The Paper Bag Princess

Book Title: The Paper Bag Princess

Author: Robert Munsch

Illustrator: Michael Martchenko

Publisher: Annick Press

Copyright Date: 1980

Genre: Fantasy

Brief Annotation: “Elizabeth was a beautiful princess. She lived in a castle and had expensive princess clothes. She was going to marry a prince named Ronald.” But plans go a little off-course when the “smartest and fiercest dragon in the whole wide world” blows his fiery flames, burns the princess’ clothes, and carries off Ronald. Princess Elizabeth is forced to wear a paper bag as she sets off through the forest to find the dragon and her prince.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 4.5 – This is a cute and clever little story, with fun illustrations to match. You can’t help but cheer on this spunky and smart princess who is charcoaled and wearing a paper bag. Elizabeth is a great role model for girls. And there is a wonderful twist at the end that will keep you smiling.

Readers who will like this book: Boys and (especially) girls in early grades will enjoy this book. Who doesn’t like a funny story about a dragon, a princess, and prince? And this one is even more special because it doesn’t conform to a typical prince/princess/dragon storyline. A book kids will ask to read over and over.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: What does it mean to be the “hero of the story”?

Interest Level (age): 4-9

Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 3.5

Ron’s Big Mission

Book Title: Ron’s Big Mission

Author: Rose Blue & Corinne J. Naden

Illustrator: Don Tate

Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books

Copyright Date: 2009

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Brief Annotation: This memorable story is a fictionalized account of a real incident in the life of Ron McNair. The year was 1959 in South Carolina. Ron, just a child, loved books. And he loved the library. He was not allowed to check books out of the library because he was black. So Ron would spend hours sitting in the library reading. But on this particular day, tired of having to stay in the library to enjoy books, Ron decided that he was going to check out books. When his request was denied, Ron stood his ground. He knew the rule was unfair and said it. This is a story of a little boy with a pure passion for learning, wisdom, and lots of courage.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 4.5 – This is a great story with so much potential for discussion and growth. This story makes both our country’s history of discrimination and what it means to be brave, accessible to young children. The illustrations aptly capture the world as we would imagine Ron sees it – cheerful, bold, and colorful. This book is even more special because it is based on a real person. At the end of the book there is information about Ron McNair – how he went on to pursue his dream and became an astronaut. And how, tragically, he was killed when the space shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986.

Readers who will like this book: A lot of children will enjoy this book. It will likely surprise them and spark a discussion around the idea of fair and unfair. Those who have personally experienced discrimination will connect with this story.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: Have you ever stood up for something you believed in even though others didn’t feel the same? What was that like?

Interest Level (age): 4-8

Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 2.5

The Escape of Oney Judge

Book Title: The Escape of Oney Judge: Martha Washington’s Slave Finds Freedom

Author & Illustrator: Emily Arnold McCully

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux

Copyright Date: 2007

Genre: Picturebook – Historical Fiction

Brief Annotation: Oney is a slave. Her mother is a slave. It’s what she knows. At 10-years-old, she is grateful when Ms. Washington gives her the opportunity to learn to sew. When George Washington is elected President, she makes the move with the family as Ms. Washington’s maid. But when the capitol is moved to Philadelphia, Oney’s world begins to change. She discovers that not all black people are slaves – that some are “free.” Oney begins to notice how controlling Ms. Washington is of her time and talents. When Oney learns that upon Ms. Washington’s death she will not be freed, but will be given to an unlikable and unpredictable family member, Oney must make a decision. A decision that must be made quickly, will have unknown consequences, and is sure to change her life forever.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 4 – This is an interesting way for children to learn about an important piece of history through the life and eyes of a child. The story does progress fairly quickly and skips over some details, which makes sense for this audience – those skips provide opportunities for discussion – investigation/research into what might have happened (in the story transitions) and predictions about what may have happened to Oney after the story ends. The illustrations aren’t super exciting, but are sufficient in helping tell the story.

Readers who will like this book: Boys may enjoy this book, but because the main character is a young girl, young girls will be most drawn to this story. Also, children who are interested in history and learning about slavery and/or children who have experienced discrimination will enjoy this book.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: What is slavery? The title of this book is The Escape of Oney Judge: Martha Washington’s Slave Finds Freedom – how do you think Oney escapes? What does it mean to “find freedom”?

Interest Level (age): 8-11

Bud, Not Buddy

Book Title: Bud, Not Buddy

Author(s): Christopher Paul Curtis

Publisher: Yearling

Copyright Date: 1999

Genre: Historical Fiction Novel

Brief Annotation:

“It’s Bud, not Buddy.” Living by the advice of his dear mother who passed, Bud Caldwell refuses to be talked down to or belittled by any body. Even when he’s kicked around from foster home to foster home, and even when he’s told that he’ll never meet his father again, Bud is not discouraged. Bud has his own rule book - titled, Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself. So, with suitcase in hand and just a few pamphlets his mother gave to him before she passed, Bud ventures through Michigan in search of his father. Though this story takes place during the Great Depression, the weakness that America was feeling did not deter Bud's spirit one bit.

Your Rating (1-5) and why:

5! Bud is only ten years old, but that doesn’t keep him from staying strong and keeping smart, even when everything around him doesn’t seem to make any sense. I think this would be a great book to use during themes about adventure, hope, harmony (both musical and spiritual), friendship, family and historical themes about the Great Depression and racism.

