Willems, Mo. Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. 2007.
What I thought of the book…
This book is about a little girl who finds out her knuffle bunny also belongs to someone else in her class. The two girls who have the same bunny do not hit if off right away and fight over who’s is better, or more ‘real’ I guess. At the end the girls become best friends, and it is just so sweet to see them hug! Willems is such a great author and is actually a several time Emmy winner for his Sesame Street writings, and he is also a Caldecott Honor Winner for a couple of his books. I recommend this book for children aged 3-6, just like the book says inside the front cover. I think preschool-Kindergarten is a good match for this book. I think first grade might be stretching it a bit, but then again I guess it would just depend on the interests of one’s students or children.
Craft Lesson…
I would schedule a show and tell day before I actually showed this book to the class, and I would make sure they knew to bring in something they cannot sleep without. After reading the book, I would let each child take turns sharing their type of “knuffle bunny” to the class. From watching my preschoolers I have learned that kids love to share their toys and parts of their life with other friends and especially teachers. While the kids take turns sharing, the kids will have to work on staying quiet and respecting whoever is up at the front explaining their toy. It is a great way to introduce what patience feels like to kids! Of course, I will have to explain everything very carefully before letting the children start taking turns. How you present things with young ones is half the battle, as I have learned the hard way!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Annotated Bibliography
Banyai, Istvan. Zoom. New York: Puffin Books, 1998.
This is a wordless picture book of several different zoomed-in points from an airplane view. When I first looked at the book I had fun guessing the different view points the pictures would show next. I believe this book could be appreciated by any age group, but it is probably safest among mid-elementary children, most likely 1st-4th graders.
Banyai, Istvan. Re-Zoom. New York: Puffin Books, 1998.
So, I know it was a little cliché to read the “sequel” so-to-speak, but I just loved Zoom so much I wanted to see what he had done for this. I loved it! The illustrations are so cool and I loved again how I couldn’t tell where he was going to zoom from next. I just love that element of surprise! Again, I would recommend it for the same age group as Zoom.
Fleischman, Paul and Kevin Hawkes. Sidewalk Circus. Massachusetts: Candlewick, 2004.
This is yet another wordless picture book and includes scenes from a sidewalk while a young boy is sitting at a bus stop waiting for the bus to come. The boy imagines several circus events happening on the street while he waits. I think this book is best appropriate for young elementary students in kindergarten or first grade.
Fleischman, Paul. Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices. Illus. by Eric Beddius. New York: HarperCollins, 2005.
This Newberry Medal winner is a book about poems. These poems about insects and bugs are suppose to be read by two different people who take turns reading “meshing as a duet” as the author’s note states. I didn’t get a chance to read it with another person, but it is really cute! I think it would be a great way to introduce poems in a classroom. I would use it as a small group activity. I think students would really enjoy it! The book says it is for all ages, but I think it would be best for kids aged 9-12.
Holm, Jennifer and Matthew Holm. Babymouse: Our Hero. New York: Random House, 2005.
This book is a graphic novel about a young girl who has to play dodge ball against her will. She daydreams a lot which actually makes the book even more interesting. She pushes through her pain of having to play and actually ends up on top in the end. It is an entertaining comic, and I would recommend it to third or fourth graders.
Holm, Jennifer and Matthew Hold. Babymouse: Queen of the World! New York: Random House, 2005.
This is the first book of the Babymouse series the Holms did together. It introduces Babymouse and has more family and friends background information. In this story the most popular girl in school invites Babymouse to her sleepover, and Babymouse realizes that she has so much more fun with Wilson than this girl. It is basically about how Wilson and Babymouse became such great friends. I thoroughly enjoyed it because I finally got more background information on Babymouse. I would again recommend it for third and fourth graders.
Mora, Pat. Yum! MmMm! Que Rico!. Illus. Rafael Lopez. New York: Lee & Low, 2007.
This book is a collection of haikus as well as an information section on different kinds of foods grown all over the world. I think it is appropriate for all grade levels k-4. It is a wonderful book for introducing culture and poetry, and it is also a great informational book.
