Poem #3 A Pizza the Size of the Sun

Title: A Pizza the Size of the Sun
Author: Jack Prelutsky
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Date: September 16, 1996
IBSN: 0688132359

Summary: This book is poetry poetry, and more poetry. Jack Prelutsky writes a bunch of poems that include beloved characters Like Miss Misinformation that children will adore. This book is funny, clever, and it is one that will be enjoyed by all ages.


Evaluation: This book is one of many Jack Prelusky books that I feel most children will come to enjoy. The stories are very funny, and these are great if you want to have students read a bunch of poems during free time that will interest them in poetry. I think it is important to expose  young students to poetry, and do it in a fun way so that it will give them the opportunity to embrace the concept of poetry. This, and many other poetry books for children are perfect for giving students a fun read.

Poem #2 A Child's Garden of Verses

Title: A Child's Garden of Verses
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Date: February 1, 1999
IBSN: 0689823827


Summary: This book is a book filled with the emotions of a child. The feeling of joy, sorrow, fantasies, and even fears are all represented in this book of poems, and is a book of happiness. 

Evaluation: I never heard of this book until I discovered it recently, and it is a very good book. It gives so many emotions that are set into poems but these emotions are in the perspective of a young child. Children will be able to relate to this book because it is meant for children, and I think it is a good book to read to students and children at home because it will give different feelings, and allow children to connect, and relate to it.

Poem #1 Where the Sidewalk Ends

Title: Where the Sidewalk Ends
Author: Shel Silverstein
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Date: November 20, 1974
IBSN: 0060513039 


Summary: Where the sidewalk ends is classic, and gives a bunch poems that every kid will enjoy. There are tons of ridiculous poems of a boy for example who turns into a Television. There is even a poem where a girl eats a whale. This book has tons of poems that have many different topics. 


Evaluation: The Sidewalk Ends was a favorite of mine, and it really made me love poetry even more because it brought out the humorous side to poetry. I always loved poetry, and this book personally helped me love it more. I think this is a perfect book to help students, and young children see the fun side of poetry, and it would be great to read it to them as a fun story during a circle read, or at night. 

Historical Fiction 3: (my favorite ) Number the Stars

Title: Number the Stars
Author: Lois Lowry
Publisher:Mass Market Paperback
Date: February 9th, 1998
IBSN: 0440227534

Summary: The story follows ten year old Annmarie Johansen, and friend Ellen Rosen in 1943. They live in Copenhagan and the Nazi soldiers are marching everywhere, the food is growing scarce, and school is starting to become the least of there worries. The war is a huge impact on all there lives, and soon there is to be a bigger issue on Annmarie and Ellen's hands. Annmarie must help her friend on the most dangerous mission ever. 


Evaluation: This book once I read it in 4th grade stuck to me, and impacted me greatly. I knew about the holocaust. I knew about it vaguely, and to a 4th grader, the details were not yet fully explained about the true horror of the event. This book however, gave such a great perspective, and feel for how it was life in Denmark, and Germany at the time when the Nazi's were invading. I remember later in 5th grade seeing a play for school about the Holocaust,  and hearing a actual survivor, and hearing that while thinking of this book really opened my eyes, and I think this book is a great read. I recommend reading this, and having it in your library. 

Historical Fiction 2: Magic Treehouse

Title: Twister on Tuesday
Author: Mary Pope Osborne
Publisher:Random House Books
Date: March 1st, 2001
IBSN: 0679890696

Summary: The Magic Tree house series does it again with another story of Jack and Annie going back in time. This time the time period where Jack and Annie land is in the 1870's. They land near a one room school house which is really cool, and all but something big, scary, and destructive may hinder there fun journey. Can you guess what?


Evaluation: I love this book. This was my go to read when I read this series, and I personally loved the tornado aspect of the book. This series although it has the magic aspect of the time machine tree house, it does give a sense of what time period, and what it was potentially like back in the time period when the story takes place. I enjoy these books, and I think future students will too. 

Historical Fiction: Samantha: An American Girl

Title: Samantha: An American Girl
Author: Susan S. Adler
Publisher: American Girl
Date: January 1st, 1986
IBSN: 0937295809 

Summary: Samantha Parkington is from the Victorian time period. She has a wonderful life living with her Grandmother in the year 1904. She has everything she every wanted with happiness, and care. She soon comes to learn though, that everyone else may not have the same luxuries, and things she may have. Her soon to be best friend Nellie who moves in next door, and she makes it her mission to help her best friend in the hardest of times.


