the danger of vanity. The Queen could not accept the fact that she was not the most beautiful woman in the land. It teaches students that beauty comes within the person and not just on the outside. This would be a great book for second to fifth grade. I would draw a character web between Snow White and the Queen. I would have the students tell me what characteristics Snow and the Queen had. Then I would have the students create a story map of the setting, characters, problem, events, solution, and conclusion from the book. 

Stone Soup

Stone Soup

Retold and Illustrated: Marcia Brown
Genre: Traditional Literature
Grades: 1-5
Awards: Caldecott Medal

This book follows three soldiers that were on their way home from a war. They talked about tired they are and how they have not eaten for two days. A town nearby heard the soldiers were walking nearby, so all of the peasants in the town hid their food on top of roofs, under the beds, and in the cellars. The soldiers went to every door asking for food and a place to stay but everyone had an excuse they made up. The soldiers gathered all the peasants and explained that they will make a stone soup. They started off with a large pot, fire, water, and three round, smooth rocks. Then they said how salt and pepper will do the trick to make the soup better, so some of the peasants to get the seasonings. Then the soldiers said how carrots, cabbage, beef, potatoes, barley, and milk would make the soup amazing. The peasants were so intrigued with what the soldiers were making, so they grabbed all the ingredients, excited to taste the soup. The rest of town set up tables, brought bread, roast, and cider to the party. Everyone in the town and the soldiers drank, danced, laughed, and had a joyful time with each other. After the night, the soldiers were able to stay in different houses to rest. In the morning, the town gathered some supplies and said farewell to the soldiers as their new friends.

I would enjoy having this book in my classroom as it shows the students the meaning behind sharing with one another. The townspeople were greedy in the beginning of the story, but the soldiers were clever enough to trick them into sharing their food. This book would be great for first to fifth grade. For a lesson, I would bring actual soup that I would serve to the students. I would also bring the actual ingredients from the book to class and have the students act out what happened in the story. Then, the students will write a short paragraph about what it means to share their items with other people. 

Rumpelstiltskin

Rumpelstiltskin

Retold and Illustrated: Paul O. Zelinsky
Genre: Traditional Literature
Grades: 2-5
Awards: Caldecott Medal

This story follows a daughter of a poor miller. The miller encountered the king, impressing him that his daughter can spin straw into gold, even though it was a lie. The daughter was placed into a room full of straw and the king gave her until morning to spin all of it into gold or she would die. The daughter cried as she knew she could not do this task. A tiny man stepped in and told the miller's daughter that he could turn the straw into gold in return for her jewelry. The daughter was able to impress the king the next morning. This continued on two more times. The daughter giving her necklace and ring to the little man in exchange for gold string. The third time, the little man told her that when the daughter gets married and has her first born, he would be able to keep the baby. A year later, the king and the miller's daughter have a baby. The little man came and told her that he gives her three days to figure out his name and he would not get to keep the baby. The queen sent her servant into the woods, where she found out the little man's name. The little man came and the queen was able to tell him his name, Rumpelstiltskin. Rumpelstiltskin flew out the window and the queen and her baby was at peace.

I would like to use this book in my classroom as it teaches the students about lying and the consequences of being greedy. This would be a perfect book for grades second through fifth. I would have my students write a reflection of a time they were once greedy or lied and what were the consequences they experienced and what they learned from it.

The Three Little Pigs

The Three Little Pigs

Retold and Illustrated: Steven Kellogg
Genre: Traditional Literature
Grades: PK-3
Awards: None

There was a momma pig named Serafina. She had three piglets named Percy, Pete, and Prudence. The momma pig had a dream to bring waffles across the world. She created her own waffle iron and went around her town serving her neighbors. Once Serafina three piglets grew up and graduated from school, she decided to give them her waffle business and retire at the Gulf of Pasta. While taking care of their family business, a wolf named Tempesto decided that he wanted the pigs for breakfast and not the waffles. Percy, Pete, and Prudence ran to their own houses to escape from Tempesto. Tempesto was able to blow down Percy's straw bungalow and Pete's log cabin. All of three pigs were able to make it safe to Prudence brick cottage. Serafina heard that her children were in trouble and made it in time to catch the wolf in their waffle iron and smother him in syrup, butter, and powered sugar. They sent Tempesto away to Gulf of Pasta where he learned his lesson and did not disturb anyone. Percy, Pete, and Prudence all got married and had children. Serafina was able to live her dream as her grandchildren were able grow her waffle business around the world.

