Author: Jonah Winter
Illustrator: Ana Juan
Award Won:ALA Notable Book, Américas Award Honor Book
Date of Publication: 2002
Age recommendation: ages 5 to 8
Group represented: Frida Kahlo and her family
Frida is a picture book about the life of Frida Kahlo, a famous Mexican artist. The picture book uses more pictures than words on each page to tell her story. The pictures are bright and very imaginative;they really add a lot to the story. The pictures make children interested in Frida and her life and because she was an artist it is important to have artistic pictures in a book about her.
The book mainly recaps how Frida got involved in being an artist and where she learned her skills. Her father was an artist and photographer and taught Frida to be the same. She developed her love of painting when she was feeling down. Two major life changing events happened to her. When she was 7, she got Polio and was in bed for several months, she did a lot of art work then. When she was 18, she got in a terrible bus accident and was in the hospital for a while and did a lot of work while she had to be in bed. She came to depend on art work as a friend when she was not able to do anything else. After the accident she could never walk normally again, she always needed a cane. She went on to creative many pieces of art in her life.
The most obvious use of the book would be to talk about the artist Frida Kahlo and study some of her work. She is an artist of another culture, not originally from the United States, so children could also take some time and learn of her culture. Photos of her work could be shown to the class and perhaps some art work could be done by the students.
Another use of the book would be to talk about people with disabilities overcoming odds and following their dreams.
The book could also be used to talked about how art work and music can be a therapy for some. It is helpful to express yourself creatively.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Do Ducks Live in the Desert? Non-Fiction picture book
Author: Michael Dahl
Illustrator: Anne Haberstroh
Award Won: Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers
Date of Publication:2004
Age recommendation: ages 5 to 8
Group represented: Animal life
This book starts out asking questions about where certain types of animals live such as ducks, oxen, periwinkles, meadowlarks, sloths, water striders, octopuses, moles, markhors, and camels. The authors asks if each of these animals lives in the desert. Then the author will go on to say that they do not live in the desert and where that particular animal lives. The book also explains some characteristics about the animals habitat and what the animal likes to eat. The last animal is the camel. It is then explained that the camel does in fact live in the desert. The very last page is a summary page of all the animals in the book and their habitats.
The illustrations in this book are very colorful and help to draw the eye of the reader to the details of the animals natural habitat. The pictures are drawn to look like they go with the font used for the wording so everything fits together. I think looking at the pictures makes learning the facts more interesting for the students.
I think this would be a nice book to use in a classroom on animal habitats because the animals talked about in this book are not typically discussed or learned about. Some of the animals I didn't know anything about as an adult. Students could pick another uncommon animal not mentioned in this book and research some facts about it and draw a picture of what it looks like.
Illustrator: Anne Haberstroh
Award Won: Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers
Date of Publication:2004
Age recommendation: ages 5 to 8
Group represented: Animal life
This book starts out asking questions about where certain types of animals live such as ducks, oxen, periwinkles, meadowlarks, sloths, water striders, octopuses, moles, markhors, and camels. The authors asks if each of these animals lives in the desert. Then the author will go on to say that they do not live in the desert and where that particular animal lives. The book also explains some characteristics about the animals habitat and what the animal likes to eat. The last animal is the camel. It is then explained that the camel does in fact live in the desert. The very last page is a summary page of all the animals in the book and their habitats.
The illustrations in this book are very colorful and help to draw the eye of the reader to the details of the animals natural habitat. The pictures are drawn to look like they go with the font used for the wording so everything fits together. I think looking at the pictures makes learning the facts more interesting for the students.
