Verdi
Author: Janell Cannon
Illustrator: Janell Cannon
Harcourt Bradce & Co 1997
44 Pages
Fantasy
Once I discovered Janell Cannon's books, I kept looking for more by her. These are great educational tools for students who want a plot while learning about animals.
Not wanting to grow up and be boring like the other snakes in the jungle, Verdi does everything he can to stay yellow with stripes, to no avail. Once he does get older, he encounters more young snakes. They think he is to old to be fun, but he shows them different.
The medium used in these pictures are liquitex acrylics and prismacolor on bristol board. The colors of the snakes are very true to life. The shadowing is great for the detail of the jungle.
I would read this book aloud to first and second graders and would recommend it for independent reading for third and fourth graders.
This would also be an excellent book to pull out during a science unit on snakes. The information in the back gives details like life cycles, the regions in which most snakes live, and the names and characteristics of species.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
#19 The Wizard Next Door
The Wizard Next Door
Author: Peter Glassman
Illustrator: Steven Kellogg
Publisher: Morrow Junior Books 1993 (didn't realize year until after I checked it out)
37 Pages
Fantasy
After reading this book about a boy and a wizard, I knew that it would be approprate storyline for the fantasy genre. It is a bit off the wall, which is something I have come to enjoy. This genre opens my mind and imagination.
The main character (narrator) in this story in convinced that his neighbor is a wizard. He sees all sorts of strange things happening when Mr. Myers is around, but no one else does. No one believes what the little boy tells them about his neighbor. After a day of having Mr. Myers as a substitute teacher at school, the boy is told by his neighbor that he really is a wizard. Mr. Myers teaches the boy lots of magic.
In this book, the illustrator used colored inks, water colors, and acrylics. The illustrations are great as far as the magical elements of the drawing of magic, potions, and the dragon.
This book would be excellent for grades kindergarten through 3. The elements of magic would intrigue them and the pictures would capture their attention and spark imagination.
This book would be good for a language arts lesson. I would start with a read aloud and then have the students write a story about what they would do if they had a wizard living next door to them. They would use a graphic organizer to organize their ideas.
There are no awards attached to this book.
Author: Peter Glassman
Illustrator: Steven Kellogg
Publisher: Morrow Junior Books 1993 (didn't realize year until after I checked it out)
37 Pages
Fantasy
After reading this book about a boy and a wizard, I knew that it would be approprate storyline for the fantasy genre. It is a bit off the wall, which is something I have come to enjoy. This genre opens my mind and imagination.
The main character (narrator) in this story in convinced that his neighbor is a wizard. He sees all sorts of strange things happening when Mr. Myers is around, but no one else does. No one believes what the little boy tells them about his neighbor. After a day of having Mr. Myers as a substitute teacher at school, the boy is told by his neighbor that he really is a wizard. Mr. Myers teaches the boy lots of magic.
In this book, the illustrator used colored inks, water colors, and acrylics. The illustrations are great as far as the magical elements of the drawing of magic, potions, and the dragon.
This book would be excellent for grades kindergarten through 3. The elements of magic would intrigue them and the pictures would capture their attention and spark imagination.
This book would be good for a language arts lesson. I would start with a read aloud and then have the students write a story about what they would do if they had a wizard living next door to them. They would use a graphic organizer to organize their ideas.
There are no awards attached to this book.
#18 Chickwing
Chickwing
Author: Janell Cannon
Illustrator: Janell Cannon
Harcourt Books 2000
43 Pages
Fantasy
I was actually unsure of any fantasy picture books for children. After a little research, I discovered Janell Cannon. She has really good story lines and there is normally some sort of moral to the stories.
Chickwing is a cockroach who got his name when his wing was injured by a toad's sticky tongue. None of the other insects and creatures in the forest respected him and they made fun of him. He was alone. He started bullying ants and their queen had them sieze him. Instead of giving him to the army ants, they released him. He wanted to help them save their colony, so he made an anteater to frighten the army ants away and keep them from killing the worker ant colony. The worker ants celebrated Chickwing from that day forward.
