Title: Kira Kira
ISBN:06898563930
Author:Cynthia Kadohata
Date of publication: 2004
Award won: Newbery Award
Award Age recommendation: ages 9 and up
Group represented: Japanese Americans, citizens of Georgia
Kira Kira is a heartwarming tale about a Japanese family that is trying to survive in America. The family starts out owning an Asian grocery store in Iowa, but when there are not enough customers to support their business they have to close their doors. The two girls in the story are Katie and Lynn and they soon get a younger brother Sam. The story is told through Katie's perspective with diary entries from her sister Lynn's diary. After Katie's parents close their store they have to move to Georgia where they are closer to family and get jobs working in the chicken hatcheries. Katie's parents are working more and more overtime to achieve their dream of owning their own home. Lynn and Katie are best friends and all the siblings look after each other while their parents are away. Lynn becomes sicker and sicker throughout the story and eventually the reader learns that Lynn has lymphoma. The family is finally able to save enough money for a down payment on a home, but shortly after that Lynn dies. After Lynn's death the family takes a vacation to try and cheer themselves up, they go to California because Lynn loved the ocean. As Katie visits the ocean without Lynn she can feel her presence all around her as she looks at the sea and it is kira, kira (glittering). Kira, Kira was a Japanese word the Lynn taught Katie, and Lynn looked at everything and saw it kira, kira.
This would be a good book to use when doing a unit on immigration. It could also be used when talking about families who are dealing with medical conditions. The book also illustrates different roles people play in their families. The roles people play in their families often differ by culture so this could be a good story when studying the practices of different cultures and how the traditions have changed over time.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Mama and Papa Have a Store-Multicultural Picture Book
Title: Mama and Papa Have a Store
ISBN:0-8037-2044-0
Author and Illustrator: Amelia Lau Carling
Date of publication: 1998
Award won: Americas Award and Pura Belpre Honor Book Award
Age recommendation: ages 4-8
Group represented: A Chinese family, Guatemalan Citizens
This story takes place in Guatemala City, where a Chinese family owes a store that sells things such as buttons, ribbons, thread, cloth, lanterns and perfume. The parents of the young girl in the story had to flee Nine Rivers, in China, because of a terrible war more than 15 years ago. The book talks about the families typical day running a store in Guatemala City and what it is like to be Chinese in Guatemala. The children of the book play games on the rooftop terrace and around the city. The family tries to follow Chinese traditions, but also speaks Spanish and has Spanish names that the citizens know them by. The family closes for lunch like the people do in Guatemala, and eat food cooked in a Chinese wok that can be eaten in flour tortillas. The story is written in English, but incorporates Spanish vocab words and the names of the characters are Spanish names.
The pictures really add a lot to this book. The pages are filled with colorful images that remind me of Spanish culture and going to Mexico. On some two page layouts in the book one whole side will show a picture of what is happening in the paragraph on the opposite page so it is very easy to imagine what the author is telling you about in her writing. Some pages also contain Chinese characters on them as to tie both cultures together much like the family in the story has to do.
This would be a nice book to help students be introduced to some Spanish vocab words. It would also be interesting to use when learning about communities and that many different types of citizens make-up a community no matter where in the world you live.
The family in this story seemed to have adapted to the Guatemalan culture, but the family still hung on to some of their own traditions. Students could discuss how it might be hard for people of other cultures to move to places that are very different from where they originally came from to gain a better understanding of how immigrants sometimes have a hard time adjusting.
ISBN:0-8037-2044-0
Author and Illustrator: Amelia Lau Carling
Date of publication: 1998
Award won: Americas Award and Pura Belpre Honor Book Award
Age recommendation: ages 4-8
Group represented: A Chinese family, Guatemalan Citizens
This story takes place in Guatemala City, where a Chinese family owes a store that sells things such as buttons, ribbons, thread, cloth, lanterns and perfume. The parents of the young girl in the story had to flee Nine Rivers, in China, because of a terrible war more than 15 years ago. The book talks about the families typical day running a store in Guatemala City and what it is like to be Chinese in Guatemala. The children of the book play games on the rooftop terrace and around the city. The family tries to follow Chinese traditions, but also speaks Spanish and has Spanish names that the citizens know them by. The family closes for lunch like the people do in Guatemala, and eat food cooked in a Chinese wok that can be eaten in flour tortillas. The story is written in English, but incorporates Spanish vocab words and the names of the characters are Spanish names.
