Literature FileHannah CooperRead 3251-51

Fall 2011

Table of Contents1. Picture Books

2. Poetry

3. Traditional Fantasy

4. Modern Fantasy

5. Contemporary Realistic Fiction

6. Historical Fiction

7. Biography/Autobiography

8. Informational Books

9. Multicultural and International Books

10. Chapter books

• Newbery Medal or Honor – Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry– These Happy Golden Years– The Headless Cupid

• Caldecott Medal or Honor– The Storm Book– When I was Young in the Mountains– A Story A Story– Rumpelstiltskin– The Snowy Day– The Funny Little Woman– The Village of the Round and Square Houses

•  Sibert Informational Book Medal or Honor  – What To Do About Alice?– Brooklyn Bridge– I Face the Wind

• Coretta Scott King – I Have a Sister, My Sister is Deaf– Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry– Ray Charles

•  Georgia Book Award winners– The Rough-Face Girl– My Teacher Sleeps at School– Nothing’s Fair in Fifth Grade

Award Winners

Title: The Storm BookAuthor: Charlotte Zolotow Illustrator: Margaret Bloy GrahamPublisher: Harper and Row Date: 1952Age: 2 + Pages: 32Setting: house, present Main Character: Young boyGenre: Picture book Awards: Caldecott Honor

A young boy discovers what a storm is and what comes with it.

I like the way that this book is written. It has a paragraph of text on a page that is surrounded by a wide margin. Then on the next two page spread is an beautifully done illustration with details of what was talked about on the page before. I believe this allows the reader to focus on one thing at a time. The further along in the book, there is a page or two that has a little more writing on the page than the others. But I believe that the author did this on purpose. She wanted the reader to spend more time reading the information towards the end.

Title: Clifford the Small Red PuppyAuthor: Norman Bridwell Illustrator: Norman BridwellPublisher: Scholastic Date: 1972Age: 4-8 Pages: 32Setting: town, present Main Character: Emily Elizabeth & CliffordGenre: Picture Awards: N/A

Emily Elizabeth tells the story of how she got Clifford.

I have always loved reading about Clifford. The Clifford books are a good next step up from beginner reader books. The words are mostly words that a first and second grader would know. The pictures are very bright and cheery. They draw you into the atmosphere of being around Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Title: When I was Young in the MountainsAuthor: Cynthia Rylant Illustrator: Diane GoodePublisher: E.P. Dutton Date: 1982Age: 4-8 Pages: 32Setting: Mountains in the past Main Character: Little GirlGenre: Picture Awards: Caldecott Honor

A little girl talks about her life living in the mountains and how she doesn’t want to see or live anywhere else.

This book has a wonderful theme of being content with what you have in life. The pictures in the book have old time country and mountain feel to them. When you look at the pictures you feel like you could step back into time with the characters and get the idea of what it was to live in the mountains with swimming holes and outhouses.

Title: A You’re AdorableAuthor: Buddy Kaye, Fred Wise, Sidney Lippman Illustrator: Martha Alexander Publisher: Scholastic Inc Date: 1994Age: 3-6 Pages: 32Setting: Anywhere, present Main Character: Girls and BoysGenre: Picture Awards: N/AGirls and Boys explore the Alphabet together.

The Alphabet is put into a song form that can be sung or just read with the class. Every letter is artistically done with a picture to represent the saying that is being said or sung with it. It puts an interesting and unique twist to just learning the ABC’s. The pictures are multicultural and can be related to a wide range of students.

Title: Bessie Smith and the Night RidersAuthor: Sue Stauffacher Illustrator: John HolyfieldPublisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Date: 2006Age: 4+ Pages: 32Setting: South, past Main Character: Bessie & EmmareneGenre: Picture Awards: N/A

Emmarene helps stop the Night Riders from harming a lot of people.

The history behind the story alone, makes this a picture book worth sharing with upper elementary students. It is important for children to be able to read literature that has some fact to it and a little history. I believe students learn better this way. The wonderfully drawings in the book are artfully blended acrylics that bring rich detail to the story.

