Dear Dumb Diary

      I absolutely adored this book. I had never heard of the series until I saw it in our classroom, but I can't wait to read the others! These are right at my little cousin's reading level and I plan on reading this at the same time she does. I found this book to be highly entertaining and the humor was very well written. The diary entries are hysterical and very appropriately aged. There wasn't much substance to this reading, but for a fun assignment or free-read novel, I'd say it's a great choice!
      In terms of younger readers choosing a book of this series to read, I'd have to raise a slight issue of concern when it comes to the word choice and topics covered throughout the book. Some parents may have an issue with the main character talking about farts and/or dislike for school, teachers, classmates, etc. Though its intentions are humorous and silly, the book does have an arrogance to it and it can be a problem for some students who tend to pick up inappropriate behaviors. Another issue some may have with the series, is its lack of morals and educating messages. The book seems to follow the life of Jamie, but her poor manners typically stand uncorrected or unchanged. I could also see the lack of interest boys may have with this type of novel. Hopefully the students would take this as a humorous break from school texts, but there are concerns to be addressed before allowing a young student to read it.

Dear Dumb Diary (It's Not My Fault I Know Everything)
By: Jim Benton
Published in 2009

The Misfits

      I can honestly say that I am a fan of this book. I was a little hesitant at the start of the novel, but found myself truly enjoying the reading as I progressed through it. Yes, it was somewhat cliche at points, but I really liked the message the book was expressing. Nowadays, bullying is such a serious problem and as a future educator I feel strongly about putting all of that to an end. I was frustrated that the teachers of the story didn't do anything to promote equality nor did they seem to feel that bullying should be a zero-tolerance policy until the end of the novel. This book covered some controversial topics and had some controversial characters, but I think it's important to share with our students. Educating them on these topics can only make the world a less judgmental place and I am all for that.
      Aside from my own feelings about the book, I think children will like this story because of its relatable character cast and real-life school situations. I think the message is highly important for students to learn about, considering everyone feels like an outsider. Reminding students of this fact is an important part of being an educator, as students spend more time at school than they do with their family members.

The Misfits
By: James Howe
Published in 2001

First The Egg

      I originally heard of this book because of the numerous awards it'd won. I had high expectations for it. Though it did turn out to be a wonderful book, I hadn't realized it'd use such few words. At first, I didn't like it. Then, after rereading I grew a stronger appreciation for the book's creativity. The illustration completed the title and the start and finished products were quick to follow. I liked the straightforward object then result.
      I feel like young children will enjoy this story, because they need to figure out what comes after the initial word expressed. The pictures are simple, but brightly colored and textured. Overall, this book may not be directly relatable for kids, but it is great for developing learning skills for problem-solution styled situations.

First The Egg
By: Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Published in 2007
                    

The House In The Night

      This story was a lovely read. The pictures were fascinating, as they were illustrated with mainly dark colors and highlighted with little points of bright yellow lights. There were minimal words to read, but the illustrations dominated the pages with neighborhood scenes at nighttime. I found this story to be a good read before bedtime. The simple text formatted sentences are spread over a couple pages with a simple nursery rhyme sound to it.
      I think young children would enjoy this story, because of its outstanding illustrations and unique use of color. I think it would be difficult to use if the goal was to learn about the characters or a theme with depth. All in all, this story was a quick, pleasant read and the illustrations will be memorable for any age level.

The House In The Night
By: Susan Marie Swanson
Illustrated by: Beth Krommes
Published in 2008

I Never Knew Your Name

      I found this story to be semi-controversial, but more upsetting than anything. It successfully evoked a response from me as a reader, but I feel like it may be too much for a young child to handle. It may entirely go over their head. The story is structured with inferences and I'm not sure a child would catch on. I feel this story would best be used when a child is read to by an adult. That way an explanation can clarify any confusing points.
      The pictures were interestingly painted and I think that may draw the student readers in. Instead of detailed characters, the people were painted as figures without the little characteristics that stories tend to use to further express a person. I'm fearful that students may be scared off by the "suicide" scene, and miss the underlying message. The book leaves much up to mystery and kids may not make the proper connections. I think this is a book kids can read when in need of a story that touches on this topic. Suicide is a difficult topic for anyone to discuss and this can be a starting point for readers. Eventually, a better resource should be looked into.

