Reflection

Class Reflection

The Children's Literature course has taught me a lot throughout this semester.  I learned that choice is a key component when offering literature to students.  As long as there is choice there will be something that all students are interested in.  I liked talking about controversial books because there will definitely be times when parents do not agree with what I'm teaching in my classroom.  After reviewing several of these types of books I realized that I usually do not have a problem with them.  A book is a book and if my students want to read it then it's usually fine with me.  I have been introduced to several different genres of books and now feel ready to offer them to my students.  I also liked reading the novels The Misfits, Must Love Dog, The Giver, and more.  I really enjoyed reading them and was interested in the discussions that followed.  I liked that we read The Year of Impossible Goodbyes and So Far From the Bamboo Grove because it gave a unique look at a historical event.  This is just one instance of how we learned to incorporate literature into any subject area.  I think that the technology integration (blogs, glogs, etc.) was a really useful and important part of this class also because our society is becoming more and more technology-based.  Students in my future classroom are going to be more interested in using the technology that they use and are familiar with than doing a book report by writing a paper and describing an author.  All of these components worked together to make this an amazing semseter and course.  I've learned a lot and am eager to take what I've learned to my future classroom someday!

"Mathematickles!" by Betsy Franco

With a concentration in elementary school math, I was instantly intrigued with this book!  What a great way to intertwine math, reading and writing!  I really like how math is mixed with language to teach students about how addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, geometry, and graphs relate with words as examples.  For example:

pumpkin - seeds + face = jack-o'-lantern

autumn / wind = leaves ( - colors = winter)

These are just a couple of the many clever math problems with words that describe the different seasons.  I think students would enjoy reading this book because it is funny and looks at math in a very different and interesting way!

"The Story Goes On" by Aileen Fisher

The first thing that struck me about this book was the illustrations!  They are all very bright and definitely attract the reader's attention.  I'm not sure how the illustrator created the illustrations but there are parts where it looks like newspaper was incorporated!  It's very interesting.  This is a story written as a poem about the cycle of life.  First a bug eats a plant, then a frog eats the bug, then a snake eats the frog, etc.  As a teacher I could see myself introducing a science unit about the life cycle to my students with this book.  It would give students a good overview of how all animals depend on each other to continue the life cycle!

"Falling Up" by Shel Silverstein

What a great collection of poems!  This was a book that I always enjoyed reading when I was young and enjoyed it just as much (if not more) recently.  I like that Silverstein has a very distinct style of writing poems.  I remember my fourth grade teacher started class each day with a poem from Where the Sidewalk Ends.  Silverstein's poems are fun and light-hearted and I think that helps children learn to love poetry, a style of writing that is usually dreaded by children.  Overall I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting this poetry collection!  Here's one of my favorites:

Nentis Nan, he’s my man,

I go do im each chanz I gan.
He sicks me down an creans my teed
Wid mabel syrub, tick an’ sweed,
An ten he filks my cavakies
Wid choclut cangy-- I tink he’s
The grayest nentis in the Ian.
Le’s hear free jeers for Nentis Nan.
Pip-pip-ooray!
Pip-pip-ooray!
Pip-pip-ooray!
Le’s go to Nentis Nan dooday!

"Doodle Dandies: Poems That Take Shape" by J. Patrick Lewis

This collection of poems showcases several different ways to publish a piece.  I really enjoyed reading these poems, especially the ones that resembeled the object they were describing.  The author has definitely done a great job of showing how poetry can look exciting, not boring.  Each page has tons of color and the configuration of the peom is different on every page!  My favorite poem is one called "Mirror".  It shows a woman looking in the mirror and the text is written on her hat.  On the opposing page is the same image except it's reflected as if there's a mirror in the middle of the page.  It's very clever!  I think many children would enjoy this book because it makes the poems look more interesting.  I think teachers could use this book to show students different ways of publishing their work.  Children probably wouldn't think of these ideas on their own so this book could serve as a great model for them.

"Poems to Dream Together, Poemas Para Sonar Juntos" by Francisco X. Alarcon

This book would be great for ELL students or those who are learning Spanish.  All the poems are written in English and Spanish and they range from just a few words to several stanzas in length.  As more and more students in our classrooms are from diverse backgrounds it's important to realize that not all of them will have English as their primary language.  I have not come across many books that are written in two languages and so I was very pleased when I read this.  Although I do not know Spanish it was interesting to compare the words and decipher what certain words mean.  The author's note at the beginning of the book was interesting because it described the author's background.  He lived in both California and Mexico throughout his childhood, which is the reason he wrote the bilingual poems.  I also thought it was interesting that even the author's note and dedication (in fact, all parts of this book) are written in two languages.

The content of the poems is not to be overlooked.  They range from topics about education and peace to families and living things.  Some are humorous while others take a more serious tone.  Overall, I loved this collection of poems and would love to see more books like this!

"Love That Dog" by Sharon Creech

What a great book!  This collection of poems forms the story about Jack, a boy who is not excited about poetry.  After his teacher guides him along to write a few poems, he begins to become more comfortable with his writing.  He decides after a while that his teacher can put his name on his poems that she puts onto the board.  By looking at models of poems Jack starts to write more and more.  He even writes to an inspirational author, Walter Dean Myers.  The first poem that Jack writes is about a blue car, and it goes like this:

So much depends
upon
a blue car
splattered with mud
speeding down the road.

This poem is significant to Jack because the blue car is what killed his dog.  Lots of Jack's poems are about his dog so it's clear that he's dealing with some grief.  I really liked that the author chose to write the book in blue colored font.  This mades me wonder if the font alludes to the color of the car that hit his dog?  It would be interesting to find out why the author chose to write this book that way. 

Overall, I thought this was an excellent book. I loved that Jack employed the mindset about poetry that many students have. This would be a great book to use when introducing poetry to students. It's interesting that Jack made the discovery that poetry doesn't have to rhyme or have symbols or imagery. Poems can be written by anyone! This is definitely a book I enjoyed reading and look forward to sharing with my students someday.