Evaluation: I really enjoyed these books as a child, and I have the Samantha doll myself from when I was little. This series does give an idea the time period to which the story was set, and even though the characters are not real, it gives an idea the clothing, the morals, the society and how people were viewed back then. The series has many different eras, and it is very popular among young girls. 

Informational 3: Eyewitness: Cat

Title: Cat
Author: Juliet Clutton
Publisher: Knopf Books
Date:January 1st, 1960
IBSN: 0679814582 

Summary: The Cat book from the eyewitness series is great to show the anatomy and the timeline to which felines have evolved into. I loved reading this book for the pictures, and the facts they gave about the history, and they really planned each page with solid information about cats. The cats book is really cool because it also talks about the history back during the Egyptian time when supposedly cats were popular among the Egyptians. 

Evaluation: This series has so many books on so many various topics, its amazing how many topics they have done since the series first came out. They even have a book on "monsters" aka gross animals and weird animals that in the TV series it aired around Halloween so it created the somewhat scary effect. I remember watching that episode in my class. Even though the book series gives sometimes silly concepts like monsters, it gives serious interesting information that really opens your eyes to the different topics, and things in the world, but at the same time giving really cool topics like Cats, and planets. 

 

Informational Text 2: Eyewitness: Rocks and Minerals

Title: Rocks and Minerals
Author:Steve Parker
Publisher: Knopf Books
Date:April 12, 1988
IBSN: 0394896211

Summary: The Eyewitness series dives into Rocks and Mineral for this book, and it talks about all the different kinds including gems, gemstones, and everything in between. The pages explain all kinds of information about these different rocks, while displaying beautiful pictures as a visual for students to see what each rock, mineral, gem, and gemstone look like.



Evaluation: Even though the Eyewitness series is the same concept, the topics never get boring, and it is such a great series, that the only thing I thought of when thinking of informational text, was this series. This series is such a great series to have in your library because we have read these books during our primary school experience, and it would be great to have our future children, and students reading these.

Informational Text: Eyewitness: Horse

Title: Eyewitness: Horse
Author: Juliet Clutton
Publisher:Alfred A. Knopf
Date: January 1st, 1960
IBSN: 067981681X

Summary: The Eyewitness book that is being mentioned in this blog is about horses. This informational book does not give a story line. The book does give information about horses, and gives pictures on every page that help readers understand all the aspects of a horse which is why the Eyewitness series is so popular, and has been for a while.




Evaluation: This book series is my all time favorite informational book series. Between the books, and the hit TV series that we watched all the time in our Science classes in Elementary school, I always loved the information they gave, and how they explained the information. The books give bursts of information on every spot on the pages, and the illustrations are so bold, vibrant, and big. If you saw the Horse book, and opened it up, the pictures would be so bold you could get a great sense of all the characteristics and details of a horse just by looking at the image. I really enjoy these books because even though the information may be all over each page, and it can be a lot to look at, it is information that interests you to go on, and look at every single detail, that is why my other two blogs are going to talk about two different eyewitness topics.

Fantasy Post #3 The Wonderful Wizard of OZ by: L. Frank Baum

Title: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Author: L. Frank Baum
Publisher: Penguin
Date:May 17th, 1900
IBSN: 0140621679

Summary: The famous tale of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a classic that focuses on the girl with the blue and white dress with pigtails and her little dog Toto. When a tornado whirls through her town in Kansas she ends up getting thrown into a magical land and must find her way home. With the help of the Tin man, Scarecrow, Glinda the good witch, and the Cowardly Lion they must try to get to the Emerald City to see the Wizard. Let's hope the Wicked Witch of the West  with her winged monkey's do not get in there way too much. 

Evaluation: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was always my favorite, and when the movie came out it made me re-imagine the whole fantasy world of Oz all over again. Children will definitely love this story, and they will fall in love with all of the characters. I think this is a fantastic classic fantasy story that should be read at some point to your students/children. I highly recommend this story.

 

Fantasy Post #1 Matilda by: Roald Dahl

Title: Matilda
Author: Roald Dahl
Publisher: Puffin
Date: June 1st, 1988
IBSN: 0141301066

Summary: The story of Matilda is about a young girl who has a gift. She can do so many mature things at such a young age that most people do not do until there way into there young adult lives. Matilda is a curious, smart, and sweet girl  who only wants to go to school, and make friends. According to her new teacher Miss. Honey, she is a remarkable child, and is destined for many great accomplishments in life, but to her family, and her new principal Miss. Trunchbull, they think otherwise and not in the good way.


Evaluation: The story of Matilda is a touching story filled with laughs, sad moments, and situations that you cannot help but relate to while reading. I remember I always wanted a teacher like Miss. Honey, and I feel like all children would love a teacher like that. This is a great story to read because  I think children will be able to relate to it in some aspects, and it will be great for discussions. I recommend this book, and I personally will be having this book handy to read at some point whether it is in my class or with my own children in the future.

