Final Reflection

I can truly say that I am a little sad that this course is coming to an end. (OK, I'm not terribly sad to be done with this blog, but...) I hope that as I move forward in my education and my career as a teacher, I will be able to take the time to pause, read, and think about children's literature like I have been able to do in this class. This class has reminded me the importance of thinking about all the messages- subtle and not so subtle- that we send to students in our classroom. Although I have thought a great deal about how our actions and words can have enormous effects upon students, it was this class that reminded me that the books that we choose and the ways we interact with literature can also have similar effects.

This class has encouraged me to explore literature that I might not have explored on my own. Our class discussions were meaningful and enlightening, and will contribute a great deal to the type of teacher I will become.

Thanks to all my classmates, and especially Jen, for contributing to this positive experience!

Harlem

Harlem
by, Walter Dean Myers
pictures by,Christopher Myers

In the Caldecott Honor book, Walter Dean Myers uses poetic verse to describe the community and culture of Harlem. While Myers' words truly portray the images of an earlier era in Harlem, my favorite part of this book is the collage images by Christopher Myers. His images express both the pain and suffering of African Americans during a difficult time in American history as well as the pride and joy of a strong and creative culture. I enjoyed this poem book, and would recommend including it in a classroom library.

A Child's Calendar

A Child's Calendar
Poems by John Updike
Illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman

This collection of poems includes one poem for each month of the year. The poems describe the sights, sounds, smells and activities that many children experience at that time of year. In January, "the sky is low. The wind is gray. The radiator purrs all day." For me, these poems evoke images of "simpler times" in my mind. Children fishing, playing hopscotch, etc.

Hyman's illustrations complement the text. Each illustration includes great detail that will spark conversations with young readers. I enjoyed these poems, and can imagine using them on the first of the month in an elementary classroom.

Where the Sidewalk Ends

Where the Sidewalk Ends
by Shel Silverstein

Well, I simply had to blog about this poetry book from my youth. I absolutely LOVED this book when I was a kid, and I still have my original copy- inscribed "Merry Christmas Suellen 1981 Love Aunt Candy and Uncle Paul"

This collection of poems and drawings contains a fun mix of silly and serious. Mostly silly, I think this book attracts children to poetry, and makes them laugh. As I re-read this book as an adult, I find myself drawn to some of the poems that I really don't remember from my childhood. My favorite as an adult is "Listen to the Mustn'ts":

Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child,
Listen to the DON'TS
Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me-
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.

As a kid, I loved "Sick" and "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out." I remember memorizing "Sick" in 5th grade and performing it for my class.

The illustrations in this book are simple, yet add meaning to many of Silverstein's poems. This is a classic, must have book for the classroom!

As a side note, I was reading the acknowledgments in the back of the book, and noticed that several of the poems are actually taken from previously published words in slightly different versions. Many of them were originally written by William Cole. I certainly always assumed these were original poems by Shel Silverstein. I just thought that was interesting.

Mysterious Thelonious

Mysterious Thelonious
by Chris Raschka

Inspired by the pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, this book mixes beautiful illustrations and text to create a portrait of Monk's music. The text in this book is written in large cursive writing, with words broken apart, and artistically displayed throughout the page. The non-traditional format made the poem somewhat difficult for me to read at first. I struggled to clearly grasp the order of the words, or even which syllables belonged with which words. However, as I slowly decoded the text, I realized that the poem tells the story of Thelonious Monk and his piano that played "no wrong notes." The format of the book perfectly matches the message of the text. As a musician, Thelonious experimented and improvised, not restricting himself to the notes on a page. He played the music of jazz, and as this poem articulates, "the music of freedom." As I read this poem and thought about ways to use this in the classroom, I thought about the idea that sometimes we restrict children's writing and creativity by focusing to much upon the "rules" of language. This poem, written non conventionally, discussing music that was non-conventional and creative, may open up windows for student's to explore with their own writing in new and unique ways.

Jazz

Jazz
by Walter Dean Myers
illustrated by Christopher Myers

I found this illustrated poetry book when I was looking for materials to develop a music unit about jazz. These poems pay tribute to jazz musicians and lyrically describe different characteristics and moods of jazz. There are poems dedicated to particular musicians as well as particular instruments.

I love the illustrations in this book. Christopher Myers created these illustrations by painting black ink on acetate and placing it over acrylic. Using this method, he beautifully depicts images of African American individuals who have contributed tot he history of jazz.

The introduction of this book includes a thorough description of the jazz music, including both characteristics of the music itself, as well as historical information about the development of jazz. At the end of the book, the author includes a glossary of jazz terms. Included in this glossary are words such as: be-bop, blow, chops, fusion, boogie, etc. He also includes a jazz time line, with significant events in jazz's history highlighted.

There is also a CD available with the poems narrated and sung to accompanying music. I've always thought that poetry and music are intimately related, and this book is a fun way to blend the two.

Love That Dog

Love That Dog
by Sharon Creech

As I started reading this novel, I initially felt a little bit like Jack, the narrator of this story. I'm typically not a lover of poetry, and I often don't "get it." However, after a few pages, I fell in love with Jack and his teacher, and the poetry of this novel.

As a future teacher, I particularly related to a teacher, working with a reluctant student, trying to encourage his poetic writing. I imagine as teachers, we will all run into a boy like Jack who thinks, "I don't want to because boys don't write poetry." But Jack's teacher's patience and kindness provided Jack with space to gradually realize he was an author of poetry. I loved the the author included the poetry mentioned throughout the novel. I think this would be a great book to use with young writers. This book will encourage students not only to explore with writing poetry, but also to widen their reading repertoire to include poetry as well.