The mediums used in these illustrations include liquitex acrylics and prismacolor pencils on bristol board. The shadowing in these pictures make them realistic and pop out.
This would be a good book for kindergarten to third grade. The illustrations are bright and intriguing. The book teaches good character (helping friends).
I could think of two areas which could be taught from this book. For character education, I would teach on bullying and how Chickwing didn't like it when he was being bullied, yet he started bullying the worker ants so he could get some food. Another subject that this book could be used for might be science. This book would be great for a unit on different types of insects, but more specifically cockroaches. The back of the book has an array of information on cockroaches.
There are no awards or medals for this book.
Author: Janell Cannon
Illustrator: Janell Cannon
Harcourt Books 2000
43 Pages
Fantasy
I was actually unsure of any fantasy picture books for children. After a little research, I discovered Janell Cannon. She has really good story lines and there is normally some sort of moral to the stories.
Chickwing is a cockroach who got his name when his wing was injured by a toad's sticky tongue. None of the other insects and creatures in the forest respected him and they made fun of him. He was alone. He started bullying ants and their queen had them sieze him. Instead of giving him to the army ants, they released him. He wanted to help them save their colony, so he made an anteater to frighten the army ants away and keep them from killing the worker ant colony. The worker ants celebrated Chickwing from that day forward.
The mediums used in these illustrations include liquitex acrylics and prismacolor pencils on bristol board. The shadowing in these pictures make them realistic and pop out.
This would be a good book for kindergarten to third grade. The illustrations are bright and intriguing. The book teaches good character (helping friends).
I could think of two areas which could be taught from this book. For character education, I would teach on bullying and how Chickwing didn't like it when he was being bullied, yet he started bullying the worker ants so he could get some food. Another subject that this book could be used for might be science. This book would be great for a unit on different types of insects, but more specifically cockroaches. The back of the book has an array of information on cockroaches.
There are no awards or medals for this book.
#17 Marley Goes to School
Marley Goes to School
Author: Joe Grogan
Illustrator: Richard Cowdrey
Harper Collins 2009
32 Pages
Traditional
I chose this book because I have a black laborador and I absolutely love that breed of dog. Their huge feet and long tongues, even as a puppy, are hilarious. Just after I ran across this book and thumbed through it, memories of Ace being a puppy rushed back to me. He was always knocking things over, getting tangled into everything, and looking for adventure. I miss when he was a puppy.
Marley's pet, Cassie, was starting to school and was getting her supplies ready for class. Marley wanted to go but was not allowed; instead he was only allowed to stay in the back yard to avoid trouble. After Cassie's mom, dad, and baby brother left to walk her to school, Marley dug out of the fence and followed their scent to the school. It wasn't long before Marley got into lots of trouble at the school. He finally ran to Cassie and the family go him back.
The mediums are not listed for these illustrations, but they look like there are oil pastels used. The colors are rich and the shadowing is realistic.
I think this would be a good book for any grade up to third grade. Most children like dogs and other animals, so I believe that this adventurous story would really entertain them and keep them laughing.
I imagine this being a good book to pull word works from. It would also be good to read aloud and then discuss parts of speech from some of the passages.
Author: Joe Grogan
Illustrator: Richard Cowdrey
Harper Collins 2009
32 Pages
Traditional
I chose this book because I have a black laborador and I absolutely love that breed of dog. Their huge feet and long tongues, even as a puppy, are hilarious. Just after I ran across this book and thumbed through it, memories of Ace being a puppy rushed back to me. He was always knocking things over, getting tangled into everything, and looking for adventure. I miss when he was a puppy.
Marley's pet, Cassie, was starting to school and was getting her supplies ready for class. Marley wanted to go but was not allowed; instead he was only allowed to stay in the back yard to avoid trouble. After Cassie's mom, dad, and baby brother left to walk her to school, Marley dug out of the fence and followed their scent to the school. It wasn't long before Marley got into lots of trouble at the school. He finally ran to Cassie and the family go him back.