Readers who will like this book:

I think any child would like to read about a boy that makes his own rules. I also think this would be a fun read aloud to go along side any of the abovementioned themes.

Yopp & Yopp p. 62-66:

Literature Maps

Create a Literature map together, mapping out Bud’s journey and all of the characters he meets along the way. Also, include categories that will help strengthen the theme you are studying. For example, have the children look for examples of friendship, trust, luck, challenges, harmony (or lack there of), and how the Great Depression affected the characters in the story, etc.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud:

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you were an orphan?

If you had a chance, any chance at all, to find one of your parents, would you look for them? Even if weren’t 100% sure that they were even your parents at all?

1. Interest Level (age): 10

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 5.2

3. Awards:

Newberry Award and the Coretta Scott King Award 2000

4. Book Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_P0sThuLEo

Madlenka

Book Title: Madlenka

Author(s): Peter Sís

Illustrator: Peter Sís

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Copyright Date: 2000

Genre: Picture Book

Brief Annotation:

Madlenka’s tooth is loose! And she wants everyone to know about it. She runs around her neighborhood in the heart of New York City to tell her neighbors who are from everywhere. Mr. Gatston, the baker, is from France, “Bonjour, Madeline. Let’s Celebrate!” Mr. Singh works at the newsstand, “Sathsariaskal, Madela. Good news!” As Madlenka introduces you to each character, you fall into the cultural mosaic that forms New York City, and Sís does a fantastic job of giving the reader a glimpse of each culture.

Your Rating (1-5) and why:

5 – The writing is fun to read aloud because there’s a nice rhythm and pattern to it. And the illustrations are fun and playful as Madlenka runs from one neighbor to the next. Sís illustrates and describes each neighbor in a same sort of patterned style along with a cut out which gives the reader a hint as to what is going to be on the next page. A beautiful book!

Readers who will like this book:

Children who just lost a tooth, readers that want to get a glimpse at a New York City

neighborhood, and readers being introduced to Peter Sís. There isn’t much writing, but plenty to see on each page, which makes for great participation during a read aloud.

Yopp & Yopp p. 132:

Literary Borrowing

Following Sís’s illustration structure, have the children create a picture about the people in their family, neighborhood, soccer team, etc.

Be sure to include the fun little cut outs that Sís uses to give the reader a hint about what is going to be on the next page.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud:

Do you know all of the people who live in your neighborhood?

Does your neighborhood ever get together for parties?

Were they all born here in the USA?

1. Interest Level (age): 5

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 1.3

In Our Mothers' House

Book Title: In Our Mothers’ House

Author(s): Patricia Polacco

Illustrator: Patricia Polacco

Publisher: Penguin Group

Copyright Date: 2009

Genre: Picture Book – LGBT families

Brief Annotation:

Marmee and Meema have started a beautiful family. Together, they’ve adopted three amazing children from Africa, Asia, and the USA. Their love and laughter is at the core of everything they do as a family – from cooking dinner to admiring the artwork drawn onto the walls. Though this family is strong, not everyone approves. Thankfully, Polacco doesn’t dwell on this negative aspect as much as the obvious love and support that these two mothers gave to their children every day of their lives.

Your Rating (1-5) and why:

4.5 – I thought Polacco does a fantastic job of highlighting all of the happiness and joy that came out of this out-of-the-ordinary household, and not so much on all of the challenges, even though those challenges were always going to be likely. The illustrations also do a great job of demonstrating all of the different emotions the characters experience throughout this heartfelt story.

Readers who will like this book:

This would be great for LGBT families and to read during a theme about what different families could look like. It would be a great discussion starter for both children familiar and unfamiliar with families that have parents of the same sex and adopted children.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud:

Can you think all of the adults that you love in your life?

Do all of those adults live in your house?

Have you ever been to a home where there was just one mom? One dad? A grandparent? Two moms? Two dads?

1. Interest Level (age): 6-8

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 4.5

3. Book Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaDbjjt6Feg

Little Red Riding Hood

Book Title: Little Red Riding Hood

Author(s): Jerry Pinkney (retold from the Grimm Brothers folktale)

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Jerry Pinkney

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Copyright Date: 2007

Genre: Folklore/fairy tale picturebook

Brief Annotation: In this rendition of a classic fairy tale, the beauty of the story lies in the pictures. It follows the familiar story quite closely, right down to the gruesome ending. Some of the images could be disturbing to young children, but Pinkney’s paintings are enchanting and detailed and give new life to an old story.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 4—My favorite part of this story is the artwork. The illustrations are meticulously painted, and I especially enjoyed the scenes from the snow-filled woods, where bright colors like Riding Hood’s coat, a blue jay, and an evergreen stand out among the white snow. Although I think this tale can be appreciated due to its long-standing nature and its status as a classic, the story of Little Red Riding Hood is a little too violent and grisly for my taste.

Readers who will like this book: Kids who like fairy tales; readers who enjoy other books illustrated by Jerry Pinkney; teachers who are having students compare various versions of the same story

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: Who is familiar with the story of Little Red Riding Hood? Could the events happen in real life? How do you know?

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level (age): 4—8

2. List awards: ALA Notable Books for Children

3. Book trailer: None