The back of the book also included an excerpt from Sharon Creech's new novel "Hate That Cat." This looks like it would be equally enjoyable.

Nocturne

Nocturne
by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Anne Hunter

This picture book is a poetic description of the outdoors at night. I love the poetic verse, and Yolen's unique writing style truly captures the beauty of the night. She writes, "In the night, in the velvet night, in the quiltdown quietdown velvet night moths flutter up, flutter down, like wind-up toys, without the noise."

As I read many of Jane Yolen's books, I am continually amazed with her ability to capture images and moods with words. This book really feels more like a poem than a children's story book. I thought the illustrations in this book didn't quite do Yolen's words justice. In my opinion, the images of the people taking a walk look somewhat unnatural and stiff. I love the cover illustration, but most of the other pages were less enjoyable to me. Yolen's words are so sentimental and soft, I would have preferred more natural and soft images.

My Special Day at Third Street School

My Special Day at Third Street School
by Eve Bunting
illustrated by Suzanne Bloom

This picture book, written in rhyming verse, tells of an authors visit to Third Street School. The children prepare the room for their special guest (Amanda Drake), and eagerly listen to her share about writing. When one student asks if she would write a book about their school, author Amanda Drake replies, "My goodness! What a great idea! When I go home I'll try it. If I can do a super job, a publisher may buy it." Finally, the end of the book reveals that this book, is the book about Third Street school.

The rhyming verse in this story is fun an clever. This would be a fun book to read to students to inspire writing in general, or maybe inspire some poetry exploration. I also enjoyed the illustrations in this book. The children and adults in this book represent a diverse population. The pictures include a nice mix of various races and genders. Even the author,Amanda Drake, has pink hair-"Amanda Drake is tall and thin. Her hair is streaked wit pink. It doesn't sound attractive, but it's nicer than you think."

Night-Night, Little One

Night-Night, Little One
by Angela McAllister
illustrated by Maggie Kneen

This is a sweet little story about a little baby bunny, who after a long day playing with his sisters, struggles to fall asleep. When he complains to his mother that he doesn't like the night, she opens his curtains and says "It;s only at night that you can see the starts." Baby bunny loves the stars, but wonders who will see the stars if everyone is asleep. Mommy bunny then tells baby bunny about all the night animals who come out to the forest at night; Mr. Fox, the Hedgehog family, Mrs. Bat and her children, and Mrs. Badger and her family. When mommy bunny tells baby bunny that Herbert the Hedgehog doesn't like day time and he has a hard time falling asleep, baby bunny is comforted and drifts off to sleep.

I thought this was a charming little story. Many kids can relate to struggling to sleep at night. I thought that the idea of discussing baby nocturnal animals struggling to go "day-day" (instead of night-night...) was a cute idea. The illustrations in this story are cute and loving. All in all, this is an enjoyable book.

A Rainbow Of My Own

A Rainbow of My Own
by, Don Freeman

This book caught my eye because I immediately recognized the illustrations as similar to Don Freeman's other classic book "Corduroy." In this story, a little boy imagines that he could have a rainbow all to himself, and play games with it, climb on it, play hide and seek with it, etc. In the end, he goes home to his room and finds the sun shining through his fish bowl, creating a rainbow in his room.

I was somewhat disappointed with this book. There was nothing specific that I didn't like about this book, but it really just left me feeling fairly neutral. I loved the book "Corduroy" so much, that I had high expectations for this story. I thought the text in the story was a bit bland and I didn't feel any emotional connection to the story.

I do think that many children imagine climbing and sliding on a rainbow. For this reason, young children may enjoy the story, and it may spark their own imaginative play.

Big Al

Big Al
by Andrew Clements
illustrated by Yoshi

This is the story a BIG ugly fish named Al. Although Al was the nicest fish you'd ever meet, he just couldn't make an friends! None of the little fish wanted to be friends with him, because he looked to big and scary. Al tried everything, disguising himself with seaweed, puffing himself up to make the fish laugh, but nothing seemed to work. In the end though, Al rescues the little fish from a giant net, and everyone realizes what a good friend Al can be.

I enjoyed this book. It addresses friendship issues in a light and humorous manner, while still capturing the sadness that a lonely fish(or kid!) feels. I definitely think this could be a good book to use with students when exploring issues of friendship. Yoshi's illustrations are bright and engaging.

Blueberries for Sal

Blueberries for Sal
by Robert McCloskey

I chose this story because it was one of my favorite childhood books. McCloskey's other books "Make Way for Ducklings" and "One Morning in Maine" are both books that I have read with my own children over and over again. I had positive memories of "Blueberries for Sal," and was eager to reread this book now as an adult.

In this charming story, Sal and her mother go to Blueberry Hill to pick blueberries to can for the winter. At the same time, a mother bear and her baby are munching on blueberries to fatten up for the winter as well. Sal and the baby bear inadvertently change places, and spend sometime following the wrong mother around the hill!

I still love this story. McCloskey's line drawings are endearing, and he really captures the image of a cute toddler, picking berries with her mother. The plot of the book is suspenseful, and as I read the book to my own children, they both made guesses about how the story would resolve. Although this book was first published in 1948, I think the story and illustrations will continue to capture the hearts of children and adults today.