The pictures really add a lot to this book. The pages are filled with colorful images that remind me of Spanish culture and going to Mexico. On some two page layouts in the book one whole side will show a picture of what is happening in the paragraph on the opposite page so it is very easy to imagine what the author is telling you about in her writing. Some pages also contain Chinese characters on them as to tie both cultures together much like the family in the story has to do.
This would be a nice book to help students be introduced to some Spanish vocab words. It would also be interesting to use when learning about communities and that many different types of citizens make-up a community no matter where in the world you live.
The family in this story seemed to have adapted to the Guatemalan culture, but the family still hung on to some of their own traditions. Students could discuss how it might be hard for people of other cultures to move to places that are very different from where they originally came from to gain a better understanding of how immigrants sometimes have a hard time adjusting.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tales from Grimm revised
Title: Tales from Grimm
ISBN:0-8166-4936-7
Translated and Illustrated by: Wanda Gag
Date of publication:1936
Award won: Caldecott Honor and Newbery Honor winner
Age recommendation: 9-12
Group represented: A variety of characters from many places. People and Animal's represented
Summary revised:
Tales from Grimm is a collection of fairy tales that has been translated and made into a book by Wanda Gag. The Grimm fairy tales are 209 fairy tales that were collected by the Grimm brothers and this book is a selection of those. All the fairy tales are German in origin and contain lessons within them and/or happy endings. The stories are fantasy and contain fun tales about children, adults or even animals. One of the more famous stories is Hansel and Gretel which is about a brother and sister who are sent away into the woods by their stepmother to be captured by a witch with a house made out of candy. Hansel and Gretel out smart the old witch and are eventually reunited with their father and their stepmother has gone away. All the characters live happily ever after together. I found that most of the stories I read in Tales from Grimm had the main characters, who were the underdog, living happily ever after. Other examples of this was when a musician group of animals sets out to start a new life together because their former owners don't want them any longer. The animal musicians stumble upon an old house along the way, scare away the thiefs living inside, and are able to live out the rest of their lives together happily. Another story is about on orphan girl who lives alone after her grandmother dies. She has a spindle, needle, and shuttle that magically turn her and her shabby cottage into something that is desired by a prince. The area prince marries her and they live together happily.
These stories could be used in a classroom when studying old fairy tales. The students could be assigned to have to make-up their own fairy tales and the class could make their own book of fairy tales to put in the school library. These fairy tales don't really teach a lesson as some due, this book could be used when teaching a lesson on different types of stories and what stories are or could be used for. A lot of these stories illustrate people that are poor at the beginning, but good things happen to them and they live happily in the end. Students could be assigned to make a book of short fairy tales. Students could act out some of the Grimm tales in class.
ISBN:0-8166-4936-7
Translated and Illustrated by: Wanda Gag
Date of publication:1936
Award won: Caldecott Honor and Newbery Honor winner
Age recommendation: 9-12
Group represented: A variety of characters from many places. People and Animal's represented
Summary revised:
Tales from Grimm is a collection of fairy tales that has been translated and made into a book by Wanda Gag. The Grimm fairy tales are 209 fairy tales that were collected by the Grimm brothers and this book is a selection of those. All the fairy tales are German in origin and contain lessons within them and/or happy endings. The stories are fantasy and contain fun tales about children, adults or even animals. One of the more famous stories is Hansel and Gretel which is about a brother and sister who are sent away into the woods by their stepmother to be captured by a witch with a house made out of candy. Hansel and Gretel out smart the old witch and are eventually reunited with their father and their stepmother has gone away. All the characters live happily ever after together. I found that most of the stories I read in Tales from Grimm had the main characters, who were the underdog, living happily ever after. Other examples of this was when a musician group of animals sets out to start a new life together because their former owners don't want them any longer. The animal musicians stumble upon an old house along the way, scare away the thiefs living inside, and are able to live out the rest of their lives together happily. Another story is about on orphan girl who lives alone after her grandmother dies. She has a spindle, needle, and shuttle that magically turn her and her shabby cottage into something that is desired by a prince. The area prince marries her and they live together happily.
