Ten Black Dots By: Donald Crews

Title: Ten Black Dots
Author: Donald Crews
Publisher/Date: Scribner, 1968
ISBN: 9780688060688

Summary: Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews is a counting book that uses black dots as the main representation of counting. Within the book the dots go through each number 1-10 and give examples of how many dots there are, With the idea of counting dots within each page, the book gives pictures too in correspondence with the words and counting numbers. 

Evaluation/Rating: In evaluating this book, I read it a couple times once to read it for the first time, and the second time to thoroughly evaluate it. Upon reading it once through, I thought to myself how I liked the different examples of each counting number. For example, when the book said that two dots can make the eyes of a fox or the eyes of keys that open locks. Not only is it giving you math, but it is also giving you knowledge of names of different parts of a key, and it is giving you names of different facial features,The second time was when the idea that the book gives you two example of where the specific number of dots can be used is a great way to help students get a number of different examples of ways to make 2 or 3 so children can count it out. The big black text is a great visual for children as well which is a great attribute to the book. I like how teachers can incorporate vocabulary too from the book. It also includes rhyming which is a great literacy skill. In terms of rating I would give this book a 4 because it does have great examples, and it has bold texts, and great pictures to aid the reader for counting purposes.  I think if they included a page at the end where they did not show the dots in each number column like they did with the one page, and made an opportunity for the students to fill it in as a class with the teacher that would have been a great way to practice. The last page with the dots in the correct number  columns is great, I personally would have added in a fill in page for practice. 

**** 4

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By: Bill Martin Jr

Title: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Author: Bill Martin Jr
Publisher/Date: Henry Holt and Company, 1996
IBSN: 0-8050-4790-5

Summary: Black Bear, Black Bear, What Do You See? By: Bill Martin Jr is about the different animals on each of the pages seeing another colored animal. It goes through the story in a rhythmic pattern as the book goes on. Each animal goes through on each page what they see.

Evaluation/Rating: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do you See? By: Bill Martin Jr. is a book I personally remember from my childhood. I remember liking the wording of the book, and even now that I read it again, I get that same feeling again, and I personally remember my mom saying that it is a pattern within the book, and it has a rhythm to it. Upon looking at it from a teachers perspective, the book has great qualities. It teaches color within the story, and it gives sequence as well. The pictures are nice and big too which is a good quality. I like the way the book gives the relationship of the teacher looking at her students, and her students giving the whole entire order of the animals depicted in the book as well as ending back to the teacher. I would evaluate this as a 4 because it is a great sequencing book along with it being a great aid to colors, and even animals and naming them. 

Your'e Getting a Baby Sister By: Sheila Sweeny Higginson

Title: Your'e Getting a Baby Sister
Author: Sheila Sweeny Higginson
Publisher/Date: Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing Division, 2012
IBSN: 978-1-4424-2050-2

Summary:   Your'e Getting a Baby Sister by: Sheila Sweeny Higginson is about the comical, exciting, and serious joys about getting a baby sister in your family. It goes on basically coaching the reader through the things they need to know about getting a baby sister. It goes on about the emotional toll it may have as well both good, and bad. 

Evaluation/Rating: I like how the book goes through the thought process of getting a baby sister in the mindset of a child. With some children getting a baby sister in there mind means they will get all the attention, and that there parents will forget them, and they get mad cause they were here first, and the books goes through that saying "It is okay." I also like how the books goes through how the baby will be positively and negatively. The book goes through saying how the reader will be the first teacher to there sister, and that the sister will look up to them so it is important that the reader knows that, and to embrace it in a way. The last page is cute too, and I like it because it allows the reader to write his/her sisters name in it and a line for them to fill in what they cannot wait to teach there future sister to do. The book also provides a space for a picture of the reader and there sister. It gives the reader a great way to get ready for that big event of getting a new member of the family, and I like how the books goes about that. I would give this book a 4 because I love the way the book is written, and it gives great advise, and pictures in each page in such simple ways.