I Never Knew Your Name
By: Sherry Garland
Illustrated by: Sheldon Greenberg
Published in 1994

Heather Has Two Mommies

      My initial response to this story was that it was highly controversial. After rereading it, I realized that I really appreciated the social gap it was attempting to close; however, I feel like the story got a bit off-track and went into areas that were not necessary. I feel that it was off topic when it explained how one of Heather's moms was inseminated. I think sticking to the story's moral of accepting the family lifestyle of having two moms was far more important than the anatomy of the procedure. I feel this is an example of literature trying to promote tolerance and positive equality concerns, but I'm not sure that I would use this particular book in my classroom. If a parent were interested in a resource to share with their child I would be comfortable explaining this a choice, but I would not place it freely in my classroom.
      In terms of how I feel kids may react, the pictures were done in black and white and only took up a small portion of the page. I fear that children will not be engaged in the story, therefore, not appreciating it for what it is worth. I do think that this can be an effective tool if a parent wanted to sit with their child and relay the story's message, though.

Heather Has Two Mommies
By: Leslea Newman
Illustrated by: Diana Souza
Published in 1989

Smoky Night

     One of the most memorable things about this book was its incredible illustrations. Not only did they begin the moment you opened the book, but the backgrounds were photographs of real materials such as gravel, paper, etc. The actual illustrations were pastel-like pictures that were painted to enhance the story's character and setting development. I appreciated what this book's purpose was; however, I did not find it to be especially interesting or thought-provoking. I did like how the author symbolistically expressed the troubles of a broken community and their need to be more tolerant and understanding of one another.
      Along with that, I think there are several wonderful messages expressed throughout the story. I feel that they were a bit far stretched and students may not catch on, but the challenge may be a guide to higher thinking development. The story doesn't go into great detail about their lifestyle or what is going on, which may make students confused if they have never experienced or witnessed a lifestyle like the characters' of the story. I'm not certain I would use it as a free read in my classroom, but I think I would use it as a part of a lesson and make sure to discuss topics with my students. Controversial topics are vital to teach appropriately and this could be an example of one resource I may use to get the message across.

Smoky Night
By: Eve Bunting
Illustrated by: David Diaz
Published in 1994

Skin Again

      Overall, I felt this story was not a particularly controversial one. Its content was presented in a very peaceful manner; however, the topic of racism is quite controversial so I can understand why it would be categorized as potentially controversial. My initial reaction was that of a positive one, where I hadn't encountered a negative statement or situation of the story, so I felt this was promoting a good message in an eased manner.
      "The skin I'm in is just a covering. It cannot tell my story"... is how the book begins. I found that to be a very powerful quote. The author reuses it throughout the story to reiterate the message's theme. The illustrations were abstract and the words rhymed. I loved the message of equality that was expressed, but found it a bit distracting that the sentences carried over from one page to another. At times, I found myself losing my train of thought or understanding of the sentence as a whole, because it was so scattered over the pages. I think that would be a weak point to share with the students, because they may not fully grasp what it all means.

Skin Again
By: Bell Hooks
Illustrated by: Chris Raschka
Published in 2004

Hooray For Reading Day!

     Prior to reading this story, I had not known that there was a "Jessica Worries" series. I look forward to reading some of the other stories that are out there, as I enjoyed reading this one! I had a personal connection with this story, considering I was terrified of reading aloud when I was a young student just starting school. I was afraid of my teachers' corrections and I was nervous of what the other kids would think of me. That's exactly how the plot line of this story unfolds.
     I think this tackles a very common concern for students and should be shared to reassure them that it's okay to struggle at something. Reading can only get better through practice and patience. This book shows one way a student learned to overcome her reading fears. I feel this would be a wonderful way to get students involved in reading and to practice their weaknesses. I hope to have this on the shelves in my future classrooms and can't wait to share it with my students!