These stories could be used in a classroom when studying old fairy tales. The students could be assigned to have to make-up their own fairy tales and the class could make their own book of fairy tales to put in the school library. These fairy tales don't really teach a lesson as some due, this book could be used when teaching a lesson on different types of stories and what stories are or could be used for. A lot of these stories illustrate people that are poor at the beginning, but good things happen to them and they live happily in the end. Students could be assigned to make a book of short fairy tales. Students could act out some of the Grimm tales in class.
Number the Stars
Title: Number the Stars
ISBN:0440413281
Date of Publication:1989
Author: Lowis Lowry
Award Won: Newbery Award
Age recommendation: Ages 9 and up
Group Represented: families, Jewish and Christian, living in Denmark during Nazi occupation
Number the Stars takes place in Denmark during World War II when the Nazi soldiers occupied the country. The main characters are the Rosens, a Jewish family, and the Johansens, a Christian family. Two girls, Ellen Rosen and Annemarie Johansen , are best friends and live in the same apartment building. The Rosens soon learn that the Nazi soldiers have started closing Jewish run businesses and taking Jewish families away. The Rosens are trying to escape to Sweden before the Germans can send them to a concentration camp. The Johansen's are going to help the Rosens. Mrs. Johansen's brother is a fisherman who lives in the country. They go to his house and he agrees to take them on his boat. The Rosen's, along with some other Jewish families, sail across the Baltic Sea to Sweden where they can be free. The journey is dangerous, but they make it. Before they sail it is discovered that Mr. Rosen dropped a handkerchief, with a special scent on it that keeps Nazi guard dogs away, in the woods during the night journey to the boat. Annemarie has to take the handkerchief secretly to her uncle before he can leave. She makes it safely even after being stopped by soldiers, because of her bravery the Rosens make it across.
This book would be a really good book to use when teaching about the Holocaust, or World War II. It could also be used when studying time periods to learn about all the different events that happened in history in the 1940's in different parts of the world. It could be used in a lesson on bravery.
ISBN:0440413281
Date of Publication:1989
Author: Lowis Lowry
Award Won: Newbery Award
Age recommendation: Ages 9 and up
Group Represented: families, Jewish and Christian, living in Denmark during Nazi occupation
Number the Stars takes place in Denmark during World War II when the Nazi soldiers occupied the country. The main characters are the Rosens, a Jewish family, and the Johansens, a Christian family. Two girls, Ellen Rosen and Annemarie Johansen , are best friends and live in the same apartment building. The Rosens soon learn that the Nazi soldiers have started closing Jewish run businesses and taking Jewish families away. The Rosens are trying to escape to Sweden before the Germans can send them to a concentration camp. The Johansen's are going to help the Rosens. Mrs. Johansen's brother is a fisherman who lives in the country. They go to his house and he agrees to take them on his boat. The Rosen's, along with some other Jewish families, sail across the Baltic Sea to Sweden where they can be free. The journey is dangerous, but they make it. Before they sail it is discovered that Mr. Rosen dropped a handkerchief, with a special scent on it that keeps Nazi guard dogs away, in the woods during the night journey to the boat. Annemarie has to take the handkerchief secretly to her uncle before he can leave. She makes it safely even after being stopped by soldiers, because of her bravery the Rosens make it across.
This book would be a really good book to use when teaching about the Holocaust, or World War II. It could also be used when studying time periods to learn about all the different events that happened in history in the 1940's in different parts of the world. It could be used in a lesson on bravery.