 

Fantasy Post #2 Charlie and The Chocolate Factory

Title: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Author: Roald Dahl
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf then Puffin Books
Date: 1964
IBSN: ISBN 9783125737600 

Summary: We all know the story of young Charlie Bucket who dreams of getting a golden ticket to visit the one and only Mr. Willy Wonka. The story of Willy Wonka follows the famous group of children who find the iconic golden ticket to visit Mr. Wonka along with one of there parents. The story goes to each child and what happens along the way though the tour of Mr. Wonka's factory. 

Evaluation: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a great story that was a personal favorite along with the movie that followed staring Gene Wilder as Mr. Willy Wonka. It is a great story for older students to read, and even great for teachers to read in segments to give students a great fantasy story that incorporates magic within human situations, and events. I would highly recommend reading this story to your students, having it in your library, and reading it to your kids. 

#3: Smash! Crash! Jon Scieszka

Smash! Crash!
Jon Scieszka
Jan 8th 2008 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young 

Readers

IBSN: 1416941339 (ISBN13: 9781416941330)

Summary: This book is a series that Jon Scieszka wrote that focuses around trucks. This particular book is about two trucks who like to do nothing but Smash and Crash things. They end up doing just that in everything they do, and they seem to feel as though they end up getting in trouble after doing so. What will happen to these two trucks?

Evaluation: I think this whole book series is fun, and is definitely a good way for children specifically boys to be interested in. In terms of applying it to any academics, it could be used for a couple of things, but I think this book would be more beneficial for a enjoyable purpose. 

#2 Realistic Fiction The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
Jon Scieszka
March 1st 1996 by Puffin Books
IBSN: 0140544518 (ISBN13: 9780140544510)

Summary: You know the story of the three little pigs. Sure the big bad wolf caused all the havoc, and mischief when it came to the poor three little pigs. This story contradicts what really happened between the three little pigs, and the wolf. Want to know more? Read The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. 

Evaluation: I think this story is fantastic because it puts a nice spin on the classic tale that we have all heard from way back when. It has humor, and that is what makes the book unique, and great because students will find it hilarious that the wolf is telling his side of the story, and making it seem like a complete accident, and it was all merely innocent circumstances. I highly recommend this book, and I encourage it as a fun read. 

(Book Talk Week Jon Scieszka) Realistic Fiction #1 Science Verse

Science Verse
Jon Scieszka
Viking Press
September 23, 2004
IBSN: 0670910570 (ISBN13: 9780670910571)

Summary: When a young boy ends up getting not a math curse, but a science curse by his teacher Mr. Newton he begins taking famously known poetry, and turning it into Science Poems. Gross poems, poems about the earth, and space, and he cannot stop the curse at all. Will he ever stop thinking about Science Verses?

Evaluation: This book is a great book not just for the humor of it, but for the actual facts it gives throughout these humorous yet accurate poems. This book would be the perfect book to read to your students to get them hooked onto science, and even during specific lessons in order to introduce them to a topic in a funny, way. 

Fairy tale/Folktale #3: The Tortoise and The Hare by: Jerry Pickney

Title: The Tortoise and The Hare
Author: Jerry Pickney
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Date: October 1st, 2013
IBSN: 0316183563 (ISBN13: 9780316183567)

Summary: The story of The Tortoise and The Hare is one that sets a good moral that "Slow, and steady wins the race." The Tortoise and The Hare are racing each other, but who will win?

Evaluation: This book is great to show, and read to children because not only does it have a

great moral, and take away, but it does it in a fun, and upbeat way that children will get, and it will attracted both girls, and boys because of the characters, and the story line. 

Fairy tale/Folktale #2: The Gingerbread Man By: Karen Schmidt

Title: The Gingerbread Man
Author: Karen Schmidt
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: January 1st, 1980
IBSN: 0590410563 (ISBN13: 9780590410564)

Summary: The Gingerbread Man is the classic story of the Gingerbread Man who thought he could outrun anything. He outran everyone. Then, he meets a fox, and then the challenge begins.

Evaluation: This story is a classic story that is fun, and something every child should know. This particular book is easy for young children to read so this particular version would be great for younger children, and a great read aloud which can later be used when the students can read it by themselves. I read this particular version growing up in my Elementary school, so it is a great version to read.

