A New Twist on Concept Books

Click here to check out a new concept book which is specifically designed for the visually impaired. It utilizes both specific language choice and Braille to create a concept book. It's a really neat idea!

Wordless Graphic Novel

Author: Regis Faller
Title: The Adventures of Polo
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press, 2002.

Grade Level: K-2

Summary: Polo the dog goes on many adventures around the world and even into outer space in this wordless graphic novel.

Strengths: I think this is the best graphic novel I have come across for young readers. Stereotypically, graphic novels are reserved for older audiences or fantasy fans, but Polo is a loveable, adventurous dog that young children will enjoy. I praise Faller for is wordless story and the challenge of creating such a book. The illustrations were playful and bright, which seemed to suit Polo. Overall, it was an enjoyable book.

Concerns: I personally did not fully grasp the graphic novel. I understand Polo is going on adventures, but I found the absence of words particularly damaging to my overall understanding. Despite the artist’s attempt there were sequences which I could just simply not understand on their own.

Classroom Use: Students may enjoy retelling or creating a story based upon this wordless novel. Since there is not written plot, students have almost free reign in creating and supplementing Polo and his adventures. Young artists in the class may also enjoy creating other Polo adventures by drawing pictures similar to the ones found in this book.

*Capitol Choice Book, 2007

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“Some Pig”

Author: E.B. White
Title: Charlotte’s Web Publisher: Harper Collins Publisher, 1980.

Grade Level: 3-5

Summary: The story of Wilbur, Charlotte, and Fern as they learn about friendship, death, and other life struggles.

Strengths: I LOVE Charlotte’s Web! Hands down this is my favorite book from my childhood. White’s introductory sentence has been praised as one of the best opening sentences in children’s literature. The story is simple, yet remarkable. One thing I particularly appreciate is the fact that yes, this is a fantasy book with talking animals, but the reader is not bogged down with that information, but is focused on the story. Another praise for White is the tough issues, especially death, that he is able to incorporate and allow for children to digest in his work. From the very beginning when Wilbur is born to Charlotte’s death, children are exposed, yet never overwhelmed by death. I certainly believe that every child should read Charlotte’s Web.

Classroom Use: I think children would appreciate reading and then watching the movie of Charlotte’s Web. Teachers may incorporate comparison techniques or even graphic organizers to help enhance the students’ understanding. I also think Charlotte’s Web would be a fun Reader’s Theater or even play to do as a class.

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No Better Than A Slave

Author: Katherine Paterson
Title: Lyddie
Publisher: Lodestar Books, 1991.

Grade Level: 4th & up

Summary: Lyddie, a poor farm girl from Vermont, goes to Lowell, Massachusetts to work in the mills in order to help her family.

Strengths: Paterson uses beautiful, vivid vocabulary which makes the reader feel like they are hiding from the bear in Vermont or in the loud loom room in Lowell. Paterson’s description helps the reader relate to Lyddie and her environment. I think this is a great example of historical fiction and is on a topic that is rarely covered by children’s authors. I think the historical accuracy should also be commended, which is certainly a vital part of writing good historical fiction.

Concerns: Lyddie’s mother being committed, the death of the baby, Diana’s pregnancy, and Mr. Marsden’s sexual advances may be tough to comprehend or swallow for young readers. Another concern is the interest level. I personally enjoyed Lyddie as a young girl, but I worry that its interest is limited.

Classroom Use: Lyddie is a great historical fiction read, whether completed as a class or independently. Teachers can utilize Paterson’s description of Lyddie’s life at Lowell to help better explain the textile industry in nineteenth century America. I also think this is another great example of a book that should be a part of the classroom library.

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Gutsy Gilly

Author: Katherine Paterson
Title: The Great Gilly Hopkins
Publisher: Thomas Y. Crowell Co., 1978.

Grade Level: 3-5

Summary: Gill struggles in the foster care system to find her place and her “family.”

Strengths: Gilly is one of my all time favorite characters. She is tough, independent, gutsy, and longs to find a place to call home. She’s the picture of perseverance and the results of being knocked around in the world. I think readers are shocked by Gilly, yet root for her throughout the book.

Concerns: Language, racism, and a tough ending are my main concerns with this book. The language and the racist remarks must be taken in context, yet teachers and parents must be aware of it. As for the ending and the tough message, I applaud Paterson for not wrapping this book up neatly. It’s not how Gilly would have wanted it. Paterson isn’t afraid to tell her reader that not everything is easy, not everything ends up like you would like it to, but that’s where perseverance and endurance comes into play. Maybe as an adult I can appreciate that message more, but Gilly is certainly not to be dismissed due to these concerns.

Classroom Use: I think this would be a great class read aloud. This would provide the opportunity for teachers to skip the language and explain some of the tough issues and messages of this book, without missing out on Gilly.

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Ramona Strikes Again!

Author: Beverly Cleary
Title: Ramona’s World
Publisher: Scholastic Inc., 1999.

Grade Level: 3rd & up

Summary: This story follows Ramona through her fourth grade year and the struggles she faces during this year.