Bud, Not Buddy
Title: Bud, Not Buddy
ISBN:0385323069
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Award Won: Newbery Award
Age recommendation: ages 9 and up
Group Represented: African Americans, orphan children
Date of Publication:1999
Summary:
Bud, Not Buddy takes place in Flint Michigan, and Grand Rapids Michigan, during the great depression. Bud became on orphan when his mother fell ill and died when he was six years old. He lives in a home for boys, but is soon sent to a foster home where things don't go so well. After being locked in a shed for a night at his foster home, Bud escapes. He is determined to find his long lost father which he knows little about. He has some old rocks with writing on them and some old posters of Herman E. Calloway, a famous fiddle player, that he feels are links to his past. He sets out to find this Herman who he believes is his father. Bud makes it to Grand Rapids to where Herman lives by walking and hitch hiking. Bud soon discovers that Herman is not his father, but his grandfather after he finds Herman has many rocks just like the ones his mother used to keep with dates and cities written on them. Bud's arrival is the first time Herman has heard of his daughter's death. Herman and his band let Bud live with them, they take care of him, and he soon becomes a musician. Something that he discovers is in his blood.
This would be an interesting book to have students read during a social studies lesson on the Great Depression. It could also be used to teach about segregation as some references are made about separate, but equal situations in the book. For example, Herman's band always needs one white person in it to schedule all the shows and so Herman's club can be under his name.During the time period the book is written in African Americans were not allowed to own property.
ISBN:0385323069
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Award Won: Newbery Award
Age recommendation: ages 9 and up
Group Represented: African Americans, orphan children
Date of Publication:1999
Summary:
Bud, Not Buddy takes place in Flint Michigan, and Grand Rapids Michigan, during the great depression. Bud became on orphan when his mother fell ill and died when he was six years old. He lives in a home for boys, but is soon sent to a foster home where things don't go so well. After being locked in a shed for a night at his foster home, Bud escapes. He is determined to find his long lost father which he knows little about. He has some old rocks with writing on them and some old posters of Herman E. Calloway, a famous fiddle player, that he feels are links to his past. He sets out to find this Herman who he believes is his father. Bud makes it to Grand Rapids to where Herman lives by walking and hitch hiking. Bud soon discovers that Herman is not his father, but his grandfather after he finds Herman has many rocks just like the ones his mother used to keep with dates and cities written on them. Bud's arrival is the first time Herman has heard of his daughter's death. Herman and his band let Bud live with them, they take care of him, and he soon becomes a musician. Something that he discovers is in his blood.
This would be an interesting book to have students read during a social studies lesson on the Great Depression. It could also be used to teach about segregation as some references are made about separate, but equal situations in the book. For example, Herman's band always needs one white person in it to schedule all the shows and so Herman's club can be under his name.During the time period the book is written in African Americans were not allowed to own property.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
The City of Ember
Title: The City of Ember
ISBN:0375822747
Author: Jeanne DuPrau
Award Won: American Library Association Notable Book
Age recommendation: ages 9 and up
Group Represented: Citizens of Ember, race is not mentioned
The story is about two main characters Lina and Doon, who live in the city of Ember. The two characters are given work assignments at the age of 12 after they finish what the city says is their education. Lina is given the assignment to work in Pipeworks and fix the cities water pipes and leaks and Doon is given the job assignment of messenger. Doon trades with Lina because he wants to know more about the river that helps to pump water into the city and gives the town electricity. Doon wants to help the city come up with a solution to their shortage of light bulbs and their weakening water system. The city also experiences many black outs and their electric system is slowly failing. Their pipes are old and the generator is breaking as well. The city does not have a sky and sun and only gets light from the many street lights in the city that only stay on for a period of time each day. The citizens do not have knowledge of flashlights or candles and cannot explore areas outside of Ember because of this reason. One day when Lina's grandmother is sorting through her closet she finds her baby sister Poppy with an old box and a strange piece of paper that she has begun to tear up. Lina takes what is left of the paper and tries to piece it together. She soon discovers that the piece of paper are important instructions for the way out of Ember. Lina and Doon follow the instructions and find a room full of boats, candles, and matches in the pipeworks. The instructions tell them to take the boat down the river to a new place for them to live. After they learn that the mayor is hording supplies Lina and Doon decide to follow the directions and find the new land to help save the people of Ember. Lina and Doon take the boats down the river and through a strange tunnel and discover a new place with a sun and a sky. They realize that Ember is a city underground and that is why they only had light from street lamps. They drop a message out into the darkness to the people of Ember that they have found a new place to save the citizens of Ember.
