THE BOOK THIEF

1.    BIBLIOGRAPHY

Zusak, Markus. 2007. THE BOOK THIEF. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 978-0-375-83100-3

2. PLOT SUMMARY

THE BOOK THIEF is a story narrated by Death himself. Death tells about the life of Liesel the orphan in Nazi Germany. Starting with the death of Liesel’s younger brother, this book is a dramatic telling of events surrounding Leisel, her new best friend and the different people in her poor neighborhood. A stranger eventually makes his way into the house and is hidden away in the basement because he is the worst thing you can be in Nazi Germany; he is Jewish. There are many twists and turns as Liesel grows up and matures during this volatile time in history and ends on a bittersweet note.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The concept of Death narrating a story filled with such pain and remembrance of history told in a relatable way is very intriguing and fun to read. There are many historical details mixed in and a human element of feeling because of the amount of detail Death uses to retell Liesel’s thoughts and emotions. When the man under the stairs writes and illustrates a book for Liesel, Zusak incorporates the very rough drawings into the pages of this story and this gives THE BOOK THIEF a very nice intimate quality.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)  

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Zusak not only creates a mesmerizing and original story but also writes with poetic syntax, causing readers to deliberate over phrases and lines, even as the action impels them forward. Death is not a sentimental storyteller, but he does attend to an array of satisfying details, giving Liesels story all the nuances of chance, folly, and fulfilled expectation that it deserves.”

BOOKMARKS MAGAZINE: “…The Book Thief "will be widely read and admired because it tells a story in which books become treasures." And, as we all know, "there's no arguing with a sentiment like that."

5. CONNECTIONS 

*This book is a way to introduce readers to topics like the Holocaust.

*Similar Books:

Boyne, John. THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS. ISBN 978-038575 1537 

WHEN YOU REACH ME

1.    BIBLIOGRAPHY

Stead, Rebecca. 2010. WHEN YOU REACH ME. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN 978-0-385-73742-5

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Miranda is a sixth grade student with a best friend named Sal, but lately Sal doesn't want to spend time with Miranda and it all relates back to that one incident where a bigger kid punched Sal in the stomach. That one incident introduces Miranda to Marcus and from there the adventure begins. Miranda finds three notes hidden in places where no stranger could possibly have left them and they all have mysterious and ominous meanings. Through discovering new friends and renewing an old friendship Miranda learns an eye opening lesson about life and time.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book is a good read with drama, smiles and mystery. The story line seems innocuous to begin with and slowly develops into an intriguing story full of time travel pondering and a simple revelation at the end of the story. The story is very simple and could use more complexity and explanation of the character Marcus. All of the chapters are narrated by Miranda, but an improvement would be to provide a few chapters from the perspective of Marcus in different states of time; from youth to middle aged to homeless old man. There are no illustrations inside the book, but the outside cover is colorful and designed to look as a map of a city with pictures of different items mentioned in the book.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)  

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “As Miranda reminisces, the time sequencing is somewhat challenging, but in an intriguing way. The setting is consistently strong. The stores and even the streets–in Miranda's neighborhood act as physical entities and impact the plot in tangible ways. This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers.”

AMAZON.COM REVIEW: “Rebecca Stead's poignant novel, When You Reach Me, captures the interior monologue and observations of kids who are starting to recognize and negotiate the complexities of friendship and family, class and identity.”

5. CONNECTIONS 

*This book is a great way to introduce friendship themes and the concept of time travel. 

*Similar Books:

L’Engle, Madeleine. A WRINKLE IN TIME. ISBN 978-0312367541

Fitzhugh, Louise. HARRIET THE SPY. ISBN 978-0440416791

LUNCH LADY AND THE AUTHOR VISIT VENDETTA

1.    BIBLIOGRAPHY

Krosoczka, Jarrett J. 2009. LUNCH LADY AND THE AUTHOR VISIT VENDETTA. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books. ISBN 978-0-375-96094-9

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In this kitchen caper, Lunch lady and her fearless sidekick solve the crime of the missing gym teachers by identifying the true and devilish intentions of the famous author that recently visited their school. Lunch Lady is not alone in her crime fighting ways; she receives help from her sidekick and some unsuspecting students. From the moment the odd author shows up to Lunch Lady battling hoards of killer bunnies, Lunch lady knows that she is the one to stop this revenge seeking criminal.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This short graphic novel is a quick and easy read with lots of mystery to draw the reader in. The hero of the story is Lunch Lady who works in the kitchens at a school by day and in her spare time she solves crime and defeats bad guys. This unique story line is funny and silly with a classic comic book feel and plenty of action. Large lettering and a simple color palate with precise pen strokes give a bold appearance to all of the illustrations and lettering making it easy for young readers to follow the story line.  