Mora, Pat. Listen to the Desert/Oye Al Desierto. Illus. by Francisco X. Mora. Clarion books, 2001.
I think this book would be good for a read aloud. The illustrations seemed a little to simple to me, but I think that it is a great way to introduce culture into children’s lives. The words are in English and in Spanish of course, and I think kids would enjoy it. I would read it aloud to K-2nd graders.
Pennypacker, Sara. Stuart's Cape. Illus. Martin Matje. New York: Scholastic, 2002.
This novel is about a young boy who is nervous about attending his first day of third grade at a new school in a new town he is completely unfamiliar with. While I didn’t enjoy the reading, I still believe it is well written and I feel children do actually appreciate this novel. I recommend it for second and third graders. It is a beginning chapter book with pictures, and I think it is a great stepping stone book for children transforming from picture books to chapter books.
Seuss, Dr. My Many Colored Days. Illus. Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. New York: Random House, 1996.
Dr. Seuss did an excellent job portraying colors in this short board book. It is definitely outside the box of the Dr. Seuss books I grew up with. It is also significantly shorter! I think it is a great book for preschoolers and pre-K.
I actually grew up reading the Dr. Seuss books and I would recommend them for any child in elementary school. Well, maybe early elementary school. After about late 2nd grade the students might think they are baby and lame books. I still enjoy them though! I love how he rhymes. I plan on reading them in class to my students often.
Wong, Janet. Minn and Jake. New York: Farrar, 2003.
This book was so adorable and the way Minn and Jake's friendship developed was just really cute. There was a lot of humor in the way the characters related to one another. I think this book is excellent for poetry and talking about friendship. It is for 3rd and 4th graders.
Wong, Janet. Apple Pie 4th of July. Orlando: Harcourt, 2002.
This story was very touching to me in a way I didn't expect. The young girl narrating the story was biased towards the American culture. However, she was able to see that people did in fact want Chinese food on an American holiday. I think this book is great for a k-1st and maybe 2nd grade audience.
Wong, Janet. Buzz. Orlando: Harcourt, 2000.
As I have said before I think this book is great for word recognition and repetition. I loved the illustrations. I think this book is great for little ones! I feel prek-1st grade, early first grade, is the best age group for this book.
This is a wordless picture book of several different zoomed-in points from an airplane view. When I first looked at the book I had fun guessing the different view points the pictures would show next. I believe this book could be appreciated by any age group, but it is probably safest among mid-elementary children, most likely 1st-4th graders.
Banyai, Istvan. Re-Zoom. New York: Puffin Books, 1998.
So, I know it was a little cliché to read the “sequel” so-to-speak, but I just loved Zoom so much I wanted to see what he had done for this. I loved it! The illustrations are so cool and I loved again how I couldn’t tell where he was going to zoom from next. I just love that element of surprise! Again, I would recommend it for the same age group as Zoom.
Fleischman, Paul and Kevin Hawkes. Sidewalk Circus. Massachusetts: Candlewick, 2004.
This is yet another wordless picture book and includes scenes from a sidewalk while a young boy is sitting at a bus stop waiting for the bus to come. The boy imagines several circus events happening on the street while he waits. I think this book is best appropriate for young elementary students in kindergarten or first grade.
Fleischman, Paul. Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices. Illus. by Eric Beddius. New York: HarperCollins, 2005.
This Newberry Medal winner is a book about poems. These poems about insects and bugs are suppose to be read by two different people who take turns reading “meshing as a duet” as the author’s note states. I didn’t get a chance to read it with another person, but it is really cute! I think it would be a great way to introduce poems in a classroom. I would use it as a small group activity. I think students would really enjoy it! The book says it is for all ages, but I think it would be best for kids aged 9-12.
Holm, Jennifer and Matthew Holm. Babymouse: Our Hero. New York: Random House, 2005.
This book is a graphic novel about a young girl who has to play dodge ball against her will. She daydreams a lot which actually makes the book even more interesting. She pushes through her pain of having to play and actually ends up on top in the end. It is an entertaining comic, and I would recommend it to third or fourth graders.