This could be used in a science fiction unit for kids. It could also be used in a unit on saving the environment. The students could read the book and understand how important the environment is and how they should appreciate all that the plant has to offer.
ISBN:0375822747
Author: Jeanne DuPrau
Award Won: American Library Association Notable Book
Age recommendation: ages 9 and up
Group Represented: Citizens of Ember, race is not mentioned
The story is about two main characters Lina and Doon, who live in the city of Ember. The two characters are given work assignments at the age of 12 after they finish what the city says is their education. Lina is given the assignment to work in Pipeworks and fix the cities water pipes and leaks and Doon is given the job assignment of messenger. Doon trades with Lina because he wants to know more about the river that helps to pump water into the city and gives the town electricity. Doon wants to help the city come up with a solution to their shortage of light bulbs and their weakening water system. The city also experiences many black outs and their electric system is slowly failing. Their pipes are old and the generator is breaking as well. The city does not have a sky and sun and only gets light from the many street lights in the city that only stay on for a period of time each day. The citizens do not have knowledge of flashlights or candles and cannot explore areas outside of Ember because of this reason. One day when Lina's grandmother is sorting through her closet she finds her baby sister Poppy with an old box and a strange piece of paper that she has begun to tear up. Lina takes what is left of the paper and tries to piece it together. She soon discovers that the piece of paper are important instructions for the way out of Ember. Lina and Doon follow the instructions and find a room full of boats, candles, and matches in the pipeworks. The instructions tell them to take the boat down the river to a new place for them to live. After they learn that the mayor is hording supplies Lina and Doon decide to follow the directions and find the new land to help save the people of Ember. Lina and Doon take the boats down the river and through a strange tunnel and discover a new place with a sun and a sky. They realize that Ember is a city underground and that is why they only had light from street lamps. They drop a message out into the darkness to the people of Ember that they have found a new place to save the citizens of Ember.
This could be used in a science fiction unit for kids. It could also be used in a unit on saving the environment. The students could read the book and understand how important the environment is and how they should appreciate all that the plant has to offer.
Charlotte's Web
Title: Charlotte's Web
ISBN:0064410935
Author:E.B. White
Award Won: Newbery Honor Book and Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
Age group recommendation: Ages 5 and up
Group represented: 2 Farm families and their animals, families are Caucasian
Summary:
This is the story of Wilbur a pig that is being raised on Zuckerman's farm. Wilbur was the runt of a liter of pigs that were born to Fern's father . She convinced her dad not to kill Wilbur and that she would take care of him. When Wilbur was old enough he was sent to live on the Zuckerman's farm, Fern's aunt and uncle, because her father did not want to feed him. On the farm Wilbur is lonely and befriends the spider who has woven her web above his pen. Her name is Charlotte and she is very nice to Wilbur and very smart. Wilbur discovers that Mr. Zuckerman is fattening him up so they can kill him around Christmas time. Wilbur is so depressed by this news that Charlotte decides that she is going to save him. She thinks long and hard and comes up with an idea and asks Templeton, the farm rat, to go the the dump and bring back wrappers and labels from old food. She uses the words that she learns from the labels to write messages about Wilbur in her web to persuade Mr. Zuckerman not to kill Wilbur. All the people are so surprised and amazed by this, that Wilbur gets entered in the state fair because he is so famous and wins. The Zuckermans are so proud of their pig Wilbur that he gets to live out his long life on the farm. Charlotte dies at the fair, which makes Wilbur sad, but Wilbur takes her eggs back to the farm with him and 3 of her children stay on the farm to be with Wilbur.
