Tar Beach

Tar Beach

Written and Illustrated by: Faith Ringgold
Genre: Fantasy and Science Fiction
Grades: K-3
Awards: Coretta Scott King Award for Illustrators

Cassie is the main character in this book and Tar Beach is actually the rooftop of her apartment building. At "Tar Beach," it is where her parents eat dinner and play card games with their next-door neighbors, while Cassie and her brother lay on the mattress and enjoy looking at all of the city lights. She says that she feels rich with the skyscraper buildings surrounding her with the stars, but the George Washington Bridge is her most prized possession. Cassie is proud that her father worked on that bridge, by raising the cables, and that the bridge opened the day she was born in 1931. She believes that the bridge gave her powers to fly and have the freedom to go wherever she wants to go, like the ice cream factory, so that she can make sure her family has ice cream for dinner everyday, in her dreams. Cassie says that it is easy for anyone to fly and be free, just like the way she feels when she is on the "Tar Beach."

I enjoyed reading this book as I believe it makes your students use their imagination to be in a mindset where they can be free. This book would be good for Kindergartners to third grade. A way to incorporate this book is by asking the students what is their "Tar Beach" of where they feel free. It is easy to discuss this with your students and have them engaged.

The Polar Express

The Polar Express

Written and Illustrated by: Chris Van Allsburg
Genre: Fantasy and Science Fiction
Grades: K-5
Awards: Caldecott Medal

This book follows a boy, who on Christmas Eve, aboard a train that ended up at his house front steps. The conductor of this train explained that they are on the Polar Express and is on their way to the North Pole. The boy got on the train and saw other young children, sitting around, eating candies, drinking hot chocolate, and singing Christmas carols. The train traveled through the forests, a mountain, hills, plains, and then arrived at the North Pole. At first, the children did not see any elves, but the conductor explained that everyone is at the center of the city, waiting for Santa to give out the first gift of Christmas. All of the children got off the train and was standing at the center of the city with Santa. Santa selected the boy to pick and say what ever gift he really wanted. The boy expressed that he could have picked any gift in the world, but he wanted a silver bell from Santa's sleigh. Santa happily gave the boy the bell as the first gift of Christmas. It was time for Santa to leave to deliver the rest of the world's presents. The children went back on the train and they insisted on seeing the sleigh bell that the boy received. The boy went through his pockets but the bell could not be found. It was too late to get off the train to go searching for the bell. Once the boy arrived back at home, he went to sleep to await Christmas morning. In the morning, the boy and his sister went through all of their presents and his sister found a small box with her brother's name on it. The boy opened it and it was the sleigh bell that he lost from the night before. When he shook the bell, only him and his sister were only to hear the bell and not his parents. As years pass by, his little sister eventually were not able to hear the bell anymore, but it was only him that was able to hear it as he still believed.

This is a classic book that my elementary teachers would read to my class every Christmas time. This book is needed in every class and classroom library. This book is good for all grades from Kindergarten to fifth grade. I would have my students talk with each other what present they would love to have and I would also watch the movie of this book in my class.

They All Saw A Cat

They All Saw A Cat

Written and Illustrated by: Brendan Wenzel
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Grades: K-3
Awards: Caldecott Honor

This book follows a cat that explores the world. This book displays beautiful illustrations of what other animals perspectives of the cat. The pictures shows what a child, dog, fox, fish, mouse, bee, bird, flea, snake, skunk, worm, and a bat see of the cat. For example, a dog would see the cat as a skinny, scary cat, the fish see the cat all big and blurry, the bee see the cat in all dots and circles, and the flea see the cat by just his fur. The story ends with the cat walking up to a lake and seeing himself and the book asks the reader what we think the cat saw when he saw himself. 

I enjoy this book and would love to have this in my classroom. The illustrations are beautiful and it will most definitely have the students engaged. This book would be perfect for Kindergartners to fifth grade. An activity is for students to draw and explain themselves what these animals would see of them, like how would a snake see a human.  

Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus!

Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus!

