Picture Book 15

Title: Ellington was not a street

Author: Ntozake Shange

Illustrator: Kadir Nelson

Genre: Multicultural

Subgenre: Juvenile Poetry

Theme: Culture, History
Primary & Secondary Characters: Shange, influential African Americans

Date of publication: 2004, Coretta Scott King Award in 2005

Publishing Company: Simon & Schuster Books

Summary:  Shange recalls on her childhood in an African American culture. She remembers the powerful men who entered her home. She recalls being in their presence and realizing what a remarkable impact they would create in her life. At the end of the story, there is a brief description of each of the characters and their contribution to the movement of change for African Americans.

In the classroom, I believe it is of upmost importance to have a variety of books for students to choose from. Books that encounter different situations and relatable storylines bring life to reading as well as a variety of books that embrace different cultures.  

Picture Book 14

Title: The Rainbow Fish

Author: Marcus Pfister

Illustrator: Marcus Pfister

Genre: Modern Fantasy, Series

Subgenre: Picture book

Theme: Friendship, Sharing
Primary & Secondary Characters: The rainbow fish and his friends

Date of publication: 1992

Publishing Company: North-South Books New York

Summary: The Rainbow Fish is the most beautiful fish in the ocean. The rainbow fish is vain and all of the other fish are friendly to him from the beginning. Meanwhile, the Rainbow Fish acts like he is too good for them. His poor attitude leads to none of the other fish wanting to be his friend. He receives some helpful advice when he learns that he will be happier if he can give away some of his most prized possessions, his shiny scales.

In my classroom, I would begin a discussion by asking “How does it make you feel when someone acts like they are better than you?” “Is beauty only on the outside?” I would hope by asking these questions, it would lead to an open conversation with the students. 

Picture Book 13

Title: Ants in Your Pants, Worms in Your plants

Author: Diane deGroat

Illustrator: Diane deGroat

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Subgenre: Picture book

Theme: Taking care of Earth, Teamwork
Primary & Secondary Characters: Gilbert, his fellow classmates

Date of publication: 2011

Publishing Company: Harper Collins Publishers

Summary: The illustrations in this book are vivid and eye catching. The book is about Earth Day and Gilbert who struggles to come up with his own idea of what he can do for Earth day. He is lying under a tree when he comes up with the idea to plant more trees. He tells his classmates that when too many trees are cut down, the air can get polluted and stink. Trees are very important to the planet.

I would use this book in my classroom because it is a subject matter that is not only important, but one that they can initiate change among themselves to help. They could start recycling, turn out lights when they leave the room, turn off the water when they brush their teeth or go as far as Gilbert and plant more trees. It would be interesting to see all the ideas that they could come up with to make Earth a better place! 

Picture Book 12

Title: The Bear Who Shared

Author: Catherine Rayner

Illustrator: Catherine Rayner

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Subgenre: Picture book

Themes: Patience, Friendship, Sharing
Primary & Secondary Characters: Norris, the raccoon, chipmunk

Date of publication: 2010

Publishing Company: Penguin Group

Summary: Norris, the bear was a wise bear. He did not underestimate the value of patience. The story is centered on Norris lying under a tree waiting for the last piece of fruit to fall. A raccoon and chipmunk try to rush the process and eat the fruit. Meanwhile, the fruit fell on Norris’ head and he shared it with his two new friends.

I would use this book in my classroom to start an art project. I think that incorporating a book before doing in art project takes away the feelings that books are strictly educational. 

Picture Book 11

Title: Mathilda and the Orange Balloon

Author: Randall de Seve

Illustrator: Jen Corace

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Subgenre: Picture book

Theme: Creativity, Endless Possibilities
Primary Characters: Mathilda, orange balloon, fellow sheep 

Date of publication: 2010

Publishing Company: Harper Collins Publishing Company

Summary: Mathilda is a sheep with a big dream. She lives a boring life on a hillside until she notices a bright orange balloon. She tells the other sheep that she is going to be the orange balloon and they think that she has gone crazy! Mathildia takes the time to explain why she has the dream and they begin to see her vision! They are inspired to dream big as well! The book ends by saying “Then the sheep realized- anything was possible.”