Hooray For Reading Day!
By: Margery Cuyler
Illustrated by: Arthur Howard
Published in 2008

Please Say Please!

     This was one of my favorite children's books I've read in the past week or so. Not only does the cover illustrations create one large picture connecting from both covers, but the rest of the pictures inside are adorable. Young children love animals and the characters of this story are all different kinds of wild animals. Each animal behaves in an unmannerly way, then corrects him or herself and does the proper task.
    I entirely plan to use this in my classroom if I work in the appropriate age group for this picture book. It covers the important value of manners. Sometimes parents struggle with disciplining their kids when it comes to manners, or don't teach them manners at all. This book would be a great tool to use to engage students' attention and reiterate the important lesson in another reachable form. The illustrations further show what is expected of each character and what is considered not appropriate. I think students will really enjoy this book and remember the lessons by associating good behaviors with the various animals.

Please Say Please!
By: Margery Cuyler
Illustrated by: Will Hillenbrand
Published in 2004

Zip, Zip... Homework

     I liked the overall reading of this book. The illustrations began on the copyright page and continued all the way through the last page of the book. I assumed the story was going to be about a student doing homework or not liking homework assignments. After reading the story, I learned there was much more to the plot than that. This book was unique from the common stories about disliking homework and I enjoyed it for that reason. The story's message was about being a responsible student and not losing your assignments; however if you do find yourself in that position, the worst thing to do is lie about it.
      I think this is a great resource for parents or teachers to use, because of its originality and realistic life situations. Students need to be taught about their responsibilities as both a societal being, as well as, representing a good student status.

Zip, Zip... Homework
By: Nancy Poydar
Published in 2008

On The Way To Kindergarten

     This was an adorable book filled with illustrations. There were full page drawings, as well as, mini drawings bordered by various shapes for the readers to look at. The pictures were intriguing and appeared as if they were created using chalk. They followed the words on the page, but also added more details and characters to the story that may not have been mentioned through the text. This would be a great book to use to show the various chores a child may need to complete on a daily basis leading up to the age when they are reading for kindergarten to begin.
      I feel I would share this story with young ones, because it guides them through the transition of being at home, to going to school and being a "big kid". I think kids will absolutely be able to relate to this story, because of its message and theme. Everyone goes to school at some point; even if a student a little older than kindergarten was reading this to someone, they can still appreciate its content and enjoy the colorful and charming illustrations. This book would be useful to use when trying to find out a student's thoughts on school and if they were nervous, excited, anxious, or more. The teacher or parent(s) can help make a connection between the story and the child's life by asking questions or listening to what the student has to say as they read it to one another.

On The Way To Kindergarten
By: Virginia Kroll
Illustrated by: Elisabeth Schlossberg
Published in 2006

Schooled

     Schooled is an excellent book that I enjoyed from the start of the novel. I was immediately captivated by Cap's inability to relate to the rest of society. After his grandmother was injured from falling out of a tree, he was forced to attend a new, public school. I could relate to Cap, because I moved when I was in elementary school and the change was an adjustment. I didn't expect to relate to Cap considering he lived such a bubbled lifestyle from being home-schooled. This connection drew me even further into the novel's plot. This was a quick read with much going on in each chapter. I can absolutely understand why this is an Iowa Children's Choice Award novel! I found myself constantly making analyses and connections to life situations and friends' experiences. It made me look back at my grammar school years and wonder if students were able to make the same connections.  

      Cap is a teenager facing the difficulties of growing up in a society that perceives him in a manner that labels him as "different". This is a common situation teenaged students are faced with. Since Cap struggles with understanding his new terminology, peers, care-takers, and school, I feel that students would be able to relate to the novel fairly well. The novel has a quirky, dry sense of humor to it and I think students will find that enjoyable in contrast to their other required school readings. Students would be able to make individual opinions about the novel, the characters, and the frequent miscommunications/misunderstandings and this would allow for personal character growth through the reading of this novel. Another intriguing idea is how this novel shifts the first-person narratives among characters from chapter to chapter. This may be different than previous novels students have read. It would be great to use in an English class as a means of talking about using different points of views to write stories from. Along with the theme of changing narrators, I strongly believe that this novel would be useful to include when incorporating themes involving any "new" or "changing" ideas. Society is constantly changing and evolving into something different that is shaped by its people. This novel can pinpoint that idea into a particular story line the students can analyze easily. All in all, students will appreciate the humor, relate-able life situations, and drama involved in this award-categorized novel.