The mediums are not listed for these illustrations, but they look like there are oil pastels used. The colors are rich and the shadowing is realistic.
I think this would be a good book for any grade up to third grade. Most children like dogs and other animals, so I believe that this adventurous story would really entertain them and keep them laughing.
I imagine this being a good book to pull word works from. It would also be good to read aloud and then discuss parts of speech from some of the passages.
Monday, March 12, 2012
#16 Catching the Moon
Catching the Moon
Author: Myla Goldberg
Illustrator: Chris Sheban
Arthur A. Levine Books 2007
37 Pages
Traditional
I picked this book kup because of the artwork on the covver. I knew it would be something about nature. Once I opened it, I realized that one of the characters was the Man in the Moon. I actually grew up imagining there was a real man in the moon. It was just one of those innocent make-believe things children do. This made me somewhat relate to the book.
In this book, the main character, the fisherwoman, went every night to the dock to fish and was always tired the next day. The Man in the Moon worried about her. He began to visit her and they became friends. She informed him that the reason her house was in bad shape was because the high tide came in and destroyed it, along with the rest of the homes in the fishing village. She had been fishing for the moon the entire time to keep it from bringing the high tide in.
The mediums used by this illustrator are water color and prismacolor pencils on arches paper. The light depicted resembles Thomas Kinkade's artwork. The illustrations are mostly dark, since most of the setting is at night. Pretty purples, reds, and yellows are used to create great shadowing.
I would choose this book for third grade and up. It has more advanced vocabulary and content, so the students need to be a little older to get the idea of what the story means.
This book would be great to kick off a science unit on the moon and its tides. It would be a good read-aloud to bring out interest in the subject amongst the students.
Author: Myla Goldberg
Illustrator: Chris Sheban
Arthur A. Levine Books 2007
37 Pages
Traditional
I picked this book kup because of the artwork on the covver. I knew it would be something about nature. Once I opened it, I realized that one of the characters was the Man in the Moon. I actually grew up imagining there was a real man in the moon. It was just one of those innocent make-believe things children do. This made me somewhat relate to the book.
In this book, the main character, the fisherwoman, went every night to the dock to fish and was always tired the next day. The Man in the Moon worried about her. He began to visit her and they became friends. She informed him that the reason her house was in bad shape was because the high tide came in and destroyed it, along with the rest of the homes in the fishing village. She had been fishing for the moon the entire time to keep it from bringing the high tide in.
The mediums used by this illustrator are water color and prismacolor pencils on arches paper. The light depicted resembles Thomas Kinkade's artwork. The illustrations are mostly dark, since most of the setting is at night. Pretty purples, reds, and yellows are used to create great shadowing.
I would choose this book for third grade and up. It has more advanced vocabulary and content, so the students need to be a little older to get the idea of what the story means.
This book would be great to kick off a science unit on the moon and its tides. It would be a good read-aloud to bring out interest in the subject amongst the students.
#15 The First Day of Winter
The First Day of Winter
Author: Denise Fleming
Illustrator: Denise Fleming
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company 2005
27 Pages
Traditional
I thought this book was amazing because, although it is a newer book, it has the feel of a book from when I was younger. The author's own rendition of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is really sweet. Fall and winter are my favorite seasons, so I love books that magnify beauty and feelings of those seasons.
In this book, instead of the traditional "Twelve Days of Christmas", Fleming celebrated the first 10 days of winter. It is told from a snowman's perspective. Each day his best friend brings a different gift to him. Throughout the story, it looks as if the animals are bringing the gifts, but at the end, there is a small child who brings the 10 salty peanuts. What matters is that he has all he needs to be a cozy snoman.
The mediums used in these illustrations include colored cotton fiber, handcut stencils, and squeeze bottles. The images are not very sharp, but that makes it almost whimsical and dreamlike. All of the animals are looking up at the snowman, making their friendship more apparent
The age group I would choose this particular book for would be kindergarten and first-grade. The words are simpler and easier to understand. The content is really easy to comprehend and is repetative to help with fluency.