I would love to have this book in my classroom as it teaches the students that hard work pays off. Serafina worked hard for her waffle business to grow around the world. It also teaches the students not to be mean or rude like Tempesto as you will get in trouble and your bad schemes will backfire on you. This book would be perfect for Pre-K through third grade. This book would be a great read aloud and have the students practice on sequencing stories. The students could also write a small paragraph of what materials they would use if they were in the situation of the pigs.

Hansel and Gretel

Hansel and Gretel

Retold and Illustrated: James Marshall
Genre: Traditional Literature
Grades: 2-5
Awards: None

Hansel and Gretel follows two young children of a poor woodcutter. There has been a famine in their land and food was hard to access. The woodcutter's wife was worried about the famine and also believed that Hansel and Gretel were eating everything. The wife came up with a plan to take their children into the woods and leave them there with only a piece of bread to survive, but the father did not like this idea. As they were walking into the woods, Hansel laid white rocks with the path they were taking, so they can retrace their steps back home. Once Hansel and Gretel returned home, their mother was surprised to see them, but she somehow convinced them again to follow her into the woods. This time, Hansel and Gretel were not able to trace their way back home and ended up at a witches, sugary house. The witch captured Hansel and tried to fatten him up for her to eat. Thankfully, Gretel was not held captive and was able to push the witch into an oven, killing her. Hansel and Gretel were able to escape the witches house with gems and returning home to their loving father, while their mother have passed away.

I would love to use this book in my classroom, as it teaches the students not to trust strangers, not matter how nice they might be. The witch offered Hansel and Gretel food and a place to sleep at, but the witch didn't really help them, but she was only in it for herself. This would be a perfect book for second to fifth grade. I would first read this aloud to my students, then I would have my students fill out a sequencing chart of what happened in the book and have them draw pictures of each sequence.

Wonder

Wonder

Author: R.J. Palacio
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Grades: 3-6
Awards: Bluebonnet Award, The New York Times Best Seller, An E.B. White Read Aloud Award Winner

This novel follows August Pullman, a boy born with a facial deformity, going into the fifth grade. August's parents have felt that it is finally time for him to attend public school. The principal of Beecher Prep, Mr. Tushman, organized a welcoming committee for August, where he meets Jack, Charlotte, and Julian. They show August the ins and outs of Beecher Prep and to prepare him for his first day of school. Once school starts, he befriends Jack and a girl named Summer. August begins to realize that it is becoming harder for him to fit into school because of the way he looks. His classmates would pretend that he would have the plague and people would join Julian along in making fun of and bullying August. August had to deal and figure out who is true friends are, especially with Jack. He discovered that Jack is actually a good friend when he punched Julian in the face, in defense of August. The big turning point in this novel happened when the students went on a school retreat. Once encountering other students from a different school, August was immediately bullied for his appearance from these strangers. Jack and Julian's friends, that used to make fun of August, stepped in to stop these bullies. August became popular and was accepted among his classmates for the person he is and not by his looks.

I would love to use this book in my classroom as it demonstrates to not judge a book by its cover, or to not judge someone just by the outwardly appearance. This book would be great for those in third to sixth grade, as the students reading this will be around the same age as the characters. In my classroom, I would split my students into groups and have them discuss what they have read and learned. I would then have my students write their own precepts and give a little description as to why they chose that precept.

Introduction

Hello and welcome to Annie's Reading Corner! I'm Annie and I am a future elementary educator. I believe that reading opens many doors to new experiences and that it takes you on a journey. Now let's see where it takes us!