Written and Illustrated by: Mo Willems
Genre: Fantasy
Grades: K-3
Awards: Caldecott Honor

This is a fun book that interacts with the reader. There is a bus driver that has to step away for a bit, but there is also a pigeon that desperately wants to drive the bus. The bus driver tells the reader to not let the pigeon drive the bus while he is away. The pigeon talks to the reader and try to convince the reader to let him drive the bus. The pigeon tells the reader that the pigeon will steer and that his cousin drives a bus almost every day, trying to support his idea. The pigeon tells the reader that he would pay five bucks, that the reader's mom would let him drive, that he'll be your best friend, and that he has his own dreams of being a bus driver. The bus driver comes back and the pigeon is scared away, until he sees an empty eighteen wheeler. 

I would love to have this book in my classroom as this is a fun interaction with the students during a read aloud. The students will be laughing and answering the questions that the pigeon asks. This book would be good for Kindergartners to third graders. For an activity, I would let my students come up with their own story if they did allow the pigeon to drive and what adventures he would experience. 

First Day In Grapes

First Day In Grapes

Written by: L. King Pérez
Illustrated by: Robert Casilla
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Grades: 3-5
Awards: Pura Belpré honor

In this book, a boy named Chico and his family moved to a camp in a grape vineyard. Chico's mother woke him up and told him to get ready for his first day of third grade at school. This wasn't his first time moving to a new school, as his family used to live on artichokes, onion, and garlic farms before. Chico saw no reason to go to school as he wanted to be a race car driver, but his mother informed him that his only job right now is to go to school. Chico got on the bus and was intimidated by these fourth grade boys, Mike and Tony. Chico went to his new class, Ms. Andrews, where he made a friend, John. Chico introduced himself to his classmates, and said the Pledge of Allegiance, which made him feel American. Ms. Andrew's first activity was to have Chico write a story about a picture he was give, which was a white house. Chico struggled to write and to find the right words to say, but he mentioned how we would like to have that nice house, as his current house has holes in the floor. During math time, Chico impressed Ms. Andrews with his fast addition skills. John implied that Chico should do the math fair next month, as he would do well in it. During lunch, Mike and Tony started to pick on Chico again. Chico stood up to Mike and Tony by informing them on how fast he can add in his head. All of Chico's classmates stood next to him and told Mike and Tony to back off. Mike and Tony left and everyone was happy that Chico was able to stand up to those bullies. Chico got on the bus to go home and introduced himself to the bus driver, with the bus driver remembering his name and being friendly to Chico. Chico arrived home and believed that he had a good first day of school.

I enjoyed reading this book and would like to have this in my classroom library. This book is good for third to fifth graders. Students can write and talk about their first day experiences and how they would be nice to a brand new student in their classroom.

Don't Hurt Me, Mama

Don't Hurt Me, Mama

Written by: Muriel Stanek
Illustrated by: Helen Cogancherry
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Grades: K-5
Awards: None

This book follows a young girl and just her mother, that lives together in a small apartment they just moved into. Before they moved, the young girl and her mother used to go to church together, where the young girl felt safe and happy, but once her father left, they stopped going out anywhere in general. Her mother cried that no one loved her, even though her daughter told her otherwise. Since moving and the divorce, her mother could not find a job, started drinking too much, and hit the young girl, even when she was not bad. One day, the young girl went home from school, but could not find her mother anywhere. A nice old lady told her that her apartment is open for the young girl and mother to visit anytime. Late at night, her mother finally came home and passed out on the couch, while the young girl went to bed, without any dinner. In the morning, her mother yelled at the young girl to make her own breakfast, but even got more angrier once she spilled the milk all over the table. The mother reacted saying that her daughter is no good just like her father and hit her with a belt. The young girl went to school and did not answer her teacher's questions if she was okay. She went to the school's nurse and the nurse figured out that the young girl was being abused by her mother. The mother informed her daughter that a social worker went to see her and that she is now attending a community health center. While the mother goes to the center, the young girl stays with their friendly, old lady neighbor. The young girl told her mother that they should go back to church again, so that they can feel safe and happy once more.