Walking to School

Walking to School
A Story From Northern Ireland

by Eve Bunting
illustrated by Michael Dooling

This powerful picture book describes the experiences of a young Catholic girl who must walk through Protestant protests on her way to school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She is frightened by the escalating violence, and feels upset about the threatening words her uncle uses when talking about Protestants.

Bunting effectively captures the tensions between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland, and offers a glimmer of hope as two young girls reach across these religious boundaries and express for a brief moment their frustrations with the adults in their lives that place them in such a difficult position. I enjoyed this book, and I think it could be used with students to begin exploring issues of racism and discrimination.

Michael Dooling's oil on canvas illustrations effectively portray the scenes of a tense Ireland, and a worried little girl.

The Author's notes at the end of the book also point out that this story could have easily been written about a Protestant child walking through "Catholic territory." Bunting points out that extremists on both sides keep the conflict in Ireland alive.

April Fool! Watch Out at School!

April Fool! Watch Out at School!
by, Diane DeGroat

In this story, Gilbert is excited that it is April Fool's Day, and has many plans to play tricks on his friends at school. But, when he is tricked over and over by his classmates, teacher, and even his mother, it starts to look like this will be Gilbert's worst April Fools Day ever. In the end though, he finds a clever way to fool Lewis, a classmate who has been bullying Gilbert all day long.

This is a fun little story, that I chose to read in honor of April Fools Day this week. The illustrations are particularly fun, and DeGroat has included hidden jokes and tricks within the illustrations on each page. For example, one illustrations depicts the friends playing kickball with a bowling ball. Another shows the numbers on the clock going background.

Year of Impossible Goodbyes

Year of Impossible Goodbyes
by Sook Nyul Choi

As with "So Far From the Bamboo Grove", reading this book leaves me feeling astonished about the resiliency of children and families experiencing such immense trauma. This book tells the story of 10 year old Sookan and her family, as they endure the Japanese occupation in Korea, followed by the Communist Russian control. Remarkably, Sookan and her younger brother make the incredible journey to safety in South Korea.

I have never been particularly good at remembering historical events, and I am somewhat embarrassed to admit how little I know about World War II and the events surrounding this conflict. Reading this novel, as well as "So Far From the Bamboo Grove," has helped me to gain a much better understanding of some of these events. I think that although this book is troubling and painful, reading it truly helps to gain a more deeper understanding of war and the consequences of war on families.

Encounter

Encounter
by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by David Shannon

In this book, Jane Yolen tells the story of Christopher Columbus, from a young native American's perspective. The Island that Christopher Columbus landed on in San Salvador was inhabited by the Taino people.

I really enjoyed this unique perspective, and can imagine using this book as a part of a social studies unit. I thought it was interesting that in the illustrator's notes at the end of the book, Shannon shared that he struggled a bit with the illustrations. He explained that "as far as we know, the native people wore no clothing, so I was faced with the problem of how to represent them without offending those who object to nudity in a children's book." In the end, he chose to illustrate the natives with a cloth covering. As we analyzed controversial books earlier this semester, it is interesting to learn a little bit about one illustrators struggles with dealing with this potential controversy.

In general, I am not a fan of David Shannon's illustrations. The illustrations in this book, however, evoke a mysterious and dark emotion, which I believe fits the narrative in this book well.

Piggins

Piggins
by, Jane Yolen
Illustrated by, Jane Dyer

In this story, it is Piggins, Mr. and Mrs. Reynard's butler, who solves the mystery of the missing diamond lavaliere. When the lavaliere is stolen during a very elegant dinner party, Piggins spots all the clues and solves the mystery.

The dialogue in this story evokes the image of formality from another era. I hear this book being read with an English accent. The story may introduce children to new vocabulary, using words like "lavaliere," "motorcar," "scullery," "balderdash" and "poppycock." The story includes many characters, each illustrated in great detail by Jane Dyer. A tortoise (Professor T. Ortoise), Lady and Lord Ratsby (rats), Inspector Baywater (hound dog), Mr. and Mrs. Reynard (foxes) and Piggins (pig butler) are just a few. The detailed illustrations add a great deal to the story, and readers may find themselves looking for clues in the illustrations.

I think this would be a fun story to read with children when working on developing the skill of using predictions while reading. Throughout the story, clues can be found in the text and illustrations that may help readers predict who the lavaliere thief is.

So Far From the Bamboo Grove

So Far From the Bamboo Grove
by, Yoko Kawashima Watkins

This book tells the story of 11 year old Yoko and her Korean family, fleeing from Japan during World War II. This emotional and heart-wrenching account of Yoko's journey provides readers with a unique insight into one family's experiences during this troubling time.

I thought this was a very powerful book, and I found myself marveling at the resilience of children and families in the face of trauma. This was an emotional book to read, and although I "enjoyed" it-- I couldn't put it down-- it definitely left me feeling sad for children who are forced to endure such hardships. I also felt extremely thankful and fortunate that my family has not suffered in this way.

My son is very interested in World War II, and I told him that I was reading this book for class. I thought he might find it interesting, but I warned him that it is very sad. He replied, "What about World War II isn't sad?" While this is true, I think the fact that this story is told from a child's perspective makes it even more personal and emotional.