I think this would be a nice book to use in a classroom on animal habitats because the animals talked about in this book are not typically discussed or learned about. Some of the animals I didn't know anything about as an adult. Students could pick another uncommon animal not mentioned in this book and research some facts about it and draw a picture of what it looks like.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry
Author: Mildred Taylor
Date of Publication: 1976
Award Won: Newbery Award
Age recommendation: 11+
Group represented: African Americans and citizens of Mississippi in the 1930's
A story about an African American family, the Logan's, living in Mississippi struggling to be equal. The family is very proud and owns their own farm, they don't have to work on a plantation like many other African American families. The Logan children, there are four, have to attend a school that is not as good as the school the white children get to attend and that makes them angry. In this story the Logan children are constantly learning the realities of racism and how to deal with it in their lives. The Logans face many challenges, but also try and stand-up for what they believe in. There were lynchings happening in their community at the time. When the Logan's find out the Wallace's were responsible for burning a man alive, the Logans,, and many other families, decide to boycott the Wallace store even after being threatened. The children also find a way to break down the bus that the white children use to get to school after the driver of the bus repeatedly found humor in splashing the children on their way home. Mama, the Logan children's mother, is even fired from her teaching job for doing what she thought was right in her school. Even after a friend of the Wallace's, Mr. Granger, made it so the bank demanded full payment of the mortgage the Logan's had on their land, they still rose above. I think the best part of the story was at the end when papa Logan set fire to his own land, and it is later realized that this act ended up bring the community together, black and white to put out the fire.
I think this could be a good book to use in a classroom when talking about the great depression and how it affected different people in different ways. Students could learn about african american rights and caucasion rights at the time. The book could also be used to teach students that it is important to stand-up for what you believe in. It tells the story of one couragous familie's journey. Also, it could be used to talk about the civil rights movement.
Date of Publication: 1976
Award Won: Newbery Award
Age recommendation: 11+
Group represented: African Americans and citizens of Mississippi in the 1930's
A story about an African American family, the Logan's, living in Mississippi struggling to be equal. The family is very proud and owns their own farm, they don't have to work on a plantation like many other African American families. The Logan children, there are four, have to attend a school that is not as good as the school the white children get to attend and that makes them angry. In this story the Logan children are constantly learning the realities of racism and how to deal with it in their lives. The Logans face many challenges, but also try and stand-up for what they believe in. There were lynchings happening in their community at the time. When the Logan's find out the Wallace's were responsible for burning a man alive, the Logans,, and many other families, decide to boycott the Wallace store even after being threatened. The children also find a way to break down the bus that the white children use to get to school after the driver of the bus repeatedly found humor in splashing the children on their way home. Mama, the Logan children's mother, is even fired from her teaching job for doing what she thought was right in her school. Even after a friend of the Wallace's, Mr. Granger, made it so the bank demanded full payment of the mortgage the Logan's had on their land, they still rose above. I think the best part of the story was at the end when papa Logan set fire to his own land, and it is later realized that this act ended up bring the community together, black and white to put out the fire.
I think this could be a good book to use in a classroom when talking about the great depression and how it affected different people in different ways. Students could learn about african american rights and caucasion rights at the time. The book could also be used to teach students that it is important to stand-up for what you believe in. It tells the story of one couragous familie's journey. Also, it could be used to talk about the civil rights movement.
The Great Gilly Hopkins
Author: Katherine Paterson
Date of Publication:1978
Age recommendation:ages 11-14
Group represented: orphans and foster families in Maryland
Award Won:Newbery Award
The Great Gilly Hopkins is a story about an 11 year old orphan girl in Maryland. You meet Gilly in this story when she is going to one of her many foster homes. This time she is going to be living with a single women who already has a foster son. At first Gilly is sure that this foster family will not work out, just as the others haven't. She begins to act up at home and at school. Gilly dreams of one day when her biological birth mother will come and take her away to live with her. She believes that when that day comes everything will change and her life will be good. Gilly dreams up a plan to buy a one way bus ticket to California where her mother lives. She writes her mother a letter that lets her know that she wants to come and live with her. Gilly's plan backfires, but when he mother gets her letter she wants custody of her given to her grandmother. Gilly begins to like her foster home, and things seem to be going well for once, when she learns that she has to move again and live with her grandmother. It is certainly not what Gilly expected, but she soon learns that things in life rarely are.
This book could be used in a unit on family life, talking about foster parents and birth parents. Students could discuss problems children in foster care face.