Title: Like Nothing At AllAuthor: Aileen Fisher Illustrator: Leonard WeisgardPublisher: Thomas Y. Crowell Date: 1962Age: 4-8 Pages: 40Setting: Woods, present Main Character: little girlGenre: Poetry Awards: N/A

A little girl explores the woods during the seasons.

The book is written in poetry style. Children get to look through the little girl’s eyes to see what she sees when she is in the woods during each season. The pictures in the book are done in like a black ink and the each page is shaded in a monochromatic green. This appears to keep the earthy tone feeling to the reading.

Title: A Child’s Book of MannersAuthor: Fay Maschler Illustrator: Helen OxenburyPublisher: Atheneum Date: 1978Age: 4-8 Pages: 32Setting: Everywhere, present Main Character: Boys and girlsGenre: Poetry Awards: N/A

The poems talk about manners and behaviors.

The poems are cute and funny to read aloud to children about certain behaviors that may not be accepted . Each poem is on a separate page, so that you read one or two at a time or you can continue reading. The pictures are artfully done. They represent each poem well. Colors and details are vivid in each picture and cause the reader to stop and look.

Title: Smelly Jelly Smelly FishAuthor: Michael Rosen Illustrator: Quentin BlakePublisher: Prentice-Hall Books Date: 1986Age: 6-12 Pages: 24Setting: At the beach, present Main Character: Many PeopleGenre: Poetry Awards: N/A

Poems and such about a day at the beach.

Each page of the book focuses on a different aspect of a day at the beach and the poetry on each page reflects that. The pictures are scattered among the words and are simplistic. As the book goes on there becomes more words on each page and the pictures become smaller.

Title: The Owl and the PussycatAuthor: Edward Lear Illustrator: Jan Brett Publisher: G.P Putnam’s Sons Date: 1991Age: 4-8 Pages: 32Setting: Caribbean, in the past Main Character: Owl and PussycatGenre: Poetry Awards: N/A

Owl and Pussycat are dating and decide to wed.

The poetry is very simple and on each page there is more picture to look at then there is words. The pictures have eye popping colors that grab your attention when you turn the page and make you want to look at everything that is happening on each page. By looking closely at the pictures you can see that there is more happening in the pictures, then just illustrating the poem. Below the water line, there is a whole another world filled with exquisite fish. The fish change on each page, expect one little yellow fish who appears to be looking for someone. On the very last page the yellow fish has found his/her true love as well.

Title: Baby Bear’s BooksAuthor: Jane Yolen Illustrator: Melissa SweetPublisher: Harcourt Date: 2006Age: 2-5 Pages: 40Setting: Baby Bear’s house, present Main Character: Baby BearGenre: Poetry Awards: N/A

Baby Bear loves to read and to have stories read to him.

The story is written with no more than two verses to a page and with each verse only having four lines. This helps the young reader follow along and still leaves plenty of room for the pictures to flow around the text. The pictures are the main focus of the book. They have taken the verses that were written and turned them into colorful pictures that children can enjoy.

Title: The Emperor’s New ClothesAuthor: Hans Christian Anderson Illustrator: Virginia Lee BurtonPublisher: E.M. Hale Date: 1949Age: 5+ Pages: 48Setting: Village, past Main Character: The EmperorGenre: Traditional Fantasy Awards: N/A

The Emperor is tricked by thieves.

This story always brings a chuckle out of me because of how silly every one is acting about not telling the truth. To think that if someone had said something in the beginning then it would not have gotten that far. But on the other hand, the Emperor did need to be humbled from always having to have the best and spending money on looking the best. It shows children that there is other things in life to value other than clothes or material things.

Title: A Story A StoryAuthor: Gail E. Haley Illustrator: Gail E. Haley Publisher: Atheneum Date: 1970Age: 4-8 Pages: 36Setting: Africa, past Main Character: AnanseGenre: Traditional Fantasy Awards: Caldecott Medal

Ananse wants to get the stories from the Sky God.