I believe this book is essential to have in everyone's classroom. This book should be read to Kindergartners and all the way to fifth graders. I would read this aloud to my students and inform them that it is important to tell an adult if they are being abused or beaten at home, and let them know that we as teachers are there for them and to take care of them.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Written by: Judith Viorst
Illustrated by: Ray Cruz
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Grades: K-5
Awards: None

There is a little boy, Alexander, who does not start his morning with a great start and it ends up being a terrible, horrible, no good, and a very bad day for him. He slept while chewing gum the night before and had it all over his head in the morning, he trips and his sweater drops into the sink with running water in it, and his brothers receive prizes in their cereal boxes, but he didn't. Alexander concluded that life will probably be better in Australia. He got the middle seat while carpooling, his teacher liked his classmates painting more and displayed it, he is no longer Paul's number one best friend, but his third. Alexander still experiences a terrible day. He finds out that he has a cavity while at the dentist, he fell in mud while his brothers made fun but Alexander was the one that got caught and was punished instead. Alexander went shopping but they didn't have the pair he wanted in his size and had to get plain white sneakers, and while waiting to pick up his dad from work, Alexander played with the copy machine when he was not suppose to, knocked over books on his desk, and accidentally called "Australia" on his father's work phone. Back at home, Alexander's bath was too hot, got soap in his eyes, his night light burned out, and his cat went to sleep with his brother and not him. Overall, his day was terrible and not good at all, but his mother explained that it is okay to have days that are like that, and that even people in Australia experience terrible days as well.

This is a great book to have in classroom library. This book would be good for students in Kindergarten to fifth grade. I would have my students create a t-chart of 3 things that may have ruined their day and 3 things that made their day well and have them compare and contrast between the two.

The Recess Queen

The Recess Queen

Written by: Alexis O'Neill
Illustrated by: Laura Huliska-Beith
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Grades: K-5
Awards: None

Mean Jean was the Recess Queen of her school. She bullied her classmates by pushing on them and running them over, if anyone dared to cross her paths. Everyone was afraid of her as she yelled and growled at her classmates, and she always got her way. One day, a new teeny, tiny student, Katie Sue, was brand new in their class. Once recess started, Katie Sue played with all of the fun outside activities before Mean Jean could ever get to those activities. Mean Jean made her way to Katie Sue and held her by the collar to tell her that she was in charge of recess. Katie Sue asked Mean Jean of how and why did she get so bossy. Katie Sue did not see Mean Jean as a problem, so she asked Mean Jean if she wanted to play and jump rope together. Katie Sue convinced Mean Jean to jump rope with her, and Mean Jean for once felt included in something with her classmate. Mean Jean and Katie Sue became good friends and started to play with the rest of her class.

I love this book and would love to have this in my classroom. This book handles on what bullying looks like and that how one person can change someone's life by being nice to them. This book would be good for Kindergarteners to fifth graders. A way to use this book in class is by having students list the characteristics of Mean Jean and sequence of how  Mean Jean became friends with Katie Sue.

Last Stop On Market Street

Last Stop On Market Street

Words by: Matt De La Peña
Pictures by: Christian Robinson
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Grades: PK-5
Awards: Newbery Medal, Caldecott Honor

This story follows CJ and his grandma taking the bus right after church. CJ keeps asking his grandma on why they have to take the bus instead of riding in a car. His grandma insists that there is more interesting people you encounter on the bus than you would in a car. CJ and his grandma talk about how the bus driver, Mr. Dennis, always shows them a magic trick. Grandma and CJ meet a man that is blind. He explains that he sees the world with his ears and nose. Grandma and CJ listened to the man with a guitar playing a song, that gave them imagination when they closed their eyes. Grandma and CJ get off at the last stop on Market Street and taken in the beauty of what people would see a dirty street with old buildings. Grandma and CJ make their way to the soup kitchen, where CJ is happy that they took the bus.

I would love to have this book in my classroom as we see CJ and his grandma taking in the beauty of their own neighborhood just by taking the bus. I think this book would be great for grades from PreK to all the way to fifth grade. The students can do an assignment on sequencing of who grandma and CJ encountered on the bus. I can also have the students write about what they see if they take the public bus with their family. The students write a short paragraph on what they think is beautiful about their own neighborhood. 