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)  

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The illustrator uses a fine line of pen and ink with touches of yellow. Balloon call-outs are large and clear and work well for beginning readers and those new to the graphic-novel format.”

BOOKLIST: “…unravel the mystery in this third entry in the three-tone graphic-novel series. Krosoczka has created a clever diversion this round, with appeal not just for kids but also for other children’s authors.”

5. CONNECTIONS 

*This book is a great way to help students bridge from picture books to chapter books.

*Similar Books:

Krosoczka, Jarrett J. LUNCH LADY AND THE CYBORG SUBSTITUTE. ISBN 978-0375846830

Cammuso, Frank. KNIGHTS OF THE LUNCH TABLE: NO. 1. ISBN 978-0439903226

ONE CRAZY SUMMER

1.    BIBLIOGRAPHY

Williams-Garcia, Rita. 2010. ONE CRAZY SUMMER. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children’s Books. ISBN 978-0-060076089-2

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In Oakland, California in 1968 Delphine and her two younger sisters embark on a journey to meet and rekindle a relationship with the mother that abandoned them and still doesn’t want them. Who else has a mother that won’t let you in the kitchen, cook you a meal, tuck you into bed or let you stay in the house during the day? Well, that is the kind of mother that Delphine and her sisters have and she is one crazy mother. Not only is she crazy, but her friends in the Black Panthers are also crazy with their black power and rights demonstrations. Through a series of strange events and experiences Delphine and her sisters grow together with each other and by the end of their visit they even make a connection with their crazy mother.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The author shares the unique up close experience of a young girl who finds herself at the epicenter for black rights in her mother’s neighborhood. The main character struggles to accept her mother and take care of her younger siblings all while slowly growing and accepting the message of The Black Panthers in the community. This book is about personal growth, acceptance, and learning that life outside of your comfort zone is extremely challenging, but rewarding. Williams-Garcia demonstrates the race struggles of the time through commentary between the different characters in the story. This story is a creative way to express the history of racism and the work that The Black Panthers did to help build up black communities and fight the man even though these activities were not always the best and often led to violence and arrests.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Review: “It's the summer after Black Panther founder Huey Newton was jailed and member Bobby Hutton was gunned down trying to surrender to the Oakland police, and there are men in berets shouting "Black Power" on the news.”

BOOKLIST Review:  ““No one told y’all to come out here,” Cecile says. “No one wants you out here making a mess, stopping my work.” Like the rest of her life, Cecile’s work is a mystery conducted behind the doors of the kitchen that she forbids her daughters to enter.”

5. CONNECTIONS  

*This is a book that should prompt discussion about the role of The Black Panthers, racism, and even questions about single parent homes.

*Other similar books

Hoose, Philip. CLAUDETTE COLVIN: TWICE TOWARD JUSTICE. ISBN 0312661053

Haskins, Jim. POWER TO THE PEOPLE: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY. ISBN 978-0689800856 

LILY'S CROSSING

1.    BIBLIOGRAPHY

Giff, Patricia Reilly. 1999. LILY’S CROSSING. New York, NY: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0-440-41453-9

2. PLOT SUMMARY

LILLY’S CROSSING is the adventurous story of a young girl on her summer vacation to the bay during the summer of 1944. Lily’s vacation starts off with disappointing news from her summer friend that she is moving away and may never come back. Even though a long trusted friend is gone, a new kid appears with a strange accent and a love for orange cats. Lily’s befriends this new face and learns how to be a true friend all while World War II rages on across the globe and inconveniently interjects itself between her and her beloved father.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The story of Lily’s summer is full of her daily activities and musings about life and wild lies that correspond with her daydreams. Giff portrays Lily’s day to day life with accuracy of how hard money, groceries, and other things like gas were to get a hold of. Giff also includes details about listening to the news on the radio constantly and having it as a soundtrack to the life of everyone during the war. The war touches everyone and the daily reminders of ships passing in the ocean and patrol flights flying overhead are tough enough, but when young soldiers go missing in action and fathers are taken over seas to the front lines to rebuild; there is a depth of realism brought to the reader that is a very tangible.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

AMAZON.COM REVIEW: ”Left alone with her grandmother in the family's summer home in Rockaway, New York, Lily befriends Albert, a shy Hungarian refugee her own age.”

