Pumpkin Soup

Book Title: Pumpkin Soup

Author(s): Helen Cooper

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Helen Cooper

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Copyright Date: 2005

Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction, audiobook

Brief Annotation: In their cabin in the woods three friends make pumpkin soup like clockwork every day until one day when Duck decides he wants to be the one to stir the soup. After being denied this job, Duck storms away in a huff and it doesn't take long before Cat and Squirrel set out through the woods to find their friend. 

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5--I really enjoyed this book because of the feeling of autumn that you get listening to the audio recording! The book and subject matter all hint at autumn, but the rustling of the leaves and the howling wind makes you feel as though you're there in the woods.

Readers who will like this book: Readers who are beginning to develop friendships will really enjoy this book. They will be able to identify with the squabbles that happen between friends and will be able to contribute to solutions for solving disagreements.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: Have you ever had a job to do in a big group before? Did you want to change your job? Who would you go to? 

Clementine

Book Title: Clementine

Author(s): Sara Pennypacker

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Marla Frazee

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Copyright Date: 2006

Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction

Brief Annotation: Clementine is an 8-yr-old girl who is having quite the week. Despite being naturally mischevious, albeit with no ill-intention, she's always getting scolded and reminded to behave and pay attention. During this rough week, not only is Clementine feuding with her best friend Margaret, but she's also in the principal's office....a lot! Despite the mishaps, Clementine finds redemption as she puts her creative energy to use and becomes a hero in the Great Pigeon War!

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5--This was a very cute book, and an easy, fun read. There are simple illustrations throughout, which I think would make it a good selection for a read-aloud. This book gives validation to the ups-and-downs that kids go through (instead of just those grown-ups and their difficult lives) and shows how a girl who can never seem to get it right just might come out on top!

Readers who will like this book: Readers who will enjoy this book are young children who enjoy getting into longer books that they can really relate to. It seems like an easy read to me, but one that you can't wait to get back to during D.E.A.R time.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: Have you ever had a fight with a friend? What about with a family member? What had to happen so that you could get over that fight?

Elijah of Buxton

Book Title: Elijah of Buxton

Author(s): Christopher Paul Curtis

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: N/A

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Copyright Date: 2007

Genre: Historical Fiction

Brief Annotation: Elijah is the first of his family members to be born into freedom. Elijah seems to be scared of a lot of things, especially snakes. One day, someone steals money from his friend who is trying to save money to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Elijah is determined to hunt down the thief and he finds the courage to go on a dangerous journey to track him down. This makes him a hero in everyone’s eyes.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5 – This is a heartfelt story about a young boy who goes from being scared a lot to becoming a hero and finding a way to find the courage to help out a friend.

Readers who will like this book: Children who enjoy historically relevant information will like this book. Readers who are more advanced and are just beginning to read more lengthy books will like this book.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: Have you ever done something that was scary for you but you did it anyway because it was the right thing to do?

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level (age): Grade 3

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 7.8

Grandfather's Journey

Book Title: Grandfather’s Journey

Author(s): Allen Say

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Allen Say

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

Copyright Date: 1993

Genre: Historical Fiction

Brief Annotation: Allen Say tells a story about his grandfather’s journey to America. Say realizes that his feelings about his two homes are much the same as his grandfather’s were. This book is culturally diverse and has very detailed, realistic illustrations.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 3 – It was interesting but it felt hard to become engaged in and become emotionally involved.

Readers who will like this book: Readers who are interested in other cultures and countries would like this book.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: Have you ever been away from home? What did that feel like?

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level (age): Grade 3

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 4.2

The Westing Game

Book Title: The Westing Game

Author(s): Ellen Raskin

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: N/A

Publisher: Penguin Group

Copyright Date: 1978

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Brief Annotation: A mystery novel that begins when a group of diverse, and seeming strangers, are recruited by an unknown realtor to live in an exclusive lakeside condo. The story heats up when sixteen of the condo residents are named as heirs to a millionaire’s fortune and charged with finding his murderer. The sixteen heirs are paired off as directed in the will and the game begins.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 4 – This book is great for readers because it is fast paced and has numerous, relatable characters and keeps the children engaged. It concludes in a way that ties everything together and is uplifting.

Readers who will like this book: Readers who like mystery and enjoy page-turning stories. Also, children who like stories written from multiple perspectives will like this book.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: Have you ever been in a situation where you were scared? Explain.

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level (age): Grade 6

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 6.1

Shiloh

Book Title: Shiloh

Author(s): Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: N/A

Publisher: Aladdin Paperback

Copyright Date: 2000

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Brief Annotation: Marty Preston finds a dog and immediately falls in love. He takes it in and realizes that the boy has an owner and a name. The dog is named Shiloh and his owner’s name is Judd Travers. Marty finds out that Judd is not a good owner and isn’t nice to Shiloh. Marty goes against his father’s wishes and hides Shiloh to keep him away from Judd. Eventually, Judd and Marty work out a deal and Marty is able to keep Shiloh!

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5 – This is a classic book about a young boy in a moral conflict with personal connections. The protagonist is forced to make a decision that is very difficult.

Readers who will like this book: Readers who like animals will enjoy this story. This book brings up interesting topics and tells the classic story of a dog being a man’s best friend.

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins or Yopp & Yopp: A good strategy from Tompkins (pg. 91-93) would be a Quickwrite before and after the story. Using the question below, have the answer the questions before reading the story and then again after. This can see if the book changes their opinion. This will test their comprehension on the important messages from the story. This will also assess their writing ability.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: Is it considered wrong if you are doing something to help someone else out?

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level (age): Grade 3

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 5.7

3. List awards: Newberry Medal

And Tango Makes Three

Book Title: And Tango Makes Three

Author(s): Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Henry Cole

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Copyright Date: 2005

Genre: Nonfiction

Brief Annotation: This nonfiction book tells a story about two male penguins, Roy and Silo, in the Central Park Zoo. Each year the penguins pair off with their mate and produce offspring. Despite all of their efforts, Roy and Silo cannot conceive naturally. Mr. Gramzay, the penguin keeper, helps this couple hatch and raise an adopted penguin named Tango.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5 – This story allows children to see other types of families. This is a true story about two penguins that had a dream of having a family and, with help, made it come true. This picturebook is a great starting point for beginning the discussion about what makes a family and the difficult topic of that.

Readers who will like this book: Children who like animals will enjoy this book and also young readers who like to read about characters that overcome obstacles.

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins or Yopp & Yopp: A good strategy that can be used to go along with this book is Quilts from Tompkins (pg. 94-96). Teachers can make sections of a quilt and give each student a section. Each student can draw a different aspect of a family and when the quilt is put together students can realize that families are made up of all different kinds of people. All families are different and this strategy allows for teachers to begin discussing how there are all types of families.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: What is a family?

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level (age): Kindergarten

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 3.9

3. List awards: American Library Association Notable Children’s Book 2006