This book could be used in a lesson on fiction books, on books about farm life or how a farm runs. It could also be used in a unit on alliteration, stories that make animals into characters with human characteristics because all of the animals in the book that talk and have human qualities.
ISBN:0064410935
Author:E.B. White
Award Won: Newbery Honor Book and Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
Age group recommendation: Ages 5 and up
Group represented: 2 Farm families and their animals, families are Caucasian
Summary:
This is the story of Wilbur a pig that is being raised on Zuckerman's farm. Wilbur was the runt of a liter of pigs that were born to Fern's father . She convinced her dad not to kill Wilbur and that she would take care of him. When Wilbur was old enough he was sent to live on the Zuckerman's farm, Fern's aunt and uncle, because her father did not want to feed him. On the farm Wilbur is lonely and befriends the spider who has woven her web above his pen. Her name is Charlotte and she is very nice to Wilbur and very smart. Wilbur discovers that Mr. Zuckerman is fattening him up so they can kill him around Christmas time. Wilbur is so depressed by this news that Charlotte decides that she is going to save him. She thinks long and hard and comes up with an idea and asks Templeton, the farm rat, to go the the dump and bring back wrappers and labels from old food. She uses the words that she learns from the labels to write messages about Wilbur in her web to persuade Mr. Zuckerman not to kill Wilbur. All the people are so surprised and amazed by this, that Wilbur gets entered in the state fair because he is so famous and wins. The Zuckermans are so proud of their pig Wilbur that he gets to live out his long life on the farm. Charlotte dies at the fair, which makes Wilbur sad, but Wilbur takes her eggs back to the farm with him and 3 of her children stay on the farm to be with Wilbur.
This book could be used in a lesson on fiction books, on books about farm life or how a farm runs. It could also be used in a unit on alliteration, stories that make animals into characters with human characteristics because all of the animals in the book that talk and have human qualities.
The Giver
Title: The Giver
ISBN: 9780395645666
Author: Lois Lowry
Award Won: Newbery Medal
Age recommendation: Ages 9-12
Group represented: a group of citizens living in a society set in the future. About a 12 year old boy and his family unit
Summary:
This book is about a society that is set in the future. The people of the society have been made all the same and they do not get to make any choices for themselves. Their clothing, family unit, and food is all decided for them. Everything is decided for them by the elders and committee members. All the citizens have set things that happen to them depending on how old they are in a given year. The main character is Johnas and he is turning 12, which is the year that your adult job in the community is given to you. He receives the assignment of receiver of memory and does a years worth of training with the giver of memory. He takes lots of memories in, some painful and some that make him very happy. He learns of colors and that people once had choices and everyone was not the same. He learns of families and love and is determined to change things and make the citizens aware of what they are missing out on. He devises a plan with the Giver that he will leave the city and travel far beyond to "Elsewhere". An unknown place that he is sure exists beyond the communities. When he leaves the citizens will have to endure the memories that he once held and will know of color and emotion. He takes with him some food and baby Gabriel. Gabriel is a baby that was born a year ago, but is behind on his development in the community, and is scheduled to be put to death or "released" from the community the following day. Johnas can't bear the thought of Gabriel being "released". Johnas and Gabriel set off on their journey hiding from search crews and almost starving to death until they reach the bottom of a hill. At the bottom their is a house full of family and friends to greet them and take them into a place where they can have feelings and see color. This is just one interpretation of the ending. The author makes it unclear as to what really happens when they reach the bottom of the hill on their sled but hints at them finding a new family.
This would be an interesting book to use in a social studies lesson about how communities function, how the governments of communities work to serve the citizens, and how citizens interact with each other and help the city run. The students could develop their own communities with their own set of rules and write a report about all the daily happenings and assignements that would be needed to make the city function.
The students could also write their own ending to the book because the ending is vague.