The book is written with African dialects incorporated into the text. The pictures are very bright and colorful and they fill up the pages. Details are only given to the most important people in the story or those in the foreground. The colors reflect those that you would relate to African culture.

Title: RumpelstiltskinAuthor: Paul O. Zelinsky Illustrator: Paul O. Zelinsky Publisher: Dutton’s Children’s Book Date: 1986Age: 3-7 Pages: 40Setting: Castle in the past Main Character: Miller’s daughter and RumpelstiltskinGenre: Traditional Fantasy Awards: Caldecott HonorRumplestiltskin tries to trick the Miller’s daughter.

The pictures in the book are so detailed that the words become second to the pictures. Zelinsky is able to take the story and turn it into a beautiful work of art on each page. There is several underlying morals to the story of Rumplestiltskin that children can relate to. They should never trust strangers and they should always tell the truth.

Title: The Rough-Face GirlAuthor: Rafe Martin Illustrator: David ShannonPublisher: G.P. Putnam Date: 1992Age: 8 + Pages: 32Setting: Lake Ontario, past Main Character: Rough-Face GirlGenre: Traditional Fantasy Awards: GA Book

The Rough-face girl wants to marry the Invisible Being.

This is one of the more inspiring versions of Cinderella. I have heard parts of the story before, but after reading the entire story I feel that this version has a moral that children can learn. The moral that can be pulled from the story is that everyone is beautiful, whether it is inner beauty or outer. There is beauty to be found. And the best and purest beauty is found inside. David Shannon’s pictures are wonderfully detailed and every time you go back to look at one, you find something you didn’t see the first time.

Title: The Spider WeaverAuthor: Margaret Musgrove Illustrator: Julia Cairn Publisher: The Blue Sky Press Date: 2001Age: 4+ Pages: 40Setting: Ashanti Village, Ghana, Past Main Character: Koragu and AmeyawGenre: Traditional Fantasy Awards: N/A

The town’s weaver learned a new weaving pattern from a spider.

The pictures are dominant on each page, with only a sentence or two of text to a page. This makes the focus go to the pictures first, then the words. The story is fascinating because it gives thought to how something came to be. While at the same time not causing harm to the one that they are learning from. They just take the knowledge they gained and use it. Leaving the spider in peace. Now a days you see a lot of destruction when people take knowledge from something.

Title: The Country Bunny and the Little Gold ShoesAuthor: Du Bose Heyward Illustrator: Marjorie FlackPublisher: Date: 1939Age: 5+ Pages: 48Setting: Country, Present Main Character: Little Country BunnyGenre: Modern Fantasy Awards: N/A

The little country bunny wants to be an Easter bunny.

The book has a message about perseverance and not giving up even when others say that you can’t do something. If you put your mind to it, you can do anything you want to do. This book has always been a favorite of mine since I was little because of theme in the book. The illustrations are also very colorful and detailed . This books is also a good example for girls to look at because it shows girls that they can be mothers and still follow their dreams.

Title: The Berenstain Bears' New BabyAuthor: Jan and Stan Berenstain Illustrator: Jan and Stan BerenstainPublisher: Random House Date: 1974Age: 4+ Pages: 32Setting: Bear Country, present Main Character: Brother BearGenre: Modern Fantasy Awards: N/A

Brother Bear gets a little sister.

This is great book to have and share with the first born child in the family when expecting a new baby. Hopefully the child can relate to Brother Bear and find ways to deal with the situation that are positive. The pictures are very interesting and help tell the story. They are the kind of pictures that if the child can not read, then they can still look at the pictures and get the general gist of what is going on.

Title: My Teacher Sleeps at SchoolAuthor: Leatie Weiss Illustrator: Ellen WeissPublisher: Viking Kestrel Date: 1984Age: 3-8 Pages: Setting: School, present Main Character: Mrs. Marsh, MollieGenre: Modern Fantasy Awards: GA Book Award

Mollie and the other students think that their teacher, Mrs. Marsh, sleeps at school

I found this book to be a really cute story. It also probably answers a lot of the younger students questions about what their teachers do and go after everyone leaves school for the day. The cartoon aspect of the pictures keeps the book light and funny through out. The colors are bright and eye catching. The illustrator uses the white space well in the book to emphasize the drawings and to create a bigger impact.