"The Year of Impossible Goodbyes" by Sook Nyul Choi

This book is a wonderful compliment to So Far From the Bamboo Grove.  I really liked reading both books and comparing their viewpoints.  I thought that Sook Nyul Choi did a great job giving the reader a sense of what the conditions were really like in North Korea during the Japanese occupation.  The descriptions of the sock-factory about the girls who worked night and day in the factory were interesting to me.  At first I thought the book moved somewhat slowly, but after a couple chapters I really got into it and found myself having a hard time putting it down!  I would definitely recommend this book to others and can see myself using it in the classroom.  So Far From the Bamboo Grove and The Year of Impossible Goodbyes are both fictional nonfiction books but they give a good perspective of each side during the war.  I liked that I wasn't convinced to favor either side after reading the books.  These are a great example of how to intertwine literature with a history lesson, a teaching techniques I've learned is very effective for literacy.

"Purplicious" by Victoria Kann & Elizabeth Kann

An adorable book about a little girl named Pinkalicious, it teaches children about being true to themselves and that it's ok to not like all the same things as everyone else.  It's interesting that the author chose to highlight the color pink.  I liked that all the other girls liked the color black -- a color that not many little girls typically like.  I chose to read this book because I have seen it in lots of bookstores with its companion, Pinkalicious.  I know a few young girls who really enjoy these books so I thought I would see what all the hype is about.  Turns out I enjoyed reading the book and the illustrations were great!  I liked that on the pages when Pinkalicious was sad there was only white or colors other than pink.  When she is happy the page is filled with pink things.  I think it's interesting that the author chose purple as the favorite color of her friend.  Typically the colors pink and purple are favorites for young girls.  I think it would have been nice if the author chose to make green or blue (typically colors that boys like) the friend's favorite color instead.  Anyway, this was a cute book and an easy, lighthearted read.

"So Far From the Bamboo Grove" by Yoko Kawashima Watkins

This was an amazing book, and it opened my eyes to the harsh conditions that many people suffered during World War II.  Yoko leaves her home with her sister, Ko, and her mother.  Their journey to Japan highlights many realities that Japanese suffered during the war.  One part that really shocked me was when the woman in the train jumped off after they had thrown out her dead baby.  It shows how emotionally cold people have to be -- that they can just throw a dead baby out of a moving train.  The conditions in the small traincar are not condusive to having a dead infant aboard.  I was also very shocked when Ko's mother died.  It was totally unexpected and I have so sad!  After the entire journey they had gone through and what they had survived so far, I was surprised that she died.  It was a harsh realization and made me feel sad that even having paper for school was scarce for Ko.  I think that I take many things for granted in my life and I don't realize how priviledged I am compared to some people in other countries.  I definitely don't think very often about how easy it is for me to get a pencil or a notebook and folder, necessities for school.

I had read this book before, in junior high.  I didn't remember much about it except that I really liked it when I read it the first time.  I think that after reading it this time I understood a lot more of the events that happened.  I noticed more of the small details and the implications that some situations carried with them.  I didn't realize that it is actually a fictional autobiography.  It would be interesting to know what parts are fictional and what parts are completely true.  Overall, this was a great book and I definitely recommend it to others, whether they're looking to learn about WWII or just enjoy a good book!

"Woolbur" by Leslie Helakoski

What a cute and unique book!  Woolbur teaches children about being true to themself.  A sheep is the main character of this book.  He likes to run with the dogs, card and dye his own wool, ride on the spinning wheel and weave his forelock.  I thought this book was really interesting and the illustrations captured my attention as I turned each page.  I liked that the author decided to convey Woolbur's personality through dialogue.  The reader learns about each character simply through their dialogue with other characters in the book.  The book reminded me of a miniless I read about for Block that was about using dialogue to convey character traits. I think it would complement that lesson very well!  The names in this book are written as if a sheep were saying them out loud.  For example, Maa, Paa and Grandpaa all have an extra "a" at the end because that is how sheep would say their names.  Overall, this book was really well written and kept my interest the entire time.  I was laughing while reading it and loved looking at the bright and colorful illustrations!

"Born Yesterday: The Diary of a Young Journalist" by James Solheim

This was such a cute book!  It was hilarious because it voices the thoughts an infant might posess if he/she were able to have complex thoughts and write them down.  The baby keeps a journal and writes down his thoughts on many firsts that he sees in the world, many of which include his sister.  My favorite part is when the baby writes, "Kindergarteners get to study advanced subjects like pasta art, Friendship Corner, and the hardest one of all: sitting still for a full minute with hands folded."  The journal entries made me think about my days in kindergarten and the things I did with my younger brother after he was born.  This book is very unique because it's told from the point of view of the baby.  It is rare to see a book written in journal form that has complex thoughts by a baby.  The style of writing the author chose to write this book in makes it hilarious.  It's interesting that a few of the journal entries include lists that are bulleted.  A teacher could use this book to show students how to write a journal.  Students may not know that lists are a form of writing that they can use to express their ideas.

"The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" by Jon Scieszka

This is one of my favorite books from when I was younger!  I really enjoyed going back and rereading it for my blog.  I like that the author decided to twist the story a little so that the wolf doesn't look bad.  Scieszka has a very interesting writing style; he uses a lot of sarcasm.  I like that his style of writing is very distinct.  I always know when I'm reading a book by him without looking at the author.  I think this would be an interesting book to read to students, paired with the original three little pigs story, to teach point of view in writing.  Students would be able to participate activly in a discussion about the differences between Scieszka's version and the original.  Students may also be interested in writing about whether they believe the wolf really was good or bad.  Each version of the story persuades readers in different ways.  It would be interesting to share what the students believe and why they side with either the wolf or the pigs!

"Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully" by Julianne Moore

I loved this book!  Although the story line is pretty unrealistic it still reminded me of days in elementary school when we would play dodgeball.  I always hated that game!  The "dodgeball bully" in this book exists in all games of dodgeball -- the one kid who is really good and stays in the entire game.  The author really made me think back to days when I was in elementary school.  I remember hating rainy days when we couldn't go outside for recess!  The pictures in this book were interesting; my favorite was the one of Freckleface Strawberry pretending to be an alien monster.  It showed Strawberry in the front with her legs bent and her arms raised in the air, and the monster was behind her in a similar position.  The inclusion of an actual monster in a similar position helped me picture what Strawberry was trying to act like.  I liked that this book was about a different aspect of school.  It focused on Early Bird, the program for children whose parents work early in the morning.  I was never one who had to go to school early but those who do would enjoy relating to this book!  I am not sure how much educational value this book had but I definitely enjoyed reading it just for fun!  It's probably not one I would have in my classroom, though.

"The Best Story" by Eileen Spinelli

This was a cute book that I think many teachers would enjoy reading to their students.  It's about a girl who decides to enter a contest to write the "best" story.  She consults her family and friends and they all tell her different things that make up a good story.  Because the girl doesn't believe the story is ever "just right" she rewrites it so that it comes from her own heart.  I think this book sends a good message to students -- that there isn't one thing that makes a good book.  A good book is one that you are proud of and that comes from your heart.  I really enjoyed reading this book because it reminded me of when I was younger and I entered different writing contests.  My favorite stories that I wrote were ones that I was able to choose the toipc and the words and pictures just poured out.  After I got started it was difficult to stop writing!

Glogster

Here's my glog!

Haley's Glog: Kevin Henkes

"Olive's Ocean" by Kevin Henkes

This was a great book about two girls named Olive Barstow and Martha Boyle.  Although you never actually talk to Olive in the story, the reader gets a good sense of who she was.  I loved this book and found it very difficult to actually put it down once I started reading.  The chapters are very short so it turns into a quick read.  I liked the combination of suspense, drama and romance all wrapped into one book.  I think it is meant more for female readers but I could see boys enjoying it too.  The message was clear and simple, making this an enjoyable book to read.  In the classroom it would be interesting to use this book and lead discussions based on morals, death, honesty and imagery.  I liked that Henkes incorporated popular childhood milestones and realities, just like he does in his children's picture books.  This is probably a novel for upper elementary-aged students because of its reading level and because it has some profanity and sexual references.  I think that overall this is a great book about adolesents and dealing with situations that often arise throughout childhood.  I loved this book!

"Wemberly Worried" by Kevin Henkes

This book does a great job of dealing with a normal childhood habit: worrying.  Many children worry about various things: their parents leaving, strange noises, starting a new school; and they all have the comforts that help them get past their worrying.  I think this book does a great job of showing how many children worry about their first day of school, but that it will turn out good in the end.  They aren't the only one who is worrying!  I liked the page in the book that was full of Wemberly's worries.  They were all written in a different size of font and they got bigger as the concerns held more importance.  Many of Henkes' books highlight habits that children face throughout their early years.  This one looked at starting school -- one of the biggest moments of children's lives.  I remember when I was little I was always so scared to start a new school year.  I usually was just worried about what friends were in my class and if my teacher was nice or not.  This book really made me look back and relate to my past as a child, and I think many other readers would find themselves doing the same thing as they read.  Overall this is a great book that really portrays the feelings of children.

"Owen" by Kevin Henkes

This was a cute story about a mouse named Owen who doesn't want to give up his treasured blanket.  I think that anyone who remembers their treasured childhood item could relate to and enjoy this book.  Many of Henkes' books involve mice as main characters.  This is one that especially captures a milestone childhood moment.  Owen received the Caldecott Honor Award.  I think it deserved the award because of its cute and uplifting story, colorful illustrations and useful message to children.  Parents could read this book to their children when they're trying to get rid of their blanket or other item that is inseperable with their child.  My favorite part of this book were the little things that show what Owen is saying in the illustrations.  They are cute and add a personal touch to the rest of the story!

"Lilly's Big Day" by Kevin Henkes

This was an adorable picture book.  It is the story of Lilly, a mouse, who has dreamed of bring a flower girl.  When she finds out her teacher is getting married, she is asked to be the flower girl's assistant.  Originally crushed, she ends up thoroughly enjoying her responsibility and becomes friends with the flower girl.  This book had colorful pictures and the topic really caught my interest.  It doesn't seem to me like there are many books out there about little girls wanting to be flower girls.  Although this is not typical of all girls when they're children, I think it would appeal to those who do have that dream.  Henkes placed the text in a unique way on each page.  Whether it was lines separated and placed all over the page, or just a simple paragraph, the text caught my eye and focused my attention more on the story line.  Overall this unique children's book was cute and I really enjoyed reading it!

"A Good Day" by Kevin Henkes

This was another very simple book, geared towards early readers.  The print on each page is very large and the pictures are simple but eye-catching.  I liked that the book started out as "a bad day" and turned to "a good day."  It shows children that even if things aren't going well, they can always turn around and end up well in the end.  I think that children would enjoy reading this book because it has a happy ending.  I also think that a lot of kids like reading books with animals as the main characters, so they would appreciate that about this book.  A Good Day is a newer book, published in 2007, but has an "old" feel to it.  I think that this may repel some readers who choose books based on their looks, but I think this quality makes the book look more interesting.  It gives it an antique feel, one that students probably don't experience much with so much emphasis on reading newer books.  Overall this is an interesting and simple book for younger readers!

"Clean Enough" by Kevin Henkes

This was a simple book about a boy who takes a bath and the things he does while in the tub.  I thought this book was good but it didn't really catch my attention very much.  I can see how children may enjoy it because they probably goof off in the bathtub too, but I saw little educational value in it.  The pictures were not very vivid, but that is probably because it was published in 1982.  As one of Henke's earlier books I can see how his style has changed a lot as he has grown as an author.  His early writing is very simple and appeals to younger readers.  Overall this was an OK book, but probably not one I would recommend to others.

Reflection

I have really enjoyed Children's Literature this semester.  I have found it to be an interesting class that does a great job of exposing new literature.  I like doing the reading blog a lot.  It takes a good amount of time each week, but I think it's going to be a great resource when I am a teacher.  I like that some weeks we have a certain genre to concentrate on while other weeks we are free to explore whatever books we want.  I enjoy having assigned novels to read as well because the discussions in class really help me picture how a discussion could go in my future classroom.

