Seed Folks

Seed Folks

Paul Fleischman
2002

 

Seedfolks is an interesting tale of a group of people who come together for the common good of a vacant lot in Cleveland.  They all strive and manage through their differences to work together to make a vacant lot a garden in the middle of a rough part of the city.  In the tale, each unique person finds their place in the city and where they fit in.

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I was a little surprised at the ending of the book and how it was compared to the movement of slaves in the 1860s.  I thought it was interesting how the author used every one's uniqueness to reveal the story or seeds.  I enjoyed how it was a "pass it on" theme throughout the text with these total strangers.  It was neat how the author brought the book full circle as well.

Poetry Books--Falling Up

Falling Up

Shel Silverstein
1996

Shel Silverstein has captured the minds and made us laugh with a full book of poems in "Falling Up".  He entertains us with hilarious poetry surrounding the elements of childhood. 

I couldn't not include one of my favorites poets and writers this week on Poetry Books.  As I child I loved the poetry of Shel Silverstein.  I found myself reading them over and over and always laughing.  I think, as a child, I could relate to some of these antics he writes about in his poems.  I enjoy using these in my teaching as well. 

Poetry Books---Something Big has Been Here

Something Big has Been Here

Jack Prelutsky
Drawings by James Stevenson

"Something Big Has Been Here" is a collection of hilarious poems that elementary aged children will love.  From funny characters to interesting animals, Jack Prelutsky brings to life many adventures for the entertainment of all. 

This book of poems is an excellent go to when you need a quick read aloud or a funny poem to lighten the mood in the room.  I have shared these with my students and absolutely love the funny antics of the poetry.  Jack Prelutsky has several other poetry books but another famous one of his is "New Kid on The Block".  These poems can be used to teach figurative language, as well as other poetic devices.

Poetry Books--The Best Poems Ever

The Best Poems Ever

A Collection of Poetry's Greatest Voices
edited by Edrie S. Mesmer

2001

This collection of poems ranges through the classics of The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe to Buffalo Dusk by Carl Sandburg.  William Shakespeare is also included.  These poems of moods and dialects from the early 20th century. 

I actually used the Carl Sandburg poem with my class called "Buffalo Dusk"  just this week.  Some of these classic poems would be hard for some of the elementary students to interpret without guidance.  However, I enjoy having this book in my classroom to share of these timeless favorites.

Picture Book (your choice)--Peter Pepper's Pet Spectacular

Betty Paraskevas
Paintings by Michael Paraskevas
2007

Peter Pepper's Pet Spectacular  is an interesting tale of Peter Pepper and his pet show.  All the kids in town bring their own amazing pets and display them in a pet show.  The reader gets to decide which pet they think is the best.

This book is a special one in our house also.  My sister in law actual designed the lay out of this text.  She shared it with our family.  It is entertaining and a good laughable story for bedtime reads.  I like it for the local flair as well. 

Picture book (your choice)--Best of All

Best of All

Max Lucado
Illustrated by Sergio Martinez
2003

In this sequel to You Are Special, Wemmicksville has an exclusive club.  In order to be a member you have to be made of the best wood in the forest, maple.  Punchinello just doesn't add up and people look down on him.  However, he finds out that he is special in his own way.

This is a special book in our house.  It was given to my youngest son upon his kindergarten graduation last spring.  It shows that everyone is different and special in our own way.  I enjoy the themes of Max Lucado's work for children. 

Picture Book (Your Choice)---Sir Cumference and Dragon of Pi

Sir Cumference and Dragon of Pi

Cindy Neuschwander

2004



Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi  is an interesting story about how the circumference of a circle was discovered.  The king is turned into a dragon and his son, Radius, with his mother Lady di of Ameter have to figure out the remedy for the cure. 

I shared this story with my students on Friday, March the 14th because it was Pi day (3-14).  They enjoyed the story and some even got the witty banter in the text and related it to geometry, even though they won't learn about circumference until middle school.  This is an excellent source to use and connect literacy with math in the classroom. 

                                                                                          

Click HERE to hear the story read to you!