Strengths: Ramona is fun, loud, spunky, and loving. She’s a great girl and I know I’d like to be friends with her. Beverly Cleary has such a gift for creating characters and giving them life, and Ramona is one of her best examples. Students, especially girls, can relate to big sisters, new babies, friends, spelling, and class adversaries. The reader struggles and triumphs with Ramona throughout. I also appreciate the pictures and simplicity of the story, which I think makes the chapters more manageable, especially for reluctant or young readers. Another plus, is that Ramona continues her adventures in other books, which is a great resource for students that want to read more Beverly Cleary books and learn more about Ramona.

Classroom Use: A possible use might be for a character study of Ramona, utilizing Beverly Cleary’s books to help with their study. Children may also enjoy writing their own versions of Ramona adventures, giving life to her in a new way.

*CAC Audio Book Choice, 1999

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The Trunchbull and the Bookworm

Author: Roald Dahl
Title: Matilda
Publisher: Puffin Books, 1988

Grade Level: 3-5

Summary: Matilda applies her “untapped potential” to deal with the evil headmistress Trunchbull.

Strengths: This is certainly a childhood favorite of mine. I look Matilda. She is strong, bright, loving, hungry for knowledge, and loves books. Despite her circumstances Matilda is able remain optimistic and fully engrossed in her books. Each character in this book is wonderful. The evil Trunchbull is feared by the children in the book and the reader. Matilda’s parents are despised, feared, and rooted against by the reader. Miss Honey is adored, cherished, and gratitude is shown for her special protection of Matilda. I love the language the Dahl uses to bring Matilda and her story to life.

Classroom Use: Matilda is the perfect example of perseverance and love of books. I think every child should read at least one Roald Dahl book. A possible classroom use would be an author study, where different groups of students read Dahl’s books in a book club format. Each group could then be responsible for presenting Dahl’s book to the class.

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Captain Underpants and Wedgie Woman Surprised Me!

Author: Dav Pilkey
Title: Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman
Publisher: Scholastic Inc., 2001.

Grade Level: 3rd & up

Summary: George and Harold must help Captain Underpants defeat Wedgie Woman.

Strengths: Captain Underpants certainly surprised me. I had some serious doubts prior to reading Captain Underpants, but I was wrong. These books are extremely funny, lively, and entertaining. The comic book style of the book is a perfect match for the story. I enjoyed how some chapters were comic book style, while other were more text with interspersed images. I think the adventure of Wedgie Woman will also capture the attention of young readers.

Concerns: Misspelled words and language are my biggest concerns with this book. While I understand their use within the context of the story, I am almost certain some schools, parents, teachers, and students will have a problem with this. This book is certainly not for everyone and may only be an appropriate choice for some. I also think its role in the classroom should be limited to independent reading. While some students may enjoy creating comics that emulate the style of Pilkey, using Captain Underpants for an assignment would not be appropriate.

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Four Young Entrepreneurs

Author: Graphic Novel Retelling by Raina Telgemeier (orig. author: Ann M. Martin)
Title: The Babysitters Club: Kristy’s Great Idea Publisher: Scholastic, 2006.

Grade Level: 4th & up

Summary: Four friends, Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia and Stacey come up with a great idea to help the neighborhood and earn some extra cash.

Strengths: It’s a girl classic turned into a graphic novel, which will make female graphic novel fans extremely happy. I think young girls will enjoy both reading the original Babysitters Club series and the graphic novel version. The comic book style may also encourage struggling readers to take a stab at a chapter book or encourage the transition from this graphic novel to the Martin chapter book series.

Concerns: The Babysitters Club is definitely a girls only book. Since the audience is gender specific it would not necessarily be appropriate to use as assigned reading, but would be a great book for independent reading time. Another concern is the length. While the story is interesting and entertaining, the length of the book may discourage some readers.

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He Shoots….he Scores!

Author: Matt Christopher
Title: Penalty Shot
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, 1997.

Grade Level: 3-5

Summary: Jeff struggles to keep up his grades so he can continue playing on the hockey team.

Strengths: Matt Christopher is a great writer and certainly knows how to grab his reader. He is exciting and his account of each hockey play keeps the reader plugged into the game and the book. I think children will appreciate the mystery that Jeff has to solve and his perseverance with his friendship. I think his struggle with friends, schoolwork, and athletics is something kids can certainly relate to. I also think Christopher sends a great message about the importance of balancing athletics with academics, and the importance of schools. Fans of this book are fortunate since Christopher has an entire series of sports books similar to this one, helping to encourage sports fans to keep reading.

Concern: My only concern with the book is the possibility of a limited audience. For instance, will girls be interested? Will children not familiar or interested with hockey be able to follow the story? Even if the audience is limited, the book is strong enough to not make this a major concern.

Classroom Use: Students may enjoy completing an author study on Matt Christopher. An Olympic year may also find an influx of interest in these books. Even if an official study is not planned, these books are a great asset to a class library.

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Are there aliens at your school?

Author: Bruce Coville
Title: My Teacher is an Alien
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1989.