Schooled

By: Gordon Korman

Published in 2007

The Quiet Book

     I appreciated this book for many reasons. I thought the illustrations were excellent and very child-friendly. The color scheme was soft and sweet; both of which matched the tone of the entire book. The overall mood of this picture book was gentle and I think young readers will love it. The author includes many descriptive, yet appropriate words to introduce to the children to. With more animals as the main characters of the story, kids will find this to be a great bedtime story they enjoy having their parents read aloud to them.
     Another adorable note about this book is that the cover continues onto the backside of the book with a cute quote and more animal characters to look at. Kids will have plenty to look at while reading through the story and have a great time pointing out their observations of what is happening in each picture of the book. Overall, the students will get a strong message from the text and a sweet appreciation for the illustrations.

The Quiet Book
By: Deborah Underwood
Published in 2010

Compost Stew

     I thoroughly enjoyed this picture book and look forward to sharing it with future students and young children. Not only are the pictures absolutely adorable, but the story is filled with a wonderful word scheme. The illustrations consist of little paper fragments pieced together to make full pictures. The fragments were taken from what appeared to be recycled materials. It had a very organic mood to it, which is more than appropriate considering it is an "A to Z Recipe for the Earth". This book covers content involving the earth and the importance of protecting it, as well as, the letters of the alphabet.
     Considering it has such a cross-curricular purpose, I feel the students will really enjoy reading this book. Many of the students may not even realize they are learning about several vital topic areas. The book is written with a lovely rhyme and few words, leaving the imagination to take over as the kids look at the pictures presented. The words do not explain what the illustrations are or what the characters are doing in that particular picture, so the audience gets to learn more about the story through viewing the illustrations. I feel this would be very beneficial for young children to read, because it is as enjoyable as ever, but still educates the kids on very important topics.

Compost Stew
By: Mary McKenna Siddals
Illustrated by: Ashley Wolff
Published in 2010

Hot Rod Hamster

     This story looked absolutely adorable when I came across it. To then find out it was written by an honored author and illustrated by a bestselling illustrator, I knew I had to read it. The pictures were colorful and charming. The hamster's personality shined through the images on every single page. I enjoyed looking at the pictures and found myself stopping to admire them longer than most books' pictures.
     When I think about children reading this book, I can only think of positive reactions. The words of the story carry a rhythmic beat and describe the cars as the book moves along. Boys will love it for the car talk and car vocabulary. Girls will love it for the animals and fun phrases. Altogether, children will enjoy following the story's hamster as he journeys along to make a hot rod.

Hot Rod Hamster
By: Cynthia Lord
Illustrated by: Derek Anderson
Published in 2010

It's A Book

     This book surprised me when I finished reading it. I was looking for award nominated and award winning picture books and found this to be amongst those categories. At first glance, I thought the illustrations were simple and bland in color. Once I'd read it, I realized the pictures didn't need to be overdone because the story carried the excitement. With a cute monkey and donkey as the main characters, Smith brought the digital world of our society into the world of books. This provoked interest in the characters to read a book and enjoy its content, as opposed to getting trapped in technology. It's a book of few words, but a big message about the significance of reading for both children and adults.
     I think children will listen to its message, because young children like animals and like to learn along with the characters. Together, both the readers and the animal characters, can venture through the world of reading. It's uniquely written style will intrigue young readers and their parents, hopefully promoting more quality reading time.

