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

The Neighborhood Mother Goose

Book Title: The Neighborhood Mother Goose

Author(s): Nina Crews

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Nina Crews

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Copyright Date: 2004

Genre: Poetry

Brief Annotation: Nina Crews takes 41 of Mother Goose’s original nursery rhymes and adds her own twist to the illustrations. She uses photographs from around her Brooklyn neighborhood and new contemporary ways of looking at the nursery rhymes.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5 – It takes a different way of reading traditional, familiar nursery rhymes that are more relatable for young children.

Readers who will like this book: Young children who enjoy the typical nursery rhymes and like to like to memorize and reread stories will enjoy this book.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: Who knows one of Mother Goose’s familiar nursery rhymes?

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level (age): Kindergarten

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 1.8

Whistle for Willie

Book Title: Whistle For Willie

Author(s): Ezra Jack Keats

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Ezra Jack Keats

Publisher: Penguin Group

Copyright Date: 1964

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Brief Annotation: This sequel to The Snowy Day tells another story of Peter! Peter only wanted to be able to whistle for his dog Willie. He saw other boys that could whistle for their dogs and the dog would come running. If he could just learn to whistle then Willie would come running! As he is learning to whistle, Peter finds that his neighborhood is full of fun and interesting things for him to explore.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5 – Ezra Jack Keats tells another timeless book for children. The illustrations are beautifully done and the story is very relatable for children.

Readers who will like this book: All young children will like this book. It is easily relatable for young children, especially children who cannot whistle.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: What are ways that we could get a dog, or persons, attention without whistling?

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level (age): Kindergarten

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 3.1

Big Momma Makes The World

Book Title: Big Momma Makes The World

Author(s): Phyllis Root

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Helen Oxenbury

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Copyright Date: 2002

Genre: Folklore

Brief Annotation: This is a story about how the world came to be. Big Momma creates the world in six days and on the seventh day she rests. She begins with the most basic necessities and grows into the world. The big bang theory is also briefly mentioned in a subtle way. She makes the world for her and her baby and watches over the world and all the people in it.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 4 – This is a good book about how the world was created. It can be controversial because of the hints of religion within it and that could be troublesome in certain situations.

Readers who will like this book: Curious young children who have inquiring minds about how the world was created will enjoy this book.

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins or Yopp & Yopp: From Tompkins (pg. 116-117) teachers could use Story Boards with this book. The teachers find an extra copy of the book and cut out the pages, glue them to cardboard and laminate them. The teacher can use this strategy to help children sequence the story in a logical way. They can use previous knowledge to sequence the story before the reading. They can also use these laminated pictures to test comprehension after the reading of the story.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: How do you think the world began?

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level (age): Kindergarten

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 3.3

My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother

Book Title: My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother

Author(s): Patricia Polacco

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Patricia Polacco

Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks

Copyright Date: 1994

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Brief Annotation: Tricia and her brother, Richie, are always competing with each other. Richie, being 4 years older, is always beating Tricia and it drives her crazy! She tries to outdo her brother in almost everything and it never works. One night she wishes upon a shooting star and her wish comes true, but not in the way that she expected. In the end, she realizes that her brother is always there for her!

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5 – This was a funny, interesting story about siblings that I think a lot of people can relate to. The competitive nature of the siblings in the book is very similar to what many young children feel with their siblings. The illustrations were detailed and well done. Also, the ending has a loving and heart warming message in it.

Readers who will like this book: Young children who have siblings will enjoy this book because they can relate to the story.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: Who has an older brother or sister that they are competitive with?

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level (age): Grade 3

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 3.9

3. List awards: American Library Association Notable Children’s Book, A School Library Journal Best Book, An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists

4. Does this book have a book trailer? No

We Share Everything!

Book Title: We Share Everything!

Author(s): Robert Munsch

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Michael Martchenko

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Copyright Date: 1999

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Brief Annotation: Amanda and Jeremiah are just beginning kindergarten and are having some difficulty sharing with each other. Their teacher continually reminds them “This is kindergarten. In kindergarten we share. We share everything.” It took the two students a little while to understand this concept but once they begin working together and taking the advice of their teacher, they truly do begin to share everything!

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5 – This is a great concept book for young children. They can learn that kicking and screaming will not help their situation and that they need to learn to share.

Readers who will like this book: Young children who are transitioning into day care or kindergarten will enjoy this book. Children who are beginning to play to with other children can learn a lot from this book.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: What do you do when you want to play with something but someone else already is?