Title: What’s in a Doctor’s BagAuthor: Neil Shulman and Sibley Fleming Illustrator: Todd Stolp Publisher: Rx Humor Atlanta, GA Date: 1994Age: 4-8 Pages: 36Setting: In a doctor’s office, present Main Character: A little boyGenre: Modern Fantasy Awards:N/A

A little boy is afraid of going to the doctors.

This is a good book to help children get familiar with all the instruments that a doctor uses. It also uses the correct terms of what the instruments are called, but then gives them silly names to help the children remember them. It is a good way to make children not feel afraid of going to the doctor. The pictures are very cartoony and kidlike and they bring the instruments to life. `

Title: The Littlest Lighthouse KeeperAuthor: Heidi Howarth Illustrator: Daniel HowarthPublisher: QEB Date: 2008Age: 4-8 Pages: 24Setting: Lighthouse, present Main Character: HenryGenre: Modern Fantasy Awards: N/A

Henry has to run the lighthouse by himself one day.

The book is a really good book for beginning readers. The font of the text is extra large and there is only a couple of sentences put together at a time. The pictures are what really pulls the story together. The details are really big, as if looking at it from Henry’s point of view, so the colors are very pure looking.

Title: A Pony for LindaAuthor: C.W. Anderson Illustrator: C.W. AndersonPublisher: Macmillsn Date: 1951Age: 5-10 Pages: 56Setting: House, present Main Character: LindaGenre: Contemporary Realistic Awards: N/A

Linda has always loved horses and finally gets her own pony to have adventures with.

I found the story to be very reachable to children. It is a nice story where good things happen to a good person. It is simple and sweet. C.W. Anderson’s drawings are so detailed . They are done in a pencil medium with lots of shading to highlight the pictures.

Title: I have a Sister, My Sister is DeafAuthor: Jeanne Whitehouse Peterson Illustrator: Deborah Ray Publisher: Harper Collins Date: 1977Age: 5 + Pages: 32Setting: present, all around neighborhood Main Character: Two sistersGenre: Contemporary Realistic Awards :Coretta Scott King Honor

A little girl talks about living with her deaf sister.

The style of the writing in the book is very simple. It is written in terms that children can understand. I found that the book can be a very good tool to relate to children that everyone likes to do the same things, even though they may not be able to hear or see. The pictures are done in a black and white sketches and I believe this allows the children more room to imagine. Plus it fits the story line better because the little sister can not hear so she does not know what a bird sounds like or bell. The pictures allow you to wonder what they would look like any color.

Title: Nothing’s Fair in Fifth GradeAuthor: Barthe DeClements Illustrator: NAPublisher: Puffin Date: 1981Age: 8 + Pages: 144Setting: Small town, present Main Character: Jenny and EliseGenre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction Awards: GA Award

Jenny and Elise find common ground on which they can finally become friends.

This is another one of DeClements wonderful tales of the typical grade school year. She writes with such emotion, that it makes you feel for the characters in the story and want to help them out. The way the story was written I felt like that I could see both sides of the situations that was taking place and this is good for children to be able to see so that they can get as much information before choosing a right or wrong side.

Title: Harvest SongAuthor: Ron Hirschi Illustrator: Deborah Haeffele Publisher: Cobble Hill Books Date: 1991Age: 4-8 Pages: 32Setting: On a farm in the past Main Character: A little girl and her grandmother Genre: Picture Awards: N/A

The little girl spends the summer helping her grandmother on her farm with the planting and the harvesting.

This was a really sweet story about a girl spending the summer with her grandmother. It reminded me of the summers that I would spend with my grandmother, helping her around the house and spending time with her. The pictures in the book are colorful and eye-catching so that even if the child is just flipping through the book there is a lot of details for them to take in.