I also really like doing the genre project.  My group did information books, a topic I am not very familiar with.  I learned so much when researching and reading these types of books.  I learned that as a teacher I need to know a lot about many different genres in order to inform my students and encourage them to explore different ones.  I also really liked being able to access the handouts from other groups because they will be very valuable once I have my own classroom.

I think it would be interesting to do some type of book group in future semesters.  During this activity, students could choose from a variety of books and be in a group with others who chose the same one.  Meeting with the group a couple times and discussing the issues present and questions that the readers had would be useful because in many classrooms there are literature groups who do similar tasks.  It's just an idea, and I think students would enjoy doing it! :)

Overall I think this semester has gone great so far and I'm excited for what the second half has to offer.  Viewing everyone's "glogs" about the author/poet/illustrator study will be really fun I think.  Learning about how to encorporate technology is important because most of us will have the opportunity to do so when we become teachers!

"The Misfits" by James Howe

This book was interesting to me because it brought out a lot of issues students deal with when they're in middle school/junior high.  I liked it a lot because I was able to relate to it.  I remember all the different "groups" in middle school and how everyone seemed to find which one fit them best.  My favorite character was Addie, because she was very opinionated and she reminded me of one of my friends in 7th grade.  The whole time I was reading I felt like I was really getting to know the characters personally and was cheering for them to win the election.  It really surprised me in the end when they ended up loosing, but I also kind of liked that everything didn't work out perfectly.  Howe's writing style was interesting and it helped me understand the characters better.  He did a great job of capturing the reader's interest and making them feel like a member of the Gang of Five.  Overall I think this was a great book and I could definitely see myself using it in my classroom.  I understand the controversy around it but I believe that it's important for students to read literature such as this to understand what other students are going through and how it is usually very easy to relate to those who are different from you.

"The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss

This controversial book is a metaphor for the environment and its destruction to produce goods. I think this book serves as a good example of an extreme environment in which there has been too much "biggering". Many students may not understand the repercussions of cutting down trees and producing goods in factories. This book could be used during a science lesson that investigates smog or pollution. I think it helps describe/talk about environmental destruction without making it too much of a touchy subject. It helps that the Lorax and the Tuffula Trees are metaphors. Children can appreciate the topic while enjoying the book and learning about the effects of human impact on the environment. Teachers could do a lesson during which The Lorax is read aloud to the students, then they write responses and come up with solutions to the problem. This could stem out to create a 'school grounds clean up' initiative that the students take part in. Overall, I believe that this is a valuable book about the history of our environment and it could be used in several different ways. It is one that I definitely wouldn't have a problem with having in my classroom.

"Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" by William Steig

I chose to read this book because I saw it on a Controversial Books list; however, after I read it I was unsure as to what may have been found as controversial in it. After researching a little bit about people's opinions of the book, I found that the conversy lies in that the police men are portrayed as pigs. I do not believe that this is an issue because all the characters in the book are animals. When looking to the meaning of Steig's choice to use pigs to illustrate police officers, I think you need to look at the context and the rest of the story. Because this is a book that mainly focuses on Sylvester and the pebble that grants his wishes, I think that this is a fine book to have in the classroom. If the main characters were humans and the police were pigs, and the storyline was more focused on the police, then I could see it being controversial if this book was in my classroom. I think that the controversy must have stemmed a long time ago, as this probably wouldn't be much of an issue today. There are many, many books that portray different characters as animals and I believe reading these types of books helps widen children's imagination.

"The Story of Little Black Sambo" by Helen Bannerman

This controversial children's book is about a boy's walk in the jungle. I disliked the author's choice of words in this book, in particular that she used 'Black' in front of each character's name. Every time the boy was mentioned he was called 'little black Sambo'. I would not have this book in my classroom because it places the boy's race as part of his name. The term 'sambo' has also been viewed as a racial slur in many countries. In order to avoid the use of this word, and to avoid using the term 'black' as a name, I would not want my students reading this book. This book is very disrespectful to many people and I would not want children in my classroom to think that it's ok to call people by their race. Just as I would not approve of a book about 'little white Jerry', for example. I believe that it's important for children to learn about different races and to read literature that incorporates multicultural views, but this book doesn't include much about the culture of the characters. I think that it should not be allowed in classrooms due to its use of the terms 'black' and 'sambo' and their potential to be extremely offensive to some people.

"In the Night Kitchen" by Maurice Sendak

In the Night Kitchen is a controversial children's book due to it's illustrations of a nude little boy; however, I believe that it a completely apppropriate book for children. I believe that sensoring a book depicting a nude child is ridiculous and that elementary-aged children are old enough to handle it. Exposing children to the "truth" about how humans were created will only help deepen their knowledge about mankind. Nudity is a controversial topic, and I think that it has to be analyzed in a case-by-case manner. Extreme nudity and nudity of adults is probably not something I would want in books in my classroom, but I think it just depends on the book and how the nudity is being depicted. In this book I think that the child is naked because he gets really messy. It wouldn't make sense for him to keep his clothes on when he's swimming in milk and sitting in a cake! Overall, this book is definitely one I would feel comfortable having in my classroom.

"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak

Where the Wild Things Are is a controversial book in children's literature. It is criticized as being too violent and scary for young readers. I agree that several of the illustrations may frighten children -- they picture monster-like creatures with fangs, claws and yellow eyes. The child is also shown doing violent activities, like hammering a nail into the wall (something children should not be allowed to do) and chasing his dog with a sharp fork. Sendak also includes some hints of child abuse in this book. The boy is naughty so he is sent to bed without his dinner and his mom calls him "Wild Thing". I believe that children should not have meals taken away as a punishment and it really bothers me that that is the way the child is treated in this book. This is probably not a book that I would like to have in my future classroom, simply because it is violent and I would not want my students to feel frightened/threatened in any way in my classroom.