I would use this book in my classroom to show the importance of being able to do anything you put your mind to despite what others may think. It is also a good book to show the importance of standing up for yourself!  

Picture Book 10

Title: Not Afraid of Dogs

Author: Susanna Pitzer

Illustrator: Larry Day

Genre: General Fiction

Subgenre: Picture book

Theme: Overcoming fears, Friendship, Family
Primary Character: Daniel 

Date of publication: 2006

Publishing Company: Walker Publishing Company Inc

Summary: The illustrations in this books fit perfectly with the storyline. The book starts out with a sister teasing her younger brother about being afraid of dogs. He replies with “I’m not afraid of them, I just don’t like them!” His family ends up taking care of a dog for a temporary amount of time and Daniel will not even come out for dinner because the dog is there. As the ending gets closer, the dog is howling because it is terrified of a thunderstorm. Daniel is able to move past his fears in order to comfort the scared puppy and he learns to like dogs!

In my classroom, I would introduce this book by asking “What are you afraid of?” “Have you ever overcome any of your fears?”  I enjoyed reading this book and I know kids would love it just as much. A child that loves dogs or a child that has had a bad experience with dogs could benefit from reading this. 

Picture Book 9

Title: A Little Princess Story- I want to do it myself!

Author: Tony Ross

Illustrator: Tony Ross

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Subgenre: Picture book

Theme: Independence, Adventure
Primary Character: The Princess

Date of publication: 2011

Publishing Company: Anderson Press USA

Summary: This book is about a young girl who has an imagination that strives for adventure. She has a mindset that she does not need anyone’s help! She wants to go on a camping trip but she forgets all of her essentials. The items magically appear such as her tent, toothbrush, and even her dinner. It doesn’t look like she is quite ready for independence.  

I would use this story in my classroom to teach independence. I would have a discussion with my students about the ways that they could show more independence. It may be brushing their teeth without having to be asked or cleaning their room when it gets dirty. 

Picture Book 8

Title: Kitten’s First Full Moon

Author: Kevin Henkes

Illustrator: Kevin Henkes

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Subgenre: Picture book

Theme: Perseverance, Learning
Primary Character: Kitten

Date of publication: 2004, Won Caldecott Award in 2005

Publishing Company: Greenwillow Books/ Harper Collins Publishers

Summary: Kitten’s First Full Moon is about a kitten who sees what appears to be a bowl of delicious milk in the sky. Actually, it is a full moon; she had just never seen a full moon before. Determined to enjoy that ‘bowl of milk’, she goes on an adventure. The kitten chases, pounces and sneaks up on this bowl of milk until she realizes it’s a lost cause and she is exhausted. At the end of the story, a worn out kitten returns home and finds a bowl of milk waiting for her. Happy kitten.  

I would use this story in my classroom to create an art project out of it. Special Education students often need to work on their fine motor skills and cutting out an image of the moon and kitten would assist in that. Also, using a glue stick and coloring with crayons inside the lines will help them improve upon their fine motor skills.  

Picture Book 7

Title: Officer Buckle and Gloria

Author: Peggy Rathmann

Illustrator: Peggy Rathmann

Genre: Children’s Comedy

Subgenre: Picture book

Theme: Safety, Teamwork
Primary & Secondary Characters: Officer Buckle and Gloria

Date of publication: 1995, Won Caldecott Award in 1996

Publishing Company: Putnam Books

Summary: Officer Buckle is a safety conscious policeman that is dedicated to teaching schools the importance of safety. He explains to them his lists of safety tips which include things such as never standing on a swivel chair. He has the best of intentions but his school assemblies are putting the students to sleep! Further into the book, Gloria, the police dog joins Officer Buckle in his assemblies. Gloria acts out each safety tip (behind Officer Buckle’s back) while he is explaining them to the students. Gloria wins over the children’s hearts and Officer Buckle learns that this is who he needed all along.