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: "has all the ingredients that best reward readers."

5. CONNECTIONS

*This book is a good way to help young readers understand what World War II was like for many young children that sacrificed along with the whole country. Teaching guides can be purchased on Amazon.com to accompany the book.

*Look for these similar books.

Burg, Ann. REBEKKAH’S JOURNEY: A WORLD WAR II REFUGEE STORY. ISBN  978-1585362752

Herman, Charlotte. A SUMMER ON 13^TH STREET:2. ISBN 978-0525446422 

THE WEDNESDAY WARS

1.    BIBLIOGRAPHY

Schmidt, Gary D. 2007. THE WEDNESDAY WARS. New York, NY : Sandpiper. ISBN 978-0-618-72483-3

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Schmidt has written a funny and entertaining comedy that gradually introduces the reader to some of the history of the Vietnam War from the viewpoint of a seventh grade boy named Holling Hoodhood. Holling begins his school year as normal, but realizes quickly that his homeroom teacher Mrs. Baker hates him even though he isn’t the type of kid that teachers hate. Holling faces many new experiences and challenges as he finds new perspective on life all while learning Shakespeare.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This story is an easy gentle read that starts with a simple life problem and cleverly evolves to incorporating current events of the time such as the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and the new outrageous contract agreements of famous baseball players. Schmidt layers in details and wraps them into the story to make them pertinent to the main character and other characters.

Holling evolves throughout the months (chapters) by experiencing new situations with friends, classmates, and even Mrs. Baker. Mrs. Baker introduces Holling to Shakespeare and prods him along as he learns to interpret and apply Shakespeare to his own life. The story follows Hollining’s day to day adventures and experiences and by the end the story has become its own comedy with Hoodhood as the star that has chosen and is still choosing his projection through life. The details are accurate and interesting without being overbearing to the story and allow the plot to thicken and develop without getting caught up in tedious information that may bore a young reader.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “…first-person narration perfectly captures Holling's progression from an angst-filled yet innocent boy, to a wiser, self-aware young man.”

BOOKLIST: “…with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, who Holling is convinced hates his guts. He feels more certain after Mrs. Baker assigns Shakespeare's plays for Holling to discuss during their shared afternoons.”

5. CONNECTIONS 

*This book would be a great way to get students interested in the Vietnam War, Hippies, and even Shakespeare.  This book could be read to spur interest in these topics and prompt discussions and further readings.

*Similar Books:

Kadohata, Cynthia. CRACKER! THE BEST DOG IN VIETNAM.  ISBN 978-1416906384

LAFAYETTE AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Freedman, Russell. 2010. LAFAYETTE AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. New York, NY. Holiday House. ISBN 978-0-8234-2182-4

2. PLOT SUMMARY

When learning about the American Revolution most people focus on George Washington and the rights of citizens. In this book Freedman moves past many of the typical historic figures and focuses on the life and contributions of French born Gilbert Lafayette. From his early history through his historical accomplishments until his death, Lafayette is the young adventurous man that changed history and helped give birth to a nation.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The structure of this book brings life and adventure to the story of Lafayette while keeping the reader involved and entertained. The paragraphs are long and detailed, but the pictures and fast paced writing move the reader quickly through the text. There are interesting facts shared about this rich young man and his journey from France to American hero. The chapters follow a sequential order and at the end there is a timeline that summarizes the main events by year. There is an index, source note section, and a two page selected biography added in for more detail.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

BOOKLIST review: “In this solidly researched and smoothly written biography, Freedman creates a vivid portrait of Lafayette as he matures from an impetuous young man and inexperienced solider to a leader capable of wisdom as well as valor.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “… a gorgeously illustrated, beautifully laid out production in an oversized format. Each spread contains at least one painting, drawing, or photograph, often in color.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*This book is a great way to drum up interest in the American Revolution and the personal aspects of many famous people involved in this historic event. Using this book in a classroom would be a great connection.