Glogster

Midterm reflection

I have truly enjoyed this class so far. I love children's literature, and honestly love having an excuse to read it every week! I especially have enjoyed reading "The Giver" and "The Misfits." Because I have children of my own, I feel fairly familiar with a great deal of picture books. However, I have been "out of the loop" regarding current children's literature for older students. I'm looking forward to reading the next set of novels selected for this class.

I never dreamed I would be a blogger. While I wouldn't say that I "enjoy" blogging, I am thankful for being forced into this experience. I believe that this will be a useful tool that I may be able to utilize as a teacher, and I am grateful that I have had this opportunity. I'm having a fearful response to the upcoming "glog" assignment, although I anticipate in the end I will be grateful for that opportunity as well!

This class has helped me to be a more critical reader of children's literature. As I prepare to teach, I hope to use the information from this class to help me to make wise, thoughtful decisions building my classroom library and guiding my students through their own reading experiences.

The Ballad of The Pirate Queens

The Ballad of the Pirate Queens
by Jane Yolen
illustrated by David Shannon

This pirate picture book tells the story of Anne Bonney and Mary Reade, women pirates who sailed with Calico Jack on the pirate ship "Vanity." I was intrigued by this story, realizing that I have never heard or read a book about women pirates. I was mildly bothered that they were captured in the end, and used their pregnancies to escape death. However, when I read the author's note and learned that this was actually a true story, my criticisms ceased.

Again, Jane Yolen shares her knack for poetry and verse in this story. As I read the words, I could "hear" a pirates voice in my head. I would definitely want to work on my pirate accent before doing this as a read aloud with students!

The illustrations in this story capture the essence of pirates and ships. The dark, eerie images definitely set the mood for the story.

Hoptoad

Hoptoad
by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Karen Lee Schmidt

This is a simple, fun rhyming story for young children. It depicts a hoptoad (along with a lizard and a turtle) hopping across the road. Along comes a a truck, and hoptoad just might be in trouble! The words in the story state: Truck coming. Heavy load. Toad hop. Toad hop! Oh no- don't stop. Here comes toad-al disaster.

As I read this book, I can imagine a group of young children engaged in the reading. "Toad hop! toad hop!" The illustrations are cute, and kids will be cheering for the little hoptoad by the end of this story.

As I read Jane Yolen's books, I am struck by the enormous variety in her stories. It is hard for me to believe that the same women writing "Hoptoad" and "How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?" wrote "Briar Rose" a novel about the holocaust.

I have truly been enjoying this author study, and I think Yolen's diversity of style and types of books might inspire young writers to explore different genres in their own writing.

Grandad Bill's Song

Grandad Bill's Song
by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Melissa Bay Mathis

Well, I cried as I read this story. (For the record, I cry easily... but.. this one really got to me.) A young boy asks his family members what they did on the day his grandfather died. Each shares their special relationship with his grandfather, and Yolen simply, and poetically describes the many emotions surrounding death.

I thought this book was beautifully written. Simple, and straight forward- yet full of emotion. The illustrations depict the young boy talking with his family members, as well as photo album images of his grandfather in earlier years.

This would be a great book to share with young children coping with issues of death and loss.

Water Music

Water Music
by Jane yolen
Photographs by Jason Stemple

Water Music is a collection of poetry for children, written by Jane Yolen, and inspired by the photography of Jason Stemple.

I enjoyed this book of poetry, all with a "water" theme. Jane Yolen certainly has a poetic way with words, and her poems in this book cover a wide range of styles and different poetic verses. The photography is beautiful, and it is easy to see how these photographs inspired the lyrics in this book.

The last page of this book includes a "note from the author." In this note, Yolen explains that "normally a picture book grows text first and illustrations afterward." She continues to explain that for this book, she "responded poetically to the pictures he gave me." As I read her notes, I immediately thought that this would be a great book to share, along with her author's notes, with a class when encouraging students to explore poetry in their writing. I can imagine an activity where students gather their own photographs, or look through provided photographs, and begin to write their own poetic verse.

The Seeing Stick

The Seeing Stick
by, Jane Yolen
illustrated by, Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini

This picture book by Jane Yolen tells the story of an emperor's daughter, who was blind, and saddened that she could not see the world and enjoy the things around her. The emperor calls people from all around to help find a cure for his daughter. Many people came- monks, doctors, magician priests- but no one could help the young princess. An old man with a long walking stick came to help the princess. He explained to the guards that his stick was a "seeing stick" and that it would help the princess to see. In the end, the man carves beautiful images in the stick that the princess can feel with her hands. Feeling the stick, she learns to use her hands to feel faces, her own hair, and the world around her. She then can "see" the world in her own way.

The illustrations in this book are amazing. It begins in black and white, with gradual color being added as the old man enters the story, and the princess slowly begins to learn to "see." The color pages are printed on sturdy, glossy paper, with the images embossed on the page. Readers can feel the images, as well as enjoying the vibrant colors.

I enjoyed the extra information included in the book about names in the Chinese culture. The author shares that the princesses name "Hwei Ming" means "the lightless moon on the last day of the month (Hwei) and "becoming luminous" (Ming).

Briar Rose

Briar Rose
by, Jane Yolen

The cover of this book explains, "The Bright Tale of Sleeping Beuty, The Dark Tale of the Holocaust- Twined together in a story you will never forget."

I believe this to be true. I will never forget this story! I was intrigued by this concept- a fairy tale version of the holocaust? Before I began reading this book, I thought this would be an impossible combination.