Title: An Amish YearAuthor: Richard Ammon Illustrator: Pamela PatrickPublisher: Atheneum Date: 2000 Age: 6+ Pages: 36Setting: Amish Farm, Present Main Character: A girlGenre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction Awards: N/A

A girl talks about her life being Amish.

The book gives insight to a whole culture that children in the south may not be aware exists. I believe that it is a good book for children to read because it allows them to see how the Amish live. The children can also get a look at the similarities and the differences between how the Amish live and how we live. The pictures are done in pastel and bring to life the story taking place.

Title: Anne of Green GablesAuthor: L.M. Montgomery Illustrator: N/APublisher: Bantam Skylark Date: 1908Age: 10 + Pages: 310Setting: Green Gables, past Main Character: AnneGenre: Historical Fiction Awards: N/A

Anne moves to Green Gables to live with Matthew and Marilla.

This chapter book is a good book for the upper elementary school girl. The antics of Anne are something that every young girl can find funny and in some way relatable. Whether it is relating to Anne or her friend Diane, they can find something that reaches out to them. I felt connected to Anne and I had to know the next thing that was going to happen in the book to know whether she was going to be in trouble or not.

Title: Roll of Thunder, Hear My CryAuthor: Mildred D. Taylor Illustrator: N/APublisher: Dial Date: 1976 Age: 9+ Pages: 296Setting: South, 1930s Main Character: Cassie, Logan FamilyGenre: Historical Fiction Awards: Newbery Medal & Coretta Scott King

The Logan family deals with racial issues.

The is a good book to read for pre-civil rights movement literature. It also takes place during the Great Depression which is another critical time period that students need to learn about. The book is artfully written to allow an easy flow of reading while still staying within the context of the time period.

Title: My Sister SaysAuthor: Betty Baker Illustrator: Tricia TaggartPublisher: Macmillian Date: 1984Age: 4-8 Pages: 28Setting: New York, 1850s Main Character: Two sistersGenre: Historical Fiction Awards: N/A

Two sisters go down to the harbor to meet their father’s ship.

This book is a wonderful depiction of what the different merchant ships sailing from America in the 1850s were going for. The pencil drawings are a lovely representation of what the dress and ships looked like at the time. Children can benefit from reading this book to begin learning where all of America traded its goods.

Title: Hanna’s Cold WinterAuthor: Trish Marx Illustrator: Barbara KnutsonPublisher: Carolrhoda Books Inc. Date: 1993Age: 4 + Pages: 32Setting: Budapest in the past Main Character: Little girlGenre: Historical Fiction Awards: N/A

A little girl and her town help save the hippos at the zoo.

The historical content of this book is based on the second world war in Hungry. I love this book because of the name of the hippo in the story and it has always been one of my favorite books since I got it 16 years ago. I believe the story shows children of a time that was hard on not only on the people, but also on the animals and makes it relatable. The illustrations in the book are done in watercolor and pencil.

Title: Ride Like the Wind: A Tale of the Pony ExpressAuthor: Bernie Fuchs Illustrator: Bernie Fuchs Publisher: Blue Sky Press Date: 2004Age: 4-8 Pages: 32Setting: Midwest 1800s Main Character: JohnnyGenre: Historical Fiction Awards: NA

Johnny tells the tale of delivering mail via the Pony Express.

This book is very educational in giving students a look at what it was like for someone to be a runner on the Pony Express and the dangers that go with that. I believe that even though the book is placed at lower elementary, that the details and the amount of words on the page that it really qualifies for upper elementary to be reading on their own. The pictures are blurry at times, which leaves the reader room to imagine some of the details.

Title: Helen Keller Author: Margaret Davidson Illustrator: Wendy WatsonPublisher: Scholastic Date: 1969Age: 7+ Pages: 96Setting: All over, past Main Character: Helen KellerGenre: Biography Awards: N/A

The story about Helen Keller’s life.

