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?

Alphabet Under Construction

Book Title: Alphabet Under Construction

Author(s): Denise Fleming

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: Denise Fleming and David Flowers

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Copyright Date: 2002

Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction

Brief Annotation: This is an alphabet book led by a hardworking mouse. The mouse works his way through the alphabet, constructing each letter. He carves the C and levels the L. The name of each job he does on the letter starts with the letter. The letter he constructs are capitals but the name of the job is written with a lower case letter.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a three because it has great illustrations. I did not like that the letter the mouse is constructing and that is emphasized is the capital letter.

Readers who will like this book: I think most preschoolers and kids who like construction books will enjoy this book.

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins or Yopp & Yopp : I think this book would be a good book to start a word wall with since each letter of the alphabet is represented here. Prepare a blank word wall from construction paper. Divide the paper into 24 boxes and label with each letter of the alphabet. Introduce the word wall with several key words prewritten on it. Students write the word in the correct box on the word wall. If a word is misspelled, it is corrected because the word wall will be used in future activities. Add words as needed. Students can refer to the word wall for future writing activities.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: What types of things do construction workers build? What jobs do they have?

Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?

Book Title: Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?

Author(s):  Bill Martin Jr.

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: Eric Carle

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Copyright Date: 2003

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Brief Annotation: Illustrations and patterned text show the reader 10 endangered species. Each animal presents the next animal to the reader with a rhyme. At the end, all the animals are watched over by a dreaming child, who is their best hope for the future of their species.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a four because it has a text that young readers can figure out with the help of the beautiful illustrations.

Readers who will like this book: Beginning readers and animal lovers will love this book.

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins : Choral reading (page 17) is a good strategy for this book because the book is patterned and rhythmic. I think having a leader read the rhyme and the rest of the class reading the “what do you see” part would be a great approach to choral reading this book. The teacher or student leads. The class and leader should rehearse the first two animals and then start over and go all the way through.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: Do you know what it means when an animal is endangered?

Aesop's Fables

Book Title: Aesop’s Fables

Author(s): John Cech

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: Martin Jarrie

Publisher: Sterling Publishing Company

Copyright Date: 2009

Genre: Folktale

Brief Annotation: This book is a retelling of the classic Aesop’s fables. These stories are beautifully retold for the next generation’s life lessons. The stories are short a sweet and use animals to show children how to make choices and the consequence of children’s decisions.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a four, because the illustrations are cute and so are the fables.

Readers who will like this book: I think most kids will find some fables that they like in this book.

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins : Grand conversations (page 43) would be a great strategy for this book because each fable or several fables with similar morals could be a separate conversation, or the class could split up into groups and each group takes a different fable. If you choose the group strategy, split the class into small groups and have them read their fables in their groups.  Students write down main ideas or draw a picture that represents the moral. Have the class come back together and form a circle. Each group reads their fable and shares what they thought the main idea was. Then the group asks the class for other ideas they got from the fable. Teachers ask questions to guide the students. Conclude the conversation and continue to the next group.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: Have you ever learned a lesson from someone else’s mistake?

Mother Goose

Book Title: Mother Goose

Author(s): Will Moses

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: Will Moses

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Copyright Date: 2003

Genre: Folktale

Brief Annotation: This is an original recreation of the celebrated book Mother Goose. Young readers will meet the Old Woman Who Lives in a Shoe, Hickory Dickory, Little Boy Blue, Three Little Kittens and many more. The rhyme is beautifully familiar and the art makes these age old stories come to life.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a four because I think that everyone can find something they like in this book.

Readers who will like this book: I think most children and adults love this book.

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins: The interactive read aloud strategy would work well here. First introduce the book as a collection of rhymes. Read the selected rhyme aloud modeling fluent and exuberant reading. Then tell the children where they can add sound effects or have them clap the rhyme. The children may also enjoy echoing the teacher line by line.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: Who is Mother Goose?

Living Color

Book Title: Living Color

Author(s): Steve Jenkins

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: Steve Jenkins

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company

Copyright Date: 2007

Genre: Non-Fiction

Brief Annotation: The book teaches us which animals have bright coloring. The colors are red, blue, yellow, green, purple and pink. We learn why animals have such bright coloring and how this coloring of scales, shells, feathers and skin helps them survive.  There are many reasons the color helps them. It can warn predators, help them hide from their enemies, attract a mate and even signal friends.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a five because it has very fun and interesting facts, beautiful collage illustrations and is a fun way to learn.

Readers who will like this book: I think adults and children of any age will like this book and learn from it.

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins: The language experience approach (page 60) would be a great strategy to use with this book. First divide the book up into sections by color. Give the children the experience of the animals from that color by reading the book and possible bringing one in or a model of one of the animals. Talk about the experience with the students using prompts. Record the student’s dictation on a chart. Read the text aloud pointing at each word as it is read. Reread the chart together as a class. Make sentences strips so the students can sequence the strips on their own for future practice.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: Can you think of any brightly colored animals?