*Other books about American Revolutionaries:

Freedman, Russell. WASHINGTON AT VALLEY FORGE. ISBN 978-082340698

Schnazer, Rosalyn. GEORGE VS. GEORGE: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AS SEEN FROM BOTH SIDES. ISBN 978-1426300424

QUEST FOR THE TREE KANGAROO: AN EXPEDITION TO THE CLOUD FOREST OF NEW GUINEA

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Montgomery, Sy. 2009. QUEST FOR THE TREE KANGAROO: AN EXPEDITION TO THE CLOUD FOREST OF NEW GUINEA. Boston, MA. Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN: 978-0618-49641-9

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop create a wonderful photo essay book about their journey to New Guinea and their search for the elusive Tree Kangaroo. They detail their journey from the very start of packing all the way through their discoveries, challenges, and successes. This book is a fun read with great visuals and written expressions that ignite the imagination.

Young readers will enjoy the development of this great adventure through the dazzling photos and descriptive language about the processes, results, and habitat of New Guinea. Montgomery shares every detail and Bishop provides the photos of the environment, animals, native peoples, and researchers.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In QUEST FOR THE TREE KANGAROO, the real life photographs of the animals and people involved culminate to provide a first person experience for the reader and the journal like entries give a timeline of events as the reader progresses through the story. The photographs were taken by Nic Bishop along the way and Sy Montgomery documented the whole journey and process through her own personal writings. There are colorful maps and interesting facts provided within the book and tips located at the back for at home conversations and advice.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

BOOKLIST review: “As usual, Bishop's color photographs are exemplary and extend the excitement in stunning close-ups of creatures and of the team at work.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Montgomery and Bishop continue their outstanding collaboration to introduce readers to scientists at work. Here, they document their participation in an expedition to the rugged and remote cloud forest of Papua New Guinea in search of the elusive and fascinating Matschie's tree kangaroo.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*At the back of the book Lisa (the lead researcher) gives her advice for kids in five short points. These are great for sharing with readers and prompting discussion.

*Other books about animals:

Hughes, Catherine D. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LITTLE KIDS FIRST BIG BOOK OR ANIMALS. ISBN:  978-1426307041

DeMarco, Natalie. CHILDRENS READERS: PANDAS FOR KIDS – DISCOVER THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THESE AMAZING AND DELIGHTFUL ANIMALS. 

Bones: Skeletons and How They Work

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jenkins, Steve. 2010. BONES: SKELETONS AND HOW THEY WORK. New York, New York. Scholastic Press. ISBN: 978-0-545-04651-0

2. PLOT SUMMARY                                      

At some point in the life of many adults there has been the opportunity to learn about the human body and the bones within it. In this delightful concept book Jenkins has taken the human skeleton and compared it to many different types of animal skeletons found in nature from fruit bats to T-Rex. There are many interesting facts and wonderful visuals that allow children to effortlessly compare the different features and shapes of all bones.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The flow of this book is easy and guided by many pictures starting with the comparison of large and small bones and moving into the bones of the human hand. The text is simple and informative about how bones provide shape, protection, how bones grow and how animals use the different limbs and parts of their body to accomplish different tasks. “Remove an animal’s skeleton, and it would become a helpless, squishy sack of skin.”

Jenkins uses vibrant background colors to accentuate the yellow, grey and white tones of the bones on the pages and he also includes large white print to label and describe the bones. There are fold out pages of different animals and their bones to make the book more interactive. The book starts with a single finger bone and builds up to an entire human skeleton showing where the bones fit and work together.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

BOOKLIST: “…the clean design of the intricate skeletons set against solid background colors is striking and provides a wonderful visual introduction to what keeps us all upright.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “…bones are given an entertaining and fresh treatment. Beginning with the opening spread of life-sized animal bones, human bones are quantified and qualified.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Invite children to draw their own pictures of bones and discuss how bones help

*Other concept books about the human body:

