Thursday, March 19, 2009

Blogroll

Educating Alice:

http://medinger.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/that-yellow-brick-road/#comment-15927

Miss Rumphius Effect:

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7320080607016581524&postID=8846081526306046039&page=1&isPopup=true

Poetry for Children:

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=31122236&postID=1590644885540247782&page=1

Monday, March 16, 2009

Go Away, Big Green Monster!


by: Ed Emberley
Published by: Little, Brown and Company
Copyright 1992

Summary: Die-cut pages through which bits of a monster are revealed are designed to help a child control nighttime fears of monsters.

Strengths: The concept is very cute. I like how the majority of the book is the color black until one body part is emphasized in a different color. The cut outs are appropriate fun for children to view. The monsters in the book are viewed as not scary which would be a great way for children to get rid of their fear of them.

Concerns: The vocabulary is a little young and not very enhanced with little range in broadness.

Age level: Primary (PreK-2)
Classroom Use: Shows children that monsters are not scary and they are silly and there is no need to be scared of them!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows


by: JK Rowling
illustrated by: Mary Grandpre
Published by: Arthur A. Levine Books
Copyright 2007

Summary: The 7th and final year of the epic tale of Harry Potter.

Strengths: This is my absolute favorite book in the entire world! It is extremely easy to follow and understand and gives great description and imagery and imagination. The chapter titles explain what is going to happen and I could not put it down. The illustrations in the beginning of each chapter are very cute. I love the climactic surprises and how it keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Concerns: The length of the book is intimidating and this can turn off readers. I feel like, just how the movie is going to be, it could have been split up into 2 books since there is so much that happens that could fill it in 2 books.

Age level: All ages

Classroom Use: It is fun for pleasure and the characters are very relatable minus the magic and wizardry portion.

The Phantom Tollbooth


by: Norton Juster
illustrated by: Jules Feiffer
Published by: Yearling
Copyright 1961

Summary: A boy's adventure that comes about through a mysterious tollbooth.

Strengths: Each chapter has a title. There are cute illustrations that break up the text- each picture is in black and white which emphasizes the pictures and coincides with the text. I like the imagination and thought put into writing this book-it shows through greatly.
Concerns: The time travel concept could be a little confusing to young children and the story itself is a little long.

Age level: Upper (5-6)

Classroom Use: Teaches about time travel, fantasy, and what imagination can bring about.

The Giver


by: Lois Lowry
Published by: Dell Laurel-Leaf
Copyright 1993

Summary: At age 12, a young boy learns about truth and life's pleasures from the giver.

Strengths: It is an extremely enticing novel. When I picked it up, I basically judged this book by its cover: I did not think I would enjoy this but it is one of my favorites now! It relates well with us by using the main character around the age in which is appropriate for readers of this book.

Concerns: There are some dark images at parts which could become too graphic for children.

Age level: Middle

Classroom Use: Teaches about the pleasures of life and what it has to offer us. It also explains the importance of being truthful.

A Wrinkle in Time


by: Madeleine L' Engle
Published by: Square Fish
Copyright 1962

Summary: Meg Murry and her friends become involved with unearthly strangers and search for Meg's father, who has disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government.

Strengths: It is an easy read with the print being extremely big and visible to readers. Each chapter has both a title and a corresponding number. It is an extremely magical book and I had a hard time putting it down.

Concerns: If trying to teach realism to children, this is not the book to demonstrate those concepts.
Age level: Upper (5-6), Middle
Classroom Use: Teaches children about fictional fantasies

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Manga Sisters


by: Saopi Takapai and Misato Takapai
Published by: Manga University
Copyright 2007

Summary: What a sister really is.

Strengths: There are many good messages portrayed.

Concerns: Some of the pictures are graphic and this novel does not come across as a graphic novel.

Age level: Upper (5-6)

Classroom Use: To learn the strong bonds between sisters and family.

Rapunzel's Revenge


by: Shannon and Dean Hale
illustrated by: Nathan Hale
Published by: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Copyright 2008

Summary: Traditional Fairy tale takes a unique turn in heroism

Strengths: There are colorful illustrations. I also like how the story is broken up into parts and the story itself is easy to understand. I like how the author starts out with a fairy tale that we all know and love.