Date of Publication:1978
Age recommendation:ages 11-14
Group represented: orphans and foster families in Maryland
Award Won:Newbery Award
The Great Gilly Hopkins is a story about an 11 year old orphan girl in Maryland. You meet Gilly in this story when she is going to one of her many foster homes. This time she is going to be living with a single women who already has a foster son. At first Gilly is sure that this foster family will not work out, just as the others haven't. She begins to act up at home and at school. Gilly dreams of one day when her biological birth mother will come and take her away to live with her. She believes that when that day comes everything will change and her life will be good. Gilly dreams up a plan to buy a one way bus ticket to California where her mother lives. She writes her mother a letter that lets her know that she wants to come and live with her. Gilly's plan backfires, but when he mother gets her letter she wants custody of her given to her grandmother. Gilly begins to like her foster home, and things seem to be going well for once, when she learns that she has to move again and live with her grandmother. It is certainly not what Gilly expected, but she soon learns that things in life rarely are.
This book could be used in a unit on family life, talking about foster parents and birth parents. Students could discuss problems children in foster care face.
Scorpions
Author: Walter Myers
Award Won: Newbery Award
Date of publication:1988
Age recommendation: 12-15
Group represented: African American, New York
This is a book about a young boy named Jamal, he is living in Harlem New York with his mom and sister. His dad is not around much and his older brother Randy is in jail for shooting a store clerk during a stick-up with other gang members. His brother was part of a gang named the Scorpions and Randy sent word that Jamal was to take his place as the leader of the Scorpins gang dealing drugs. Jamal and his friend Tito are being pressured to join the gang, they don't want to, but know that if they do they can raise money for Randy's appeal trial. Randy has told his friends Mack that he needs $2000 for his appeal and his mother does not have that kind of money. She works different jobs to try and support her children After deciding to join the Scorpions, Jamal and Tito get a gun from Mack, which they think will help keep bullies away. The gun ends up getting them into a lot of trouble and one boy Angel ends up dying. Tito ends up having to leave the country and go to Puerto Rico to avoid his trial. Jamal and Tito learn how valuable they are to each other.
This book could be used in a classroom to discuss neighborhood gang violence.Students could also talk about how when one family member goes to jail it is hard on the whole family.
Award Won: Newbery Award
Date of publication:1988
Age recommendation: 12-15
Group represented: African American, New York
This is a book about a young boy named Jamal, he is living in Harlem New York with his mom and sister. His dad is not around much and his older brother Randy is in jail for shooting a store clerk during a stick-up with other gang members. His brother was part of a gang named the Scorpions and Randy sent word that Jamal was to take his place as the leader of the Scorpins gang dealing drugs. Jamal and his friend Tito are being pressured to join the gang, they don't want to, but know that if they do they can raise money for Randy's appeal trial. Randy has told his friends Mack that he needs $2000 for his appeal and his mother does not have that kind of money. She works different jobs to try and support her children After deciding to join the Scorpions, Jamal and Tito get a gun from Mack, which they think will help keep bullies away. The gun ends up getting them into a lot of trouble and one boy Angel ends up dying. Tito ends up having to leave the country and go to Puerto Rico to avoid his trial. Jamal and Tito learn how valuable they are to each other.
This book could be used in a classroom to discuss neighborhood gang violence.Students could also talk about how when one family member goes to jail it is hard on the whole family.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wanda's Roses
Title: Wanda's Roses
Author: Pat Brisson
Illustrator: Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Date of Publication: 1994
Award Won: Christopher Award and the Paterson Prize for Books for Young People
Age recommendation: 4 to 8
Group represented: a community of neighbors
This book is about a young girl named Wanda, who discovers what she thinks to be a rosebush in an empty, trash filled, lot in her neighborhood. Wanda clears away the trash from the lot to give the plant room to grow and so it will get enough sunlight. She waters the plant to get it to bloom with beautiful roses, despite her many neighbors who don't believe in her rose bush. Wanda realizes that her rose bush may not bloom flowers so she decides to give her rose bush flowers that she has made. She invites all her neighbors to view her "blooming" rose bush. All the neighbors end up bring other rose bushes and they plant them in the emptly lot. Due to Wanda's belief in her rose bush she has helped transform an empty, trash-filled lot, into a garden.