I would use this book for fluency and vocabulary purposes. Words and phrases are used over and over so after finding meaning of the words, the students can practice fluency with the remaining pages.
There are no awards attached to this book.
Author: Denise Fleming
Illustrator: Denise Fleming
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company 2005
27 Pages
Traditional
I thought this book was amazing because, although it is a newer book, it has the feel of a book from when I was younger. The author's own rendition of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is really sweet. Fall and winter are my favorite seasons, so I love books that magnify beauty and feelings of those seasons.
In this book, instead of the traditional "Twelve Days of Christmas", Fleming celebrated the first 10 days of winter. It is told from a snowman's perspective. Each day his best friend brings a different gift to him. Throughout the story, it looks as if the animals are bringing the gifts, but at the end, there is a small child who brings the 10 salty peanuts. What matters is that he has all he needs to be a cozy snoman.
The mediums used in these illustrations include colored cotton fiber, handcut stencils, and squeeze bottles. The images are not very sharp, but that makes it almost whimsical and dreamlike. All of the animals are looking up at the snowman, making their friendship more apparent
The age group I would choose this particular book for would be kindergarten and first-grade. The words are simpler and easier to understand. The content is really easy to comprehend and is repetative to help with fluency.
I would use this book for fluency and vocabulary purposes. Words and phrases are used over and over so after finding meaning of the words, the students can practice fluency with the remaining pages.
There are no awards attached to this book.
# 14 Sun Dance Water Dance
Sun Dance Water Dance
Author: Jonathan Landon
Illustrator: Greg Couch
Publisher: Dulton Childrens Books, 2001
27 Pages
Poetry
This book took me back to the days when I loved summertime more than anything else. It brings back memories of going to the cabin at the creek and staying all summer. When I was younger, I was never indoors during the summer. This text brings floods of wonderful memories back. Once I started reading, the rhythm of the words seemingly added music to the words. The children in the story play all day in the sun and water, comfortably in their bathing suits. After playing outside and getting hot the children run to the river to cool off. After their refreshing swim, they get out and play on the banks of the river, skipping stones. The children hop back into the water to play on intertubes in the rapids. When it starts getting later in the day the children head back to camp for food and drinks. The children soon go back down to the river and explore until they get hot enough to swim again. When the sun light is completely gone the children lay on the rocks and watch the fireflies and shooting stars.
The illustrations in this book are done in water color. The color pallet used contains many yellows, blues, and greens. The illustrator does an incredible job at creating the feeling of summer though the colors in the sky and environment.
This book would be great for students of any grade. Younger students would be able to connect on the way they spend their time in the summer, while older students would be able to reflect on those days. This book would be an excellent read-aloud for the end of the year activities. This book would get students excited for the summer vacation. There are many elements of poetry in this book and could be a great tool to use while teaching about those seasons of life. This book has no awards or honors.
Author: Jonathan Landon
Illustrator: Greg Couch
Publisher: Dulton Childrens Books, 2001
27 Pages
Poetry
This book took me back to the days when I loved summertime more than anything else. It brings back memories of going to the cabin at the creek and staying all summer. When I was younger, I was never indoors during the summer. This text brings floods of wonderful memories back. Once I started reading, the rhythm of the words seemingly added music to the words. The children in the story play all day in the sun and water, comfortably in their bathing suits. After playing outside and getting hot the children run to the river to cool off. After their refreshing swim, they get out and play on the banks of the river, skipping stones. The children hop back into the water to play on intertubes in the rapids. When it starts getting later in the day the children head back to camp for food and drinks. The children soon go back down to the river and explore until they get hot enough to swim again. When the sun light is completely gone the children lay on the rocks and watch the fireflies and shooting stars.
The illustrations in this book are done in water color. The color pallet used contains many yellows, blues, and greens. The illustrator does an incredible job at creating the feeling of summer though the colors in the sky and environment.
This book would be great for students of any grade. Younger students would be able to connect on the way they spend their time in the summer, while older students would be able to reflect on those days. This book would be an excellent read-aloud for the end of the year activities. This book would get students excited for the summer vacation. There are many elements of poetry in this book and could be a great tool to use while teaching about those seasons of life. This book has no awards or honors.
