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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, February 6, 2012

Chrysanthemum

Book Title: Chrysanthemum


Author & Illustrator: Kevin Henkes


Publisher: Greenwillow Books


Copyright Date: 1991


Genre: Picturebook: Contemporary Realistic Fiction


Brief Annotation: Perfect to her parents in every way, they wanted a name for her that was perfectly perfect. So they named her Chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemum loved her name. She loved writing it, reading it, and saying it. It was the perfect name. But then she went school and something changed. Her name didn’t seem so perfect anymore. This is the story of a Chrysanthemum that blossomed, wilted, and then beautifully blossomed again.


Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5 – You are barely a page into this adorable book when you realize you are smiling. The tone and choice of words, combined with sweet and colorful illustrations, grab you from the beginning and don’t disappoint. Henkes is so wonderful at drawing a cartoon mouse that is clearly not real, but feels so real. You can’t help but care about Chrysanthemum and root for her. This is a fun story with a message for all kids.


Readers who will like this book: I think most young children (4-7 years old) will enjoy this book and can benefit from its message. Children who are having some difficulty fitting in will especially connect to this story.


Teaching Strategy from Yopp & Yopp: Character Maps (p. 66-69); According to Yopp & Yopp, students can use character maps to learn how to make sense of character, including traits, perspectives, motivations, feelings and relationships. Chrysanthemum is a great story for students to look more closely at characters – this story involves a lot of different feelings, with some similar and plenty of contrasting behaviors, motivations and relationships. In addition, these change over time, so students will also use skills in tracking the stages of the story. Yopp & Yopp suggest selecting at least two characters for analysis. Depending on the children’s level, I would start with Chrysanthemum and Victoria. If possible, I would also add in Chrysanthemum’s parents and Mrs. Twinkle.


Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: What do you think it means to have confidence or to believe in yourself?


Interest Level (age): 5-7

Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 1.0

List awards: Horn Book Fanfare, ALA Notable Children’s Book

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