Sweeney, Joan. ME AND MY AMAZING BODY. ISBN: 978-0375806230

Vriesenga, Daryl. HUMAN BODY, GRADES 5-8: 100+ REPRODUCABLE ACTIVITIES. ISBN: 978-0880128278 

DIAMOND WILLOW

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Frost, Helen. 2008. DIAMOND WILLOW. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-0-374-31776-8

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Helen Frost tells the story of Willow, a young teenage girl that feels unconnected to her community and desires more closeness to people in her community and her grandparents. Willow has a deep connection to one sled dog and during a rough wild adventure; there is a terrible accident that changes their lives forever. Willow struggles through the whole book and is oblivious to the ancestors that surround her in the form of wild animals. These animals help willow through her journey and when her journey is over she has a new appreciation for her past and a new knowledge of her family.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Frost uses a unique jewel pattern on each page to help illustrate the overall message that knowledge grows through time and being cultured, just like precious jewels. This unique styling also lends itself to another technique used by Frost. This secondary technique is the use of bold words to convey a deep inner thought of the character or theme of the page.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Frost casts a subtle spell through innovative storytelling. Her poems offer pensive imagery and glimpses of character, and strong emotion.”

BOOKLIST review: “Frost, who spent years teaching in Alaska, blends the young teen’s viewpoint with a strong sense of place and culture.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*This book is great for young readers who enjoy books of personal discovery and growth.

*Other engaging books of concrete poetry for middle graders:

Smith, Hope Anita. KEEPING THE NIGHT WATCH. ISBN 978-0805072020

Herlong, M.H. THE GREAT WIDE SEA. ISBN 978-0-670-06330-7 

HERE IN HARLEM

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Myers, Walter Dean. 2004. HERE IN HARLEM. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 0-8234-1853-7

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Walter Dean Myers has combined many poems written in different styles and rhythms to portray the many different types of personalities from his home town of Harlem. These poems connect to form a foundation and concrete vision of what it is like in Harlem during this time period he tells a story through verse and passionate portrayals. Myers’ style is based off of a book by Edgar Lee Masters entitled SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGIES in which Masters’ also shares the stories of different individuals to create a single work.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

From the cover on the book to the thick heavy pages, Myers creates a physical appearance with his work that is reminiscent of a photo album or scrap book. There are photographs of different periods and generations that show the passing of time and create a sense of community members being present with you as you explore the world that is Harlem.

In these poems the different characters speak out about their experiences, memories, feelings, and dreams with passion and soul. Each poem reflects the personality of the teller and builds up their character in dramatic and moving ways. From the chorus of the Party Girl “Oh, swing that swing, Sing the song you need to sing” to Clara Brown’s Testimony “I told him not to worry. Harlem has been worse off, and it’s been better.” These portrayals build and collide to leave you breathless at the end.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “The rich and exciting text will give readers a flavor of the multiplicity of times and peoples of Harlem, and the more than 50 voices will stay with them”

BOOKLIST review: “Some of the individual poems are exceptionally strong and memorable. Collectively, they offer a colorful and warmly personal portrayal of Harlem.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*Using a poem book such as this in a literature class would be a way to introduce young adult readers to a different style of poetry that expresses the essence of a life lived.

*Other engaging books of similar style:

Masters, Edgar Lee. SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGIES. ISBN 978-0-14-310515-2

Myers, Walter Dean. HARLEM. ISBN 978-0590543408

WORLD OF WONDERS

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lewis, J. Patrick. 2002. A WORLD OF WONDERS. Ill. by Alison Jay. New York: Dial Books. ISBN: 0-8037-2579-5

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In this charming book of poetry, J. Lewis has created a unique, flowing, and clever collection of poems that introduce and describe many wonderful geographical locations, events, and phenomenon such as the aurora borealis. These short poems take the reader on an adventure around the world through rhythmic discovery and beautiful illustrations. This book is a unique way of introducing young people to some of the wonders of the world.

 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The illustrations used by Alison Jay throughout this book are eye catching and give the impression of the reader being there in person with a bird’s eye view. At the very beginning of the book there are two kids seen flying over the earth on a giant flying book as if they are in a fairytale with a magic carpet.