Concerns: They imply femministic ideals which can be a hard concept for children to grasp. It is also a very dark book which can be scary for children to read.

Age level: Elementary (3-4), Upper (5-6)

Classroom Use: It is a different twist on a traditional tale which brings another perspective for children to see.

The Plain Jones


by: Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg
Published by: DC Comics
Copyright 2007

Summary: A girl deals with the problems of moving to a new city

Strengths: There are good illustrations, an easy read, and a very good concept.

Concerns: I really do not enjoy the setup of graphic novels and the fact that it was all in black and white.

Age level: Elementary (3-4), Upper (5-6)

Classroom Use: We can relate easily with our daily lives and problems we encounter.

Tokyo MewMew


by: Mia Ikumi
illustrated by: Reiko Yoshida
Published by: Kodansha Ltd
Copyright 2002

Strengths: There are many detailed illustrations and displays much multiculturalism.

Concerns: There are many scattered pictures and text in which it is extremely hard to follow. It is also hard to relate because it is in a different language and displays a different culture.

Age level: Elementary (3-4), Upper (5-6)
Classroom Use: It displays diversity and multiculturalism.

Hannah Montana

Published by: TokyoPop
Copyright 2007

Summary: The typical, daily life of Hannah Montana/Miley Stewart

Strengths: I like how in the beginning of the book, it explains who is who. The presentation is very well done by using clips from the hit TV show. The dialogue is easy to understand and it is portrayed in bubble captions.

Concerns: The pictures are scattered and hard to distinguish the order in which it is happening.

Age level: Elementary ( 3-4)

Classroom Use: Its a fun book to read for pleasure

Who Made God and Other Things We Wonder About


by: Larry Libby
illustrated by: Corbert Gauthier
Published by: Zonderkidz
Copyright 1996

Summary: Learning about creation and who God is.

Strengths: There are many detailed pictures. I like how the questions that set off and are answered in description. It also brings inadvertently a religious aspect and this books simplifies potentially difficult areas of study.

Concerns: Although I like how it teaches children a religious aspect, quoting from the the Bible, I feel, is putting too much emphasis for children at such a young age. I feel young children would find it difficult to grasp and the book would be just as strong without this emphasis.

Age level: Upper (5-6), Middle
Classroom Use: Teaches children about God, creation, and his importance in our universe.

Little Town on the Prairie


by: Laura Ingalls Wilder
illustrated by: Garth Williams
Published by: HarperTrophy
Copyright 1971

Summary: Winter ended and spring arrives with new events for the Wilders.

Strengths: The characters are of a family in which children are a part of. I like how there are some pictures on pages which break up the text and the text itself is big and easily visible. Also, I like how the chapter headings are not in numbers.

Concerns: It is a little too long with not a whole lot of action going on.

Age level: Elementary (3-4), Upper (5-6)
Classroom Use: Children are able to learn what life was like in a different time period with families just like theirs.

Number the Stars


by: Lois Lowry
Published by: Yearling
Copyright 1989

Summary: Two girls living in the time of the war and the Nazi invasion.

Strengths: The characters are easy to relate too which makes the novel an easy read and very understandable. Each chapter title gives a basic idea of what the chapter is about and it is not just labeled with numbers. This is one of my favorite books when I was little and I feel that it definitely deserved its honor award. The chapters are not too long or short and the captivated my attention.
Concerns: I was very sad when it ended and I wanted to keep reading and it to prolong.

Age level: Elementary ( 3-4)

Classroom Use: To teach about the horrors of the Holocaust and Jewish history.

The Watsons go to Birmingham-1963


by: Christopher Paul Curtis
Published by: Dell Laurel-Leaf
Copyright 1995

Summary: A family heading to visit Grandma in Birmingham during one of the darkest moments in the history of America.

Strengths: The chapter titles are not numbers and actually give a little idea of what the chapter will be about. It also gives history on a dark moment in American history and relates to us what an average family had to go through.

Concerns: I did not care much for the book. I felt it was too slow moving for me. The print is also very small and hard to read.
Age level: Upper(5-6), Middle

Classroom Use: Children are able to learn what life was like in Birmingham at this time. It also informs children about blacks and diversity.