The main character in this book, Becca, seeks to discover more about the mystery's of her grandmother's life. Her grandmother ("Gemma") shared a unique version of the fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty" to Becca throughout her childhood. Gemma's dying words to Becca were "I was the princess in the castle in the sleeping woods. And there came a great dark mist and we all fell asleep. But the prince kissed me awake. Only me. Promise me you will find the castle. Promise me you will find the prince. Promise me you will find the maker of the spells." And so, Becca begins her quest, and it leads her to a deep and powerful account of the holocaust.

I couldn't put this book down. The book seems to be part fairy tale, part mystery, part historical fiction. The accounts of the holocaust are graphic and painful. Certainly not a book for young, young children. However, I found it to be very engaging, and the story might help teenagers and young adults to gain some sense of the horrors of the holocaust.

The Misfits

The Misfits
by, James Howe

I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought the characters were interesting, and I quickly felt connected to each of them. As I read the story, I felt so happy for this group of kids- primarily because they had one another. I found myself frequently thinking about how difficult middle school/junior high can be for kids, especially the "misfits." Too often, kids who feel like they don't quite fit in feel isolated and alone. I thought that this book did a nice job articulating what true friendship entails. I think this book would be very empowering for students as they go through the awkward years of adolescence.

I enjoyed the style of the writing in this book, with the main character Bobby frequently addressing the reader directly. I thought this slightly unique approach to sharing the story made the book even more engaging.

Although this book is sometimes considered controversial, I would have no qualms about having students in my classroom (if I were teaching middle school) reading this book. Although some individuals may struggle with the issues of homosexuality presented in this book, I believe that it is our jobs as teachers to make school a safe and welcoming place for ALL students. I think the messages taught in this book will help to foster this kind of environment.

Uncle What-Is-It is Coming to Visit

Uncle What-Is-It is Coming to Visit!!
by, Michael Willhoite

I liked this book primarily because it illustrates the importance of open communication between parents and their children. As I read several different "controversial" books for this assignment, it occurs to me that as adults, we often create controversy and inadvertently fuel feelings of uneasiness by our own responses to "controversial" topics. Children are typically much more comfortable with a matter of fact discussion, and I think adults tend to make these issues more complicated. When the children in this story ask what "gay" means, "mom's eyes popped wide open, as black smoke started billowing out of the kitchen." She dashed to the stove, and never answered the kid's question. I think this scenario probably occurs many times in families in our society. Unfortunately, when this happens, kids go out into the world, and get their information from other uninformed children or information based upon stereotypes and misunderstandings.

At the end of this story, when Uncle Brett explains to the children "gay men are just guys who fall in love with each other instead of women," the children clearly understand that this isn't such a big deal. I think the last page of this book provides good information for parents who might struggle to know how to talk about sexuality issues.

I struggled the most with the use of the words "fag" and "queer" in this book. On the one hand, including these words could help parents to engage their children in a meaningful conversation about the harmful effects of using hateful language and name-calling. However, I must admit I squirm when I read these words in a children's book.

Like many of the controversial books I read, I think the manner in which this book is presented to children will make all the difference.

Mommy Laid An Egg

Mommy Laid an Egg
by, Babette Cole

This is a humorous picture book explaining to children the answer to the question "where do babies come from?" The children in this book already know the answer, and they laugh when their parents present them with ridiculous explanations.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I think the humorous style of this book would help parents to discuss this topic with their children in a relaxed manner. The topic of sex can be very uncomfortable for parents and children alike, and presenting accurate information, without being incredibly serious and uptight about it all, can help lay the foundation for years of healthy and open communication between parents and their children. However, I would not be truthful if I didn't admit that the page with illustrations depicting the various ways that parents might "fit together"doesn't make me a tad uncomfortable. This being said, I do think I would be willing to share this book with my own children. I truly believe that children need to have accurate information about this subject, and I believe that creating an open and safe environment for kids to ask questions and talk about sex will help children to grow up to have healthy relationships.

I realized as I read this book that there are probably many controversial books that I would feel comfortable sharing with my own children, but would be unlikely to present to students in my classroom. This is one of these books. I would be interested to here what others think about this.

Fly Away Home

Fly Away Home
by, Eve Bunting
Illustrated by, Ronald Himler

This is the story of a homeless father and his son, living at the airport. Written from the little boy's perspective, he shares what this experience is like for him, and how he and his dad work to remain invisible so that they don't get caught.

I truly got goose bumps as I read this story. I love that the author wrote such a heartfelt story about homelessness. It illustrates very well that the face of homelessness is not always what many people think. Children are homeless. Well dressed, professional looking fathers are homeless. So often, as a society, we think of homelessness as only impacting individuals who struggle with alcohol and drug abuse, older disheveled looking men pushing shopping carts, etc.

I struggle to think of this book as a controversial book. As adults, we sometimes want to shelter our children from the idea that some children really struggle in our world. Children cope with all sorts of issues, homelessness being among them. I believe that it is essential that children learn about lifestyles and situations outside of their own experiences. This story addresses the topic of homelessness in a sensitive, heartfelt way that children and adults can both learn from.

Walter the Farting Dog

Walter the Farting Dog
by William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray
illustrated by, Audrey Colman

Ah-farting. Such controversy!

Seriously, I thought this book was hilarious. Adults can be so serious sometimes, and if anyone has spent time with children ages 7-11, you know that there isn't anything quite as funny as a fart joke. This book tells the story of Walter the dog, who is at risk of being sent back to the dog pound thanks to his farting problem. The family tries everything they can to change Walter's farting habits, but in the end, Walter is Walter, and the family learns to love him just as he is.

