Chapter Book 14

Title: Pictures of Hollis Woods

Author: Patricia Reilly Giff

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Subgenre: Chapter Book

Themes: Abandonment, Foster homes, Unconditional love

Primary Characters: Hollis Woods, Josie

Date of publication: 2002

Publishing Company: Wendy Lamb Books

Summary: Pictures of Hollis Woods, is a story about a 12 year old girl who is in desperate search for a place to call home - for a family. Hollis was abandoned as a child and spent the rest of her life in the foster care system. The families found Hollis difficult, moody, troublesome, and in the end Hollis always ran away from the family. Hollis is placed with Josie, an older woman who is a retired art teacher, which works out perfectly for Hollis, as she is a very gifted artist herself. Hollis begins to feel that she loves Josie and would like to stay with her. However, Josie forgets things sometimes and needs to depend on Hollis for daily activities. Hollis knows that Josie needs constant care and that if the social worker finds out about Josie’s needs, Hollis will be removed from the home. This book is emotional yet still keeps you rooting for Hollis and Josie to stay together.

In the classroom: This book is a MUST HAVE for a teacher’s library in her classroom. I think it could be a good conversation starter as to who are the most important people in their own lives. I would incorporate an English lesson as to ‘How to write a proper letter’ but in the letter, the student would be telling this person how much they mean to them and thanking them for all that they have done in their lives. 

Chapter Book 13

Title: Lily’s Crossing

Author: Patricia Reilly Giff

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Subgenre: Historical Fiction

Themes: Dishonesty, Friendship, D-Day, WWII

Primary Characters: Lily, Albert, Margaret, Gram, Poppy

Date of publication: 1999

Publishing Company: Bantam Doubleday Dell

Summary: Lily’s Crossing is set in 1944 just after D-Day. Lily and her family always spend the summer in Rockaway in a house on stilts over the Atlantic Ocean. Her father is going overseas to fight in the war. Lily has no friends until Albert arrives. He is a refugee from Hungary. They form a special friendship and have secrets to share and lies to hide.

In the classroom: I think stories like this are very important to share in the classroom. I don’t think children need to know the details of war but I think they need to know it happens and there are many families that are affected by it. Being in the military is a lifestyle that if you haven’t lived, you might not understand. This story is beautifully written. 

Picture Book 26

Title: Just Going to the Dentist

Author: Mercer Mayer

Illustrator: Mercer Mayer

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre: Series

Themes: Dentist visits, growing older

Primary Characters: Little Critter, the dentist, his mom

Date of publication: 1990

Publishing Company: Random House Publishing

Summary: “Just going to the Dentist” is a book in a series. In this particular book, Little Critter is required to go to the dentist for a checkup. He is nervous and cannot help but question what will really take place at the dentist.

In the classroom: Since I plan to work in a Special Education classroom, I know that taking kids out of their daily routine to do other tasks (like going to the dentist) might be a chore. I think it is important for them to know, it is okay to be nervous to go to the dentist but EVERYONE has to go to stay healthy. I think it will be important to introduce them to this book so when they go, they won’t feel as scared.

Picture Book 25

Title: Corduroy

Author: Don Freeman

Illustrator: Don Freeman

Genre: Children’s Book

Themes: Friendship, Looking past the imperfections

Primary Characters: Corduroy Bear and his friends

Date of publication: 1976

Publishing Company: Puffin; Viking Juvenile (40^th edition)

Summary: The sweet teddy bear in corduroy overalls waits to be purchased in a department store FULL of toys. One day, a little girl, Lisa and her mother are shopping and Lisa sees the bear and falls in love with him. The mother notices that the bear is missing a button so they move on. After the store closes, all the toys with faces close their eyes except Corduroy. Instead, he travels the department store searching for a button because he didn't know he was not perfect. He does not solve his problem. Corduroy is back on the toy shelf the next morning. The story ends with Lisa returning to buy him. She takes him home, sews on a button, and provides him with his own little bed right beside hers.

In the classroom: This book is a classic and that is one reason I chose it. This sweet story teaches children at a young age that you do not have to be perfect. You do not need to be someone that you are not and you are wonderful just the way you are! 

Picture Book 24

Title: A Sick Day for Amos McGee

Author: Philip C. Stead

Illustrator: Erin Stead

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre: Comedy & Humor

Themes: Friendship, Taking care of your friends

Primary Characters: Amos Mcgee, a shy penguin, a frightened night owl, a chess playing elephant, a determined tortoise, a sniffled nosed rhino

Date of publication: 2010

Publishing Company: Roaring Brook Press

Summary: Amos McGee, a caring zoo keeper loves taking care of the animals and has close friends in the zoo that he sees every day. One day, Amos cannot make it to work because he is sick with a cold and so the animals decide to pay him a visit and take care of him for once!

In the classroom: A Sick Day for Amos McGee teaches children the value of friendship and taking care of each other when others are in need and that is the moral I would teach in my classroom. 

Picture Book 23

Title: Amelia Earhart, The Legend of the Lost Aviator

Author: Shelley Tanaka

Illustrator: David Craig

Genre: Informative

Subgenre: Biography

Themes: Following dreams, Flying, Courage

Primary Characters: Amelia Earhart

Awards: Orbis Pictus Winner, 2009

Date of publication: 2008

Publishing Company: Abrams Books for Young Readers

Summary: This story begins with Earhart when she is eleven years old and a plane is pointed out to her at an Iowa fair. She is unimpressed then, but as a college student who volunteered as a nurse’s aide during the First World War, she saw planes and caught the flying bug. By the 1920s, Earhart was airborne and found fame in the air—as the first woman passenger on a transatlantic flight, then setting her own flying records.

In the classroom: I would use this book as a way to introduce the biographies we would be writing in class. I think biographies are looked upon as something that students dread. However, this book is not only informative; it has beautiful images that go along with the text that make the book really come to life. I think that is the key to biographies. Students need to realize the life style of people like Amelia Earhart and not just think of them as someone from the past who they know nothing about. 

Picture Book 22

Title: Germs Are Not for Sharing       

Author: Elizabeth Verdick

Illustrator: Marieka Heinlen

Genre: Information

Subgenre: Children’s Picture Book

Themes: Hygiene, Germs, Sanitation Guidelines

Primary Characters: Children

Date of publication: 2006

Publishing Company: Free Spirit Publishing

Summary: This book provides information about germs but at a level that would be easy to grasp for younger children. There is also a section in the back of the book for older a child that goes into further detail about what germs really are.

In the classroom: I would use this book in the classroom to explain about germs and the importance of hygiene. I like this book because the pictures are very story-telling. The pictures show the correct way to sneeze, cough and wash your hands, which children should learn at a young age.