ISBN: 9780395645666
Author: Lois Lowry
Award Won: Newbery Medal
Age recommendation: Ages 9-12
Group represented: a group of citizens living in a society set in the future. About a 12 year old boy and his family unit
Summary:
This book is about a society that is set in the future. The people of the society have been made all the same and they do not get to make any choices for themselves. Their clothing, family unit, and food is all decided for them. Everything is decided for them by the elders and committee members. All the citizens have set things that happen to them depending on how old they are in a given year. The main character is Johnas and he is turning 12, which is the year that your adult job in the community is given to you. He receives the assignment of receiver of memory and does a years worth of training with the giver of memory. He takes lots of memories in, some painful and some that make him very happy. He learns of colors and that people once had choices and everyone was not the same. He learns of families and love and is determined to change things and make the citizens aware of what they are missing out on. He devises a plan with the Giver that he will leave the city and travel far beyond to "Elsewhere". An unknown place that he is sure exists beyond the communities. When he leaves the citizens will have to endure the memories that he once held and will know of color and emotion. He takes with him some food and baby Gabriel. Gabriel is a baby that was born a year ago, but is behind on his development in the community, and is scheduled to be put to death or "released" from the community the following day. Johnas can't bear the thought of Gabriel being "released". Johnas and Gabriel set off on their journey hiding from search crews and almost starving to death until they reach the bottom of a hill. At the bottom their is a house full of family and friends to greet them and take them into a place where they can have feelings and see color. This is just one interpretation of the ending. The author makes it unclear as to what really happens when they reach the bottom of the hill on their sled but hints at them finding a new family.
This would be an interesting book to use in a social studies lesson about how communities function, how the governments of communities work to serve the citizens, and how citizens interact with each other and help the city run. The students could develop their own communities with their own set of rules and write a report about all the daily happenings and assignements that would be needed to make the city function.
The students could also write their own ending to the book because the ending is vague.
The Snowy Day
Title: The Snowy Day
ISBN: 0140501827
Author: Ezra Jack Keats
Award Won: The Caledecott Medal
Age Group:Ages 2 and up
Group represented: an african american family and other children in the neighorhood
Summary:
This story is about a young boy named Peter. He wakes up one day to a snow filled world that he sees from his bedroom window. A lot of snow had fallen while he was sleeping during the night. Peter is so excited that after his breakfast he gets dressed in his snowsuit and goes outside to explore. He has a good time making patterns in the snow with his foot prints and a stick. He comes across other children having a snowball fight, but knows he is too young to join. He climbs up big piles of snow and slids down them and he even makes a giant snowball that he thinks he can keep for later. He brings the snowball inside with him, only to realize that the snowball has melted away. After a night of dreams filled with warm sunshine he calls to his friend to go out and play once again in the snow. New snow had fallen again while is was fast a sleep.
An obvious use of this book could be to use it during a weather unit and talk about all the things that happen outside when snow begins to fall. Teachers could also use this book to talk about different types of families because it appears that Peter lives in an apartment building with just his mother and has no siblings that are talked about in the book.
The book could also be used during a health unit to talk about different types of outdoor activites that can be done during all seasons to keep people active and healthy.
ISBN: 0140501827
Author: Ezra Jack Keats
Award Won: The Caledecott Medal
Age Group:Ages 2 and up
Group represented: an african american family and other children in the neighorhood
Summary:
This story is about a young boy named Peter. He wakes up one day to a snow filled world that he sees from his bedroom window. A lot of snow had fallen while he was sleeping during the night. Peter is so excited that after his breakfast he gets dressed in his snowsuit and goes outside to explore. He has a good time making patterns in the snow with his foot prints and a stick. He comes across other children having a snowball fight, but knows he is too young to join. He climbs up big piles of snow and slids down them and he even makes a giant snowball that he thinks he can keep for later. He brings the snowball inside with him, only to realize that the snowball has melted away. After a night of dreams filled with warm sunshine he calls to his friend to go out and play once again in the snow. New snow had fallen again while is was fast a sleep.
An obvious use of this book could be to use it during a weather unit and talk about all the things that happen outside when snow begins to fall. Teachers could also use this book to talk about different types of families because it appears that Peter lives in an apartment building with just his mother and has no siblings that are talked about in the book.
The book could also be used during a health unit to talk about different types of outdoor activites that can be done during all seasons to keep people active and healthy.
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