The Three Little Javelinas

Book Title: The Three Little Javelinas

Author(s): Susan Lowell

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Jim Harris

Publisher: Northland Publishing Co.

Copyright Date: 1992

Genre: Folklore

Brief Annotation: This is a southwestern story of The Three Little Pigs. Instead of the wolf there is a coyote. The javelina’s make their houses out of materials familiar to the desert. The last pig makes his house an adobe and the wolf can’t blow it down.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this a four. There is some great vocabulary in here and it opens the door to study houses of the southwest.

Readers who will like this book: Kids who have visited the southwest or Mexico. Kids who like folktales and those who have heard Spanish, or know Spanish.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: What things are very different when you compare the southwest to Minnesota?

Today I Will Fly

Book Title: Today I Will Fly

Author(s): Mo Willems

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Mo Willems

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Copyright Date: 2007

Genre: Picturebooks

Brief Annotation: This book is about two friends a pig and an elephant. The pig want’s to fly and the elephant does not think that it’s possible for the pig to fly. The pig tries jumping off the elephant but the elephant said that is not flying. The pig with the help of a bird friend is able to fly in the end.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a four. It’s cute and funny. The pictures help tell the story and the words repeat so that even new readers can read this book.

Readers who will like this book: I think those just beginning to read will like this book.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: Have you ever wished you could fly?

The True Story Of The 3 Little Pigs!

Book Title: The True Story Of The 3 Little Pigs!

Author(s): Jon Scieszka

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Lane Smith

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Copyright Date: 1991

Genre: Folklore

Brief Annotation: This is the story from the point of view of the wolf. He is innocent in the story and he only went to the pig’s houses to borrow some sugar. The problem was the wolf had a bad cold. This is a cute and funny take on this well-known story.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a five because it was cute and funny and shows that there are two side to every story.

Readers who will like this book: I think kids who enjoy a good laugh will like this book.

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins or Yopp & Yopp : Story boards would work well with this story. First you need two copies of the book. Start out by cutting the books apart and attaching the pages to cardboard making sure each illustration is included on a separate piece of cardboard. Laminate the cards so they will hold up. Use the cards for sequencing, story structure and word study activities.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: Have you ever got in a disagreement with someone at school and when you told an adult about it your story seemed very different from the person you disagreed with?

1. Interest Level (age): K – 3

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 2.5

3. List awards: Parent’s Choice Silver Honor

4. Does this book have a book trailer?

http://youtu.be/hj8Veprh98Q

Snail Girl Brings Water

Book Title: Snail Girl Brings Water

Author(s): Geri Keams

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Richard Ziehler-Martin

Publisher: Northland Publishing Co.

Copyright Date: 1998

Genre: Folktale

Brief Annotation: This is a Navajo creation story. The story tells the myth of how fresh water came to the earth. It also gives us the reader myths of how different animals attained their attributes like a turtle’s hard shell or a frog’s bulging eyes. After several animals try and fail at bringing water to the earth, a small snail girl tells the first woman that she will go. Snail girl is successful but the bottle that she used to carry the water in has a hole in it. When she arrives back on land she thinks she has failed but the first woman is able to take the few drops of water that were left and sing a magical song to create a great river.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a four because it is an interesting story with beautiful illustrations.

Readers who will like this book: I think animal lovers and folktale lovers will like this book

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins or Yopp & Yopp : Readers theatre would work well in this one as there are several characters to act out. The students each become a character in the story. They rehearse be reading and rereading their lines. The students decide how to use their voice and gestures. A few small props may be added if they don’t interfere with the interpretive quality of the reading.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: Have you ever thought about what makes an animal different from another?

A Good Day

Book Title: A Good Day

Author(s): Kevin Henkes

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Kevin Henkes

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Copyright Date: 2007

Genre: Picturebooks

Brief Annotation: A bird, a fox, a dog and a squirrel started out having a bad day. Then, the day turned around for each of them and a little girl.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I give this book a four. It has many repeating words for young readers and the pictures help young readers figure out the words.

Readers who will like this book: Emerging readers will like this book.

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: What makes an ordinary day a good one?

My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother

Book Title: My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother

Author(s): Patricia Polacco

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Patricia Polacco

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Publishing Co.

Copyright Date: 1994

Genre: Picturebooks

Brief Annotation: A young girl doesn’t like her older brother. She always loses in competitions with him. Whether it is eating, running, climbing or spitting she always loses. Then her grandma tells her to wish on a falling star and her wish will come true. She wishes to beat her brother but her wish comes true in an unexpected way.

Your Rating (1-5) and Why: I rate this book a three because it was cute but kind of long to get to the point.

Readers who will like this book: Children who have siblings will like this book

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins or Yopp & Yopp :

Question to ask about this book before you read aloud: Do you have an older sibling

   Interest Level (age): 8-11

 Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 3.9

My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother

Book Title: My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother

Author & Illustrator: Patricia Polacco

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books

Copyright Date: 1994

Genre: Picturebook: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Brief Annotation: A silly and warm-hearted story of a red-headed, older brother and his little sister who just wants to be able to do something better than her older, know-it-all, brother. After failed attempts to out-wit, out-smart and out-play her brother, Patricia makes a wish. But sometimes “wishes come true differently than you think.” This is a story from author Patricia Polacco, about growing up with her older brother Richie.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 3.5 – This is a comical story that a lot of children can probably relate to with their own siblings. There is a great message at the end of the book that has the potential for an interesting classroom discussion. I actually found some of the illustrations to be a little distracting. But I loved the inclusion of real photographs of the author and her brother in the front and back of the book.

Readers who will like this book: Children who are similar in age to the characters in the book (8-11ish) with siblings will enjoy this book the most. They will be able to relate to elements of the story and may learn something in the end/gain a new perspective.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: How would you describe your brother or sister? How do you think they would describe you? What is your relationship like with your sibling?

Interest Level (age): 8-11

Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 3.9