Grade Level: 3rd & up

Summary: Susan and Peter have to come up with a plan to save their teacher and prove their suspicions that their substitute teacher is an alien.

Strengths: This book is certainly an interesting read with a lot of action. I certainly found myself wanting to know what would happen next. I think alien and science fiction lovers will definitely enjoy this book.

Concerns: My only concern is if this book may be too scary for some readers, especially Peter’s decision to leave with the alien and go back to his planet. I think some children may struggle to separate reality from fiction and be scared by the story.

Classroom Use: I think the best use for this book would be as an addition to the class library. Some students may enjoy writing their own alien story, but due to the possible issues associated with this book I would not personally advise using it as a mandatory class read.

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A Miracle in Nasel

Author: Jennifer L. Holm
Title: Our Only May Amelia
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999

Grade Level: 4th & up

Summary: The only girl in a large Finnish family struggles to find her identity as a young woman in late 19th century Washington State.

Strengths: This is a great example of a family story. It utilizes personal information and memories of a Finnish family in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The story is set on an island and the children of the family find themselves getting into adventures and into trouble in the wilderness of Washington state. I think a lot of children, especially girls, will also relate to the struggle of finding their place not only as a young adult but within a family.

Concerns: I found some parts of this book to be extremely boring or drawn out. This book is longer, which may discourage some readers from continuing through these sections. The lack of quotation marks also makes following the dialogue difficult. I think some readers may struggle to understand the book due to this punctuation choice. The baby Amy passing away may also be upsetting to some children, so special sensitivity and awareness must be given.

Classroom Use: I think this book would be a great read aloud book. It would be a great way for students to get acquainted with families of the West in the nineteenth century and even to study family histories. A book like this might spark a creative writing activity where students create their own family history or recount an important event in their family.

*Capitol Choice Book, 1999 *Newberry Honor Book, 1999

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The Brown Bomber and Wool Pooh

Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Title: The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc., 1995

Grade Level: 5th & up

Summary: Follows the story of the Watson family as they struggle not only as a family, but to understand race relations of the South in the 1960s.

Strengths: The Watsons are a great family! They are loud, funny, and work through conflict together. I think most people can relate to the Watsons, either in a specific relationship or conflict that they must solve. The message about family is strong throughout the book, as well as the need to persevere, which is such an encouraging message to children. The Epilogue which focuses on the historical background of the book is chock full of useful information that helps place this book in context as well as may spark an interest for further research. The short chapters are also a plus, making this book reachable for a wide range of readers.

Concerns: Considering the historical context certain references and language choice may be controversial for some children and some families. The use of “crackers” or “Nazi dinosaurs” may be offensive. Particularly sensitive children may find the chapter on attempting to burn Byron for disobeying the rule about matches or the church bombing in Alabama may be too upsetting for younger children or sensitive children. An overall awareness of the material is necessary.

Classroom Use: This book would be a great addition to any classroom library. It would also be a great read aloud during a study of the Civil Rights Movement. This book may even encourage children to further study racial discrimination in the South during the 1960s.

*1996 Newberry Honor Book
* 1996 Coretta Scott King Honor Book
**many other literary awards

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Maybe if your name was James…

Author: Judith St. George
Title: So You Want to be President?
Publisher: Philomel, 2000

Grade Level: 3-6

Summary: A study of the characteristics of the United States Presidents.

Strengths: This book is full of interesting and funny facts and caricatures. It studies the characteristics of the U.S. Presidents and even offers advice for children who want to become the President themselves. It is extremely funny and provides a light and new way to study the Presidents. It also sends a great message, that the U.S. Presidents came from all types of backgrounds, emphasizing the message that anyone can become President.

Concerns: Prior knowledge of the Presidents would be extremely helpful in order to understand St. George’s humor both in her facts and the caricatures. I think some children would miss the humor associated with this book without proper background information.

Classroom Use: This book would certainly be an interesting addition to any Presidential unit or election season. It would be interesting to study the Presidents’ backgrounds as well as things that made them each special as the U.S. President.
*Capitol Choice Book, 2000
* Caldecott Winner, 2001

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“Cursed Be He Who Desecrates My Tomb.”

Author: Stewart Ross
Title: Curse of the Crocodile God
Publisher: DK Publishing, 2007.

Grade Level: 3rd & up

Summary: The story of Methen and Madja and their discovery of tomb raiders in Ancient Egypt.

Strengths: This book is exciting, informative, and entertaining. Proficient readers will truly enjoy reading this book on their own. The story is exciting and includes secrecy, friendship, murder, and thievery all in Ancient Egypt. The book is also full of information on Ancient Egypt. On each page there is a small blurb giving a fact about Ancient Egypt that is pertinent to information on that page. In the back of the book there is an illustrated glossary giving definitions and pictures to words found in the story such as Sobek Temple, coffin, pyramid, etc. Not only is this book interesting, but it is full of fun facts about Egypt.

Classroom Use: This book would be a great addition to any library. I particularly like that it is a historical fiction graphic novel. This book may also inspire teachers to read other graphic novels about historic places and events or have students create a comic depicting people and events they are learning about in social studies. It is the perfect example of blending the arts with not only literature, but across the curriculum into other subjects, such as social studies.