Fairytale/Folktales: The Irish Cinderlad by: Shirley Climo

Title: The Irish Cinderlad
Author: Shirley Climo
Publisher: Harper Collins
Date: January 26, 2000
IBSN: 0064s435776 (ISBN13: 9780064435772)

Summary: The Irish Cinderlad is a twist on the classic Cinderella story except the main character is a boy which is depicted as Cinderlad. This is a Irish fairy tale, and it tells a story of a boy named Becan. In the begining of the story, his worries are simple, but when his father remarries and his stepmother and her three daughters come into play, They are mean to Becan, and as a result, he runs away. As he runs away, he befriends a magic bull who helps Becan defeat monsters, and save the princess. As the original Cinderella goes but with a twist, Becan leaves behind his boot which the princess finds, and wishes to find the boy who this boot belongs to and thank him, and potentially marry. 

Evaluation: The original tale of Cinderella is a classic that should be read to young students, and children, however, this book is a great twist to the original story, and gives the same story but in a different point of view. While the original Cinderella may appeal to girls, The Irish Cinderlad could appeal to boys, and that would be a great variety to have in the class and/or in your book collection. 

Banned Book #3: Cactus Soup by:Eric A. Kimmel

Title: Cactus Soup
Author: Eric A. Kimmel
Publisher: Amazon Publishing
Date: 2004
IBSN: 2003009110

Summary: This was the time of the Mexican Revolution. A group of soldiers come into a town looking for food, the townspeople wanted there food hidden. They made it look like they were poor. The soldiers do not believe it, and they end up tricking the townspeople to make a soup with water and a cactus thorn.

Evaluation: This book is interesting because the story line is definitely unusual, and strange. The idea of the topic of the story involving war, soldiers, trickery, and the townspeople depicting themselves as poor is a very big concept, and to little kids, I am not so sure how that is appropriate. I think the pictures, and the colors are vivid and nice to look at, but the story itself is not something I would choose to have in my classroom. 

Banned book #2: And Tango makes 3 by: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Title: And Tango Makes 3
Authors: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Publisher: Simon and Shuster 2005
IBSN: 978-1-4814-4994-6

Summary: This book is about two penguins in the Central park zoo who are unique and different from the other penguins. They are two male penguins named Roy, and Silo who want a baby penguin of there own. 

Evaluation: This story, while it is similar to King, and King in terms of the topic is a story that is a little bit friendlier in terms of the characters chosen which are two penguins. I think the layout of the story is good with its illustrations. The text is very straightforward, and it is something I think older elementary students/children would read rather than younger children. The text vocab is simple, but it is a fair amount of text on each page. I think this book is one that needs to be thought about before reading just because it is very straightforward with the story, and its words. I personally probably would not have this particular book in my classroom library, but If I knew one of my students could relate to it, I would recommend it for them.

Banned Book #1: King and King by: Linda De Hann

Title: King and King
Author: Linda De Hann
Publisher: Tricycle Press
IBSN: 1-58426-061-2

Summary: The story King and King is about a young prince who's mother is insisting he marry. She lines up all these young princesses to get to know the prince, but the prince was not interested. Eventually when one princess comes with her brother, something unexpected occurs. 

Evaluation: The story is definitely controversial, and to some people it is not the appropriate book to read as well as teachers reading it in the classroom. Even though the topic is not the most common topic in the classroom, or in the home setting, there are children who will relate the idea of having two dad, or two moms, and it will be normal to them. The book does go about the topic in an appropriate, and mindful way, and the illustrations, and text are intriguing. I think this books would be good for children who can relate to this story, and give a fairy tale twist that they can connect to.

 

Picture Book 3: Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

Title: Stellaluna
Author: Janell Cannon
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
IBSN: 978-0152062873

Summary: Stellaluna is about a baby fruit bat named Stellaluna who gets knocked out of her mothers embrace by an owl. She lands into a strange nest that is occupied by a mother bird and her babies. She is then taken into there family, and Stellaluna has to adapt to the lifestyle of the birds herself even though that is not who she is, or who she wants to be. 

Evaluation: This a story has a great moral. It is a story that has a great plot, and it is filled with detailed pictures. The story itself is written very well, and the idea of a cute fruit bat is adorable. I remember personally reading this book when I was little, and I from that point on loved bats, I also remember the two additional pages in the end of actual facts of bats. I think that was a great addition to the book, and I think it is a great story to read. I highly recommend this book. 

Picture Book 2: The Polar Express By: Chris Van Allsburg

Title: The Polar Express
Author: Chris Van Allsburg
Publisher:Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
IBSN: 9780395389492

Summary: The Polar Express is a beloved popular book that shows readers the true magic behind the Holiday Season. A boy Christmas Eve hears a strange noise coming from outside his house. He finds a train stopped outside his home. He is then given the choice to board the Polar Express. He chooses to go on, and the magical journey to the North Pole begins to see who will receive the first gift of Christmas from Santa himself. 