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level (age): PreK

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 2.5

3. List awards: None

4. Does this book have a book trailer? No

The Ink Drinker

Book Title: The Ink Drinker

Author(s): Éric Sanvoisin

Illustrator: Martin Matje

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Copyright Date: 1998

Genre: Easy Reader - Mystery

Brief Annotation:

A bookstore owner’s son can’t think of anything duller than books. Reading actually causes him agony. When the boy is asked to look after the store for a minute, he doesn’t believe his eyes when he sees a creepy customer take out a straw and begin sucking the ink right out from the book. When he follows this shady character to his abode (a tomb in a cemetery), the man tells the boy that he is a vampire and that he had to give up drinking blood because it gave him a bad liver, but no matter, because books hit the spot. Of course, the boy was surprised to wake up the next day unsure whether or not he actually just met a vampire. But as he observes his wrist more closely, he notices “Draculink” etched in. The books began to call to him, “Come, come browse through us!” He promptly began drinking down the books, but he wasn’t just drinking the ink. He was also experiencing all of the adventures he gulped down. All of the sudden, he was fighting for his life against the notorious pirate, Captain Flint! Pretty cool stuff. “I had become an ink drinker. And for the first time in my life, I relished being the son of a bookstore owner.” This book is the first in Savoisin’s Ink Drinker series.

Your Rating (1-5) and why:

5 – I enjoy the boy’s character. He’s stubborn and adventurous. I also loved the fact that he

was living all the stories he drank down. It’s a humorous mystery and a really easy read with great illustrations.

Readers who will like this book:

Stubborn readers and anyone who likes a comedy about vampires.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud:

How many of you know what vampires drink? What if it didn’t drink blood? What if it drank ink? Why would it do that?

1. Interest Level (age): 8

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 3.4

Mr. Popper's Penguins

Book Title: Mr. Popper's Penguins

Author(s): Richard and Florence Atwater

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Robert Lawson

Publisher: Little Brown and Company

Copyright Date: 1938

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction (animal) novel

Brief Annotation: A fan of polar exploration by night and a house painter by day, Mr. Popper writes to his hero, Admiral Drake, who sends him an antarctic penguin in return! After turning their refrigerator into an ice box, the penguin starts to drop in spirits! Before they know it, the Poppers have a whole house full of penguins. To earn their keep, Mr. Popper attains his dream of working with penguins, even if it is as unconventional as as a performing vaudeville act of penguins!

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5--This book was just as enjoyable to read as I remember it. What a fun topic--penguins in the house! It's a great reminder that kids can grow up to work with anything they're passionate about.

Readers who will like this book: Readers who will like this book are those who love working with animals! Elementary students are at a very fun age where they can get passionate about a particular species or breed, so indulging in a grown-up with the same passions can be fun!

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: If you got to live with one animal, which would it be? Would you live in their home or your home? How?

Over on the Farm

Book Title: Over on the Farm

Author(s): Christopher Gunson

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Christopher Gunson

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Copyright Date: 1995

Genre: Poetry, counting, contemporary realistic fiction

Brief Annotation: Over in the (field, wood, pond, etc) lay a happy mother animal who is looking for her babies. Readers can count the baby animals over in the particular area of the farm and enjoy listening to the rhythmic cadance of the sentences.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5--This adorable book is targeted towards pre-k students, which is perhaps why I liked it so much, but the illustrations are soft and bright, and all the animals are detailed so nicely. The book uses concepts of rhyming and counting, and always begins with a variation of the phrase 'over on the farm.' Over on the hill, over in the wood, etc.

Readers who will like this book: Readers who will like this book are young animal lovers who are excited about counting all the babies!

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: Have you been to a farm? Who lives on a farm? What could we do if we visited a farm?

Piggins

Book Title: Piggins

Author(s): Jane Yolen

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Jane Dyer

Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishers

Copyright Date: 1987

Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction, mystery

Brief Annotation: Piggins is a beloved butler who is serving a dinner party. When his hostess' brilliant diamond necklace goes missing, it's up to Piggins to find the clues, illuminate the perpetrator, and recover the goods!

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 3.5--I haven't read many juvenille mysteries, but this one seemed like it had a little too much superfluous detail mixed in with the essential elements of solving the mystery. If young readers were trying to solve the mystery along with Piggins, they would certainly need some direction.

Readers who will like this book: Readers who will want to re-read this book are those who appreciate gorgeously illustrated pages full of fancy ladies in gowns and jewels. If an adult is directing the reading, kids who enjoy being involved in the story can help Piggins sort out who-done-it.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: Have you ever been a detective before? What were you looking for? How did you find it?