"The Giver" by Lois Lowry

The Giver was an amazing book; I could hardly put it down once I started reading it! I had never read it previously, so this was my first experience with this award-winning novel. This is a book about a boy named Jonas and the community he lives in. At first this community seems "perfect". There is no pain, suffering, war, prejudice, discrimination, poverty, or anything else that causes detriment to people in today's society. Everyone in the community is assigned a role when they turn 12 years old. As December appraoches, Jonas becomes nervous to turn 12. He is unsure of what assignment he will be required to fulfill. After being assigned the special role as the Receiver of Memory, Jonas receives his training from the Giver. The Giver tells Jonas of all the information in the world about pain and suffering, war and poverty. He comes to know all the secrets that no one else in his community knows. After deciding that he wants to change the way the community is run, Jonas goes out to experience everything that the world has to offer.

This book looks at a "perfect" society that runs smoothly and makes the reader question what is so valuable about having conflict and suffering in the world. Readers may find themselves wondering why a community like Jonas' would be a bad idea. Although this book receives a lot of criticism when it is incorporated into a curriculum based on content and age-appropriateness, I believe that it is a valuable book for students in upper elementary to read and can definitely see myself teaching this book in my classroom. It is a great book for analyzing setting and looking at symbolism. The overall idea of "freedom" could be analyzed -- what does it really mean to be free? What does it mean to be an individual? How do our past experiences shape who we are? What is diversity, and how is a world conformed to "sameness" diverse? Students could also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a community like Jonas'. Personally, I am not one who usually enjoys science fiction novels but this one definitely changed my opinion of them. I think that, in general, many female students feel similar about science fiction books. The Giver may help them open their eyes and accept science fiction as a more enjoyable genre.

Overall, after finishing this book I felt thankful. I was thankful for family and love, even though with them comes suffering and injustice. I was thankful that our society is not reduced to "sameness" and that we can embrace our differences and individuality. Our experiences, both good and bad, shape who we are and affect our thoughts and opinions, and in a different world we would not be the people we are today.

“Miss Mingo and the Fire Drill” by Jamie Harper

I chose this book because it reminded me of a student I work with at a daycare. One morning the fire alarm was being tested and it went off about five times. That morning the child was extremely scared and didn’t understand what was happening or why fire alarms were necessary. This would be a good book to read to students before a fire drill happens, to help them understand the importance of working fire alarms. It describes fire safety in a serious tone, but lightens the mood by having animals as main characters. I liked that each page described what each different animal does when it is frightened or when danger approaches. In the classroom it would be useful to read this book then go over the standard fire drill procedure for the classroom and practice what the students would do. It would be useful to show students the diagram of the fire exit path for their school in relation to the one for Miss Mingo’s class in this book. Overall I think this book would be very useful for teachers to read to their students before reviewing their classroom’s fire drill procedure. Also, it would have been very helpful for the student at the daycare I work at because he would have had a better understanding of what is going on, and the purpose of why we have fire drills.

“Teacher!” by Patricia Hubbell

I picked this book because of the title. I liked that this was a book about what teachers do and how they help their students in the classroom. I enjoyed reading it because it described the things that most children probably recognize about teachers: tying shoelaces, printing names, joining show-and-tell, counting money, and singing songs. A big thing this book helped me realize is that it’s the small things that teachers do that students really notice and appreciate. In the future they aren’t going to remember what teachers read well from textbooks as well as those who played with them on the playground and taught them to work together. As important as the curriculum is, I think that the most important part of teaching is connecting with each student individually. The reading level of this book is probably for Kindergarten or first grade. I think it would be a good book for parents to read to their children before they start Kindergarten. It would probably help answer some of their questions about what teachers do and how their school day is going to go.

“Starring Lorenzo and Einstein too” by Mark Karlins

I chose to read this book because the title gave me the impression that math would be involved. I am a math specialization so I am always interested in reading books that incorporate math and famous mathematicians with literature. It is important to incorporate a variety of sign systems when teaching, and by combining literature with math that can be accomplished. This book is about a boy names Lorenzo who loves to do math. All the other members of his family are performers in the theatre and don’t understand why Lorenzo isn’t good at performing, too. Lorenzo begins to feel isolated and that he doesn’t fit in when Einstein discovers him at one of his family’s shows. Lorenzo and Einstein become friends and talk about math and travel through space together. In the end Lorenzo misses his family so they return to Earth where he and his family realize that he really does fit in and that not all of the Fortunatos have to be performers. I liked this book because it brought in themes about parent expectations and being true to yourself. Many children may face challenges at home based on the expectations that their parents hold of them. I believe that it’s important to teach students individuality and that it’s ok to be different. This book incorporates these themes with math and literature, a great book for multiple sign systems!

“Tyrannosaurus Math” by Michelle Markel

This is another book that mixes math with literature. This is a great book for introducing several math strategies to students. In this book there is a Tyrannosaurus named T-Math. He is very good at math and uses it all the time. On the last page of this book is a list of all the math skills that T-Math uses. From addition and subtraction to skip counting, symmetry, graphs, arrays, estimation, and much more, this dinosaur gives examples of several math strategies. I think this book could be very useful in the math classroom as it gives examples of necessary math skills. I could see myself using sticky notes to cover up numbers or other parts of the problems shown in the book and having my students do the problems to figure out the missing part. I liked that there was a pronunciation guide on the first page to help readers say the names of the dinosaurs correctly. This is definitely a book I would like to have in my future math classroom!

“The Secret Plan” by Julia Sarcone-Roach

This book captured my attention through its unique characters, plot and illustrations. The main characters are three cats and an elephant, whose playing always get interrupted when it’s time to go to bed. They devise a plan to pretend to go to sleep, then get up and go play in the attic. The illustrations were made with acrylic paint, giving them a distinctive look. There are several shades of each color used, drawing the reader in to the images. I liked that Sarcone-Roach decided to use text in various ways. The layout of the text varies by page; sometimes it is written in straight lines at the top of the page, while other times there is only one word per line and they descend downward as the cats walk down the steps. The usage of dialogue bubbles marks when the parent is shouting demands to end their playtime. Words such as “lunch,” “dinner,” and “bedtime” are all written in dialogue bubbles. I think children would enjoy this book because it has animals as main characters instead of people, and many of them would probably relate to not wanting to stop playing when it’s time to go to bed.