The Eye of The Pharaoh

The Eye of The Pharaoh

Written and Illustrated by: Iain Smyth
Genre: Pop-Up
Grades: 2-5
Awards: None

This book gives the reader hints and clues to figure out who stole the rare Egyptian relic, the Eye of the Pharaoh. This relic supposedly has magical healing power from the Egyptian gods. The characters involved in this mystery is Anne Hackette, Harry Ford, Ali-Bi, Marilyn Street, Cholë Petra, Bill Folds, and Dr. Doug Sands. These character arrive at the pyramid of Kha-Putt, and go in to explore. Some of the pop-up parts include Anne Hackette passport, Henry Ford's suitcase, and other pharaohs caskets. All of the characters arrive to a tomb and break the seal on the doors. What they don't know is that there is a terrible curse on that tomb once it is open. These curses include being chased by a mummy, scared by snakes, and plagued by a sleeping sickness. They enter the tomb (where a large pop-up of the tomb is shown) that has been sealed for 4,000 years and the party splits up with each other to explore the tomb. Right before the party leaves, Anne Hackette takes a picture of the tomb, and Ali-Bi is left to guard the tomb while everyone sleeps outside in their tents. During the night, the Eye of the Pharaoh is stolen while Ali-Bi was guarding it

The book gives the reader the decision to pick one of the three different endings of who stole the relic. One ending is that Anne Hackette did it because she wanted to keep her job as a journalist. The second ending is that Harry Ford and Marilyn Street stole the relic together, because their acting career was failing. The third ending is that Cholë Petra did it to cure her sick aunt.

I enjoyed this very much as it is very interactive for the students to read. It is neat that the students get to decide who stole the Eye of the Pharaoh based on the clues the book gives. This would be great for second to fifth graders to read. I would have my students decide one suspect and write about why they picked that person based on the clues.

Mr. and Mrs. Pig's Evening Out

Mr. and Mrs. Pig's Evening Out

Written and Illustrated by: Mary Rayner
Genre: Fantasy and Science Fiction
Grades: K-3
Awards: None

In this book, there is a family of ten piglets and Father Pig and Mother Pig. The mom and dad decided that needed a date night with just the two of them. The mother decided to have a babysitter look over the piglets as they went on their date. The ten piglets took their baths and got ready for bed. The babysitter came and her name was Mrs. Wolf. The mom and dad left and had Mrs. Wolf in charge, while the piglets were sleeping. In the middle of the night, Mrs. Wolf stopped her knitting and was feeling hungry and she turned on the oven and went upstairs to the piglets room. She grabbed one of the piglets, which woke up the rest of the brothers and sisters, and she took the piglet to the hot oven in the kitchen. The brothers and sisters rescued their brother by trapping Mrs. Wolf in a blanket and waiting for their parents to arrive. Once their parents have arrived, the father took Mrs. Wolf and threw her over the bridge into a river, and she was never heard of again.

This is a funny and light hearted book that I would like to have in my classroom. This would be great for Kindergarteners to third graders. I would have the students write or explain to the class what they would do if they had a bad babysitter like Mrs. Wolf and what kind of plans they would do to stop her. 

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse

Written and Illustrated by: Kevin Henkes
Genre: Fantasy and Science Fiction
Grades: 1-3
Awards: None

This book follows a mouse by the name of Lilly. Lilly loved everything about school, from the pencils, chalk, her own desk, cafeteria food, but most of all, she loved her teacher Mr. Slinger. Lilly and her friends inspired to be a teacher, just like Mr. Slinger. One day, Lilly brought her big glasses and brand new purple plastic purse that played music once it was opened. During school, she kept disrupting the class as she wanted everyone to know about her big glasses and her brand new purse. Mr. Slinger decided to take her things away until the end of the day, so it will no longer disrupt the class. Lilly was first upset but then grew angry and furious. Lilly decided to draw a mean picture of Mr. Slinger that labeled him as a thief, big, and fat and put it into his book bag. Once Mr. Slinger gave Lilly back her belongings, she found snacks and a note from Mr. Slinger saying that "Today was a difficult day. Tomorrow will be better." Lilly instantly felt bad and ran home to explain to her parents what had happened. That night, Lilly drew a nice picture of Mr. Slinger and wrote a story about how he is the most amazing teacher. The next day, Lilly gave Mr. Slinger the note and story and explained how truly sorry she was. He forgave her and the class enjoyed the snacks that Lilly brought and they danced to the music from Lilly's brand new purse.