Holm, Jennifer and Matthew Hold. Babymouse: Queen of the World! New York: Random House, 2005.
This is the first book of the Babymouse series the Holms did together. It introduces Babymouse and has more family and friends background information. In this story the most popular girl in school invites Babymouse to her sleepover, and Babymouse realizes that she has so much more fun with Wilson than this girl. It is basically about how Wilson and Babymouse became such great friends. I thoroughly enjoyed it because I finally got more background information on Babymouse. I would again recommend it for third and fourth graders.
Mora, Pat. Yum! MmMm! Que Rico!. Illus. Rafael Lopez. New York: Lee & Low, 2007.
This book is a collection of haikus as well as an information section on different kinds of foods grown all over the world. I think it is appropriate for all grade levels k-4. It is a wonderful book for introducing culture and poetry, and it is also a great informational book.
Mora, Pat. Listen to the Desert/Oye Al Desierto. Illus. by Francisco X. Mora. Clarion books, 2001.
I think this book would be good for a read aloud. The illustrations seemed a little to simple to me, but I think that it is a great way to introduce culture into children’s lives. The words are in English and in Spanish of course, and I think kids would enjoy it. I would read it aloud to K-2nd graders.
Pennypacker, Sara. Stuart's Cape. Illus. Martin Matje. New York: Scholastic, 2002.
This novel is about a young boy who is nervous about attending his first day of third grade at a new school in a new town he is completely unfamiliar with. While I didn’t enjoy the reading, I still believe it is well written and I feel children do actually appreciate this novel. I recommend it for second and third graders. It is a beginning chapter book with pictures, and I think it is a great stepping stone book for children transforming from picture books to chapter books.
Seuss, Dr. My Many Colored Days. Illus. Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. New York: Random House, 1996.
Dr. Seuss did an excellent job portraying colors in this short board book. It is definitely outside the box of the Dr. Seuss books I grew up with. It is also significantly shorter! I think it is a great book for preschoolers and pre-K.
I actually grew up reading the Dr. Seuss books and I would recommend them for any child in elementary school. Well, maybe early elementary school. After about late 2nd grade the students might think they are baby and lame books. I still enjoy them though! I love how he rhymes. I plan on reading them in class to my students often.
Wong, Janet. Minn and Jake. New York: Farrar, 2003.
This book was so adorable and the way Minn and Jake's friendship developed was just really cute. There was a lot of humor in the way the characters related to one another. I think this book is excellent for poetry and talking about friendship. It is for 3rd and 4th graders.
Wong, Janet. Apple Pie 4th of July. Orlando: Harcourt, 2002.
This story was very touching to me in a way I didn't expect. The young girl narrating the story was biased towards the American culture. However, she was able to see that people did in fact want Chinese food on an American holiday. I think this book is great for a k-1st and maybe 2nd grade audience.
Wong, Janet. Buzz. Orlando: Harcourt, 2000.
As I have said before I think this book is great for word recognition and repetition. I loved the illustrations. I think this book is great for little ones! I feel prek-1st grade, early first grade, is the best age group for this book.
Shel Silverstein
Sheldon Alan “Shel” Silverstein was born on September, 25, 1930 in Chicago, IL. He grew up there and attended the Chicago School of Performing Arts and other schools surrounding the Chicago area. Shel went on to have two children, Shanna and Matt. Shanna died at the age of 11 due to a cerebral aneurysm, and Matt was born in 1983 and presumed to still be alive. Shel died during the weekend of May 8, 1999 of a heart attack. Shel was a composer, an artist, and the author of numerous books of prose and poetry for younger readers.