Each poem is about traveling and discovering different wonders from around the world and also introduces great explorers and their world changing discoveries. In “On Top of the World” Lewis creatively describes the journey of the first men to climb Mount Everest. Lewis uses facts about the location to play into his poems, “Five miles from earth, they set up camp. A vicious wind tore at their tent.” These details are so helpful to young readers who have never visited these sites.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Ranging from free verse to rhymes and riddles, the 26 witty selections muse about the exploits of explorers, play with geographical words and concepts, and extol the wonders of disparate locals.”

THE HORN BOOK MAGAZINE review: “Allison Jays illustrations are witty yet understated in color so that they complement rather than compete with the subject.”

5. CONNECTIONS

*Have children pick their favorite topic, place, or person related to geography and have them create their own unique poem about their chosen topic.

*Other books of poetry for young readers:

Cowan, Mark. POEMS FOR THE GEOGRAPHY CLASSROOM. ISBN 978-1905637645 

The Girl Who Helped Thunder

1. Bibliography

Bruchac, James, and Bruchac, Josheph.2008. THE GIRL WHO HELPED THUNDER AND OTHER NATIVE AMERICAN FOLKTALES. Ill. by Stefano Vitale. New York: Sterling. ISBN: 978-1-4027-3263-8

2. Plot Summary

THE GIRL WHO HELPED THUNDER is a Native American folktale from the Lenape people and is a story created to teach young girls a lesson about making wise decisions before they jump into marriage. In the story Pretty Face is the most beautiful girl in the village and refuses to marry the men of her village because they are not good enough. After several years of being unmarried, a handsome stranger visits the village and asks Pretty Face to marry him. Pretty Face decides to marry the stranger against her family’s wishes and warnings of caution. The handsome stranger takes Pretty Face to his home in his village in the river. Pretty Face knows that this is a strange place to live and when the stranger reveals himself as the great snake that lives beneath the river she is frightened and cries out to the Thunder Being for help. The Thunder Being appears before Pretty Face and tells her to follow a path and to run as fast as she can back home. As she is running the great snake begins to chase her and eventually they both reach the surface of the water where the Thunder Being is waiting to kill the great snake. After killing the snake, the Thunder Being invites Pretty Face to live with the thunder people in the sky and that is where Pretty Face remains to remind young girls every time they hear thunder to make wise decisions.

3. Critical Analysis

This story is very indicative of how folktales are used to relay morals or important lessons through dramatic happenings with severe consequences. In this particular story Pretty Face is a vain young woman who makes a hasty decision and finds herself in a bad situation. Even with the help of Thunder Being, Pretty Face decides she cannot return to her village because of her shame and instead lives on in the sky with the thunder people to help remind other young girls to make better decisions. The illustrations are colorful and vibrant with an artistic expression that is very common in Native American art.

4. Review Excerpts

LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION: “These well-written, simple stories are short and provide the reader with a variety of examples from Native American culture and history.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Storytellers captured the imaginations of their audiences while teaching lessons about respect and personal responsibility”

5. Connections

This story and the others in this book are great for teacher students about the Native American culture and how their culture views the earth and social interactions.

Erdoes,Richard. AMERICAN INDIAN MYTHS AND LEGENDS (PANTHEON FAIRY TALE & FOLKLORE LIBRARY) ISBN: 0-394-74018-1

Hitakonanulaxk. THE GRANDFATHERS SPEAK: NATIVE AMERICAN FOLK TALES OF THE LENAPE PEOPLE (INTERNATIONAL FOLK TALES) ISBN: 1-56656-128-0

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!

1. Bibliography

Scieszka, Jon. 1989. THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS!. Ill. by Lane Smith. New York: Viking Penguin. ISBN: 978-0140544510

2. Plot Summary

This version of THE THREE LITTLE PIGS is retold by Jon Scieszka as a first person tale from the viewpoint of A. Wolf (The Big Bad Wolf) and how he has been framed of committing the crimes of eating the first two pigs and trying to eat the third. A. Wolf guides you through his story from the beginning when he was making a cake for his sweet old granny all the way to how he ended up in jail being framed by the media as a really bad guy.