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“Hello Princess Open the Door-Let Me in! Remember what you Promised Me!”

Author: Retold by Will Eisner
Title: The Princess and the Frog
Publisher: Nantier, Beall, Minoustchine, Inc., 1999.

Grade Level: 1-4

Summary: A young prince is placed under a curse that turns him into a frog, which can only be broken by a kiss.

Strengths: The comic book illustrations brings this fairly tale to life for young readers. Most people are familiar with the story of the Princess and the frog, but Eisner’s illustrations and retelling of the story is great. The comic style is funny and imaginative and I think readers would truly enjoy this.

Classroom Use: I think this would be a great addition to a study on fairytales to demonstrate to students the various ways fairytales are told and retold. Students may also enjoy retelling one of their favorite stories using the comic book style of Will Eisner.

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“I won’t tell you again, you two! The Ice Age Will Be Here Before You Know it!”

Author: Raymond Briggs
Title: Ug: Boy Genius of the Stone Age
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, 2001

Grade Level: 4th and up

Summary: To his parent’s dismay and aggravation, Ug continually questions and thinks of ways to make things better in the Stone Age.

Strengths: This book is extremely funny. I think every child and parent can relate to the question of “why?” Why does this happen? Why can’t I do this? Why? Why? Why? I think kids will enjoy the comic strip like pictures of Ug and his determination to make things softer, warmer, and nicer in his world. Adults will enjoy the underlining humor of both the parent’s relationship and their relationship with Ug. Who can’t relate with a nagging mother?

Concerns: I have two concerns with this book, both of which relate to the appropriateness for children. One, is the use of anachronisms which may be particularly confusing for children. Younger children might also miss some of the humor and sarchasm or mistake that for something else. For example the mother, who may appear angry to young children who cannot hear the sarchasm and dig at nagging mothers. There is also an image of the mother naked towards the end of the book, which is not appropriate for younger children. My concerns for this book can easily be fixed if this book is picked out for the right child at the right age, and these concerns should certainly not keep children from Ug.

Classroom Use: This book could be used as a comedic relief during a study of the Stone Age. Students may also enjoy writing, drawing or creating their own comic strip about something in their time that they would like to improve upon.

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“Go Free North or Die!”

Author: Faith Ringgold
Title: Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky
Publisher: Crown Publishers Inc., 1992.

Grade Level: 2-5

Summary: Cassie and Bebe retrace the steps of the Underground Railroad with help from Harriet Tubman.

Strengths: The book and illustrations are extremely colorful and imaginative. The book follows the fictitious travel of Cassie and Bebe along the Underground Railroad with Harriet Tubman, celebrating its anniversary. This book allows for children to experience and learn about slavery and the Underground Railroad without it becoming too disturbing or upsetting for them. I also found the extra resources and activities to be particularly helpful for both teachers and parents.

Concerns: I personally did not care for this book. I think my biggest concern with this is since it is in a fantasy realm, children will not be able to grasp the realities of slavery and the Underground Railroad. I know that in parts I was confused about how Bebe and Cassie could fly, could arrive where they were, etc. which may cause confusion for young readers. Overall, I would prefer to read other accounts of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad to my students.

Classroom Use: I think the best use for this book would be as a read aloud. This book could be used as an introduction for small children, since they can learn about some of the horrors of slavery without it being too upsetting, but due to its focus on fantasy I do not think this would be an appropriate resource for an in-depth study of slavery and the Underground Railroad.

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Author: Russell Freedman
Title: Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery Publisher: Clarion Books, 1993.

Grade Level: 3-5

Summary: A biography of the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Strengths: This book is full of important biographical information about Eleanor Roosevelt. It includes information about her childhood, relationship with Franklin Roosevelt and her own public career as First Lady. Another strength is certainly the photos included. Some have coined this book a photobiography, which is certainly true considering the entire section of the book dedicated to photographs. The organization of the book into chapters also makes it easier for students to find the information they need or are interested in. I think this would be a great resource for research.

Concerns: My only concern is with the length of the book and chapters. I think some students might find this book overwhelming since the majority of the book is text and Frredman has opted to place most of the pictures towards the end of the book in a “photo album.” To ameliorate this concern for students, teachers may want to mark certain areas to help students focus and prevent them from feeling overwhelmed.

Classroom Use: This book would be ideal for students who are interested in learning about Eleanor Roosevelt or who are conducting a project on her. Another extension project may be a study of the First Ladies and their role in the White House. Supplemental resources such as the Smithsonian’s exhibit on the First Ladies may be of interest, especially for a field trip.

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P-E-R-S-E-V-E-R-A-N-C-E

Author: Lesa Cline-Ransome
Title: Helen Keller: The World in Her Heart Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers, 2008.

Grade Level: K-3

Summary: This book follows the close relationship between Helen Keller and her tutor Annie.