Shel’s writing started kicking off when he was in the military in the 1950s. He wrote adult cartoons for the newspaper, Starts and Stripes. Some of his classics include:
Uncle Shelby’s ABZ Book (1961)
Uncle Shelby's story of) Lafcadio: The Lion Who Shot Back (1963)
The Giving Tree (1964)
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974)
A Light in the Attic (1981)
Falling Up (1996)
Runny Babbit (2005) (published posthumously)
Don't Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies (2008, originally published in 1964)
A Light in the Attic was actually the first children’s book to be on the New York Times best sellers list, and it stayed there for 182 weeks. Publishers Weekly did an interview with Shel on February 24, 1975 where he mentions when he was a young adolescent he wanted to be a star baseball player or a hit with the girls. However, he wasn’t great at either one so he started to draw and write, and that is when he developed his own style and own talent. He definitely has a unique one! Here is a list of some of the awards and honors Shel accomplished in his life:
1974 New York Times Outstanding Book Award for Where the Sidewalk Ends
1981 Michigan Young Readers’ Award for Where the Sidewalk Ends
1981 School Library Journal Best Books Award for A Light in the Attic
1982 International Reading Association’s Children’s Choice Award for The Missing Piece Meets The Big O
1983 Buckeye Award for A Light in the Attic
1984 George G. Stone Award for A Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends
1984 William Allen White Award for A Light in the Attic
1985 Buckeye Award for A Light in the Attic
Shel was known and appreciated by many children as well as adults. People saw him as both wicked and giddy. His work is seen as sly and serious, and gruesome as well as just plain old silly!
Bibliography
Books:
Silverstein, Shel. Uncle Shelby’s ABZ Book. Simon & Shuster: New York, NY. 1961.
Silverstein, Shel. Uncle Shelby’s story of Lafcadio: The Lion Who Shot Back. Harper & Row :New York, NY. 1963.
Silverstein, Shel. The Giving Tree. Harper & Row: New York, NY. 1964
Silverstein, Shel. The Missing Piece. Harper & Row: New York, NY. 1976
Silverstein, Shel. Where the Sidewalk Ends. HarperCollins: New York, NY. 1974
Silverstein, Shel. A Light in the Attic. Harper & Row: New York, NY. 1981
Silverstein, Shel. Falling Up. HarperCollins: New York, NY. 1996
Silverstein, Shel. Runny Babbit. HarperCollins: New York, NY. 2005.
Silverstein, Shel. Don’t Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies. HarperCollins Publishers. New York, NY. 2008.
Essays:
Thomas, Joseph T. "Reappraising Uncle Shelby". Horn Book Magazine. May/Jun 2005, Vol 81 Issue 3, p.23-293.
Myers, Mitch. "Shel Silverstein". Rolling Stone. June 1999, Issue815, p26.
Interviews:
Lingeman, Richard. "The Third Mr. Silverstein". New York Times Book Review. April, 30, 1978.
Mercier, Jean. "Shel Silverstein." Publisher's Weekly. Feb., 24 1975
Shel’s writing started kicking off when he was in the military in the 1950s. He wrote adult cartoons for the newspaper, Starts and Stripes. Some of his classics include:
Uncle Shelby’s ABZ Book (1961)
Uncle Shelby's story of) Lafcadio: The Lion Who Shot Back (1963)
The Giving Tree (1964)
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974)
A Light in the Attic (1981)
Falling Up (1996)
Runny Babbit (2005) (published posthumously)
Don't Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies (2008, originally published in 1964)
A Light in the Attic was actually the first children’s book to be on the New York Times best sellers list, and it stayed there for 182 weeks. Publishers Weekly did an interview with Shel on February 24, 1975 where he mentions when he was a young adolescent he wanted to be a star baseball player or a hit with the girls. However, he wasn’t great at either one so he started to draw and write, and that is when he developed his own style and own talent. He definitely has a unique one! Here is a list of some of the awards and honors Shel accomplished in his life:
1974 New York Times Outstanding Book Award for Where the Sidewalk Ends
1981 Michigan Young Readers’ Award for Where the Sidewalk Ends
1981 School Library Journal Best Books Award for A Light in the Attic
1982 International Reading Association’s Children’s Choice Award for The Missing Piece Meets The Big O
1983 Buckeye Award for A Light in the Attic
1984 George G. Stone Award for A Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends
1984 William Allen White Award for A Light in the Attic
1985 Buckeye Award for A Light in the Attic
Shel was known and appreciated by many children as well as adults. People saw him as both wicked and giddy. His work is seen as sly and serious, and gruesome as well as just plain old silly!