3. Critical Analysis

Jon Scieszka does a great job of writing as the wolf and speaking out as the innocent neighbor just seeking out a cup of sugar and getting caught in some bizarre situations and misunderstandings. The writing is straight forward, but there is a hint of embellishment and a sense that the wolf is not telling the whole truth when he “accidentally” kills two of the pigs and instead of calling the police to explain he instead eats the pigs because “It seemed like a shame to leave a perfectly good ham dinner lying there in the straw.” The illustrations are cartoonish and in darker shades of color to give the feel of a memory being experienced firsthand.

4. Review Excerpts

NEW YORK TIMES: “It is a kind of revisionist history in that it is told by one Alexander T. Wolf”

5. Connections

The story of THE THREE LITTLE PIGS is one that spans ages and this version would be great to read out loud and use to help young readers identify a writing style that may be new to them.

Shaskan, Trishia Speed. HONESTLY, RED RIDING HOOD WAS ROTTEN! THE STORY OF LITTLE RED RIDNG HOOD AS TOLD BY THE WOLF.  

Trivizas, Eugene. THE THREE LITTLE WOLVES AND THE BIG BAD PIG.   ISBN: 0-689-81528-X

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

1. Bibliography

Taback, Simms, Trans. 1997. THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY. Ill. by Simms Taback. New York: Penguin Books USA Inc.    ISBN:  978-0670869398

2. Plot Summary

This wonderful folk poem originated in America with different versions from a handful of states. The original author is unknown and Taback has taken hold of this story and put a true touch and brand on it. THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY is a story about an old woman who at first swallows a fly and continues to eat other animals to get the fly. The old lady grows and grows as the pages are turned and the cutouts in the middle of the pages slowly reveal all the animals that have been swallowed. No one knows why she eats the fly, but the old lady keeps on eating animals until she finally swallows a horse and dies!

3. Critical Analysis

This singsong poem has a wonderfully repetitive rhythm that gives the story in a linear pattern traveling from one animal being swallowed to the next. An example of this is after the old lady swallows a bird the phrase goes “There was an old lady who swallowed a bird. How absurd, to swallow a bird! She swallowed the bird to catch the spider.” This method is repeated with each additional animal. Taback also adds comments from the other animals about what she just swallowed. When the old lady first swallows the fly, the cat, dog, bird, and cow all pitch in saying “But it’s only a fly.” “She gulped it out of the sky.” And there is even a bit of foreshadowing here because written in the background in giant letters it says “Perhaps she’ll die.” There are colorful and funny illustrations throughout the book and even with the demise of the main character these illustrations give a light heartedness to the story and make the death of the main character comical.

4. Review Excerpts

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “All in all, this illustrator provides an eye catching, energy filled, interpretation that could easily become a classic in itself.”

BOOKLIST: “The funky art and the terrific humor are a winning combination.”

5. Connections

This story can be enjoyed without the book and is a poem that can be remembered and shared orally on the playground or around the home.

Childs Play International, THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY. ISBN: 978-1904550624

Colandro, Lucille. THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED SOME SNOW. ISBN: 978-0439567039

Arnold, Tedd. THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED FLY GUY. ISBN: 978-0439639064

Where is Tippy Toes?

1. Bibliography

Lewin, Betsy. 2010. Where is Tippy Toes?. Ill. By Betsy Lewin. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. ISBN: 978-1-4169-3808-8

2. Plot Summary

In this book the main character Tippy Toes is a cat that spends his days doing a variety of activities. Everyone knows what Tippy Toes does during the day, but what does he do at night? That is something that is answered by one person and is revealed at the end of the book when Tippy Toes crawls in bed with his owner.

3. Critical Analysis

This book is colorfully illustrated by Betsy Lewin and the words flow together in a rhyming sequence that details the daily activities of Tippy Toes. As you read through this book the narrator shows you where Tippy Toes goes throughout the day from sun up to his afternoon nap in a dresser drawer. Every other page is dicut and when flipped reveals where Tippy Toes is.  At the end of the book you see the narrator lying in his bed and as you turn the half page to “pull down the covers”, you see where Tippy Toes goes for his nightly rest. There is a sense of adventure as you flip through and discover all the wonderful places that Tippy Toes goes during the day and the fun playful illustrations only enhance the light hearted feel of this story.