 

This book is highly entertaining and will keep the student’s attention. It would be a nice segue to introduce our own classroom and school safety tips.

Picture Book 6

Title: First Words

Concept by Julie Aigner-Clark

Illustrator: Nadeem Zaidi

Genre: Children’s Learning

Subgenre: Picture book

Theme: Introduction of new words

Date of publication: 2008

Publishing Company: Disney Press  

Summary: This 24 page, soft covered book includes many categories that children use or see on a daily basis along with additional words that expand their vocabulary. Each picture matches with a word or a color to help children learn their basic words. The categories are as follows: Food, Numbers, Musical Instruments, Nature, Toys and Games, Transportation, Clothes, Underwater friends, Wild Animals, House, Shapes and Colors.

 

I would use this in my Special Education classroom for a couple different purposes. The most obvious way I would use the book is to expand their vocabularies. I will most likely have non verbal children in my classroom; I would use the pictures out of it to do a matching project with them. They would learn to match the picture to the word to test their comprehension of the subject matter. 

Chapter Book 1

Title: Junie B. Jones and some Sneaky Peeky Spying

Author: Barbara Park

Illustrator: Denise Brunkus 

Genre: Realistic fiction, Humor, Series

Subgenre: Chapter book

Theme: Manners and Conduct, What is right and wrong

Primary & Secondary characters: Junie B. Jones, her mother, Mrs.

Date of publication: 1998

Publishing Company: Random House, Inc. NY

Summary: Junie B. Jones, an adventure thriving kindergartner, likes to spy on people. The story is encompassed by one central thought. Junie wants to know more about her teacher and where she lives. One day at the store she discovers Mrs. at the store; she begins spying on her. While she was spying, Junie B. notices that she "steals" grapes from the store. Junie B. can’t hold in her secret anymore “without her head exploding” so she tells the principal. It was all a misunderstanding Junie's teacher was seeing if the grapes were still good or not before she bought them. The story ends with her confusion being clarified and a long talk about her mother about why spying is not an appropriate behavior.

I would use this in my classroom to teach a lesson on manners, respect and the difference between right and wrong. Junie B. Jones makes many wrong decisions that students can learn from while getting a giggle out of the reading at the same time. 

Picture Book 5

Title: Where the Wild Things are

Author: Maurice Sendak

Illustrator: Maurice Sendak

Genre: Children’s Literature, Fantasy Fiction

Subgenre: Picture book

Theme: Imagination, Unconditional Love

Primary & Secondary characters: Max, Wild Things

Date of publication: 1963

Award Won: Caldecott Medal, 1964

Publishing Company:  HarperCollinsPublishers

Summary: Where the Wild Things are is a book of creativity and imagination. The book tells a story of a young boy named Max who tends to get into mischief because of his extremely adventurous mentality. In the beginning of the story, he is sent to his room without supper because of his mischievousness. In his room, a forest grew along with an ocean with its very own private boat for Max. He sails away to the land of the Wild Things. Max’s imagination gives himself the identity of “the king of all wild things”. At the end of the story, he finds himself homesick and returns home to his bedroom where he finds his supper waiting for him and it is still hot.

I would use this book in my classroom to encourage creativity and for the students to use their imagination. The illustrations in this book not only add emotion and excitement to the reading, but it keeps children engaged by wondering what is going to happen next? Is Max going to live there? Will he go back home? 