King Midas

Book Title: King Midas

Author(s): John Warren Stewig

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: Omar Rayyan

Publisher: Holiday House

Copyright Date: 1999

Genre: Folktale

Brief Annotation: King Midas loves gold. In fact he loves gold more than anything else in the world. He wishes that he could have a golden touch in order to turn things into gold. A mysterious stranger grants him this wish. King Midas soon learns the Midas touch is not a wonderful power but a nightmare that his greed has granted him. He soon learns that some things in life are more precious than gold.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a four because it is teaches about greed and regret through a familiar story and whimsical paintings.

Readers who will like this book: Elementary age children will like this book.

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins: Sketch to stretch (page 111) is a good strategy for this story because it will give the students a chance to move past the literal comprehension of the story and think more deeply about the theme and characters. The students read and respond to the story in a grand conversation. The teacher and students discuss the theme and ways to symbolize the theme in the story. The students draw sketches of what the story means to them. Then in small groups they share their sketches. Each group chooses one sketch to share with the class. If the students would like to revise their sketch they may do so.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: What does it mean to regret something?

Horrible Harry Cracks the Code

Book Title: Horrible Harry Cracks the Code

Author(s): Suzy Kline

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: Frank Remkiewicz

Publisher: Scholastic Publishing Company

Copyright Date: 2007

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Brief Annotation: Harry is losing his reputation as the school’s great detective since he botched the last mystery. This time he is aiming to fix this. Doug, Harry’s friend tells the story of Harry’s new case to crack the lunch time code. There is a game in the lunch room that one child with a star on his or her tray, wins a treat. The lunch lady is using a special math formula to select which tray will win. Will Henry crack the code? Could Mr. Fibonacci have something to do with it? 

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

Readers who will like this book: Kids who like a mystery or comedy will love this book.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: Do know any special codes?

A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time

Book Title: A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time

Author(s): Mary Pope Osborne

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: Sal Murdocca

Publisher: Random House Children’s Books

Copyright Date: 2010

Genre: Folktale

Brief Annotation: Jack and Annie are on another adventure. This mission this time sends them back in time to help the writer Charles Dickens. They see Charles has a mansion and everything he needs. Charles Dicken’s ends up having to rescue Jack and Annie from jail. That is when they discover his sad memories that haunt him. Mr. Dicken’s is ready to give up writing for good. Until Jack and Annie invent the idea of pretending to be the three well known ghosts from his Christmas Story.    

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this a five, it is a great blending of the story we know in The Magic Treehouse style I love.

Readers who will like this book: I think this is a good story for anyone two to adult.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: Do know any Magic Tree House books?

The Boxcar Children

Book Title: The Boxcar Children

Author(s): Gertrude Chandler Warner

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: David Cunningham

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company

Copyright Date: 1924, 1942, 2005

Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction

Brief Annotation: This is where the story of the Alden Children first begins. Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are all siblings that run away from an orphanage together. They find a stray dog and make him part of their family. They also happen upon an old boxcar and decide to make it their home. The use things they find at the dump and outside as furniture and tools. They use their teamwork and resourcefulness to keep the family fed. When one of the children falls ill, they decide to seek help and end up getting a job helping someone in town. They eventually find their grandpa Alden.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a five. It was an exciting book and really gripped the children’s imagination.

Readers who will like this book: I think most elementary school age kids will like to think about what it would be like to live on without an adult.

Question to ask about this book before you read: Have you ever thought what life would be like if you had to live on your own? How would you feed yourself? Where would you live?

Goodnight Moon

Book Title: Goodnight Moon

Author(s): Margaret Wise Brown

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: Clement Hurd

Publisher: HarperCollins

Copyright Date: 1975

Genre: Folktale

Brief Annotation:  It is bedtime for the little bunny. The bunny looks around the room and notices all of the special toys and furniture. The older bunny says hush as the little bunny says goodnight to all the special things he notices.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a three, the pictures are great with the contrast of color and black and white.

Readers who will like this book: Young readers will like this book because it has repetition.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: What is your bedtime routine?

Moses

Book Title: Moses

Author(s):  Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: Kadir Nelson

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Copyright Date: 2006

Genre: Historical Fiction

Brief Annotation: This is

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a five because it is a great story of perseverance.

Readers who will like this book: Kids who have heard of the under-ground railroad will like this book and kids who have a religious upbringing will appreciate this book.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud:  What gives you strength when you want to quit?

List awards: Caldecott Honor Award

Grandpa Green

Book Title: Grandpa Green

Author(s): Lane Smith

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: Lane Smith

Publisher: Roaring Book Press

Copyright Date: 2011

Genre:  Contemporary realistic fiction

Brief Annotation: Grandpa Green’s great grandson tells the story of Grandpa Green’s life. In this family the memories are handed down in the form of carefully sculpted topiaries and gardens. The boy tells about his great grandfather’s life and explores the family history through a garden of wonder. This book explores the topic of aging and bonds within a family. Grandpa Green was more than just a gardener, he was an artist.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a five. It is a cute story and a great theme.

Readers who will like this book: I think kids who have a garden or a grandpa that they are close to will love this book.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: What is the purpose of a garden you cant eat?