4. Review Excerpts

“Told with simple rhymes and mischievous illustrations by award-winning creator Betsy Lewin, this is a book to curl up with and enjoy” Good Reads.com

“A cute kitty, a resonant text, and some entertaining peekaboo reveals--what more could a toddler want?” the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Sept. 2010

5. Connections

This is a fun playful book that is great for anyone looking for a sense of adventure. Another book like this is The Cat in The Hat.

Seuss, Dr. 1957. The Cat in The Hat. New York: Random House Inc.

ISBN:  978-0545014571

Millions of Cats

1. Bibliography

Gag, Wanda. 1928. Milllions of Cats. Ill. by Wanda Gag. New York, NY: Penguin Putnam.

 ISBN 0-698-11363

2. Plot Summary

In this cute little story of an old man and woman the old man ventures out in search of a cat to take home to his wife. When he discovers what he’s looking for he actually find “Hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats.” With so many to choose from, the old man cannot decide upon one single cat to take home. The old man invites all the cats to come with him on his journey home and when he reaches his destination his wife is overwhelmed by the number of cats and decides that they cannot possibly take care of all the cats. The husband and wife decide to let the cats decide which one of them is the most beautiful, but this only causes the cats to argue and fight amongst themselves. When all of the fighting is done there is only one homely little kitten left. The couple takes the cat in and loves and cares for it until it becomes beautiful.

3. Critical Analysis

Wanda Gag created this story over 80 years ago and it is still enjoyed today. The illustrations are black and white depictions that span across the pages and have great details for showing the country side along the old man’s journey as well as the different features of all the cats.

The story is fun to follow along and read aloud as it has a repetitive sequence of words that flow well together when talking about the enormous amount of cats that the old man encounters. At the end of the story when all the other cats have gobbled each other up and the one lone kitten is found there is a moment of surprise for the reader. Even though the last cat is not the most beautiful the love and care of the old couple helps change the cat into becoming the most beautiful cat the old couple has seen. This metamorphoses for the cat is a reminder that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the more you love and cherish something, the more beautiful it becomes.

4. Review Excerpts

Newbery Honor 1929

Wanda Gag posthumous recieved the 1958 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award for Millions of Catsand the 1977 Kerlan Award for the body of her work.

A classic, that could make anyone a cat lover. – Pat Vasilik

5. Connections

* A book about becoming beautiful and seeing the beauty within. Pinky and Rex and the Just-Right Pet is a similar story where the young character is wanting the right pet.

Howe, James.2001. Pinky and Rex and the Just-Right Pet. Ill by Melissa Sweet. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.  ISBN: 978-0689839429

*Other books by Wanda Gag

Gag, Wanda. 1931. Snippy and Snappy. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.  ISBN: 978-0816642458

A Ball for Daisy

1. Bibliography

Rashka, Chris. 2011. A BALL FOR DAISY. Ill. By Chris Rashka. New York: Scwartz and Wade Books.

ISBN 978-0-375-85861-1

2. Plot Summary

In this book Chris Rashka beautifully illustrates the relationship and journey of a dog named Daisy and her ball. The story is told solely with colorful illustrations that are detailed and expressive of the feelings that Daisy feels as the story progresses. There are other characters that Daisy interacts with, but the main focus of this story is the love and relationship between Daisy and her ball.

3. Critical Analysis

The story of Daisy and her ball is easy to follow as you turn the pages. Chris Rashaka does a superb job showing the progression of time in the illustrations with movement and emotion. Daisy spends time with her ball from playing to napping and even a visit to the park. Through the story you realize that the ball is a main character along with Daisy and when the story takes a surprising turn of events there is an emotional loss that can be felt through the pages. There is also a nice moral lesson tucked in near the end when a secondary character helps repair the loss that Daisy feels because her dog caused it.

4. Review Excerpts

2012 Caldecott Medalist

New York Times Bestseller

New York Times Best Illustrated Book

“A tender and beautiful wordless picture book” Junior Library Guild

5. Connections

* A great book for anyone that has ever lost something and wanted it back. A similar book to this is I Want My Hat Back.

Klassen, Jon. 2011. I Want My Hat Back. Ill. By Jon Klassen. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 978-0763655983