This book could be used in a classroom to talk to children about service projects and cleaning up the enviornment. The book is also a good reminder that you should believe in yourself and your dreams. The book could also be used in part with a science lesson on plants and that plants, need, water, sun, and air to live and grow.
Author: Pat Brisson
Illustrator: Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Date of Publication: 1994
Award Won: Christopher Award and the Paterson Prize for Books for Young People
Age recommendation: 4 to 8
Group represented: a community of neighbors
This book is about a young girl named Wanda, who discovers what she thinks to be a rosebush in an empty, trash filled, lot in her neighborhood. Wanda clears away the trash from the lot to give the plant room to grow and so it will get enough sunlight. She waters the plant to get it to bloom with beautiful roses, despite her many neighbors who don't believe in her rose bush. Wanda realizes that her rose bush may not bloom flowers so she decides to give her rose bush flowers that she has made. She invites all her neighbors to view her "blooming" rose bush. All the neighbors end up bring other rose bushes and they plant them in the emptly lot. Due to Wanda's belief in her rose bush she has helped transform an empty, trash-filled lot, into a garden.
This book could be used in a classroom to talk to children about service projects and cleaning up the enviornment. The book is also a good reminder that you should believe in yourself and your dreams. The book could also be used in part with a science lesson on plants and that plants, need, water, sun, and air to live and grow.
Fox in a Trap
Title:Fox in a Trap
Author: Jane Resh Thomas
Date of Publication:1987
Award Won: Kerlan Award, MN Book award
Group represented: Caucasian farm family
Age recommendation:Ages 8-12
This is a book about a farm family, the main characters are a mother, father, their son Daniel and his father's brother Peter. Peter is an adventurous writer of hunting and fishing. He sets trap lines in the places he travels to catch certain animals for their fur. Daniel looks up to his Uncle Peter, he longs to get off his families farm someday and have the exciting life that his uncle peter has. Daniel has been begging his uncle to teach him how to set traps too. Finally just before winter his uncle teaches him how to trap. When the bait they use in the fox traps turn out to be kittens, Daniel has a hard time setting the traps himself. Daniel feels that his heart just might not be into trapping; He feels for the animals too much. He begins to learn that maybe his Uncle's life isn't exactly what Daniel wants and that's okay. He can determine his own new destiny.
This book could be used with other children to spark a debate about hunting and fishing and the moral dilemmas. Students could research and argue whether or not to hunt or fish. The book could also be used in a lesson about farms and all the chores and happenings of a farm. The students could learn all the things that go into getting their food from the farm to the grocery stores. It could be like a unit on local food if from a farming state.
Author: Jane Resh Thomas
Date of Publication:1987
Award Won: Kerlan Award, MN Book award
Group represented: Caucasian farm family
Age recommendation:Ages 8-12
This is a book about a farm family, the main characters are a mother, father, their son Daniel and his father's brother Peter. Peter is an adventurous writer of hunting and fishing. He sets trap lines in the places he travels to catch certain animals for their fur. Daniel looks up to his Uncle Peter, he longs to get off his families farm someday and have the exciting life that his uncle peter has. Daniel has been begging his uncle to teach him how to set traps too. Finally just before winter his uncle teaches him how to trap. When the bait they use in the fox traps turn out to be kittens, Daniel has a hard time setting the traps himself. Daniel feels that his heart just might not be into trapping; He feels for the animals too much. He begins to learn that maybe his Uncle's life isn't exactly what Daniel wants and that's okay. He can determine his own new destiny.
This book could be used with other children to spark a debate about hunting and fishing and the moral dilemmas. Students could research and argue whether or not to hunt or fish. The book could also be used in a lesson about farms and all the chores and happenings of a farm. The students could learn all the things that go into getting their food from the farm to the grocery stores. It could be like a unit on local food if from a farming state.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)