Strengths: This is definitely one of my new favorite books. I loved the story and how Helen Keller was portrayed and I especially enjoyed the illustrations. I think Helen Keller literature, like many stories on important people, has fallen into an unfortunate rut, which has thankfully been broken by this book. Most people are used to Helen Keller’s struggles and biographical approach to her life, but Cline-Ransome focuses on the close relationship between Keller and her tutor and the true excitement Keller got from learning about the world through her own sign language. You feel her world prior to Annie and especially after, feeling her struggle, her triumph, and her excitement about experiencing the world again. The illustrations are bright and beautiful. The illustrations help to further the story and the emotions expressed by Cline-Ransome. I think this book will give all students a lesson on perseverance and a new appreciation for Helen Keller.

Classroom Use: This book is a must for studying Helen Keller. I also think this book would be a great read aloud to talk about differences, physical disabilities, and perseverance. This book can also be related to studying senses in science or completing an activity with one of the student’s senses temporarily taken away. For instance taking a walk down the hallways at school blindfolded, which gives students only a small understanding of Helen Keller’s world and an appreciation for the use of our senses.

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Author: Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith
Title: Lacrosse: The National Game of the Iroquois

Publisher: Holiday House, 1998

Grade Level: 3-6

Summary: This book traces the history of lacrosse including the connection to the Iroquois as well as a comparison to modern day lacrosse.

Strengths: I think children will really be interested in finding out the history of lacrosse, especially how it originated and how it remains an integral part of the Iroquois American Indians. By following 13 year old Monte Lyons, children have another child to relate to throughout the history. The Lyons family is American Indian citizens of the Onondaga, which I think is extremely important for children to understand, that American Indians are not a people of the past, but are still a part of American society. I think the biggest strength is the comparison between the original game of lacrosse and the modern game of lacrosse, which will be particularly interesting for students who play lacrosse. I also found the pictures and the information on the rules of game very helpful. I think the history of the Iroquois nation also helps students to understand the people, not just the game. I especially liked the vocabulary and how it was spelled phonetically as well as the glossary in the back of the book. Overall, a very informative book.

Concerns: I think some female lacrosse players will be disappointed to know that there is no discussion of women’s lacrosse. However, this may be the perfect opportunity to provide supplemental information on women’s lacrosse.

Classroom Use: This book would be a great supplement to a study on American Indians, particularly because it shows present day American Indians. Another activity might be creating a Venn Diagram, comparing the original game of lacrosse with present day lacrosse, as well as including women’s lacrosse. I think students would find the activity interesting, plus it would give them an opportunity to practice graphic organizers.

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“‘The honey is sweet, and so is knowledge…’”

Author: Patricia Polacco
Title: Thank you, Mr. Falker
Publisher: Philomel Books, 1998.

Summary: This story follows the childhood of author Patricia Polacco as she struggles in school, especially learning how to read until she meets a special teacher who completely changes reading for young Polacco.

Strengths: This is such a testimony to the struggle to learn how to read and how rewarding it is to find someone or some people who believe you throughout the process. Both Polacco’s grandparents and her teacher Mr. Falker believe that Patricia is special and is capable of learning. I think children learning how to read or somehow struggling with school will certainly appreciate this story. I think adults sometimes forget how hard it is to learn how to read and this is a great reminder to them and a wonderful encouragement to all children. My favorite quote in the book comes from Polacco’s grandfather who says, “The honey is sweet, and so is knowledge, but knowledge is like the bee who made the honey, it has to be chased through the pages of a book!” It is truly a wonderful story of struggle, triumph, accomplishment, and gratitude.

Classroom Use: Besides a wonderful read aloud or encouragement to struggling students I think this book provides the proper occasion for students to reflect and appreciate those special teachers in their lives. This book may encourage teachers to have students write a thank you note to a teacher that has helped them. I know both the teacher and the student will appreciate this process.

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“Life is not a spectator sport…”

Author: Tony De Marco
Title: Jackie Robinson: Journey to Freedom (1919-1972)
Publisher: The Child’s World, Inc., 2002.

Grade Level: 3-5

Summary: The biography of Jackie Robinson and his personal struggle to integrate professional baseball and deal with racial discrimination.

Strengths: I think this book is extremely thorough in its biographical approach to Jackie Robinson including information about his childhood, college years, personal life as well as his career as a baseball player. I thoroughly enjoyed the contrast between the short blurbs that summarized the information in the longer paragraphs. I think this brings a great versatility to this work, making it easier to be read aloud to a group or be read by a younger reader. I also found the timeline and the glossary to be particularly helpful, especially to young readers who may not necessarily be familiar with the time period and certain organizations.

Classroom use: I think this would be a great resource for any student interested in studying about Jackie Robinson. I also think a work like this may encourage teachers to do a biography study having their students study specific important Americans such as Jackie Robinson.

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“‘This is the hand, that has touched the hand, that has touched the hand, that shook the hand of Abraham Lincoln.’”

Author: Patricia Polacco
Title: Pink and Say
Publisher: Philomel Books, 1994

Grade Level: 3rd grade & up

Summary: The story of Pinkus Aylee and Say Curtis as they struggle during the Civil War.

