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You have accessed the blog site for Choosing and Using Books for Children. Throughout the term we'll use our blog to record the books we read and the ideas we have for using them when we're teachers. By the end of March, our class will have read at least 280 books. Happy reading!

Two important protocol actions for EVERY post:
1. Underline or italicize all book titles (choose one formatting style and stick with it--underline OR italicize for all book titles)
2. Add your name in the "label" box before you post each documentation.

One important recommendation:
Create your documentations in a separate Word document, then cut and paste in a blog post.

Basic Documentation

Book Title:

Author(s):

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist:

Publisher:

Copyright Date:

Genre:

Brief Annotation:

Your Rating (1-5) and why:

Readers who will like this book:

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins or Yopp & Yopp (you'll link a strategy to at least 10 of your 40 books) :

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud:

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level (age):

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade):
Use book wizard to help with the previous 2 areas


3. List awards

4. Does this book have a book trailer? If so, cut and paste the web address here.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Baseball Saved Us

Book Title: Baseball Saved Us
Author(s): Ken Mochizuki
Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Dom Lee
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Copyright Date: 1993
Genre: Historical Fiction Picturebook
Brief Annotation: This book takes place during WWII. It is based on a true story of a camp where Japanese Americans were sent to live during the war. We learn about the camp’s unfavorable conditions from a boy who is picked on at the camp because he is smaller than the other children. His father has the idea to build a baseball field on the grounds and all the residents help. The baseball games really help the camp’s resident morale. The boy also gains confidence when he is able to score for the team. When he is able to return home his experiences at the camp help him fit in again.
Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a five. It is a great story that gives some historical background and lends itself to many follow-up activities.
Readers who will like this book: I think most children will find this book interesting, especially those who have family members that have been in a war.
Teaching Strategy from Tompkins or Yopp & Yopp : K-W-L Charts would be a good teaching strategy in a study of history or WWII. First we hang three charts on the wall and label them. K for what we know. W for what we wonder. L for what we learned. At the beginning of the thematic unit, brainstorm with the class about what they know about the war. If the children suggest the information that is incorrect, turn the statement into a question and add it to the W column. Then start the unit out with the story. Write down more things that they know and want to know. Send the children off to research what they want to know in small groups. Finally come together and write down what we learned in the L column.
Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: What do you know about WWII or Pearl Harbor?
List awards:1993 Parent’s Choice Awards
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