Smoky Night

Book Title: Smoky Night

Author(s): Eve Bunting

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: David Diaz

Publisher: Harcourt, Inc.

Copyright Date: 1994

Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction picturebook

Brief Annotation: Daniel is a young boy who lives with his mother in Los Angeles. During the riots in the early 90’s, Daniel and his mother are forced to leave their apartment building when a fire starts, and Jasmine, Daniel’s cat, is nowhere to be found. They evacuate to a nearby shelter, where they discover their neighbor’s cat is also missing. The two cats, rescued while hiding together, help instill important messages about looking past differences and getting along with one another.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5—Smoky Night is incredibly written and illustrated. I love how the background to the pictures complements the text and how they have a textured quality to them. Diaz uses a combination of photographs and mixed-media collages alongside bold and colorful character illustrations. Smoky Night touches on some heavy issues, like the Los Angeles riots and racism, in a way that children can understand, by using two cats to teach lessons about getting along and respecting others.

Readers who will like this book: Children who like stories about animals, particularly cats; children who appreciate stories based on actual events; children who may have been affected by a traumatic event such as rioting or experiencing prejudice; adults looking for an excellent read that deals with riots and racism; anyone who enjoys reading well-written stories with beautiful and creative illustrations.

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins or Yopp & Yopp: Book Bits. In this literacy strategy, students receive a sentence or phrase from a text. After reading their book bit, students reflect on what it means and begin to make impressions about the reading selection. They then share their book bit with classmates in teams of two , sharing with several partners. Once students have heard a few other book bits, “the teacher asks them to return to their seats and quickly write any new impressions of the text based on the information they acquired by listening to their partners’ book bits” (p. 27). This activity gives children an opportunity to speculate on the text, make predictions, and form hypotheses based on tidbits of information. A few “bits” from Smoky Night that a teacher might choose to select include: “It can happen when people get angry. They want to smash and destroy. They don’t care anymore what’s right and what’s wrong.”; “My mama and I don’t go in Mrs. Kim’s market even though it’s close. Mama says it’s better if we buy from our own people.”; “We rush down the stairs. Others crowd around us. The smoke makes me cough.”; “The fire fighter nods. ‘They were so scared they were holding paws.’”; “Perhaps when things settle down you and your cat will come over and share a dish of milk with us.”

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: What is a riot? What are some causes that lead to rioting? How would you feel if rioting occurred in your neighborhood?

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level (age): Pre-K—Grade 3

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 2.5

3. List awards: Caldecott Metal, ALA Notable Children’s Book, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Parents’ Choice Award Winner

4. Book trailer: None

Peace, Locomotion

Book Title: Peace, Locomotion

Author(s): Jacqueline Woodson

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Copyright Date: 2009

Genre: Novel - Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Brief Annotation:

After losing both of his parents and being placed in a foster home, Lonnie Conrad Motion (Locomotion) dedicates his love and creativity to his sister, Lili, who was placed in different foster home. Through the series of letters Lonnie writes to his sister, we learn about finding peace, wisdom, and love during a time of war and loss in this sequel to Woodson’s National Book Award Finalist, Locomotion.

Your Rating (1-5) and why:

5 – I love how Lonnie is an aspiring poet even though he’s only twelve and everything around him is seemingly chaotic and “unpoetic.” Through his writing, he learns how to cope and to see the truth and the good around him. I feel like Woodson’s novel lends itself to great classroom discussions about learning how to find our inner peace.

Readers who will like this book:

This would be a great read-aloud or book study for a group of upper elementary students. There are major themes that would be great to research or study further, such as: loss, fear, war, friendship, poetry, writing, and life in Harlem.

Yopp & Yopp Activity

Create a fold up book/journal p. 138

Have the children write letters to a loved one or dear friend about how they find their peace.

Or Write:

- A story about a time in their life when they felt that everything was right.

- Poems

- Write in Lonnie’s voice and create another letter to Lili.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud:

Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you parents weren’t around? Who do you think you’d live with?

If you would write a letter containing your deepest thoughts and dreams, whom would you send it to?

Would you send it?

1. Interest Level (age): 8-12 year olds

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 5.6

3. Book Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vPke-6xnR4

Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet

Book Title: Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet

Author(s): David McLimans

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: David McLimans

Publisher: Walker & Company

Copyright Date: 2006

Genre: Nonfiction; alphabet picturebook

Brief Annotation: In this beautifully illustrated book, author David McLimans takes readers through an adventure of endangered animals drawn in black and white illustrations with each animal representing a different letter of the alphabet. From the Chinese alligator to Grevy’s zebra, readers learn about 26 endangered animals. The text also includes information on the animals’ habitat and range and what threats the animal faces.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5—I love the illustrations in Gone Wild and the creative approach to teaching kids (and adults) about many unusual and rare animals. It is also a great book for younger kids who are learning the alphabet. The pictures are unique and strikingly done in the contrast of black and white, and in the back of the book, readers can read more about the animals featured and are given resources for further reading.

Readers who will like this book: People of all ages can appreciate this book and will learn from it. Although Scholastic recommends Gone Wild for pre-k to first grade, other sites, like Amazon put the interest level at a higher grade. It is an especially appropriate book for kids who have an interest in wildlife and conservation and would be a fun text to use to teach younger children the alphabet in an artistic format.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: What does the word “endangered” mean? What are some reasons why an animal would face endangerment?