Strengths: This is an extremely moving story with a very large fan base. The story deals with the Civil War and slavery as well as touches upon interracial brotherhood, death and loss, family, and loyalty. The story is beautifully written and beautifully illustrated. It is a truly wonderful example of family stories and their role not only in history, but in children’s literature. I think children and adults will really appreciate the story and the depth of the message associated with this work.

Concerns: The only concern I have is picking this book for students at the right time. I think if the book is read to children to early they might not be able to understand or may get bogged down by questions about the story because they are not mature enough to understand the material. Considering the death of both Pink and his mother as well as the role of the Confederate camps and marauders, young children may be upset by the story. However, despite its’ tough topic, this is certainly a book that everyone needs to read at least once.

Classroom Use: Most simply this book would be a great resource for a Civil War unit. It provides an alternative view to typical Civil War literature for children, which is usually reserved to slavery or fighting soldiers. This book would also be great as a read aloud, which allows children to jut enjoy the story and not necessarily worry about the historical details.

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Henry “Box” Brown

Author: Ellen Levine
Title: Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story From the Underground Railroad
Publisher: Scholastic Press, 2007.

Grade Level: 2-5

Summary: The true story of Henry “Box” Brown and his escape to freedom via the Underground Railroad.

Strengths: An amazing story with amazing illustrations! The story is simple and not too emotional, making this tough topic appropriate for children. Young children are able to learn about slavery and the Underground Railroad without being disturbed by the most horrific details about slavery. Another strength is the historical accuracy to the story. While not delving into too many disturbing details, Levine was able to stick to the original account of the story. Finally, the watercolor and pencil illustrations were wonderful. The illustration of his face while he is troubled by Nancy’s news, the hand writing the Pennsylvania address, and Henry Brown being tossed upside down in the box are only a few of my favorite illustrations. Overall, a great account of Henry Brown’s life.

Classroom Use: This would be a great book for a slavery unit, especially studying the Underground Railroad. What I like the most is the fact that this shows another aspect of the Underground Railroad that is not usually studied. When people think of the Underground Railroad people imagine people running away on foot, but there were many ways to runaway and many aspects of the Underground Railroad, which is exactly what this book demonstrates.

*Capitol Choice Book
*Caldecott Honor Book

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A True Treasure...

Author: Carole Boston Weatherford
Title: Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children, New York, 2006

Grade Level: 2-5

Summary: This book traces the physical and spiritual walk of Harriet Tubman and her journey of freedom.

Strengths: This story of Harriet Tubman is informative, without being too disturbing for a young audience. The author intertwines Scripture, prayers, and spirituals with the journey of Harriet Tubman to freedom and back down South to free other slaves. Another strength is the illustrations, which are absolutely breathtaking. The book is full of beautiful, detailed double page spreads that make you feel as though you are hiding with Harriet Tubman in the woods.

Concerns: The only concern I have is the use of Scripture, prayers and spirituals in the book, which may prove problematic for classroom use. While I personally find her spiritual walk as inspiring as her physical walk to freedom, an awareness of this element of the book is necessary when considering the audience.

Classroom use: This book can be used to supplement a study of Harriet Tubman, slavery, and/or Black History month. Even more simply, it would be a wonderful addition to any class library.

*Capitol Choice Book
*Caldecott Honor Book

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Amazing Grace, Amazing Imagination, Amazing Determination

Author: Mary Hoffman
Title: Amazing Grace
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1991.

Grade Level: K-2

Summary: Grace is a fun loving, story loving young girl. When her classmates tell her she cannot be Peter Pan in the school play because she is black and a girl, Grace becomes determined to show everyone that you can do anything you put your mind to.

Strengths: Grace is certainly the biggest strength of this book. I think almost every child can relate to her in some way. Whether its her relationship with her grandma, her love of stories, the joy she finds in dressing up like characters from stories, or being told she cannot do something, I think each child will be able to relate to Grace in some way. I also think the overall message of the story is encouraging to all students, that despite what everyone else says, if you work hard and believe in yourself there is nobody that can stop you. Another strength of this story is the beautiful watercolors. They are warm, vibrant and give life to Grace.

Classroom Use: Grace would be a wonderful inspiration for students to recreate their favorite stories. It would be a great book to read before introducing the idea of Reader’s Theater, citing all of her costumes and the use of imagination to recreate her favorite stories.

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Dealing with Disabilities

Author: Myron Uhlberg
Title: Dad, Jackie, and Me.
Publisher: Peachtree Publishers, 2005.

Grade Level: 2-4

Summary: A boy learns about discrimination and tolerance in the 1940s when his deaf father and he become avid fans of Jackie Robinson.

Strengths: The greatest strength of this book is its tough lessons on discrimination and tolerance. The young boy learns about these tough issues by not only observing his father, but by their shared love of Jackie Robinson. At first the young boy is annoyed and does not necessarily know how to react to his father’s deafness, but as their relationship grows and he learns more about discrimination as it relates to Jackie Robinson, he is able to learn to accept his own father’s disability. There are very few books that deal directly with disabilities and I think this book does a wonderful job doing that. I also think students, particularly male students, will enjoy the athletic aspect of the book and the focus on Jackie Robinson.