I think the only reason I might hesitate to use this book in a classroom setting would be from a classroom management perspective. I can imagine a room full of third graders losing complete control as I read this book. I understand that some people may find farting to be an offensive and rude behavior, but given that this book doesn't advocate children farting in inappropriate places- we are talking about a dog here- I think the world should be able to handle this little bit of "controversy."

Happy to Be Nappy

Happy to Be Nappy
by Bell Hooks
Illustrated by, Chris Raschka

This picture book poetically illustrates the joy and beauty of "nappy" hair. I enjoyed the poetic verse, and I thought the artwork in the book was cute, with bold colors and paint depicting young African American children with a variety of hair styles and looks. The text of the story appears in cursive writing, looking like it was written with a black crayon. This adds to the innocence of the book, and I think helps the author to evoke the sense of self-pride and confidence that she hopes children will feel regarding their own identity.

In my mind, the book by itself contains very little controversy. I think most people would agree that all children should feel confident and self assured in their appearance and their cultural identity. For an African American parent to read this book to his or her daughter probably will not spark to much controversy. However, if a white teacher is reading this book to her class, I can understand that some controversy might arise. The term "nappy hair" could be considered insulting when coming from an individual who is not a member of the African American culture. For this reason, I would be very cautious presenting this book in my own classroom (I am a white female). In my social studies methods course we discussed this book, and our instructor shared that a teacher was fired for reading this book to her class. As teachers, we strive include diverse perspectives and books with a wide range of cultural influences into our classroom. However, care must be taken not to inadvertently offend or use materials that could be misinterpreted. I think that this book has a great message for all kids- kids should should feel happy about their bodies, their hair, and themselves! However, I think the risk of misinterpretation would be great, and therefore I probably would steer away from this book in my elementary school classroom.

On the Day You Were Born

On the Day You Were Born
by, Debra Frasier

This is a beautifully written, poetic book that tells of the wonders of our planet earth, and the special welcoming of a new baby. The illustrations on each page hold bright contrasting colors, and each page seems worthy of framing.

Mostly, I love the poetic verse in this book, as well as the subtle messages of conservation and the importance of taking care of planet- for it takes care of us. The end of this book contains informational pages with expanded information about some of the terms mentioned in the books verses. There is information about migration, gravity, the sun, the moon, tides, atmosphere, etc.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will support an Environmental Learning Center in Florida's Indian River Lagoon. This book supports environmental efforts not only through the words that it shares, but financially as well. I love this book.

To Market, To Market

To Market,To Market
by,Anne Miranda
illustrated by, Janet Stevens

This is a crazy, wacky, brilliantly illustrated book based on the classic nursery rhyme. The old woman in this story goes to market to buy a fat pig (home again, home again jiggity jig). But, then when she returns to the market to by a fat hen, the pig gets loose and causes all sorts of chaos in her house. One by one, her groceries (the animals) cause trouble for the woman.

The illustrations in this story are incredibly creative. There is an enormous amount of detail on each page, and children will enjoy exploring the illustrations. Pieces of the illustrations are black and white, contrasted with vibrant colors that stand out against the black and white background. The illustrations in this book were done in acrylic, oil pastel, and colored pencil with photographic and fabric collage elements. I think the variety of methods used really adds to the depth of the illustrations.

Some Things Are Scary (No Matter How Old You Are)

Some Things Are Scary
(No Matter How Old You Are)
by, Florence Parry Heide
illustrated by, Jules Feiffer

This charming book explores things that are scary- both things that probably truly worry children, and very silly scary things. The book has a nice mix of serious with silly. I particularly enjoyed this book because my 6 year old son seems to worry a lot and have a lot of fears. His latest concern is that he doesn't want to move away from home when he is a grown up. The final page in this book says "knowing you're going to grow up to be a grownup is scary." How perfect for my son!

Kids can worry about so many things, and I love that this book addresses these issues. The illustrations are simply done in watercolor and felt-tip marker. The illustrator does a nice job of depicting looks of fear, worry and concern on the child's face in this book. This is a great book for gently addressing fears that children encounter.

To Be a Kid

To Be a Kid
by Maya Ajmera and John D. Ivanko

Let me start by saying that I truly get goose bumps when I read this book. It is a simple book, with simple words and very powerful accompanying photographs from around the world. The authors capture the common traits of childhood across cultures. The book opens with the line, "To be a kid means being carried by those who love you" and pictures children being carried by parents or big siblings in Senegal, Nepal, Japan and the United States. The photographs show that their are many different ways to carry young children, many different cultural clothes, different human expressions, but a common sense of caring. Each page in this book depicts a similar simple idea- spending time with family, playing ball, going to school, etc. I loved this book, and I think it is a great multi-cultural photo book that touches the heart.

I Met a Bear

I Met a Bear
Illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

This is a song book of the well known "I Met a Bear" song. This was one of my favorite summer camp songs of my youth. Cute illustrations picture a bear, but when you lift a flap the picture shows a boy with his stuffed animals, acting out the story.

The book changes the original lyrics to the song, eliminating the original lyric that refers to a gun. Instead of "I see you ain't, got any gun," the lyrics in this book say "'cause if you don't, you'll soon be done." So, now this story makes no reference to weapons that might make some teachers or parents uncomfortable.