# 13 Is there Really a Human Race
Is there Really a Human Race
Author: Jamie Lee Curtis
Illustrator: Laura Cornell
Publisher: Joann Cotler Books, 2006
30 Pages
Poetry
I chose this book because I saw that Jamie Lee Curtis was the author and was intrigued. I have heard of celebrities writing childrens literature books, but have never had a chance to look at any of them. When I zeroed in on the title and looked at the boy on the cover wearing running clothes, I knew that it would be a funny story.At the beginning, it looks as if the little boy has heard the term "human race" instead of looking at the term as humanity, he imagines an actual race. He imagines that everyone who is a human is competing against one another to get somewhere faster than the others. He thinks it must start the day a baby is born. He wonders how to prepare and who he will race against. He quizes his mom about who will be on his team and what their prizes will be. Soon he realizes that going places fast is not always the best way to get there. The boys mom explains to him that doing your best and being helpful to others is more important than always winning. The mom tells her son that being a friend and being loving is most important in order to make the world a great place.
The illustrations in this book look to be watercolor. The colors in this book are very perfect matches for the text and use details and entertaining illustrations of all the different types of people in the world to give the character and reader a more clear understanding of the human race.
This book would be great for grades 3-6. I think the concepts in this book would be more understandable for higher grade levels who have higher order thinking skills and a more detailed understanding of the human nature and feelings for others. This book would be great for a character development lesson to teach students that what is really important in life is not always being eager to win, but being eager to make the world a better place by helping, loving, and contributing. This book has no awards or honors.
Author: Jamie Lee Curtis
Illustrator: Laura Cornell
Publisher: Joann Cotler Books, 2006
30 Pages
Poetry
I chose this book because I saw that Jamie Lee Curtis was the author and was intrigued. I have heard of celebrities writing childrens literature books, but have never had a chance to look at any of them. When I zeroed in on the title and looked at the boy on the cover wearing running clothes, I knew that it would be a funny story.At the beginning, it looks as if the little boy has heard the term "human race" instead of looking at the term as humanity, he imagines an actual race. He imagines that everyone who is a human is competing against one another to get somewhere faster than the others. He thinks it must start the day a baby is born. He wonders how to prepare and who he will race against. He quizes his mom about who will be on his team and what their prizes will be. Soon he realizes that going places fast is not always the best way to get there. The boys mom explains to him that doing your best and being helpful to others is more important than always winning. The mom tells her son that being a friend and being loving is most important in order to make the world a great place.
The illustrations in this book look to be watercolor. The colors in this book are very perfect matches for the text and use details and entertaining illustrations of all the different types of people in the world to give the character and reader a more clear understanding of the human race.
This book would be great for grades 3-6. I think the concepts in this book would be more understandable for higher grade levels who have higher order thinking skills and a more detailed understanding of the human nature and feelings for others. This book would be great for a character development lesson to teach students that what is really important in life is not always being eager to win, but being eager to make the world a better place by helping, loving, and contributing. This book has no awards or honors.
# 12 Giant Children
Giant Children
Author: Brod Bagert
Illustrator:Ted Arnold
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2002
27 Pages
Poetry
I chose this book because I loved the imagination and humor in the poems. This book depicts the huge imagination of a child and points out some of the things children seems to be able to create in thier minds. There are poems about being excited or scared about school plays, boogers, chocolate, stinky boys, and tooth fairies. These poems take seemingly simple subjects and make them extremely dramatic, just like children ellaborate.
The illustrations in this book are done in color pencils and watercolor washes. The illustrator does an incredible job at depicting the funny expressions on the faces of the children and animals in each poem. The illustrations have plenty of bright colors in them to create a mood of edge. The illustrator uses plenty of squiggly lines which add to the composition of each illustration to make the pictures come to life and not seem so dull.