Classroom Use: This book can be used as an introduction to Jackie Robinson or even to learning about disabilities. I think this would be a great way to talk about discrimination and tolerance, looking how people are discriminated against due to race, disabilities, gender, beliefs, etc.

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“Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner!”

Author: Amy Schwartz
Title: Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner
Publisher: Orchard Books, 1988.

Grade Level: PreK-2

Summary: This book follows the preparation and first day of Kindergarten for Annabelle Swift.

Strengths: This book is a great children’s book because children can certainly relate to the first day of school, especially kindergarten. Children who are starting at a new school might also appreciate Annabelle’s struggle to prepare and fit in to a new classroom. The story is simple with simple illustrations, but that is exactly what a young child needs. To have things simple and to be reminded that everyone is scared on the first day. This would be a great book to read to a new Kindergartner or even to young children on the first day of school.

Classroom Use: The best use for this book is definitely as a read aloud, especially on the first day of school. Kindergartners or even first graders may enjoy drawing or writing about their first day of Kindergarten. Older students also may enjoy reading this book to Kindergarten students and giving the Kindergartners “advice” for how to survive Kindergarten.

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“King Bidgood’s in the bathtub, and he won’t get out!

Author: Audrey Wood
Title: King Bidgood’s In the Bathtub
Publisher: Harcourt, Inc., 1985.

Grade Level: 1-4.

Summary: Despite a young page’s numerous attempts, he struggles to get the King out of the bathtub.

Strengths: One of the strengths of King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub is certainly the illustrations. On each page the double page spread illustrations simply pop off the page. I found particularly interesting the facial expressions of the individuals of the King’s Court. Their faces included shock, horror, disgust, and contentment. The reader could really feel the emotions of every person in the picture. Another interesting aspect of the book is the role of the page. I think children will find it especially funny that the young page is the one who figures out how to get the King out of the tub and that the solution is simply pulling the plug. The reader can really feel the page’s sense of accomplishment towards the end of the book, when he is standing near the tub holding the plug and smiling. I think children will also relate to not wanting to get out of the tub, but rather spend time playing. I also like the fact that this is a different kind of humor book for children. When most people think humor books for children they think of cartoon-like illustrations and overtly silly characters, so I think this would provide a great alternative to typical humor books for children.

Classroom Use: I think the best use of this book would be as a read aloud. It’s funny and different and would be perfect for a read aloud to students in grades 1-4.

*Caldecott Honor Book

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A is for an AMAZING African American Alphabet Book

Author: Nancy I. Sanders
Title: D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press, 2007

Grade Level: K-3

Summary: An alphabet book that introduces different events and people associated with African American history.

Strengths: This book is not only a great alphabet book, but a fabulous wealth of information on African American history and full of wonderful watercolor paintings. In its simplest form it a fantastic alphabet book that utilizes African American history to depict the alphabet. It is certainly a refreshing option to typical alphabet books. But the book is much more than an alphabet book. On each page there are a few paragraphs explaining the history behind each example. Everything from abolitionists to the Underground Railroad to the Civil Rights movement to important African Americans is covered in this book. Since the history is included, this book is appropriate for a wider audience. Younger children will be able to learn and practice the alphabet in a new way, while older children can use this book to study African American history. I have certainly picked this book as a touchstone book for me!

Classroom Use: This book would be a great introduction to African American history. Younger children may enjoy making their own alphabet books outlining African American history. Teachers can certainly use this book as a model to create alphabet books of their own for different topics of study, helping children learn and remember important information. This book would also be a great introduction for older children to pick topics out of the book for further study. Teachers may also want to check out the other books by Sleeping Bear Press such as: A is for America, M is for Maple, D is for Drum, D is for Dancing Dragon, S is for Shamrock, P is for Passport, G is for Galaxy, and M is for Majestic, which will help to expand teachers’ and children’s knowledge about the world.

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“What happens to a dream deferred?”

Author: Compiled by Catherine Clinton
Title: I, Too, Sing America: Three Centuries of African American Poetry
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998.

Grade Level: 3rd grade & up

Summary: A collection of African American poetry from the 1700s- 1900s.

Strengths: What a wonderfully diverse collection of poems! From Langston Hughes to Angelina Grimke to Maya Angelou and Alice Walker, Clinton compiles a diverse and fairly complete collection of poems. Another strength of this work is the short biography of each poet prior to their poems. This information helps to provide background to the poems as well as provide all readers information on these poets. The poems allow for students to tackle tough issues such as slavery and racial discrimination as well as study great African Americans such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X and introduce them to poems turned into songs such as “Lift Ev’ry Voice And Sing.”

Concerns: Each poem in this collection must be reviewed and evaluated on its own to understand if it is appropriate for your intended audience. Since these poems tackle many tough issues related to being African American in America not all of these poems are appropriate for all ages. I think some young audiences can appreciate these poems and even practice reading aloud with the poems. However, these poems are made for older audiences. Older audiences will be able to tackle the issues and look past the figurative language to truly appreciate the poets’ messages.