"Tokyo Mew Mew 1" by Mia Ikumi and Reiko Yoshida

Honestly, when I picked up this book I felt nervous and overwhelmed. It took me a while to get used to reading it from the back to the front, and from the right to the left. After initially feeling confused, I got used to the manga style and enjoyed reading this different type of comic book! Tokyo Mew Mew is a series about a girl named Ichigo. The book that I read was about Ichigo and several of her friends’ involvement in the Mew Project. This secret project mixes animal DNA with that of humans. As the first manga I have ever read, it has convinced me that this genre is one I should explore more. I liked the illustrations a lot and they really helped me understand exactly what was going on throughout the book. Inside the back cover (which is the front cover for us who are not used to this style of book) there is a page that says “STOP! This is the back of the book. You wouldn’t want to spoil a great ending!” I think this was really useful and helps those who are unfamiliar with manga to be successful in reading this book. This page also included directions on how to read manga-style books. Overall, I liked reading Tokyo Mew Mew and have much more confidence in reading manga, which is something I would like to do more often!

"Life in a Coral Reef" by Wendy Pfeffer

This book is a great example of how a nonfiction book can still be presented in a "storybook" manner. There is a storyline presented that consists of all true facts and information about the organisms living in a coral reef. I liked this book because it gave an in-depth look at coral reefs and would still keep the attention of a younger reader. I also really liked that the book ran through a typical "day in the reef". It describes the plants and animals that you would enounter as you wandered through a reef along the bottom. Before reading this book I knew what I thought was a decent amount about coral reefs, but after reading I realized that I learned a lot and didn't know very much! This was interesting to me because a book as simple as this still taught information to me. This is something I might share with my students because they would probably find it interesting that even a picture book can teach an adult new information. This book could also be used in a science lesson to research and investigate the threats on coral reefs that have existed and still exist today. The last couple pages of the book have facts, famous coral reefs, and information about the threats that make them endangered.

"The Sciece of a Pair of Glasses" by Brian Williams

This book is an informational book about glasses and everything anyone could ever know about them! It contains information about how glasses are made, how glasses work with light, how the eyes and brain function together, how to protect your eyes, the history of glasses, and much more. I like this book in particular because it has a wealth of information that is presented in a fun and attractive way. The reader-friendly pages are laid out nicely and have photographs that nicely accompany the text. The facts given are interesting and the diagrams help readers sort out the information. This book would be great for an older reader (maybe 5th or 6th grade) because there are longer paragraphs and there is a lot of text on each page. I like that it has vocabulary words in bold. This would help students pick out words that may be difficult to them and study their definitions using the glossary at the end of the book. In the classroom the teacher could even use some of these words on their weekly spelling tests. I also liked that this book has a section where students can find resources to get more information. Many times books give their information and that's all. This book, however, takes the reader above and beyond to show them links to websites that would be useful to help them investigate more in-depth. Overall this book is a great one for those who are interested in glasses and sight!

"Animal Baths: Wild & Wonderful Ways Animals Get Clean!" by Beth Fielding

Animal Baths is a funny book that describes the many ways that animals keep themselves clean. From baths for Praying Manti to those for Antelope or Coral, this book describes all types of baths imaginable! I liked that the author appealed to a child's perspective through the vocabular and expressions she used. For example, she relates a bath in poop to a child being bathed by their mother in a tub with shampoo and a washcloth. All children can relate to taking a bath so it's interesting to have the author compare the different types to what is "normal" for a child to do to get themselves clean. As a picture book written with chapters, the reading level of this book is more advanced, but younger readers would definitely love the content. In the classroom this book could be used for an inquiry unit about bathing. I know that inquiry-based lessons are the most valuable to students and this might be a topic that is very interesting to some students. Overall, this book is a great one because of its humor, amazing content, and quirky subject matter!

"Corn" by Gail Gibbons

This is a unique informational, non-fiction book that is entirely about corn. The attractive illustrations and interesting facts highlight the history, uses, types and growth of corn in a child-friendly manner. The labeled diagrams are useful for younger readers while the history, planting and harvesting descriptions may be more suitable for older readers. In the classroom this book could be used to spark inquiries about the different indians who used corn and what they used it for, the uses for corn today, the different types of corn and their similarities/differences, and so much more. I think that many people overlook the importance of corn and many children don't realize how important corn is for many everyday processes in today's society. The design of the cover is nice because the title is written in big letters spelled out with kernels of corn. The bright colors are what drew me in to take this book off the shelf, and I was very pleased to have read it. I learned a lot about corn that I had not known before. It really isn't just a crop that takes up a large portion of Iowa's farmland! Overall this children's book is a must-read, especially for those living in the Midwest.

"Judy Moody Gets Famous!" by Megan McDonald

This is a cute fiction novel about a girl named Judy Moody who wants to do something that will make her famous. All of her friends have been in the newspaper or are "famous" for something and she feels as though she is the only one who has not done anything outrageous. After failing at several attempts to expose herself to the newspaper she meets a girl at the hospital. This girl had a heart transplant and spends many hours of her days in the hospital's playroom playing with broken toys. Judy doesn't think this is right so she takes the broken dolls home and fixes them up. After mailing a box back to the hospital without a return address she sees an article in the newspaper about the "Phantom Doll Doctor". In the end Judy is so excited to be famous and she's proud that no one even knows who fixed the toys. I think this is a great story because many children believe that there is nothing "special" about them. They see unique things that their friends do and never realize the extras they do in their own life. Although this book is geared more for girls, the message applies to both genders. I liked that throughout the book there were a few sketches of the characters in the scenes that were being described. Another really useful thing in this book is the character map at the beginning. This is great because a problem that many young readers have is keeping several characters straight. This way if they get confused they are able to flip back to the beginning and figure out who is who! Overall a funny story with a great message!