The book is written with easy to read chapters and the font on the pages is bigger to make it easier to read. There are a few black and white sketches through out the book, but the main focus is on the words. The author did a very good job pulling together the information about Helen and making it in an easy read chapter book for upper elementary students. I believe students need books like this to read and learn about the people that have shaped our history.

Title: Ray CharlesAuthor: Sharon Bell Mathis Illustrator: George FordPublisher: Thomas Y. Crowell Date: 1973Age: 8 + Pages: 40Setting: All over USA, past Main Character: Ray Genre: Biography/Autography Awards: Coretta Scott King Award

Ray Charles talks about how he got started in music.

Ray Charles is an inspirational man and all children should know who he was. By reading about him, children can see that anything is possible and they can doing that they set their minds to. Most of the pictures in the book are done in black and white. A few of the pages have yellow highlights in parts of the pictures.

Title: Great Tales from Long Ago: Daniel BooneAuthor: Jan Gleiter and Kathleen Thompson Illustrator: Leslie TryonPublisher: Torstar Books Date: 1985Age: 8-12 Pages: 32Setting: Kentucky Woods, past Main Character: Daniel BooneGenre: Biography Awards: N/A

Daniel Boon is exploring the wild woods of Kentucky.

This book is a good book picture about Daniel Boone for middle elementary students to read. There is a small paragraph on each page layout. Even though the words are written in a small paragraph graph, there is really no large vocabulary words used, except for names of the people in the story. The pictures fill up both pages with wonderful colors and details describing the wilderness that Daniel Boone was exploring.

Title: The Story of Ruby BridgesAuthor: Robert Coles Illustrator: George FordPublisher: Scholastic Date: 1995Age: 5-9 Pages: 32Setting: New Orleans, Frantz School, past Main Character: RubyGenre: Biography Awards: N/A

Ruby is the first African American student in a desegregated school.

This is very powerful story for children to read or listen to. It gives them insight to what it was like half a century ago in the United States. Ruby is a very strong person that hopefully students can relate to or can find a way to relate to . Even in tough situations, she is was happy and excited to be learning and she forgave those who fought against her getting an education. This shows children that they should be excited to learn, because we have come a long way for everyone to get an education.

Title: What To Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy!

Author: Barbara Kerley Illustrator: Edwin FotheringhamPublisher: Scholastic Date: 2008Age: 7+ Pages: 48Setting: Everywhere, past Main Character: AliceGenre: Biography Awards: Sibert

Alice finds way to push the limits where ever she goes.

I loved this book when I read it. It shows that everyone is not perfect and the presidents deal with similar things at home that we deal with every day in our lives. Children can enjoy the antics of Alice depicted in the colorful pictures that helps bring the story to life.

Title: Flash: The Life Story of a FireflyAuthor: Louise Dyer Harris & Norman Dyer Harris Illustrator: Henry B. KanePublisher: Little, Brown and Co. Date: 1966Age: 8+ Pages: 64Setting: Meadow, present Main Character: FlashGenre: Informational Awards: N/A

Flash tells how fireflies come to be.

This book can be considered an informational book, even though it is taken from the firefly’s point-of-view. It depicts the life cycle of the firefly in the book. The book is broken into small chapters with small clips of art on every page. The drawings are just enough to help highlight the book with out distracting from the words.

Title: Eclipse: Darkness in DaytimeAuthor: Franklyn M. Branley Illustrator: Donald CrewsPublisher: Thomas Y. Crowell Date: 1973Age: 7+ Pages: 32Setting: Present Main Character: N/AGenre: Informational Awards: N/A

The book explains what happens during a solar eclipse.

This is a very informational book for children to learn about solar eclipses. There is a lot of useful information with some vocabulary words that children have probably not heard before. The book does a good job defining the terms with out breaking the rhythm of the words. There is one date in the book that is now out dated, but even so I believe that children can still gain information and use is as a historical reference as well for the date of the solar eclipse that has already happened.