Evaluation: The book has been a huge hit for the Christmas season, and has even been transformed into a movie. The story is beautifully written, and gives such a strong fulfilling meaning that adults, and children can relate to. The pictures are beautifully illustrated, and give great detail that pair with the story itself. Van Allsburg wrote this story very well, and he gives such vivid images with each word he wrote on each page. This would be a great story to read aloud, and to have children view the pictures. 

Picture Book 1: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

Title: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Author: William Steig
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
IBSN: 0-671-66269-4

Summary: Sylvester and Magic Pebble is a cute story about a cute donkey named Sylvester Duncan. He loves to collect cool pebbles for his collection. One day he finds an unusual pebble, and realizes it grants wishes when you hold it. On his way home to show his mother and father, he runs into a lion and in fear wishes he were a rock. He can no longer hold the pebble, and he is in fear he will be a rock forever. His parents search, and feel sad for fear they will never see his son again. They end up many months after find the pebble, and place it on the rock during a picnic, and they both along with Sylvester the rock wish they could see there son again, and he turns back into a donkey. 

Evaluation: The story has a bunch of emotions that really capture all readers young, and old. The story is well written, and the layout of the book is perfect for readers because it does not have too much text on each page, and the illustrations are colorful, big, and detailed. The plot is perfect, and it is a very cute story. Both adults, and children can relate to the story of the Duncan family, I highly recommend having this in your school, or home library because it is a great story that has great elements to it. 

Decodable 3: The Sad Cat

Title: The Sad Cat
Author: Bobby Lynn Maslen
Publisher: Scholastic
IBSN: 0-439-14509

Summary: A cat was sad that a rat had a hat, and a car, and the cat watched the rat have fun and the cat grew sad. The rat later had the cat join in on his fun, and they were happy.

Evaluation: The Sad Cat adds more short vowels to the same sounds. It is a very quick, simple story that again does not really have a plot line other than the cat was sad, and then gets happy It does get the vowel sounds, and words involved in a text format which does help.

Decodable 2: Sox the Fox

Title: Sox the Fox
Author: Bobby Lynn Maslen
Publisher: Scholastic
IBSN: 0-439-14504-X

Summary: Sox the Fox wanted the hen, the hen ran and told the rat to run and it went in an order from the rat to the cat to the dog to the pig to "run." 

Evaluation: The short vowels were used again only adding a few more words to each vowel sound that was in the Fun in The Sun book. It was a bit more intriguing the story with a bit more interest to it, but it does help with short vowels. 

Decodables (Bob Books): 1: Fun in The Sun

Title: Fun in The Sun

Author: Bobby Lynn Maslen
Publisher: Scholastic
IBSN: 0-439-14499-X

Summary: Family is at the beach, and they tell there activities at the beach.

Evaluation: This and the other two I chose were about the short vowels. The Short vowels that were chosen were Aa, Ee, Oo, Uu, and sight. They had the different words which consisted of 22. It was a pretty boring, and simple story, but it does help with the short vowels. There does not seem to be any real rhyming or rhythm to the book which would definitely help, but it does help with the sounds within the words. 

Sector 7 By: David Wiesner

Title: Sector 7
Author: David Weisner
Publication/Date: Clarion Books, 1999
IBSN: 0-395-74656-6

Summary: Sector 7 is about a boy who on a school trip to New York City, specifically the Empire State Building, comes across a friendly cloud that takes him to a place known as Sector 7. He finds out there how clouds are formed, shaped, and channeled.

Evaluation/Rating: The book is beautifully illustrated, and from the beginning to end, you get a feel for the story even though there are no words in the entire book. Wiesner does a fantastic job depicting the details of the clouds, and the scenery. The colors used are brilliant, and for that I give it a 4.

Tuesday By: David Wiesner

Title: Tuesday

Author: David Wiesner

Publisher/Date: Clarion Books, 1991

IBSN: 0-395-55113-7

Summary: Tuesday by: David Wiesner is a wordless picture book about frogs who while the world peacefully sleeps, explore houses, and float through the air on there lilly pads. It is a fun fictional story that lets the imagination soar. 

Evaluation/Rating: Tuesday seems to be a fun book, that has magnificent illustrations, and they are big with vibrant colors. Wiesner does a fantastic job with the beautiful pictures of the frogs, and the lilly pads as well as the scenery around town on that Tuesday evening. The pictures fill up the whole page which is great for children that way they can see better. I would give this book a 4 because it is very detailed with its pictures, and it is a very creative story.