"The Champion of Children: The story of Janusz Korczak" by Tomek Bogacki

The story of Janusz Korczak is inspiring and this nonfiction book highlights key parts of his life and describes his passion for helping children. Korczak was a Jewish man who grew up under tsarist Russia and was severely distrubed by the way many children were treated. Throughout his life he was a tutor to help support his family, then later a doctor during the Russo-Japanese War, a writer of children's books, and a children's rights advocate. He opened two orphanages and taught the children forgiveness and how to be self-sufficient. During World War II Korczak and his children in the orphanage were required to move to the ghetto. A couple years later they had to move to concentration camps, leading to his death. The dedication of Korczak to the children is inspiring. I think that by reading this book to students they could gain insight into life during tsarist Russia and World War II. They may also enjoy the connection to children that this book has and learn to appreciate what Korczak did throughout his life. This book has beautiful illustrations and is written as though it is a story. Many nonfiction books list facts while this one dives deeper and turns this man's life into a story.

"Our Enduring Spirit: President Barack Obama's First Words to America" By Barack Obama (Illustrated by Greg Ruth)

This nonfiction book makes the words and message of President Barack Obama's inaugural address come to life. To many children the address may have been confusing and they might not have understood what it meant. This book, although it doesn't change any of the words that Obama said, uses illustrations to accompany and describe his intentions. The sketches and vivid colors on each page depict everything from the White House to soldiers fighting at Gettysburg to Obama's silhouette and so much more. By breaking down the address and reading it more slowly and looking at the pictures children would be able to understand the importance of it and the inspiration that it gave to many people. It also describes a lot of our nation's history: battles fought, issues overcome in our country, and sacrifices people have made to make America the country that it is today. As a teacher I could definitely see myself reading this book to my students to discuss not only the importance of the inaugural address but the historical significance of Barack Obama being elected as our President. At the end of the book the illustrator, Greg Ruth, wrote a note to the reader describing his journey with the book. I found it very inspirational and I think it explains why this is not just another book about Barack Obama.

"Amelia's Notebook" by Marissa Moss

This is a very creative book written in the first person as "Amelia". She is given this notebook as a present from her mom when they move to a new town. Amelia uses the notebook as a type of journal. I think this would be a good book to read to students at the beginning of the year before introducing writer's notebooks. I like how Amelia uses pictures and drawings to make her ideas more clear. This could be a way for students to incorporate art into their writing. The book is written on what looks like lined notebook paper and the font looks like actual handwriting. I was immediately interested in the book when I opened it. It reminded me of journals and notebooks that I had when I was younger. Amelia writes stories in her notebook too. This would give students ideas for things to write in their writer's notesbooks. Although this book would probably appeal more to girls, the boys might appreciate the pictures and layout of the book. Overall I think this is a really fun book and it shows students how they can use their writing to document their lives.

"Stars" by Stevee Tomecek

This book is a National Geographic series book. It is a non-fiction book all about stars and their properties. Although it is written for ages 4-8 I think that this book could definitely be used with older kids. I liked that the information was presented in an interesting way. The illustrator, Sachiko Yoshikawa, did a good job using bright colors to keep the illustrations interesting. Many of the pictures really helped diagram what was being explained about the stars. For example, the constellation Orien's Belt was shown and an image of a man was put over it so it is easier to make out the image that the constellation conveys. At the end of the book there is a science experiement to try. This is a great resource for teachers as you have pretty much an entire lesson laid out with this book. First you could read the book to students, then have them do the experiment.

Grandpappy Snippy Snappies by Lynn Plourde

From the bright and colorful illustrations to the clever wording and silly nature of this book I was thoroughly entertained throughout the entire story. It is about Grandpappy, who snaps his suspenders and saves the day. He rescues cows stuck in the mud, the sheriff's car from a stack of hay bales, the derailed mail train, and Grandmammy from a flock of crows. The situations are funny and the reader never knows what he's going to have to rescue next. The text is written in a very creative way. The words are curved, slanted, big, small, bold, italicized, and everything in between. There is a lot of alliteration, which makes it fun to read out loud. Plourde incorporates opposites in an interesting way, so children who are just learning would benefit from having this book read to them. The layout of this book is interesting because the dedication and copyright information is listed on the last page of the book. In most books this information is written at the beginning. The layout is also interesting because the words are written all over the pages, not just in simple lines at the top or bottom.

"Junie B., First Grader (at last!)" by Barbara Park

This is an excellent book about the ups and downs of going to a new classroom. Junie B. is starting first grade and is very nervous. Her best friend from Kindergarten has new best friends. The girl who sits next to Junie B. is always very mean. Her old bus buddy has a new bus buddy. Throughout this book, Junie B. makes new friends and gets glasses, all while actually convincing herself that she actually likes first grade. I liked that Junie B. had a writer's notebook and a couple of her entries were copied into this book. The journal entries looked like they had been written on notebook paper and the font looked like a child's handwriting. I think this was a nice touch and made it really seem like it was her journal that I was reading. In general many children are nervous to start a new grade at school so I think that reading this book would give them something to relate to. They also might be able to realzie that their school year is going to go great, even if they have to make new friends and overcome the changes since the past year. I know lots of children who enjoy reading the Junie B. series and I think the main reason so many kids like it is because it is so relatable. As a teacher it was interesting to read this and remind myself of the little details that made a big difference on those first few days of school. I believe that it's important to make all students feel welcome in the classroom and this book helped me realize a few ways that I could do that.

"My Mom is Trying to Ruin my Life" by Kate Feiffer

This book is about a girl who is embarrassed by the things her mom and dad do and she doesn't understand why everyone thinks her parents are such great people. After thinking a lot about how to get her parents to go away and stop ruining her life she realizes that she would be very scared without them. At the end of the book she realizes that she loves her parents despite the embarrassing things that they sometimes do. I liked this book a lot because many children go through stages when they feel this way about their parents. Sometimes it's difficult to think about all the good things someone does for you until after they're gone. I think I could use this book to teach children about the importance of family and that even though people do things that are ambarrassing it's only because they care.

