My daughter is reading at age two!

Just for fun, if anyone is interested....here are some really cute videos of my daughter reading.

I am going to become a Big Sister of Clarksville.  If you are going to be a teacher, this would be a great experience for you too! It's only an hour a week and you can change a life!  Here is the link. Make it happen.

CHANGE A CHILD'S LIFE


http://bbbsclarksville.org/become-a-volunteer/

Picture book #8

Title-The Wall-Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

Author-Peter Sis

Illustrator-Peter Sis

Genre-Picture story book

Subgenre-Historical Fiction

Theme-History, Cold War, poverty, freedom

Primary and secondary characters-Peter Sis-Autobiography as a child

Award(s)-Caldecott Honor; Robert F. Siebert Medal

Date of publication-2007

Publishing company-Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Brief summary-This is a wonderfully articulated book about the true story of Peter Sis’ childhood in Czechoslovakia during the Cold War.  The government controls every aspect of its citizen's lives.  The ability to draw, listen to music, or even read books was determined by the government.  His dreams of being free are shown distinctly in his drawings as a young boy.  The book also includes captions and journal entries.  Most of the book is illustrated in black and white, with some communist red, probably to show the lack of freedom. 

How would you use the book with students-I would use this book to teach older students the history of the Berlin Wall and the Cold War.  This book is a great recollection of a personal experience but is very real and can be a bit extreme for a younger reader to understand.

Picture book #7

Title-The Great Fuzz Frenzy

Author-Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel

Illustrator-Janet Stevens

Genre-Picture story book

Subgenre-Unrealistic Fiction

Theme-Humor, friendship, curiousity

Primary and secondary characters-Big Bark and other prairie dogs

Award(s)- Colorado Children’s Book Award; Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award; Montana Treasure State Picture Book Award; Nebraska Golden Sower Award; New York Charlotte Award; North Dakota Flicker Tale Children’s Book Award; Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award; Vermont Red Clover Award

Date of publication-2005

Publishing company-Harcourt Books

Brief summary-A dog drops a tennis ball into a prairie dog hole in the ground.  The prairie dogs have no idea what it is, but they love the fuzz!  Big bark is a mean prairie dog and no one likes him.  He is bossy and always has to be in charge.  When little Pip Squeak gets fuzz caught in his claw, this starts a frenzy between the dogs and eventually one of them wins, but with consequences. Big Bark decides to steal all the fuzz from the other prairie dogs just to be mean.  An eagle swoops down and snatches Big Bark from the ground. Will the prairie dogs save him?  

Quote-“But those prairie dogs didn’t listen.  They were busy being hot dogs and silly dogs.  Corny dogs and frilly dogs.  Top dogs.  Funny dogs.  Superdogs.  Bunny dogs.”

How would you use the book with students-I would use this book to show my students what can happen when so many animals want the same thing and when one animal is particularly stubborn.  

Picture book #6

Title-Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!

Author-Mo Willems

Illustrator-Mo Willems

Genre-Picture story book

Subgenre-Unrealistic Fiction

Theme-Bedtime, humor

Primary and secondary characters-A pigeon

Award(s)- A New York Times Best Seller; Publishers Weekly Bestseller; Book Sense Bestseller; A Nick Jr. Magazine Best Book; NAPPA Gold Medal Award winner; Parenting Magazine Best Book; Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2007; Book Sense 76 Pick; Children’s Book of the Month Club Main Selection; Junior Library Guild Selection

Date of publication-2006

Publishing company-Hyperion Books for Children

Brief summary-A man in pajamas tells the reader, “Don’t let the pigeon stay up late!”  The pigeon tries to think of everything to get us to allow him to stay awake.  How many excuses can the pigeon come up with before he falls asleep? 

Quote-“I’ll go to bed early tomorrow night instead!”

How would you use the book with students-I would use this book to make my students laugh and get in a good mood.  The book makes a joke out of all the excuses children make when they just are not ready for bed.  Of course, these are the times that the child is so tired; he can barely speak without yawning. It would put the student in the position of a parent and how it feels trying to put a child to bed.

Picture book #5

Title-Madlenka

Author-Peter Sis

Illustrator-Peter Sis

Genre-Picture book

Subgenre-Realistic Fiction

Theme-Art, community, diversity

Primary and secondary characters-Madlenka

Award(s)- New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Books of the Year; Booklinks Lasting Connection; Horn Book Magazine Fanfare List; Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books of the Year

Date of publication-2000

Publishing company-Farrar Straus Giroux

Brief summary-Madlenka lives in New York City and knows her entire block.  When she realizes she has a loose tooth, she must tell everyone.  Go on this journey with Madlenka to meet the French baker, the Indian news vendor, the Italian ice-cream man, the German lady who sits by her window, the Latin American greengrocer, and the Asian shopkeeper.  With all the diversity in her neighborhood, Madlenka feels like she is taking a trip around the world. 