The Mitten

Book Title: The Mitten

Author(s): Jim Aylesworth

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Barbara McClintock

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Copyright Date: 2009

Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction

Brief Annotation: Grandmother knits her grandson a pair of great big warm woolen mittens every year before winter. When he loses one of them in the snow, several forest animals use it as their home for the night to keep warm! It's so toasty that, one by one, a bear, a fox, a rabbit, a squirrel, and a mouse all squeeze in until......POP! When the boy finds the shredded mitten the next day he sets out to get some more to share.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 4--This was a cute book, and had a lot of great opportunity for interactive read-alouds. The characters that squeeze into the mitten have the same dialogue whenever a new character appears and asks to share the warmth, so kids could enjoy the predictability of the text and the eventual sharing and hospitality.

Readers who will like this book: Kids that will enjoy this book are animal lovers! There are great illustrations and doing the voices/noises of each animal would be a fun way to read this book together.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: What do we wear when it's cold outside? Have you ever thought about what animals wear? What can they do to stay warm?

King & King

Book Title: King & King

Author(s): Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Betsy Stromberg

Publisher: Tricycle Press

Copyright Date: 2000

Genre: Folktale

Brief Annotation: Tired of ruling for a long time, the Queen decides it is time for her son, the Prince, to marry. After flying in many princesses and not finding any of them suitable, the Prince finally feels a stir in his heart. It is for one of the princess' brothers! Relieved that her son has found happiness, the Queen blesses the marriage and the two princes rule the kingdom together as King and King.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 4--This book is short, simple, and to the point. The illustrations are a little unorganized and hodge-podge (collage and watercolor) for my taste, but the short tale of forced-courtship turned-happy ending is good in my opinion. The Queen doesn't even blink twice when Prince selects a Prince instead of a Princess.

Readers who will like this book: Children who have read one fairy tale after another will probably enjoy this book. It has many of the classic elements with a fun twist!

Teaching Strategy: Story Retelling (Tompkins, p. 119): I picked story retelling because it allows for 1:1 time between the student and the teacher. While the main concepts are assessed (characters, setting, events), additional comprehension is formally omitted from the evaluation. I would be interested to hear if the child had more to say about the story or other things they noticed. There's also a nice avenue to discuss how it is the same or different from other fairy tales. I wonder if the student would comment on that on their own....

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: What do we know about princes and princesses? Have you ever thought about what would happen if a prince didn't want to marry a princess, but someone else instead?

Number the Stars

Book Title: Number the Stars

Author(s): Lois Lowry

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: ---

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Copyright Date: 1989

Genre: Historical fiction

Brief Annotation: Young Annemarie Johansen and her friend Ellen Rosen are adolescent girls living under Nazi rule in Denmark in 1943. When Ellen's family is forced to flee to avoid relocation, the Johansen family takes Ellen into their home to pose as one of their own daughters. The friendship between the two girls is strengthened as the Johansens work with the Danish Resistance to escort the Rosens across the sea to safety until the end of Nazi occupation.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5--I love, love, love this book! I remember reading it in elementary school and re-reading it for this project was such a joy. You don't have to be a WWII history fan to enjoy the tale of friendship and heroism that is displayed between these two young girls and their courageous families. It tells the tale of wartime occupation from a child's perspective, yet does not take any responsibility away from her due to her age.

Readers who will like this book: Readers who will like this book are those who enjoy reading about adventure! The girls are as active a part of the Resistance as any adult, and their success rate ends the book on a happy note.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: Do you have a best friend? Are they the same as you in every way? Maybe their family is different, or their religion, or their culture. Who would you be willing to stand up to fight for your friend?

The Girl's Like Spaghetti

Book Title: The Girl’s Like Spaghetti

Author(s): Lynne Truss

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: Bonnie Timmons

Publisher: The Penguin Group

Copyright Date: 2007

Genre: Non-Fiction

Brief Annotation: This is another very funny book in the punctuation series. This time the focus is on the importance of apostrophes and their many jobs. Each time you turn the page the book has the same sentence on each page with the apostrophe moved and a very funny and very different picture. The picture illustrates the difference the apostrophe makes to whole sentence, and how it completly changes the function of some of the words in the sentence.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a five because it is cute, funny and educational.

Readers who will like this book: I think readers as young as three all the way to adult will like this book.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: Do you think punctuation can change the meaning of words?