"Inch by Inch" by Leo Lionni

This is a Caldecott Honor book and it is the story of an inchworm. The inchworm is useful to all the requests of the animals to measure their tails or legs until he gets to the bird who wants him to measure his song. Obviously an inchworm cannot measure the length of a song so he starts thinking. Finally he has an idea of how to measure the song so he starts inching away when the bird starts singing until he inches out of sight. I think this book is good because it teaches its readers about measurement. As a teacher I could use this book when introducing units of measurement to my students. After reading this book my students could do an activity where they measure various objects in the classroom. I could give them several items that cannot be measured also (for example the sound of a horn honking) and have them identify ways that we could measure those things (for a horn we could use a pitch reader to measure its sound). In a classroom I volunteered in last year the teacher had a bulletin board about measurement and I noticed that the title of the board was "Inch by Inch". I hadn't realized until now that it may have been making reference to this book. The bulletin board had many units of measurement along with several objects and their corresponding lengths. I liked the idea of a measurement bulletin board for introducing the topic to students. I think this book could be used very effectively in the classroom in this way.

"Duck on a Bike" by David Shannon

This is a cute story about a duck who rides a bike around a farm and says hello to all the other animals. The animals see the duck and think that he is crazy and that he shouldn't be riding the bike. In the end, the animals find other bikes and they all ride around and have a great time. I thought there was little point to this book but it was still entertaining to read. I think it was written for a younger audience as there is a lot of repetition and there aren't many words per page. I liked that the author included the thoughts of the animals when they see duck riding the bike. Many of these thoughts are ones that fit the lifestyle of the animal. For example, when duck rides past the cat, the cat meows and is thinking 'I wouldn't waste my time riding a bike'. This is funny to me because I think that cats are typically animals that are lazy and would prefer lying on the ground to riding a bike. This book would probably be good to have in a lower-elementary classroom for students who are looking for a funny, easy-to-read book. Many children would find this book entertaining because they know that animals are not able to ride bikes. I read this book with a little girl that I babysit and she was laughin the entire time. She kept saying out loud, "why is a duck riding a bike? How is he able to do that?". This showed me that she has enough prior knowledge to know that riding bikes is for humans. For children who do not know this this book might not be as interesting.

"A House for Hermit Crab" by Eric Carle

My favorite part of this book is the message that it sends to its readers. It tells readers that change is often difficult but it turns out good in the end. In this book, Hermit Crab has outgrown his shell so he has to find a new one. His new shell is very plain and boring; in hopes to make it look nicer he meets many friends. Some of Hermti Crab's new friends include: sea anemones, starfish, corals, snails, sea urchins and lanternfish. Once his shell is finally completely decorated Hermit Crab is too big for it and must leave it for a bigger one. After giving his old shell to a smaller hermit crab in need, Hermit Crab gains a sense of happiness. He is glad that he was able to help out another hermit crab when they were in need. This book not only teaches its readers about accepting change but also about sharing and making friends. Some young readers may not know that hermit crabs have to leave their shells and search for bigger ones, so this book would teach them that. The progression of this book goes by month. This indicates the amount of time it takes a hermit crab to move along in the water. I thought it was interesting that the sea creatures that Hermit Crab encounters are ones that many children may have never heard of before. The lanternfish is one I was not familiar with before reading this book, and I now know that they glow and give light to other sea creatures. Another reason why I enjoyed this book is because of its pictures. Eric Carle's illustrations always keep me turning the page!

“Skippyjon Jones in Mummy Trouble” by Judy Schachner

Skippyjon Jones in Mummy Trouble is about a siamese cat whose alter ego, El Skippito Friskito, is a Chihuahua. El Skippito Friskito goes to visit the 'Under Mundo' with his friends to find 'mummitos' that rest in 'peas'. I enjoyed reading this book because it had a lot of rhyming. Most of the rhymes were words like 'friskito', 'Egypt-ito', 'mummito' and 'chance-erito'. These were fun to read because they aren't real words but the reader is still able to figure out their definition. The illustrations in this book are very colorful and they catch the reader's eye. It also caught my eye that some words were bigger than others. For example, when Skippyjon is jumping on his bed the word 'bounced' is written large and curved in different ways across the page. This gives the illusion that the words actually is bouncing a little bit. The little chants that the characters sing are engaging because they break the book up a little bit. I think they would help children who get bored while listening to books being read because they would catch the child's attention. I thought it was also useful that there were a few Spanish words mixed into the book. In the future I think it will be important for many people to be able to speak Spanish; this book could help young learners with key phrases and words.

"Olivia" by Ian Falconer

This is a wonderful book. It is a story about Olivia and the things she likes to do. As a Caldecott Honor in 2001 it has gained a lot of recognition. I liked the illustrations because they were simple but portrayed the story well. It is very relatable not only for children but for adults too. As I was reading I realized a lot of times I was remembering times when my little brother copied me and was thinking of the things I liked to do when it was rainy. There aren't many words per page so it would keep children's interest throughout the entire story. The vocabulary isn't too difficult either so many children would be able to read this book on their own. This is a book that I can see myself using in the classroom. It could be used just for pleasure reading or for teaching children about routines and people's strengths and favorite things. I believe that it's an important lesson for children to know that everyone is good at something and that everyone has their own "favorites". I could read the book aloud to the class then have the students write an "Olivia" story about themselves, including things they're good at, their personal favorites, their families and their routines. These would be interesting to make into books and share them with the rest of the class. There are several other stories in the "Olivia" collection and I can definitely see myself reading them in the future.

"Sideways Stories from Wayside School" by Louis Sachar

This book is about the teachers and students of Wayside School. This school was built 30 stories high and one classroom wide, instead of one story high and 30 classrooms wide. One of the teachers is named Mrs. Gorf and she turned all her students into apples by wiggling her ears when they misbehaved. After a student holds up a mirror when she wiggles her ears she turns herself into an apple. When the gym teacher, Louis, comes up to the classroom he eats the apple of Mrs. Gorf. Each chapter tells a little story about the students in Mrs. Gorf/Mrs. Jewel's classroom. Mrs. Jewel is the teach that takes over after Mrs. Gorf becomes an apple.
I really like this book and remember reading it when I was younger. It is easy to relate to the stories of teachers who do crazy things and the students with odd quirks. Students in all classrooms have different backgrounds and I think they would enjoy reading and laughing about the students of Wayside School.