This book is appropriate for first through fourth grades. This book could be used to create a word work lesson involving rhyming, compoud words, and vocabulary. With a vocabulary lesson the book could be used as an example to introduce or ellaborate on adjectives and punctuations. This book has no awards or honors.
Author: Brod Bagert
Illustrator:Ted Arnold
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2002
27 Pages
Poetry
I chose this book because I loved the imagination and humor in the poems. This book depicts the huge imagination of a child and points out some of the things children seems to be able to create in thier minds. There are poems about being excited or scared about school plays, boogers, chocolate, stinky boys, and tooth fairies. These poems take seemingly simple subjects and make them extremely dramatic, just like children ellaborate.
The illustrations in this book are done in color pencils and watercolor washes. The illustrator does an incredible job at depicting the funny expressions on the faces of the children and animals in each poem. The illustrations have plenty of bright colors in them to create a mood of edge. The illustrator uses plenty of squiggly lines which add to the composition of each illustration to make the pictures come to life and not seem so dull.
This book is appropriate for first through fourth grades. This book could be used to create a word work lesson involving rhyming, compoud words, and vocabulary. With a vocabulary lesson the book could be used as an example to introduce or ellaborate on adjectives and punctuations. This book has no awards or honors.
# 11 Johnny Appleseed
Johnny Appleseed
Author: Rosemary & Stephen Vincent Benet
Illustrator: S.D. Schindler
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2001
25 Pages
Poetry
I chose this book vecause I have always loved this story. I thought it would be too old to use, but then when I saw a newer cover and I opened it to find out a newer copyright date and the rhyme scheme let it fit into the poetry genre, I was very excitied.This story tells of a nomadic man named Johnathan Chapman who traveled all over planting apple trees for everyone. He was a seemingly humble man who simply wanted to give something that would stay around and keep giving. Wherever he traveled the people welcomed him. It is said that he never wore a hat, he simply wore a pot on his head. He was never overly famous, just remembered for his generosity.
The illustrations in this book were drawn in colored pencil. The nature within the illustrations are extremely accurate and lifelike. For example, the way Schnidler drew the apples with red tops and yellow bottoms truly depicts the way apples really ripen. The details and shadowing on the trees and leaves are awesome. The ilustrator does a great job at depicting the clothes and facial features of the characters.
This book is appropriate for any age. Kindergarteners and older students alike would enjoy this classic folktale. Most people have already heard of Johnny Appleseed, but many would benefit by hearing it in a poetic way. I could think of a couple of connections to make with this book. One connection might be in social studies and how settlers started building the environments (Indiana and Ohio are mentioned in this book). This book would also be a good read aloud addition to a science unit about the different types of trees and the fruits they produce. This book has no awards or honors.
Author: Rosemary & Stephen Vincent Benet
Illustrator: S.D. Schindler
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2001
25 Pages
Poetry
I chose this book vecause I have always loved this story. I thought it would be too old to use, but then when I saw a newer cover and I opened it to find out a newer copyright date and the rhyme scheme let it fit into the poetry genre, I was very excitied.This story tells of a nomadic man named Johnathan Chapman who traveled all over planting apple trees for everyone. He was a seemingly humble man who simply wanted to give something that would stay around and keep giving. Wherever he traveled the people welcomed him. It is said that he never wore a hat, he simply wore a pot on his head. He was never overly famous, just remembered for his generosity.
The illustrations in this book were drawn in colored pencil. The nature within the illustrations are extremely accurate and lifelike. For example, the way Schnidler drew the apples with red tops and yellow bottoms truly depicts the way apples really ripen. The details and shadowing on the trees and leaves are awesome. The ilustrator does a great job at depicting the clothes and facial features of the characters.
This book is appropriate for any age. Kindergarteners and older students alike would enjoy this classic folktale. Most people have already heard of Johnny Appleseed, but many would benefit by hearing it in a poetic way. I could think of a couple of connections to make with this book. One connection might be in social studies and how settlers started building the environments (Indiana and Ohio are mentioned in this book). This book would also be a good read aloud addition to a science unit about the different types of trees and the fruits they produce. This book has no awards or honors.
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