Bibliography
Books:
Silverstein, Shel. Uncle Shelby’s ABZ Book. Simon & Shuster: New York, NY. 1961.
Silverstein, Shel. Uncle Shelby’s story of Lafcadio: The Lion Who Shot Back. Harper & Row :New York, NY. 1963.
Silverstein, Shel. The Giving Tree. Harper & Row: New York, NY. 1964
Silverstein, Shel. The Missing Piece. Harper & Row: New York, NY. 1976
Silverstein, Shel. Where the Sidewalk Ends. HarperCollins: New York, NY. 1974
Silverstein, Shel. A Light in the Attic. Harper & Row: New York, NY. 1981
Silverstein, Shel. Falling Up. HarperCollins: New York, NY. 1996
Silverstein, Shel. Runny Babbit. HarperCollins: New York, NY. 2005.
Silverstein, Shel. Don’t Bump the Glump! and Other Fantasies. HarperCollins Publishers. New York, NY. 2008.
Essays:
Thomas, Joseph T. "Reappraising Uncle Shelby". Horn Book Magazine. May/Jun 2005, Vol 81 Issue 3, p.23-293.
Myers, Mitch. "Shel Silverstein". Rolling Stone. June 1999, Issue815, p26.
Interviews:
Lingeman, Richard. "The Third Mr. Silverstein". New York Times Book Review. April, 30, 1978.
Mercier, Jean. "Shel Silverstein." Publisher's Weekly. Feb., 24 1975
Zoom
Banyai, Istvan. Zoom. New York: Puffin Books, 1998.
What I thought of the book…
I thought this book was so cool! I was just so amazed by the pictures and the angles in which they were drawn. I kept trying to guess what the next picture would be once it was zoomed out, and the only ones I guessed right were the cruise ship and then the cruse ship advertisement. I didn’t know the advertisement was going to be on a bus. Anyways, I just thought it was so neat and very mesmerizing!
Craft Lesson…
After letting the kids look at the book and talk about it, I would get out a couple Polaroid cameras and let them take a picture of something or someone they choose. Then, they can either draw or paint a zoomed in or zoomed out piece of it. Afterwards, they can share with the class their take on why they chose to paint or draw from the perception that they did.
What I thought of the book…
I thought this book was so cool! I was just so amazed by the pictures and the angles in which they were drawn. I kept trying to guess what the next picture would be once it was zoomed out, and the only ones I guessed right were the cruise ship and then the cruse ship advertisement. I didn’t know the advertisement was going to be on a bus. Anyways, I just thought it was so neat and very mesmerizing!
Craft Lesson…
After letting the kids look at the book and talk about it, I would get out a couple Polaroid cameras and let them take a picture of something or someone they choose. Then, they can either draw or paint a zoomed in or zoomed out piece of it. Afterwards, they can share with the class their take on why they chose to paint or draw from the perception that they did.
Babymouse: Our Hero
Holm, Jennifer and Matthew Holm. Babymouse: Our Hero. New York: Random House, 2005.
What I thought of the book…
This book was too cute! I’ve never read a comic before, and I just loved it! I am not sure I could read comics often though because the jumbled ness of it all did give me a small headache. It was just too jumpy and random! Still, I thought it was cute and entertaining.
Craft Lesson…
I would have the class think of something that stresses them out or something that they worry about a lot, and then I would have them close their eyes for about five minutes and daydream about something peaceful to get their minds off the worry. When they open their eyes I would have them draw a picture about what they saw. I would also have a wide variety of supplies ready for them to use while making their picture. Some of the supplies would include felt, feathers, pipe cleaner, beads, markers, paint, stamps, crayons; basically anything I can get my hands on. When they are finished with it I would have them keep it in their main notebooks to look at or take out whenever they get stressed or start worrying about something to the point it is distracting. For something to turn in to me, I would have them write a descriptive paragraph of their picture and then write another paragraph explaining why they came up with the image they did.