Picture Book 4

Title: That New Animal

Author: Emily Jenkins

Illustrator: Pierre Pratt 

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre: Picture book

Theme: Bond of family, Changes, Replacement

Primary & Secondary characters: FudgeFudge, Marshmallow, ‘that new animal’

Date of publication: 2005

Publishing Company:  Farrar Straus & Giroux

Originally, this book caught my attention because it is from the point of view of the dogs. Being a dog lover myself, this book hit a soft spot in my heart. FudgeFudge and Marshmallow were two much loved dogs. They received a lot of attention and love from their owners until a new animal came along. They didn’t like this new animal for a couple reasons. First, it didn’t even smell like a dog. Second, this new animal was getting all of the attention. If FudgeFudge and Marshmallow whined, they were told to be quiet. On the other hand, when the new animal cried, it was cuddled and kissed on. This ‘new animal’ actually being their newborn baby was given acceptance by the dogs and was considered to be part of the family.

Children face a lot of changes in their lives. While they are young, they may change schools, meet new friends or even have additional family members come into their lives. I would use this book to show the changes that life brings. I would then create a discussion on the basis of “Do you think the dogs were replaced?” “Have you ever felt confused by the changes in your own life?”

Picture Book 3

Title: Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey

Author: Herman Parish

Illustrator: Lynn Sweat 

Genre: Humor, Series

Subgenre: Picture book

Theme: Thanksgiving, Vocabulary, Theatre, Following directions

Primary & Secondary characters: Amelia Bedelia and her third grade class

Date of publication: 2008

Publishing Company:  Greenwillow Books/ Harper Collins

Summary:  The Amelia Bedelia books are well known for her crazy ideas and misinterpretations. Amelia Bedelia doesn’t do well at following directions and gets herself into trouble more often than not. In this book, she volunteers to fill in as director of a third-grade Thanksgiving play. She misunderstands one girl's desire to play a big role to an opening night which leads her to wearing a roll costume. Also, towards the end of the book when Amelia Bedelia was told to "break a leg," she responded with “You must really be mad at me, if you want me to break my leg.”

I would use this amusing book to read before my students left for Thanksgiving break. The Thanksgiving theme is not only fitting but will lead to further discussions of why it is important to follow directions. Also, her books are great examples of how some words have more then one meaning. This books is perfect to engage the class by asking "What is being asked of Amelia Bedelia and what do you think she will really do?" Children love the humorous aspects of these books. Amelia Bedelia books prove time and time again that reading can be enjoyable not just a task! 

Picture Book 2

Title: The Grouchy Ladybug

Author & Illustrator: Eric Carle 

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre: Picture book

Theme: Sharing, Bullying

Primary & Secondary characters: The Grouchy Ladybug

Date of publication: 1996

Publishing Company: Harper Collins Publishers

Summary: This is the story of a grouchy ladybug who does not like to share. He asks other insects if they want to fight to try and prove just how tough he really is. However, each insect and animal he find, he tells them they are too small. Each time the animals get bigger and bigger until he gets to a whale. The whale hits him with his tail sending the ladybug back to where he started from. The nice ladybug offered him food and he accepted because he was so hungry. From that point on, he decided to be nice to everyone.

I would use this in my classroom to show the importance of sharing. I would also use this story to prove that bullying won’t get you anywhere. If you are friendly to people, they will most likely be friendly back!

Picture Book 1

Title: Max for President

Author & Illustrator: Jarrett J. Krosoczka 

Genre: Fiction

Subgenre: Picture book

Theme: Friendship, Winning and Losing

Primary & Secondary characters: Max and Kelly

Date of publication: 2004

Publishing Company: Random House, Inc. New York

Summary: Max and Kelly are both running for the election to win and be the class president. Both of them are very excited about this opportunity and do what it takes to win. They make buttons with their names on them that encourage other students to vote for them. Max and Kelly also campaign to their classmates by explaining the positive improvements that will take place at their school if they are chosen. Kelly wins; Max loses. At the end of the story, Kelly is asked to pick her Vice President and she chose Max to make him feel better. 

I would use this in my classroom to not only show ways that you can be involved in your school but also to show the aspects of friendship. In life, you do not always ‘win’ but what will continue to carry on are strong friendships. In this case, Max was still benefited in this situation.