Graphic Novel--A Very Baby Mouse Christmas

A Very Baby Mouse Christmas

Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm
2011

 

A Very BabyMouse Christmas is the 15th in a series of graphic novels.  In this particular book, Baby Mouse is only concerned with getting presents on Christmas.  In this funny story, Baby Mouse doesn't care about all the celebrating!  If all her wishes come true, she will have the answer to all her cares if she finds a Whizbang Gadget under the tree.

 

Wow!  What a series! I had not had any experience with graphic novels of this sort until this school year.  The female students in my class are crazy about baby mouse.  I can see why.  The reading goes quick and the pictures help to move the story along, making it easy to read and not to mention funny!  My only experience with graphic novels, until now, was only comic books. 

Verse Novel---Tofu Quilt

Tofu Quilt

Ching Yeung Russell
2009

 

Ching Yeung Russell captures the story of how she grew up in Hong Kong and as a young girl her love for reading and writing grew.  She recalls how, as a female, she was seen as inferior to her male family members.  She realizes after going to a private school to pursue her writing and reading that she can achieve anything she sets her mind to.

 

I have honestly never read a novel designed in this format.  This was a new experience for me as a reader.  I love the way Russell captured what all authors do while using poetry.  Often we see poetry as mounds of figurative language, rhythm and rhyme, but this novel does the job of telling a unique story and experience using verse. 

Author Study Books--Sit In-How Four Friends Stood Up By Sitting Down

Sit-In

How Four Friends Stood Up By Sitting Down

Andrea Davis Pinkney
2010

Andrea Davis Pinkney captures the story of the Greensboro Four and how they stood up by sitting down on that faithful day, February 1, 1960.  It outlines the story of that day from the point of view of how the four peacefully took a stand and started a revolution. 

Andrea Davis Pinkney captured the moment of that day, along with her husband as the illustrator of the book.  The book gave my students another source to reveal the account of what happened on February 1, 1960.  Written the year of the 50th anniversary to commemorate the event, I couldn't help but imagine the fear in the those 4 as they decided to this.  Little did they know that they would begin a movement to accomplish their dream of all dreams. 

Author Study Books-Hand in Hand-Ten Black who Changed America

Hand in Hand-Ten Black who Changed America

Andrea Davis Pinkney
2012

 

Hand in Hand Ten Black Men Who Changed America outlines the magnificent work done by 10 amazing history changers in our world.  The book discusses each of the 10 by explaining their plight with the past and how they are remembered.  Each biographical section begins by displaying a poem that describes each of the historic moves they made, from Benjamin Banneker to Barack Obama.

 

I found this book to be extremely interesting, as well as educating to me.  I learned something new about each of these African American men, as well as learning about them for the first time.  Pinkney carefully selected these 10 to show a span across time and how times has changed America and America has changed time. 

Author Study Books- Boycott Blues-How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation

Boycott Blues-How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation

Andrea Davis Pinkney
2008

Boycott Blues is told from a point of view a Blues singing dog.  He tells the story of how Rosa was "dog tired" and needed to sit on the bus for the ride home that day.  With the southern roots of blues, the book outlines the story of how folks stood up and walked for what they believed in, as they were inspired by Rosa Parks and her plight not to give up her seat that faithful day in Alabama. 

My students truly enjoyed the rhythm of this story and how it was told from the point of view of the dog.  We really looked closely at the color sequence of the story, as well as figurative language used throughout.  This book also included the music in language as Tunnel and Jacobs described well written picture books.  The book is capable of stirring emotional responses in its readers, as it did in my classroom. 

Multicultural Literature Novel--Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers

LOCKDOWN

Walter Dean Myers
2010

Reese Anderson is in juvenile detention and has to try with all his might to fight his mischievous ways.  He struggles throughout the book to do what is right by sticking up for a friend, setting a good example for his family, and keeping up with his work release program.   He befriends an elderly man who shares his past and helps Reese see his way through Lockdown. 

This book was interesting to me because I don't usually read stories of this subject matter.  It was interesting the way the character struggles with himself as much as any other characters he comes in contact with throughout the story.  His personal struggle is overwhelming, as well as fascinating, especially watching the character grow throughout the story.  This is a story to make you believe in second chances.