What I thought of the book…
This book was too cute! I’ve never read a comic before, and I just loved it! I am not sure I could read comics often though because the jumbled ness of it all did give me a small headache. It was just too jumpy and random! Still, I thought it was cute and entertaining.
Craft Lesson…
I would have the class think of something that stresses them out or something that they worry about a lot, and then I would have them close their eyes for about five minutes and daydream about something peaceful to get their minds off the worry. When they open their eyes I would have them draw a picture about what they saw. I would also have a wide variety of supplies ready for them to use while making their picture. Some of the supplies would include felt, feathers, pipe cleaner, beads, markers, paint, stamps, crayons; basically anything I can get my hands on. When they are finished with it I would have them keep it in their main notebooks to look at or take out whenever they get stressed or start worrying about something to the point it is distracting. For something to turn in to me, I would have them write a descriptive paragraph of their picture and then write another paragraph explaining why they came up with the image they did.
Chapter 16
Tunnel. Michael O. James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2008.
Controversial Books
I liked how this chapter mentions that we can express our opinions on books without seeking to destroy them completely. So many people get offended by certain subjects or sayings that they try to fight certain books from ever being put into a library. I myself don't necessarily agree with a lot of books out there, but I feel that everyone should have a chance at getting informed in whatever type of interest they are seeking. When I read Cynthia's anecdote about reading To Kill a Mockingbird when she was in fifth grade, I myself was surprised to remember that I read it as a sophomore in high school. I can't believe a fifth grader had read it! I know for a fact parents would have a field day if they heard their 10 year old was going to read that book. And here we are worried that our children's generation is becoming too DE sensitized! Anyways, when I become a teacher in my own classroom I will be careful as to what I choose for my students to read, and I will be prepared to defend my reasons for choosing those books.
Controversial Books
I liked how this chapter mentions that we can express our opinions on books without seeking to destroy them completely. So many people get offended by certain subjects or sayings that they try to fight certain books from ever being put into a library. I myself don't necessarily agree with a lot of books out there, but I feel that everyone should have a chance at getting informed in whatever type of interest they are seeking. When I read Cynthia's anecdote about reading To Kill a Mockingbird when she was in fifth grade, I myself was surprised to remember that I read it as a sophomore in high school. I can't believe a fifth grader had read it! I know for a fact parents would have a field day if they heard their 10 year old was going to read that book. And here we are worried that our children's generation is becoming too DE sensitized! Anyways, when I become a teacher in my own classroom I will be careful as to what I choose for my students to read, and I will be prepared to defend my reasons for choosing those books.
Chapter 15
Tunnel. Michael O. James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2008.
Multicultural and International Books
I think the most experience I've had with multicultural books has come from this class in this semester alone. I don't remember reading any as a child. I understand that there is a need for more multicultural books to help prevent children from having xenophobia as adults, but I don't have a problem with people of another race nor have I ever. This may be because I did not grow up with a biased or racist family, and maybe everyone who grew up without reading multicultural books does not feel the same way as me. As a teacher I will have no problem bringing multicultural books into my classroom. I plan on looking into ALL the books and authors mentioned in this chapter and adding them to my children's books library. I understand that it might help "children avoid the pitfalls of ignorance that breed intolerance, hatred, and conflict" (194), and I am willing to do whatever it takes for children to avoid these such things.
Multicultural and International Books
I think the most experience I've had with multicultural books has come from this class in this semester alone. I don't remember reading any as a child. I understand that there is a need for more multicultural books to help prevent children from having xenophobia as adults, but I don't have a problem with people of another race nor have I ever. This may be because I did not grow up with a biased or racist family, and maybe everyone who grew up without reading multicultural books does not feel the same way as me. As a teacher I will have no problem bringing multicultural books into my classroom. I plan on looking into ALL the books and authors mentioned in this chapter and adding them to my children's books library. I understand that it might help "children avoid the pitfalls of ignorance that breed intolerance, hatred, and conflict" (194), and I am willing to do whatever it takes for children to avoid these such things.
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