I love the imaginative illustrations, depicting the little boy climbing up his bunk bed "tree."

The back cover of the book has the sheet music to the tune, so anyone can sing along.

The Giver

The Giver
by, Lois Lowry

I loved this book. The plot is full of philosophical issues regarding the balancing of freedoms, choice and the idea of equality. The story is suspenseful, and I simply could not put the book down as I read. I think that this book is a great book for adults as well as junior high or high school students.

I found myself thinking about several movies as I read this book. It reminded me a bit of "The Truman Show" and "Pleasantville" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." In the end, it is our memories and our ability to experience intense emotions (including pain and suffering) that makes life such a precious and unique journey.

I enjoyed getting to know Jonas, the main character in this story. His thoughtful consideration of everything he has always assumed to be true, and his gradual realization that the world wasn't quite as perfect as he originally assumed, reminds me of the growth and learning that occurs for many teenagers and college students as they begin to encounter people and cultures different from their own.

Love Hina

Love Hina
by, Ken Akamatsu

Love Hina is a Manga graphic novel and tells the story of the Hina House girls who are left alone when Keitaro leaves to study abroad.

I truly struggled with this book. I had never read a Manga novel before, and I found myself struggling to follow the plot. This book is part of a series, and I think that some of my troubles were due to the fact that this book is in the middle of the series, and I didn't have a firm grasp of the backstory.

I also struggled with the content of this book. Although not a main part of the story, the book is sprinkled with explicit sexual references and references to drug use. The back cover of the book suggests that this book is recommended for older teens, age 16 and above. I definitely agree with this recommendation, and I would not encourage younger children to read this book.

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
by, Mo Willems

This story begins with the bus driver asking the reader to watch his bus for a little while. He specifically instructs the reader: "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!" The rest of the story is a pigeon, pleading with the reader to let him drive the bus.

I love the end pages of this story. They picture the pigeon, with a thought bubble including his daydream of driving the bus. This is a funny, funny story. The pigeon pleads and pleads, eventually screaming (with large, wild print) LET ME DRIVE THE BUS!! The simple illustrations of an exasperated pigeon make this book very hilarious to read. The final end pages of the book picture the pigeon, now daydreaming about driving a fire truck. Funny.

Peter and the Wolf

Peter and the Wolf
by Vladmimir Vagin
from the symphony by Sergei Prokofiev

This book tells the classic story of Peter and the Wolf. Peter disobeys his grandfather, but in the end, captures the wolf (with the help of the little bird).

At the end of this book, the author has included a description of the symphony, complete with musical excerpts from the orchestral piece. He explains which instruments portrayed the various characters in the story. He also included a page with information about Prokoviev. I really like the addition of these two sections, and I think it would be fun to read this story, while also exposing children to this musical composition.

This is a beautiful book, with artful illustrations. I've never loved the plot of this story- mostly because the boy doesn't listen to his grandfather, but in the end is rewarded for his disobedience. (As a parent, I struggle a bit with this message!) But, my own children love this story, and they are always amused by the silly duck and the bird quarreling.

Abiyoyo

Abiyoyo
by Pete Seeger
illustrated by Michael Hays

In this story song book, Pete Seeger tells his interpretation of an South African lullaby and folk story. A little boy and his magician father are banished from town, but when the ferocious giant Abiyoyo appears, the two of them save the day, using music and magic to make Abiyoyo disappear.

I read this story to a Kindergarten class, and the children eagerly participated singing the "Abiyoyo" song in the book. It is a fun story, and the suspense really kept the children engaged. The father's magic wand in the story goes "zoop!" and I taught the children to wave their pretend magic wands and yell "zoop!" as I read the story. The kids loved it, and they were full of predictions about how the boy and his father would take care of Abiyoyo.

The oil on linen illustrations really add nice detail to the story, creating a magical image for the reader.

Hedgie Blasts Off!

Hedgie Blasts Off!
by, Jan Brett

I chose this book because I am a huge fan of author Jan Brett. I have always been drawn to her illustrations, and have frequently visited her website (www.janbrett.com). I highly recommend this site. It is full of activity suggestions, printable pages, etc. that teachers and parents can utilize when reading her books.

Hedgie Blasts Off! is a little different book for Jan Brett. The illustrations are cute, and the story features a classic Jan Brett character "Hedgie." I was disappointed that the book did not have the classic Jan Brett borders, however. Typically, her illustrations feature a border that provides hints and clues to the reader about what is going to happen next in the book. This book did not have this extra detail, and I was a little disappointed. The plot of the story is unique for Brett as well. A broken robot provides Hedgie with an opportunity to go into space and try to save "Big Sparkler." Most of Jan Brett's other books are more old fashioned in feel, and often she writes about classic fairytales. All in all, this is not one of my favorite Jan Brett books, but it is cute enough, and I think kids will like it.

Orson Blasts Off!

Orson Blasts Off!
by, Raul Colon

This is the story of Orson, a little boy who is terribly upset when his computer breaks. Now he can't play his video games!! When his talking jack-n-the-box, Weasel, prompts him to play outside, Orson's imagination takes him on many grand adventures.

I enjoyed the writing style of this book. The dialogue between Orson and Weasel amusing, making this a fun story to read out loud. Weasel, speaks with serious formality, using elegant manners and many "excuse me sirs" when he is talking with Orson. The print of this dialogue is in two different colors, with Weasel's words typed in blue, and Orson's dialogue in black. This adds another element of interest for the reader, and makes it easy for a young reader to follow along. The colorful illustrations will spark the readers imagination, and perhaps inspire video game crazed children to take a little time for imaginative play. The story is also full of idioms and double messages with words, adding interest and humor to the story.