It's A Book
By: Lane Smith
Published in 2010

Around Our Way On Neighbors' Day

     I was initially drawn into this story because of its cover page. The illustrations were unique from the other stories I'd been reading and wanted to find out where the story led. I truly enjoyed this picture book, because it showcased a multi-ethnic community and introduced numerous neighborhood characters along the way. Young students should learn about the significance of their communities and this book provides an excellent look into the positive bond a neighborhood can form.
     Students at kindergarten through second grade reading levels will love following the characters through their preparation for the "Neighbors' Day" celebration. The story includes cultural food, games, activities, and more that the class will find exciting to learn about. This picture book is a rhythmic read, therefore, engaging the students further. In a time where diversity is greatly emphasized, this book could not be more appropriate to share in the classroom. Students will learn about aspects of multiculturalism, which open doors for wonderful classroom lessons involving the acceptance and appreciation of each others' differences.

Around Our Way On Neighbors' Day
By: Tameka Fryer Brown
Illustrated by: Charlotte Riley-Webb
Published in 2010

The Giver

     I was happy to hear we were going to be reading The Giver, because I remembered missing out on reading it in my elementary years. After finishing the book, I felt frustrated that I did not have the chance to read it when I was younger. Sure, I was in the average reading group, but I think I would have really enjoyed reading this story when I was a kid. I struggled in finding books I found interesting or engaging and feel this would have captured my interest into reading more novels as a young student. I also remember reading numerous books set in historic times or around historical events. This is another factor that would have made reading this as a kid more enticing as well. I really enjoyed how Lowry used a futuristic setting as a means to create an atmosphere appropriate to portray his overlying messages through.
      After recording my own thoughts on The Giver, I began wondering about what I could do with it in my future classrooms. I think this book has many useful purposes and activities that can complement its lesson and themes. For example, this would be a resource I'd like to use when analyzing motifs, themes, symbols, and other elements I'd like my students to identify within the story. I feel it'd create great discussions, as well as, great story prompts, project opportunities, and compare/contrast activities. The students would really get a lot of analytical and thought-provoking practices out of reading this book in class. I think the students would be more than capable to read the story themselves, and then review areas that needed clarification as a whole. I see this book as a beneficial addition to a classroom curriculum and look forward to using it in the future.

The Giver
By: Lois Lowry
Published in 1993

The Breadwinner

     My initial reaction to this book felt seemingly positive. I enjoyed reading through the novel and found myself forgetting I had to read it as a school assignment, as opposed to a free-reading book. I immediately began to analyze why I had enjoyed it so much. Was it because I grew up with the fearful events of 9/11? Was it because I hadn't known much about the daily lives of the citizens who lived in Afghanistan? Was it because I was engaged in the story line of this eleven year old girl? I've concluded that it's probably parts of all of these thoughts. I feel that this novel broadened my understanding of their culture and their lifestyles, both of which I'd never bothered to look into previously.
      My next thoughts regarded the novel and its use in the classroom setting. I strongly feel that it would best suit an audience of sixth or seventh graders. When looking at the content and pace of the story, I understand that it is plausible to use it in grades below that; however, I feel that a slightly older audience would take more away from the novel and better appreciate its significance to students' lives today. I think this would be an excellent resource to use when discussing a unit on the middle east. I think it will provide the students with insight on topics and lifestyles they are not familiar with and this book can assist in bringing that different culture onto a level the students can grasp. My biggest concern is that this was published in 2000 and much of Afghanistan culture has changes since then. Teachers would have to be sure to discuss how it's changed in present day and that this was what their lives were like under Taliban rule.

The Breadwinner
By: Deborah Ellis
Published in 2000

David Goes To School

     This story is simple, but I feel that students would love having it read to them. I found the illustrations and the dialogue to set a semi-dark mood to the story, but all ends well. I was intrigued by how the wording was presented on each page. The author had little clips of largely-lined paper where a simple sentence would be written in the font style of a young student. I think this story would relate well with the kids because of that, and I think it sends a good message about school.
     If I read this aloud to my class, I would want to be sure to take time and discuss how David's actions impact others around him in the illustrations. Since the text itself is so minimal, much of the story is left for the audience to see in his drawings. I think asking the students questions as I read through it would best engage them in the story and promote positive analytical skills while reading in class. I would like to conclude my reading of the story by asking students why they think David behaved as he did, what the teacher and students felt, and what they would do in the situation.