This would be a good back to have in the classroom, as it teaches students what it means to be respectful during class time. This book would be good for first to third graders. The students can do a sequencing activity to explain the order of events in the book. The students can also write and explain to the class of what is and what is not acceptable to talk about during the class period. 

Pig Pig Rides

Written and Illustrated by: David McPhail
Genre: Fantasy and Science Fiction
Grades: K-2
Awards: None

This book follows a young pig and his mother discussing what he is going to do today. Pig Pig explained that he's going to deliver supplies, ride his race car for a new speed record, jump over 500 elephants on his motorcycle, race his horse, drive a train all the way to China, and drive a rocket to the moon. After Pig Pig's explanation of what he is going to do that day, he finished his breakfast, and went outside to ride his bike. His mother told him to be careful as she loves him.

I loved this book as it was super adorable to read and would like to have this in my classroom. This book would be good for Kindergartners to second graders. The students can write about what type adventures they like to go on outside of school. The students can also pick one of the activities that Pig Pig did and have them write about what they would do with that certain activity in their own way and adventure. 

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Retold by: Catherine Lukas and Pamela Pia
Illustrated by: Maggie Swanson
Genre: Fantasy and Science Fiction
Grades: K-2
Awards: None

This book follows four little bunnies and their mother. The mother allowed her little bunnies to go outside to play in the fields, but she had a rule that her children are not allowed to go into Mr. McGregor's garden, as it is a dangerous place for rabbits. As the mother went away to go to the market, the children went to play in the fields except for Peter. Peter was a naughty bunny and went into Mr. McGregor's garden. Mr. McGregor caught Peter eating his lettuce, green beans, and radishes, so he chased after him. Peter lost his jacket in the bush and hid in the tool shed, all while trying to runaway from Mr. McGregor. Mr. McGregor got tired of running after the bunny and stopped his chase. Peter was trying to find his way home and tried to receive help from a mouse and cat, but they were no help. Peter had to go through Mr. McGregor's garden one last time in order for him to make it back home, but Mr. McGregor didn't chase him this time. Peter made it home all safe and sound, as he rested and his siblings had supper. 

I would like to have this book in my classroom for my students to enjoy. This book would be good for Kindergarten to second graders to read. I would have my students work on sequencing and have them focus on what events came in what order.

Dear Mrs. LaRue

Dear Mrs. LaRue

Written and Illustrated by: Mark Teague
Genre: Fantasy and Science Fiction
Grades: 3-5
Awards: None

This book follows a dog, Ike LaRue, that is put into a dog obedience school after eating his owner's chicken pie. From Ike's perspective, he feels as if he is put into jail and sends his owner, Gretrude LaRue, typewritten and "paw" written letters. Ike over exaggerates in his letters throughout the book. For example, Ike writes how his teacher or warden commands orders to him, how he is "severely punished," and is taken away to a solitary confinement room, when all of it was fabricated. In reality, his teacher was giving dog treats to those who followed her commands and Ike used different books like "Gruesome Prison Tales" to use for his letters to his owner. Eventually, Ike escapes the dog obedience school and travels the world, while writing to Gretrude and how he quickly misses her. Ike comes back to town just in the nick of time to rescue his owner from an oncoming truck that was going to hit her. Gretrude celebrates Ike for rescuing her and that he is back home, to enjoy her chicken pie.

I enjoyed reading this book and would love to have this in my classroom. It is funny and something that third to fifth graders would enjoy. After reading this to my class, I would have my students write their own letters to Ike and ask him about his adventures in the dog obedience school and when he went traveling. This would help the students on how to write letters to their friends and family.