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level (age): Pre-K—Grade 1 (according to Scholastic); ages 8 and up (according to Amazon)

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): NP—Non-prose: “A code for any book comprising more than half non-standard prose.” (lexile.com) Guided reading level: N, (scholastic.com)

3. List awards: 2007 Caldecott Honor, ALA Notable Children’s Books, New York Times Best Illustrated Books of the Year

4. Book trailers: None

Hardworking Puppies

Book Title: Hardworking Puppies

Author & Illustrator: Lynn Reiser

Publisher: Harcourt, Inc

Copyright Date: 2006

Genre: Picturebook – Counting

Brief Annotation: There were ten puppies that managed to keep themselves busy, but one day they decided that keeping busy wasn’t quite enough. They decided that they wanted jobs. They dreamed of working as firefighter dogs, water rescue dogs and guide dogs, just to name a few. Follow these ten puppies and their dreams of being “hardworking puppies” as you also learn about subtraction. What happens when we start with ten puppies and one gets a job?

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 3.5 – This is a cute book that I think children will have fun with and enjoy. It’s fun and silly to think that puppies want jobs and children can be excited when each puppy finds their special job. Children can also learn about different areas of work that dogs can actually perform. The story gives children a nice introduction to counting down and subtraction, as each puppy leaves for a job the number of puppies left decreases by one. At the end of the book, the author includes a list of all the subtractions (10-1=9; 9-1=8,….), but I wonder if it would have been useful to add them into the story. I'm curious if this book is confusing for some kids when used as a subtraction book. The illustrations aren't special, but well enough with this story.

Readers who will like this book: Children of the preschool through first grade age will enjoy this book and (depending of the age) be able to learn different things (work dogs can do, numbers, subtraction, etc) while having fun with the story.

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: What do you think will happen when ten puppies decide that they want jobs? Can puppies have jobs?

Interest Level (age): 3-7

Thomas' Snowsuit

Book Title: Thomas’ Snowsuit

Author(s): Robert Munsch

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Michael Martchenko

Publisher: Bob Munsch Enterprises, Ltd.

Copyright Date: 1985

Genre: Fiction picturebook

Brief Annotation: Thomas’ mother buys him an ugly brown snowsuit, which he refuses to wear outside to school. After a struggle with his mother Thomas wears the snowsuit to school, only to have the very same struggle with his teacher about the snowsuit before recess. In a goofy series of events Thomas ends up switching clothes with both his teacher and his principal, only to end up back in his snowsuit playing happily outside with friends.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: (4) I enjoyed reading this story because of the big exaggerated illustrations which depict facial expressions in a way that appeals to an adult sense of humor. I think this book would be very fun to read to kids because of all the mischief Thomas causes and the goofy mix-ups with the adults’ clothes.

Readers who will like this book: I think this book would appeal to a wide range of age and reading comprehension levels because the story is very basic and the dialogue is straight and to the point, but still very funny. Most kids can relate to an adult telling them to do something they don’t want any part of, and I think most kids would take pleasure in watching the goof-ups happen to those grown-ups!


Question to ask before reading the book: We could talk about what we wear when we go outside! Is it different in the summer and winter time? What are our favorite clothes to wear? How do our favorite (or least favorite!) clothes make us feel?

The Paper Bag Princess

Book Title: The Paper Bag Princess

Author(s): Robert Munsch

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Michael Martchenko

Publisher: Bob Munsch Enterprises, Ltd.

Copyright Date: 1980

Genre: Fiction picturebook

Brief Annotation: Elizabeth is a princess who wears beautiful clothes and intends on marrying Prince Ronald. However, in the blink of an eye, a dragon burns down her castle and all of her beautiful clothes inside of it. She wears the only thing she can find, a paper bag, and sets off to trick the dragon into showing off so that it is too tired to stop her from rescuing Prince Ronald. Once she reaches him he refuses to follow her home until she wears the ‘proper clothes’ to look like a real princess. She promptly dumps him.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: (3) The Paper Bag Princess is sort of a dull story, but has a good message about the lack of importance appearance holds and a one-liner at the end that it gets a little bonus for, “‘(Prince Ronald,) you look like a real prince, but you are a bum.’ They didn’t get married after all.”

Readers who will like this book: Readers who will like this book are spunky little girls who are intrigued by princess tales, but still like to be in control of their dramatic play situations. They’re the girls who always have a clever answer to stories or questions in class.


Question to ask before the read-aloud: We could ask what we know about princesses, princes, and dragons. Are princesses boys or girls? Why? What do they act like? Do we know any princess stories where the princess does the rescuing? What would that look like?!

Sit-In

Book Title: Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down

Author(s): Andrea Davis Pinkney

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Brian Pinkney

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Copyright Date: 2010

Genre: Historical fiction picturebook

Brief Annotation: Sit-In uses ‘cookbook’ storytelling to describe the recipe for nonviolent civil rights protest. The story follows four friends who stand up to segregation in the deep south by staging a sit-in in a local restaurant. Students from other cities hear about their protest and decide to join the movement. This was an important benchmark act leading up to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

Your Rating (1-5) and why: (5!) Talking to young children about complex issues like civil rights is a challenging task. Sit-In uses soft, colorful illustrations to depict four friendly faces that combat violence around them in the diner with nonviolence and peace. The book does not focus on violent aspects of racism and the lunch counter sit-ins, but definitely conveys the unfriendly environment these young children faced. It points to an easy discussion of why there was so much hatred, and ways to combat it. 

Readers who will like this book: Readers who will like this book may be students from diverse backgrounds or those who have yet to learn the important stories from the Civil Rights movement.


Question to ask before reading the book: It would depend on the age level of the class, but we could just look at the cover and ask what we notice about the boys. We could talk about if there are differences between friends in our class--what kinds? How do (should) we treat friends who are different from us?