Mouse Count

Mouse Count
by, Ellen Stoll Walsh

"Mouse Count" is a fun little counting book about a snake, gathering mice for his dinner. But the mice fool him, and escape from the snakes jar. The book demonstrates counting both forward and backwards- as the snake fills the jar, and as the mice escape. The illustrations are from a cut paper design, and the snake artistically slithers from one page to the next.

I enjoyed this book, although the slithery snake triggers my slight snake phobia a bit. I think the author does a nice job building suspense with a very simple plot. Children reading this book are likely to feel concerned about the cute little mice trapped in the snake's jar. I was so relieved when the mice escaped! I enjoyed the moral lesson of the book as well- don't be too greedy!

One Hungry Monster

One Hungry Monster

by, Susan Heyboer O'Keefe
illustrated by, Lynn Munsinger

This silly rhyming counting book tells the story of a boy dealing with some rowdy, rude and hungry monsters. The little boy, never appearing afraid, finally puts the silly hungry monsters in their place and orders them away.

The rhyming lyrics of this story make it a fun book to read out loud. As I read the book, a clear rhythmic pattern emerges. The illustrations depict silly monsters, and I couldn't help but giggle as I read about monsters "drooling at commercials for sauerkraut and beans." The illustrations remind me of the illustrations in "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak. The plot is similar as well, with a little boy gaining control over some wild monsters.

I own the board book version of this story, and when I checked this book out from the library, I didn't realize that it would be different than the board book version. In the board book version, most of the second half of the book, where the little boy is getting rid of the monsters, is left out. I enjoyed reading the part that was omitted from the board book, and really, the story and conclusion makes so mch more sense with the entire book.

H is for Hawkeye

by, Jay Wagner
Illustrated by Eileen Potts Dawson

This is an informative ABC format book about the state of Iowa. Each page is rich with beautiful illustrations, outlined with a list of towns in the state beginning with a letter of the alphabet. The book opens with "A is for Amana Colonies."

While this book is an ABC book, it is really more an informational book about the state of Iowa. I like this book because it is appropriate for a wide range of readers, and even as an adult, I found myself learning more about Iowa's history and heritage. In addition to the beautiful illustrations and informative text, each page also includes an illustration demonstrating the American Sign language alphabet. I enjoyed this unique "Hawkeye state" alphabet book.

Counting Ovejas

By, Sarah Weeks
Illustrated by, David Diaz

This colorful picture book depicts a young boy counting sheep, trying to fall asleep. As the sheep arrive, it becomes more and more difficult to get them to leave. The words to the story are written in English and Spanish.

I love the acrylic and pencil illustrations in this book. The variety of colors make this a beautiful book to look at. I also loved the words are both in Spanish and English, and that the phonetic spelling of the Spanish words are also in the book, making the book easily read by non-Spanish speakers (such as myself). The words in this book are simple and repetitive. I enjoyed that the author uses some less common color words in this book, such as turquoise and violet.

ABC Alphab'art

ABC Alphab'art
Find the letters hidden in the paintings
by, Anne Guery and Oliver Dussutour

This picture book displays classic paintings from artists of many different eras. Each page prompts the reader to find hidden letters in the paintings.

I enjoyed this alphabet book. I particularly found the descriptions of each of the paintings along with the "answers" in the back of the book fascinating. I have never taken an art class, and I am not very familiar with the different styles of art. I think that the hidden letters in the art serve well to engage the reader in a careful observation of the various paintings.

Juliet Dove, Queen of Love

Juliet Dove, Queen of Love
by, Bruce Coville

This novel tells the story of Juliet Dove, a 6th grader nicknamed "Killer" for her frequent outbursts of unkind words. But, it is Juliet's overwhelming shyness that causes her to say these things, and she feels terrible about it. When Juliet stumbles into a magic shop, she receives an amulet that casts a spell upon every boy in school. Suddenly the center of attention, and trapped in a world of magic, spells and ancient Greek Gods, Juliet must find the key to escaping the poser of the amulet.

I really didn't love this book. The elements of fantasy and magic simply were not convincing enough to me. Juliet's siblings and friends were quick to accept the idea that she had Cupid trapped in her amulet, and the flying rats were there to help her release him. When I read the book "Lightning Thief", a similar book about magic and ancient gods, the elements of magic and mythology felt plausable. In this book, it just felt silly to me. I think that young children might not be as bothered by this, and 6th grade girls might enjoy the inclusion of elementary school crushes and drama. For me, however, this book lacked enough convincing realism to draw me into the fantasy world.

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?
by, Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

This is a silly bedtime story illustrating many of the behaviors kids sometimes exhibit when they don't want to go to bed. I love the cute dinosaur illustrations and the fun rhyming words. The illustrations depict great big dinosaurs throwing tantrums about going to bed, while their human parents watch. I love the giant dinosaurs hugging their teddy bears and blankets. My favorite page: "Does a dinosaur stomp his feet on the floor and shout: "I want to hear one book more!"?

So, perhaps I enjoy this book because sometimes the little dinosaurs at my house can have some bedtime troubles. I love that this book teaches appropriate behavior in a fun, silly, engaging manner.