The War That Saved My Life

The War That Saved My Life

Written by: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Genre: Historical Fiction
Grades: 3-5
Awards: Newbery Honor

This novel follows a ten year old girl, named Ada, and her six year old brother Jamie, on a rough journey trying to gain freedom during the WWII. Ada was born with a clubfoot and has been abused and ridiculed by her own mother or also called mam, since she is embarrassed of Ada. While being forced and stuck in their small apartment all day long, Ada spends her time trying and learning to walk on her own, cooking and taking care of Jamie. 

Once WWII was declared, the government forced the children of London to move to a safer area, the countryside of England, Kent. There, Ada and Jamie is placed with Susan Smith. Susan is use to taking care of just herself, but later took on the motherly role towards Ada and Jamie. Ada learned how to ride and take care of a horse she fell in love with, Butter. Ada also learned how to read, write, sew, and walk properly with crutches. Ada and Jamie were able to experience what nature is like outside of muggy London. The both of them made friends with the soldiers at the airbase next to their house and with the rest of the villagers. But even more, Ada and Jamie experienced something different while living with Susan than with mam, motherly love that showed kindness, patience, and love. 

The children's mother finally came, after being reached to for months, to take Ada and Jamie home back to London, leaving Susan all alone again. Mam confessed to them that she ultimately did not want children and only had them since their father insisted. Ada and Jamie realized that their real home is back in Kent, with Susan. While mam went off to work at night, London was airstrike by Germany, forcing Ada and Jamie to seek shelter. The next morning, Ada and Jamie found Susan in the streets and was embraced in Susan's arms again. Once the three of them arrived back in Kent, Susan's house was bombed and completely gone when she left to search for Ada and Jamie. It is then that they realized that not only did Susan save the children's lives from mam, but that they saved her life from the bombing.

I absolutely loved and enjoyed this novel! I haven't teared up this much in a long time while reading a book. This is an essential to have in the classroom for the students to enjoy while reading. This book would be fitting for third to fifth grades. This book can introduce a unit about World Wars. This also encourages and teaches students on what it means to persevere through life challenges and conflicts.

Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night

Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night

Written by: Joyce Sidman
Illustrated by: Rick Allen
Genre: Poetry
Grades: 3-5
Awards: Newbery Honor

This book is a compilation of poems about active animals, trees, and the moon at night time. Some of these include snails, moths, crickets, bats, and more. Each poem has a beautiful illustration and interesting facts with it. The poems are educational and fun to read about throughout the book. The poem "Dark Emperor" describes owls perfectly. In the poem, it depicts the owl as very quiet and can hear the most quietest creature moving in the forrest. It also talks about how the owl's big eyes and movement of their heads can easily spot a prey to feast on. In "Moon's Lament," the poem explains that the things of nature at night time disappears once the sun is out. The moon expresses losing its glory and power since the day has come, but will come back again once the sun sets.

This book is great that talks about creatures being out during the night time. It gives students other options of animals that we are use to seeing during the day. This would be good for third to fifth graders to read. This would be good in a science classroom and during a lesson about animals, as it provides fun facts and illustrations to the reader.  

A Light In The Attic

A Light In The Attic

Written and Illustrated by: Shel Silverstein
Genre: Poetry
Grades: 2-5
Awards: None

This book is a massive collection of poems created by Shel Silverstein. There is over 150 pages and over 100 poems in this book. There is no one theme in this book, so these poems can be short, silly, serious, and overall entertaining to read. In "A Light In The Attic," I believe Shel Silverstein uses this poem to let the reader know that the person looking in, sees flickers of light in the darkness, whether it be dark thoughts or of the dark world. There is a sliver of hope or light when there are dark times.

One funny poem is "Prayer Of The Selfish Child." This follows the classic child's bedtime prayer, but the child praying says that if he happens to die tonight, that his toys will break for no one else to use. In the original prayer, it mainly talks about being kept safe through the night, but with this funny poem, the child wants his toys to be kept safe.

I really enjoyed reading the last poem of the book "This Bridge." This poem inspires the reader to go out into the world and explore the most crazy and amazing things out there, like "gypsy camps" or unicorns running free. But the last line can be a bit scary to the reader, you have to do it alone for no one else can do it for you.

This book is an awesome addition in the classroom. These poems are captivating to the reader and may inspire some. This would be good for second to fifth graders. For a lesson, the teacher can have the students draw out a selected poem from the book and express what they thought the poem meant to them. 