List awards Caldecott Honor Award

It's a Book

Book Title: It’s a Book

Author(s):  Lane Smith

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: Lane Smith

Publisher: Roaring Book Press

Copyright Date: 2010

Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction

Brief Annotation: This is a funny book about a mouse, a jackass, and a monkey. The monkey has a book that the jackass keeps thinking is not technological enough. The book can’t do anything that the jackass asks because it’s a book. But at the end he likes the book too.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a five because it’s cute and has a cute message.

Readers who will like this book: I think everyone young and old will like this book.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: When you look for a book to read, what do you look for?

Henry Aaron's Dream

Book Title: Henry Aaron’s Dream

Author(s): Matt Tavares

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: Matt Tavares

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Copyright Date: 2010

Genre: Historical Fiction

Brief Annotation: Henry Aaron had a dream to play major league baseball. The problem was he was so poor he did not even have a bat or a ball. But his biggest problem is the only whites were allowed to play in the big leagues and Henry was black. He started out playing in the sandlot and eventually moved onto the Negro leagues. He eventually made it to the major leagues and played with his hero Jackie Robinson. This is an inspiring story about one of baseball’s all time greats.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rated this book a four. The pictures are great and the story is inspiring and a good example of a real hero.

Readers who will like this book: I think minority children will relate to this book and so will children who love baseball.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: Have you ever had a dream that seemed impossible?

Science Verse

Book Title: Science Verse

Author(s): Jon Scieza

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: Lane Smith

Publisher: Viking

Copyright Date: 2004

Genre: Poetry

Brief Annotation:  The student is struck with a science verse curse after hearing the teacher say there is poetry in science. He begins to go through familiar poems and nursery rhymes but the words are anything but traditional. Everything has morphed into a science verse.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a five. I love the poems in this book and they could be a real tool to kids in the different science theme areas. It is really funny too.

Readers who will like this book: I think kids interested in science and nature will love this book.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: Have you ever had a hard time remembering science terms?

Smoky Night

Book Title: Smoky Night  

Author(s): Eve Bunting

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: David Diaz

Publisher: Harcourt Books

Copyright Date: 1994

Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction

Brief Annotation: This book is about a boy in his mother. The boy is unsure of his neighbors because they are different from his famil . Their looks are different and their culture is different. When the riots break out on the streets below his apartment building and the boy and his mother must evacuate. He soon learns the importance of getting along and helping others.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a four. It is educational but not to dramatic. The collage pictures are fabulous.

Readers who will like this book: I think inner city children and children who live in a place with lots of diversity.

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins or Yopp & Yopp :

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: Have you ever been afraid or unsure of someone because they were different?

List awards: The Caldecot Medal

Wynken, Blynken, & Nod

Book Title: Wynken, Blynken, & Nod

Author(s): Eugene Field

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: Johanna Westerman

Publisher: North-South books

Copyright Date: 1995

Genre: Poetry

Brief Annotation: This is a bedtime story about three fisherman in a wooden shoe that catch stars in their silver and gold nets. The fishermen are three children dressed in nightclothes. This a one poem book.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a four because it has great illustrations and dramatic verse.

Readers who will like this book: Kids with a great imagination will love this book.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: Do you read bedtime stories?

The Little Engine that Could

Book Title: The Little Engine that Could

Author(s): Watty Piper

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: George and Doris Hauman

Publisher: Platt & Munk Publishers

Copyright Date: 1990

Genre: Folklore

Brief Annotation: This is a story of perserverance. The happy little engine puffed along with her merry load of toys and treats for boys and girls on the other side of the mountain. Then suddenly she stopped and could not get her engine to budge another inch. The little train needed help in order to get to the other side of the mountain. As different engines came along the little engine asked for help. But other engines did not want to help the little engine. She perservered because she knew her load was important to the childrenon the other side of the mountain. Finally another little engine comes along and together they make it to the other side.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a five it has several good messages excitement and lovable characters.

Readers who will like this book: I think preschoolers and children into trains will love this book.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: Have you ever been discouraged and wanted to quit something but then you tried again and did it?

Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel

Book Title: Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel

Author(s): Virginia Lee Burton

Illustrator/Photographer/ Artist: Virgina Lee Burton

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company

Copyright Date: 1939

Genre: Folktale

Brief Annotation: Mike Mulligan loves his steam shovel Mary Anne. Together they have dug many important roads and structures. Then technology threatens Mary Anne. With all the new diesel, electric and gas powered equipment it seems one wants to hire Mike Mulligan and Mary Anne anymore. But Mike Mulligan refuses to give up on his steam shovel. He finds work in a small town and agrees to do the work without pay if he can’t finish the job with Mary Anne in just one day. It seems like an impossible task but Mike and Mary Anne persevere and complete the job. The book ends with a cute twist which guarantees Mike and Mary Anne’s future. 

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a four. It has a good message and great illustrations.

Readers who will like this book: I think children who are interested in machines and excavating equipment will like this book.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: What happen to old technology when new things are invented? Are all old things outdated?