Title: Shh! We’re Writing the ConstitutionAuthor: Jean Fritz Illustrator: Tomie dePaola Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Date: 1987Age: 7+ Pages: 64Setting: 1780s, USA Main Character: Constitution WritersGenre: Informational Awards: N/A

Describes how the Constitution was written

This would be a wonderful book for 4th and 5th graders to use when studying about the Constitution. There is a lot of text in the book, but considering the subject matter, the size of the book is very reasonable for the age group. There are cartoon like drawings on every page to help break up the reading as well. I think that giving the background information in a story like fashion makes it more fun for the students to read.

Title: I am WaterAuthor: Jean Marzollo Illustrator: Judith MoffattPublisher: Scholastic Date: 1996Age: 4-8 Pages: 32 Setting: Present, anywhere/everywhere Main Character: Water Genre: Informational Awards: N/A

Explains all the uses and different forms of water.

I am Water is a really easy read with only a few words to each page. Every sentence starts with “I am” so there is repetition that children can begin to pick up on very quickly. The pictures are very big and bold with colorful splashes of color. Each picture relates to the form of water that is being talked about on the page. The book also features a variety of cultures throughout.

Title: Brooklyn BridgeAuthor: Lynn Curlee Illustrator: Lynn CurleePublisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers Date: 2001Age: 9-12 Pages: 40 Setting: Past late 1800s, New York Main Character: John Roebling Genre: Informational Awards: Sibert

A book about the history of building the Brooklyn Bridge.

This book is written about the history of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and all the hard work that went into it. The pictures are detailed with diagrams of the different parts that were used at different times of building the bridge. The book is very informative and yet still has a touch of dramatics to it when it talks about the dangers that the people working on the bridge went through.

Title: I Face the WindAuthor: Vicki Cobb Illustrator: Julia GortonPublisher: Harper Collins Date: 2003Age: 4-8 Pages: 40 Setting: Present, anywhere Main Character: Little GirlGenre: Informational Awards: Sibert

What wind is and how to understand it.

This book is written to be an interactive book for children. Before the children start, there is a short list of supplies that should be gathered to make the book interactive. Through out the whole book there are places for the children to stop and think about questions and explore the effects of wind. This gets children thinking about science without putting it in a school science book and it can also be done at home.

Title: The Snowy DayAuthor: Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator: Ezra Jack KeatsPublisher: Scholastic Date: 1962Age: 4 + Pages: 40Setting: Outside, present Main Character: PeterGenre: Multicultural Awards: Caldecott Medal

Peter goes outside to play in the snow.

Over the semester this has become one of my new favorite children’s books. The plot is very simple and it is an easy book for children to read. The pictures are done with wonderful detail for paper cut and paste. There is so many shades in the snow, that it is unbelievable that Ezra Jack Keats was able to accomplish that with paper.

Title: The Funny Little WomanAuthor: Arlene Mosel Illustrator: Blair LentPublisher: Puffin Date: 1972Age: 4-8 Pages: 40Setting: Japan, past Main Character: little womanGenre: Multicultural Awards: Caldecott Medal

The Funny Little Woman chases her dumpling.

I think children would enjoy this book because of the wonderful contrast in the colors. The Funny Little Women stands out on the pages which draws your eye right to her. Children are easily drawn into the story and they are going to want to know what happens next to the Funny Little Woman.

Title: The Village of the Round and Square HousesAuthor: Ann Grifalconi Illustrator: Ann GrifalconiPublisher: Little Brown Date: 1986Age: 4-8 Pages: 32Setting: Past, African village Main Character: A little girl and grandmotherGenre: Multicultural Awards: Caldecott Honor

A little girl is telling of how the ways of her people came to be.

This book was very insightful to a different way of life that children would not be accustomed to he in America. The pictures were beautifully done and took you to the village beside the Naki. The colors are artfully blended, using charcoals and pastels, and turn the words into a beautiful picture.

Title: Whoever You AreAuthor: Mem Fox Illustrator: Leslie StaubPublisher: Harcourt Date: 1997Age: 3+ Pages: 32Setting: Everywhere, present Main Character: Many peopleGenre: Multicultural Awards: N/A

Whoever you are, no matter where you are, everyone is the same in some way.