In For Winter, Out For Spring

In For Winter, Out For Spring

Written by: Arnold Adoff
Illustrated by: Jerry Pinkney
Genre: Poetry
Grades: 1-3
Awards: None

This book follows a girl named, Rebecca, and her experiences throughout the year are expressed through poems. The first season to start off this book is Winter. Rebecca talks about the snow starting to fall down onto the ground, her brother and father baking, letting her hair be free while sledding, and even finding a mouse in their warm kitchen. During the Spring time, Rebecca is gardening with her father, took in a stray dog, sees the bird and butterflies outside, and experience a thunder storm. During the summer season, Rebecca talks about the drought, flowers, insects, and staying up late. Fall is then mentioned. She talks about her grandmother and how the change in weather affects her grandmother's legs. Rebecca and her family go to a pumpkin patch in October and experience the cold breeze, which prepares them for Winter.

I would enjoy having this book in my classroom. This book would be perfect for first through third grade. This book can be taught in a science classroom, as they talk about the seasons. A way to use this in a reading and writing class is by letting the students select a season and write a poem about it. This allows the students to use their prior knowledge along with what they read from the book to help them.

Poem Stew

Poem Stew

Poems selected by: William Cole
Illustrated by: Karen Ann Weinhaus
Genre: Poetry
Grades: 2-5
Awards: None

This book is a collection of over 50 poems by various writers that include X.J. Kennedy, Dennis Lee, Ogden Nash, and more. All of these funny poems are all about food, ranging from breakfast to dessert. One of the poems I enjoyed reading in this book is "A Generous Man" by William Cole. This poem explains that a kind man will generously serve you the finest of foods. These foods include quail eggs, lobster, caviar, champagne, filet mignon, and more, but only if you pay him. This clearly indicates that this generous man is a waiter at a restaurant that will gladly serve you these top dishes, but it will come out of your pocket.

In "A Cucumber's Pickle," by William Cole, he explains the transformation of a cucumber to a pickle. A cucumber was yanked from it's luscious, leafy green bed in the field and thrown into a mixture of brine. The cucumber felt itself changing into a gloomy form and his attitude became mean and sour. Now, he is a pickle to be eaten by a "butcher or plumber." 

I would love to have this book in my classroom. These collection of poems are short, sweet, and funny for students to enjoy. This book would be great for second to fifth grade. A way to use this book in class is to have the students create their own poem about their favorite food. This will have the students easily involved as food is always easy to talk about with everyone.

Joyful Noise

Joyful Noise

Written by: Paul Fleischman
Illustrated by: Eric Beddows
Genre: Poetry
Grades: 3-6
Awards: Newbery Award

This book is great and meant to be read by two people at the same time. Each reader will take either the left-side or the right-side of the page and read as if it was a musical duet. There is a total of fourteen poems in this book talking about insects and the insect's point of view and how they interact with the world. These insects include grasshoppers, fireflies, cicadas, honeybees, crickets, and more. One poem I enjoyed reading from the book was "The Moth's Serenade." From a moth's perspective, they are completely in love with the porch light. The poem describes how the porch light is the moth's "soul desire" and "shining star" and how the moth would love to marry it.

The last poem in this book is "Chrysalis Diary." This caterpillar has its own diary of transformation from caterpillar to it becoming a butterfly. It starts off on November 13, where it starts to hang off a tree branch during winter time. On December 6, it feels all alone as color of the leaves have faded. On January 4, it notices that everything in the world became white from all the snow. On February 12, an ice storm frightened the little creature as branches fell and the noises were alarming. On March 28, the little creature felt itself evolve, grew wings, and have a different body shape. The butterfly finally had freedom to fly.  

I would love to have this book in my classroom as it teaches students about the insect world. Insects can be a bit scary, but having poems about them can be fun and enjoyable when learning about them. This book would be perfect for third to sixth grades. This book can be useful in a science classroom for a teacher to introduce insects to their students. In a reading and writing class, the teacher can give a student each a poem and have them draw what is going on during their poem and explain it to their classmates.