David Goes To School
By: David Shannon
Published in 1999

Look Whooo's Counting

     This story stood out to me, because the illustrations consisted of simple backgrounds with cut-out wood shapes and paper materials. These cut-out shapes created the characters and backdrops from page to page. It was refreshing to look at something other than painted pictures and I think students would like the change of style as well. Considering the pictures are made up of little bits of paper, I think it broadens the students' visual abilities to see the numbers as not only numbers, but also the owl's wings.
     Applying this to classroom activities can include content areas of science, math, reading, and art. I feel this will help the students remember their numbers because of the various animals the owl sees as she's counting her way through the night. It is a very simple read with little plot. I don't think this would be useful for any grade above kindergarten, as it may lose its audience's attention. I do feel that this would be great for a kindergarten read-aloud book, though. The students can interactively count along with the story.

Look Whooo's Counting
By: Suse MacDonald
Published in 2000

In Our Mothers' House

     I feel one of the most important aspects of this story is its correlation to societal events today. Family lifestyles are changing and not everyone in society is understanding of that. This book can really assist in addressing such a challenging topic. I believe it is written in an appropriate manner, where younger children are capable of grasping the message that is portrayed in the story. Again, Patricia Polacco does wonderful, and realistic, drawings to complement her story. Though the pictures are not particularly unique in color use, Polacco brings her story to a real-life setting with plausible characters and events.
     Though this book may not be considered appropriate material to have in all schools across the nation, those that would acknowledge this resource would find it very useful to aid in covering several topic areas. Some of those include: diversity, tolerance, acceptance, community life, home life, and a changing societal view. This could be used in a health lesson discussing family and/or acceptance, or it could be used in a completely different setting such as a writing class. I think it would be a great activity idea to have students write their own "house" stories discussing their families and introducing their lives in order to share with their classmates and appreciate the differences they're confronted with.

In Our Mothers' House
By: Patricia Polacco
Published in 2009

Mr. Lincoln's Way

     One of the first things I noticed about this story was how the cover illustrations created one large picture when you opened the book up all the way. The illustrations give the reader a better sense of each character's personality and better developed the plot line by showing more than what the words on the page described. Patricia Polacco's illustrations typically appear to be realistic and this allows for the readers to match the characters of the story to the people in the pictures on the pages. Her illustrations also take up majority of each page, leaving little spaces for the words of the text to be placed. I think this is great to talk about when sharing in the classroom, because the students can begin to develop an understanding of how connecting the words of the story to the pictures can be used for future stories with less illustrations involved (chapter books). 
      This book would be a great resource for discussing diversity, bullying, discrimination, misjudging, and more. There is a second underlying message present and that includes respecting authority figures and those older than you. I feel this would be excellent to use during staff appreciation week or in preparation for a classroom visit from the principal. Students need to be introduced to the principal at an early age to better grasp what his/her purpose is and how they are involved within the schools.

Mr. Lincoln's Way
By: Patricia Polacco
Published in 2001

My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother

    Overall, I found this book to be useful in terms of relating to prospective students. I feel this would be beneficial to use in the classroom as a means of promoting discussion and understanding about family, competition, personal feelings, appropriate reactions to situations, and more. This would be a great tool to use as a starting prompt for early personal narratives and other writing unit practices. I loved how Patricia Polacco decorated the inside covers with personal photos of her brother and herself as kids. Her illustrations help set the tone of the story and further develop the characters' personalities through expression, posture, and other physical aspects of the characters.
      I feel this would be great to use with younger students, because they can relate the book's competitive nature to their own siblings, friends, and/or classmates. I believe this would help that younger age group understand how to positively interact with others. This could help simply address classroom issues or be incorporated into an actual lesson. The lesson could be used to prompt other discussions as well. Some ideas may include elements of art, how to add illustrations to a story to show what the author is talking about, or how/what is necessary to include in defining various emotions the characters are feeling in the story.  

My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother
By: Patricia Polacco
Published in 1994