Classroom Use: These poems would be great supplements or introductions to lessons about slavery, racial discrimination, the Civil Rights Movement, or racism in America. My hope would be that these poems would not be saved for February, but be celebrated as great works of American poetry. These poems can also be used for poetry read alouds, giving students an opportunity to study, rehearse, and perform these poems in front of an audience. The simple bios before the poetry also lend itself to author studies on these great poets and their work.

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Author: Compiled by Michael Harrison and Christopher Stuart-Clark
Title: The Oxford Book of Story Poems
Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2006

Grade Level: 4th grade & up Summary: A collection of story poems.

Strengths: This is a diverse and complete collection of story poems. Poems range from Edgar Allen Poe to Edward Lear to Lewis Carroll. This book is full of adventure poems, Biblically based poems, and poems about princes and princesses. It is a great resource and anthology of poetry.

Concerns: This poetry anthology is certainly not meant for younger audiences. The difficulty of the poetry as well as the content matter makes this anthology suited for older audiences only. Even then, this book may be best used as a read aloud resource, as even older students may struggle with the poetry.

Classroom Use: This book would be used most appropriately as a read aloud. It would be a great resource to have in the classroom for children to explore different types of poetry and to challenge more proficient readers. (image from Amazon.com)

“What’s as deliciously silly as Edward Lear’s verse? Valorie Fisher’s sly, imaginative illustrations, that’s what!”

Author: Poems by Edward Lear
Title: Nonsense!
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2004.

Grade Level: 1-5

Summary: A collection of Edward Lear’s limericks.

Strengths: Valorie Fisher’s illustrations! They are lively, fun, extraordinary and bring to life Edward Lear’s limericks in a new way. Fisher layers different pictures and mediums of artwork, bringing a whole new artistic style to children’s literature. Another strength of this work is the vocabulary and the incorporation of definitions of new vocabulary words in the illustrations. Throughout the illustrations definitions of tough vocabulary words are included. Vocabulary words include accomplished, induced, relinquished, remarkable, seldom, frequently, to delude, expansive, amiable, entranced, affable, associate, and vexed. This is a great way to not only introduce children to limericks, but to new vocabulary as well.

Concerns: Younger children may not be able to understand or truly appreciate the style, vocabulary or limerick structure of Edward Lear’s poems. While children may find the poems silly, for this book to be used in an academic activity it may need to be reserved for older audiences. Regardless, this book is a fun read aloud for both young and old!


Classroom Use: This book would be a great introduction for limericks. For older students, this might be a great book to use as an introduction to teaching about the structure of limericks. Children should then be challenged to write their own limericks. Valerie Fisher’s illustrations might inspire students of all ages to create collage like artwork to accompany their written work, especially poems.

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“Oh, such silliness! Silly willy-nilliness.”

Author: Poems Selected by William Cole
Title: Oh, Such Foolishness!
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers, 1978.

Grade Level: K-3

Summary: A collection of silly poems by various poets.

Strengths: These poems and rhymes are very silly and very entertaining for small children. This book would be a great way to introduce poetry to younger children and to show them that they are already familiar with poetry such as nursery rhymes and jump rope rhymes. The illustrations by Tomie DePaola are whimsical and may be familiar to young readers who are familiar with his book.

Concerns: Many of the poems were so silly that they did not make sense and some of the poems are older poems and therefore use language or terms that are no longer “politically correct.” While, this should not be a huge concern readers should be aware of this characteristic to avoid getting caught off guard. I personally did not enjoy many of the poems, but it is an interesting collection that should be available to children to read.

Classroom Use: This book lends itself to identifying poetry in students’ daily lives such as jump rope or hopscotch rhymes. This book can be a great introduction to jump rope rhymes or nursery rhymes and give students an opportunity to share or practice their favorites.

Nonfiction Find...Bubble Homes and Fish Farts

I found a really great non-fiction find for those students who are interested in science and learning more about animals. (Thanks Miss Rumphius Effect). Click here to check out the book and my comment!

Elephant and Piggie Strike Again...

Author: Mo Willems
Title: There is a Bird on Your Head! (An Elephant & Piggie Book)
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children, 2007

Grade Level: K-3

Summary: Piggie and Elephant try to solve the dilemma of Elephant having birds on his head.

Strengths: Both the text and the pictures are lively. The entire book is in a cartoon style, which is both entertaining and familiar for young children. When Elephant screams, "Aaaaaaaaaggghhh!" you really feel him screaming and running away. The illustrations also tell how both Elephant and Piggie feel, which livens up the text. I think young children would enjoy the story and beginning readers can feel the accomplishment of reading a whole book since the text is both limited and simple.

Classroom use: Students who enjoy There is a Bird on Your Head will be happy to know there are more Elephant & Piggie books and even more books by Mo Willems. Your class might enjoy an author study on Mo Willems or a chance to create their own Elephant & Piggie story.

*2008 Capitol Choice Award winner
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