How would you use the book with students-I would use this book to teach students about art and the importance of having a close community.  It also shows how to say hello in several different languages and introduces many different cultures, showing diversity among the neighbors.

Picture book #4

Title-The Grouchy Ladybug

Author-Eric Carle

Illustrator-Eric Carle

Genre-Picture story book

Subgenre-Fantasy-Fiction

Theme-Time, Repetition, Sharing

Primary and secondary characters-The grouchy ladybug and the friendly ladybug.

Award(s)-Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies

Date of publication-1996 (hardcover edition)

Publishing company-HarperCollins Publishers

Brief summary-A grouchy, stubborn ladybug meets a friendly ladybug.  He does not want to share the aphids on a leaf.  He will fight anyone to prove himself to a friendly ladybug.  The grouchy ladybug says that everyone he meets is not big enough to fight.  What happens when he meets a whale?  

How would you use the book with students-I would use this book to teach students about why we shouldn’t fight or be stubborn.  It is a good book to teach sharing and being friendly with whoever you meet. Also, it shows an analog clock for every time the grouchy ladybug meets someone new. It could be used to help teach time to Kindergartners. 

Picture Book #3

Title-10 Minutes Till Bedtime

Author-Peggy Rathman

Illustrator-Peggy Rathman

Genre-Picture book

Subgenre-Fantasy-Fiction

Theme-Imagination, Responsibility

Primary and secondary characters-Little boy and hamsters

Award(s)-N/A

Date of publication-1998

Publishing company-G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Brief summary-A young boy is given a 10 minutes until bedtime warning.  What can his imagination accomplish in 10 minutes as he gets ready for bedtime? His pet hamster brings the circus to his home as he brushes his teeth and takes a bath. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!

How would you use the book with students-I would use this book to teach students about using your imagination to create fun and exciting moments.  I would also use this to teach that responsibility can be done with friends. 

Picture Book #2

Title-And Tango Makes Three

Author-Justin Richardson and Peter Parnall

Illustrator-Henry Cole

Genre-Picture story book

Subgenre-Realistic Fiction

Theme-Family, homosexuality, adoption

Primary and secondary characters-Roy and Silo, Mr. Gramzay

Award(s)- The Aspca Henry Berch Children’s Book Award; American Library Association Notable Children’s Book; Gustavus Myer Outstanding Book Award; Nick Jr. Family Magazine, Outstanding Book Award; Bank Street Best Book of the Year; CBC/NCSS

Date of publication-2005

Publishing company-Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing

Brief summary-Based on a true story about two male Chinstrap Penguins in New York’s Central Park Zoo, Roy and Silo are given an egg to hatch and they become a family. Roy and Silo are just like every other penguin couple in the zoo and they do everything together.  When the zookeeper notices that they are in love, he decides to allow them to take care of an egg. The illustrations are outstanding. 


Quote-"Roy and Silo watched how the other penguins made a home.  So they built a nest of stones for themselves.  Every night Roy and Silo slept there together, just like the other penguin couples."

How would you use the book with students-I would use this book to teach students about homosexuality and family.  It is a controversial book that has been opposed by many, so I would get permission before presenting this book to my class.  It also can show the way birds are hatched and about the lives of penguins. 

Picture Book #1

Title-But Excuse Me That Is My Book

Author-Lauren Child

Illustrator-Lauren Child

Genre-Picture story book

Sub-genre-Realistic Fiction

Theme-Comedy and Humor

Primary and secondary characters-Lola and Charlie

Award(s)- School Library Journal Best Book

Date of publication-2005

Publishing company-The Penguin Group

Brief summary-This is a brilliant story about a brother teaching his sister about all the wonderful books that can be found in a library. Charlie tells Lola that their Dad is going to take them to the library. Lola is so excited to get her favorite book, "Beetles, Bugs, and Butterflies."  Lola absolutely loves this book and is determined to check it out again because "the bugs are quite buggy and the butterflies are really beautiful and the beetles are...very silly."  This book is really cute and has a lesson for children at the end when Charlie must help Lola find another book she loves. 

Quote-"Lola is still saying, 'Beetles, Bugs, and Butterflies is the very best book in the world because you learn a lot and it is very great and extremely very interesting. And... and I really, really must get it.'"

How would you use the book with students-I would use this book to teach students about how important and special reading is and that there are thousands of books to choose from.

Welcome

Hello and welcome to my blog!  I will be posting forty different books throughout this semester including: picture books, chapter books, and several with awards. I hope that we can all view each other's blogs in hopes of gaining a better understanding of literature for children. I am looking forward to doing this blog because I enjoy communicating through writing.  Maybe this will lead me into keeping a daily blog of my life.  Feel free to leave any comments or suggestions.