This book made me feel like I could connect to anyone across the world because inside, we are all the same. We all experience the same feelings of happiness and sadness even though we may not look the same. The pictures are dazzling. Each page is framed in the exact same way, keeping with the theme of the book.

Title: Sparrow GirlAuthor: Sara Pennypacker Illustrator: Yoko TanakaPublisher: Disney Date: 2009Age: 5-9 Pages: 40Setting: Past, Chinese village Main Character: Ming-LiGenre: Multicultural Awards: N/A

Ming-Li is trying to save the sparrows from the villagers.

This book is based on the true Sparrow War in China and the effects of messing with the ecological system. The pictures are done in an oriental fashion with the colors and the brushstrokes. The use of white space on the pages really draws you into the pictures and the sadness that Ming-Li is feeling for losing the sparrows and her pet pigeon.

Title: These Happy Golden YearsAuthor: Laura Ingalls Wilder Illustrator: Garth WilliamsPublisher: Harper Trophy Date: 1943Age: 9-12 Pages: 289Setting: Prairie town, past Main Character: Laura and familyGenre: Chapter Awards: Newbery Honor

Laura starts teaching school and getting courted at the same time by Almanzo Wilder.

This book is written wonderfully. It depicts what life was like living in a prairie town as an upcoming school teacher and what schools were like for students and teachers alike. You get an exhilarating feeling when Laura is learning how to drive Branuam. You feel like you have been taken into the story and you have become a part of their lives.

Title: The Headless CupidAuthor: Zilpha Keatley Synder Illustrator: N/APublisher: Atheneum Date: 1971 Age: 9-12 Pages: 203Setting: David’s house, present Main Character: DavidGenre: Chapter Awards: Newbery Honor

David and his siblings think the house is haunted by a ghost.

This book is a nice chapter book for the students who like a good book with a bit of mystery to it and for a book to keep you on the edge of your seat. The end of each chapter keeps you wanting to read more. The book is page turner. The book also keeps you guessing to the very end and actually leaves you wondering after you finish reading. It is very well written and you can tell why it got a Newbery Honor.

Title: The Fourth Grade WizardsAuthor: Bathe DeClements Illustrator: N/A Publisher: Scholastic Date: 1988Age: 9-12 Pages: 122Setting: Present, in a town/classroom Main Character: MarianneGenre: Chapter Awards: N/A

Marianne goes through the trials and tribulations of the 4th grade after the death of her mother.

This book can be related to students who have lost a parent or loved one. I cried when Marianne couldn’t find her new puppy Kipluck because that sense of loss and loneliness is relatable . The book overall is a pretty easy read, there were no words that would have been difficult to a 4th grader to read.

Title: Fudge-A-ManiaAuthor: Judy Blume Illustrator: N/APublisher: Scholastic Date: 1990Age: Pages: 146Setting: Maine, Present Main Character: Fudge and PeterGenre: Chapter Awards: N/A

Peter and Fudge are taking a summer trip with their family to Maine.

This is a wonderful chapter book for both girls and boys to read. It relates well to the trials of being an older sibling, dealing with people you may not like, and the beginning of that awkward transition from elementary school to middle school. This includes all the changes that go with that, including discovering that first crush and how to deal with it. Or not being able to impress someone while out on the field.

Title: The Mystery of the Three KeysAuthor: Irene Schultz Illustrator: Tom Sperling & Adam Weiskin Publisher: Wright Group Date: 2000Age: 7-11 Pages: 128Setting: present, Bluff Lake Main Character: Sammy, Bill, Kathy, Dave, Ms. TGenre: Chapter Awards : N/AThey work on solving a mystery about three keys found in a coat.

I found the book to be a very easy read. Though it was not as exciting as reading a Nancy Drew, though for the age level it is written for, it still has that mystery. The book is written in a big font which is easier for children to read and focus on. The story is also written in a true conversational way. When one of the kids listed ingredients to make sandwiches, the text moved to a list format that was like a bulleted list instead of just listing them with commas in-between them.