Before John was a Jazz Giant


by: Carole Boston Weatherford
illustrated by: Sean Qualls
Published by: Henry Holt and Company
Copyright 2008

Summary: Tells the story by John Coltrane's claim to fame

Strengths: The text and pictures correspond accordingly( the pictures are on the same page that the text is referring too). There are good illustrations and the use of color portrayed- it feels like it took place in a different time period than life today.

Concerns: Although the text and pictures complement each other, on the same pages I feel there is too much going on and it is very busy and when looking at it, your eyes scatter everywhere on the page. The ending was also a little unclear- I had to look back because it is not directly stated and no directly ended: it kind of implied a metaphorical ending.

Age level: Elementary ( 3-4)

Classroom Use: It teaches children that their dreams can really come true

Titanic: Disaster at Sea


By: Martin Jenkins
Illustrated by: Brian Sanders
Published by: Candlewick Press
Copyright 2008

Summary: The story of the Titanic

Strengths: There are great pictures of the ship and the event. Each page is unique in how it presents the information displayed on the page.

Concerns: The vocab is a little hard for youngsters to comprehend. There is so much text on the pages that it can become overwhelming and intimidating. It did not seem suitable for an elementary children's book. It seems like it would be more appropriate for middle school reading level.

Age level: Upper (5-6), Middle

Classroom Use: Children can learn about shipwrecks and the importance of the Titanic. It also teaches how ships have changed their safety measures because of the Titanic

Smart About the Presidents


written and illustrated by: Jon Buller and Susan Schode, MaryAnn Cocca-Leffler, Dana Regan, Jill Weber
Published by: Grosset and Dunlap
Copyright 2004

Summary: What life is like being a president of the United States

Strengths: It gives a brief overview of what life is like as a president and the background of presidential duties. It talks briefly about the most important things each president contributed to the country. The print is relatable to children because it looks like a child's handwriting.

Concerns: Its very busy. There is too much busywork with all the different pictures and writings all together.

Age level: Primary (PreK-2), Elementary (3-4)

Classroom Use: To learn about the presidential leaders of our country and political life. It teaches students a beginning to American History

Friday, March 13, 2009

If You Lived in Colonial Times


by: Ann McGovern
Illustrated by: June Otani
Published by: Scholastic
Copyright 1964

Summary: Life in the colonial times.

Strengths: The table of contents are displayed through questions which will directly be answered in the chapter and it is very easy to find. It is also a very easy read in which it simplifies concepts that could be complicating. The pictures coincide with the text and easily relatable for children in both the text and the pictures.

Concerns: Some of the pages address too many points that it can become overcrowded.

Age level: Elementary ( 3-4)

Classroom Use: Children are able to learn about colonial times in which to compare and contrast it to present day. They are informed of what life was really like in 1565-1776 in New England colonies.

Introducing Michaelangelo


by: Robin Richmond
Published by: Little, Brown and Company
Copyright 1991
Summary: A biography of the Renaissance artist, illustrated with reproductions of his work.

Strengths: The illustrations are detailed which describe the text on the page. It does a good job at projecting the information and the titles explain what the select passage details out.

Concerns: Some pages are too busy-there is too much going on whether it is many pictures or more text or both. Some of the illustrations are not suitable for young eyes to view such as Michelangelo's David and other statues.

Age level: Upper (5-6)

Classroom Use: To teach children about Michelangelo and his life and paintings. To learn about Italian art as well and the importance of the Rennaissance period.

Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story From the Underground Railroad


by: Ellen Levine
Illustrated by: Kadir Nelson
Published by: Scholastic
Copyright 2007
Summary: Henry Brown's life as a slave

Strengths: There are very detailed illustrations and present itself with an emphasis on the time period given and the mood of the story. For example, the dark colors indicating that slavery was a very dark time in history. The main character's thoughts are italicized to show he is thinking it rather than saying it.

Concerns: There is abrupt transitioning in that it shows his aging but it was very sudden and had me taken aback. The print is very small and hard to read with the vibrant emphasis on the pictures.

Age level: Elementary (3-4)

Classroom Use: Information on what slavery is and its brutality. Comparing to children now and what it was like for children back then to live through this period in history.